Detective Conan: Becoming a Tycoon in Tokyo! [30]

"Ran, look—that guy over there has to be Haibara’s mentally ill older brother," Sonoko said, pointing at Shōichi in the distance.

"Mm." Ran gave a small nod.

She’d run into Shōichi several times now, and her feelings about him were complicated.

Mostly because her dad’s opinions were all over the place—one minute he called Shōichi a monstrous criminal, the next he was just an unlucky fool who kept getting dragged into trouble.

Even Ran couldn’t tell what kind of person he really was.

"I swear I’ve seen him somewhere," Sonoko murmured.

Ran sighed. "Every handsome guy looks ‘familiar’ to you."

"This time is different, okay? He really looks familiar!" Sonoko insisted, hands on hips.

Then she tugged Ran along and jogged toward Shōichi.

"Shōichi-nii?" Sonoko tried.

Shōichi turned, breaking into a smile when he saw her. "Oh, Sonoko. You go to school here?"

"Yeah! Shōichi-nii, when did you get back to Japan?" Sonoko asked, eyes shining.

"It’s been a while," he said.

Sonoko glanced at Haibara, puzzled. "Since when did you have a little sister?"

Illegitimate daughter of Sumitomo-ojisan?

"I picked her up," Shōichi said plainly.

Haibara rolled her eyes. As if I’m some stray kitten.

Shōichi gave Haibara’s head a light pat. "My driver will be here soon—have her take you two home."

"That wouldn’t be appropriate…"

"Sounds perfect!" Sonoko cut off Ran’s polite refusal.

Ran smiled weakly.

Haibara rolled her eyes again.

Since when is Inspector Satō your driver?

After a short wait, Inspector Satō pulled up—in a police car. Shōichi casually ushered Haibara in and slid into the back like he owned the place.

Ran stared, baffled. "Inspector Satō, when did you resign from the MPD?"

"Resign?" Satō blinked.

"Shōichi-nii said you’re his personal driver now," Sonoko said bluntly.

In a police car… isn’t that abuse of authority?

Satō shot Shōichi a sharp look. "I haven’t resigned, and I’m not this guy’s driver. Please don’t believe his nonsense."

Sonoko’s gaze flicked between Satō and Shōichi, then she put on her best pleading eyes. "Then can you at least give me a lift? Shōichi-nii already said it’s fine."

He can agree all he wants—what does that have to do with me?

"I’m only here because Shōichi-san is connected to a murder case," Satō said. "I don’t have time to chauffeur you around."

"Murder case?" Sonoko perked up. "Then we’ll tag along! Ran, maybe you’ll run into Kudō Shinichi!"

At that name, Ran’s eyes lit up.

Both girls looked at Satō with hopeful smiles.

Keeping her polite mask on, Satō tried to dissuade them. "The scene might be very gruesome. You shouldn’t come. And the little girl shouldn’t either."

Unlike the two stubborn girls, Haibara took the hint immediately.

The moment Satō finished, Haibara was already tugging at the door handle, ready to bolt.

But a large hand caught her arm.

"Haibara needs to toughen up," Shōichi said gravely. "A true warrior doesn’t flinch at the sight of blood."

I’m not a warrior—I’m a kid!

Satō sighed and gave up, letting them all pile in.

They arrived at a lakeside park and climbed out. Inspector Megure stared at the unexpected crowd in disbelief.

Didn’t I just ask Satō to pick up Shōichi? How did it turn into a group outing?

"Dad? You’re here too? And Conan?"

Ran looked at Conan in surprise—shouldn’t he have just gotten out of school?

Shōichi walked up to Megure. "Am I a suspect again? Which enemy of mine died this time?"

Being a polite man, he always started with a handshake.

When Shōichi offered his hand, Megure hesitated.

Reporters were everywhere, cameras clicking.

If he shook, who knew what tomorrow’s headlines would say?

"The victim is Fujiwara Hideki. You had a business dispute with him yesterday, and today he was found dead in the lake," Megure said stiffly.

After a brief struggle, Megure finally took Shōichi’s hand.

The man had offered—refusing would be rude.

Click—

As expected, the “dirty handshake” between Shōichi and the division chief was captured instantly.

Tomorrow’s headline was in the bag.

Megure looked helplessly toward the flashing cameras.

The police had never covered for Shōichi, yet they just couldn’t shake that stain.

Officer Takagi stepped up. "We currently have three suspects: Sumitomo Shōichi, who had business conflicts with the victim; Fujiwara-san’s wife, who wanted a divorce; and Kujō-san, who owed the victim a large sum."

The three suspects stood side by side, all calm.

They exchanged quick looks.

We’re all clean.

Megure rubbed his temples. Another headache. With three unflappable suspects, nothing jumped out.

"Mouri-kun, what do you think?" he asked, turning hopefully to Mouri Kogoro.

Kogoro stroked his mustache. "The murderer is definitely Mrs. Fujiwara!"

"Huh? Me?" Mrs. Fujiwara stared.

"Obviously, you killed him for the inheritance," Kogoro declared.

"Are you kidding?" she snapped. "The man is drowning in debt—there’s nothing to inherit! I wanted a divorce so I wouldn’t inherit his debts!"

Kogoro faltered, then pivoted. "Then he refused the divorce, so you killed him!"

"We’re already divorced."

Speechless, Kogoro shifted again. "Then it must be Kujō-san!"

"If he’s dead, who repays my loans?" Kujō shot back.

Finally, Kogoro’s eyes drifted to Shōichi.

Shōichi was casually playing Tetris on his phone, blissfully ignoring his status as a suspect.

"Inspector Megure, the autopsy is in," the forensic examiner, Nagamune, announced.

Everyone turned to the one truly impartial man on scene.

Speaking up at this timing—he had to be doing it on purpose.

Megure kept his face neutral. "Results?"

"Based on the swelling, the victim entered the water around noon today."

"Entered?"

"Yes. After my expert analysis, Mr. Fujiwara committed suicide."

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This is a fan translation of 柯南：我在东京当财阀 by 倒霉的菜狗. Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!