Detective Conan: Becoming a Tycoon in Tokyo! [19]

“The culprit isn’t Shōichi-san.”

Right before Shōichi’s eyes, Conan slipped behind the sofa and took out a bowtie-shaped device.

Shōichi glanced around.

No one else seemed to notice, so he yawned, pretending not to.

“Mouri-kun, again?” Inspector Megure sighed.

When awake, he accused Shōichi.
After one elegant spin and a nap, he exonerated him.

“The earlier accusation was just a joke. Now for the real deduction. If everyone removes their coats, I’ll reveal the culprit,” ‘Mouri Kogoro’ declared.

Inspector Megure motioned for everyone to comply.

One by one, coats came off—even Miyano Akemi removed hers. Only Shōichi stayed still, tightening his own.

“It’s late. What if I catch a cold?” he said dryly.

‘Mouri Kogoro’ didn’t press him. “It’s fine. Shōichi-san and his secretary aren’t the murderers anyway.”

From behind the sofa, Conan peered out, scanning everyone’s clothing. Then, using Kogoro’s voice, he pointed decisively:

“The culprit is you—Ichieda Takashi!”

He laid out Ichieda’s method step by step, calm and precise.

“You killed her because of Yaeko’s drowning incident two years ago, didn’t you?”

Light flashed off Ichieda’s glasses as he broke down. “Yaeko didn’t die by accident—she was murdered by Nikaidō and Reika! They took her life jacket and let her drown!”

Even after the confession, Yotsui refused to accept it.

“Shōichi made you do it! Didn’t he? You’d never dare kill my daughter otherwise! Did he promise you something!?”

“Enough!”

Ichieda shoved Yotsui back, shouting, “You and your daughter were exactly the same! Reika deserved it—and someone will kill you too!”

Their melodrama gave Shōichi a headache.

He turned to Officer Satō. “Satō-keiji, could you please take me home? If I leave now, I might still get some sleep.”

He glanced at his watch, then remembered he’d already quit the bank—no more work tomorrow.

He could finally sleep as long as he liked.

Before Satō could reply, Yotsui shouted, “You think you can just walk away after killing someone!?”

Satō frowned. “Yotsui-san, Shōichi-san isn’t the culprit.”

“That’s because he’s protected—by the police inside and the detective outside! You’ll never dare charge him!” Yotsui roared.

He jabbed a trembling finger toward Ichieda. “And this fool—he’s just Shōichi’s pawn! He killed for him and doesn’t even care about prison!”

Shōichi’s earlier words—unpaid debts bring retribution—had taken root. Yotsui now believed his daughter’s death was Shōichi’s warning.

Was this what “retribution” meant?

Shōichi sighed and gave him a light push. Yotsui stumbled and fell.

Shōichi frowned slightly.

It really did look like he was becoming more villainous by the day—even though, objectively, he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Seeing how things had spiraled, he chuckled softly. “Yotsui-san, unpaid debts invite endless misfortune. Please remember that.”

With that, he left the villa. Miyano Akemi followed, her expression tangled with unease.

Yotsui sat on the floor, pale and trembling.

That was a threat.

If I don’t pay… will he kill me next?

“Are you alright?”

Inspector Megure reached out to steady him, but Yotsui shook him off.

“Don’t touch me!”

Looking drained, Yotsui shoved him away completely.

They were all Shōichi’s pawns—every last one of them.

He’d underestimated how powerful that zaibatsu heir really was.

And Shōichi’s methods… were terrifyingly ruthless.

If I don’t repay him, I’m as good as dead.

“Satō-keiji? That ‘ordinary citizen’ needs a police escort home—aren’t you going to help?” the forensic examiner muttered snidely.

“Ordinary citizen?” Satō shot him a look. “Since when is that man ordinary?”

After a glance from Megure, she sighed, took the patrol car keys, and led them out.

“Where’s your place?” she asked, clearly annoyed.

“Take me to the company. It’s at XXX,” Shōichi replied.

He couldn’t let Miyano Akemi follow him home—there was someone there she mustn’t meet.

After dropping them off, Satō didn’t even say goodbye; she sped off immediately, unwilling to get further involved with that troublesome heir.

Once alone, Miyano Akemi finally asked quietly, “Did you really kill Reika?”

“The police didn’t charge me, did they? Obviously, I’m not the killer,” Shōichi said smoothly.

It was hard to believe.

Miyano Akemi frowned. She’d been there when Shōichi confronted Yotsui and had clearly heard him say, Unpaid debts invite retribution.

Those words, spoken by a desperate man, might have been understandable.
But Shōichi wasn’t desperate—and Yotsui’s daughter really had died while he was there.

Most importantly, afterward he’d said again—Unpaid debts invite endless misfortune.

It felt like a warning. A promise.

“Relax. I’m not a villain. I’ve never even killed a chicken,” Shōichi said lightly.

He reached out to pat her shoulder, but she shifted, dodging the gesture.

She frowned. “You’re not testing my obedience or something, are you?”

“Of course not. How could you think that?” Shōichi chuckled.

How funny.

It was just a pat on the shoulder—what kind of obedience test would be that simple?

Not just strangers—even Miyano Akemi misunderstood him. I’m really not such a bad person.

“Go rest. I’ll let you see your sister when there’s a chance,” he said warmly.

As he spoke, his hand again settled gently on her shoulder.

This time, Miyano Akemi endured it without flinching.

“Go to Yotsui tomorrow and ask for repayment again. I’m sure he’ll pay,” Shōichi added.

“And if he doesn’t?” she asked sharply. “Will you bring him more ‘misfortune’?”

“Of course not,” Shōichi said mildly. “If he doesn’t pay, we’ll just keep asking. There’s nothing else I can do.”

He smiled softly, almost kindly.

“As for that last line—just think of it as a little curse from me. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even come true.”

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T/N: keiji is an honorific for detective btww!

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!