Yoko Okino was, after all, a top idol of the moment, so it wasn't unusual for her to have certain connections or use backdoor means when needed. The key point here was that Mouri Kogoro's identity wasn't a secret—anyone could verify it with a little digging.
"Since Mr. Yamagishi borrowed money from me, he's my client. Helping my clients a little is only natural—after all, I want the money I lend to be returned in full, ideally with interest," Ichiro explained, giving his reason for recommending Mouri Kogoro to Yamagishi.
Yoko chuckled at that, and Ichiro had to admit—having such a beautiful woman in his home was quite pleasing to the eye.
"Takayanagi-san is a different kind of moneylender—your reputation in the trade is excellent," Yamagishi said, speaking well of him to Yoko.
"You flatter me, Mr. Yamagishi. I simply follow the rules of the trade. Still, it's best you hire Mouri Kogoro to investigate your matter. If you can't repay my loan, Yoko-san may have to work under me instead."
He openly mentioned Yamagishi's collateral terms because he could tell Yoko trusted him, meaning she was likely aware of them already.
"If Takayanagi-san were to enter the entertainment industry, I'd be delighted," Yoko replied honestly. She knew someone like him wasn't likely to change careers easily. Then she added, "Right now, I'd like you to accompany me to the Mouri Detective Agency—after all, you're the one who recommended him."
"My relationship with Mouri Kogoro is about the same as with Mr. Yamagishi—not much personal connection."
That surprised both Yoko and Yamagishi. They'd assumed Ichiro was on good terms with Mouri if he was recommending him, not that it was just a business acquaintance.
"That's still better than us. We knew nothing about him before this," Yamagishi pointed out, and Yoko nodded in agreement.
"…Alright. I'll go with you."
Ichiro told them to wait while he changed clothes.
After tidying up, he accompanied Yoko and Yamagishi toward the Mouri Detective Agency. As they went upstairs, he had the faint feeling someone was watching from behind, but he didn't pay it any mind.
He rang the doorbell, and a female voice from inside called for a moment, then yelled at her father to answer the door.
The man who opened it was unshaven, disheveled, and reeking of alcohol. The moment he saw Yoko standing outside, he jerked back in shock, disappearing behind the door—only to reappear seconds later. "Yoko Okino?"
Yoko's expression soured slightly—Ichiro had insisted she stand at the front, but she hadn't expected Mouri Kogoro to greet her in such a state. Still, she nodded politely.
Mouri immediately slammed the door shut, and loud noises followed from inside.
After that display, Yoko stepped behind Ichiro. The door opened again, and this time the young woman from earlier appeared. "Sorry about my father's rudeness… Huh? Takayanagi-san?"
"Yes, Ran. I'm here to introduce a client to your father. Why did he react so strongly?" Ichiro greeted her with familiarity.
"A client for my dad?" Ran was too surprised by his purpose to pay attention to how casually he addressed her.
Apart from a job yesterday, her father hadn't taken on a proper case in a long time. That someone she'd only met yesterday would bring him work was unexpected.
"Oh, it's that big brother who lends money at high interest. Are you bringing Yoko Okino to see him?" Conan chimed in from the side. Though he called Ichiro "big brother," he deliberately added the "moneylender" prefix in front, clearly not pleased.
Ran turned toward Yoko and saw she was indeed standing behind Ichiro. That explained her father's earlier outburst.
"Takayanagi-san, Yoko-san, please come in," Ran said, gesturing for them to enter.
Once inside, they saw Mouri Kogoro freshly shaved, neatly dressed, and holding a flower while leaning against the wall. "Yoko Okino, welcome to my humble office. How may I help you?"
His eyes were locked solely on Yoko—Ichiro and Yamagishi might as well have been invisible.
"Takayanagi-san told me you're a capable private detective, so I've come to ask for your help," Yoko said, feeling a bit more reassured seeing Mouri present himself properly.
(End of Chapter)
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