At Dr. Agasa's House
"I want to eat first!" Tsuneo kicked the great detective aside, sat down at the dining table, and began shoveling food into his mouth.
Having worked until the early hours of the morning, he had woken up a bit late and hadn't even gone to the small park.
"Eh, I don't object to you accepting commissions or anything, but dumping the criminal suspects right at the client's doorstep is a bit much, isn't it..." Conan was still grumbling incessantly.
Fortunately, the truck driver and the Yakuza boss had been discovered by an elderly person out for morning exercise just as dawn broke. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened.
If Mrs. Mizumoto had...
"Are you worried she would go to jail, or what?" Haibara asked, standing to the side clutching a reference book.
Also, for someone to eat a whole basin of rice first thing in the morning was a bit excessive.
"Forget it. This outcome is already pretty good," Conan shook his head.
According to the neighbors, the two bound men had been taken away by the police early in the morning and were likely already under interrogation.
"However, will Mrs. Mizumoto mention the request to the police?" Akemi brought a large bowl of soup to the Repairman.
If she revealed yesterday's request, wouldn't Mr. Tsuneo's identity be at risk of exposure?
Tsuneo swallowed a mouthful of soup and said, "I believe that even if she were to die, she wouldn't speak the truth."
putting oneself in her shoes, that would indeed be the case.
"It's a pity," Haibara said, closing her book and sitting to the side.
"Yeah." Tsuneo nodded.
Dr. Agasa and Conan exchanged a glance.
These two...
"Oh, right. Did you collect my commission fee?" Tsuneo suddenly remembered this detail.
"..."
"Speaking of which, I have something else for you here." Conan dug into his pocket and pulled out a black envelope.
"Shinichi, who sent such an ominous-looking envelope?" The Professor took the letter and frowned.
The front of the all-black envelope had the Repairman's name written in white ink.
There was no stamp, nor was there a sender's address.
"I admire your wisdom and cordially invite you to dinner at my manor..."
Tsuneo, who was still busy eating, signaled for the Professor to tear open the letter and read it for him.
"This looks like an invitation to some kind of gathering?" The Professor scratched his head.
But what is this signature at the end: "The Phantom of the Son Abandoned by God"?
What kind of thing is that?
"Professor, there should be a check inside the envelope as well," Conan said, looking up.
The Mori Detective Agency had received two such letters. The sender likely saw in the newspaper that Tsuneo was Uncle Kogoro's disciple and sent the letter there.
"When do we leave?" Tsuneo finally put down his bowl and chopsticks.
"Teacher Mori, I think this luxury car is quite nice!"
Inside a car rental agency, Tsuneo pointed to a black sedan listed at the top of the brochure.
"It really is! Look, Conan!" Ran picked Conan up to see.
"Ye-Yeah," the great detective blinked and nodded.
Uncle Kogoro gave the three of them a sideways glance.
Do you guys know what you're talking about?
If I were willing to spend that kind of money, I would just buy a car directly!
"We'll just take this economical and practical model!"
"Very well, Mr. Mori."
The staff quickly registered the information, signed the contract, and handed the car keys to Uncle Kogoro.
"By the way, shouldn't you consider opening an office or something?" Uncle Kogoro asked, glancing at Tsuneo in the back seat.
The letter from Asou Keiji last time had also been sent to his place.
This Repairman left business cards everywhere but had no address, so people didn't know where to send invitations like this.
"The engine of this car seems to have a little problem," Tsuneo noted, feeling the sound was a bit abnormal.
"That's what happens when Uncle gets greedy," Conan added, nodding in agreement.
"Oi, oi, are you two even listening to me?" Uncle Kogoro looked into the rearview mirror speechlessly.
These two guys were playing with their Game Boys, yet they still didn't forget to roast the rental car.
Ran, holding a map and sitting in the passenger seat, was navigating for her father.
Their destination: The Twilight Manor in Nagano Prefecture.
Bang!
Uncle Kogoro had been driving since morning, and it was now evening as they turned onto a winding mountain road.
Just then, a loud noise rang out, followed immediately by violent shaking of the car.
"Crap." Uncle Kogoro hurriedly pulled the car over to the side.
"What happened?" Ran rubbed her eyes and asked with a yawn.
"Tire blowout," Tsuneo could tell just by the sound.
"Really!" Conan leaned against the window, looking at the rear tire.
Every time we rent a car, something happens, more or less...
"Sigh, just my luck," Uncle Kogoro sighed, opened the trunk, and got out of the car.
Regrettably, the trunk was empty; there was no spare tire prepared for him at all.
"Uncle, look over there! There's a gas station just ahead!" Conan poked his head out and pointed to a gas station by the roadside, a few dozen meters away.
"Lucky!"
"Tsuneo, come help me."
"This is what they call 'light at the end of the tunnel'!"
Uncle Kogoro led the Repairman, beaming with joy, as they ran toward the gas station.
"Boss, you've got business!" Uncle Kogoro shouted happily as soon as he entered the door.
Although the car had broken down, finding an open gas station in a place like this was incredibly lucky!
Tsuneo glanced at the shop owner discussing tires with Uncle Kogoro, then turned his head and continued selecting snacks and drinks from the shelves.
In less than two minutes, Uncle Kogoro was slumped over the counter, snoring fast asleep. The Repairman, meanwhile, had filled a basket to the brim.
"How do you manage to stay so calm?"
The shop owner looked at Tsuneo and asked curiously.
Your companion is right in front of you, having fallen into a mysterious slumber. Don't you have even the slightest urge to come over and check on him?
"Change your clothes quickly. Also, you're paying for this tire and these items." Tsuneo rolled the tire with one hand and carried the shopping basket with the other, walking straight out of the gas station.
"Honestly..." The middle-aged shop owner watched the Repairman's retreating back and suddenly grumbled in a teenage boy's voice. Then, he propped up Uncle Kogoro and walked toward the gas station's break room.
"Brother Tsuneo, where's Dad? Why didn't he come out with you?" Ran asked curiously.
"He's inside paying," Tsuneo replied. He handed the food and drinks to Conan and the others, then took the tools he had "borrowed" from the gas station and began changing the tire.
A while later, the Repairman finished changing the tire, and Uncle Kogoro walked out.
The group of four continued their journey toward the Twilight Manor deep in the mountains...
Conan crunched on his snacks, staring at the back of Uncle Kogoro's head in the front seat, lost in thought.
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