BWDC:SDDK Chapter 22: That Girl Back Then... It Wasn't You in Drag, Was It?
Not far ahead, a grand manor gradually came into view.
Mouri Kogoro, sitting in the driver's seat, couldn't help but marvel, "As expected of the Nagatomo Group, the one said to be on par with the Suzuki Financial Group. Truly, being rich is wonderful!"
Ren Ichimonji: ? Huh? On par with the Suzuki Group? For real? Why didn't he have any memory of this Nagatomo Group?
Ren's gaze was suspicious as he whispered to Conan beside him, "For real? Is this Nagatomo Group really that powerful? It can stand alongside the Suzuki Group?"
In response, Conan fell silent for a moment, glancing outside.
Confirming that the Nagatomo manor's doorman hadn't come over to direct the parking yet, he quickly replied in a low voice, "Of course. It's just like how I'm equally famous as Hattori Heiji from Kansai."
--- If you'd said that earlier, I would've known!
Ren Ichimonji suddenly understood.
In the plot, Kudo Shinichi and Hattori Heiji were known as "Kudo of the East, Hattori of the West."
But in reality, once Hattori Heiji left Osaka Prefecture, almost no one knew who he was, whereas Kudo Shinichi was a world-famous detective. The two seemed to be equals, but their fame was not on the same level.
In later chapters, the Koshimizu Natsuki plot even directly mocked this point: [Why invite only Hattori Heiji and not Kudo Shinichi? Because Kudo Shinichi is far too famous as a detective.]
The car's speed gradually slowed, and a stranger's voice grew clearer.
"...Sir, please park the vehicle here, then follow me on foot into the villa."
The Nagatomo manor's doorman gave the reminder.
Mouri Kogoro in the front seat immediately responded, then accelerated again, only slowing down to a crawl as he reached the designated spot. He parked the car and took the initiative to push the door open and step out.
Click.
Everyone got out of the car.
The doorman looked at Ren Ichimonji as he stepped out of the rear door, a hint of confusion surfacing in his eyes.
He remembered that there wasn't a second adult male in the Mouri Detective Agency family? Though curious, he didn't ask further.
--- He didn't know this gentleman's identity, but he knew Detective Mouri was this gentleman's driver.
Mouri Kogoro, unaware that he had been silently looked down upon by the doorman, adjusted his hairstyle in the mirror.
Catching a glimpse of the unusual vehicles in the parking lot out of the corner of his eye, he immediately said, "Sir, please take us to meet Mr. Nagatomo."
"By the way, I see there are police cars from Osaka Prefecture here... What's going on? This is under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department; the Osaka police shouldn't have authority here."
The relationship between Kanto and Kansai had always been somewhat strained.
Even though Mouri Kogoro had retired from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Tokyo MPD, he still carried a bit of that "civilized Tokyo officer" annoyance toward those "rowdy Kansai officers."
However, as soon as Mouri Kogoro finished asking, the doorman spoke seriously, leaving Mouri stunned.
"That is the vehicle of Hattori Heizo, the Superintendent of the Osaka Police Headquarters."
"He is a close friend of the Master. He came specifically to visit for the Master's birthday celebration."
Superintendent of the Osaka Police Headquarters... Isn't that the same rank as the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Superintendent General?!
Mouri Kogoro was utterly shocked.
But amidst his shock, he felt like something wasn't quite right.
That name... he felt like he had heard it somewhere before...
"Why does it feel so similar to that brat Hattori Heiji who came by earlier? And they're both from Osaka."
Mouri Kogoro rubbed his chin, pondering silently.
However, prompted by the doorman, he snapped out of it and quickly followed.
Walking at the very back, Ren Ichimonji held his coffee with a relaxed air.
If you knew, you'd think he was here for a mission; if you didn't, you'd think he was a member of the Nagatomo Group taking a stroll in the manor.
Conan, walking beside him, couldn't help but ask, "Ren, I've been meaning to ask—why does it seem like your coffee never runs out?"
"No matter how many sips you take, there's always coffee in the cup..."
Without waiting for Ren's reply, Conan opened his mouth in a predictive strike, speaking almost in perfect sync with Ren:
"Your next line is 'I'm Batman,' isn't it?"
"I'm Bat..."
Ren was just about to answer, but hearing that, he quickly swallowed the second half of the word.
Only the "Bat," no "Man," because the "Man" had already crashed.
"Butler Musashi, why are there so many holes next to the pool?"
"Some of these pits are so big you could bury me in them. Isn't that dangerous? Especially during night patrols."
Mouri Kogoro's voice rang out from ahead.
A distinctly aged voice replied, "That is because the Master wishes to plant more trees around the manor to improve the environment."
"Life is like a flame; where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames."
Conan and Ren looked up simultaneously at Butler Musashi, who was talking to Mouri Kogoro.
This white-haired old butler, who looked to be at least seventy, noticed Ren at the back and asked in confusion, "By the way, Mr. Mouri, may I ask who this is...?"
"I recall your agency only consists of your daughter and this young boy staying with you?"
At this mention, Mouri Kogoro turned to look at Ren, his eyes filled with wonder.
Yo, seeing you get in the car so righteously, I really thought you were part of the commission.
Turns out you're just here for a free ride!
Mouri Kogoro shook his head, just about to say he wasn't a member of the agency.
But Ren Ichimonji spoke first, his tone incredibly certain.
"I was commissioned by Mr. Hattori Heiji. I simply came along with Detective Mouri."
"If possible, please let me go meet Mr. Hattori; he can testify for me."
It sounded a bit like nonsense.
The old butler, Musashi Nosuke, had a strange expression on his face.
The reason he had commissioned Mouri Kogoro today was because of the idea from Hattori Heizo and Hattori Heiji.
If there was another person commissioned, why didn't they, as the hosts, know about it?
However, since the other party spoke with such confidence, he must have some backing...
"Hey, hey, what are you talking about?"
From the second floor of the villa, a voice with a thick Kansai accent drifted down.
A dark-skinned youth from Osaka with a backwards cap poked his head out of the window. He was just about to declare that no such thing had happened.
But then, he heard his phone make a sound.
Hattori Heiji checked it, and his expression immediately turned to one of profound respect. His face changed instantly.
"Uh... it's been so long I almost didn't recognize him! Butler Musashi, this gentleman is indeed a friend I commissioned. I forgot to mention it to you beforehand, my bad!"
"Alright, hurry up and come inside!"
Mouri Kogoro watched in surprise as Ren Ichimonji, holding his coffee, leisurely entered the villa and disappeared from sight.
Ah? You really were commissioned?
Before long, Ren Ichimonji appeared before Hattori Heiji. He took a sip of coffee, intending to act superior for a moment.
Then, he heard Hattori Heiji's suspicious question:
"That girl bouncing the ball back then... it wasn't you in drag, was it?"
Ren Ichimonji: ?
End of Chapter
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