BWDC:SDDK Chapter 46: What Do You Mean There's a Riddle on the Postcard?
"Ah? You're going straight back now?"
Mouri Kogoro said, sounding rather dissatisfied as he carried two bottles of red wine. "Anyway, you're living right next to the agency now. Why not come over and have a few drinks with me?"
"I say, kid, it couldn't be that you just can't handle your liquor, could it?"
The basement of the Special Effects Fan Club had provided dinner and drinks. While Ren Ichimonji was staking out Shu Honda, Mouri Kogoro had already become inseparable from his beloved alcohol. It was only when he heard the gunshot in his drunken stupor that he was jolted awake. He had rushed over, only to be promptly put to sleep by one of Conan's needles.
Now, Mouri Kogoro was still clutching the two bottles of red wine given to him when the fan club event ended prematurely, preparing to head home and drink.
"As is commonly known, Batman doesn't drink," Ren Ichimonji stated.
Of course, the Batman of Gotham doesn't drink because he needs to maintain his physical functions at peak performance. The Batman of Beika, however, didn't drink simply because he hadn't touched a drop of alcohol in his entire life. Ren wasn't sure if he was the type to pass out after one sip or if he had a legendary tolerance; therefore, he wasn't going to gamble on that possibility.
Not gambling was the only way to win.
Seeing Ren decline the invitation to drink together, Mouri Kogoro let out a disappointed sigh. He glanced at the others following beside them.
His daughter, Mouri Ran, was a minor and couldn't drink—and even if she were an adult, she certainly wouldn't. As for the four little brats of the Junior Detective League, there was no need to even mention them. He hadn't reached the point of seeking out children as drinking buddies yet.
"Fine, fine. I'll go back and drink by myself. Can't let it go to waste," Mouri Kogoro muttered with a yawn.
Before long, the parents of the other Junior Detective League members arrived at the villa where the fan club meeting had been held. The parents thanked Mouri Kogoro while hauling their respective brats into their cars.
By now, they were quite used to this routine. There was no helping it; they couldn't control them. One could only say that their children were a bit more mischievous and had slightly worse luck compared to others.
Watching Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko's parents drive away, Mouri Kogoro led Conan and Ran toward home. Since they were headed in the same direction, Ren Ichimonji walked with them for at least this stretch of the journey.
Conan, being led by the hand by Ran, kept his eyes fixed on Ren's back. He remembered now—Professor Agasa had indeed mentioned having a first love once. Back then, a "riddle postcard" had been brought up.
However, he had been in a rush at the time and hadn't asked for details. Thinking about it now, could Ren be referring to the riddle on that postcard? Was he going to crack the mystery related to Professor Agasa's first love?
Conan felt a bit skeptical. He had seen Ren's deductive and combat abilities clearly, but when it came to deciphering codes, he didn't think Ren was necessarily better than him.
How many days had Ren even known Professor Agasa? How long had he known him? Could Ren really have more information about the Professor's first love than he did?
Conan muttered to himself, "I have a feeling the Professor is going to get hoodwinked again."
Then they'd start talking about manga, or "The Batman Who Laughs," or some other bizarre setting. Regardless, he had to go over and see for himself today. But first, he needed a good excuse to convince Ran and the old man to let him go to the Professor's house...
"Eh? You want to stay at Professor Agasa's place today too?"
Downstairs at the Mouri Detective Agency, Mouri Ran asked with concern, "It's so late. Won't it be dangerous to go over there now? Conan, should I walk you over?"
The nights in Beika Town were not exactly safe. After all, the number of crematoriums operating twenty-four hours a day in Beika exceeded eighty. The danger level of Beika at night was evident.
To this, Conan merely smiled. He was the former high school detective Kudo Shinichi, the Sherlock Holmes of the Heisei Era—the urban legend who roamed the nights of Beika and made the "shadow men" tremble with fear. Just walking the night streets? How could that be dangerous for him?
Besides, Ren Ichimonji had already headed over. If he got there any later, he'd miss out on all the gossip! If he missed this "tea," he would be genuinely heartbroken, okay?
"If he wants to go, let him go. What's the big deal?"
Mouri Kogoro's voice drifted down from upstairs. He had just set the two bottles of wine on the table and turned right back around to come downstairs. With his hands in his pockets, he said nonchalantly, "Alright, kid, get in the car. I'll drive you over."
Since he had wine to look forward to, he was in a decent mood. It was just a short distance; a quick trip wouldn't be an issue, and it would serve as the prelude to his upcoming drinking session.
"Dad! You just had alcohol earlier!" Ran stomped her foot, saying angrily, "And you've been drinking too much lately! Every time there's a case, you drink. In two days, you drink two cans; in four days, it's four; in eight days, you've had eight! At this rate, you're going to turn into the Yamata no Orochi!"
"If that happens, I'm really going to have to call Mom over to come and slay you!"
In mythology, the Yamata no Orochi was slain because it passed out from binge drinking, allowing someone to cut it open and retrieve the Kusanagi sword.
Hearing this, Mouri Kogoro's face soured. Nevertheless, he resolutely gestured for Conan to get in the car, preparing to depart. He had sobered up during the case earlier. For such a short distance, nothing would go wrong!
However, just as Conan hopped in and Kogoro was about to start the ignition, a patrol car bearing the insignia of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Traffic Department happened to drive by. Noticing that Mouri Kogoro seemed ready to drive, it backed up.
Two female officers immediately stepped out of the car, took out their notebooks, and asked politely:
"Hello, I am Miyamoto Yumi, Assistant Inspector from the Traffic Enforcement Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department."
"And this is my colleague, Sergeant Miike Naoko, also from the Traffic Enforcement Division. We are currently conducting an investigation regarding drunk driving. Would you please cooperate and listen to the new slogan of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Traffic Department?"
---What the heck, it's the Traffic Enforcement Division.
Mouri Kogoro's hand, which was about to turn the key, suddenly froze. He looked left and right, patting his pockets with an expression that said, "Who put me in this car?" When he realized he couldn't fake his way out of it, he said with a wry face, "I know, I know. If you drink, don't drive; if you drive, don't drink."
Plop.
Conan jumped out of the car, his forehead covered in black lines. Taking advantage of Mouri Kogoro and Ran being distracted, he sprinted toward Professor Agasa's research lab at full speed.
Honestly, the old man was never reliable!
"There are thousands of roads, but safety comes first. The Tokyo Traffic Department reminds you: irregular driving leads to the tears of your loved ones..."
The female officer's voice gradually grew faint. Conan's hunger for the "tea" grew rapidly. He wanted to know so badly. Had Ren Ichimonji cracked the riddle postcard the Professor mentioned, or not?!
"What do you mean there's a riddle on the postcard?"
Ren Ichimonji blinked his eyes, looking somewhat confused.
I don't know anything about that.
He shook his head and asked directly, "Professor Agasa, just tell me the name. I'll figure out the method."
End of Chapter
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