Mouri Detective Agency — Afternoon.
Classes had just ended when Ren Kuroda stopped by the Mouri Detective Agency.Inside, Conan was hunched over a pile of newspapers, flipping through them with growing frustration.
Ren walked over and asked, "What're you looking for, Conan?"
Without even glancing up, Conan greeted him absentmindedly. "I'm checking for news about Tsukikage Island."He slammed one paper shut. "It's been days, and not a single outlet's reported anything! Nothing online either—no discussion, no updates, nothing!"
From the sofa, Kogoro Mouri sipped his beer and let out a laugh. "You're supposed to be a smart kid, and you can't figure that out? Obviously it's been suppressed!"He waved the can for emphasis. "A mess that big—bombs going off, the village chief tied to a drug ring—no paper would dare print it!"
"Ugh…" Conan slumped against the table, his sigh carrying every ounce of his frustration with reality.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Oh? A client!" Mouri perked up immediately. "Conan, clear the table! Ren, get the door!"He hurried to straighten his tie and slick back his hair.
"Got it," Ren said, rising casually to answer.
"Why do I have to clean up?" Conan muttered, shoving newspapers aside.
"Because you're my assistant, that's why!" Mouri declared proudly, combing his hair in the reflection of a beer can.
Conan sighed. "Great. Free child labor. My favorite."
Before he could finish grumbling, Ren's voice called from the entrance."Conan! Your mom's here!"
"My… what?" Conan froze. He turned—and saw a well-dressed, plump middle-aged woman standing in the doorway.
"That's not my mom!" he blurted out.
The woman smiled warmly and stepped inside. "Oh, but I am!"Before he could react, she scooped him up into her arms, hugging him tightly. "Conan, I'm so sorry for leaving you all alone like this! You must've been so lonely!"
Conan's blood turned to ice.
This is bad. My identity's fake—so who the hell…?
He opened his mouth to protest—but then froze.Something hard pressed against his stomach.
He slowly glanced down.Hidden in the woman's hand, beneath her coat, was a pistol.
A chill shot down his spine. His muscles locked. His heart dropped into his shoes.
I'm done for. She's found me out…
Every thought in his brain drowned beneath the tidal wave of fear.All he could do was stare blankly into that smiling, motherly face—eyes wide with horror—and pray someone noticed.
Ren's laugh suddenly broke the tension."Conan, you look terrified! Don't tell me you didn't confess what you did last night to your mom? You're in for it when you get home!"
Mouri, oblivious, chuckled as he stood up. "Ah, so this is your mother! Pleasure to meet you—I'm Mouri Kogoro!"
Conan's faint hope flickered and died. They hadn't noticed a thing.
"Yes," the woman said sweetly, "I'm Fumiyo Edogawa."She bowed politely. "I'm terribly sorry. My husband and I both work overseas, so we rarely have time to care for Conan properly."
She smiled apologetically at Mouri. "We've been meaning to thank you for looking after him."
As she spoke, she gently set Conan down beside her. The boy stood stiff as a soldier, barely breathing.
Then she reached into her handbag and produced a thick white envelope. "And this is just a small token of appreciation. Please accept it."
Mouri had been gearing up for one of his classic lectures—If you don't have time for your kid, don't have one!—but the moment he caught sight of the envelope's weight, his entire demeanor flipped.
"Oh, no, no, that's far too generous—really, I couldn't possibly…" he said, while his hands moved of their own accord to take it.
Ruffling Conan's hair, he added cheerfully, "Conan's a bright, well-behaved boy! You've done a great job raising him."
"Haha, I think so too," Fumiyo giggled behind her hand.
Mouri suddenly realized he was being rude and hurriedly gestured her inside. "Forgive me! Please, Mrs. Edogawa, have a seat. I'll pour some tea!"
"Maybe next time," she said apologetically. "I still need to pick up my husband."
"Oh, of course! Drive safely!" Mouri said, bowing politely.
"Goodbye."Fumiyo gave a pleasant wave, then took Conan by the hand and led him downstairs.
As they stepped outside, Conan's panic slowly gave way to icy focus.He knew now he couldn't rely on anyone else—he'd have to find a way out on his own.He needed to wait for her to lower her guard.
She pushed him gently into the passenger seat, and just as she started the car—
"Wait a second!"
Conan's head snapped up. Ren was running down the steps. Hope flared in his chest. He noticed!
"Conan, you forgot your schoolbag," Ren said brightly, handing it to Fumiyo through the window.
Click.The door shut with a dull thud.
Conan's soul left his body. He didn't notice at all.
"Thank you for bringing it down," Fumiyo said pleasantly. "I would've had to come back otherwise."
"No problem!" Ren grinned. He waved toward the car. "Be good, okay? Listen to your mom."
"Uh… y-yeah," Conan managed, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Drive safe," Ren added, and walked back upstairs.
He leaned on the balcony railing, watching the car disappear into traffic.A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.
From inside, Mouri's excited shout echoed through the office."Whoa! Conan's mom is loaded! She gave me five million yen!"
Ren turned to see Mouri gleefully fanning through the bills.He chuckled. "So our little detective's a rich kid, huh?"
Mouri hesitated, then pulled out a few notes. He held out two. "Here—twenty thousand yen. You've helped look after Conan too. Take your share."
Ren accepted the bills without hesitation. "Thanks."
Stuffing the rest into his pocket, Mouri leaned in and whispered, "And, uh… don't mention the money to Ran, alright?"
Ren blinked, then smirked. Ah. So it's hush money.
He held out his hand again. "Add fifty thousand, and I'll make sure she never finds out."
"You greedy brat!" Mouri groaned, reluctantly peeling off three more notes.
"I said another fifty, not a total of fifty," Ren replied with a laugh.
"You're impossible!" Mouri grumbled, finally surrendering two more. "There—fifty total! But keep your mouth shut, got it? If Ran finds out, you're dead!"
"Relax," Ren said with a grin. "Your secret's safe with me."
Satisfied, Mouri tucked the rest of the money deep into his pocket."Alright, I'm off to the mahjong parlor across the street. Keep an eye on the office for me!"
Without waiting for a reply, he bolted downstairs.
Ren smiled faintly, slipped an earpiece into his ear, and brewed himself a cup of coffee.Settling back into his chair, he unfolded the newspaper Conan had left behind.
The room fell quiet, save for the rustle of paper and the distant hum of the city below.