Chapter 260

Because Ai Haibara's composure collapsed at this point, Conan Edogawa was unable to continue asking questions... However, he figured he wouldn't get any more information by continuing, so he gave up for the time being.

Based on the current information, the key words he can extract about Potts are terrifying and having a perverse sense of humor. Miyano Akemi's mention of his gentle and considerate nature is questionable and should be viewed with great skepticism.

...This makes him seem even more like Hanchuan Fukami, since he has a deep understanding of both the terrifying and the perverse.

Even in terms of sheer terror, Hanchuan Shenliu is on a completely different level from the others.

However, Conan Edogawa also knew that it wasn't good to focus too much on Shinryu Samakawa based on his intuition, so he restrained himself and tried his best not to judge people based on first impressions. A narrow perspective would prevent him from seeing other issues.

If no new suspicions arise, he tries his best to treat Hanchuan Shenliu as a normal person.

At least the title of "crime consultant" has been removed from Senkawa Shinryu's head.

Finally, Kenji Hagiwara drove to his destination.

It's a detached house with the surname "Hamanaka" hanging on the outside.

Kenji Hagiwara went up and rang the doorbell. After someone answered, he spoke into the intercom, "This is Hagiwara, who made the appointment earlier."

Soon, the door opened, and the group of people entered the house.

"Welcome." A middle-aged man wearing a flashy pink shirt, white vest, and slicked-back hair greeted them. "I didn't expect anyone to find my place."

He looked very relaxed and didn't seem worried at all that the police were coming.

Kenji Hagiwara said, "I heard that you usually do transactions online, so I was quite surprised that you agreed to meet in person."

Hamaka Misao snorted twice: "Actually, I used to trade offline at first, but I offended someone and switched to online to avoid retaliation... But I understand some people's concerns, so I welcome anyone who comes to me. It's just that no one has been able to find me in the past two years. You guys are pretty good."

Upon hearing this, Conan Edogawa had already begun to suspect something.

This location is quite far from the place where he first heard about the "consultant's" case—the location of that treasure case. Moreover, this Hamaka consultant said that no one has been able to find him in the past two years... But he clearly heard the prisoner say that he went to consult the "consultant" at the door.

To confirm further, Conan Edogawa feigned innocence and asked, "Are you the 'crime consultant'?"

"That's right!"

Hamaka Misao suddenly became agitated: "I am the modern-day Professor James Moriarty, my name is Hamaka Misao, and I am a crime consultant."

Everyone: "…………"

He admitted it, he really admitted to being a criminal consultant... Isn't he afraid of getting arrested?

This level of intelligence...

Kenji Hagiwara almost called the Metropolitan Police Department to ask if this was a joke.

However, he patiently continued to probe for information.

Under everyone's stunned gaze, Hamaka Misao unhesitatingly admitted that he had helped people plan crimes, and that his house was filled with various criminal plans and tools needed to carry out the crimes, such as guns, handcuffs, and bombs.

"In other words, as long as you follow my plan, you will definitely be able to commit the perfect crime—well, except when you encounter my nemesis. And this plan must be the full version; I will not be responsible if the simplified or summary versions fail."

Kenji Hagiwara's lips twitched: "Nemesis?"

“…A policeman.” Hamaka Misao sighed. “I don’t know why, but based on my investigation, my clients who encounter that policeman at the scene mistake him for me, then lower their guard and leak information… I’ve always wanted a policeman or detective as my nemesis, so I’ve wanted to have a good talk with him for a long time, but for some reason, the police have been keeping his identity very secret, never letting him appear in interviews, always letting his partner…”

Everyone: "…………"

It must be Senkawa Fukami! This must be referring to Senkawa Fukami!!!

The police's reason for keeping it so secret is all too understandable. If Shinryu Hanakawa appeared in an interview like that, it would only create negative misunderstandings about the police among the public…

When Hamaka Misao was talking about her partner, she suddenly realized something and looked sharply at Hagiwara Kenji: "Wait, the policeman I saw on TV looks like you?"

Kenji Hagiwara gave an awkward but polite smile.

Kogoro Mouri cleared his throat, feeling a slight dissatisfaction that he hadn't been recognized yet.

Date Wataru sighed: "Since we've already been discovered, let's just say it directly... Yes, we are the police."

Hamaka Misao looked at Date Wataru in shock: "I remember the police always work in pairs... Are you his partner, my nemesis? This is a little different from what I imagined!"

As he spoke, he even revealed a resentful expression, seemingly very concerned about why Date Han was able to steal the title of "Moriarty's Crime Advisor".

Ida Kou didn't want to explain too much to a prisoner, so he asked directly, "When you did these things and found the police coming to your door, weren't you worried at all?"

"Why should I worry?" Hamaka Misao said smugly. "I didn't do anything. The so-called plan is just a fictional novel plot... All the characters, locations, plot points, and names are fictional and have nothing to do with reality. Just because I wrote a novel, are the police going to arrest me? If that's the case, you should go and arrest all the crime novel authors on the bestseller list first! Heh heh heh, hahahahaha!!!"

Everyone fell silent as they watched Hamakachi Kou laugh wildly.

Even the usually unreliable Kogoro Mouri couldn't help but show the expression of an old man looking at his phone on the subway.

Kenji Hagiwara sighed, stepped forward, and with a click, handcuffed Misao Hamaka.

"Okay, Hamaka Misao, I'm arresting you on suspicion of instigating crime and violating the Gun Control Law—I really don't understand, you don't even know you've broken the law, how can you be a crime consultant?"

Hamaka Misao: "...??? How could this be!"

Conan Edogawa couldn't stand it anymore, but he still bravely asked, "This... advisor, this year—"

Kogoro Mouri pressed his head down: "Alright, stop causing trouble here. There's nothing more for us to do here. Let's go outside and wait."

Inspector Megure felt that dealing with a cunning criminal consultant would be safer by having a famous detective to hedge the risks, and given Kogoro Mouri's recent excellent performance, he entrusted the case to him. However, the criminal started confessing right away, making a detective completely unnecessary...

"But!" Conan Edogawa wanted to ask the advisor if he had ever deciphered a code before, but Kogoro Mouri didn't give him the chance and grabbed him by the back of the collar and left.

Fortunately, Kenji Hagiwara quickly called his colleagues to take over, sealed the documents and evidence, and stayed behind to wait for his colleagues. He then had Wataru Date escort the prisoner and drive Conan Edogawa and Kogoro Mouri back home.

So when he was in the same car as Hamaka Misa, Conan Edogawa finally found an opportunity to get information out of him.

Have you helped anyone decipher any codes or coded messages lately?

Hamaka Misao: "Huh? I don't take this kind of work. I'm a crime consultant. Can't you go to a proper detective for this kind of thing?"

Conan Edogawa: "...???"

Hamaka Misao suddenly became alert: "Why are you asking this kind of question? Do you have other consultants who also take on commissions to decipher codes?"

Conan Edogawa: "Uh..."

Upon seeing the child's expression, Hamaka Misa was heartbroken.

Oh no, he's become a stand-in!

Conan Edogawa had no time to consider Hamaka Misao's thoughts; his mind was in a mess too.

Wait a minute, let him sort things out.

First, the prisoner that night clearly stated that a well-known "consultant" in the underworld helped decipher the code. Second, this "consultant," who has already been apprehended, denied ever doing it...

That day, Officer Hagiwara accidentally let slip that "that guy is indeed good at deciphering codes."

For various reasons, Conan Edogawa felt that he might have misunderstood Shinryu Samakawa, and took Inspector Hagiwara's reaction as a subconscious misinterpretation of the title "advisor," thinking of the person he knew best, Shinryu Samakawa, the advisor to the Metropolitan Police Department.

But now that I think about it carefully, I feel that Officer Hagiwara's reaction that day was rather subtle...

The reason why my impression of Shinryu Hagiwara kept improving was largely due to Officer Hagiwara's constant explanations and indoctrination...

Conan Edogawa suddenly felt a chill in his heart.

The image of Officer Hagiwara smiling and waving goodbye to them before leaving, when recalled, seems to have been filtered through a dark lens, inexplicably permeating a chilling feeling.

...W-I don't think so, right? Could Hanakawa Shinryu really be a "crime consultant"?

If that's the case, why would Officer Hagiwara bring him along to arrest this consultant? Isn't he afraid that Hagiwara will find out something's wrong...? Does he think that he's just a kid and doesn't understand anything, or has he misunderstood?

Back at the Mouri Detective Agency, Conan Edogawa quickly summarized the day's events and told Heiji Hattori about them.

"...It's not that I investigated the wrong person. Let's just say he might be a [crime consultant]!"

Heiji Hattori hesitated for a moment, then analyzed seriously, "So, you suspect that guy named Shinryu Kagawa? But he's an advisor to the Metropolitan Police Department, right? He used to be a detective..."

“A few years ago, there was a detective who opened his own firm, and he ended up in jail for a murder case, spending two days on the front page.” Conan Edogawa sighed. “I’m not just suspecting people randomly, you’ll understand when you see him.”

Hattori Heiji frowned: "...Alright, I'll ask my dad first, you wait for my news."

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Bonus chapter

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Even though he wasn't walking beside Hanchuan, Kenji Hagiwara's reputation was still damaged...

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This Hamaka Misao comes from episode 1037 of the Detective Conan TV anime. It's really that idiotic. The original work is even more idiotic; he opened a police agency and the police investigated for so long without finding out.

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Big news, everyone! Latest manga information! Hakuba Saguru saw Conan using a voice changer!

Finally, one more person who isn't blind!