Chapter 358

Although his mind was still somewhat muddled, his subconscious had already realized something. So much so that even though his whole body ached (from being dragged all the way from the second floor) and the back of his head was still throbbing with pain (from being beaten and bleeding), Morofushi Takaaki actually sprang up from the hospital bed.

"What did you say?!"

Zhu Fugaoming's vision was still blurry, sometimes white and sometimes black, making it impossible to see anything clearly, but he was already eagerly looking at the indistinct figure.

Unfortunately, before Morofushi Takaaki could even get a good look at this person who seemed to be connected to his missing brother, he was pushed back onto the bed.

"You've been beaten into a stupor, what are you doing moving around? Let's wait for the doctor to come."

Zhu Fu Gaoming: "…………"

This person really doesn't know how to speak properly, using euphemisms in such a direct way...

However, Morofushi Takaaki's body couldn't withstand such a big movement. After his back hit the bed, he felt as if the blood was flowing back into his head, his brain was buzzing, and his ears were ringing.

Zhu Fu Gaoming wanted to ask directly what had happened to his younger brother, but he hesitated, fearing that his ominous suspicion would be confirmed. So he weakly asked, "Excuse me, who are you...?"

However, perhaps due to his current state, he was unable to concentrate. After waiting for two seconds, when Zhu Fu Gaoming's vision finally cleared, he found that the ward was empty, and he could just hear the door lock gently closing.

Zhu Fu Gaoming: "…………"

Because of some concerns, I couldn't ask directly, and now I can't even see a trace of him.

However, subconsciously he was actually relieved, because even the most rational person who knows that delaying won't solve the problem wouldn't want to hear bad news. He always felt that before confirming the facts, there might still be room for things to turn around.

Upon hearing such provocative words, even Morofushi Takaaki felt he needed to calm down.

Zhu Fu Gaoming was highly cultured, not only because of his understanding of ancient books and Chinese culture, but also because of his keen observation of the subtle nuances of language.

Without any formal training, he could analyze the details of a person's speech to deduce things they didn't want others to know. After becoming a police officer and receiving professional training, his observational skills in this area benefited him greatly in many cases.

Therefore, he was very clear about the subtext behind the use of certain special terms.

—My condolences.

The perceptive Morofushi Takaaki, who was also in the police system, naturally had some guesses about the whereabouts of his younger brother, who had gone missing after graduating from the police academy.

And if we connect this speculation with the phrase "please accept my condolences"... then we'll see situations where the word "please accept my condolences" is used...

After an unknown amount of time, there was finally a knock on the ward door. Morofushi Takaaki was mentally prepared and looked at the door with clear eyes: "Please come in... Hmm?"

Why is it Ran Mouri?

He remembered hearing a male voice...

However, it's not surprising that Ms. Mori is here, since she's always by Yamato Kansuke and Uehara Yui's side. If something happened to him, those two would definitely be worried... The question is, where is that person who seemed to know his brother?!

Zhu Fugaoming's gaze became vacant.

Ran Mouri was initially pleased to see Takaaki Morofushi open his eyes, but then she was startled to see his gaze become blank: "Officer Morofushi?"

"Ah... I'm fine." Morofushi Takaaki paused for a moment, then couldn't help asking, "Was there someone else just now?"

He was certain it wasn't a hallucination; even if he'd been hit in the head, he wouldn't be so idle as to imagine a stranger coming to tell him that his brother was in trouble. But whether the other person knew Ran Mouri and the others was another matter.

Ran Mouri, Kogoro Mouri, and that overly clever kid Conan Edogawa were invited to Nagano by Kansuke Yamato and Yui Uehara, and they spent some time together. The person from earlier hadn't appeared yet; perhaps he heard something while he was unconscious and came over.

He might have gotten in by claiming to be an acquaintance of Ran Mouri, since Ran didn't know him well... He probably wouldn't get any answers from Ran Mouri, since people associated with his brother's undercover work are usually low-profile and secretive. The fact that he came to visit him so promptly is probably already a great effort.

But he couldn't bear not asking. After all these years, he had finally heard news of his younger brother again, but he hadn't even had a chance to ask in detail...

Ran Mouri was puzzled for a moment, then suddenly realized: "Ah! That makes sense. Where did Bo Ye go?"

"...thin leaves?"

Morofushi Takaaki was truly surprised that Ran Mouri not only knew the other person's name, but also called him so intimately, which was completely different from the style he had imagined people in a secret service would be like: "Who is he?"

Ran Mouri enthusiastically helped explain: "He was a kind passerby! Usopp saw the prisoner running hurriedly out of the villa and felt it was strange, so he got out of the car to see if anyone was trapped in the fire... Oh, and he also took a picture of the prisoner. Officer Yamato and Officer Uehara are interrogating him now."

Morofuku Takaaki: "...???"

Wait a minute, why is this part different from what he imagined?!

It turns out that he didn't come to visit him on behalf of his brother because he heard about his hospitalization, but rather that he happened to be passing by when the prisoner was knocked unconscious and thrown into the fire?!

What a coincidence!

"Excuse me, I was unconscious for a long time..."

"Not long, less than half an hour after she was taken to the hospital," Ran Mouri said with a smile. "The nurse has already informed Officer Yamato and the others; they should be here soon."

"...Thank you."

Zhu Fugao Ming was somewhat distracted, because he roughly understood that the prisoner could not escape, so he was not very concerned about his two colleagues, but was deeply troubled by what exactly was going on with that "Brother Bo Ye".

What a coincidence! How could it be such a coincidence that just anyone passing by would know his brother and even their relationship...?

A short while later, Officer Yamato and Yui Uehara also came to see him.

"Gao Ming, you're finally awake!" Yamato Kansuke retorted, "You only woke up after everything was over. You really know how to pick your time."

Uehara Yui then gave a very serious report on the case: "The culprit has confessed, and we can take him back to the police station in a bit... Are you alright? How are you feeling?"

“Not bad.” Morabu Takaaki had already sat up. “I heard it’s because they happened to take a picture of the prisoner… Looks like my warning was useless.”

Everyone on the other side fell into an eerie silence for a moment.

Uehara Yui chuckled dryly: "Actually, it is still somewhat useful, since we deciphered the code first before we knew there was photographic evidence."

Zhu Fugaoming asked, "Who deciphered the code?"

“…a kind passerby,” Yamato Kansuke said, his lips twitching.

He wanted Morofushi Takaaki to experience the feeling of having spent several days searching only to have a passerby casually discover the blind spot.

Conan Edogawa couldn't help but comment: "Those who are so thin-skinned don't even know that there are people related to 'green' among the suspects. They just say that since it's not red, it must be green..."

Upon hearing the nickname "Bo Ye Ge" once again, Morofushi Komei tensed up.

"Is it someone I know? They're in Nagano too? What a coincidence."

"Yeah, we were also surprised when we saw Usopp-nii..." Conan Edogawa belatedly realized something, "Huh? Where's Usopp-nii?"

Ran Mouri said, "I went to call the nurse, and when I came back, Bo Ye was gone... I'll call and ask."

With that, Ran Mouri politely left the ward to make a phone call.

Yamato Kansuke sensed that something was wrong.

Morofushi Takaaki's gaze followed Ran Mouri until she completely disappeared from sight before he looked away.

When he met Ran Mouri before, Morofushi Takaaki didn't show this kind of special attention, so if we deduce that...

"Are you interested in that Usaku Saiki?" Yamato Kansuke asked astutely.

Conan Edogawa also noticed this and looked at Takaaki Morofushi with a puzzled expression.

"I just wanted to thank them in person for their help."

Zhu Fugao Ming said without changing his expression.

He knew very well that he absolutely could not tell anyone about his brother's undercover mission, not even his childhood friends who were also in the police system.

Moreover, he still hasn't figured out what's going on with Bo Yezhaiji, or what his relationship is with his brother, so he needs to keep it a secret to avoid any accidents.

Yamato Kansuke and Edogawa Conan had no doubts, after all, the reason was too good to be true, and polite people would thank him in person.

Ran Mouri returned quickly, looking apologetic, and said, "Um... Bo Ye said he's not a suspect anyway, so he had to leave first..."

“I see.” Morofushi Takaaki said with a smile, “Could I have his contact information? I think I should at least thank him properly for his help…”

He needs to ask about his brother's condition! Even if he's dead or alive, at the very least, shouldn't he have some last words or a will?

The other party had already appeared directly in front of him and said those things, so they probably didn't mind if he tried to contact them.

Ran Mouri hesitated for a moment: "Let me ask Usopp. He doesn't really answer calls from strangers. Shinichi said he often can't get in touch with people..."

It sounded suspicious, but Morofushi Takaaki insisted even more: "Then please ask him."

They had just sensed something was off, but Yamato Kansuke and Edogawa Conan, who had been persuaded, felt a sense of unease once again.

...Too persistent!

Since they've already left, and Ran Mouri has gone to such lengths, it would be better to express our gratitude when we meet again, or simply ask Ran Mouri, an acquaintance, to pass on the thank-you gift. This insistence on getting their contact information is rather offensive and doesn't seem like the usual behavior of Morofushi Takaaki. It feels like he has ulterior motives.

Noticing the subtle exchange between Yamato Kansuke and Edogawa Conan, Morofushi Takaaki calmly explained, "I felt an instant connection with Mr. Usubaba."

Yamato dares to help: "…………"

Conan Edogawa: "…………"

Did you spend more than half a minute with someone when you were sober? And that's how you instantly become friends?

But now that things had come to this, the two understood that this meant Morofushi Takaaki didn't want them to delve into the matter further...

Conan Edogawa's suspicions about Saiki Usaku resurfaced once again.

Could it be that Inspector Morifushi Takaaki knows something, which is why he's paying so much attention to Usopp? Did he know him before, or did he know such a person existed?

Or did Brother Bo Ye do something in the past that would attract the attention of the police?

If you have the chance, try to find out a little.

While this group was generating doubts, Usoppō Saiki had already boarded the car that came to pick him up.

While driving, Scotland asked with a concerned yet subtle hint, "How is it?"

Bo Yezhai Ji: "Please accept my condolences."

Scotland:"?!?!?!"

—His brother is dead?!

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I spent the whole day on the high-speed rail, and my back hurts.

I'm going to Guangzhou the day after tomorrow. I'd like to ask the lovely people there what's the best thing to wear this season...

.

System: Aren't you going to try something different?

Thin Leaf: It's not about having many tricks, but about using them effectively. Look at how many years I've been using the same method to identify undercover agents, and I haven't changed it!