Under the combined influence of Yoruichi Toyama and Tooru Amuro—written as "persuasion" but read as "deception"—Reiko Kuroiwa finally agreed to let them enter the village chief's study.
According to her, over the years, whenever the village chief of Heiyan was in a bad mood, he would lock himself in his study.
That was a forbidden area for their entire family; apart from their secretary, Hirata, no one else was allowed to enter.
Yoruichi Toyama also vaguely recalled Hirata's role in the original story.
It should be said that he was Black Rock's loyal and good dog.
Later, it seems that he was the one handling all the drug dealing for Black Rock.
This is precisely why the study is all the more suspicious.
Amuro Tooru and Murasawa, though still unaware of what was being smuggled, seemed eager to try their luck in the study.
As for Reiko Kuroiwa, persuading her is actually quite simple.
The fact that Dr. Asai's true identity was Asano Minami had already thrown her into a panic.
She was so worried that her childhood friend might do something terrible to her father because of a "misunderstanding".
The fact that the Black Rock Village Chief knew this fact but remained silent also seems to suggest that there is something else going on behind the scenes.
If they could find it in the study... for example, Kuroiwa knows about Nishimoto and Kameyama's smuggling records...
Reiko Kuroiwa clearly thought so.
It would be great if it could be proven that her father, like Keiji Aso, was innocently implicated in this crime.
With that in mind, she was even more eager than anyone else to explore that mysterious study.
But at first glance, there was nothing suspicious about the study.
The bookshelves were neatly arranged with hardcover books, most of which were world classics that had been passed down for a long time, making them look quite impressive.
Besides the usual paper and pens, there was also an open notebook on the desk. A quick glance revealed that it contained records of daily expenses.
However, due to the nature of his work, Amuro Tooru still went over and carefully went through the notes with Kuroiwa Reiko.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything strange about it,” Kuroiwa Reiko said hesitantly. “The handwriting is definitely Hirata’s.”
Yoruichi Toyama was more interested in a book on the corner of his desk.
"Death on the Nile...Does Chief Kuroiwa like reading mystery novels?"
If so, it's no wonder he was so sensitive to the detective's arrival.
When it comes to looking at certain "events," mystery enthusiasts and ordinary people have different perspectives.
But Reiko Kuroiwa quickly shook her head.
“Dad doesn’t like reading novels! He says they’re just made-up stories to fool people, and they’re not interesting at all.”
"Hmm?" Almost simultaneously, Yoruichi Toyama and Tooru Amuro's gazes fell on the bookshelves that covered the entire wall.
The books displayed there were all hardcover books with gold lettering, including "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "The Count of Monte Cristo," "Spartacus," and many more.
Someone who never reads novels and whose work and life are actually unrelated to novels would have such books in their study, which is obviously just for aesthetic purposes.
"Ah, those books," Kuroiwa Reiko explained somewhat embarrassedly when she saw the two looking at her, "are all fake, just covers."
"When we were decorating the study, the designer said it wouldn't look good without bookshelves, so my dad listened to him and just bought these things to make it look nice."
"However, almost everyone who knows him knows this, and no one is so tactless as to take it out to look at it."
That really is the standard for nouveau riche.
Yoruichi Toyama couldn't help but laugh, casually opening the glass door of the bookcase and taking down the books that were all show and no substance to examine them.
"What, do you suspect there might be something hidden in here?" Amuro Tooru, who was very experienced in this kind of thing, suddenly became interested and started looking through it with him.
Yuanshan Yeyi nodded.
"Since Chief Kuroiwa uses his study as his secret base, then if he needs to record anything..."
This explanation immediately resonated with both Reiko Kuroiwa and Shuichi Murasawa.
These two seemed to be imagining a scene from a TV drama, finding a CD inside the book cover...
Oh, given the bizarre technological progression of the Conan world, in this case, it's most likely a recording tape.
When Yoruichi Toyama removed another book cover and skillfully opened it, everyone's gaze froze.
...
The memorial service for the former village chief, Guishan, on the second anniversary of his death has finally begun.
In the auditorium of the activity center, portraits and incense were displayed, and eminent monks were invited to the front row to chant sutras and pay their respects with utmost care.
The back half of the auditorium consists of individual cushions, which serve as seats for the guests.
Apart from the Black Rock Village Chief, who was injured by the protesters and is still resting, almost all the prominent figures in the village attended the event.
Not long after the ritual began, Hirata, the secretary who had been taking care of the village chief of Kuroiwa in the room, quietly entered and sat in the last row.
It was right behind Kawashima and Nishimoto, who were sitting side by side.
Kawashima then let out a low, cold laugh.
"I say, is that Kuroiwa guy feeling guilty?"
"The person who killed Kameyama two years ago is probably watching him from the shadows now!"
"Hey!" Before Hirata could answer, Nishimoto exclaimed in surprise.
Fortunately, he was far enough from the front row that his voice was drowned out by the sound of the wooden fish.
"Stop talking...Aren't you really scared?..."
"What do I have to be afraid of?" Kawashima sat upright, his face serious like a true gentleman.
"My hands aren't stained with blood!"
"Ahhh... Stop talking! Stop talking!..." Nishimoto suddenly covered his head with his hands, and his cries became increasingly loud.
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