Chapter 192, Seventy-Third Cycle (22)
Poirot Cafe.
Three female high school students in uniform stood at the door.
"Oh? Is this where Mr. Mori's apprentice works?" Sera Masumi curled the corners of her lips, but her eyes were sharp.
Sonoko Suzuki excitedly used various adjectives to praise the waiter and private detective named Tooru Amuro, from his appearance to his personality, from his personality to his almost omnipotent abilities, and finally from his abilities back to his appearance.
Ran Mouri was already used to it, and simply replied to Sera Masumi's question: "Yes, my dad introduced Mr. Amuro to Inspector Megure as his top disciple. It seems that he has really accepted him as a disciple."
After she finished speaking, she sighed.
Sera Masumi turned to ask, "What's wrong? Is there some trouble?"
The three of them entered the room while talking. Amuro Tooru, who was at the center of the conversation, greeted them with a smile. Ran Mouri waited until they finished ordering before answering Sera Masumi's question.
“It’s not a problem, it’s just…” The girl with long, smooth black hair looked conflicted and helpless. She whispered, “Actually, I’ve always thought that Mr. Amuro is much more capable than my father, but he spent so much tuition to become my father’s apprentice. I always feel a little strange and a little sorry for him.”
Sera Masumi withdrew her gaze from the blond waiter, turned her head and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Really? Is he that good? Better than the famous detective Mori?"
After saying that, she nodded again and said, "You were really good at forcing the hijackers' car to stop last time, and none of you inside the car were injured. Although you were bold, you controlled the situation very well."
Ran Mouri felt even more embarrassed when she thought about what happened: "Mr. Amuro is really amazing. Luckily he was there, and we were able to stop the robbers and save Conan safely."
After saying that, she became serious again: "But that's not what I want to talk about. It's something else. Mr. Amuro is really capable as a detective. In the last case, he always found something wrong before my father. Even so, he still respects my father a lot. He would even pay to go upstairs to bring us snacks. So I asked him out of curiosity."
Sera Masumi initially raised an eyebrow, intending to point out that she was the one who ultimately saved Conan from the robbers, but upon hearing this, her expression turned serious.
"You asked him directly?" She frowned, then glanced at the blond young man who was diligently working behind the bar.
Ran Mouri nodded: "Mr. Amuro replied to me at the time: 'Don't be fooled by Mr. Mouri's troubled appearance. He actually knew the truth all along, but he was just pretending to be this way to test me. The previous DNA incident and this bank robbery incident almost led to tragedy because of my overconfident reasoning. Fortunately, the police officers and Mr. Mouri were there, so no one was killed. But if it were Mr. Mouri, he would definitely have a more perfect solution. I'm still far from that level. Right now, these are all tests and training that Mr. Mouri has set for my impetuous and arrogant self.'"
Sera Masumi, who clearly understands that Kogoro Mouri is a terrible detective and that the real person behind him is Conan Edogawa: "..."
Amuro Tooru brought over a plate of snacks and coffee.
Ran Mouri stopped the conversation, thanked him with a smile, and after he turned and left again, she held the warm coffee cup in her hands and sighed, "Mr. Amuro is right. Although my dad is unreliable in many ways, he becomes very capable when faced with real danger. Moreover, he is becoming more and more skilled at detective work. He even created his own website, and customers place orders through the website... In short, he is indeed a very capable detective."
Sera Masumi, who knew the real culprit was actually the elementary school student Edogawa Conan who was staying at her house: "..."
No! That's not true! Kogoro Mouri absolutely doesn't have the brains to set up such tests and training! While Kogoro Mouri is indeed incredibly strong and was once a formidable detective, his detective skills are really limited to finding lost cats and dogs and investigating romantic entanglements!
Conan Edogawa would never willingly bring such a troublesome person into his life.
Therefore, it is very likely that Amuro Tooru was also misled by Kogoro Mouri's reputation and Conan Edogawa's disguise, and through a series of coincidences, he convinced himself, which led to the current development.
Or perhaps...
The girl with slightly curly, fluffy black short hair squinted her cat-like green eyes as she reached for a sandwich on a plate while glancing at the blond youth who was slowly wiping a cup.
Blonde hair and dark skin are no longer a special combination. Because of the once-popular legend of the Cowherd and the Fox, many people went out of their way to dye their hair blonde or tan to follow the trend, but this trend has gradually faded away.
Furthermore, Amuro Tooru was born with blond hair and dark skin; it wasn't acquired later in life.
Most importantly, even though she had seen so many people with blonde hair and dark skin, this was the only person she felt this way about so far.
It really looks like the person I saw on the platform three years ago, the one who was with Brother Xiu.
Sera Masumi paused slightly in the hand holding the sandwich.
Every time she thought about this, she couldn't help but think of another dark-haired man with blue eyes.
Where is the man who gently comforted her after Xiu Ge scolded her until she cried and taught her to play bass?
Of the three mysterious and dangerous people, Hideyoshi died, Amuro Tooru, the blond-haired, dark-skinned youth who was suspected of having a bad relationship with Hideyoshi, went to work at a coffee shop and became a private detective. What about him?
What happened to that guy who was a good friend of Xiu Ge and was called "Scotland"?
Sera Masumi took a bite of her sandwich, lost in thought, then paused, her eyes lighting up instantly.
"tasty!"
*
After school, Conan Edogawa and Ai Haibara went to Professor Agasa's house together.
"Noah's Ark, where's Orikasa-nii-san?" Now that Conan Edogawa has turned back into a primary school student, everyone he addresses is a generation younger.
"They're at Mr. Matsuda's house next door." The round-headed little robot on the table blinked its cute pixelated eyes. "They're working on a new project."
Conan Edogawa wasn't interested in their new project, but he would love to see if Professor Agasa came up with any new equipment, since it could be used immediately to solve cases.
However, he didn't ask this because of the experiments of a few research fanatics.
"Mr. Matsuda is home too? I need to talk to him." After saying that, he turned to the brown-haired girl who was silently watching him and asked with a smile, "Haibara, want to go out and play?"
Ai Haibara looked into his clear, innocent eyes, choked for a moment, and finally rolled her eyes in annoyance, sighing with dead fish eyes: "Go on, go on."
Conan Edogawa and Ai Haibara knocked on the door of the Matsuda residence next door.
The Matsuda residence is bustling with activity today.
Tamagawa Sakiko opened the door for them; Matsuda Jinpei, Hagiwara Kenji, and Date Wataru were also sitting on the sofa.
Ai Haibara went with Sakiko Tamagawa to water the flowers. Conan Edogawa sat opposite the three policemen, looking at them with an innocent and trusting expression. The child's big blue eyes were full of curiosity.
Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong? What do you want to ask now?"
Conan Edogawa said sweetly, "It's just a small question, and it concerns you all."
Kenji Hagiwara and Wataru Date: "Hmm?"
Conan Edogawa blinked: "Who is this Amuro Tooru? You guys seem to know him quite well, did you know each other before?"
Matsuda Jinpei chuckled, switched legs, and asked with a curious smile, "Is there something wrong with him? What is it about him that interests you?"
Conan Edogawa thought for a moment, deciding not to be too obvious in front of Kenji Hagiwara and Wataru Date, so he subtly reminded them: "Because he is so amazing, he doesn't seem like an ordinary waiter or a private detective who needs to apprentice. And since he has such a good relationship with you, I guessed that Mr. Amuro might be a policeman who retired due to injury and is now living in anonymity, and he wants to start from scratch as a detective."
Amuro Tooru, although very strong, is also sweet-talking, good-looking, and has a nearly perfect, considerate, and gentle personality. His appearance is also harmless, and almost everyone likes him. Uncle Mori and Ran like him very much.
Conan Edogawa was a little wary.
He was already suspicious of every stranger who appeared around him, and everyone looked like Bourbon.
Date Wataru laughed and even reached out to rub the child's head, saying in a cheerful voice, "No, you were there when we first met Amuro-kun, weren't you? We met at Poirot Cafe a lot after that, and we naturally got to know each other. After all, his cooking skills are really good, and he has a great personality. He can even tolerate Matsuda's bad temper."
Kenji Hagiwara smiled and nodded, "Making friends is all about having a certain chemistry. Does Conan not like Amuro?"
Matsuda Jinpei rolled his eyes, his sunglasses unable to hide his speechlessness and disdain. He said casually, "Seriously, you're overthinking it. A policeman? That guy? That's hilarious. He's just a lousy, incompetent detective. All he's good at is driving and cooking. Look how scared you are."
Conan Edogawa hurriedly explained, "No! Tooru Amuro is actually a very observant detective, and quite professional at that. In the last case..."
"Oh, I remember now, speaking of the case from last time." Kenji Hagiwara suddenly leaned closer to him and sighed, "Conan-kun, you really scared that girl last time."
Conan Edogawa: "?"
The man with medium-length black hair smiled and said, "However, after she said that, I also think that she does make some sense. After all, if a seven-year-old child can use the most innocent and cute expression and voice to say things that even adults don't know, and unknowingly deduce the truth and arrange everything for everyone, appearing and disappearing mysteriously and innocently directly exposing the other person's deepest fear, that would indeed be a bit scary, wouldn't it?"
Conan Edogawa: "..."
Date Wataru nodded, "Conan-kun, you're incredibly brave. How could you dare to run after a criminal? What if something happens?"
Conan Edogawa broke out in a cold sweat: "Haha, Mr. Hagiwara, Mr. Date, what are you talking about? I was kidnapped by her by accident. Although I pretended to be calm at the time, I was actually very scared. Fortunately, I was rescued by everyone later."
Matsuda Jinpei seemed completely oblivious to his pleading look, as he was typing on his phone with one hand and casually remarked, "That kid never learns his lesson."
Conan Edogawa: "..."
"Oh dear, it's almost dark. I suddenly remembered I still have homework to do. I'd better hurry up and find Haibara to teach me how to write my essay. Ran-neechan is waiting for me to go back and have dinner. Sorry to bother you—"
The black-haired child, feigning innocence, spoke in a drawn-out, childlike voice, but in reality, cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he jumped off the sofa and ran away.
To go all out of the act, he even pretended to run outside and tell Ai Haibara, who was watering the flowers.
Ai Haibara: "?"
What are you talking about? Homework?? You want me to teach you how to do elementary school homework??
Ai Haibara, with her deadpan expression, reluctantly played along, saying, "Oh."
Conan Edogawa: "..."
Conan Edogawa laughed heartily, said goodbye to Sakiko Tamagawa next to him again, and skipped away with his schoolbag on his back.
Only after they were out of sight of the Matsuda residence did the black-haired child stop and turn to stare expressionlessly at a corner of the Matsuda residence.
Although he was in the shadows of dusk, his blue eyes, which could not hide his suspicion even through his glasses, were incredibly bright and sharp.
Conan Edogawa stood in the alley, frowning and deep in thought, his expression gradually becoming serious.
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