You Wouldn't Want the Organization to Find You Either, Would You?

"Thank you so much, Detective Fujino."

At the entrance of the Haido City Hotel, with tears welling in her eyes, Fujino bowed deeply to Kaori Niina. "Thanks to you, my father's last wish was fulfilled... and you also helped me see him one last time."

Fujino waved his hand and said calmly, "No need to thank me. You are my client. It is my job as a professional Full-time Detective to help my clients solve their problems."

As he spoke, Fujino glanced at the departing ambulance and sighed softly, "It's a pity that you and your daughter couldn't spend more time together."

Perhaps if Kaori Niina had arrived sooner, he could have bought her some time... to get to know Taro Niina better and expand her network.

Even if Fujino had the healing bonus, it would only delay Taro Niina's death at most.

Cancer remains an incurable disease in this era.

It could be said that the death of Taro Niina was only a matter of time.

As for being cured... I don't even dare to think about it.

If cancer could be cured, he would have become Black Jack long ago.

"Detective Fujino, you've done more than enough."

A smile appeared on Kaori Niina's sorrowful face. "Being able to see my father one last time and witness him leave without regrets is enough for me."

From the conversation between the group, Kaori Niina also learned something.

She conjured up this idea in her mind: Fujino must have already deduced the truth of the case and knew that her father was dying... The reason he didn't bother the police and rushed her here was so that she could spend some of her last moments with her father...

Thinking of this, she looked at Fujino with even greater admiration.

"Nothing."

Fujino chuckled lightly. "It's just a detective's responsibility."

All he can do now is fulfill the dying old man's wish, help the girl see her dying father one last time, and incidentally collect a commission fee that would be easy to obtain...

However, the commission fee.

Given the current situation, it's indeed difficult for him to bring it up.

He simply couldn't bring himself to do something as despicable as asking for a commission right after someone's father died.

Fujino likes money, but he's not a beast.

"The detective's responsibility..."

Shinmei Kaho was stunned and fell into deep thought.

"By the way, Miss Shinmei."

After a moment of silence, Fujino looked at Kaori Niina and asked in confusion, "I think I just heard you talking to Mr. Shinna about the Samonji series. Will the Detective Saburou series continue?"

He had originally planned to check out the Detective Saburou series.

If it ends up being a flop, he'll probably lose most of his interest.

Although he vaguely remembered that Kaori Niina would continue writing, these events might cause changes...

Of course.

Kaori Niina regained her composure and nodded seriously. "I will carry on my father's legacy and continue writing the Samonji series... to live up to the name of Taro Niina."

"That's good."

Fujino breathed a sigh of relief.

Since the parties involved have said so, there's a high probability that Detective Saburou won't abandon the project.

He was able to watch with peace of mind.

Kaori Niina is still very young, only twenty-two years old.

If she continues writing, it's highly likely that Detective Saburou will never be finished in her lifetime.

Suddenly, Fujino recalled an online novel from his past life that he had read from elementary school all the way to graduation...

But then again, living up to the name of something, why does he feel like he's heard of it somewhere before?

Night fell.

It's already very late.

Kaori Niina was busy handling her father's funeral arrangements. After all, Taro Niina was a bestselling novelist, and there were some things that Mrs. Shinmei couldn't manage on her own...

After gaining an extra fifty points of Detective Reputation, Fujino drove his Ford Taurus home with Ai Haibara and Akemi Miyano in tow.

He wasn't worried about the commission fee, only the amount.

Moreover, for him, the connections of Kaori Niina were even more valuable.

Detective work isn't about fighting and killing, but about understanding human relationships and social dynamics.

This unpaid commission fee is a crucial link in establishing connections. With connections within the Kaori Niina, there's a certain probability of receiving commissions from people in that circle in the future.

On the bus.

Fujino, sitting in the back seat, looked at Fujino in the driver's seat with a puzzled Ai Haibara.

She had been observing Fujino since the beginning of the session.

She discovered that Fujino solved the case in less than six hours, starting from the initial incident on the street.

"This case was solved in such a short time."

Ai Haibara pondered to herself, "That unwavering demeanor made it seem as if she had known the truth from the very beginning..."

She even vaguely sensed that the deciphering of that coded message was a loophole intentionally left for her by the other party.

"No way?"

Ai Haibara shook her head, her brown hair swaying gently, casting aside unrealistic thoughts.

Doubt still lingered in my mind.

She was very curious.

However, we can't just ask Fujino directly.

After all, her current hidden identity is just that of a primary school student.

Well, since they're elementary school students...

"Fujino, you're really amazing!"

Ai Haibara once again revealed her little girl form, looking at Fujino with admiration, and then asked Akemi Miyano, "Sister Akemi, is this how detectives usually act?"

"It shouldn't be..."

Akemi Miyano pondered for a moment, looking somewhat puzzled, and asked Fujino, "By the way, Fujino- kun, how exactly did you figure out that Mr. Shinna hadn't been kidnapped?"

"Would you believe me if I said I could predict the future?"

"Well?!"

Fujino was just joking, but Akemi Miyano actually believed it. "Fujino- kun, can you really predict the future?"

"..."

Ai Haibara and Fujino both looked at Akemi Miyano speechlessly.

"Just kidding."

A moment later, Fujino chuckled and glanced at Ai Haibara in the rearview mirror, thinking: Is this another one of those child-pretending tricks?

He looked away before continuing, "It's not about predicting the future, but a detective's intuition."

"A detective's intuition?"

"Intuition is hard to define; it's like a natural perception. Most of the time, I follow my intuition and I can always find the truth of things."

After a pause, Fujino chuckled softly again, "If I could foresee the future, I would have been playing the lottery long ago. That stuff pays much more than being a detective."

'Intuition...?'

Ai Haibara lowered her head, choosing to trust her intuition.

"Although intuition can be quite far-fetched, it is still much more reasonable than predicting the future."

Soon, the group returned to Fujino's house in 5-chome.

Since it was getting late, Ai Haibara stayed at the Fujino residence for the time being.

With Akemi Miyano and Ai Haibara feeling a mutual affection, Ai Haibara moved into the bedroom on the third floor.

The next morning was school day.

Normally, Fujino should wash up, get ready, and then go to school.

But he didn't do that this morning.

Fujino deliberately asked Hiratsuka Shizuka for a day off and, along with Akemi Miyano and Ai Haibara, went to Professor Agasa's house.

All for the sake of things related to Ai Haibara.

Upon arriving at Professor Agasa's house, before Fujino could even say a few words, Akemi Miyano launched into a tirade:

"You elders are so irresponsible! How could you let a little girl run out into the cold alone in the middle of the night? Before, she was lying unconscious in the pouring rain. Luckily we found her; what if she had been kidnapped by bad people..."

At this moment, Akemi Miyano was unusually assertive.

She looked like the older sister had come to demand an explanation after her younger sister had been bullied.

Fujino was completely stunned.

Ai Haibara was also stunned, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her face.

Unlike her usual cold, emotionless smile.

This smile seemed to come from the heart.

Professor Agasa was completely bewildered.

This intense offensive left him completely unable to lift his head.

He wondered why he had been criticized when he hadn't done anything wrong.

Just as Professor Agasa was wondering, Ai Haibara suddenly ran over.

She leaned close to him and said softly and calmly, "If we just wander around the streets like this, we're very likely to be discovered by the organization... If the organization discovers me when I'm shrunken, your affair will probably be discovered very quickly, right?"

As she spoke, Ai Haibara's cold face curled up slightly at the corners of her mouth. "At that time, I'm afraid you and Kudo Shinichi will not escape disaster. You don't want to be discovered by the organization and executed, do you?"

Hearing Ai Haibara's blatant threat, Professor Agasa swallowed hard.

Clearly, Ai Haibara's threat struck a nerve with him.

However, at this moment, Ai Haibara's cold expression gradually faded. "Actually, I didn't want to do this either... but I had no choice. I have nowhere else to go now... By the way, I told them that my parents have passed away, and you are my only relative in this world... Of course, even if you refuse to help, I won't complain... and don't worry about me exposing you. I will fend for myself before the organization finds out."

Ai Haibara has a relatively good impression of Professor Agasa.

Although they didn't take much care of her, after learning her identity, they still kept her temporarily and even gave her the name 'Ai Haibara' together.

If Kudo Shinichi hadn't said those words that night...

Perhaps she will stay here.

Her initial idea was to let it fend for itself.

But now, inexplicably, she seems to have an extra concern.

"I see."

Professor Agasa sighed, as if he understood Ai Haibara's actions.

He stood up and honestly admitted the mistake that Akemi Miyano had made earlier, and went along with it, saying, "I'm really sorry, I didn't take good care of this child... After all, the child's parents just passed away a few days ago, and I'm the only relative he has left in this world."

As he spoke, Professor Agasa scratched his bald, receding hairline and said, "As you can see, I'm old... too old to take care of a little girl like Ai. If possible, could you please help look after this child?"

"After all, judging from the situation these past few days, you are indeed very kind-hearted people, and the child seems to really enjoy being with you."

Professor Agasa turned to Ai Haibara beside him. "Is that so, Ai?"