Conan: So I'm Not Serious?

"If that's the case, then the perpetrator in this case should be someone who committed arson and murder in quick succession..."

Juzo Megure twitched his chin.

He secretly felt that he was about to steal credit from his colleague again.

"Looks like we'll have to go with the arsonists to search them for information when we get back."

Sato Miwako thought for a moment, "But in that case, it would be a good opportunity for Advisor Fujino to learn about the operating system of our police force."

"Consultant..."

Fujino was speechless for a moment, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the title.

However, now that he's become an advisor, he really needs to study the departmental systems and procedures within the Metropolitan Police Department...

Although he had some understanding of it, he wasn't an expert.

Because this case was an accidental arson-related murder, no clues were left at the scene.

After completing their investigation, Megure and Sato took Fujino back to the Metropolitan Police Department, intending to hand over the information to the people searching for the arsonist.

On the way back, Sato Miwako and Megure gave Fujino a thorough explanation of the departmental layout within the Metropolitan Police Department.

The First Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department is responsible for major criminal cases, and there are more than ten departments in the category of rapist offenses alone.

One faction is responsible for managing and distributing the money; for example, the reward for Fujino solving the case was given by this faction.

The second department was responsible for maze cases and top-secret missions, while the third department and the departments that followed were responsible for murder cases.

Arson is a crime for which there is a separate category of arsonists, who are specifically responsible for handling arson and related cases.

Arson cases are relatively rare in the Conan World, and the arsonists only have two departments: the First Department and the Second Department.

Now that the murderer may have committed the crime, they need to get involved in the investigation.

Other cases can also be referenced in this way, such as drug-related murders...

Often, in these kinds of situations, the credit is ultimately stolen by those who forcibly conduct searches.

This is also due to the bloated nature of the Japan police system.

A single criminal investigation department can be divided into several categories, almost to the point that every method of murder is classified into a separate category.

Of course, this system also has its advantages, such as having a large number of superiors.

Take Juzo Megure for example; he's the head of the three departments, a leader at the officer level.

Sato Miwako was a junior manager at the main level, while ordinary employees like Takagi Chiba were subordinate to Sato Miwako.

However, since they see each other all the time, apart from the highest-ranking officer Juzo Megure, the others in the same department don't really show any difference in rank.

Upon returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, Juzo Megure immediately went to the arson division to hand over the documents.

The department Inspector Chō Juzo Megure, was an acquaintance of Megure, so after expressing his dissatisfaction, the data was handed over to Juzo Megure.

After obtaining the information, Megure took Sato and Takagi and Fujino to a conference room to discuss the case.

According to the case file, this is the fourth Serial Arson Case in the series.

The first case occurred in Ikebukuro, the second in Asakusabashi, the third in Tabata, and the fourth in Shimokitazawa.

Because of the methods used by the perpetrators, the police searching for the arsonists quickly identified the perpetrators of all four cases as the same person.

However, since the location of the arson was not closely related to the time, they were unable to identify the suspect for the time being.

Fujino gazed at the information on the small drawing board, he recalled some things.

If he remembers correctly, the perpetrator of this Serial Arson Case was a psychopath.

The locations of arson also follow certain patterns.

However, as of now, there is no discernible pattern.

Finding the other person is indeed a bit difficult.

Even if you use the White Wolf one-click search function, you still need to know the other person's name.

The discussion of the case ended quickly, and Fujino's work permit was successfully produced.

The work permit is a small card made of hard plastic, which is placed inside a plastic neck loop. It contains Fujino's information, his job position, and the Metropolitan Police Department's stamp and visa, similar to a police officer's ID card.

"Not even a leather case?"

Fujino glanced at the work badge and muttered to himself, "It's really a bit too shabby..."

"I think this batch of work permits was made when my father was still alive, so let's just make do with them."

Sato Miwako and said with a smile, "Our number of consultants has always been small, almost non-existent, so don't make so many demands. You can buy a leather case yourself when you get back."

"All right..."

Fujino nodded silently; he could understand.

Most detectives and police officers have historically had a strained relationship.

Moreover, normally no one would ask a detective to be their consultant.

Those who dislike the police and are self-righteous are unlikely to want to be consultants...

"Mi-wako!"

Just as the two reached the corner, a woman's voice suddenly rang out.

"Yumi!"

Sato Miwako turned around and greeted Yumi Miyamoto: "Did you just finish your field duty?"

"Yes..."

Yumi Miyamoto yawned. "I never expected to encounter a fire like that. I just started working and now I have to go out and maintain order."

"You didn't stay up all night playing mahjong again, did you?"

Sato Miwako glanced at the dark circles under her drooping eyes and teased, "If you keep staying up late, you'll turn into an old lady very quickly..."

"Ha ha..."

Yumi Miyamoto, scratched her black hair behind her ear, and turned to look at Fujino: "Speaking of which, this must be the Great Detective Fujino, right? I just saw him working on a case with you guys..."

Before she could finish speaking, she noticed Fujino's name tag. "Fujino Doji... position... Criminal Consultant?"

"Yes."

Sato Miwako and said, "Fujino has just become an advisor to our Criminal Investigation Department."

"Well?"

Yumi Miyamoto was slightly surprised, then exclaimed excitedly, "Then the Great Detective will become one of our police officers from now on..."

As she spoke, she enthusiastically stepped forward and patted Fujino on the shoulder. "Little brother, from now on, I'll take care of you at the Metropolitan Police Department!"

Fujino: "..."

This lady is really enthusiastic.

"Alright, Yumi, take back your tricks for picking up new girls."

Sato Miwako smiled, naturally realizing that her best friend was flirting with men.

He stepped forward and created some distance between them, explaining, "Although Fujino is an advisor, he doesn't usually work at the Metropolitan Police Department."

"I see..."

Yumi disappointment, then remarked again, "But this kind of job, where you only obey orders and not proclamations, is really easy. I wish I could be an advisor too, then I could slack off every day."

"That's not entirely true."

Sato Miwako crossed her arms and said seriously, "Yumi, if you solve dozens of murder cases and single-handedly dismantle several criminal gangs, you might get hired..."

"Um... I think I'll pass."

Yumi Miyamoto's lips twitched.

Murder cases are beyond the capabilities of ordinary people to solve.

One person dismantles a large criminal gang...

That's something a normal human being can do.

What Rice Flower Superman?

Fujino, standing to the side, couldn't help but nod: Envious, aren't you? You risked your life for it.

However, saying it was done at the cost of his life is a bit inaccurate. After all, as someone who's both a spoiler and a cheat code user, he felt those cases weren't difficult at all, but from a normal person's perspective, that's certainly true...

Although the criminal gangs in this world are generally quite incompetent, they are still capable of actually committing murder...

Thinking about it carefully, the things he did were indeed quite frightening. Putting aside the murders, even dismantling criminal gangs was beyond the scope of normal people.

However, for him personally, it was as if he were drinking cold water.

After a brief tour of the Metropolitan Police Department to familiarize himself with the area, he actually went to buy a leather case.

However, since police ID holsters are impossible to obtain in this area, and even if one were to be found, it would be illegal, he simply got a black holster, which would suffice as a workaround.

The next morning, on the way to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Fujino sat in the driver's seat, looking in the rearview mirror at Conan, Ayumi, and the others sitting in the back, and sighed resentfully.

This morning, Juzo Megure called him out with a single phone call.

It is said that last night, Ayumi bumped into the perpetrator of the Serial Arson Case.

I heard that Fujino had a good relationship with those children, so I put him in charge of picking them up...

"You... you've become Criminal Consultant for the Metropolitan Police Department?"

Conan sat in the back row, looking at Fujino with some surprise, and asked.

"Yes, the contract was just signed yesterday."

Fujino sat in the front row and showed off his work ID, which was hanging around his neck and covered by a leather cover. "These work IDs have all been issued."

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"Does that mean Brother Fujino is a policeman now?!"

The three little ones simply didn't understand what an advisor was.

I just thought it was amazing that Fujino was recruited into the Metropolitan Police Department, had a work permit, and became a police officer.

"Alright, you guys are thinking way too far."

Fujino chuckled and explained, "I'm just an advisor who guides the cases; I'm nothing like a real police officer."

"Yes, consultants only have the right to participate in case investigations and a portion of the investigations, which is indeed very different from that of regular police officers."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ai nodded. "But compared to a regular police officer, this kind of easy job should be even more desirable. After all, you can get extra pay without having to go to work every day, which is really impressive in a way."

She paused, then changed the subject, looking at Conan in the rearview mirror, and continued, "Being able to officially participate in the investigation of a case means you're practically an official, much more serious than other detectives."

Conan: "..."

Why are you looking at me like that? Just say what you want to say.

Could they be talking about me...? Damn...

Am I being indecent?

Conan's eyebrows twitched, and he looked at Fujino with a hint of jealousy.

Not only can you officially participate in the investigation, but you also get paid... Damn it!

Conan felt increasingly upset as he thought about it, so he decided to stop thinking about it altogether.

He had heard of advisors, but Megure hadn't asked him about them...

So all that help before was for nothing!

Metropolitan Police Department, Office of Investigation for Violent Offenders.

"Thank you for your help, Advisor Fujino."

Sato Miwako smiled and ushered everyone in.

"Well?"

Fujino glanced speechlessly at Sato Miwako, then looked around the rather empty office and said, "There are really few people here today."

"It's usually like this here."

Sato Miwako explained, "Inspector Megure is handling a bank robbery, and the other officers are also busy with cases, so I'm the only one who can entertain you."

As she spoke, she picked up a notebook and pen from her desk and said to Ayumi, "I've already inquired about that matter with Inspector Megure. Ayumi, could you describe what the person you saw last night looked like?"

"Let me think about it,"

Ayumi rested her finger on her chin, trying hard to recall the memory in her mind, "It was a man with messy hair, a mustache under his nose, and medium-length hair..."

"Hmm, a bearded man with medium-length hair..."

Sato Miwako nodded seriously, scribbled in her notebook for a bit, and then quickly looked up and asked again, "What about expressions, like what the eyes look like?"

"Let me think... that's it, fox eyes!"

Ayumi Sato Miwako raised the corner of her eye in a very cute way and said, "Just like this, hanging up like a fox!"

"Uh-huh!"

Sato Miwako again for the drawing, then showed the notebook to everyone with a squinting smile, "Is it like this?"

"..."

Fujino stared at the painting and couldn't help but slap his forehead.

It's hopeless!

On the notebook was a very rough sketch, with straight lines without any curves, yet it subtly depicted the suspect's facial features.

If you colored this with crayons, someone who didn't know better would think it was drawn by an elementary school student...

To be able to draw like this is quite impressive in a way.

The artist is a true "soul painter".

"Completely unlike them!"

Ayumi looked at the drawings in the notebook and innocently poured cold water on them.

"Ah?"

Sato Miwako was taken aback by what she heard, blinked, and looked at her own painting. "Doesn't this look like it..."

Genta swung a hammer down directly. "It looks terrible, doesn't it!"

Mitsuhiko nodded, then bluntly added, "They're just like little kids."

Ai Haibara was also somewhat speechless, looking around with her eyes half-lowered. "Isn't there anyone who can draw well?"

Sato: "Hmm..."

Surprisingly, a child criticized my drawing as being worse than theirs.

Is the drawing really that bad?

Sato Miwako was on the verge of tears, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "There's nothing we can do about it... After all, Mr. Shikawa, who was in charge of the portrait today, has already taken the day off..."

"But, Sato..."

Takagi walked over at this moment and said awkwardly, "There's no way to give such an abstract painting to the investigators to compare with the suspect."

"This painting still has great artistic value."

Shiratori, who had followed, added with a smile, "Although the lines are clean and the art style is intriguing, if it were handed over to the investigators..."

"Then you two can paint this picture."

Sato Miwako pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

It's one thing for kids to laugh, but you guys are joining in too!

They dared to say such things when they made her do the work.

If you're so capable, do it yourself! I'm not putting up with this anymore!