The Current Was Getting Way Too Fancy, Wasn't It?

"Well..."

Mori Kogoro hesitated for a moment.

Hattori Heiji's sudden invitation.

Actually, he wasn't very interested.

After all, as an adult, he still has many things to do.

For example, betting on horse races...

However, looking at the beautiful Chu Lian who was begging him for help, Mori Kogoro confidently declared, "Leave this kid to me!"

"..."

Fujino glanced silently at Mori Kogoro.

So, Uncle Mori is still the same old guy, always attracted to beautiful women.

He has absolutely no resistance to requests from beautiful women.

Hattori Shizuka nodded, showing considerable confidence in Fujino and Mori Kogoro.

It was already quite late, and although Hattori Heiji and Toyama Kazuha had already packed their luggage, Fujino and his group were unaware of their upcoming trip.

Reluctantly, they could only let the two of them Hattori Shizuka stay in Shizuoka for one night, while Fujino took the Mori family back to Tokyo. The next day, they would take the Shinkansen to Fukuoka to meet up, and then travel together to their destination, Fukui Prefecture.

Hattori Shizuka did not travel to Fukui with the group. After arriving in Nagoya, the starting point, she separated from the others and took the Shinkansen back to Osaka.

However, before leaving, she still couldn't help but tell Hattori Heiji, "When you're with Mr. Mori and Fujino- kun, you must behave yourself and not cause any trouble."

"What do you mean I caused trouble...?"

Hattori Heiji was somewhat speechless.

Every single trouble is caused by Fujino and that brat Kudo.

He just went along!

Why does my mom sound like this...?

He himself was the one who caused the trouble?

"It's precisely because of your impulsive and careless nature that I'm worried..."

Hattori Shizuka somewhat helpless about her son.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she slowly walked forward and whispered in Hattori Heiji's ear, "And also, whatever you do, don't bully Fujino..."

"Ha?!"

Hattori Heiji exclaimed in surprise, "Old lady, what are you talking about?"

What do you mean he bullied Fujino?

Fujino is still a child. Is there such a naughty brat as Fujino?

And he never bullied that guy, so what do you mean by bullying?

Recalling some past events, Hattori Heiji felt his throat tighten.

"Um?"

Hattori Shizuka's expression became slightly more serious, her eyes narrowed, and her gaze gradually turned cold and sharp.

"Oh oh oh!"

Hattori Heiji shuddered and nodded repeatedly.

"Fujino has had a tough time too. He lost his family and has to live on his own. It's been much harder for him than for you. If he truly cares about you, you can't keep taking advantage of him..."

Hattori Shizuka, her expression unchanged, reached out and patted Hattori Heiji's shoulder. "Anyway, it's good that you understand. Wasn't it someone who helped set your bones after your car accident last time? Even if you're not capable, you can't be ungrateful and talk badly about others behind their backs."

"You weren't with me when I went to the hospital last time... How did you know?"

Hattori Heiji ignored the previous paragraph and silently complained to himself.

Fujino, who was secretly listening from the side, nodded to himself, thinking to himself that Aunt Jinghua was beautiful and kind-hearted, and could understand his good intentions.

"Um?"

Hattori Shizuka seemed to sense something, and frowned as she looked at Hattori Heiji, as if she already knew what the other was thinking.

His aura had also risen to a new level.

"I see!"

Hattori Heiji looked at his mother, whose aura had suddenly surged, with disbelief, and was speechless.

Is this really her biological mother?

Why are you siding with outsiders?

"I understand..."

Hattori Shizuka's expression softened considerably. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly asked, "By the way, do you know what the Hokage is?"

"Hokage?"

Hattori Heiji, upon hearing this, was also somewhat bewildered.

He had never heard of the word either.

After thinking for a moment, he asked hesitantly, "What does 'Hokage' mean?"

"It's nothing... I just heard the word by chance. I think it might be a popular term among young people like you, so I mentioned it."

Seeing that her son didn't know what Hokage meant, Hattori Shizuka didn't ask any further questions.

"Ring ring! The train from Nagoya to Osaka is about to depart. Passengers, please board the train as soon as possible."

Just then, the station's announcement system suddenly came on.

"Alright, alright!"

Upon hearing Hattori Heiji hurriedly tugged at Hattori Shizuka's sleeve. "Since you know you're no longer a young man, hurry home, old lady."

"..."

Hattori Shizuka stepped back, sighed softly, and felt somewhat weary.

She used to listen to everything she said when she was little, but now she calls me "Auntie" all the time.

Why does my personality get worse as I get older?

Is it because of teenage rebellion?

"In that case, I'll entrust Kazuha and Heiji to you!"

Turning around, Hattori Shizuka greeted everyone politely, her gaze fixed on Fujino, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.

She initially thought her son was being bullied.

But judging from the current situation, it seems that it was his own son who bullied the other party.

He even went out of his way to make a fool of the orphans who made a living this way...

Why do I feel a little guilty?

Fukui, on the ferry to Mermaid Island.

A gentle sea breeze blew as a small ferry glided across the calm water, leaving white ripples on either side.

"Seriously!"

Mori Kogoro leaned against the railing by the ship, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and looked at Hattori Heiji: "You brat, can't you even thank me? You just showed up without warning and said you were going to Fukui to investigate some kind of commission."

"Haha, what does it matter..."

Hattori Heiji smiled and said, "Anyway, I'm paying for this trip, so you can just treat it as a trip... Besides, I already told Conan about it beforehand."

"Huh... ah?"

Conan was also leaning against the railing, suddenly froze, swallowing back the yawn that was about to form.

"I have no idea whether it's good or bad."

Mori Kogoro glanced at Conan: "What's the point of talking about this with an unreliable brat like that..."

Conan smiled helplessly.

Then, he narrowed his eyes and glanced at Hattori Heiji with a resentful look.

You can treat us to a meal, but why are you dragging me into this?

"I'm fine."

Mori Kogoro looked at Fujino beside him. "The main problem is that Fujino had to drive back to Tokyo overnight, go to sleep after 1 a. m., and then have to get up early the next morning to take the Shinkansen... Fujino probably didn't get any sleep at all, right?"

"No, it's just a normal routine."

Fujino gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky.

"Normal sleep schedule?"

Mori Kogoro raised an eyebrow. "Fujino, what time do you usually go to bed?"

"Around 12 o'clock, sometimes 1 o'clock... and then I sleep until 4 or 5 o'clock the next morning."

Teng responded calmly.

Actually, he only needs to sleep three or four hours a day.

In extreme cases, two hours can restore all the energy of the entire day.

"That won't do."

Mori Kogoro was a little worried. "Sleeping only four or five hours a day can easily lead to sudden death... Why don't you take a nap when we get there?"

"No."

Fujino waved his hand. "I'm usually like this, I definitely have enough energy."

"That's good..."

Mori Kogoro nodded, then turned to Hattori Heiji and asked curiously, "But speaking of which, kid, you only said it's an island in Fukui, but which island are we actually going to?"

"It was an isolated island located in a series of narrow bays in the sea, called America Island."

Hattori Heiji straightened up. "And the locals call it... the island inhabited by mermaids."

"An island inhabited by mermaids?"

Mori Kogoro took a drag on his cigarette, a rare show of interest in him. "So, are there beautiful mermaids up there?"

"Well..."

Hattori Heiji smiled helplessly, "I heard that there is an old woman on that island who lives forever after eating mermaid flesh, and that's where the name comes from."

"I've heard of that island!"

Just then, Ran, who was chatting enthusiastically with her other best friend, came over.

Ran, wearing a white turtleneck sweater and a green blazer, overheard the group talking about Mermaid Island and suddenly asked with interest, "Is it that immortal old woman who was all the rage three years ago?"

"I've heard that too."

Toyama Kazuha nearby, was also very interested. She squinted and smiled, "I also came here with Heiji because I wanted to see what's going on on this island. If it could help me stay young and beautiful forever, that would be wonderful..."

"That's right!"

Ran suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, "Use your youth and beauty to make Hattori fall at your feet..."

"Hey! Hey!"

Kazuha suddenly panicked. "You can't speak so loudly!"

"You guys are still very young, okay?!"

Conan glanced at the gossipy Ran and Kazuha, and was speechless.

However, he did not expect that Ran and Kazuha actually believed in things like immortality.

Are little girls really that easy to fool?

If it were truly possible to live forever...

Etc?

Thinking of this, Conan suddenly froze, his pupils dilating slightly. "Isn't this just me reverting to childhood?!"

"Mermaids are such boring things. If you ask me, a nun who has lived for eight hundred years is much more interesting."

Mori Kogoro was somewhat disappointed, and his initial interest waned.

He thought mermaids were pretty girls wearing kimonos and with fish tails as their lower bodies.

I never expected it to be an old lady...

He took a deep drag on his cigarette, looking somewhat melancholy. "This client, you didn't just want to see the so-called mermaid, so you dragged me along to look for her, did you? Let me tell you, I'm too lazy to do this stupid job of looking for mermaids."

"No!"

Hattori Heiji decisively refused. "If it's a request like that, even I would think it's a joke."

"Completely opposite to the desire to find mermaids, this time the client wrote me a short letter with only one sentence: 'I'm about to be killed by a mermaid, please save me!' The handwriting was trembling as it was written."

"A mermaid?!"

"Killed!"

The others were slightly taken aback.

"Kadowaki Saori".

Fujino, who was standing to the side, remained expressionless, but suddenly mentioned it.

"Ah?"

Hattori Heiji was taken aback by this, then quickly asked, "Fujino, how did you know the client's name?"

"Isn't this a very simple thing?"

Fujino turned to look at Hattori Heiji as if he were an idiot. "Isn't it permissible for a client to send a letter of request to two detectives?"

"She also sent you a letter of authorization?"

Hattori Heiji exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, not only was there a letter of authorization, but we also met in person."

Fujino nodded slightly. "She even paid the commission fee a few days ago, so strictly speaking, she should be my client."

"Do you even know where she is right now?!"

Hattori Heiji suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "She left her contact information, but when I called, although the call was answered, I heard a woman's moaning and groaning, along with a series of heavy, strange muffled sounds, and even the sound of electricity... After that, the call could not be connected at all, so I decided to come and take a look."

"Could it be that that person has already been killed by the mermaid?!"

"How is she, Fujino- Senior?!"

Ran and Kazuha both looked terrified and asked Fujino curiously.

Meanwhile, Mori Kogoro's cigarette slipped from his hand and fell directly into the sea.

Why does Hattori's description seem a bit inappropriate?

Electric current... you're really going overboard with this, aren't you?

"Well..."

Fujino pondered for a moment, "On the very day she came to Tokyo and asked me to go back, she was kidnapped in broad daylight."

"Kidnapped??"

Hattori Heiji was somewhat surprised.

This was the first time he had encountered a case where a client had been kidnapped.

Of course, he doesn't usually have any requests.

Upon hearing this, Conan also became serious and began to think quietly in his mind.

After being talked to, she was killed by the mermaid and then kidnapped.

There's definitely something fishy going on behind this!

"Hey! Hey!"

Hattori Heiji: "You knew she was kidnapped all along, didn't you investigate?"

"Of course I investigated. After all, I am Criminal Consultant in the Criminal Investigation Department, and she is my client. I arrived at the crime scene immediately and shared information with the police."

"I see. In that case, what did you find out?"

"Absolutely not."

Hattori Heiji: "..."

You still haven't checked, have you?

With your skills, you could probably find them that same day!

Fujino narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the sea.

He certainly didn't investigate.

Is this even grounds for investigation?

He could also say that his client had been kidnapped and that he himself was the murderer.

As for the previous phone call, it must have been the one he received during the "Immortal Rehabilitation and Transformation Project" for prisoners.

It's just that Hattori's description is a bit strange...

He was clearly working on a mermaid transformation project, a very legitimate job, and the people being transformed were very happy. How could he describe it in such a lewd way?