The Killer Had to Be an Idiot

Are you alright?

Fujino silently put away his Wooden Sword, glanced back at the few children who were sprawled on the ground, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"We're fine."

Ai Haibara was the first to recover. She glanced Ayumi, then at the others, and gave a reply.

"But how could the Japan in the department store suddenly fall down?"

Mitsuhiko was momentarily stunned. "There was a screw before the billboard fell down, could it be..."

"That's right, it was man-made."

Conan stepped forward and began examining the fallen Japan, saying in a deep voice, "There are cut marks on the Japan's cable. The screw that fell down earlier must have been loosened beforehand, and it was cut beforehand to prevent it from getting caught on the cable when it fell."

"Wouldn't that be indiscriminate attack?"

Ayumi pondered, "If that's the case, wouldn't everyone passing by have a chance of getting hit?"

"I think the murderer was targeting Kojima-kun."

Ai Haibara glanced at the vending machine on the side of the street. "Look, isn't this the Kamen Rider gashapon machine that Kojima-kun stops to look at every day after school? If he had been under the gashapon machine, he might have been hit by the Japan."

"That person has already learned of Genta's whereabouts."

Fujino pondered for a moment, "It seems he's been following Genta for more than just a day or two. The attack on Genta before was probably his doing. He also has Genta's phone number, address, and all sorts of other things."

"In that case, let's hurry up and go inside the department store!"

Mitsuhiko suggested, "That thug might still be inside the department store!"

How are we supposed to find it?

Conan said somewhat helplessly, "We don't know what the criminal looks like, and he doesn't have any distinctive features. Even if we saw him, we wouldn't recognize him."

"Moreover, the perpetrators planned the attack with a specific purpose."

Ai Haibara crossed her arms and glanced around. "Judging from such a meticulous plan, he probably already blended into the customers and escaped the scene. Maybe... he's still watching us."

Fujino glanced around.

At this moment, due to the huge commotion caused by the falling of this giant Japan, the surrounding area was already crowded with people.

The people of Mihua still love to gossip as always.

Aren't you afraid that the next Japan will fall and kill a lot of people?

Fujino silently complained to himself.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that Ai was right; it was indeed very difficult to pinpoint the perpetrator in this situation.

After all, if you commit a crime and then don't run away, what's the difference between you and a fool?

Well, it seems the murderer this time really is an idiot.

In his opinion, it would be easier to just stab someone to death on the way home from school than anything else.

It's astonishing that someone would go to such lengths to swindle a child, only to end up being outsmarted instead.

This thug must be a complete idiot!

"Anyway Genta, let's go to the burger joint across the street first."

Conan looked at a burger joint on the side of the street. "Let's go there and tell each other how you got targeted by the thugs, so we can decide on our next plan."

Fujino looked up at the few remaining Japan in the mall. "But before we go to the burger shop, we still need to go to the mall."

What are you going to the mall for?

Conan was puzzled. "Even if we go there, we won't find the culprit."

"Of course, it's not about finding the murderer."

Fujino shook his head and explained, "After all, we were hit by their department store's Japan. If they don't give us any compensation, wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

"..."

The little ones were stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this.

They're just kids, after all, and they don't really have a concept of money or responsibility.

Fujino thought for a moment and continued, "If I get compensation, I'll treat you to hamburgers."

"Can I have eel rice?"

"Can..."

"Then let's hurry and find the person in charge of this shopping mall!"

Watching Fujino and his few 'angrily' figures disappear into the mall, Conan fell silent for a moment.

When hit by Japan, the first thought wasn't to find the culprit, but to take the children to demand compensation.

Why does it feel like a debt collection gang leader leading his henchmen to collect debts?

All I can say is that you, Fujino, are truly exceptional!

Ai Haibara smiled slightly and silently followed.

Inside the lounge of a department store.

"I just heard about the Japan incident myself, I'm so sorry I startled you!"

A portly manager sat on the opposite sofa, looking quite sincere.

"I don't really care..."

Fujino remained calm and didn't buy it. He looked at the children beside him and said, "But you should know that these children are terrified."

"Um... I'm so sorry, kids, please forgive me..."

The manager frowned, realizing Fujino's intention, but remained sincere and said without changing his expression, "After all, this is something that cannot be predicted. We guarantee that we will regularly inspect the Japan in the mall in the future to ensure that such a thing will never happen again."

"What's done is done, and no amount of assurance will help now."

With an air of righteous indignation, Fujino was about to take out his phone. "I think this incident has caused serious psychological trauma to these children, and we must call the police!"

The manager started to panic.

Although it's impossible to determine whether the Japan falling down was intentional or accidental, the shopping mall definitely bears undeniable responsibility.

If you get inspected or something, it will be a loss that doesn't outweigh the gains.

So he suggested, "If you don't mind, we can give you a certain amount of vouchers..."

They're just kids!

Fujino abruptly changed the subject, saying with deep sorrow, "Do you know how much psychological damage a Japan has caused to these children?"

"This..."

The manager was speechless.

Clearly, the young man in front of him was not satisfied with the compensation.

But he simply couldn't refute that reason.

Thinking this, he sighed, "In addition to the vouchers, our department store will also compensate us with 500,000 yen..."

"This is absolutely not about money."

Fujino shook his head, slightly revealing the Rolex on his wrist. "I feel that you haven't taken this kind of safety hazard seriously at all. If it falls off again and hits a child, it won't be something that can be solved with just an apology. If a department store of your size doesn't take this seriously, then I must have my media friends report on it..."

"Etc!"

The manager was well aware of the negative impact of the incident being exposed and nearly hitting a child. He repeatedly said, "One million yen, plus a voucher, is offered in exchange for your understanding of our department store's negligence in supervision. We guarantee that such an incident will never happen again."

"Well..."

Fujino sighed and put his phone away, "In that case, we'll reluctantly forgive you. By the way, remember to draft the agreement. After all, it was your mall that proposed it, so we have no choice but to accept it. Sigh!"

Manager. "..."

You little punk, why are you acting like a victim when you're extorting money?

We're the victims, aren't we?

What kind of unfair terms are these? They're basically saying, "If you're scared, we'll sue you for extortion, okay?"

The children sitting next to him were all dumbfounded, never expecting Fujino to have this side to him...

Conan raised an eyebrow, turned his face slightly away, and seemed a little embarrassed.

To think that compensation could be handled in such a sophisticated and efficient manner...

He probably does this all the time, doesn't he?!

Are you sure this guy is a legitimate detective, and not some habitual extortionist?!