Miss Tokiwa, You Wouldn't Want...

"Aren't you overthinking it?"

Fujino glanced at Tokiwa Mio speechlessly. "It's just 35 million yen. I wouldn't kill someone for such a small matter. It's not worth it."

"You didn't do it?"

Tokiwa Mio paused for a moment, staring intently at Fujino, and suddenly a glimmer of hope rekindled within her.

Fujino looked at Tokiwa Mio as if she were an idiot. "I didn't say I killed anyone, you don't actually think I killed anyone, do you?"

"Ahem."

Tokiwa Mio's complexion eased again, and a trace of color returned. She complained, "Don't make jokes like that, they can scare people to death!"

"I wasn't joking..."

Fujino pursed his lips. "I was just saying what you think, how could you think I killed him?"

"You said those things just yesterday!"

Tokiwa Mio said in a coquettish tone, "Can I not think about it that way?"

"I was just making a bet. You're taking my words too seriously."

Fujino suddenly remembered this and continued, "But now that he is indeed dead, there's no need for an investigation. Shouldn't you give me the commission fee?"

Tokiwa Mio: "..."

I have a feeling that you killed that person?

After all, Fujino's prediction was incredibly accurate.

Furthermore, given the conflict of interest involved, why are they in such a hurry to collect the commission?

It's hard not to suspect that there's some behind-the-scenes manipulation going on.

"Ms. Tokiwa, you're not trying to renege on your debt, are you?"

Fujino glanced at Tokiwa Mio, who was looking strange and silent, and frowned. "Although I didn't kill her, Miss Tokiwa, you didn't want this either..."

"Stop!"

Tokiwa Mio said something harsh, interrupting Fujino from continuing.

She felt that the detective's practiced manner suggested he must have done this kind of thing many times before!

If this continues, they might be blackmailed or threatened into giving away some valuable items...

Besides, she had no intention of defaulting on her debt.

In any case, the problem has been solved. Money is just an external thing for someone like her.

Feeling a bit weary, she pinched the bridge of her nose, sighed, and said, "You don't need to threaten me. Of course I'll pay the commission. I'm just curious, how did you know that guy would die?"

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

Fujino chuckled softly and looked at Tokiwa Mio meaningfully.

"..."

Tokiwa Mio gave Fujino a knowing look, as if to say, "Do I look like an idiot?"

I have a feeling that this kid was flirting with me just now.

"This is just a basic prediction. Actually, I didn't expect him to die. People like him usually have a lot of enemies. The crime rate in Tokyo is generally high, especially for a politician like him. I think it was only a matter of time before he was killed."

Seeing this, Fujino stopped teasing the female president. After thinking for a moment, he made up an explanation. "It's not like I haven't encountered clients being killed before. It's just that this time, the day after I told you, I was stabbed by the righteous Beika Man... Otherwise, do you think I would kill someone myself, or make paper dolls to kill him?"

"So that's how it is..."

Tokiwa Mio breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; if that was the case, then it made much more sense.

After all, a detective committing murder is just too illogical. But if it's just a random bet, then maybe you'll win... Tokyo does have a pretty high crime rate.

Pulling herself back to reality, she said in a low voice, "I'll prepare the thirty-five million for you in a few days. After all, it's not a small amount, and we have to wait until this storm has passed."

"No problem."

Fujino didn't say anything, after all, the man had just died. If Tokiwa Mio were to take out 30 million yen now, it would definitely be discovered, causing trouble for both of them.

Are you going to say that then?

Although you can fool people by saying things like "being kept by a sugar daddy" or something similar.

But it is indeed a considerable problem.

After leaving the Tokiwa Twin Towers, Fujino drove back to 5-chome, told Mori Kogoro's family, picked up Ai, and went to Professor Agasa's house. He then took the group of people who were playing at Professor Agasa's house and headed to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Inside the Metropolitan Police Department, the aforementioned individuals had already arrived, given their statements, and left. By the time Fujino and his group arrived, they were already considered late.

Sato Miwako led the group to the conference room of the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division.

However, she did not participate in the explanation of this case, apparently because there were other cases that needed to be investigated.

The group of Fujino and his party were received by Shiratori Ninzaburo, Juzo Megure, and Chiba Kazunobu.

Juzo Megure posted the suspect's photo on the whiteboard Chiba Kazunobu, who wasn't as fat as he was then, explain the case.

Mori Kogoro Mouri immediately understood and pointed directly at Hara Yoshiki the whiteboard in the conference room, shouting, "The 'small porcelain cup' is a transliteration of 'chocolate,' the culprit is definitely Hara Yoshiki, who loves chocolate!"

"..."

The crowd fell silent, clearly disagreeing with Uncle Mori's conjecture.

"Ahem, in the records of our investigation just now, only Hara Yoshiki has an alibi."

Juzo Megure couldn't stand it any longer and coughed lightly, refuting Mori Kogoro's statement.

At this moment, Genta suddenly thought of a joke about similar pronunciations, "If the small porcelain cup is chocolate, then isn't that referring to a clumsy person?"

"If that's the case, then the most likely candidate is Mr. Mori."

Shiratori Ninzaburo sat in the front left seat and looked at Mori Kogoro meaningfully.

"Hey! Hey!"

Mori Kogoro panicked for a moment. "Don't talk nonsense!"

"I was just joking."

Shiratori's expression softened somewhat.

"This guy... is a bit cunning."

Fujino glanced at the two of them, then looked up at Juzo Megure and said, "Brother, stop keeping me in suspense and tell me what clues we found in this interrogation."

"We didn't get much information from the written records."

Juzo Megure shook his head. "The city councilor who was killed this time, although he was just a councilor, seems to have more real power than the mayor. Apart from the suspects we already know, he probably also has many enemies. What if those enemies come looking for revenge?"

"Take the Twin Towers project for example."

Shiratori Ninzaburo pondered, "This project was able to be completed smoothly because he changed the regulations prohibiting the construction of supertall buildings and gave the Tokiwa Group the green light all the way... As for the reason, that remains unknown."

"Then this case is in trouble."

Fujino nodded. "If the investigation eventually leads to the power struggles among those at the top, then it will be troublesome. In the end, we might even find ourselves in a situation where the villain is actually me."

The topic suddenly became sensitive, but Juzo Megure agreed with Fujino's statement.

To be honest, he didn't dare to conduct an in-depth investigation into the councilor's interpersonal relationships.

If the investigation happens to directly involve high-ranking officials, even they won't have an easy time.

Therefore, the investigation could only focus on the initial few suspects.

Tokiwa Mio lives on the 68th floor and has become the main suspect. Kazama Hidehiko is not a major suspect, while Sawaguchi Chinami is suspected because her father died from overwork a few years ago while investigating a corruption case.

As for Kisaragi Hōzui, it was simply ignored as normal practice because there was no connection between them.

Fujino exclaimed that this operation was expertly executed.

Conan, having encountered the Porsche 356A few days prior, was in a sensitive state. He connected the small porcelain cup to the small wine glass, and finally to the wine, which made him feel a chill.

Thinking of this, his expression grew much heavier, and he turned to Ai Haibara beside him and asked, "Hey, Haibara, could it be those guys..."