The Ugly Face of Japanese Society

He had always wondered what Conan's Tranquilizer Darts were made of.

He had captured Tranquilizer Darts before.

That thing looks like it's made of metal!

It might be made of the same material as his Bat Darts?

The Tranquilizer Dart in Mori Kogoro's neck may not have broken down yet.

Or perhaps early Tranquilizer Dart were made of metal?

Fujino was brainstorming.

Conan watched silently from the side, and a moment of silence followed.

Didn't Professor Agasa say that this Tranquilizer Dart is made of a biodegradable and environmentally friendly material?

How did it get detected by the metal detector?!

"Is your metal detector broken?"

Fujino walked over and took out his work ID from his pocket. "You should have already checked Mouri-niisan's body. There are no metal objects on him. I'm from the Metropolitan Police Department. I can vouch for him if there are any problems."

"That's true... but..."

The security guard frowned in confusion and glanced at Fujino's work ID.

"But what 'but'?"

Fujino remained calm, staring into the other person's eyes. "We were invited here, and he was with me. Is there a problem? We've already checked you. What more do you want? Do you want me to strip you naked and show you? Should I go talk to your supervisor?"

"No problem!"

The security guard panicked upon hearing this and quickly bowed, saying, "I'm so sorry to have caused you trouble!"

Fujino didn't show any expression, silently took out the items he had put in the security scanner, and entered the venue.

"How infuriating! They actually mistook me Great Detective Mori Kogoro, for a dangerous person!"

Mori Kogoro snorted and complained, "It's just a game launch event, why are you being so strict?"

"Ha ha..."

Fujino laughed dryly.

Is this considered strict?

If it were China, Mouri-niisan wouldn't even be able to ride a train, subway, airplane, or even a bus.

There's nothing we can do about it.

Conan, with his hands in his pockets, explained, "Since the planning stages of this game, there have been corporate spies infiltrating this place."

"Yes."

Mitsuhiko nodded. "After all, the appearance of the cocoon has changed the entire business landscape of the game industry in an instant."

"Hey, what's that?!"

Genta approached the window in the corridor and looked out at the empty game exhibition hall and the countless giant eggs on the stage, and asked in confusion.

"That must be the 'cocoon', right?" Mitsuhiko leaned forward excitedly.

"I really want to play too!"

"We can't possibly play this game."

Mitsuhiko shook his head helplessly. "Although we were invited to the launch dinner, we weren't invited to participate in the game experience at all."

"Although I can't participate..."

Ai Haibara leaned forward to take a look, her hands behind her back, and unusually showed some interest. "But it's quite interesting that you can experience all the historical events in the game."

"That's true..."

Fujino glanced at it, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "If I could participate in the revolutionary events that changed the world back then... although I couldn't reverse history, just thinking about experiencing it firsthand would make me really look forward to it."

"Right!"

"It's almost like time travel."

Mitsuhiko and Genta nodded excitedly, their eyes full of anticipation.

Is it really necessary?

Conan glanced at the group speechlessly. "Even if it's real, it's just a game."

"It seems like Conan isn't good at video games."

"I haven't finished a single game yet."

"Hmm, I didn't expect Conan to be so clumsy."

"You guys are so long-winded!"

Conan's behavior of saying the carrot is sour because he can't have it was immediately exposed by the other kids. Conan blushed and could only keep walking forward.

When everyone arrived at the banquet hall, it was already packed with people.

The banquet hall at the branch is set with a variety of delicious foods and fine wines.

The surrounding area was filled with upper-class people dressed in suits, ties, and evening gowns, looking very respectable.

Mori Kogoro immediately pulled out food and fine wines and began to taste them with great excitement.

"Dad, you still have to drive later!"

Ran, wearing a blue dress, gave Mori Kogoro a resentful look.

"What does it matter!"

Mori Kogoro picked up a glass of Rum and drank it down. "Just let Fujino drive later!"

"Really, quite a few high-ranking police officers are here too!" Ran sighed helplessly.

"You can eat all of these!"

Genta joined in the teasing. "So lucky!"

"Genta is such a glutton!"

Ayumi chuckled, glanced back at the crowd on the side of the banquet hall, and suddenly her tone became somewhat melancholy. "But the lucky ones... should be them, right?"

Everyone looked over and saw that not far away, many children were surrounding the staff, receiving medals for participating in the game. Around them were also many adults dressed in gorgeous and proper clothes.

Mitsuhiko sighed, "Seeing the badges they're holding, it's obvious without even thinking that they're the kids who were chosen to participate in the game."

"The grandson of the deputy superintendent of police, the grandson of a financial tycoon, the son of a politician..."

Mori Kogoro identified the people and remarked with emotion, "It seems that the two or three generations who bear the future of Japan are all here..."

"It's practically a microcosm of the evil hereditary system in Japan society."

Ai Haibara silently observed those people, then picked up the conversation, saying calmly with her hands behind her back, "With such a hereditary system, humanity always repeats the mistakes that have been made in history."

"Yes, time and time again, every time these ugly hereditary beneficiaries make mistakes, the people have to bear the consequences."

Fujino gazed at the 'higher class' and said coldly, "A minority exploits the people, enjoying most of the resources, yet they are unwilling to give even a little for the people's survival. This is why poverty, hunger, and injustice exist in this society, which is already extremely productive..."

Ai Haibara chimed in, "What a disgusting system, what an ugly Japan society."

"Haibara... what are you talking about?"

Ayumi looked at the two people grumbling and pleading, her face full of confusion. "Why can't I understand a single word they're saying?"

"You..."

Conan leaned closer, somewhat exasperated, and whispered, "You always say I'm not like a child, but what you're saying doesn't sound like a child at all."

"Yeah?"

After a moment of contemplation, Ai Haibara said seriously, "The children of politicians become politicians, and the children of bankers become bankers. If things continue like this, no matter how much time passes, Japan will never change."

"If that's the case, yesterday's news reported on it a lot!"

A blush appeared on Ai Haibara's fair face. Like a little girl, she stood on tiptoe, cutely Tsukino shape with her hands above her head, and revealed a sweet smile.