Obtaining the Address

Obtained the Address

Hearing her mother's complaint, Ran Mouri looked a little puzzled. "Mom, then why did you two get married in the first place?"

Kisaki Eri snapped, "Because it was all that damned childhood-friend nonsense."

Ran Mouri glanced at the ring on Kisaki Eri's hand. "Then why are you still wearing your wedding ring?"

Kisaki Eri looked at the ring on her hand and took it off. "I wear this to chase off those boring men. Also, you need to be careful of that childhood friend of yours."

Conan, standing off to the side, thought, What does this have to do with me?

Ran Mouri asked it for him. "Mom, what's wrong with Shinichi now? Don't deliberately change the subject."

Kisaki Eri was furious. She had kindly tried to warn her daughter, yet Ran suspected her of deliberately changing the subject. With a stern expression, she said, "Let me ask you, how long has it been since you last saw that childhood friend of yours?"

Ran Mouri thought about it and realized it really had been a long time since she had seen Shinichi. Every time they spoke on the phone, he said he had a case to handle and hung up before long. Unable to hide her feelings, she looked thoroughly downcast. "It hasn't been that long. Shinichi said he has a case to work on and hasn't been able to get away lately. It'll be fine after a while."

Looking at the expression on her daughter's face, Kisaki Eri knew without thinking that it could not be anything good. Her words carried an even heavier implication. "Working a case? Isn't he the Sherlock Holmes of the Heisei era? What case could keep him busy for that long? I think he's been bewitched by some woman outside, and who knows where he's fooling around now!"

Hearing her mother's words, Ran Mouri fiercely retorted, "No way! Shinichi would never do that! If he dared to do something like that, I'd make him pay." As she spoke, she saw a utility pole nearby. Without even thinking, she went up and delivered a side kick.

Bang!

Lin Maoxian saw it clearly from the side. It was white. But after seeing the cracks on the surface of the utility pole, he shook his head speechlessly. Just how much strength did it take to create that kind of effect? In any case, he felt his own strength could not produce such a result. It seemed Ran was not as simple as she appeared on the surface. If they really fought head-on, he might not even be her match. It looked like he would have to be careful in the future and not underestimate anyone.

Conan, who was standing nearby, was startled by Ran Mouri's sudden outburst. He thought he had to find an opportunity to properly explain why he could not appear as Shinichi. Otherwise, if Ran kicked him—

Kisaki Eri had clearly been startled as well. Looking at Ran, she snapped, "Look at what you're wearing right now. And you're a girl. What kind of behavior is that?"

After hearing her mother's words, Ran Mouri thought about how she might have exposed that place just now, and she stood there frozen, her face flushed bright red.

Lin Maoxian did not want to be thought of as that kind of person, so he quickly changed the subject. "That Shinichi you're talking about—is he that famous high school detective? I have something I'd like to ask his help with. Ran, do you have a way to contact him?"

Seeing Lin Maoxian steer the topic away, Ran Mouri let out a breath. As long as they did not talk about what had just happened, it was fine. With a hint of gratitude, she said, "No. I can't reach Shinichi. Every time, it's Shinichi who contacts me. When I call him, his phone is always turned off."

Conan looked thoughtfully at this man. He had been asking about other people the whole time and had barely introduced himself. And why was he looking for me? What exactly does he want to know? What is his goal? Looks like I'll have to test him.

"Uncle Lin, you're Chinese, so what did you come to Japan to do? You—"

"All right, all right, we're already here. If you have any questions, wait until we sit down and then we can talk slowly." Kisaki Eri interrupted Conan before he could finish and led the group into a restaurant.

Lin Maoxian looked over the menu. There was nothing he particularly wanted to eat, so he handed it to Conan. "Conan, here, you take it. Order whatever you want. Don't be shy."

Conan took the menu. Thinking of the question he had not finished asking earlier, he casually ordered a few dishes, then gave the menu to the waiter.

He asked Lin Maoxian, "Uncle, what did you come to Japan to do?"

Lin Maoxian first looked at Conan, then turned to Kisaki Eri, who sat across from him. "Actually, I came to Japan this time because I have an important personal matter to handle. Since Miss Kisaki is a lawyer, you must know a lot of people, right?"

Kisaki Eri pushed up her glasses. "I wouldn't dare make promises about other matters, but if you're looking for someone, I do have acquaintances at the Metropolitan Police Department. I can help with the search."

Lin Maoxian pretended to be overjoyed. "That's truly wonderful. With Miss Kisaki's help, my matter can be completed sooner. I wonder if Miss Kisaki knows Fujimine Yukiko? I only know that she was a famous star, but it seems she later retired from acting."

Conan's heart stirred at the side. He's looking for Mom? Why is he looking for my mother? Is his goal really just to find my mother?

Hearing that Lin Maoxian was looking for Yukiko, Kisaki Eri began to laugh softly.

Lin Maoxian did not know why the young married woman in front of him had suddenly laughed. He deliberately stiffened his face and asked with a stern look, "What? Is something wrong?"

Seeing Lin Maoxian look displeased, Ran Mouri thought her mother's reaction had angered him and hurriedly explained, "Mr. Lin, please don't be angry. My mom is laughing only because we all know Aunt Yukiko. She was my mom's former classmate, and she's also Shinichi's mother."

Seeing her anxious daughter, Kisaki Eri was both amused and pleased. She said to her daughter, "Why are you getting so worked up? Mr. Lin was joking. How could he really be angry?" After scolding her daughter, she asked Lin Maoxian, "Mr. Lin, the Fujimine Yukiko you mentioned is already married. She's now called Kudo Yukiko. I've never heard her mention having any friends in China. What do you need her for?"

After hearing Kisaki Eri's words, Lin Maoxian smiled at Ran to explain that he had only been joking just now. Then he put on a sorrowful expression and said to Kisaki Eri, "It's not anything shameful. I was merely entrusted by an elder who is near the end of his life. He was once deeply infatuated with the famous movie star Ms. Fujimine Yukiko. As his junior, all I can do is come to Japan and see whether I can bring her back to China so that my elder can meet her once."

Seeing Lin Maoxian's sorrowful expression, Kisaki Eri comforted him. "Everyone has their own life to finish walking. Yukiko isn't in Japan right now. She and her husband have already moved to Los Angeles in the United States."

Of course Lin Maoxian knew she was not in Japan, but he still asked anxiously, "Then what should I do? My elder doesn't have much time left. I can only stay in Japan for a few days. If I go to Los Angeles now and then return to China afterward, putting aside the issue of time, I still don't know whether Ms. Yukiko would be willing to come with me."

Looking at Lin Maoxian's anxious face, Kisaki Eri said with a smile, "It's all right. I'll explain the matter to Yukiko first and help persuade her to come back. After that, you can bring her back with you. It won't delay things for too long."

Thinking of Yukiko's miraculous makeup skills, with her around, many things would be much easier to handle when the time came. Lin Maoxian immediately said to Kisaki Eri happily, "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Kisaki greatly. Please tell Ms. Yukiko that this humble one will offer ten million yen as thanks for this trip. If the issue is the price, everything can still be discussed. As for Miss Kisaki, regardless of whether Ms. Yukiko is successfully invited this time, I will also repay you with a generous gift."

Hearing that Lin Maoxian wanted to invite Yukiko to China for ten million yen, Kisaki Eri was very surprised. Although she felt as if Yukiko had outdone her, she still said, "Ten million is far too much. I'll pass the message to Yukiko. I believe she'll come back, even if not for the money. As for me, there's no need. I haven't even thanked Mr. Lin for helping me earlier." She thought, I'm afraid that even if it's just to show off in front of me, she'll come back.

The two people beside them were each thinking their own thoughts.

Conan was thinking, Is this Chinese man surnamed Lin really just inviting Mom over to meet his elder? Does he have some other special purpose?

Ran Mouri, however, was thinking, Could Shinichi really have another woman outside, like Mom said? No. I believe Shinichi wouldn't do that. If he dared, I'd make him pay.

After settling Yukiko's matter, Lin Maoxian was extremely happy. With her, many things that could not be done would no longer be a problem. As for how to get her to help, there would be plenty of ways when the time came. He glanced at Conan and Ran, who were deep in thought. Although he did not know what they were thinking, he still interrupted their thoughts. "Ran, your father is a famous detective. Since I've come to Japan this time, I'd like to visit him in passing. Could you tell me your family's specific address?"

Hearing that Lin Maoxian wanted to visit her father, Ran Mouri snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh? You want to visit Dad? Then you can just come back with me and Conan later."

There was still a long time left for the mission, and Lin Maoxian did not want to go that early. There were still some things he had to arrange. He politely said, "No, I still have matters to handle. If possible, I'd like to find another time to visit. When the time comes, please forgive any inconvenience."

Ran Mouri said, "Oh. My home is at 5-chome, 39-banchi, Beika Town, Beika City. You can just go straight there when the time comes."

Lin Maoxian quickly committed the address to memory. With this, Mission One could be completed at any time. He then said happily to Ran Mouri, "Thank you so much, Miss Ran. You've truly done me a great favor. Being able to meet a famous detective is my honor."

At the side, Kisaki Eri curled her lip disdainfully. "What kind of famous detective is he? He's been a detective for about ten years, and I never saw him being that impressive before. Recently, though, who knows what's happened—he's solved case after case. I'd say the problem is most likely with that 'sleeping' part of his."