Conan: Ran, I really am Shinichi, you have to believe me!

Page 19

Seeing this, Jiang Chengbei felt relieved. He then made a few phone calls, issuing another call to action and summoning the reporters who liked to stir up trouble.

While waiting for the reporters to arrive, Jiang Chengbei went into the abandoned building again and pulled out Bancho Kikuji, who had fainted inside.

The most important reason why Jiang Chengbei didn't kill the two murderers was that there were three people who knew the truth living in the dilapidated apartment next door. He couldn't just go on a killing spree and silence them all, could he?

Jiang Chengbei isn't a murderous monster. There were reasons why he killed those four people before. One was a drug dealer, and the other three were children killers. They were all heinous criminals, so killing them was fine.

These two murderers who only killed one adult are too common in Beika Town. If even murderers like these are killed, it will cause a population crisis in Beika Town, and there will be no people left.

Next, things became very simple. After the reporters arrived, it was the same old routine as last time.

Jiang Chengbei was heavily praised by the media, while Shinichi Kudo and the Metropolitan Police Department, who have yet to make any progress in the serial killer case, were dragged out again to be ridiculed, their incompetence used to highlight the greatness of this elementary school student, Jiang Chengbei.

After chatting and boasting about the case with his journalist friends, Jiang Chengbei and his friends waited and waited, but the police never arrived.

Unable to wait any longer, Jiang Chengbei and his group had no choice but to give the Metropolitan Police Department a chance, raise the alarm, and ask them to come and collect the people.

While calling the police, Jiang Chengbei also asked them if they hadn't received any calls from an old man or a fat man before.

They could recognize the old man's voice, but how could they distinguish the fat man's voice?

The police officer who answered the phone cursed Jiang Chengbei in his heart before replying crisply, "No."

Jiang Chengbei received this answer, then hung up the phone. He glanced at the dilapidated apartment behind him and muttered to himself:

It turns out I misunderstood them. They really did hide in their room; they didn't intend to call the police. I was just being presumptuous.

It seems that without Xiaolan, these people don't even know how to call the police anymore. I wonder who they learned bad habits from; they're completely lawless.

After mentally cursing the old geezer and the fatso, Jiang Chengbei glanced at his Ke Xue Mall. He currently had 9 Kill Coins. Upgrading to Flying Wall again would require 16 Kill Coins, and purchasing Two-Way Invisibility would require 10 Kill Coins. Neither was enough, so he decided to save them for later.

Chapter 30 Talented Individuals and Extraordinary People from All Over the World Gather at Dorobiga

The news that a wanted murderer with a scarred face and distinctive features lived a homeless life at the crime scene, waiting for four years without being caught by the police, was finally caught by a primary school student, once again made headlines in newspapers and on prime-time television.

Despite the fact that the Metropolitan Police Department and Shinichi Kudo had failed to catch the serial killer for so many days, and that the story was once again stolen by a primary school student from Jiangcheng North who caught a murderer who had been on the run for many years, the Metropolitan Police Department and Shinichi Kudo were still in the spotlight of media and public criticism. After all, when compared to a 7-year-old primary school student, their incompetence was exposed.

Jiangchengbei has time to catch murderers who haven't committed crimes in years and are old cases, but he doesn't have time to provide them with information about a serial killer who is currently committing murders.

After catching the culprit, he only remembered to notify the reporters, but forgot to call the police. This made the police officers, who had been under tremendous pressure recently, grit their teeth with hatred whenever they heard the name Conan Edogawa.

Following Conan Edogawa are Akiko Yonehara and Yoko Shiraki, two beauties who are plotting murder.

If they hadn't been lucky enough to run into a serial killer who helped them kill their victims, preventing them from finding a target for revenge, their murder plan would have been so effective that the police... well, with Shinichi Kudo's help, would definitely have been able to solve the case on the spot and arrest them immediately.

If they had acted sooner, there wouldn't have been any serial shooters, the media wouldn't have been so extensive, and they wouldn't be under so much pressure now.

Although all of the above ideas are wrong, the police were very angry that every time they questioned Akiko Yonehara and Yoko Shiragi to provide any clues about the serial killings, they remained tight-lipped and said nothing, claiming to know nothing.

They were trying to catch the murderer and uphold justice, but these two potential murderers refused to say anything, provided no clues, and ended up sitting at the table protecting the murderer. Yet they were powerless against these two women and could only bark helplessly. Their helplessness and anger were palpable.

After being questioned so many times at the Metropolitan Police Department, Akiko Yonehara and Yoko Shiragi became acquainted.

Because they had similar experiences, the two quickly became close friends and encouraged and reminded each other not to let anything slip and let the police find out about the good man who avenged them, or any clues about him, even though they themselves didn't know what the clues were about him.

The serial gunman has not been caught yet, and there are very few clues about him. The social and public pressure is so great that even Shinichi Kudo, who came to help, has been skipping school for many days, which makes his childhood friend very unhappy.

The root of the dissatisfaction stems from the fact that on the day of the Kanto Women's Karate Final, Shinichi Kudo left halfway through Ran's final match, which was particularly infuriating.

If he runs away to solve the case, so be it. If only Shinichi Kudo can solve this case, and it can't be solved without him, Ran can understand.

But the problem is that in the end, it wasn't Shinichi Kudo who solved the case.

The next day, newspapers all over the world reported that the case was ultimately solved by a primary school student named Conan Edogawa. The reports also mentioned that Shinichi Kudo himself admitted that he couldn't solve the case and was defeated by the culprit. Afterwards, he changed his story, saying that he had been ambushed and drugged.

So why did Shinichi Kudo skip his final match?

Just to admit that he is inferior to an elementary school student, and let that elementary school student named Conan Edogawa step on his shoulders to rise to the top?

So, is that elementary school student who looks just like Shinichi really his relative?

As more and more television and newspaper reports appeared about this elementary school student, Xiaolan learned more about him.

Even without Shinichi Kudo, various cases are still solved, but none of the serial killer cases involving Shinichi Kudo have been solved.

So now, as long as we have Conan the elementary school student, that's enough. Whether Shinichi helps out or not, or whether he highlights the elementary school student's abilities, it doesn't matter.

After this major discovery, Ran felt no guilt whatsoever in forcing Shinichi Kudo to fulfill the promise he made a few days earlier.

Maybe if Shinichi accompanies me to Dorobiga Amusement Park for a day, it can prevent him from becoming a stepping stone for elementary school students and allow me to have a relaxing and happy weekend.

So, having figured this out, Shinichi Kudo, who had been busy searching for the serial killer's identity but had made no progress so far, was forced by Ran to put everything down and relax at the amusement park on the weekend.

Having overheard from Shinichi Kudo's monitor that today was their date at Dorobiga, Jiang Chengbei finally waited for January 1st of the first year of the Conan Era. Once this day was over, the mission would be finished, and his days as a child would finally be over.

On this joyous day, he no longer planned to go out searching for the murderer or help clean up the garbage in Beika Town.

On the weekend, a flurry of activity took place as various parties gathered in Dorobiga.

Jiang Chengbei has arrived, the Teitan trio has arrived, Shinichi Kudo and Ran have arrived, Gin and Vodka have arrived, and the true Conan era is finally about to slowly begin!

Today is a crucial day for the successful completion of the mission, so Jiang Chengbei didn't want to cause any trouble and just quietly enjoyed his happy childhood at the amusement park.

Even if he occasionally ran into Shinichi Kudo and Ran, and they wanted to chat with him, Jiang Chengbei ignored them and walked away on his own, not wanting to be a third wheel.

Upon seeing Conan and Shinichi Kudo appear together, Ran muttered to herself:

"Such a smart kid, whose reasoning skills are even better than Shinichi's, how could he want to impersonate Shinichi and make up such a obviously fake story to fool me? I really don't know what he was thinking at the time?"

Not having heard what Ran mumbled, Shinichi Kudo watched Jiang Chengbei's departing figure and absentmindedly asked, "Ran, what were you muttering about?"

"I didn't say anything. I was just marveling at how much better Conan's deductive reasoning skills are than some certain deduction fanatic."

"What? You're saying his reasoning skills are better than mine? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Upon hearing Ran say that the annoying elementary school student's reasoning skills were better than his own, Shinichi Kudo immediately flew into a rage. To prove that his reasoning skills were superior to that elementary school student's, he grabbed the hand of a woman next to him and said fiercely to Ran:

"Xiao Lan, look closely. As soon as I shake hands with this stranger, I know she's a gymnast who practices on the uneven bars!"

Xiaolan, listen carefully. I don't know this lady. We're meeting for the first time, but I managed to figure out her profession.

"I'm the best at reasoning, way better than that elementary school kid!"

He's been constantly ridiculed by the media lately, being used as a stepping stone for Jiang Chengbei. Now that he's finally able to relax, he's even given up solving cases to spend time with Xiaolan. But Xiaolan says that his arch-nemesis, an elementary school student, is better than him. Kudo Shinichi is completely devastated and argues with Xiaolan, word by word.

Although his feelings and goals were different—no longer just wanting to show off in front of Ran and act cool in front of his beloved girl—things generally returned to normal. At this moment, Shinichi Kudo still came into contact with the murderer and the victim, and then they rode the roller coaster together.

Chapter 31 The Real Conan: I'm already burdened with a debt of 149 million before I even log on?

Shinichi Kudo and Gin are back on track with the original story, while Jiang Chengbei stops the Teitan trio who are about to crawl into the ventilation duct.

Then, with an air of wealth, he pulled out a 10,000 yen bill and slapped it on Ayumi's head: "Take this and spend it. If you want to ride the roller coaster, you have to buy a ticket. A child who sneaks in without a ticket is not a good kid."

If you ever need more money, just come to me, Conan.

If I stop giving you money in the future, it's because I've changed my mind.

If I change my mind, then as my best friends, you must help me. Punch me, beat me up badly, until I change my mind, become your best friends again, and turn back into the Conan I always was.

Having accepted Jiang Chengbei's money, the three idiots of Teitan readily agreed to be good children and never evade fares again. However, they still had one question, so they continued to ask:

"Conan, why do you want us to beat you up when you refuse to give us money? That's not right."

"Good friends should know how to share. If I start eating alone in the future, then I've gone down the wrong path of selfishness, and you can beat me up if you want."

"But that's your money. We can't beat you up if you don't give it to us, or it would be robbery."

"Although this is my money, what I'm giving you is the money from our Junior Detective Club."

A few days ago, didn't we arrest a murderer who had been hiding in a basement for five years in Beikacho 5-chome?

Yesterday, I also caught two murderers from four years ago at Mei Tou Park. The Metropolitan Police Department has a reward for catching these wanted murderers.

For these two cases, involving three wanted criminals, our Junior Detective Team has earned a total of 150 million in bounties. I'm keeping all the money here now, so feel free to ask me for it if you need to spend it in the future.

This 150 million yen is the operating fund for our Junior Detective Club. I, Conan Edogawa, am only responsible for its safekeeping. The four of us will spend it together.

If I don't give you money in the future, then I'm embezzling and misappropriating public funds. If you beat me up then, is that robbery?

No, that was to save me, that was for my own good, that was to guide me back to the right path in life, to help me become a kind, self-disciplined, and law-abiding person!

"Wow, I see! We understand now. Don't worry, Conan, we'll keep an eye on you from now on and make sure you don't squander our Junior Detective League's funds!"

After being swayed by Jiang Chengbei, the three idiots of Teitan became excited and shouted loudly, even more excited than when they had just received 10,000 yen to buy roller coaster tickets.

"Wow, 1.5 million! I've never had so much money before!"

“We juvenile detectives have 37 million yuan in public funds, which means each of us can spend 5 yuan. We’re rich.”

"Wow, so much money! I can eat eel rice every day now..."

"Stop arguing, everyone. Our Junior Detective Club will eventually run out of this little bit of activity funds."

So I'm giving you a task: we helped the Metropolitan Police Department solve four cases, but they only paid for two old cases. They're trying to renege on their payment for the other two recent cases that I solved on the spot.

So, I'm going to give you a tough task: to represent our Junior Detective Club and collect a debt from the Metropolitan Police Department!

"From now on, whenever you see Inspector Megure, that big fat guy in the tawny coat, you must pester him and demand the money I helped them solve in the Seiwa Takenori murder case, and the counterfeit money ring led by Silver Fox that I caught. This is all our hard-earned money, and you must help us get it back."

"Huh? They want us to go to the police to collect the debt?"

After hearing Jiang Chengbei's explanation of their arrangements, the Teitan Three Idiots immediately backed down. After all, they hadn't experienced Conan's training yet and were still normal kids. They were quite afraid of the police, so they were hesitant to go and collect the debt.

"What? Are you scared? Don't be afraid. You can learn how I collect debts first. We'll meet that fat guy, Inspector Megure, soon. I'll give you a demonstration first. After that, we'll have to rely on you."

"I see... Since you're not afraid of the police, Conan, and you know how to collect debts, how about you handle collecting debts from the police from now on?"

"If I, as a detective, am to handle everything from solving cases and catching murderers to collecting debts from the police, then what's the point of having you teenagers and the Youth League?"

Genta, as the leader of the Junior Detective League, now is the time for you to take on the important responsibility of being the leader. From now on, you will lead the boys to ask the police for the reward.

Moreover, after my debt collection experience a few days ago, I realized that when I collect debts in a proper manner, they always brush me off with excuses like "it's being applied for" or "the report is being submitted" and "it hasn't been approved yet."

They're giving me the same perfunctory treatment with current cases, and they're giving me the same perfunctory treatment with old cases too. If I hadn't found the arrest warrant and the reward clearly stated on it, and if I hadn't hired a reporter to expose them, they wouldn't even want to give me this 150 million.

Thinking back on the past few days of trying to collect debts from Inspector Megure, Jiang Chengbei felt a pang of bitterness; it was more exhausting than solving a case.

Compared to the Metropolitan Police Department, our journalist friends are much more considerate. Every time I call them for an exclusive story, they pay me on the spot as soon as they arrive, and they pay in large sums and quickly. Compared to the police, it's like heaven and earth.

That's why, every time Jiang Chengbei solves a case and catches the murderer, he never forgets to call the reporter.

As for calling the police, they didn't even pay the police the proper amount, so it's no wonder Jiang Chengbei would remember it!

He's not some suck-up; he doesn't expect to fawn over them and solve their cases without paying them. No way!