Chapter 10: Robbed by Conan

"Robbery!"

"Robbery!"

Shoichi stared blankly at Conan, who was currently robbing him, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Shoichi never imagined there would come a day when he would be robbed by Conan.

He was still a bit confused about what had just happened.

Hearing Shoichi's cries, the restaurant security personnel rushed over. They looked at Shoichi, then at the small child who was currently "fleeing."

Did this child just rob an adult?

While they were bewildered, Shoichi said with a fierce expression, "Catch him! That brat just snatched my briefcase!"

"Ah!"

The scrawny Conan was quickly pinned to the ground by the security guards.

Shoichi snatched his briefcase back and asked Conan with a menacing face, "I've heard that some robbers use children to lower people's guard before committing a crime. I didn't expect to run into that today. Speak! Where are your accomplices?"

Conan struggled for a moment, but after failing, he said, "Quick, throw that briefcase away! There's a bomb inside! The bomb is about to explode! You have to throw it somewhere where no one is around!"

"A bomb?"

"That's right! The guy who was trading with you definitely didn't intend to give you money. It's filled with a bomb! He wants to kill you!" Conan shouted loudly.

Shoichi's expression shifted rapidly.

A bomb? That guy wants to kill me?

How dare he?

He couldn't gamble with his life. Shoichi opened the suitcase, and the cash inside spilled out.

The pale yellow yen banknotes made the security guards' eyes go wide.

They swallowed several times before they could suppress the greed rising in their hearts.

Meanwhile, Conan was utterly bewildered. Where was the bomb?

That man clearly said there was a bomb in the case.

He couldn't have been joking, could he?

"Where's the bomb?"

Yeah, where was the bomb? He clearly heard the masked man say he was going to blow the person making the trade to death. Where was the bomb inside?

Shoichi tapped Conan on the head. "You cunning little brat. Even now, you're trying to trick me by saying there's a bomb in the case so that I'll throw it somewhere empty for you to pick up, aren't you?"

Because of the commotion outside, Jiro Kogoku from Room 302 also ran out.

"Manager Shoichi, are you alright?"

Shoichi shook his head. "I'm fine. This little robber has been subdued."

Conan looked at Jiro Kogoku, who had come out of 302, feeling a sense of absurdity. *Did I mistake him for someone else?*

This guy didn't come from 301; he's from 302.

The person from the Organization should be in 301 right now.

"Ahem," Conan coughed and said softly, "I mistook him for someone else. This must be a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

Shoichi stuffed the stacks of cash back into the case, looking at Conan with a hard expression.

"The surveillance cameras saw everything. Without a word, you snatched my briefcase and ran. Let me tell you, your age is no excuse for such reckless behavior." Shoichi dialed the police.

*You little brat, Conan, daring to rob my money... go reflect on your actions at the police station.*

...

"Why is there such a commotion outside?" Yukiko looked toward the door in confusion.

Yusaku Kudo walked to the door and said, "Maybe Shinichi is here? Given his reckless personality, it's normal for him to cause a stir before finding us."

He looked through the peephole.

After their son had shrunk due to the mysterious Organization's drug, the two of them had made a decision: to pose as members of that Organization to give their son a warning.

A warning to stay low-profile and not be so conspicuous. If the Organization discovered he hadn't actually died, it would endanger those around him.

"Why is Shinichi being taken away by the police?" Yusaku Kudo said in astonishment.

The main act hadn't even started yet, and this was already Shinichi's second time in the police station.

"What's going on?"

Yukiko pushed Yusaku aside and observed the commotion through the peephole herself.

Yusaku Kudo tapped his forehead and said, "I'll call Inspector Megure first to see what's happening."

It felt like they wouldn't even need to step in to educate Shinichi.

Two trips to the police station within 24 hours was education enough.

After Inspector Megure relayed the news, Yusaku Kudo let out a bitter smile.

Honestly, Shinichi had actually been mistaken for a robber. Moreover, the person he robbed was someone of significant status, so the police couldn't easily let him go.

Even if it was truly a misunderstanding, they had to satisfy the victim.

"It's a good thing I know Shoichi's father, otherwise this would be very troublesome," Yusaku Kudo said.

...

"Hello? This is Shoichi."

"Yusaku Kudo? Oh, the mystery novelist. Is Conan a relative of yours? Are you guys playing a game? A misunderstanding? I see."

Shoichi hung up the phone and waved his hand at the police, signaling them to release the boy.

Shoichi remembered that his biological father loved Yusaku Kudo's novels. Once, when inviting Yusaku Kudo to their house, his father had actually placed him under house arrest.

*You aren't allowed to go home until you finish writing 100,000 words.*

That was how Shoichi had met Yusaku Kudo.

He had even stolen one of Yusaku Kudo's pens back then.

Released from custody, Conan was full of confusion. *Is my dad back? How did he know I was caught by the police?*

No one could answer the many questions in his head.

"Let's go. I'll take you to see Yusaku Kudo. He said he wants to explain things to me in person when he has time," Shoichi said to Conan.

"Okay," Conan nodded.

With such a large commotion just now, the Organization member in 301 had likely already left. For now, it was best to find his dad and discuss things with him.

With his father's help, he could deal with the Organization more effectively.

Seeing Shoichi's car, Conan paused.

"This is my own car, I didn't find it on the street," Shoichi explained.

...

"Is it resolved?" Yukiko asked.

"It's resolved. Shoichi is quite easy to talk to. We'll just find a time in a couple of days to explain it to him," Yusaku Kudo said.

Yukiko said with a headache, "Then should we continue?"

Their son had already been to the police station twice, and the news of Yusaku's return to Japan had been exposed. Should they keep going?

"Continue!" Yusaku Kudo said.

They were almost at the final step; there was no reason to end it now. They couldn't end on a weak note.

"We just need to change the plot slightly. Actually, exposing the news of my return to Japan is quite good; it allows me to step into the fray myself," Yusaku Kudo said.

...

"Wait a moment."

"What is it?" Shoichi stopped the car and looked at the panting Inspector Megure running toward them.

Inspector Megure caught his breath and said to Conan, "Brother Kudo said he is currently at Professor Agasa's house. He told Conan to go there to find him."

"Got it." Shoichi waved to Inspector Megure.

(End of Chapter)