"Everyone!"
Sonoko approached them, dressed with a level of formality that made it clear the Suzuki Financial Group was one of the night's main protagonists.
"Sonoko-nechan, is that a brooch?" Mitsuhiko asked, noticing the badge pinned to her evening gown.
"This? Oh, the Suzuki Group provided funding for the game's development, after all."
"But since only children are participating in the game, I honestly don't think it'll be that interesting," Sonoko said with a shrug. To her, the game held little appeal.
Of course, as the young miss of the Suzuki family, if she truly wanted to play, she could probably just have one of the machines delivered to her house once the conference was over.
"Only children, huh..." Conan shot a sidelong glance at Tsuneo.
This "child" certainly has a monstrous appetite.
"I really want to play too," the Detective Boys sighed in unison, their voices thick with envy.
"Give it up," a discordant voice rang out from nearby.
"Were you guys even actually invited?"
A group of boys in custom-tailored suits, carrying a soccer ball, swaggered over in full mockery mode.
"You kids are incredibly rude! They happen to be my invited guests!" Sonoko snapped, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at them.
"Oh? Isn't this the young lady of the Suzuki Financial Group?"
Seiichiro Kikukawa, one of the soccer-playing boys, instantly shifted gears, adopting the persona of a little gentleman. He was the son of a renowned Kyogen performer.
"Wait, what exactly is a Kyogen performer again?" Tsuneo asked. He wasn't being sarcastic; he genuinely didn't remember.
"Didn't you say last time that they're basically just doing stand-up comedy that no one can understand?" Conan muttered, his face flat.
Technically, while that wasn't a huge error in interpretation, the social status involved was worlds apart.
"Listen well. A person's life is decided the moment they are born," said Hideki Moroboshi, the grandson of the Deputy Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police. He spoke with a chilling level of arrogance.
"Exactly. Beautiful clothes choose the person who wears them," added Akira Emori, a chubby boy who was the grandson of a major bank president.
"People who weren't chosen should just stand to the side, suck on their fingers, and drool while they watch us," sneered Shinya Takizawa, the son of a high-ranking politician.
"Is that so?"
"Then I suppose I'll just have to stand here, drooling and sucking my thumb while I watch you."
As the voice fell, a hand came to rest heavily on Tsuneo's shoulder.
Conan froze at the sound of that tone. He tilted his head back, looking up in surprise.
Who is this? Who else talks with such a smug, condescending air?
"However, as someone who has been around the block, I feel it's necessary to remind you: rude brats usually don't live very long."
The speaker wore a calm, practiced smile. Perched upon his shoulder was a hawk.
"Especially in a place like Beika-cho," Tsuneo added, finally putting down his steak knife and picking up a piece of fruit.
"Quite right. Children, listen closely. You shouldn't view life through such naive eyes. A life that seems perfectly smooth can still hide treacherous pitfalls. You'll understand once you grow up!"
Urged by Ran, Uncle Mouri had stepped forward to offer his own piece of "adult wisdom."
"Saguru Hakuba..."
"Let's go!" Hideki Moroboshi frowned. He didn't even acknowledge the "Sleeping Kogoro," instead clutching his soccer ball and signaling his friends to move away.
To him, even the name of the Suzuki Financial Group wasn't particularly terrifying, but this young master Hakuba was different. It was better not to say a single word back to him.
"What a bunch of insufferable brats!"
Having been ignored, Mouri huffed and angrily downed another glass of red wine.
"Hey, what were you planning to do with that knife just now?"
Saguru Hakuba glanced at Tsuneo. The hawk on his shoulder, Watson, shuffled a few inches further away, seemingly trying to put as much distance as possible between itself and the Fixer.
The bird sensed it: This human is dangerous!
"Their words were unpleasant, but they spoke the truth. What could I possibly do?" Tsuneo looked at the young detective with a look of pure innocence.
I was cutting my steak. What, did you think I was going to slit their throats?
"They'll only learn the benefits of keeping their mouths shut once they've suffered a loss. Whether that realization comes too late, however, remains to be seen."
"Young man, it's been a while!" Hakuba smiled, looking down at Conan.
Back at the Sunset Mansion, this little detective had left a very deep impression on him.
"Yeah..." Conan replied with a polite, practiced smile.
"Anyway, there are quite a few 'unpleasant' characters here tonight. You'd best keep an eye on him," Hakuba remarked before taking his leave.
Conan's expression turned helpless.
Look at my tiny stature... do I look like someone who can actually control him?
"Conan, who was that big brother?" Ayumi asked curiously.
"W-Was that a real hawk?"
"Are they even allowed to bring those in here?"
Genta and Mitsuhiko traded bewildered looks.
"Saguru Hakuba?" Sonoko tapped her chin, trying to recall.
"He's the son of Superintendent General Hakuba. The hawk's name is Watson," Ran explained.
"Those damn kids..." Mouri was still drinking.
Compared to those arrogant brats, the Conan living in his house was practically an angel.
"To think that those kids are the ones who will inherit their families' businesses... the future is truly worrying," Conan remarked, shaking his head as he watched the four boys start recklessly kicking their soccer ball around the venue.
It was hard to imagine what kind of education they were receiving at home.
Thwack!
The soccer ball caused no small amount of chaos in the crowded hall. Despite the room being packed with people, the four boys didn't hold back at all, kicking the ball with all their might.
"This is causing a disturbance to the other guests. if you want to play, take it outside."
A middle-aged man caught the flying soccer ball with a firm, steady hand. He looked down at the four children with a stern expression.
"Old man, who do you think you are?" Hideki Moroboshi, acting as the ringleader, asked without a hint of fear.
"I am the head of development for 'Cocoon,' Tadaaki Kashimura," the man introduced himself calmly.
"Our grandfather's bank provided the funding, which is the only reason you could even finish developing this game, right?" Akira Emori challenged.
"It seems your parents never taught you public manners, nor did they teach you how to speak to your elders," Kashimura replied, staring them down without flinching.
"You're acting pretty cocky."
"I'll tell my grandpa not to lend you any more money!"
"Uncle, do you even know who we are?"
"If you dare cross us, you might be out of a job by tomorrow." Hideki Moroboshi delivered the final threat.
"In that case, before that happens, why don't I just have you kicked out of here first?" Kashimura countered.
"..."
"Let's go."
The four boys were clearly obsessed with the idea of playing the game. They didn't want to get banned before it even started, so they finally tucked their tails between their legs and retreated.
"That's weird, where's Tsuneo-niichan?"
The group finished watching the drama and turned around, only to realize the Fixer had vanished.
"He probably finished eating..." Conan muttered, looking at the mountain of empty plates on the table.
Just then, the host stepped onto the stage, capturing the attention of the entire room.
"Honored guests, if I could have your attention! Mr. Yusaku Kudo, the man responsible for the creative scenarios of 'Cocoon,' has returned from abroad and is joining us tonight!"
Conan watched his father step onto the stage and couldn't help but smile.
Still as popular as ever, I see.
-------------------------------
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