Chapter 116: The Sprouting of Super-Villains and Super-Heroes
Shinichi Kudo had escaped. Upon hearing this news, Yusaku Kudo's eyes grew extremely complex.
He said nothing, however; he simply comforted Yukiko and Ran, then had a brief talk with Inspector Megure.
"Brother Megure, please allow me to help. I will definitely find Shinichi."
"Brother Kudo, it's wonderful that you're willing to help!" Megure agreed instantly. This wasn't just because he was the "Little Brother Hunter" who excelled at using his "brothers'" talents to solve trouble. He instinctively scanned the room, and after confirming no one was eavesdropping, he whispered to Yusaku:
"Brother Kudo... when you find Shinichi, have a good talk with him. Certain things, at certain times, aren't actually that big of a problem..."
Megure didn't speak too plainly, but Yusaku understood the subtext perfectly. After years of friendship, catching the "vibe" was second nature. Yusaku didn't elaborate; he simply nodded.
In a secluded corner of Beika Town, Shinichi Kudo, having escaped the hospital, was walking down the street.
Still dressed in his hospital gown, he was quite conspicuous. People along the way stared at him, and some recognized him as the "Savior of the Police Force" whose reputation had recently collapsed into that of a criminal suspect.
Walking under the scrutiny of the crowd, Shinichi remained composed. He didn't seem worried about witnesses exposing his location. Occasionally, when he heard someone whisper, "Is that high school detective Shinichi Kudo?", he would turn and offer a polite smile.
Although the Japanese populace is generally indifferent, there were always bold and curious onlookers who wanted to approach him for a chat. However, such impulses were extinguished by a bucket of ice water before they could be acted upon.
As Shinichi walked, a pitch-black humanoid figure appeared beside him out of nowhere! Faced with that extreme aura of evil—the natural predator of all life—onlookers fled before they could even think of talking.
The gloomy voice said: "Honestly, your choice to flee from justice is a bit boring."
Shinichi didn't care about Mo Yu's ghostly appearance. He didn't even bother to turn his head. He spoke flatly:
"Of course you find it boring. If I stayed, I'd probably be exonerated very soon. Then you could mock me for my naivety..."
The law symbolizes justice and is upheld by countless people. In the past, Shinichi firmly believed this. Using deduction to bring criminals to justice was his core conviction. If not, he wouldn't have insisted on surrendering and ending his life in prison. But as the "blood" carrying all criminal arts began to flow through him via the beating of Moriarty's heart, he began to change.
His conviction hadn't wavered, but as his perspective shifted from Detective to Criminal, he noticed things he had previously overlooked. After seeing his father awaken a powerful Stand, and knowing Yusaku's character and methods, Shinichi had already deduced the likely future.
Plea bargaining. Or "negotiated justice." It is a compromise the law makes in practice—trading extra cooperation for a change in the final verdict. On the surface, it's for "lighter sentencing," but in practice, because too many factors are involved, it becomes a bottomless basket. If needed, anything can be thrown inside!
Once Yusaku Kudo became a supernatural being with a Stand, he gained "leverage" to talk to the authorities. And he would certainly use it, even mobilizing his entire network to make it happen.
The reason was simple: Yusaku lived in New York, where 80% of cases are settled through plea deals. To a man who had seen every type of case, this was normal, even routine. Yusaku wasn't a paladin who would ignore his only son's life for the sake of rigid justice, and the Japanese judicial system was never particularly "lofty" in this regard.
By then, what about the port explosion with multiple casualties? Total nonsense. That was just a righteous detective stumbling onto a crime scene and taking necessary self-defense measures—a Hollywood-style heroic act worthy of media praise.
Illegal manufacturing of explosives at home? Is it illegal if there are licenses, qualifications, and filings? At most, the Kudo basement was a specialized production facility with non-compliant fire safety. Pay a fine, rectify the issue, and it's settled.
What? You say that's "getting on the train before buying the ticket" (retroactive legality)? Sorry, Japan operates on a "hidden military within the people" economic system. Many specialized industries involve cooperation between the government and major corporations. Certain corporations could easily produce a document signed before Shinichi was even born, proving he was hired by a special production department—a "legal" demolitionist with industrial certifications.
The above logic was somewhat cynical, but the point was clear: The law is hard to fight, but easy to manipulate.
Shinichi even felt that without Yusaku's intervention, the Japanese government might approach his father first. Knowing all this, Shinichi chose to escape. He couldn't change the reality of the world yet, but he could change himself, maintaining his status as a "criminal." In a sense, this was the uncompromising justice deep in his heart.
The gloomy voice continued: "Mr. Future Holmes, you're wrong about that. Although the result will turn out like that, I won't mock your naivety. A 'realistic' criminal is usually second-rate. To be a stylish criminal capable of grand deeds, you often need that 'naivety' that is out of step with reality. That naivety is one of the powers that changes reality..."
Shinichi looked surprised. He turned his head slightly. "That sounds like a very fresh perspective."
"Because that so-called naivety," Mo Yu said, "is often the sprout of conviction, pursuit, ideals, and obsession. As a detective, you know the criminal industry is tough lately. Just as you plan something, some troublesome brat rushes in shouting about the 'One Truth' or 'Grandfather's Honor' to bring you to justice. Worse, those guys are usually firm in their beliefs and show no mercy. If you don't have matching persistence, you usually die quite pathetically..."
"It does sound tough. But honestly, a criminal with conviction, pursuit, and style... are they still a criminal?"
"Why not? Though, to distinguish them from the low-tier trash, I think the title 'Super-Villain' is quite fitting."
"That distinction is a bit lazy. Then what about us—those who shout about the truth and honor? 'Super-Detectives'?"
"Before Stands, it didn't matter. Now? How about the title 'Super-Hero'?"
"Sounds like something out of a Tokusatsu show."
"Your old man's Stand is a character from his own novels. Can you guarantee no one will ever awaken a Kamen Rider-style Stand?"
"Fair point. Though I find it hard to imagine a future detective performing a Rider Kick on a culprit..."
"It's no harder to imagine than you kicking a culprit with a soccer ball."
Shinichi and the black silhouette strolled through Beika Town, chatting idly about the job market for criminals and the career development of future detectives. They talked about everything aimlessly—except for the "game" that existed in their silent understanding.
Mo Yu believed that Shinichi's leisurely stroll after escaping the hospital was part of his "Murder-Crime Show" plan. Out of anticipation, he didn't pry.
Suddenly, a scream echoed nearby.
The two made eye contact, both realizing the truth. Without a doubt, a crime had occurred in the "peaceful" town of Beika again. Shinichi, a veteran of a thousand cases, judged by the volume and emotion of the scream that this incident was serious.
Mo Yu asked: "Your brilliant father and the police will likely be out looking for you soon. Under these circumstances, do you plan to meddle in other people's business?"
Shinichi didn't answer. He walked toward the sound, his actions being the answer.
A woman was collapsed on the ground, weeping in terror. Shinichi questioned her and found it to be a strange case. She was walking along when a car pulled up; two masked men jumped out, snatched her bag, and drove off.
If the suspects were on a motorcycle, it would be a common snatch-and-grab. But using a sedan was rare and suggested an underlying motive. In Beika, 70% of crimes had "bizarre motives," so Shinichi wasn't surprised. Regardless, a crime was a crime. He had no intention of letting it slide.
Mo Yu asked with interest: "So, Mr. Future Holmes, what's the move? Calling Inspector Megure?"
Shinichi didn't answer. His gaze landed on a motorcycle parked in front of a nearby convenience store. A delinquent with a pompadour and a gang jacket walked out of the store with a beer, only to see his modified bike's taillights fading into the distance to the roar of its engine.
"BAKA... BAKAYARO!!!"
Sitting on the back of the bike, Mo Yu laughed. "Mr. Future Holmes, just stealing a bike is a bit low-class. I'd find it more interesting if you beat up the punk first and then took his bike..."
Shinichi, his hands on the handlebars and throttle pinned to the max, had no interest in replying. His eyes were as calm as a deep well. The authority over criminal arts was manifesting; he could gradually sense the direction of the sedan.
In the speeding car, an argument was breaking out.
"Damn it! if you hadn't hidden that thing so poorly, we wouldn't have this trouble!"
"The feds were watching me!"
"Fine, stop talking! Check if the disk is in the bag..."
It wasn't a complex case. They were industrial spies who had stolen a company's trade secrets on a disk. Through a series of "flashy plot points," the disk had accidentally ended up in the woman's bag. They had been forced to snatch it back.
As everyone knows, committing a crime in Beika is easy, but having a smooth crime is rare. The three spies tore the bag apart but couldn't find the disk. They stared at each other, bewildered. Just as they were about to resume arguing, a bone-chilling shiver crawled up their spines.
Before they could react, three bizarre entities appeared beside them.
The driver, the leader of the trio, stared wide-eyed at a humanoid creature floating next to him—it had the head and tail of a rat. A person has an instinctive resonance with their own Fortune. Without words, a single look told him everything.
Before they could process their "class-change" from spies to Stand Users, the rat-headed Stand grabbed the leader and whispered:
"Run... Run fast... He is coming!"
"Who's coming?"
"The Demon!"
This was a dire warning from his Fortune. The leader didn't doubt it; he stomped on the gas. But it was futile. The roar of a modified motorcycle engine already sounded from behind.
The leader looked in the rearview mirror. It was Shinichi Kudo, wind-whipped and serene. His expression was calm, but his eyes were so cold they inspired primal fear. More importantly, the pitch-black humanoid sitting on the back seat with its arms crossed made the leader's heart skip a beat.
"No... this can't be right. We just stole some business secrets. We don't deserve to face a guy who looks like he wants to dismember me, hide me in a fridge to admire me daily, and then cook me slowly!"
Under the pressure of that extreme evil, the leader's hands shook on the wheel. Horrific B-movie horror scenarios filled his head. He cursed his love for gore films; his imagination was spiraling out of control.
But a "cornered dog will jump over a wall." Under the pressure, the leader felt a burst of potential.
"Dammit! I used to be known as the 'Wind of the Mountain Pass' on the racing circuit! Don't think a piece of junk bike can catch me!"
His youthful experience as a street racer blossomed into talent. As he roared, his Stand acted, activating its ability. A faint light enveloped the sedan, and its speed suddenly spiked!
Shinichi curled his lip. "Tsk. A Stand User crime. Troublesome. Moriarty... if I hadn't been enticed by you, hadn't thrown the die, and hadn't changed the world line... would the world be a better place?"
Mo Yu watched Shinichi. An invisible ripple was spreading from the boy, weakening the boundary between reality and the world's backend. Shinichi was like a humanoid Hogyoku, rewriting the world line step by step. Mo Yu laughed:
"Mr. Future Holmes, the world doesn't change because of petty details. Evil is eternal. Let's not discuss boring 'what-ifs.' By the way, want to make a bet? How long will it take the 'Distillery' to find you now that you've exposed yourself?"
Shinichi replied flatly: "No need for a bet. We both know the man with the black dragon is very efficient once he has a target."
Mo Yu grinned. "Then how about a different bet? Do you think Gin can actually kill you?"
Shinichi didn't answer. He gripped the handlebars, pinned the throttle, and hunted down the sin before him. To him, solving the current crime was the priority.
In the Organization's medical base, Gin had just received the report: Shinichi Kudo has escaped and is currently engaged in a high-speed chase in Beika.
Looking at the report, Gin let out a cold smile:
"Let's go. It's time to hunt that monster."
End of Chapter
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