Morning sunlight spilled across the streets of Beika City.
The city looked normal.
Peaceful.
But hidden within its quiet streets were more crimes than most cities could imagine.
And today…
Another chain of events was about to begin.
Inside the Mouri Detective Agency.
A loud voice echoed through the room.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FOUND HIM IN AN AMUSEMENT PARK?!"
The man shouting was large, messy-haired, and clearly irritated.
Kogoro Mouri.
Ran stood near the door with the small boy beside her.
"Come on, Dad! We can't just leave him alone!"
Kogoro crossed his arms.
"We're not running an orphanage!"
The boy silently watched the argument.
Now known as Conan Edogawa, he had spent the entire night trying to process his situation.
Shrunken body.
Unknown drug.
A dangerous criminal organization.
And the fact that his own best friend didn't recognize him.
Ran pouted.
"He has nowhere to go!"
Kogoro scratched his head.
"This is ridiculous..."
Conan quietly analyzed the situation.
If Kogoro refused—
He might end up with the police.
Or worse…
The Black Organization might eventually track him.
Then suddenly—
The office door opened.
A man in glasses stepped inside calmly.
Haruki Akizawa.
Ran looked surprised.
"Oh! Haruki!"
Kogoro frowned.
"Who's this?"
Ran explained quickly.
"He helped me yesterday at Tropical Land."
Kogoro looked Haruki up and down.
"You a detective too?"
Haruki shook his head.
"University student."
He glanced briefly at Conan.
Then at Ran.
"I just came to return this."
He placed a small notebook on the desk.
Ran blinked.
"Oh! That's mine!"
She picked it up.
"I must have dropped it yesterday!"
Haruki nodded.
Conan watched carefully.
The man moved calmly.
Deliberately.
Like someone who always knew exactly what he was doing.
Then Haruki casually looked at Kogoro.
"You could keep the child temporarily."
Kogoro frowned.
"And why would I do that?"
Haruki adjusted his glasses.
"A detective agency receiving abandoned cases isn't unusual."
Kogoro scratched his chin.
That sounded reasonable.
Haruki continued.
"And if his parents are searching for him, they'll likely contact the police soon anyway."
Ran looked hopeful.
"See, Dad?"
Kogoro groaned loudly.
"This is a pain..."
Conan inwardly sighed.
Then suddenly—
A voice called from outside.
"Is this the Mouri Detective Agency?"
A nervous middle-aged man entered.
Kogoro immediately straightened his posture.
A client.
Perfect timing.
"Yes! I'm Kogoro Mouri, famous detective!"
Conan rolled his eyes.
Famous? Hardly.
The man looked stressed.
"My daughter… she's been acting strangely."
Kogoro leaned forward.
"What do you mean?"
The man explained.
"She's meeting a man secretly… I think he's dangerous."
Ran gasped.
"A stalker?"
The man shook his head.
"Worse… I think she's planning to run away with him."
Conan's eyes sharpened.
First case already.
Haruki quietly leaned against the wall, listening.
The man continued.
"I want you to investigate him."
Kogoro puffed out his chest.
"Leave it to me!"
Conan sighed internally.
Kogoro solving a case? Impossible.
Which meant—
He would have to do it himself.
Again.
But this time…
Something unexpected happened.
DING
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
Mission Generated
Mission: First Deduction
Objective: Participate in the investigation of your first case in Beika City.
Conditions:
• Assist in uncovering the truth behind the suspicious man
• Avoid revealing knowledge from outside the scene
Reward:
Skill Fragment — Micro Expression Analysis
Bonus Reward (if truth deduced before Conan):
+3 Deduction
Haruki's eyes flickered briefly.
Interesting.
The system was pushing him into his first case.
But there was a complication.
Conan.
The original detective genius.
Haruki glanced toward the small boy.
Conan was already thinking deeply.
Analyzing.
Planning.
Haruki thought calmly.
"Competing with Shinichi Kudo from the very first case..."
That was dangerous.
But also…
Very interesting.
Meanwhile, Kogoro was still questioning the client.
"What's the man's name?"
The father hesitated.
"I don't know…"
Kogoro slammed the desk dramatically.
"Then how am I supposed to investigate?!"
Ran sighed.
Conan facepalmed.
Haruki quietly observed the father's nervous body language.
Sweating.
Avoiding eye contact.
Small tremor in his fingers.
Something felt off.
Not fear.
Guilt.
His Observation Boost subtly sharpened small details.
The man's watch was expensive.
His suit perfectly pressed.
Yet his hands trembled slightly when mentioning his daughter.
Haruki thought slowly.
"This case may not be as simple as a runaway romance."
Conan looked toward Haruki.
Their eyes met again.
Two analytical minds.
Two observers.
Both silently studying the same scene.
Both already sensing—
Something was wrong.
Kogoro suddenly stood up.
"Alright! We'll start the investigation tonight!"
Ran smiled.
Conan jumped excitedly.
"I wanna come too!"
Kogoro glared.
"No kids!"
Ran laughed.
"It's fine, Dad!"
Kogoro groaned.
"Whatever..."
Haruki pushed himself off the wall.
Time to leave.
But before exiting—
Conan suddenly spoke.
"Hey mister!"
Haruki stopped.
Conan looked directly at him.
"Are you coming too?"
Ran tilted her head.
"Oh! That's a good idea!"
Kogoro shrugged.
"More people means more witnesses."
Haruki considered.
This would officially place him inside the story.
Inside Conan's investigations.
The system had already given its answer.
Mission active.
He nodded.
"I suppose I can help."
Conan smiled slightly.
But internally—
Shinichi Kudo felt something unusual.
This man…
Haruki Akizawa.
For some reason…
He felt like a rival.
Outside the agency.
The quiet streets of Beika City stretched under the morning sun.
Somewhere out there—
A crime was waiting to be solved.
And for the first time…
Two geniuses would investigate it.
End of Chapter 4