Chapter 377: Terminals and Mobile Phones
Shikanoin Heizou leaned back, waving a hand with breezy indifference. "I know the killer isn't Kaitou Kid, but that hardly matters. Honestly, that Mr. Murohashi had it coming. It really doesn't make a difference who finally put an end to him."
The man had ruthlessly burned dozens of innocent people alive, all for the sake of hoarding a few pieces of artwork. To Heizou, the fact that someone had finally sought bloody retaliation wasn't just unsurprising—it was basic cause and effect.
"How can you say it doesn't matter?" Conan snapped, his fists clenching tight at his sides. The lenses of his glasses caught the ambient light, hiding the fierce, uncompromising glare in his eyes. "No matter what atrocities he committed, it was still a human life! Tracking down the culprit who took that life is our absolute duty as detectives!"
"Duty?" Heizou chuckled, a light, airy sound that lacked any real warmth. He tilted his head, his gaze sharp and calculating beneath his playful facade. "Who exactly wrote the rulebook stating that's a detective's duty? And even if someone did, it hardly means the rest of us have to blindly follow it. Little Brother Conan, you are still so young. You haven't quite grasped that being a true detective means you shouldn't let yourself be shackled by rigid rules."
The words caught in Conan's throat, leaving him momentarily speechless. He knew that a detective occasionally had to bend the rules to uncover the truth, but Heizou was twisting the concept into something entirely different. This wasn't about thinking outside the box; this was a complete disregard for the legal process.
Yet, beneath the casual banter, Heizou's tone carried a distinct note of certainty. He knew exactly who the real culprit was. He just had zero intention of sharing that information.
Conan rubbed his temples, a dull ache throbbing behind his eyes. It was a stark, bitter reminder. Heizou wasn't just an eccentric sleuth; he was a core member of a formidable underground organization. Expecting him to play the role of a righteous citizen eagerly assisting the police was a fool's errand.
After enduring a grueling round of individual questioning by the police authorities, Suzuki Sonoko, Ran Mouri, Natsume, and the rest of the weary group finally made their way back to the bustling streets of Tokyo. The solid ground beneath their feet was a welcome change from the chaotic, blood-stained carriages of the train.
Before they parted ways at the station, Sonoko stopped, her usual boisterous energy replaced by genuine guilt. She bowed her head deeply. "I am so sorry, everyone. Not only did you have to witness a gruesome murder on the Suzuki Express, but you also had to survive a massive fire and an explosion right after. This was supposed to be a fun trip."
The others merely exchanged mild glances, none of them holding onto any real trauma from the day's events. After all, whenever Conan was in their vicinity, catastrophic accidents and locked-room murders were practically scheduled itinerary items.
"No, no, I insist," Sonoko said, shaking her head vigorously when Ran tried to comfort her. "Even though we all made it out safely, this was a complete failure in my family's hospitality. And then there is our newly met friend, Heizou. I left him with such terrible memories on our very first meeting! But rest assured, I will definitely arrange the next event properly to make up for this. Just wait for my good news!"
After shouting that final, determined promise to the group, Sonoko spun around, her designer skirt swishing around her knees, and climbed into the sleek black luxury car waiting by the curb.
Watching the taillights fade into the Tokyo traffic, Conan shoved his hands into his pockets. A familiar prickle of dread crawled up his spine. Whenever Sonoko promised a 'properly arranged event,' disaster usually followed close behind.
Inside the quiet, climate-controlled interior of the luxury sedan, Sonoko was completely oblivious to the heavy distrust radiating from the bespectacled brat she usually bickered with. She sank into the plush leather seats, her mind already racing with extravagant ideas for a compensatory gathering.
As she brainstormed, her thoughts drifted back to the chaos on the train. Ever since the murder was discovered, she had been sequestered in the front carriage with Ran, Dr. Agasa, and the kids. Because of that forced isolation, she had completely missed the most thrilling moment of the entire trip—the scene where Natsume had effortlessly cornered and imprisoned Kaitou Kid.
Thinking of the single, pristine rose the phantom thief had handed to Natsume during the rescue, Sonoko let out a long, dramatic sigh, slumping against the window. Missing out on such a cinematic, romantic confrontation was a tragedy of epic proportions.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced. She recalled the seamless technical support Ningguang had provided to the Suzuki Express during the crisis. A spark of inspiration lit up Sonoko's eyes. She leaned forward, tapping the privacy glass separating her from the front seat.
"Change course," Sonoko instructed the driver, her voice bubbling with renewed excitement. "Take me to the Jade Chamber."
"Very well, Miss Suzuki."
The tires whispered against the asphalt as the car smoothly altered its route. Before long, the vehicle glided to a halt in front of the towering, majestic architecture of the Jade Chamber's Tokyo headquarters. The building was a stunning blend of modern corporate sleekness and traditional opulence, standing as a monument to Ningguang's vast influence.
Sonoko had fired off a quick text message to Ningguang while en route. As she strutted into the expansive, marble-floored lobby of the first floor, the soft chime of the VIP elevator echoed through the hall. The polished metal doors slid open, revealing Ganyu stepping out into the foyer.
"Ganyu!" Sonoko waved enthusiastically, her heels clicking rapidly against the marble as she jogged over. "What a coincidence running into you down here! Wait, are you actually taking a break from working?!"
The Suzuki conglomerate maintained a highly lucrative partnership with Ningguang, resulting in frequent, high-level contact between the two factions. Naturally, Sonoko often crossed paths with the Tianquan, whom she admired immensely. Through those meetings, she had also grown quite familiar with the two women who managed the Jade Chamber's daily operations—Ganyu and Keqing.
Between the two secretaries, Sonoko had always gravitated toward Ganyu. While Keqing was fiercely efficient and somewhat intimidating in her intensity, Ganyu possessed a quiet, gentle elegance that made her incredibly easy to talk to.
Hearing the playful tease, Ganyu offered a soft, somewhat helpless smile. Her posture remained impeccably polite, though a faint hint of exhaustion lingered around the corners of her eyes. "I do not work every single second of the day, Sonoko. I take occasional rests. And this is not a coincidence. I came down specifically to receive you."
"Huh?" Sonoko blinked, her cheerful expression faltering slightly. She tilted her head, a sudden sense of unease washing over her. It certainly wasn't her first time visiting the Jade Chamber, and they were all on very friendly terms. Ningguang rarely felt the need to send her top secretary down for a formal escort unless the situation demanded it. "Did something happen?"
Ganyu stepped to the side, gesturing gracefully for Sonoko to enter the elevator. Once the doors glided shut and she pressed the button for the upper executive floors, Ganyu's brow furrowed just a fraction. "It is nothing catastrophic. Just a bit of unexpected trouble that arose recently. You do not need to worry yourself over it, Sonoko. Lady Ningguang has the situation well in hand."
Hearing that the usually unflappable Ningguang was dealing with actual trouble instantly derailed Sonoko's original plans. She grabbed Ganyu's hands, her eyes wide with concern.
"With Ningguang's incredible abilities, if the matter hasn't been completely resolved by now, it means it must be a massive headache!" Sonoko declared, puffing out her chest. "In that case, you should have called me immediately! There is always strength in numbers. And with my flawless reputation as the Queen of Deduction, I might be exactly what Ningguang needs to crack this problem wide open!"
"This..." Ganyu hesitated, slightly taken aback by the teenager's overwhelming enthusiasm. She considered the situation for a moment. The issue at hand was purely commercial, not a classified operational secret, so there was no harm in sharing the details.
Ganyu offered a gentle nod, her voice returning to its usual calm cadence. "Very well. Sonoko, you recall the events from a short while ago, correct? When you traveled to Osaka with Natsume and the others to attend that large-scale idol competition?"
Sonoko nodded eagerly, her mind flashing back to the bright stage lights and roaring crowds.
"The performance competition was a massive, unmatched success," Ganyu continued, watching the floor numbers tick upward on the digital display. "Capitalizing on the massive audience, the Jade Chamber took the opportunity to officially promote our new communication device—the Terminal—directly at the venue. The marketing strategy was highly effective. In a very short period, an overwhelming number of customers flooded our networks to place pre-orders for the Terminal."
Ganyu paused, a faint sigh escaping her lips. "However, every action causes a reaction in the market. Because of the explosive demand for our Terminals, the overall sales volume for traditional mobile phones across the region has plummeted significantly."
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