Prayer room.
Before the white-draped remains.
Using his small stature and the busy staff to his advantage, Conan quickly slipped past the police tape into the prayer room, approaching the body.
But before he could act, his collar was grabbed from behind:
"Hey, kid, you can't run around here."
Turning his head, Conan was surprised to see that the person restraining him was actually familiar.
He remembered this officer often following Inspector Megure - was it Wataru Takagi?
Realising this, Conan quickly explained:
"Um, mister, Uncle Mouri asked me to come here."
"Senior Mouri?" Takagi blinked in surprise, thinking to himself why Kogoro would send a brat here to cause trouble.
Despite his thoughts, Takagi softened his tone:
"Kid, did Senior Mouri ask you to do something? You can tell me."
'This is bad...' Conan panicked inwardly. He'd instinctively used Kogoro's name, thinking the detective status would grant him the same leeway police used to give Shinichi Kudo.
But he'd forgotten Kogoro lacked Shinichi's fame - Takagi might have listened to Shinichi, but that didn't mean he'd extend the same courtesy to Kogoro, even if he was a former Metropolitan Police Department senior.
Thinking fast, Conan hastily amended:
"Hmm, I'm not really sure either. Uncle Mouri just told me to walk around the body, saying I'd naturally find that thing."
"Oh, seems like it was actually Luo Shu who asked Uncle Mouri to look for it."
He didn't mention Juzo Megure because he was afraid Wataru Takagi would verify with him. But bringing Luo Shu into it changed everything.
Conan knew very well that as the head of a special department, neither Takagi nor Megure would casually approach Luo Shu for confirmation. That's why he deliberately framed it as Luo Shu's instruction.
"Director Luo..." Takagi's expression immediately changed at the name.
Regarding this high-ranking official who had rapidly risen from inspector to director after joining the Metropolitan Police Department, Takagi wasn't just wary - he was downright fearful. Especially after previously assisting Inspector Sato in investigating him, Takagi was even more intimidated.
Worried about facing repercussions, Takagi released his grip upon hearing Conan's words and said awkwardly:
"If it's on his orders, then go ahead and investigate, kid. Just remember not to disturb the crime scene."
"Got it."
Conan replied in a childish tone before quickly approaching the body to examine it, occasionally lifting the white sheet to check the condition.
Cause of death: head trauma from blunt force... judging by the size and shape... the weapon must have been quite large...
Huh? Why is there dirt on the ground?
Conan glanced at the soil near the body, dipped his finger in it, and brought it to his lips:
'The soil is fresh... doesn't seem like it came from shoes... could it be from the weapon?'
'The weapon touched soil before contacting the victim?'
'That would mean the culprit is someone with access to both soil and the weapon...'
Suddenly, sparks flew in Conan's mind: 'The gardener?'
At that very moment, a hand reached out from behind him, clutching a white cloth that was pressed directly against Conan's nose.
'No!!'
Conan's face paled in alarm. Without needing to think, he knew the cloth must contain some drug.
How dare the culprit attack him with the Metropolitan Police Department personnel present?
Furious and frightened, Conan struggled desperately even as a hand dragged him up by the nape.
Being lifted gave him a fuller view of the prayer room.
He immediately saw Luo Shu's cold, handsome face, along with the stern expressions of Juzo Megure and the nervous Wataru Takagi beside him.
Near them stood Sayuri Sawamura and her daughter Eriri, both wearing complicated expressions.
Seeing them, Conan struggled violently, opening his mouth to cry for help.
But then his mind began to comprehend something, though he could hardly believe it.
Until Kogoro Mouri arrived at the prayer room entrance with a grief-stricken Ran Mouri. Seeing Kogoro's grave expression and Ran biting her lip to hold back tears...
In that instant, Conan seemed to understand. Gradually, he stopped resisting.
Soon, Conan's arms and legs went limp, hanging like powerless sponges as he was held aloft.
At that moment, Chisato Nishikigi, who was holding Conan by the scruff of his neck with one hand and lifting the little brat up, released the white cloth and continued holding him as she said:
"How strange. For a child, you're unexpectedly strong."
"But well, at least the matter's settled now."
As she spoke, Chisato turned her head and waved at Luo Shu:
"Mission accomplished!"
Seeing this, Luo Shu nodded and immediately instructed, "First, take this person back to the department garrison for detention. We'll deal with him after I return."
"Roger that~"
Luo Shu watched as Conan was stuffed into a silver metal case by Chisato to be taken away, then walked over slowly and said to Mouri Kogoro and his daughter nearby:
"I've already confirmed this child's parents' identities. Next, we'll discuss the handling of this child's situation with his parents."
"As for Professor Agasa, Mouri, you don't need to worry - I'll take care of it."
"That would be for the best."
Hearing Luo Shu say this, Mouri Kogoro also breathed a sigh of relief.
Whether Luo Shu had actually contacted Conan's parents or not, he'd take the man at his word.
Moreover, Mouri Kogoro understood that these words weren't meant for him, but for Ran Mouri.
Though he didn't understand why Luo Shu had wanted Ran to witness Conan's arrest, this matter clearly wasn't his to resolve anymore.
Meanwhile, Ran Mouri, upon hearing that Luo Shu would contact Conan's parents, found herself deeply conflicted and couldn't help asking:
"Mr Luo, why are you arresting Conan?"
In response, Luo Shu calmly stated something he himself didn't believe:
"This child bears traces of illegal human experimentation."
"Although we can't confirm who's responsible, based on intelligence from the Metropolitan Police Department and FBI undercover agents, we already have a target."
"In order to protect this child from being targeted by that organisation conducting human experiments, we need to place him under witness protection with parental consent."
"How could this be?"
Hearing that Conan was actually the product of human experimentation, Ran Mouri covered her mouth, her face full of pity.
Her maternal instincts made her feel endless sympathy for Conan, but reason told her that letting Luo Shu take him away was the best choice for the boy.
"I understand, Mr Luo Shu. Thank you for extending your help to Conan."
At these words, all the informed parties present except Ran Mouri wore subtle expressions.
Especially when Luo Shu calmly stated, "This is the Metropolitan Police Department's duty," everyone struggled to keep a straight face.
Finally, under Ran Mouri's compassionate gaze, Conan was placed into a metal case, loaded into a van, transported through several streets, and then transferred to the arriving Gin and Vodka for escort.
While completely unconscious throughout, the unwitting Gin and Vodka delivered Conan to the Hidden Management Department in Akihabara, Tokyo, where he was received by Yukino Yukinoshita and taken to the underground Hidden Management Zone.
Meanwhile, at the Sawamura residence, Luo Shu paid no attention to the arrangements he'd made. After seeing Conan off, he slowly approached the corpse, crouched down, and touched the half-dried blood with his gloved hand.
After collecting the bloodstain, he casually took a hair strand with its follicle still attached, then stood up and said to Sayuri Sawamura:
"Let's go hear the final results."