BWDC:SDDK Chapter 26: The Weapon of Criticism Cannot Replace the Criticism of Weapons
Ten o'clock in the evening, Nagamono Dozo's bedroom: the birthday party.
In this rather extravagant room, the Nagamono family members had all gathered, save for Nagamono Nobuko, who had already departed, and Nagamono Hideomi, who had merely made a brief appearance earlier that afternoon.
In addition to the family, Mouri Kogoro, Hattori Heiji, and the others were also present. Naturally, this included the great Supreme Little Bat.
"Old man Nagamono, happy birthday!"
Hattori Heiji was grinning as he joined the family in setting off party poppers. He didn't act like an outsider at all, possessing that peculiar social ease unique to people from Kansai.
Conan, who felt a bit out of place, twitched the corner of his mouth. He scanned the people in the room and asked curiously, "Why aren't Miss Hyuga and Butler Musashi here?"
He remembered Hyuga Miyuki saying she was going to arrange the birthday party matters when she left earlier. It wasn't possible for her to just vanish into thin air after stepping out, was it?
Standing by the window, sipping coffee while looking at the courtyard filled with pits, Ren Ichimonji spoke without turning his head. "When I went out to look at those tree pits earlier, I saw the two of them downstairs sticking candles."
"Today is Nagamono Dozo's 60th anniversary; it'll take quite a while to stick all those candles in."
After all, following the usual tradition of one candle per year, sixty years meant sixty candles. However, Ren Ichimonji wasn't particularly interested in birthday cake.
He just found something bothering him. Why was that eccentric Nagamono Hideomi able to shut himself in his bedroom all afternoon without even eating?
A man is made of iron, and food is his steel; missing a meal makes you feel the ordeal. You see, even the real Batman would reserve an extra slot in his Utility Belt or the Batmobile for a thermos of chicken soup made by Alfred. This Nagamono Hideomi was completely ignoring the old butler who had watched him grow up; it was a bit too strange.
"Robin, I have a feeling Nagamono Hideomi is already dead," Ren Ichimonji remarked, stroking his chin as he analyzed the situation.
"Look, it's just like taking up the Batman mantle—anyone can be Batman. If Nagamono Hideomi only showed his face once this afternoon, then as long as someone wraps their face in bandages, anyone can be Nagamono Hideomi."
Hmm? Is the Great Batman about to display his 'super wisdom'?
Conan looked up, watching Ren's reasoning with some surprise. For a moment, he even forgot to correct Ren about being called "Robin."
"And do you have a way to prove that?"
To this, Ren Ichimonji pulled a 'Dragon Lord' face, sporting a crooked smirk. "It's simple. I'll just go pick the lock to Nagamono Hideomi's bedroom tonight, won't I?"
Conan: "?"
Weren't you supposed to have super wisdom? Why does it feel like you only have super-sinister wisdom?
The Reaper Elementary Student's expectations for Ren vanished instantly. Indeed, one really shouldn't expect much from this eccentric who calls himself the Supreme Little Bat.
Conan turned around, intending to ignore him. It was at that moment that the bedroom door was pushed open.
Hyuga Miyuki and Musashi Nosuke entered smiling, pushing a cake trolley. They placed the luxurious birthday cake on Nagamono Dozo's bed, inviting the birthday boy to blow out the candles and make a wish.
However, just as Nagamono Dozo blew out the candles and before he could even voice a wish, Nagamono Mitsuaki suddenly spoke up.
"How strange, why hasn't Hideomi come up yet?"
"This is unseemly. It's one thing to be absent normally, but to miss the birthday party now... Father-in-law, I'll go call Hideomi up so we can all eat cake together."
Ren Ichimonji turned to look at Nagamono Mitsuaki.
Showing your tail now, you little schemer? I felt you were up to something this afternoon, and looking at you now, I was right!
Nagamono Dozo was quite moved by Mitsuaki's suggestion. After all, Nagamono Hideomi was the only "good child" who didn't covet his inheritance. It was indeed a bit inappropriate for him to be the only one missing from the party. He nodded immediately.
"Well... alright. Mitsuaki, I'll trouble you to go call Hideomi up."
Having received the green light from Dozo, Nagamono Mitsuaki prepared to push the door and leave. As he faced the darkness of the hallway, a cold smile crept onto his face.
——Plan successful!
As long as this is done, the Nagamono family fortune and the position of Chairman of the Nagamono Group will all be mine!
"Friend, what are you smiling about?"
A voice suddenly rang out beside him. Startled, Nagamono Mitsuaki shuddered, his facial expression momentarily losing control. He hurriedly turned his head.
Only then did he see Ren Ichimonji, who had somehow appeared beside him like a spawning NPC.
The Dark Knight of Beika City patted him on the shoulder, offering a kind reminder. "Though I don't know what you're planning to do, I must tell you—doing this is very dangerous."
As for whether the danger meant being stabbed by someone else or being beaten into the ICU by Ren himself? That wasn't important. What mattered was that for Nagamono Mitsuaki, stepping out that door was merely a choice between an early funeral or an early prison cell.
Seeing it was Ren Ichimonji, Mitsuaki breathed a sigh of relief. He let out a cold snort, brushed off Ren's hand, and walked away after leaving a parting remark.
"Since when does a man like me, Nagamono Mitsuaki, need someone like you to tell me what to do?"
Others might fear this silver-tongued nutcase, but he didn't! Because not only was his skin thick enough, but he also had no moral bottom line. The "weapon of criticism" could not defeat him!
Ren Ichimonji: "?"
Did I give you too much face?
Watching Nagamono Mitsuaki disappear into the darkness, Ren took a sip of his coffee and sighed. This man has truly found his own path to a dead end!
"Ren, what are you thinking about? You seem so absorbed."
The ever-curious Hattori Heiji leaned over, looking out at the pitch-black corridor, and asked inquisitively.
"I'm just recalling some knowledge from my old textbooks."
Ren Ichimonji held up a finger and said seriously, "The weapon of criticism cannot replace the criticism of weapons!"
"Some people have eaten too many red beans; even if I try to help, I can't stop their 'lovesickness'—or their impending doom!"
——That sounds quite profound.
Hattori Heiji blinked. However, what did the second half of that sentence mean? Why did it feel like a ray of sunlight was suddenly shining on him? Must be an illusion. Where would the sun come from in the middle of the night?
"Father, I really hope your health recovers as soon as possible."
The unambitious second daughter, Nagamono Yasue, sat beside Nagamono Dozo, holding his hand with concern. She wasn't as good at business as her eldest sister, nor as talented as her younger brother. She only relied on the family business to get by; if she were put in charge, it would be no different from ruining the family estate.
Nagamono Dozo, somewhat moved, squeezed Yasue's hand and was about to say something.
Ring... Ring...
The landline phone in Nagamono Dozo's bedroom rang. The atmosphere of father-daughter bonding that had just been established was instantly shattered.
Hyuga Miyuki, standing nearby, picked up the phone. In the next moment, a cry for help echoed from the receiver.
"Father-in-law! Save me!!!"
Nagamono Mitsuaki wailed in agony.
End of Chapter
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium