Jiang Hang vaguely remembered that in the early episodes of the Detective Conan anime, there had been a murder case at an art museum.
However, the only detail he could clearly recall was that the culprit disguised himself using a suit of armor.
As for the motive and the exact method of the crime, his memory was rather blurry.
After hearing the rumor about the walking armor inside the museum, Jiang Hang had originally planned to bring Yoshino Koharu here just to scout the area.
If possible, he hoped to identify a potential suspect before the crime actually happened.
As for what he would do afterward—whether to persuade the person to abandon the plan or take some other action—even Jiang Hang himself hadn't decided yet.
What he hadn't expected was such an incredible coincidence.
The moment he arrived at the Beika Museum of Art and stepped out of the car, he immediately spotted the Conan trio.
Seeing Jiang Hang suddenly staring off in one direction, Yoshino Koharu became curious.
"Jiang Hang, did you see someone you know?"
"Yes," Jiang Hang replied as he withdrew his gaze. "I saw another very famous detective… Koharu, are you ready?"
"Ready…?" Yoshino Koharu blinked in confusion.
"You didn't tell me to prepare anything. Do I need to drive back to the agency to get something?"
In truth, she was more curious about the "great detective" Jiang Hang had mentioned.
"That's not what I meant," Jiang Hang said.
"I mean that detective is indeed very capable… but he's also famous for bringing bad luck wherever he goes."
"Wherever he appears, something always happens."
"Now that he's come to the museum, if his unlucky aura activates again, are you prepared to deal with a case?"
Yoshino Koharu's expression changed instantly.
"Jiang Hang… you're joking, right?"
"Bad luck like that is just superstition. This is the twenty-first century."
Still, she instinctively glanced in the direction Jiang Hang had been looking.
There stood a middle-aged man.
Next to him were what appeared to be his daughter and a young boy.
Yoshino Koharu didn't recognize Kogoro Mouri or Conan Edogawa. But from her perspective, the only person who looked like a detective among them was the middle-aged man.
Although she didn't truly believe Jiang Hang's words, she silently categorized that man as someone she should definitely avoid getting close to.
Jiang Hang decided not to scare her any further.
Once a case occurred, she would naturally understand what he meant.
"It's just a rumor," Jiang Hang said casually.
"Don't think too much about it. Let's go say hello."
Hearing this, Yoshino Koharu's excitement about visiting the museum had already faded considerably.
Nevertheless, she followed Jiang Hang as he walked toward the group.
"Conan, are you visiting the museum with your family today?"
Jiang Hang greeted them directly as he approached.
Yoshino Koharu naturally had no idea that the "great detective" Jiang Hang had mentioned was actually the first-grade elementary school boy standing in front of them.
"You are…?" Kogoro Mouri asked suspiciously, clearly not recognizing Jiang Hang.
"Ah, Mr. Jiang Hang!" Ran Mouri suddenly said with recognition.
"Thank you again for helping with the trouble Conan caused before."
Ran had met Jiang Hang during the Maple Leaf Gold Coin case. Back then, the members of the Detective Boys had been taken back to the police station and their guardians were called.
Ran had come to pick Conan up, which was how she and Jiang Hang became acquainted.
She knew Jiang Hang was a detective.
Although his agency was several streets away from her father's office, she had also heard rumors in the shopping district about Jiang Hang helping people in the neighborhood.
Because of that, she already had a very good impression of him.
Ran briefly explained Jiang Hang's identity to her father.
The moment Kogoro Mouri learned that Jiang Hang was also a detective, his expression became noticeably less friendly.
Even though their offices were several streets apart, he instinctively treated any other detective as a potential rival stealing his clients.
"You flatter me, Miss Ran," Jiang Hang said politely.
"And this must be the famous Detective Mouri. I've heard a great deal about you."
"Seeing you today truly lives up to your reputation."
Jiang Hang had immediately noticed the shift in Kogoro Mouri's expression, so he chose the most effective strategy possible—
Flattery.
To be honest, Jiang Hang had always been curious about Kogoro Mouri.
Before transmigrating into this world, many online forums had debated strange conspiracy theories about him.
Some fans believed that Kogoro Mouri had long known Conan's true identity and was secretly cooperating with him.
After all, it seemed impossible for someone to have been knocked unconscious hundreds of times by a tranquilizer needle and still solve so many cases without realizing anything.
Admittedly, that theory sounded ridiculous.
But that was the logic of anime.
In reality, Jiang Hang couldn't know what kind of person Kogoro Mouri truly was until he interacted with him personally.
From his current impression, however, Kogoro Mouri seemed exactly like someone who would become delighted after receiving just a few compliments.
Sure enough, after hearing Jiang Hang's praise, Kogoro Mouri's mood improved immediately.
He even patted Jiang Hang on the shoulder enthusiastically.
"You've got good judgment, kid!"
"Work hard and maybe one day you'll become a famous detective like me!"
Jiang Hang nodded seriously.
"I'll do my best."
Of course, he had no intention of chasing that kind of title.
Becoming a "great detective" sounded suspiciously like raising a death flag.
After finishing the polite exchange with Kogoro Mouri, Jiang Hang glanced toward Conan.
Sure enough, the boy looked completely exhausted with the situation.
Clearly, Conan lacked the emotional intelligence for this sort of thing.
Even if he privately mocked Kogoro Mouri's reasoning ability, the man was still his future father-in-law.
As a future son-in-law, shouldn't he at least flatter him a little?
Of course, this was still a detective story, and the author was famously devoted to childhood-friends romance.
That was the only reason Shinichi Kudo and Ran Mouri would inevitably end up together.
If you removed the "detective" part from the story and turned it into a completely different genre… well.
That was a topic better left unsaid.
Jiang Hang himself was a firm supporter of the Shinichi × Ran pairing, and he had absolutely no romantic interest in Ran.
Otherwise, he could easily win Kogoro Mouri's approval.
All he would need to do was flatter him constantly, become his apprentice, help solve cases while giving him full credit, and eventually earn the title of "future son-in-law."
As for Ran—
If Jiang Hang interfered with the main storyline just enough to ensure Conan never turned back into Shinichi, then Ran probably wouldn't wait forever.
Maybe readers liked that idea.
But in reality, it was unlikely.
Waiting six months was possible.
Waiting a year was understandable.
But five years?
Ten years?
Even Conan himself might eventually give up.
If Ran actually remained single until Conan grew up again and returned as Shinichi, then Jiang Hang would feel like a completely useless transmigrator.
Thinking about this, Jiang Hang suddenly reached out and rubbed Conan's head.
Conan quickly struggled free from Jiang Hang's hand, clearly uncomfortable.
Jiang Hang laughed silently to himself.
You little brat, you should be thanking me.
After all, I just spared you from being turned green.