Chapitre 155: Chapter 152: A Talented Individual
After school, Teitan High School, Year 2, Class B.
"Is this time's reward three million yen?"
Fujino packed his books into his bag and stood up, pondering.
With three million yen, once he completes this task, he should be able to afford a ten consecutive draw of the intermediate professional ball.
Nearly ten million yen—he wondered what good things he might get.
"Senpai."
At that moment, two familiar voices interrupted Fujino's thoughts.
Turning around, he saw two familiar figures: Ran and Sonoko, as usual.
"By the way, after the midterm exams tomorrow, Ran and I are going bowling to relax. Senpai, would you like to join us?" Sonoko invited Fujino eagerly.
"Midterm exams?"
Fujino frowned.
He remembered that they had just finished monthly exams not too long ago. How could it already be time for midterms again?
The timeline in the Detective Conan world was becoming increasingly confusing to him.
"You didn't know, Senpai?"
Ran looked a bit puzzled.
Sonoko explained, "Senpai, I remember you didn't come to class that day. But with your grades, the midterm exams should be a piece of cake for you."
"Oh, I see."
Ran nodded, then teasingly said to Sonoko, "But you need to focus, Sonoko. Make sure to study well tomorrow. If you fail, it'll be troublesome."
"I know!"
Sonoko scratched her head, then turned to Fujino, "So, Senpai, are you joining us?"
Fujino nodded and agreed.
Sometimes, going out to relax is a good thing. After all, people aren't machines and can't be tense all the time.
However, if Ran and Sonoko were both going out, there was a high chance that Conan would tag along too. If the Death God kid was present, would they run into another murder case?
As for why nothing happened at the ski resort last time, it could be because Kaito Kid was there too.
Just as Fujino stepped out of the classroom, intending to head to the parking lot to drive to the task location, a female voice called out behind him.
"Fujino, come with me for a moment."
Turning around, he saw Hiratsuka Shizuka standing there.
Though Fujino wasn't sure why she called him, he followed her to the faculty office.
Inside the office, Hiratsuka handed him a chair and then sat in another, asking with concern, "You seem a bit off... Is it because you're taking care of your relative's child?"
"No, not really."
Fujino sat down and shook his head, explaining, "My older sister helps take care of my relative's child at home, so it doesn't require too much of my attention."
"You have an older sister?"
Hiratsuka looked puzzled. She remembered that Fujino should be alone. When did he suddenly have an older sister?
Fujino explained, "She's my cousin. I didn't know about her until she had a car accident recently, and I heard about it from others... Now she's temporarily staying at my place."
"Oh, I see."
Hiratsuka nodded. "No wonder you seem distracted. So that's what's been going on."
"That's not exactly it."
Fujino rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and then said, "Actually, it's because I've almost learned all the second-year curriculum. It feels a bit boring to study it all over again."
"You've learned all the second-year curriculum?"
Hiratsuka frowned, but after thinking about it, it seemed possible. After all, she remembered that Fujino's last monthly exam results, although not perfect, were among the top five in the school.
"Yeah."
Fujino nodded and continued, "Could you help me get a set of third-year textbooks?"
"Third-year textbooks?"
Hiratsuka rubbed her chin, suddenly understanding. "Fujino, are you planning to get into a good university next year?"
Typically, second-year students don't study the third-year curriculum. However, some students who aim for top universities start learning the third-year content early and even attend extra tutoring classes.
"Something like that."
Fujino nodded.
As for university entrance exams, he hadn't thought about them much yet. Given the way the timeline in the Detective Conan world worked, he doubted he could get past this year, even if it took another twenty years.
He mainly wanted the third-year textbooks to increase his student proficiency points. Recently, he had almost mastered the second-year curriculum, making it hard to gain proficiency points.
"The textbooks alone won't help much with entrance exams," Hiratsuka said seriously. "How about this? If you maintain your performance in the midterms the day after tomorrow, I'll get you a set of third-year textbooks and some supplementary materials."
"Deal."
Fujino agreed and, after a few more words, left the faculty office.
For him, exams were as easy as drinking cold water. Although a bit annoying and sometimes nauseating if overdone, they were still simple.
Behind him, Hiratsuka watched Fujino leave, feeling gratified.
...
After leaving the faculty office, Fujino followed the original plan, driving his Ford Taurus, following the system's red dot guidance along the road.
Soon, he arrived near a place called Odokuma News Agency.
"This should be where Silver Fox is making counterfeit money, right?"
Fujino parked his car by the roadside, looking through the window at the building with the sign "Odokuma News Agency" hanging on the rooftop, squinting his eyes.
In his view, a red dot kept flashing on the third floor. Clearly, Silver Fox was on the third floor of the news agency.
"Using a news agency as a cover, no one would suspect that the sound of mechanical printing inside is actually the sound of printing counterfeit money."
Fujino observed the news agency, quickly figuring out its trick.
Setting up a counterfeit money operation in a news agency was indeed a classic tactic used by counterfeiters. He had seen many similar cases in his previous life, but he didn't expect someone to replicate it in the Detective Conan world.
Withdrawing his gaze, Fujino looked around.
He soon saw a police station.
Or rather, a police box.
These small police boxes were quite common in Japan.
But setting up a counterfeiting operation right next to a police box...
Kudos to Beika.
The saying "the most dangerous place is the safest" and vice versa seemed to apply here. They had been printing counterfeit money for such a long time without being discovered.
From a certain perspective, Silver Fox was indeed a talented individual.
Withdrawing his gaze, Fujino started his car and parked it in a nearby parking lot.
If he remembered correctly, that building had surveillance.
And Silver Fox and her accomplices had guns.
He needed to come up with a meticulous plan before making a move.
...
On the other side, Haibara Ai, after joining the Detective Boys, soon received her first commission.
To find a boy's missing brother.
After some investigation, Conan learned that before the boy's brother went missing, a woman dressed in black had visited him.
Given the details of the black clothing, Conan quickly suspected the Black Organization.
He then pulled Haibara Ai to a secluded spot to question her, "That woman in black should be from your organization, right?"
"I don't know."
This time, Haibara Ai didn't resist. She just shook her head and calmly said.
"How could you not know?"
Conan grabbed her shoulders and shook her, "Aren't you from that organization?!"
"Let go, or I'll scream."
Staring calmly at him, Haibara Ai's tone made Conan frown but then release his grip.
Given the previous incident, he had no doubt that Haibara Ai would scream. If she called him a pervert again, his image in those three kids' eyes would probably change from someone who liked to tease girls to a creepy little guy who bullied girls.
Seeing Conan release his grip, Haibara Ai nodded in satisfaction.
Having the identity of a little girl was indeed convenient...
This trick worked well.
After a pause, Haibara Ai said, "Before defecting, I was just a researcher developing drugs... The organization is vast. How could I know so much?"
"Do you really not know?"
Conan looked at her suspiciously.
"I have no reason to lie to you."
Haibara Ai's expression remained unchanged.
"Alright, I'll believe you for now..."
If what this woman... girl said was true, then she indeed had no reason to lie. After all, she had already escaped the organization, barely surviving and relying on him. Lying seemed pointless...
Wait, if she was barely surviving, how did she transfer to Teitan Elementary?
Thinking of this, Conan asked, "By the way, the address you mentioned before, it's Fujino's place, right? Why did you give his address?"
"Because I live there now."
Haibara Ai calmly replied, her face showing no emotion.
"So you're living at his place..."
Conan sighed in relief.
He thought she was living at Fujino's place...
Wait, didn't she just say she was living there?!
Coming to his senses, Conan asked, "Did you just say you're living at his place?"
"Yeah."
Haibara Ai nodded, looking at Conan with confusion, "Is there a problem?"
"How come you're living at his place?!"
(End of Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone