After the case was closed, Tang Ze brought Yoko Okino, Kogoro Mouri, and the others back to the Metropolitan Police Department to take statements.
This was standard procedure. After all, the deceased was connected to Okino Yoko and had died by suicide in her room. As the room's occupant, it was only natural that she be questioned.
As the one who solved the case, Kogoro Mouri had to provide a statement too. And presumably, Miss Okino wouldn't want to stay in the room where her ex-boyfriend had passed away.
Fortunately, although the manager had made a misstep during the investigation, Tang Ze had spotted it early and handled it. Since the manager was just a bystander, there was no need to trouble him further, and Tang Ze made the process easy for him.
Given what had happened, it was impossible for Okino to stay in the room that night. It was already late, and she would need to find a hotel.
"Miss Okino, I'll take you back," Tang Ze said with a gentle smile after finishing her statement.
It just so happened that Mouri Kogoro had also completed his, so Tang Ze filled out the vehicle request form and prepared to escort them.
First, he dropped Kogoro Mouri and Conan off at the Mouri Detective Agency. After confirming the address, he restarted the car and asked, "Miss Okino, do you know where your manager has booked a room for you?"
"Hotel Lagercelle, in Shinjuku," Yoko Okino replied.
"I know it." Tang Ze nodded. Having inherited his predecessor's memories, he was perfectly familiar with the area—there was no risk of getting lost.
The car fell into a quiet silence for a while.
Fortunately, since Yoko Okino was a celebrity, the police car Tang Ze applied for was a standard black sedan. It didn't attract any attention on the streets.
In the back seat, Yoko put on her hat and mask, preparing to exit the car while staying under the radar.
"Miss Okino," Tang Ze said softly just as she reached for the door, "please don't blame yourself too much. This wasn't entirely your fault. There were many factors that led to this tragedy."
"...Thank you," she murmured. After stepping out, she bowed slightly to him. "I'll come visit your hot spring sometime, when I have the chance."
"You're always welcome. I hope you'll enjoy it when you do." Tang Ze smiled and drove off into the night.
---
Time passed. Before he knew it, a week had gone by. Tang Ze gradually settled into his routine at the Metropolitan Police Department.
At 6:30 a.m. Tokyo time, the morning news was playing in the small rental apartment Tang Ze now called home.
"Yesterday, a murder case occurred in Gunma Prefecture. Based on the evidence left at the scene, the victim has been identified as Masaki Negishi, aged 42…"
"Police suspect foul play and are continuing their investigation…"
"As expected from Conan's world," Tang Ze muttered, stepping out of the bathroom and toweling off his hair. "You can't even wake up without hearing about a murder."
He prepared a simple breakfast—milk and bread—before heading off to the department like usual.
But today, someone unexpected was waiting at the entrance.
Or rather, someone *expected*, in a world like this.
Kogoro Mouri.
"Morning, Detective Mouri. What brings you to the station so early?" Tang Ze greeted with a smile, already guessing the reason.
Given recent events, it was likely something major.
Over the past week, Tang Ze had noticed quite a few differences between this world and what he remembered from the anime. Even though he hadn't lived in this era before, he'd watched plenty of crime dramas in his past life and had a decent understanding of how things worked.
In general, the treatment of officers here was much better than he had expected, which was a pleasant surprise.
More importantly, promotion in this world seemed to depend largely on ability—especially in the professional group. If you were good, you'd rise quickly.
That was all the more reason to build a good relationship with Kogoro Mouri—or rather, with Conan.
Tang Ze was, after all, just an ordinary mystery enthusiast. Becoming a proper detective… to be honest, that was a little daunting.
If it weren't for being in a professional group—and the economy being in such poor shape—Tang Ze might have considered another job altogether.
But encountering Conan and the others gave him a huge confidence boost.
With their presence and his own foreknowledge of how certain cases play out, he definitely had an edge.
"It's you, Tang Ze." Mouri Kogoro looked slightly grumpy. "I take it you've seen the news this morning? About that murder?"
"Yeah, Masaki Negishi, right?" Tang Ze replied. "Happened during the fire festival in Chigui Village, Gunma."
"That's why I'm here," Mouri said seriously. "I was tailing that guy for three days!"
"You mean…"
"Yes. I followed him until yesterday!"
"What?!" Tang Ze widened his eyes in mock surprise—though he wasn't truly shocked inside.
It was Mouri Kogoro, after all.
Trouble always seemed to follow him, or perhaps it was the other way around.
Tang Ze invited Mouri into the department and reported the details to Inspector Megure. The matter quickly drew attention, and the investigation turned up a suspect.
Abe Toyo.
Before his death, Negishi had taken out a life insurance policy worth 500 million yen, and oddly enough, the beneficiary wasn't a family member—but Abe, a close friend.
That alone was enough to raise red flags.
"Mr. Abe Toyo! You're the one who hired me to tail him! Why are you listed as the beneficiary of his insurance instead of his family?!" Mouri roared, slamming his hands on the table in the interrogation room.
Abe Toyo was in his forties, wearing glasses and a neat suit. He looked every bit the polite, gentle middle-aged man.
Abe smiled calmly and replied, "It was just a little game between friends…"
"What?!"
"We've known each other since college—almost 20 years now," Abe explained, unfazed. "One day over drinks, he suggested a bet: who would live longer?"
Tang Ze frowned slightly as Abe continued.
"I agreed. The bet was for 500 million yen. At his invitation, we each took out a policy on the other."
Inspector Megure looked baffled. "So you insured each other… as part of some twisted game?"
"Yes. But I never expected the result would come so soon… just three months later," Abe said, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
Tang Ze, meanwhile, remained impassive. For someone who had binged *Detective Conan* before transmigrating, this sort of twist was old news.
He didn't even need to consider the other suspects.
The real culprit was sitting right in front of him.