Chapter 452
Does the Japanese headman want to eat? No.
Meanwhile, the four left the hotel, intending to go to the shopping street for dinner.
Aoyagi Bin didn't mention the extra policeman in the room; instead, he asked, "Which shop is it?"
"Ichi-ichi izakaya was recommended to me by a classmate who had traveled to Gunma. He said their yakitori skewers and specialty udon noodles were good."
Ran Mouri finished speaking with a smile, then belatedly realized that Aoyagi Akimitsu was a foreigner, and quickly said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Aoyagi, I forgot to consider your taste. If you have something else you like..."
Aoyagi Akimitsu smiled nonchalantly: "It's alright. Udon noodles are a specialty of Gunma, right? I'd like to try some too."
Kogoro Mouri stood beside him with his hands in his pockets. He didn't join the conversation, but occasionally glanced at Aoyagi Akimitsu out of the corner of his eye, looking like he wanted to say something but hesitated.
On the other side, Conan Edogawa took in his and Ran Mouri's reactions.
Uncle Mori probably wanted to discuss it with Mr. Aoyagi, but since the bugging device was still on him, he didn't speak rashly. As for Ran... judging from her reaction, Uncle Mori probably didn't tell her about the bugging device.
Thinking of the hospital records, the surnames in the emails, and the blue-eyed police officer currently in their room, Conan Edogawa felt a heavy weight in his heart.
The Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Bureau is generally responsible for matters concerning Tokyo. Why would they conduct an investigation in Gunma, a district in Tokyo? What are they investigating? Are they also targeting Karasuma Mochizuki, who is about to travel to Tokyo?
Where did the other police officer go missing? Did he disappear inside the hospital?
Conan Edogawa was extremely curious about the situation on the police side.
Unfortunately, Morofushi Kagemitsu didn't reveal much to them, and given the police's own keen sense of observation, he didn't dare to pry too much, much less leave a listening device in the room.
He also had a few new conjectures about the medical malpractice, but he couldn't discuss them with Morofushi Kagemitsu since they were with them. He would have to find an opportunity to talk to Mr. Aoyagi alone later...
Before their thoughts could even process, they had arrived at the izakaya.
It was lunchtime, and there weren't many seats available in the restaurant. They sat down at the last empty table and ordered their food.
Conan Edogawa and Kogoro Mouri each had their own thoughts, and casually ordered two signature set meals.
Aoyagi Akimitsu carefully looked at the menu, picked out a dish he liked, and after the food arrived, he began to discuss the food and places to visit in Gunma with Mouri Ran.
"I've heard that the 'autumn plum grove' here is very beautiful."
Like an ordinary tourist, Aoyagi Akimitsu suggested to his companions, "Although the flowers are past their blooming season, the photos from the photography competition should still be kept in the nearby exhibition hall. We can go and take a look."
Gunma Prefecture ranks second in the nation for plum production, with its largest plum grove located upstream of the Anchu River in Anchu City.
Ran Mouri had done her research beforehand, and upon hearing the suggestion, she smiled and said, "Great! Let's go tomorrow then..."
"--etc."
A voice suddenly interrupted them.
The group looked towards the person who had spoken, and saw a strong-looking middle-aged man walking towards them. Conan Edogawa recognized him as the person who had greeted them when they entered the store, and he also heard the other employees call him the boss.
The owner personally brought Aoyagi Akimitsu the last thing he had ordered, his gaze sweeping over their faces:
"Judging from your accents, you must be tourists from Tokyo, right? It's probably best to avoid going into the countryside these days."
"Is it because of the bear plague?" Ran Mouri asked with concern. "Actually, the staff at the hotel warned us when we checked in. But they also said that there haven't been any attacks in Anzhong City yet."
Conan Edogawa was also taken aback by her words.
...Oh no, he had so many things to do that he completely forgot about it.
The shop owner, oblivious to the child's unusual expression, sighed and raised his arm, pulling down his sleeve. Only then did the others notice the several layers of white bandage wrapped around his sleeve. "It just hasn't been reported yet," the owner said helplessly. "I encountered it yesterday afternoon when I went hunting in the forest with a friend. I was planning to add a few game dishes to the menu, but I unexpectedly encountered a bear."
This even drew Kogoro Mouri's attention: "You've been attacked?"
"I was terrified. My friend tried to shoot it, but it suddenly approached us and knocked our gun down with a single slap. My arm was also scratched by its claws at that moment..."
Recalling the terrifying scene, the boss couldn't help but shudder, his eyes filled with fear.
"Fortunately, it probably wasn't hungry. It didn't eat us; it just sniffed around and then turned and left."
Ran Mouri, who was trembling, froze upon hearing this: "It... just left?"
The boss nodded: "Yes, we were also puzzled. Bears are cunning and vengeful animals. Unless they are extremely hungry or provoked, they generally won't attack people carrying guns. But that bear knocked our guns away, yet it didn't actually hurt us."
Conan Edogawa pressed further, "How big is it? What kind of bear is it?"
The shopkeeper glanced at him and honestly replied, "It was very dark at the time, and it was my first time encountering a bear, so I was very scared and didn't see it clearly."
"...However, it was quite big," the shop owner added as he recalled, "about as tall as me when it stood up."
Conan Edogawa looked him up and down, estimating his height, and then asked two questions: "Did you call the police? What did the police say?"
"Why do you talk so much, kid?" A vein throbbed on Kogoro Mouri's forehead.
"Reported."
The boss's expression turned displeased when he mentioned this.
"But the police officer in charge seemed to be a newbie. I had only said a few words when he turned pale with fright. After the others finally managed to calm him down, he looked at my bandaged arm and said something like, 'It doesn't look serious.' 'You scared it first, so it came and startled you, but didn't eat you...'"
Having frequently dealt with the police in the past, Conan Edogawa, imagining the scene before him, fell into a temporary silence.
Why do the police in Gunma Prefecture sound so unreliable?
And someone who seems to be a newbie can lead a team... Could it be a professional team?
"I should have reported it to Nagano. That forest is located on the border between the two sides," the boss couldn't help but complain. "There are many attacks in Nagano, and there have been several deaths. The police take it very seriously and have even arranged for people to patrol the edge of the area."
At that moment, Aoyagi Akimitsu put down his cup.
The sound of the glass falling made Conan Edogawa subconsciously look over. He noticed that Aoyagi Akimitsu hadn't said a word during their conversation, only silently drinking with his head down.
There was still some liquid left in the glass; the amber-colored liquid emitted a faint aroma of honey and dried fruit.
Conan Edogawa, who had secretly drunk some alcohol to broaden his horizons, recognized what kind of alcohol it was.
--whisky.
I just don't know exactly which type of whisky it is.
"This flavor is too bland."
He heard Aoyagi Akimitsu let out a very low sigh.
"If only we added a little more...it would be perfect." (End of Chapter)