Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 352 The Phantom of Baker Street 2: Yusaku Kudo
“Hello, President Schindler,” Gomer greeted, “I am…”

"Nice to meet you."

Schindler shook hands absentmindedly with Gomer, not caring who Gomer was, and walked straight into the banquet hall without stopping.

"That guy is so rude," Sonoko said, sticking out her tongue indignantly. "And he calls himself the emperor of the IT world!"

Yusaku Kudo wasn't surprised. Schindler's conversation with him was superficial, and he didn't take him seriously either. This kind of arrogance from the heart is also part of being an emperor.

“He probably isn’t in the mood to care about anything else right now,” Gao Mo watched Schindler leave, glancing around. “Professor Yusaku, has President Schindler been acting strangely lately?”

"strangeness?"

Kudo Yusaku looked at Gao Mo in surprise and recalled in a deep voice.

"I haven't met him many times. If I had to say something strange, it would probably be that artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence, which was supposed to be completed two years ago, escaped the control of the Schindler Corporation because of the suicide of that genius boy, Hiroki."

Also recently, Schindler, the president of the company that had been offering a bounty on artificial intelligence, suddenly stopped his activities.

Gao Mo pondered for a moment: "This artificial intelligence is..."

"Yes, I don't know why they suddenly approached Kenmura."

Yusaku Kudo nodded slightly.

"The reason I participated in this project was partly because I was interested in it, and partly because Kenmura had asked me to investigate Hiroki's suicide a year ago."

Kenmura desperately wanted to know what had driven Hiroki to such a desperate situation, but all he knew for now was that it seemed to have some connection to this Schindler president.

Gao Mo's expression was knowing.

He probably knows what's going on.

The reason should be the same as what Ai said, that is, Hiroki developed a DNA genetic tracking system, and this system will expose the relationship between Schindler and Jack the Ripper.

That's how it appears on the surface.

As for why Schindler was afraid of his ancestral identity being exposed, it could be due to psychological reasons, or it could be related to other issues.

In any case, Kudo Yusaku's friend is now in danger.

Judging from Yusaku Kudo's reaction, Kenmura doesn't seem to realize the seriousness of the problem.

Schindler was clearly aware that Kenmura had been approached by artificial intelligence.

“Anyway,” Yusaku Kudo said, taking his leave after spotting Conan in the banquet hall, “let’s talk about this after we meet Kenmura. That AI seems to have provided some clues.”

A long-awaited reunion between father and son.

Gao Mo watched as Kudo Yusaku walked toward Conan.

However, by the time it was too late to go find Kenmura, everything would be over.

Yusaku Kudo, being no professional detective, was unaware that his client was in danger.

Judging from the current situation, it is highly likely that Kenmura spoke privately with President Schindler without Kudo Yusaku's knowledge.

"father!"

Ran found the mustachioed man eating and drinking at the banquet buffet table, along with the three little ones who were with Conan.

The man with the mustache, who was eating voraciously, revealed his ugly side and poured alcohol into his mouth like a madman.

"Wouldn't it be better not to drink too much? Didn't you say that high-ranking officials from the Metropolitan Police Department would be coming today?"

"This is nothing! You won't get drunk on fine wine, hehe!"

"This isn't about being drunk."

Conan also felt embarrassed and subconsciously moved away from the mustache. Just as he was about to go see his father, Kudo Yusaku, a group of female guests suddenly surrounded Kudo Yusaku.

It's still so popular.

Thankfully, Mom didn't come along.

"We're not qualified to play this game, are we?"

Ayumi looked enviously at the group of children across from her who were receiving game badges.

"Those kids are really lucky; they'll get to experience the virtual games at the venue later."

“What luck?” the man with the mustache scoffed. “The grandson of the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department, the grandson of a capitalist in the financial world, the son of a politician from the ruling party… basically all of them are second or third-generation rich kids.”

"Being born into a good family is also a matter of luck."

Ai glanced at it casually and took out the badge that Sonoko had given her from her pocket.

"I do have one, but only one."

"I'm sorry," Sonoko said apologetically, "by the time I found out about this game, all the spots had already been allocated. Don't worry, I'll reserve a spot for you when the second batch opens." What second batch?

Ai raised her eyelids slightly.

She didn't know much, but the so-called virtual game only appeared once, made a brief appearance, and then disappeared.

Like artificial intelligence, it is a product that does not exist in this era.

"How could the Suzuki Group's heiress be with these shabby guys?"

Several soccer-playing boys walked arrogantly up to the three little ones.

"People should be where they belong. If these guys, who can see their entire lives will be over before they even begin, encounter a social class that doesn't belong to them, they'll probably be crying and doubting themselves later, won't they?"

"That's right. A person's future is determined at birth, so it's better not to let them expect too much."

"You guys!" The man with the mustache put down his wine glass and sternly called out to the young soccer players, "You're taking life too lightly. A seemingly smooth life can be a trap. You'll understand when you grow up!"

"Like when your wife runs away?"

The grandson of the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department had an arrogant look on his face.

"I know that the nickname 'Sleeping Kogoro' comes from the fact that his wife ran away while he was asleep, right?"

"What?" The man with the mustache froze, then erupted in fury amidst the boys' mocking laughter, "You brat..."

"The so-called famous detective is nothing more than a funny old man."

The boys laughed and juggled the soccer ball, then, disregarding that they were in a banquet hall, they ran around kicking it. The ball bounced off the table and hit the mustachioed man hard on the side of his face, leaving the plates in a mess.

Expensive and high-end wines and dishes were scattered all over the floor.

"boom!"

Gao Mo reached out and caught the wildly flying soccer ball, a mountain-like shadow looming over the leading boy.

"Hey, give the ball back to us..."

"Is this the kind of quality that children of celebrities have? Are you really children of the upper class? You're just bringing shame and disgrace to your elders." Gao Mo's gaze swept over the arrogant teenagers.

"Who are you?" The leading boy was inexplicably frightened.

“Perhaps I should call the Deputy Superintendent General,” Gao Mo tossed the soccer ball to a staff member. “Compared to the Superintendent General’s son, Hakuba Saguru, his offspring are far too awful and shouldn’t even be in a place like this.”

"Who...who are you?"

The boy was frightened and, without even bothering to retrieve the soccer ball, hurriedly led the others away.

Even as he was leaving, he couldn't stop being stubborn.

"Let's go. People like this only know how to call their parents, just like those boring teachers!"

"Kids these days are really..." The man with the mustache wiped his sweat and clicked his tongue, "Kido, you really know how to handle things."

"He's just a kid."

Gao Mo discovered that his talent for being a "child king" was quite useful, especially for dealing with unruly kids.

Of course, this only applies to real children.

"Kido-nii is so amazing!" the three little ones exclaimed with admiration. "He's much more amazing than Uncle Mori!"

"That last sentence is redundant," the man with the mustache snorted, his eyelids drooping.

They were actually looked down upon by a child.

"Mouri, Doctor," Gao Mo glanced at Kudo Yusaku, who was being ushered away by staff on the other side, "I'll leave this to you. I'm going to the restroom first."

"Distinguished guests, please take note of the stage!" the host announced. "Now, Mr. Yusaku Kudo, who provided creative inspiration and guidance for the scene design of the virtual game 'Cocoon,' has arrived. We would like to invite Mr. Kudo to deliver the opening speech..."

"Kenmura, the person in charge of developing Cocoon, is a close friend of mine from university. This project has allowed us to rekindle our old friendship..."

Gao Mo left the banquet hall during Kudo Yusaku's speech, and casually asked a staff member where Kenmura might be going.

Then I learned that the organizers had set up a server room in the basement, and Jiancun usually worked alone in the server room.

"What do you need the director for?" the staff member asked curiously.

"It's nothing, I'm just asking on behalf of Mr. Kudo. We have an appointment to meet with Mr. Kenmura."

"So you're Mr. Kudo's friend. Should I inform the director?"

"No need, let's wait until the press conference is over."

Conan turned around in confusion, wondering what Gao Mo and the staff had been talking about. After thinking for a moment, he decided not to follow and turned his attention back to his father, Kudo Yusaku.

(End of this chapter)