Conan: No, why aren't you following the script?

“Listen up, you cops! This kid’s life is in my hands now. With the slightest flick of my finger, his head will be blown to bits! I’m not asking for anything unreasonable right now. My accomplice has already taken fifty million. Prepare another fifty million for me! And a car with a full tank of gas!”

A few minutes later, in a corner of the National Football Stadium.

Hiruta, who was wearing headphones and constantly in contact with the director Kaneko, shouted at the microphone into the makeshift control room with a contorted expression.

Meanwhile, inside the television truck of Nichiri TV station.

Inspector Megure, his face ashen, took the earpiece and tried to stall Hiruta a little longer.

“Mr. Hiruta, calm down, please calm down. We will give you the money and the car, but please make sure Conan is safe. He's still a child. How can you threaten him like this? Don't you have any conscience? How about this, we'll send a police officer to you, and then you can…”

"You fart!"

Upon hearing Inspector Megure's words, Hiruta roared hysterically, "Do you think I still trust you cops? Just like those bastards at Yomiuri TV, you have absolutely no credibility! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Stop with your opportunistic schemes, I'm only giving you half an hour!!"

As a skilled thug, Hiruta knew that Inspector Megure's request was not for the sake of the bespectacled kid in his arms.

They just wanted to arrange for the police to get close to him, and then take advantage of his momentary lapse in attention to subdue him...

He'd seen this kind of trick on TV countless times, so how could he possibly fall for it so easily?

Thinking of this, Hiruta couldn't help but sneer, glancing at Conan Edogawa, who was being held tightly in his arms and whose face had already turned deathly pale.

"I didn't expect you to know those people in the Metropolitan Police Department. But that saves me some trouble. The fact that you know them means your family background must be extraordinary. If you were just an ordinary kid, I would have been worried that these guys might take the risk. But now it seems... hehe."

Hiruta smiled sinisterly. He had known this ever since he realized that Conan Edogawa was connected to the Metropolitan Police Department…

I think I've got this in the bag today.

Conan Edogawa looked helpless. He wanted to say something in his defense, but then he thought that both Yusaku Kudo and Kogoro Mouri seemed to have close ties with the Metropolitan Police Department.

and so……

In fact, Hiruta wasn't wrong; he really was just a relative...

Thinking of this, Conan Edogawa couldn't help but feel a little sad. Once upon a time, he was a high school detective hailed as the "savior of the Japanese police," but now, in the mouth of this villain, he has become a kid who got in through connections.

This is truly tragic.

However, the tragedy goes far beyond that...

……

Inside the television truck on the other side.

After hanging up the call, Inspector Megure's face was already extremely grim.

Below him, Officer Takagi looked anxious, Officer Chiba sighed repeatedly, and Officer Sato volunteered, saying that if she, a female police officer, went to exchange hostages, the criminals might be careless and agree.

Meanwhile, the members of the Junior Detective League, led by Kitagawa Isao, were secretly discussing their options. Seeing that the Metropolitan Police Department seemed to be making concessions, they tried to rescue Edogawa Conan in their own way.

However, before they could come up with a rough plan, Kitagawa Isao stopped them in time with a dark expression.

Inspector Megure was extremely frustrated by this. Having come from a background of experience, he was now anxiously waiting for the arrival of the negotiation expert, attempting to make one last effort.

only……

In fact, he knew very well that the criminals had lost trust in the Metropolitan Police Department, and even if a negotiation expert came in person, it probably wouldn't have much effect.

"Sigh, Conan is really something... I've told Mori so many times before that he must keep an eye on Conan and not let him run around at crime scenes. Every time, Mori just ignores me. Now look what's happened, he's finally gotten into trouble!"

After much frustration, Inspector Megure finally clapped his hands, making an expression of utter helplessness.

Upon hearing this, the officers from the First Investigation Division all looked ashamed.

It was an oversight on their part that the criminals were able to capture Conan amidst their elaborate trap. Officer Takagi and the others, who were usually closest to Conan, lowered their heads in sadness, unable to meet Inspector Megure's gaze.

With the time demanded by the criminals drawing ever closer, Inspector Megure glanced at his watch, finally sighed, and shuffled his plump figure off the television truck.

He was going to find the director, Kaneko, to ask about the progress of the ransom fundraising at Nichiri TV.

They had prepared the car for the criminals well in advance, but the Metropolitan Police Department was definitely powerless to deal with the 50 million yen in cash within half an hour. At present, he could only place his hopes on Nichiri TV.

However, as soon as Inspector Megure got out of the car, he heard the excited voice of the director, Kaneko, coming from the side of the television truck.

"Yes, I am Kaneko. Just do as I say... Oh, it's alright, it's alright. It's come to this point, haven't you realized it yet? Now that the Metropolitan Police Department is taking the blame for us, even if the news gets out, it won't just be our Nichiuri TV station that suffers!"

"Yes, yes, that's it! Hurry up and arrange for a host to come over. Just let Shui Wu come. With her live hosting and our exclusive broadcast, the ratings on CCTV will definitely explode today! Hey, what are you worrying about at a time like this? I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong, don't be afraid!"

"Alright, it's settled then. You need to be here within ten minutes at the east gate of the National Stadium. There are still fifteen minutes left before the time given by the thugs. Keep track of the time and don't delay my important business. Hmm, that's all."

Two beeping sounds.

Director Kaneko hung up his cell phone with a sigh of relief, but as soon as he turned around, he saw Inspector Megure standing behind him, his hair standing on end in a rage.

"Director Kaneko, I think... shouldn't you explain to me why your Nichiuri TV station isn't raising the ransom at this time, but instead contacting the host? What are you trying to do?"

Inspector Megure sneered, took two steps forward, and grabbed Kaneko by the collar. His immense strength lifted the grown man into the air.

"I guess you wouldn't be thinking of making a dishonest profit at a time like this, would you?"