I'm writing a fictional immortality script in Detective Conan.

"Chief Kuroda!"

Upon seeing his new superior, Inspector Megure quickly rose from his chair and bowed in greeting: "I didn't expect this case to have alarmed you."

Kuroda Hyōe was transferred to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division two weeks ago to take over the work of Superintendent Matsumoto, who was promoted. He is currently Kuroda's direct superior.

When Inspector Megure first met him, he mistook him for the leader of a yakuza organization, almost causing a major blunder by arresting his superior!

Therefore, Inspector Megure would always be extremely nervous whenever he met him, for fear of leaving the other party with an unreliable impression.

"Don't be nervous. I came to the hospital to visit a sick acquaintance, and I noticed something was wrong here, so I just stopped by to take a look."

Kuroda Hyōe helped Inspector Megure Jūzō adjust his hat, which was about to fall off, and turned to look at Kuromon Yōya: "Besides, I also want to meet this valiant advisor in person."

Oh no! Inspector Megure's heart tightened. This superior was supposedly transferred from Nagano Prefecture, where it seemed there was no custom of having outsiders assist in solving cases!

If Inspector Megure dared to carefully study his superior's expression, he would surely dispel this worry. Because the emotion projected into Kuroda Hyoue's eyes was definitely not a sharp scrutiny, but a deep longing that softened his expression.

Opposite him, Yoya Kuromon sat on the hospital bed, equally curious as he compared this weathered, tough man with the young man in his memory.

Unbeknownst to him, it had been seventeen years since he last saw Kuroda Hyōe. He felt as if the siege of Akai Tsutomu had only happened last month!

During that period, I had to track down Rachel Asaka, pursue Akai Tsutomu, and clean up Rum's mess after he lost an eye. It was a very fulfilling time.

Looking back on that heartbreaking period of cleanup, Yoru Kuromon felt even more strongly that choosing to retire and run away was the right decision ever!

No need to control the number of spies entering the organization each year, nor to attend drowsy international economic forums. When the mood strikes, take pictures of flowers, birds, and fish; when free, follow Conan to crime scenes; occasionally visit rebellious children—it's the retirement life of my dreams.

Coming back to his senses from his past memories, Kuroda Hyoue extended his hand and introduced himself: "Hello, I am Kuroda Hyoue, currently the superintendent of the First Investigation Division."

"I am Haruka Kuromon, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The organization had, of course, monitored and verified the speculation that the other party was Tsutomu Akai, and ultimately received a negative answer.

He had also suggested that Rum find an opportunity to replace Kuroda Heibe, so that if the two wanted to use this lead to investigate the organization, they could be caught red-handed. However, Rum seemed to have a particular fondness for making sushi and looked down on the prestigious position of this high-ranking police officer, politely declining his suggestion.

They both share the same surname, Kuroda.

Kuroda Hyōe wasn't one to care about superficial interactions; after greeting Kuromon Yōya, he began to outline the investigation procedures:

"Call over all the personnel who were on duty with Dr. Shirai today. I suspect that Mr. Kuromon was deliberately injected with a sleeping drug."

As he spoke, he walked step by step to the locker and pulled open the door.

"And there's a little guy hiding here; eavesdropping on police investigations isn't exactly good behavior."

A burly man nearly two meters tall perfectly blocked the exit of the locker, preventing even a sliver of light from getting in. With the menacing shadow in front of him, Conan huddled helplessly in the corner of the locker, looking small, pitiful, and utterly alone.

Kuroda Hyōe lifted him out with one hand, staring at him with a stern face.

What a scary old man! Conan shrank back and hid behind Inspector Megure.

In ancient times, such a character would definitely have been featured in a picture book of supernatural tales, used by parents to stop their children from crying at night. Even vodka would seem endearing in his presence!

"Isn't that Conan? What are you doing hiding in the locker? Don't cause trouble!"

Inspector Megure squatted down in front of Conan, ostensibly to question him, but actually to help block his superior's view.

He could tell at a glance that Conan was probably looking for an opportunity to sneak into the crime scene and help solve the case. As the beneficiary of the solved cases, Inspector Megure actually accepted it well, since Conan was always very sensible and never disturbed the crime scene.

I really don't know how my brother Mori, this muddle-headed detective, was raised!

Conan looked up, simultaneously grabbing onto Inspector Megure and Haruya Kuromon for support, and grinned innocently.

"They're playing hide-and-seek with Kuromon-nii! Since he injured his leg and can't move, I'm the one who has to hide!"

He's putting on that act again. Inspector Megure stared at Conan with his crescent-shaped eyes. Every time Conan appeared at a crime scene, he acted like a little adult, his acting was terrible but he still had to pretend.

However, with his superior present, he couldn't very well lecture Conan directly. So, he pulled Conan aside and began to nag, "I just received a call from Inspector Yokomizo in Shizuoka not long ago. Your and Professor Agasa's attempt to skip the interrogation has really put him in a difficult position!"

Because of the investigation into the organization, they completely forgot about the existence of written records.

Conan scratched the back of his head apologetically and gave an embarrassed smile: "Next time, definitely!"

Seeing that Chief Kuroda and Inspector Megure hadn't had a chance to get rid of him yet, Conan quickly changed the subject: "Oh, I think it's strange too!"

"When I came to play with Brother Kuromon just now, I called his name many times right next to his ear, but I couldn't wake him up!"

Upon hearing this, Kuroda Hyōe looked at the head nurse who entered with bread and milk: "Is it a normal side effect to be unconscious for twelve hours after receiving an IV drip?"

"No, of course not."

The moment she was stared at by that sharp eye, the head nurse almost thought her extra money-making scheme had been exposed, and she broke out in a cold sweat: "According to Mr. Kuromon's treatment plan, there is no medication on the prescription sheet that could cause this condition!"

"Then why didn't anyone notice that the patient had been in a coma for so long?"

Just as the head nurse was about to collapse, another doctor, Jiang Tengsheng, who had been called in to cooperate with the investigation, stepped forward and said irritably:

"Dr. Shirai stayed with this consultant the whole time! Not only for injections and checkups, but he also personally brought lunch and dinner to his room. I even heard them chatting when I passed by!"

"Mr. Consultant, are you perhaps still half asleep and have forgotten about these things? Anyway, so much time has passed, and a blood test won't yield any reliable results."

Conan was about to retort when Kuromon Hyōe reacted first: "This is a crime scene, please be careful with your words and actions!"

His stern face exuded an oppressive aura that was impossible for ordinary people to withstand, leaving Dr. Jiang Teng speechless under his gaze.

Fortunately, a forensic officer made a discovery, breaking the tense atmosphere by holding up an evidence bag:

"Report! We found a cleaned injection device at the medical waste collection point, and also a cassette tape in Dr. Shirai's office. After confirmation, the tape contains recordings of Mr. Kuromon and the doctor."

Kuroda nodded and looked at Inspector Megure: "Very good. Now I'll take a few people to the office, leave four or five people here to check alibis, and the rest of you will go with you to search the entire building."

"Yes!"

Upon receiving the order, the officers from the First Investigation Division immediately rushed out of the ward, leaving only the officers on duty and Kuroda Heibe behind.

"Thank you." Kuromon Haruya found a moment to thank Kuroda Heiwa, who was reviewing the on-site documents.

After all, Jiang Teng's suspicions were not without merit. Inspector Kuroda's remarks were clearly biased, but they went unnoticed only because the evidence was discovered.

"I am flattered to have the trust of the police."

"It's just my assessment of the situation." Kuroda Hyōe looked calmly at Kuromon Yōya, his gaze filled with that nostalgic longing.

"I never expected that the advisor who sacrificed himself for others yesterday would be my benefactor, the son of Miwa Kuromon."

Haruya Kuromon: ?

How come I didn't know about this when I dressed up as a woman back then?