Chapter Sixteen: Such a Swift Delivery

That bastard Ray!
Tooru Amuro clenched his fists, the gloves stretched tight against his skin.
The organization did not place absolute trust in Bourbon, so it was expected that they would send another team to lie in wait covertly.
But for that team to be led by Black Rye Whisky, and to have used violence against Azusa, that was something Amuro had never anticipated.
Hatred surged within him, along with deep concern for Azusa’s plight.
To target a mere high school student like him, the organization had already deployed two codename operatives, indicating the extraordinary importance of the information he held.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Amuro’s face was stern as he admonished Azusa. “Did you think I wasn’t capable of handling this mess? Hm?”
Of course, it’s because your stalker skills are so good I never noticed anything.
Azusa didn’t dare retort and lowered his head apologetically with a contrite expression. “Sorry for making you worry. It won’t happen again.”
Amuro sighed and switched to a different line of reasoning to convince him. “This case is serious. If it escalates, everyone involved will be compromised. You need to be careful.”
“I understand. Sorry, I acted on my own without consulting you.” Azusa maintained his obedient demeanor.
Seeing him like this, Amuro couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. He shook his head and turned to the kitchen counter. “I hope you really understand now. What do you want for lunch? I’ll make you some sandwiches.”
“Okay—” Relieved that Amuro had moved past this episode, Azusa quickly agreed.
Two bandages were tossed onto the counter in front of Azusa.
“Put these on your face. Even small wounds can leave scars.”
If you knew it would scar, you shouldn’t have struggled so hard earlier! Feeling guilty, Azusa didn’t dare say so.
The café settled into silence, broken only by the sizzling sound of Amuro’s frying pan.
The midday news came on the television.
Azusa turned his face toward the screen, hoping for new information about any murder cases.
Now that “The Sleeping Kogoro Mouri” had made his debut, he needed to pay close attention to related news to avoid missing opportunities to get close to the main players.
Traffic accident… famous singer dead… violent crime… violent crime… murder… murder…
After hearing several brief updates, Azusa felt a little numb. How was Tokyo’s security so terrible, like Gotham City?
He was about to silently judge this when the next news bulletin interrupted.
“Breaking news: Jiro Maru, president of the Maru Group, held an emergency press conference half an hour ago, declaring his intention to publicly repent for his years of wrongdoing. At the conference, Mr. Maru revealed evidence of the group’s involvement in illegal financial lending activities and admitted to using methods such as mortgage-based loans and violent collection tactics to illegally seize dozens of antique collectibles…”
Azusa sat up straight, fully attentive.
You have to admit, Jiro Maru might be a scoundrel, but he’s pretty efficient!
Knocked down in the morning, confessing by noon—no delay at all.
“…Now, here is a live report from the reporters at the scene…”
The news anchor’s sweet and elegant smile quickly gave way to the grizzled face of Jiro Maru, sporting a full beard and a bald head.
“I have committed grave sins out of greed,” Maru said under the flashing cameras, tears streaming down his face. “I have harmed many people. Some even took their own lives because of my forcing. I know my sins are too deep to atone for, but I want to return my ill-gotten gains to their rightful owners.”
“If the collectibles have already been sold, I will do everything I can to recover them. Please believe in my resolve.” Maru bowed deeply to the camera. “For all the pain I have caused, I am truly, deeply sorry…”
Azusa touched the bandage on his face and squinted, smiling.
“What are you smiling at?” Amuro placed a plate in front of Azusa, looking up at the TV himself and shaking his head. “An old villain’s repentance means nothing. The damage has already been done.”
“I just feel like the world is getting a little better,” Azusa said with a smile. “That’s enough.”
Unfortunately, upstairs, Mr. Mouri was probably losing a lucrative case.
—
Azusa’s regret lasted only until dinner time.
Kogoro Mouri sat at the bar in the Boro Café with Ran Mouri and Conan, cheeks flushed as he boasted to Amuro, “I really don’t know what came over Jiro Maru. A few days ago, he hired me to investigate his wife’s affair. Yesterday, he scheduled a meeting but hadn’t paid the final fee. Then suddenly, he held a press conference to confess. I thought the whole case was wasted—a real troublemaker.”
“So the case was canceled?” Amuro stirred the bubbling coffee pot, playing along.
“Yeah, but there’s always a silver lining,” Mouri said proudly, puffing out his chest. “I was just trying to get the final payment or some breach fee when Mrs. Maru bought all the photos and evidence from me!”
“Dad…” Ran groaned, “That’s not something to brag about…”
Mouri waved her off dismissively. “If I hadn’t been so capable to get all those photos, that money would’ve been lost.”
“Anyway, Jiro Maru is definitely going to prison now—the evidence is overwhelming. The group will fall under Mrs. Maru’s control. Since the board got my evidence, which would hurt her, she paid three times the price to buy it all.”
Mouri laughed his trademark proud laugh, which made Ran and Conan narrow their eyes, while Azusa looked at him sideways with disdain.
“Uncle Mouri, it’s not right to reveal the client’s privacy like that…” Conan sighed helplessly.
“Mrs. Maru asked me to spread the word,” Mouri said, ever the professional private detective. “Besides, with the evidence in her hands, a little unstable rumor helps lower the stock price. She’s waiting to acquire more shares!”
Ran’s expression was complicated. Thinking of Jiro Maru and the glamorous Mrs. Maru, she sighed, “Is this what adult marriage is like?”
“That’s how rich people are. Whatever. Amuro, bring us three seafood pastas!” Mouri waved his hand with flair, ready to enjoy his newfound fortune.
Azusa sipped his hot cocoa, his gaze drifting.
So his warning letter was really that timely?
If it had come a day later, Jiro Maru would have been thoroughly exposed...
This is not something to take lightly, Death Gods.
Conan withdrew his narrowed eyes and rested his chin between his thumb and forefinger.
Jiro Maru’s sudden confession was strange no matter how you looked at it. He had been doing bad deeds for decades, but now, over fifty years old, he suddenly repented overnight...
Could it be related to that warning letter?
The letter, signed by a group calling themselves “Phantom Thieves of the Heart,” said that Jiro Maru would pay the price today—and indeed, Maru publicly apologized and confessed.
Threats? Vigilante justice?
How did they manage that?
Azusa choked on his hot cocoa and sneezed involuntarily.