Buy, buy, buy!!
Seeing the exorbitant prices in the store, Senichi still endured the pain and prepared to resist the temptation of spending money on in-game purchases one day, saving up to buy one as a trump card.
Even though it was expensive, he couldn't resist its powerful functionality.
But when he looked at the little points he had in hand...
Senichi felt even more that the road ahead was long and filled with responsibility, and he became even more attentive to Kogoro Mouri and Conan.
Hmm... the way this describes Senichi makes him seem like some kind of obsessive stalker, but there's no choice. After all, most of the cases are triggered by these two, so it's only natural for Senichi to closely monitor their movements if he wants to avoid missing any cases.
But perhaps it's because of the cases he encountered in Izu earlier that caused 'Grim Reaper' to enter the "sage mode", or maybe it's because Conan has been immersed in studying recently.
This week actually passed by smoothly and peacefully, much to Senichi's disbelief...
When it came to Saturday and Sunday, Senichi originally thought that a case would be triggered, but when he asked about Conan's schedule...
Reading, eating, sleeping... It seemed like he was becoming a bookworm.
He was fully prepared to stay at home with no sign of wanting to go out.
Now Senichi was speechless.
So, is this really the correct way to contain "SCP-001"?
Defeat it in its own field, make it go into a state of seclusion, and it will go crazy studying and learning, becoming so obsessed with it that it ignores the outside world, thus reducing its impact on the surroundings.
The most noticeable result is the crime rate in the area... it has decreased by a whopping three percent!
Seeing this, Senichi was truly speechless. You can't escape this blame, Mr. Grim Reaper.
Nailed it!!
In the murder cases that happened in Tokyo, you're responsible for at least half of them!
However, with Conan in a state of seclusion and no longer triggering cases, Senichi found himself with some free time.
He and Ayako worked together to handle the company's affairs. Additionally, they had dealt with a significant portion of the funds. After receiving a large sum, Senichi continued to invest in internet stocks to reap dividends.
Of course, the Suzuki family had also provided recommendations for excellent stock traders. Although the commissions were substantial, it was worth it, as Senichi was earning more efficiently.
After taking care of company matters and going on a date with his girlfriend, these two days of vacation passed by like this.
When the new week arrived, Senichi didn't have a case to deal with but was instead presented with a business trip.
He was headed to Osaka for a training and exchange meeting.
As mentioned before, regional police departments had their own headquarters, and people in these regions had strong territorial awareness. They didn't readily allow outside detectives to interfere in their local cases.
However, they were still part of a larger law enforcement organization, and both sides had a common higher authority. They couldn't afford to be openly hostile to each other, despite their exclusivity. Many cases required both sides to coordinate and work together effectively.
In such situations, necessary communication was crucial. So, they held training and exchange meetings irregularly every year, with the location changing each time.
This time, it happened to be the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters hosting the training and exchange meeting.
In simple terms, it provided elite members from various regional police headquarters with a chance to meet and get acquainted. This way, they could prevent future difficulties in communication when they had to work together.
Similarly, aside from experienced police detectives, young individuals were an essential group that always appeared at these meetings.
Well, those in the know understand.
Although the seasoned detectives didn't place much emphasis on seniority, it was inevitable for the young ones to be part of the Career group if they could participate in training and exchange meetings during their younger years.
Their purpose is quite simple. Among these people, many are already middle to upper-level leaders from the beginning. Whether they can advance further is one thing, but if nothing unexpected happens, they will certainly have countless opportunities to interact in the future.
By establishing connections and acquaintances in their younger years, they ensure that when they rise in rank later on, they won't be complete strangers to each other, avoiding situations where their subordinates act like enemies.
Of course, this training and study meeting is not just in name; it's substantive.
Many seasoned detectives, despite not being part of the Career group, participate in this training and exchange meeting. They rely on years of accumulated expertise and actual achievements to stand here and pass on their experiences to these young individuals.
For these actions, the veteran detectives have their reasons too, as the group attending the lectures are potential competitors for high-ranking positions. One day, they might leapfrog over them.
Establishing a teaching relationship is also beneficial for their own sake.
In this world of Detective Conan, after the reforms, talented individuals with achievements and successful case resolutions are valued more, and this also affects the Career group.
The original Career group didn't necessarily have to deal with on-site work, but now, if you lack investigative and case-solving abilities or a track record to show, you not only have no advantage in competing for promotions with your peers but even if you become a leader, the detectives under you may not necessarily respect your leadership.
This is one of the changes that came after the reform, placing greater emphasis on on-site detectives.
It can be said that promoting detectives with the ability to lead teams in solving cases has become an implicit rule.
For those veteran detectives who spent their whole lives on the field, their rank might not be high, but after the reform, they receive the respect they deserve.
As for those who don't understand fieldwork but still attempt to command, they no longer need to grovel and endure situations where their superiors don't help and instead hinder them.
Let your strength do the talking!
This is the most significant change after the reform, bringing fresh blood and vitality to this once stagnant organization.
For the Career group as a whole, there has also been more favorable development.
While maintaining higher benefits, the culture of prioritizing competence has forced the Career group to become even more outstanding.
As for those who are not adept at criminal investigations, they can only seek positions elsewhere. Getting ahead might be easier for them than for those in the non-career group, but compared to the promotion speed of a true elite with strong investigative skills, it falls short in some aspects.
Although there is no explicit division, ever since the reforms, the culture and default rules have been such that those in high positions generally have decent deductive abilities.
For example, the head of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, Heizo Hattori, and the Chief Criminal Investigation, Ginshiro Toyama, are both influential figures and possess strong investigative skills.
The only issue is that their generation had quite a gap in terms of understanding the evolving landscape, but this legacy problem gradually diminished with the emergence of a rising star like Senichi.
This is why Senichi has garnered the attention of these influential figures. It's not that they promoted him too quickly; it's because Senichi's achievements and influence are just too significant!
There's no way around it; Add to that his impressive deductive skills, and he perfectly embodies the handsome police detective image that resides in the hearts of young girls.
So, it's only natural for him to be highly regarded in this world~
...….
Amidst a round of applause, Senichi gave a slight bow to the audience and then descended from the podium.
Today marked the last half-day of the three-day exchange meeting, with the afternoon reserved for everyone's free activities. Therefore, the morning was the last session for learning.
As one of the most famous figures among the new generation, Senichi naturally came here not just to learn but also as a mentor, taking the stage to share and exchange experiences with others.
Sharing and exchanging content didn't pose a challenge for Senichi. He provided a few simple examples from psychology, a couple of techniques related to microexpressions, and then shared some case-solving approaches. With that, his presentation was done.
In this day and age, such systematically summarized knowledge was still relatively novel, and everyone was eager to learn, resulting in a very positive response.
Unlike the abundance of knowledge readily available online in future times, which often went unnoticed, this face-to-face sharing and learning had a more profound impact.
Senichi also benefited greatly from the investigative thought processes of the seasoned detectives. The unusual nature of some cases quickly captivated Senichi, despite the discrepancies in experience between him and the seasoned detectives.
In this dedicated mutual learning, the morning quickly passed by.
After the exchange meeting concluded, it was time for lunch. Naturally, Senichi, representing the Metropolitan Police Department, sat at a table with Heizo Hattori, who was the host for this event.
"Speaking of which, it seems like this is the first time we've met," Heizo Hattori greeted Senichi as they took their seats. "I often hear them talk about you, and it seems like I'm the only one in the family who hasn't met you until now. Finally, my wish has been granted."
"My relationship with Heiji is indeed quite good. We often meet when he comes to Tokyo," Senichi smiled and replied. "Mrs. Hattori and I had the pleasure of meeting once due to some serendipity."
"Speaking of that, I heard that a while ago, she ran off to Tokyo on her own, which must have caused you some trouble," Heizo Hattori said. "I apologize. Please also apologize on my behalf to Mr. Mouri for her rash attempt to test him. It was truly impolite."
"Mrs. Hattori was just overly concerned for her son. There was no trouble at all, just a coincidental encounter with a case," Senichi waved his hand and chuckled. "As for Detective Mouri, given his personality, I think he's probably forgotten all about it by now."
"Haha, that does sound like Mr. Mouri's style."
Heizo Hattori laughed and then continued, "Speaking of which, my son has been talking a lot lately about wanting to surpass you. He often seeks my advice and has been working hard to learn more about criminal investigations."
With a hint of pride on his face, Heizo Hattori said, "I was initially worried that my son would become too proud and complacent at such a young age due to all the recognition he's received. But now, seeing a remarkable individual like you, Mr. Senichi, as his goal to chase after, I feel much more relieved."
"I'm just a few years older than him, and Heiji is also very good. We can progress together," Senichi modestly replied, waving his hand.
Hattori Heiji: Damn, he talks even better than he sings!! But he hasn't said a single truthful word!!
As he continued to converse with Heizo Hattori, they enjoyed their meal, and with no plans for the afternoon, everyone prepared to head out in pairs or groups.
"Senichi-san, do you have any plans for the afternoon?" Before parting, Heizo Hattori asked Senichi about his afternoon schedule.
"There's nothing specifically planned. I wonder what Heiji has been up to this week?" Senichi couldn't help but feel moved hearing the question, and he casually inquired about Hattori Heiji's whereabouts.
Since he was in Osaka, he couldn't ignore the existence of the Osaka Grim Reaper.
Since he was already here, he naturally wanted to ask about Hattori Heiji's whereabouts and see if he could prevent a case and earn a reward.
"Heiji is participating in a high school kendo tournament today, representing his school," Heizo Hattori said, checking his watch. "Is it this late already? The competition should be underway by now. My wife and Kazuha probably went to the Naniwa Central Gymnasium to cheer for Heiji."
"Oh? Today is the kendo tournament day?" Senichi raised an eyebrow, showing genuine interest. "I wonder how Heiji is performing."
"If you don't mind, I can have someone take you there," Heizo Hattori suggested at the right moment, seeing Senichi's interest.
"Well, that would be very kind of you," Senichi nodded. "I'd like to see how Heiji is doing."
But deep down, he had a sense that something wasn't right.
Because... Heiji Hattori's kendo tournaments were also trigger points for significant cases!!
...
During the time Senichi was still dining and chatting with Heizo Hattori,
Naniwa Central Gymnasium.
The entire gymnasium was bustling with activity, with countless people watching as the kendo practitioners below engaged in fierce combat, cheering loudly for their favorites.
"Men!"
"One point!!"
With one of the contestants landing a hit on the other's head, the match officially ended amid the cheers of the crowd.
"That's great! With this win, our Kaihou High School has three wins and one draw. We've already secured our spot in the semifinals!" Kazuha exclaimed enthusiastically from the front row of the audience seats.
"Yeah, it's a shame it's not a team competition today; otherwise, with the performance of the Kaihou Academy players, we might even have locked in the championship," Shizuka Hattori nodded and smiled beside her.
"Auntie, look! The audience's attention is all focused on Kaihou Academy's ace, especially Heiji; he's really amazing!"
"Hmm? Is Heiji that kid the ace?" Shizuka Hattori looked slightly surprised. "This child never talks about these things at home..."
As the two chatted, the referee below had already called Kaihou Academy's ace onto the field.
"Huh? Is that person Heiji?" Kazuha leaned over the stands, observing the figure below who was already surrounded by fans, her voice tinged with doubt.
"It does look like Heiji!"
Shizuka Hattori smiled slightly and pointed at the figure surrounded by several girls, starting to give her son some support, "Kazuha, look, Heiji seems to be surrounded by a group of girls, and they seem to be having a great time."
"That, that guy..."
Seeing this scene, Kazuha couldn't stand still in the stands any longer. She immediately rushed toward Heiji, who was surrounded by girls, and shouted with determination, "Hey, Heiji! Aren't you going to get on the field? Haven't you heard the referee calling you!!"
As she spoke, Kazuha reached out to grab his arm, but when she saw the skin exposed at the joint of the protective gear, she was momentarily stunned. "Huh? Why is it so fair?"
Saying this, Kazuha immediately turned her head to look at the boy inside the faceguard with surprise. "Ah! Why is it you!? I remember you're a first-year..."
"It's Hattori-senpai's idea!"
Seeing that Kazuha had discovered his impersonation of Heiji, the boy hurriedly waved his hands to explain, "Senpai said there was no need for him to appear before the finals, so he had me pretend to be him to intimidate the players from other schools..."
As he spoke, the boy scratched his head in embarrassment. "But Hattori-senpai, Heiji, is just too popular. As soon as I came here, girls surrounded me..."
As the boy explained, the disappointed girls who had approached thinking it was Hattori dispersed. After hearing the boy's explanation, Kazuha was left speechless.
"So where is that guy Heiji?" Kazuha asked with a puzzled expression.
"I think Senpai probably went to the restroom..." the boy chuckled awkwardly. "I just saw him heading in the direction of the annex..."
"I see!"
With those words, Kazuha left in a huff, charging towards the annex. It didn't take long for her to disappear from sight.
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