Chapter 0009: Conan Appears
The cleansing of Mouri Kogoro's body through the ancient method had finally concluded. Water poured down from the lotus pod, washing away all the grime, leaving him spotlessly clean.
Staring at the mirror, Mouri Kogoro saw a middle-aged man who was undeniably handsome. His skin was as tender as that of a young idol, his muscles perfectly proportioned, radiating a charm that could melt any girl's heart.
Gone was the lecherous aura that had once defined him. Instead, he had transformed into a suave gentleman, brimming with elegance.
His chiseled facial features, coupled with a hint of melancholy in his clear eyes, made him immensely satisfied with this body.
Testing his strength, he delivered a spinning kick, the sound of which roared through the room. As expected, his agility had fully returned.
Feeling rejuvenated, Mouri Kogoro stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, his body brimming with vitality.
Upon opening his door, he immediately heard Ran's voice from the living room.
"Conan, you have to behave, okay? Don't cause trouble."
"I got it."
What the heck?!
Rushing to the living room, Mouri Kogoro found two familiar figures. One was Ran, clad in her green coat, and the other was a little boy in a blue suit. It was none other than Edogawa Conan.
'What did I miss? How did this brat suddenly show up?'
"Dad!" Ran called out, noticing Mouri Kogoro's presence.
Sigh...
As someone who had grown up with her, Ran quickly sensed the changes in Mouri Kogoro. This air of confidence—something long absent—had returned.
"Dad, what happened to your beer belly? Where did it go? And why do you have abs now?"
"Oh, your old man has been working out lately and drinking less. So I got back in shape," Mouri Kogoro replied casually, his sharp gaze fixed on the adorable Conan.
"No way! You still had a belly yesterday. How could it disappear so fast?" Ran looked skeptical, her cheeks turning slightly red as a thought crossed her mind.
"And who's this little guy?" Mouri Kogoro asked, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed, eyeing Conan critically.
'This is bad! His presence is so overwhelming. Is this really the Mouri Kogoro I remember? Such a man doesn't resemble a washed-up detective at all. I can't handle this!'
Having just undergone a transformative experience, Mouri Kogoro exuded the commanding aura of a karate master. He locked eyes with Conan, making the boy feel as though he were being stared down by a predator. Conan's heartbeat quickened.
"Dad, don't stare at Conan like that. You'll scare him," Ran pleaded, her voice tinged with sympathy.
Still, Mouri Kogoro sought an explanation, so Ran began recounting the day's events.
It turned out that Ran, after recovering from a cold, had gone to the amusement park with Shinichi Kudo. They encountered the roller coaster murder case there.
Later, Shinichi disappeared, and when Ran went to his house to look for him, she met this little boy, Edogawa Conan. Through some convoluted persuasion by Professor Agasa, Ran ended up bringing Conan home to stay for a while.
'Professor Agasa sure is crafty. He won't let Conan stay with him, yet he treats Haibara Ai, a girl he barely knows, like his granddaughter. Could he have ulterior motives?'
"Dad, please! Conan is really pitiful. His family isn't here, and he's quite capable too. On the way back, he even helped find a missing little girl." Ran clung to Mouri Kogoro's arm, pleading persistently.
'A missing girl? Could it be the daughter of that wealthy chairman? Damn it, I only left for one case, and Ran and Conan have already been through so much. Truly, the title of "Death God Elementary Schooler" is well-deserved—cases follow him everywhere.'
'Letting him stay might not be a bad idea. Having a walking case generator could be useful. After all, the moment Conan appeared, the system had activated two missions'
---
[Daily Mission:
Congratulations, Host, on entering the main storyline. In this city of sin, countless cases await your resolution. Solve each case to earn points and rewards, with items determined by the case's complexity.
Main Mission 1 – Detective Duel:
In upcoming cases, outsmart Detective Conan by deducing the truth faster. Reward: Multiverse Lottery Ticket.]
---
Under Ran's persistent pleading, Mouri Kogoro's attitude began to soften.
"Taking in this kid isn't impossible, but he has to meet my conditions," Mouri Kogoro said sharply, fixing his eagle-like gaze on Conan.
"Kid, how old are you?"
Conan blinked his large eyes and replied in a childlike voice, "Uncle Mouri, I'm seven years old. And I'm not 'kid'—my name is Edogawa Conan."
"Seven years old, huh? So, you should be able to bathe and do laundry by yourself, right?"
"Well, I'm not very good at bathing myself…" Conan glanced at Ran and gulped.
"Oh, so Conan-kun can't bathe on his own? Then let Ran-chan teach you," Ran suggested with a kind smile.
"Absolutely not! Ran, you must never bathe with anyone except close family!" Mouri Kogoro's expression darkened ominously. If this were an anime, flames would be blazing behind him, his eyes glowing red.
How dare this brat claim he can't bathe himself? If I don't teach him a lesson now, he'll be climbing the walls next!
Grabbing Conan, Mouri Kogoro said, "Remember, boys shouldn't bathe with girls. If you do, something bad might happen." His sinister smile sent shivers down Conan's spine.
"Since Conan-kun can't bathe himself, I'll teach you!" With that, Mouri Kogoro dragged Conan back to the bathroom. "Ran, I've decided. This kid can stay with us."
Outside the bathroom, Ran giggled brightly, like a blooming flower. "Dad really likes Conan-kun, huh?"
However, she didn't notice Conan's muffled cries from inside the bathroom. His hopeless eyes filled with despair as the door shut. A single tear of humiliation rolled down his cheek.
'No! I want Ran to help me bathe! Not this scary old man!'
The boy's soul screamed in agony, echoing within the confines of the bathroom.