Chapter Seven: The Study Abroad Consultation Agency?
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As a detective, Kogoro Mori’s fame in Tokyo was not particularly prominent. Morey was somewhat curious about what kind of detective Mori Kogoro truly was. Would he be like Poirot—vain and appearance-conscious yet sharp and resolute? Or like Miss Marple, possessing astonishing memory and deductive skills but quietly calculating everything from an armchair? Or perhaps like Dobin, relying on logic and analysis to deduce the truth, then using genius ideas to solve problems?
When Ran Mori opened the door and invited them in, Morey finally caught a genuine glimpse of Kogoro Mori. The man sat in a boss chair by the window, backlit, seemingly reading a newspaper with his head bowed, completely unaware of the three newcomers. His hair was slicked back neatly—a classic style popular among gentlemen in the last century, making them look capable and tidy. He wore a bluish-purple suit and trousers, black leather shoes, a white shirt, and a reddish-brown tie, appearing meticulous and immaculate.
Because of the backlight, his facial features were shrouded in shadow, making his face look deep and rugged. He resembled a statue, casting a serious aura on the atmosphere around him. A man of substance.
Morey couldn’t help but straighten his expression. If he had approached this meeting with a playful mindset before, now he was unquestionably serious. An invisible realm of tension stretched between the two men, causing even Dr. Agasa and Conan to feel a faint pressure.
Why the sudden seriousness?
Dr. Agasa’s eyes showed confusion.
I have no idea! Conan looked equally bewildered.
“Here’s some tea~” Ran placed a tray with three cups on the coffee table. Sensing the tense atmosphere in the living room, she was somewhat puzzled.
“Dad~ Did a client come?”
Mori Kogoro remained immersed in his newspaper.
“Dad~?”
Ran stepped closer.
“Dad! Dad!”
Bang!
“Ahh! What the hell?!” Startled awake by a heavy blow, Mori Kogoro kicked his chair, toppling both chair and himself to the floor.
Ran smiled as she withdrew her smoking fist.
“C-li-ent, yes?”
Only then did Mori Kogoro prop himself up on the table and scrutinize the three visitors.
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That brat... Oh, Conan, who came to stay over last night... I was a bit tipsy celebrating the commission and nearly forgot who he was... The old man... the inventor living nearby, apparently an acquaintance of Shinichi Kudo? And the last one... isn’t he that silver-haired detective who made headlines in the newspapers before? Here to steal business?
No, Ran just said a client came...
Could it be?
My detective skills have become so renowned in Tokyo that even fellow detectives have to come to me for advice!
Well, it makes sense. A detective who can catch the kidnapper of a chairman’s daughter within mere minutes, like last night, is a rare breed in Tokyo! Ahahaha!
Morey quietly asked Conan, watching Mori Kogoro suddenly break into a silly grin while leaning on the table, “Is he always like this?”
Fortunately, Mori Kogoro quickly regained composure, stood up, cleared his throat, and with a voice he thought sounded suitably senior and deep, said to Morey, “Young man, it’s normal to encounter problems when handling cases, so don’t be too nervous. But if you solve the case with my help, I’ll be taking half the fee, understand?”
?
Morey was speechless.
He shook his head and said, “Mr. Mori, I came indeed to seek advice from a senior like you.”
“I am new to Japan and plan to settle in Tokyo. I want to find some work—not much, just enough to feed myself. I originally intended to ask Shinichi Kudo, since he’s the first acquaintance I made here, but he’s gone away.”
“However, thanks to Dr. Agasa’s introduction, I learned there’s a famous senior detective here who might be willing to offer some advice.”
Huh? The acquaintance of that Shinichi kid who tried to hit on my daughter? And he wants advice from me? Get lost!
“You...” Mori Kogoro’s face soured as he was about to refuse, but then saw Morey pull out a wooden box from behind his back.
“This 1998 Tokin Winery noble rot wine is a small token of my appreciation. Please don’t refuse; of course, there will be consultation fees later.”
“Cough, cough, ahem...” Mori Kogoro hastily swallowed back his words of refusal, covered his embarrassment with a cough, and rearranged his speech. “You... such an outstanding junior, how could I not help you? Please, have a seat—”
“I’ve never tasted such a precious wine before,” Mori Kogoro said, gazing at the golden liquid, somewhat tempted. But thinking of its price, he resisted and put the bottle away.
Maybe when important guests come in the future, we can share a glass and seal the deal!
Suddenly serious, Mori Kogoro asked, “I saw in the news that you seem to be a detective. So, do you intend to open a detective agency here in Tokyo?”
Hopefully not! There are already too many competitors!
Luckily, Morey’s answer made him breathe a sigh of relief. “Actually, I’m not very keen on being a detective. Detectives have to run around a lot investigating; if there’s a job with less travel that lets me do research in my spare time, that would be perfect.”
“As you can see, since coming to Tokyo, I haven’t done much math research and feel a bit empty inside.”
Conan nearby frowned. “What’s wrong with being a detective? Morey, you have such strong reasoning skills; wouldn’t being a detective be a great way to use your talents? And detectives are so cool, just like Shinichi…”
Noticing Mori Kogoro’s glaring look, Conan quickly corrected himself, “Like Uncle Kogoro—he solved a kidnapping case just last night!”
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Though still a bit annoyed at Conan for encouraging competition, Mori Kogoro felt somewhat pleased.
He crossed his arms and said in a gruff tone, “That kid, Kudo, comes from a wealthy family, doesn’t need to work to make a living, so naturally he wants more top-notch detectives in Tokyo—more rivals.”
“Us grown-ups understand that demand determines the market. Now, detective numbers are nearly saturated; entering the field now would be tough... What would you know, kid?”
His eyes flicked, an idea forming. “Ahem, Morey, would you be interested in opening an izakaya or a mahjong parlor around Mihama Town? You could hire staff to run it, do your research peacefully, and I could often bring people over to keep the business going… Ow!”
Ran’s fist smoked.
Conan twitched at the corner of his eye.
Is this guy serious?
Ran withdrew her fist, smiled at Morey, and said, “I have an idea. In recent years, many students at Teitan High—including seniors and juniors—have been interested in studying abroad in Europe. Since you’re French and once a university lecturer, maybe you could open an agency offering consultation services on this?”
Mori Kogoro held his head, speechless. “Come on, there aren’t that many students going to Europe. How could you make money with that kind of work...”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Morey said.
Mori Kogoro was stunned and looked at Morey. Are you serious?
“Well, I work mainly so I won’t be idle in Tokyo. Doing this on the side, interacting with students, reminds me of my teaching days...” Morey added, “Besides, I want to travel sometimes. A small market is fine; it means I can have some leisure.”
After speaking, Morey stood, casually pulled out about ten 10,000-yen bills from his wallet without counting, and handed them to Mori Kogoro. The latter was stunned by his generosity and took the money blankly.
A bottle of wine worth seventy to eighty thousand yen as a gift, and consultation fees without checking the amount.
This guy is so rich—why even open a study abroad consultation office?
In truth, Morey had another purpose for setting up this agency.
Some magical technique development couldn’t be done in his apartment. He needed a place to develop techniques and conduct magical experiments. The agency was merely a front.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“I’ll see you out!”
Mori Kogoro stepped past Morey in a bound, opened the agency’s door for him, and escorted him downstairs. “Take care, Mr. Morey—”
...
Two days later, Mihama Town.
Morey’s Study Abroad Consultation Agency officially opened.