Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 2188: Chapter 2186: Yet Another Arrives

Finally, Officer Nakamori did not resign.

Not because he caught Phantom Thief Kid, but because… that night Phantom Thief Kid didn’t show up at all.

That’s right, they wasted an entire evening, and Phantom Thief Kid vanished without a trace.

This left Nakamori and the others puzzled; they couldn’t figure out why the usually punctual thief didn’t show up this time. Maybe he learned the bad habit of being a no-show?

Only Fang Zheng knew that Phantom Thief Kid wasn’t absent; he came but couldn’t show up. After all, the belt stir-fried meat left him incapacitated, unable to get out of bed for three to five days. Unless Phantom Thief Kid planned to appear limping in front of everyone, he’d better not show up at all, and just say that Officer Nakamori and Kogoro Mouri misinterpreted the code.

Thinking about it, maybe that’s why Phantom Thief Kid always sends those cryptic show-off invitations? After all, if you specify the time and place and don’t show up, that’s a no-show. But if you send a code and don’t show up, you can blame others for being dumb and misinterpreting it…

Anyway, you wrote the code, you can say whatever you want.

Thus, when Fang Zheng boarded the plane and took his seat, he overheard Conan excitedly explaining the true meaning of Kid’s announcement to Little Ai, saying he had seen through Phantom Thief Kid’s tricks, and that Kid was planning to commit a crime on this plane!

However…

“Unfortunately, he won’t be coming this time.”

Fang Zheng settled in his seat, fastened his seatbelt, and casually remarked. Hearing Fang Zheng’s reply, Conan and Little Ai looked at him.

“Why?”

“It’s simple.”

At this, Fang Zheng smirked coldly.

“I treated him to a meal of belt stir-fried meat. He won’t be able to walk properly for at least three to five days. Unless he plans to cover his rear and stagger out embarrassingly, he’ll have no choice but to go home and sleep.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng snorted.

“I told him if he dares appear as Shinichi Kudou again, I’ll beat him so badly his own mother won’t recognize him!”

“Uh…”

At this, Conan shrank his head in silence. He was convinced that after being roughed up by Fang Zheng, Phantom Thief Kid would never dare use his main identity again. But… he felt Fang Zheng’s words might also be directed partly at him, as there were plenty of times he didn’t listen to Fang Zheng.

Who knows, Fang Zheng might treat him to a meal of belt stir-fried meat someday too, which would be truly terrifying…

“Since Phantom Thief Kid isn’t showing up this time, does that mean we have nothing to do?”

Little Ai seemed quite calm.

“Hopefully so. Actually, if you ask me, you guys shouldn’t have boarded the plane.”

“What could we do?”

Little Ai knew Fang Zheng was referring to his “Conanology theories.” Truth be told, Little Ai herself was starting to believe Fang Zheng’s words. Last time, even taking a public bus led to encountering kidnappers, and this time, a plane falling from the sky wasn’t impossible. As they say, a gentleman doesn’t stand under a dangerous wall, and while Little Ai wasn’t a gentleman, she certainly didn’t want to invite trouble.

“Dr. Agasa and the kids were invited. I had no choice but to follow.”

“Ah…”

Hearing Little Ai’s reply, Fang Zheng sighed helplessly, while Conan looked bewildered at the cryptic conversation between the two, glancing here and there.

“What are you talking about?”

“Haha, take a guess.”

Facing the Prime Culprit, Fang Zheng didn’t want to say a word more.

Just then, the conversation between two women sitting in front caught Fang Zheng’s attention.

“What’s wrong, Suri?”

“Ooh… I’m not feeling well…”

At this, Fang Zheng looked ahead, seeing a middle-aged woman with short red hair sitting in the chair, looking quite unwell. This wasn’t anyone else but Makijuri, the famous play actress who had received Phantom Thief Kid’s announcement earlier.

Of course, she had a high opinion of herself and was quite arrogant towards others, the type that wouldn’t survive past an episode in Conan… huh?

No way.

“Excuse me.”

At this, Fang Zheng thought for a moment and stood up, walking to Makijuri’s side.

“Miss Suri, let me take a look. I know a bit of medicine.”

“Ah, it’s Mr. Fang Zheng, thank you.”

Seeing Fang Zheng appear, Makijuri forced a smile, as Fang Zheng was sent by the Metropolitan Police Department, and he was also CEO of a major company. Although Makijuri was a famous theater actress, she wouldn’t dare show displeasure to someone like Fang Zheng.

“How do you feel now?”

“Feeling a bit dizzy and nauseated…”

“Rapid breathing, accelerated heartbeat?”

“Mm…”

“Too tired perhaps?”

The other actress beside Suri handed her some vitamins from her bag.

“Want some vitamins?”

“Please wait a moment.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand, then squinted his eyes and carefully observed Makijuri in front of him. When he was the Emperor, he learned a bit of the art of observation and inquiry from the imperial court physician of that time. Now, as Fang Zheng placed his hand on Makijuri and took a closer look, he quickly identified the problem. He leaned closer to Makijuri, first sniffing her arm and then her neck.

“Mr. Fang Zheng?”

Witnessing this, everyone around was a bit startled, as Fang Zheng’s gesture seemed overly intimate for a man and woman. However, Fang Zheng paid no mind to this, continuing to sniff until he reached Miss Suri’s cheek, where he stopped, his expression darkening.

“Miss Suri has been poisoned.”

“Huh? Poisoned?!”

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned.

“Fortunately, the poisoning isn’t very severe… Can anyone help her remove her makeup?”

“Ah, I’ll do it…”

Hearing this, the actress who was previously sitting beside Suri quickly stood up, and Fang Zheng glanced at her, nodding.

“Thank you. Be careful, her makeup might be mixed with poison.”

“Huh?!”

The actress was startled by Fang Zheng’s warning.

“Will it be okay?”

“As long as it’s completely washed off, it’ll be fine.”

“Alright.”

Though a bit frightened, the actress nodded, then looked towards the flight attendant.

“Could you please take us to the restroom?”

“Ah, right…”

The flight attendant was also quite scared by the series of events, and promptly led the disoriented Makijuri and the actress to the restroom. Fang Zheng then turned to the others.

“Honestly, this should be a Detective’s deduction time, but I’m not good at deductive reasoning. Besides, at this point… you can guess who the culprit is without any deductions.”

Just as Fang Zheng said, when he mentioned that Miss Suri’s makeup was poisonous, everyone immediately looked at Suri’s exclusive makeup artist, knowing she had just touched up Suri’s makeup before boarding…

“Do you mean I’m the killer?”

The makeup artist’s face turned pale.

“Do you have any evidence?”

“Hah… Miss, I think you’re mistaken.”

Fang Zheng sighed in response to the makeup artist’s inquiry.

“We’re police, not detectives… Alright, extend your hand. I suspect you of a major offense, poisoning Miss Makijuri, and ask that you cooperate with the investigation. If you don’t cooperate… well, I think you know the consequences.”

“……”

Soon after, the plane returned to Tokyo quickly; one, to arrest the suspect, and two, because Miss Makijuri needed urgent medical treatment. As for the makeup artist, she didn’t last long before confessing. Her motive for attempting to kill Makijuri was that she originally had an opportunity to develop her career in Hollywood, but Makijuri destroyed it by wanting to keep her around. Thus, she wanted to kill Makijuri… a reason too trivial to justify murder, Fang Zheng thought.

If you’re unhappy, just quit. If one place doesn’t keep you, another will. Why act like a servant? Did you sign a servitude contract with Makijuri?

After instructing Dr. Agasa to take Conan and Little Ai home, Fang Zheng escorted the suspect to the Metropolitan Police Department. After a series of handover procedures, he handed the disheartened makeup artist to Officer Megure and planned to head home to sleep. Just then, Officer Sato called out to him.

“Ah, Mr. Fang Zheng, you’re here just in time.”

“Hmm? What’s the matter, Officer Sato?”

“Well…”

Officer Sato showed a somewhat troubled expression.

“Actually, a girl just came to the Metropolitan Police Department looking for you…”

“Who?”

Fang Zheng was taken aback by Officer Sato’s words; both Ran and Sonoko were with him on the plane. If it were Kimie Shima, Kousaka Natsumi, or Yoko Okino, they could simply call him. Is there anyone else he knows?

“Well, actually she’s…”

Just as Officer Sato was hesitating on how to explain, a girl burst in.

“Let go of me! Isn’t that guy called Fang Zheng at the Metropolitan Police Department? I need to have words with him!”

“Who is she?”

Fang Zheng looked at the girl in sailor suit, decisively expressing… well, he doesn’t know her.

Moreover, judging by her aggressive demeanor, she’s likely not here to confess.

“Ah, Mr. Fang Zheng, actually she’s…”

“You’re Fang Zheng, right!”

Upon seeing Fang Zheng, the girl immediately broke free from the police’s grasp, rushed up to him, and pointed her finger at him.

“I’m Nakamori Aoko, Officer Nakamori’s daughter!”