On the way to the editorial department, Takato recalled the first stage of the task, which required him to decipher the code on the magazine cover and quickly find out who left the coded numbers.
Now that the code was deciphered, finding out who left it should be as simple as asking someone in the editorial department. So why did he feel something was off?
Based on the content of the code, it seemed like someone wanted help finding a relative. But if that were truly the case, the person publishing the information could have simply posted a clearer message asking for help, or even directly hired a private Detective to conduct an investigation. Why go through the trouble of leaving a code on a magazine cover?
Could it be that the person who left the code didn't want others to know they were looking for a relative? At least, they didn't want too many people to know about it, which is why they went to such lengths to leave a code and wait for someone to decipher it?
But if that were the case, they could have just privately hired a private Detective. Or was it that the person who left the code didn't even have the opportunity to find a Detective?
If that's the case, would he really get an answer by going to the editorial department now?
No, that's not right. For this code to be printed on the cover, it must have gone through the editorial department's review. The editor must know who requested this doodle to be printed on the cover.
Since the person who left the code could do all this, there's no reason they couldn't hire a private Detective—on the other hand, is it possible this person could only do this much, and nothing more?
Moreover, his challenge mission was "The Rich Man's Anxiety." Where was the rich man so far?
"Speaking of which, why did this person leave a code instead of just placing an advertisement?"
Heiji voiced the question Takato was pondering.
"Huh? This should be a kind of test, right?"
Kazuha was a bit confused.
"If I wanted to ask for help, I'd also have to see if that person had the ability to help, wouldn't I?"
"I certainly thought of that point, but if it's just helping to find a missing relative, it would be simpler to go directly to the Police."
Heiji said.
"In other words, the reason the other party is looking for a relative might not be able to be filed with the Police?"
Raising this doubt, Heiji began to ponder deeply.
"But if a relative is missing, the Police have no reason not to file a case."
Kazuha retorted.
"Then could it be a situation where the person they're looking for is a potentially existing relative?"
Takato listened to their conversation, expanding his thoughts.
"For example, when you were little, your parents told you that you actually had an older brother, but you never saw him. When you grew up, your parents passed away, and you suddenly remembered your parents saying you had an older brother, so on a whim, you wanted to find him."
"If it's a situation similar to that, it could indeed explain why the other party didn't choose to report it to the Police. But it still doesn't explain why they would choose to leave this code on the magazine cover instead of directly writing the request?"
Heiji added.
"That's right, if they wrote it directly, they might even get a lot of clues from others. Why make it so complicated and unnoticeable?"
Kazuha asked, perplexed.
"Perhaps they just wanted it to be unnoticeable."
Heiji suddenly thought of something.
"Like someone held captive by a villain trying to send a message to the outside, they certainly can't openly write about their plight to prevent being discovered by the villain. Perhaps the person who left the code is in a similar situation."
"Then who is the person who left the code guarding against?"
Kazuha asked.
"The editor!"
Hearing this, Takato and Heiji suddenly blurted out the answer in unison.
"Because that person knew that if the editor discovered his intention, his message wouldn't be able to be sent out."
Heiji added.
"Huh? But why guard against the editor? And even if the person who left the code didn't want the editor of this company to find out, they could completely find another media outlet."
Kazuha asked.
"Perhaps it's because this matter, if discovered by any editor, is something that person cannot accept. So even if they publish it through another media, as long as the editor eventually knows about it, everything they've done will be in vain."
Heiji speculated.
"But in that case, us going to ask the editor about the source of the doodle is truly a bad move!"
"Then if that's the case, the person who left the code might not necessarily be guarding against the editor? They just don't want a certain person who reads the magazine to know that they are actually looking for a relative."
Takato overturned the previous conclusion.
"And regarding why it was published in this magazine, it might actually be the only media outlet they can access—this very magazine!"
Takato suddenly said.
"Ah! Because even if it's a code, it could be published in other media. The fact that it's in a fashion magazine is indeed very strange. If they had no other choice, then it makes sense!"
Heiji suddenly said.
"So, looking at it comprehensively now, the person who left the code could only leave it in the magazine. Their goal is to find a potentially existing relative, but they don't want a certain person to know about their search for a relative. Thinking this way, what kind of situation would it be?"
Takato said, a vague idea forming in his mind, because this series of events was called "The Rich Man's Anxiety"!
"Since that's the case, let's look up some information. After all, a person who can only choose to publish their code in a fashion magazine and can get the editor to put such a doodle on the cover is actually very limited, right!"
Heiji concluded.
So, the three went to a library in Osaka and began to search for information about people related to this magazine.
During this time, Hattori Heiji also called Officer Otaki to ask if any incidents involving high-level personnel of this magazine had occurred recently.
Soon, the three found a clue.
About a week ago, a Director of the magazine and a major shareholder were traveling together by car for a business trip when they had a car accident.
The driver died on the spot, and the two suffered serious injuries, but they were both rescued and have now been transferred to a private Hospital that outsiders find difficult to access. Their relatives and the nurses hired by their relatives are accompanying them at the Hospital.
What's interesting here is that this magazine company is somewhat like a family business. The relatives accompanying the Director also work at this magazine company! And the major shareholder's son is even the chief editor of this magazine company!
Since both people involved in the car accident were already advanced in age, and this major accident occurred, their health condition is not very optimistic. The Director is still doing well and can handle some work-related matters at the Hospital, but the major shareholder himself seems to have some serious health issues and is now basically unable to care for himself. Therefore, all aspects of his life are handled by his son, the chief editor, and the nurses hired by the chief editor.
And from Officer Otaki, they received some even more important news.
When the traffic Police questioned the Director at the Hospital about the details of the car accident, someone from the magazine company even brought the new issue's magazine cover for him to review!
"It seems that the person who left the code is very likely this Director."
Heiji said.
"Is that so? I, however, think the shareholder is more likely."
Takato said, looking at the available resumes of the two.
"This Director came purely from an art background. But this major shareholder once worked in a chemical factory!"
"Just based on that?"
"No, based on this."
Takato pulled out another report and said.
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