Heiji and Kazuha leaned in, looking at the report from over twenty years ago that Takato had found.
It was an entertainment news story about a popular actress who became pregnant out of wedlock and subsequently retired from the film industry.
The report stated that before she was discovered to be pregnant, the actress had been in close contact with a shareholder of her management company and had even been seen traveling with him. Therefore, the report suspected that the child in her womb was that shareholder's. The shareholder mentioned in the report was Nishikawa Taisei, the major shareholder of the magazine company involved in the car accident.
"Oh? This is indeed a very important discovery."
Hattori Heiji said, "Is there any follow-up to this matter?"
"I just checked online for related reports about this actress. It seems that after she retired from acting, she went to Tokyo. However, I couldn't find any subsequent information about the child in her womb."
Takato used the library computer to open several news pages.
"So, there were no reports of her giving birth, nor any news of an abortion?"
Heiji began to ponder.
"If everything is true, then everything seems to make sense."
"Heiji, do you mean that this shareholder was looking for this actress who had already retired?"
Kazuha asked.
"No, I think it's more likely that he was looking for this potentially existing child."
Takato said, opening another report.
"Nishikawa was revealed to have hired a lawyer to draw up his will half a year ago, so some people speculate that his physical condition may already be dire."
"Coupled with this severe car accident, he probably knows his days are numbered," Heiji said.
"So, in this situation, wanting to find his illegitimate child before he dies is not impossible," Kazuha said.
"But in that case, the inheritance distribution would be problematic."
Heiji revealed a knowing smile.
"With an extra illegitimate child, the distributed inheritance will naturally be less. The editor-in-chief, as a priority heir, naturally doesn't want to see this happen."
Takato explained, "And this car accident caused Mr. Nishikawa to be admitted to a private Hospital that outsiders find difficult to access. Unable to care for himself, his communication with the outside world now naturally goes through his son, the editor-in-chief. In such a situation, to let the outside world know that he wants to find his illegitimate child, he can only choose this method of a secret code."
"Indeed, if that's the case, it's very possible. But if so, it will be difficult for us to contact Mr. Nishikawa and learn more information, as almost every move of Mr. Nishikawa is under his son's surveillance," Heiji said.
"Then perhaps we can settle for the next best thing and ask that director," Takato suggested. "After all, to publish this graffiti, it must go through that director, as he is the one responsible for reviewing it."
"But, do you have a way to enter that private Hospital?"
Kazuha suddenly mentioned, "Didn't you say that private Hospital is very difficult for outsiders to access?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Kazuha say that, both of them were a bit dumbfounded. If they couldn't even get into the Hospital, then it would be out of the question to find anyone.
After thinking for a while, Heiji was the first to come up with a solution.
"That's right, didn't the Police also go to the Hospital to question them? We just need to ask Officer Otaki…"
"When do you plan to go? It's almost evening now, and we have school tomorrow. Besides, didn't the report also say that the actress later went to Tokyo? Do you still want to go to Tokyo to investigate?"
Kazuha objected to Heiji's idea.
"Uh… that's true."
Heiji couldn't refute, "However, if it's just about finding someone, Detective Brother, you should go. I'm more interested in murder cases."
Takato expressed his agreement, almost forgetting that they were still high school students, and this case was essentially his promotion challenge. If he relied too much on others, he might fail the challenge. He would have to figure out the rest himself.
Walking out of the library, it was already dark.
Under the night, the evening breeze blew gently, feeling a bit cold on his body. Takato clearly felt that the day-night temperature difference was a bit large today. The cold wind teased Takato's nose, and then he couldn't help but—
"Achoo—"
Takato sneezed, and then felt his nose seemed to be blocked, and he felt cold all over—a cold?
Thinking about staying up late last night to tackle the household registration system, he might have been too tired, leading to a decrease in resistance and giving the virus an opportunity—but this feeling of a cold was really bad!
"Detective Brother? Do you have a cold?"
Heiji asked when he saw Takato's condition.
"Yes, I probably caught a bit of a chill last night, and it's acting up now. It's fine, I'll take some medicine and sleep it off," Takato said.
"Then wait a moment, I know there's a good medicine sold nearby, I'll go buy it for you."
Heiji said, and then ran out, while Kazuha next to him showed a puzzled expression.
"Strange, I don't remember there being a pharmacy nearby?"
Soon, Heiji ran back, holding a paper cup, and handed it to Takato.
"Detective Brother, drink this. Then sweat it out and you'll be fine."
Takato didn't decline Heiji's kindness. He took the paper cup and drank it, then he choked—this spicy taste! There was no mistake! It was white liquor!
Suddenly, Takato remembered that in the original work, when Heiji first saw Conan with a cold, he also gave Conan alcohol to drink. This guy wouldn't really think that making people feverish and sweat by drinking alcohol could cure a cold, would he! It's over, now he can't even take medicine!
"Wait a minute, Heiji, what did you give Mr. Akechi to drink?!"
Kazuha smelled the strange odor of the liquid in the cup and asked.
"Oh, I got it from a nearby pub owner, a Chinese liquor called 'Baigan' (white liquor). It's very effective for treating colds!" Heiji said.
"What?! How can you give alcohol to someone with a cold?!" Kazuha said, a little angrily.
"It's okay, I'll find a hotel to rest for a bit. A cold will get better quickly! And I don't feel too bad right now," Takato said, still feeling a bit speechless about Heiji's actions—Forget it, there's no time limit for the promotion challenge anyway, so I'll just rest today.
"Are you really okay? Do you want to go to the Hospital?"
Kazuha asked worriedly, then glanced at the culprit, Heiji.
"Don't be so dramatic, I'm not a child. If it really gets to that point, I'll go to the Hospital myself."
After repeatedly telling Heiji and Kazuha not to worry, Takato bid them farewell and found a nearby hotel to rest.
Lying in bed, he thought about how Conan had temporarily returned to Shinichi Kudo after drinking white liquor, and he really should thank Heiji for that.
As he thought this, Takato felt his body getting hotter and hotter, and soreness began to spread throughout his body—suddenly, his entire being shook violently with a thud.
This heartbreaking feeling!
At this moment, Takato was completely stunned—Oh, right, the original body died after taking APTX4869!
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