Detective Conan: Primary School Student, Help Me Become a chaebol!

Megure Jūuzou was stunned.

Obviously.

He had never expected this matter to involve public security.

In hindsight, he realized he had overthought the situation.

"So that's it."

"Manager Matsumoto, I'm really sorry."

"Sorry!"

In response, Matsumoto Kiyonaga waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to elaborate further.

Clearly, he understood how easily this matter could be misunderstood.

After a brief hesitation and a deep breath, he spoke in a low, serious tone.

"No more, no disclosure."

"I can only tell you that the forces behind this case have long been under the watch of public security."

"Today, you've probably already glimpsed how terrifying and reckless they are."

"This case isn't something the Metropolitan Police Department can handle."

"Do you think a small pistol can go up against a sniper rifle?"

"This ends here!"

Megure Jūuzou nodded solemnly.

After taking a deep breath, he adjusted his hat and left the office.

Later, just as he was about to head home after his shift, Takagi Wataru hurried toward him.

"Officer Megure, we've received a report."

"A kidnapping case!"

Hearing this, Megure Jūuzou sighed deeply.

Here we go again!

He silently lamented that it seemed getting off work on time was an impossible dream. Taking a deep breath, he straightened up and gave the inevitable order.

"Let's go!"

When the team arrived at the scene in their police cars, Megure saw the last person he wanted to encounter.

Mouri Kogoro.

The next day.

Li Ze woke up feeling invigorated.

With no school to attend and having already asked Alice to start recruiting staff, he grabbed two bottles of wine and prepared to visit Mouri's detective agency.

There was no other way.

With Kudou Shinichi turned into a child and the story's plot about to unfold, if Li Ze wanted to stay in the orbit of the Grim Reaper's peculiar luck, he had to establish a relationship with Mouri Kogoro.

Today was the perfect opportunity.

And since Ran had helped clean his place yesterday, he had a reasonable excuse to drop by and express his gratitude.

Half an hour later.

Knock, knock, knock!

Reaching the second floor, he knocked on the door.

Ran opened it, looking surprised to see Li Ze standing there with a gift in hand.

To be honest, she hadn't taken his words seriously when he'd mentioned last night that he'd visit to thank her.

After all, she had only helped with some cleaning.

"Mr. Li Ze, please come in!"

"You don't need to be so polite; I didn't do much yesterday."

"Take a seat. I'll make some tea."

Xiao Ran bustled about, gesturing for Li Ze to sit on the sofa before introducing him to Mouri Kogoro and heading to the kitchen to prepare tea.

Watching this unfold, Li Ze couldn't help but admire the scene before him.

Indeed, he had to admit.

Ran Mouri was the picture of a perfect wife and mother, someone who, while perhaps unable to assist with major matters, could manage a home impeccably, freeing her partner of such concerns.

Kudou Shinichi truly didn't know how lucky he was.

"Hey, kid."

Mouri Kogoro walked over and clapped a hand on Li Ze's shoulder. "You're not interested in Ran, are you?"

Li Ze froze for a moment.

He wasn't unfamiliar with Mouri Kogoro.

After all, he'd been attending Teitan High School for over six months and had visited Ran's house a few times before.

But this was the first time the older man had been so direct.

Still...

When he noticed Conan stumbling out of his room, groggily rubbing his eyes, Li Ze couldn't help but roll his eyes mischievously.

"Alright, no problem!"

"Ran, did you hear that? Your dad thinks I'm more reliable than Kudou."

"How about considering me instead? Just kick that unreliable Kudou to the curb and be my girlfriend. Deal?"

He was joking, of course.

Having lived two lives, Li Ze had developed a thick skin, and teasing like this was second nature.

On the other side, Ran's face turned bright red. "Dad, what are you saying?"

"Ah, I think it's a great idea!" Mouri Kogoro shrugged. "Li Ze is polite, has a good personality and looks, and, most importantly, he's a dependable person."

"I like him better, anyway. Much better than Kudou Shinichi."

"I don't know why you'd bother with someone as unreliable as Kudou."

"Frankly, I'm not a fan!"

His reasoning was solid.

Mouri Kogoro wasn't foolish; he understood the truth of the matter.

No rational parent would approve of Kudou Shinichi's impulsive, thrill-seeking personality. Despite being an excellent detective, he was reckless and immature in the eyes of an adult.

Sure, Kudou Shinichi's family was well-off, so he didn't have to worry about finances. But without his parents' wealth and support, how would he survive? It was unlikely he could make a stable income from detective work alone.

In comparison, Li Ze, who had worked his way up from nothing, was leagues ahead.

And since Li Ze had no issues with Kudou Shinichi's premature love life, Mouri Kogoro half-joked and half-seriously endorsed the idea.

Conan, meanwhile, stood there dumbfounded.

What the hell was going on?

Am I still dreaming?

Li Ze, that shameless bastard, is trying to steal my girlfriend already?

Furious and jealous, Conan temporarily forgot he was a child. Without thinking, he rushed at Li Ze, grabbing him and shouting, "Li Ze, you bastard! Ran is mine!"

"What did you say?" Li Ze pretended to be shocked.

Feigning confusion, he added, "Conan, you're not suggesting..."

Both Ran and Mouri Kogoro turned their attention to Conan, eyes wide with shock.

Realizing his mistake, Conan's brain kicked into overdrive. After a long, awkward silence, he stammered, "I mean..."

"Ran belongs to my brother Shinichi."

"Yeah, that's it."

"Haha... ha."

He forced a laugh, trying to defuse the situation.

Mouri and Ran heaved sighs of relief at the explanation.

But when Conan glanced back at Li Ze, his gaze burned with suspicion and rage.

Li Ze, unfazed, smirked internally while maintaining a confused expression.

"Did Shinichi really say that?"

"I don't recall him mentioning it."

"Anyway, I don't remember anything like that. My apologies!"