And so Conan left, and vacation ended, and we started going to school again. However, I became a bit worried about the Mori Detective Agency without Conan, so I started visiting more often. I mean, without Conan, Kogoro really was nothing, so I couldn't help it. As for me, I was happy to see Ran more often anyway.
And finally, a penthouse was purchased in Manhattan, New York, under Morgan's name. It was an enormous price of 33 billion won. That's about the same price as my yacht. The location was the top floor of a 55-story building near the Empire State Building. It was newly built, and security was thorough, with guards always on the first floor.
Moreover, there were four rooms, so even if people came to visit, they could stay comfortably. I also touched up the interior a bit, changing the door locks and remodeling the bathrooms, paying careful attention to detail.
'The AI really earns money quickly.'
There was a reason I bought a house in a tall building with good security. Because I was active mostly in Japan, I was away from home often. So rather than a house, I bought a penthouse with higher security. And I obtained an Japanese investment visa, so I could now stay in Japan comfortably.
'It seems there won't be any issues with Morgan now.'
Because of this, my assets also changed. Since my existing assets were also invested together, quite a lot of wealth had accumulated. It seemed I no longer had to worry about money.
But lately, Haibara had started nagging me to go out more often.
"I want to go to Tokyo Disneyland."
"Really? Then let's go this weekend."
I thought about calling Ran too, but wasn't sure how Haibara would react, so just the two of us went, rode rides, and had a great time. Haibara's expression brightened, as if her sulking had eased a bit.
"Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, it was fun. But is it okay to go out this often?"
"What does it matter? We're not office workers."
"I suppose that's true."
We played until evening, ate dinner, and returned home.
Two months passed like that. Strangely, once Conan disappeared, homicide crimes decreased significantly. I wondered if he really was a shinigami. Still, for cases that required deduction, I faithfully tagged along and gave easy-to-understand hints, allowing Kogoro to solve them safely.
Morgan had been getting his pilot's license lately. Since he had a lot of money now, he planned to buy an airplane under Morgan's name as well. So he was getting his license, but there was the hassle of mandatory flight hours and moving up from lower grades to higher grades. But since he wasn't going to fly very large passenger planes and just wanted a lower grade, he decided to get it without hacking. So Morgan lived going back and forth between Japan and America, and because of that, whenever Morgan went to the US, Sonoko caused a bit of a fuss.
And there was an unexpected change. Kogoro's deductive skills were improving day by day. I really hadn't expected this, but my guess was that the [Teacher] ability had taken effect on Kogoro.
'I suppose, following him around, giving hints, and pointing out things he missed...'
It was truly fortunate. Because Kogoro had been taking up quite a bit of my time, I thought about just passing on the [Genius] ability, but now it didn't seem necessary.
'He's still a bit lacking, but soon Kogoro will become a true detective.'
It wasn't intentional, but it seemed like a very good change.
Anyway, as we were living like that, one day at school, Ran came to me with a worried face.
"Jin, Dad wants to see you for a bit."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"I don't know. He wouldn't tell me. It seems like something serious..."
"Really? Then let's go together after school."
After school, we went together to the Mori Detective Agency. Kogoro welcomed us warmly and suddenly told us to get in the car, so we drove together.
"Dad, where are we going?"
"The hospital."
"Eh~? You're going to the hospital?!"
"Yeah... We're on our way to get the test results now."
Hearing that, Ran said with a worried face.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I've been feeling sluggish lately. I went to the hospital for tests, and the doctor said to bring my family too..."
Hearing that, Ran seemed quite surprised.
"Th-Then..."
"Yeah. I don't know what kind of serious illness it is. So I called my son-in-law too. If something happens, there's no one as reliable as my son-in-law."
I knew what was going on but stayed quiet. Then Kogoro said to me with a serious face.
"Just in case something happens to me, take care of Ran, son-in-law."
"Understood."
We arrived at the hospital and were waiting to hear the test results from the doctor. Kogoro fidgeted restlessly inside the hospital. Ran sat next to me, also feeling anxious.
"Mouri Kogoro-san~"
"Ah! Yes, yes. That's me."
We went into the examination room. Then the doctor looked at the chart and said.
"Mouri Kogoro-san..."
"Yes..."
"From now on, six months..."
"Yes??"
"I understand how you feel, but for at least six months..."
Then Kogoro grabbed the doctor by the collar and said, greatly flustered.
"Doctor! This is no way to do things! To just come out and say I have only six months to live!! If it's that serious an illness, shouldn't you quietly tell the guardian or something!!??"
"Huh? Serious illness? There's been a misunderstanding. I meant to say, for the next six months, please moderate your drinking..."
"What??!! Alcohol???"
I had seen the original, so I knew what was going on and had a hard time holding back my laughter. At any rate, the doctor continued his explanation.
"Yes, based on your blood tests and abdominal ultrasound, it seems you have alcohol-induced liver dysfunction. It's not serious yet."
Hearing that, Kogoro sighed in relief and sat back down.
"Hah... You should have said that from the start. You really scared me... And I called the kids for nothing..."
"I thought a drinker like you would need family support to moderate your drinking. At any rate, please reduce your alcohol intake and give your liver a rest at least once a week."
Hearing that, Ran smiled and said to the doctor.
"Understood, Doctor. I'll make sure he quits forever."
"Ran..."
Just then, the examination room door opened and a middle-aged woman came in and said to the doctor.
"Honey, it's Sukita-san on the phone. He wants a house call..."
"Oh dear... Again? What a troublesome patient... It's just a simple stomach ulcer, but it's neurotic..."
Saying that, the doctor was about to leave the room when I quickly asked.
"Excuse me, Doctor. Are we done here?"
"Yes, you can go now."
We immediately paid and left the hospital. There was a reason I hurried out of the hospital. Soon, the hospital doctor would be murdered. The culprit was the doctor's wife. The current wife was his second wife after remarrying. The doctor, who liked women too much, had caused his first wife to become an alcoholic, disguised her death as a drunk driving accident, and then married his second wife. But even so, the doctor didn't learn his lesson and had another affair.
The second wife had known about the affair but endured it. But one day, while cleaning, she happened to find the first wife's diary and learned the whole truth. She had been friends with the first wife. She could no longer forgive the doctor and decided on revenge. That was the whole story of this episode. In the end, a man who deserved to die died, so I hurriedly left the hospital to avoid getting involved for no reason.
'These kinds of cases don't make money and are just a hassle, so pass quickly!'
After paying at the hospital and coming out, Ran suddenly said.
"Jin, let's rest a bit at a nearby café before going."
"Yeah, let's do that."
I already knew that Ran needed to use the bathroom. Because if she went to the bathroom, it would take time and we'd get more involved in the case.
We went to a nearby café, had a drink each, waited a bit for Ran to come back from the bathroom, and then returned to the Mori Detective Agency.
"Honestly, I was really worried because you called the family, but it's a relief that you just need to drink less."
Kogoro sighed and said. Then Ran nagged him.
"Your liver is that bad, it's not okay. Quit drinking from now on. Jin, don't bring Dad any alcohol as gifts. Got it?"
"Haha, got it."
Then Kogoro said with a sad expression.
"That won't work... The gifts my son-in-law brings sometimes are expensive liquors..."
"Endure it!"
"Sob..."
After that, whenever I visited the agency, Kogoro would sneak a drink while watching Ran's eye. I could see the alcohol content in his body with [Clairvoyance]. Still, I didn't bother telling Ran. He was definitely reducing his drinking.
Several months passed like that, and winter came. But lately, it seemed Haibara was having nightmares frequently. One night, she pounded on my door late, so I went out, and she said she came to check if I was okay.
"What kind of dream made you do that?"
"As I told you before, there's a guy in the organization who uses the same name as you, right?"
"Ah, you mean Gin of the Black Organization."
"Yeah. Lately, I've been having frequent dreams that he comes and kills you, and then me too..."
Haibara seemed to have worsening PTSD related to the Black Organization.
"That means I've become a precious person to you now."
Hearing that, Haibara blushed and was flustered.
"Wh-What do you mean... Why does it suddenly become that?"
"Well, until now, you had nothing to lose. You didn't have nightmares either. But now you're afraid that I might be killed by the Black Organization. That fear is appearing in your dreams."
"..."
As if I had hit the mark, Haibara remained silent.
"I'm happy that you think of me as family, but you don't need to worry. When I hold a sword, there's no one in this world who can defeat me."
"Family..."
"And besides. The Black Organization has probably seen the commercials you and I did together. But the fact that they haven't come to catch you suggests a high possibility they don't know it's you. So you can rest assured."
"Hoo... I suppose that's true."
"So, just in case you ever see the Black Organization, don't panic and just pretend not to know."
"Okay."
Hearing my words, Haibara seemed somewhat relieved.
A few days passed. Since it was snowing outside, I decided to eat out with Haibara after a long time. When I suggested it, Haibara readily agreed.
"It's nice to see snow after a long time. Is there anything you want to eat?"
"Hmm... Then I want to eat that thing we had before, haemul pajeon (seafood scallion pancake)."
"Really? Then let's go to Shin-Okubo."
We drove the Hessler to Shin-Okubo and ate haemul pajeon together. The price was reasonable too. I knew that haemul pajeon was normally expensive, so I went prepared, but it was about 10,000 Korean won per pancake. That was about the same as in Korea.
We ordered four pancakes. Haibara ate about one and a half, and I ate the rest. Haemul pajeon is a dish that's hard to fail if the ingredients are fresh, so we both enjoyed it.
After eating, we rested for a while, then received autograph requests, signed them, and were driving back to Beika Town in the Hessler.
Then suddenly, Haibara was shocked as if she saw something and said.
"Gasp! It's Gin from the organization! Gin came to this town!"
I turned my gaze in the direction Haibara was looking and saw an old car, a 'Porsche 356A', parked on the roadside.
"Oh~ He has good taste. Driving an old car like that."
"This is not the time to admire! Let's go home quickly."
Haibara urgently hit my arm and urged me.
"Good grief, I know. If you panic too much, you might get caught."
"Th-That's right..."
I took Haibara home first. Then she went into her room and didn't come out. She seemed afraid that her dream would become reality.
'There's no need to be that scared...'
As a joke, I transformed into a middle-aged, pot-bellied man. I took a tow truck out of my inventory and drove to where the Porsche was. Fortunately, it was still there. So I started hooking the Porsche up to the tow truck.
Just then, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around, and there stood a tall, silver-haired man in black clothes and a large, lantern-jawed man with scowling faces. They were Gin and Vodka.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
"Can't you see? This is a no-parking zone. I received a report and I'm towing it."
"I'll say this nicely. Put that car back down. It'll be better for your well-being."
Hearing that, I picked my ear and said leisurely.
"Ah~ Take that up with the police, and don't bother me while I'm working!"
Then Vodka suddenly threw a punch at me as I was towing the car. I turned my body, lightly deflected his fist with my palm, and then immediately slapped him back and forth a few times.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"What a damn troublemaker! Throwing punches out of nowhere! If you have a complaint, take it to the police!"
Vodka couldn't take it and tried to pull out his pistol, but Gin stopped him.
"Brother?"
"You idiot! Look around."
Because I had shouted, a crowd had gathered to watch. Even for the Black Organization, it was difficult to pull out a gun and kill someone in such a public place.
At any rate, I finished hooking up the car, got into the tow truck, and then loudly said to Vodka, whose cheeks were red from my slaps.
"Don't go around throwing punches like that. Live right!"
Leaving those words, I drove the tow truck away. Gin and Vodka, dumbfounded, could only watch the tow truck disappear.
I went to a deserted place and put both the Porsche and the tow truck into my inventory.
"Ufufufu! This car is now mine. I can do whatever I want with it."