Chapter 1: The Police Savior Doesn’t Save Me

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Reaching out, he turned off the alarm clock beside the bed. Kiichi Higashino got up and rubbed his face. Unconsciously, more than twenty years had passed since he crossed over. Compared to many predecessors in novels who suddenly find themselves in inexplicable scenes and must first undergo a round of acting tests, his rare case of being born into this world seemed quite fortunate.

Unfortunately, within a few years, he discovered a popular rookie mystery novelist named Yusaku Kudo, and the elementary school he attended was none other than Teitan Elementary School, the very origin of all things. It was Mihama Town—they were doomed.

Well, actually, although Gotham is nicknamed Little Mihama, it wasn’t completely hopeless. Compared to those who crossed into fantasy realms, high-martial arts universes, or American comics where they constantly face annihilation by various villains wiping out entire bloodlines or planets, this modern city—set in a super-world with thousands of murder cases filmed within half a year and occasional landmark explosions in feature films—might not be the worst fate.

To be serious, apart from a few who crossed into urban or Pokémon worlds, which traveler has a guaranteed survival? Going back was a thought, but obviously impossible in this super-world with its unique ability system.

Before crossing over, Kiichi knew quite a bit about Conan. As someone born in the mid-90s, it was definitely a childhood memory. But many details were vague since he only watched it as a child by renting pirated tapes from an era-specific rental store. After entering middle school, who had time to follow anime? There was a six- or seven-year gap. By university, there were too many series to watch and games to play, so Conan’s priority dropped infinitely.

After all, it was a childhood memory. Occasionally, when bored, he’d glance over someone else’s summaries or watch a few main plot episodes to keep up with new characters and developments. As for the specifics of the cases or the culprits? They were forgotten the moment he turned away.

Of the hundreds of episodes he once seriously watched, aside from a few childhood trauma-level cases, most had been forgotten. Whenever he thought about it, he regretted not memorizing all the episodes by heart, even if it meant sudden death.

Kiichi truly envied those who could recall so many details of the cases from twenty or thirty years ago. He knew plenty of Conan-related memes and was clear on the main character relationships in the Rum arc, but how did the predecessors crossing into Conan’s world remember so much?

Why was it that when others crossed over, they became either shadowy assassins, foresight-wielding masterminds, or puppet masters manipulating both sides, while he ended up with nothing?

No choice—life must go on. Although this world lacks a Soul Emperor who can casually refine the world, making a small mistake often invites passionate Mihama locals eager to teach you the way to death. That was a common occurrence.

Survive.

Survive with quality of life.

Elevate your social status and live with respect.

These became the three-tiered goals after crossing over.

So, the question was: how to survive in the world of Conan?

First, exclude the president, celebrities, and professors. Those roles were downright toxic.

But as one grows up, there must be a job. Whether it was the old villain from ’73 or the main storyline, someone had to hold the line first. When the world returns to normal, life must go on, right?

You might not believe it, but in the world of Conan, despite countless murders flying about, there is one profession that becomes surprisingly safe once the director officially launches.

Being a police officer.

If you survive the time before the director’s transformation, congratulations—you might face shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, bombings, but you will not die, nor suffer irreparable wounds.

Say “Thank you, Conan!”

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And the benefits of being a police officer didn’t end there.

As everyone knows, police officers in Conan’s world can be incompetent or dim-witted. Your only job is to recognize the big boss, and you can get promoted while lying down.

Right, Masami Yamakura?

As for the claim that Masami Yamakura is part of the elite squad—that’s purely fan fiction.

The elite squad starts as assistant inspectors, but Yamakura is not one of them. His promotion was forcibly elevated by the director from being a top-tier quasi-elite to the actual elite squad!

Who else dares say Shinichi Kudo isn’t the savior of the Japanese police?

The director is magnificent!

As long as you’re willing to work hard, if you start in the elite squad, grabbing onto the director’s coattails will surely launch you.

Is the “younger brother fruit” exclusive to Inspector Megure?

On the other hand, everyone knows Conan is a romantic comedy.

If you make yourself known and play the role of a useful tool in front of the director, the director will shoot a love story set in the Metropolitan Police Department for you!

True “assigned wife” package.

Such a wonderful job—forget about this explosive, murder-filled, robbery-and-theft-dancing magical Conan world—did you have that before crossing over?

Decided: the goal was to get into the First Investigation Division!

What? Go to the Second Investigation Division to hang out with Kaito Kid?

Foolish!

Following Lord Kid might be carefree, and the biggest pain might be Kid’s father-in-law pinching your face, but what about the future? The wife? What if you get shot, stabbed a few times, or blown up a bit for a bright future? I have the Death God’s protection—I won’t die!

Decided: get into the University of Tokyo’s law and politics program, hustle into the elite squad, and then have the director guide me!

Though the actual department assignment after rotation might not be your “first choice,” outstanding performance usually factors in personal wishes and abilities.

Of course, besides this, pursuing a police career was also good.

Because this father he crossed over to was in the elite squad, and not long after, Kiichi discovered he had a close senior from the University of Tokyo named Shirama.

Found it! So that’s where it was hanging!

This life, I might actually become a second-generation!

Then, in second grade, both his parents were taken away by a hit-and-run criminal.

Of course, the fugitive was caught on the spot.

Though hellish, the buffs stacked even more...

Afterward, he was taken in by his grandfather and raised in Yokohama.

Later, although Japan’s education was just as intense, he was already used to the grind from his previous life. Moreover, his motivation to live a happy life to the finale far exceeded ordinary people’s, and he finally completed his initial plan.

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Just as he thought that as long as he was careful and lived until the director officially took over, he could relax and be carried—

Something unexpected happened.

Why was there no detective when he followed Megure to a crime scene?

No detective at all! But fortunately, the culprit wasn’t so tied to Conan’s world, and he managed to muddle through.

Next time, again, no detective!

Where was Shinichi Kudo? Shinichi Kudo, save me!

In just a few months of rotating internships and working with the First Investigation Division, he handled hundreds of cases without ever seeing Shinichi Kudo once!

At first, Megure would guide him, but eventually, realizing Kiichi was a strong younger brother-type, he just split up and worked separately.

But why was there no detective when he was around? Whenever Megure led an operation, a high school detective would always appear.

Damn it, the savior only saves Megure, huh?

Where did you buy your “younger brother fruit”? Share the link.

That’s how he earned a nickname.

The ace of the Metropolitan Police Department.

The subsequent development was quite strange. Normally, after completing rotation training, elite squad members are assigned directly to the Police Headquarters’ Administrative Division. When Kiichi first learned this, he was devastated. If he couldn’t get into the First Investigation Division, how could the director protect him?

After finishing his rotation, he was ready to move to the Police Headquarters but was suddenly assigned to a short-term external dispatch to continue frontline work.

This was uncommon but not against regulations and had precedents. Theoretically, after rotation, one might be dispatched to frontline units like the First Investigation Division to gain practical experience. But Kiichi, no longer a clueless newbie, suspected he might have offended someone.

Soon, Shirama personally talked to him, explaining that this frontline assignment was arranged after his negotiation with the Police Headquarters and that Kiichi need not worry about his future.

Kiichi suspected it was because the others in the First Investigation Division were too useless, and Shirama couldn’t bear to let go of someone who could actually solve cases.

The good news: the goal of sneaking into the First Investigation Division was mysteriously achieved, and he was promoted to inspector. The bad news: no one knew if Shirama’s promise to not worry about the future was genuine or just empty words. He could only hope Shirama wouldn’t betray him out of respect for his deceased father.

But it didn’t matter. The decision was made by higher-ups, so he had to accept it. Besides, Shinichi Kudo was already in his second year of high school, and the timeline was about to freeze. Considering Conan’s thousands of episodes and six-month timeline, this “short-term dispatch” inspector role would last quite a while. Combined with the tradition of seniority-based promotion, there was no need to think about promotion before Conan’s big breakthrough.

The superiors had decided: you work hard on the front line!

Looking back at his “brilliant achievements,” he could only say this place, Mihama Town, was uncanny even without the director.

And then, Kiichi Higashino...

Higashino + Mihara Kiichi, huh?

Alright, alright, I’m on the pirate ship now.