Chapter 26: Gao Mo the Murderer

"Sorry."

Kogoro Mouri stepped back to avoid the camera, standing beside Yoko Okino’s manager, Eiichi Yamagishi, while making sure to cheer for Kido.

"Go for it, Kido! Don't get stage fright now!"

"Good luck, Mr. Kido!"

"You can do it, big brother Kido!"

Ran and the others called out nervously. Nachi, who had already changed into his costume and was ready for his grand entrance, turned dark-faced, deeply dissatisfied that he was not the center of attention.

"Just a bit player, and yet so arrogant?" Nachi shifted his anger toward Kido with a cold snort. As the clapperboard snapped shut, he was the first to enter the frame.

He wasn't just any ordinary handsome idol; because he specialized in television dramas, he was considered second to none in his field. Compared to Kido’s bearded murderer, he felt he was undeniably more attractive.

Moreover... Nachi gave a subtle, devious smile.

Kido, who was making his first appearance since retiring from acting, would surely struggle to get into character quickly. All it would take was a few small tricks to force Kido into a retake. A couple of retakes wouldn't affect the shooting schedule, but it would be enough to get Kido scolded by the director and thoroughly humiliated.

"Hah!"

The scene began. Nachi followed the script, tossed an offering into the shrine’s box, and bowed sincerely. Just as he was plotting how to sabotage Kido, a strange chill crept up his back, as if someone were blowing onto the nape of his neck.

He waited, gritting his teeth, but no one picked up their cue—the murderer played by Kido was supposed to hold him at gunpoint at this very moment.

"What the..."

Thinking he was being toyed with, Nachi turned around in annoyance, ready to complain to the director, only to have his field of vision suddenly filled with the face of the sinister, bearded man.

The gaze was so calm, so detached, that it felt like standing before a predatory lion or tiger.

He had been right behind him the whole time.

In that moment, Nachi even forgot he was filming. He stood frozen, stiff, and felt a cold sensation between his legs. "D-don't kill me!"

"Shh!"

Kido tapped Nachi’s pale cheek with the prop gun, feeling as if a new world had opened up to him. Playing a villain was actually quite interesting.

"Don't speak. Hand over the money!"

"Y-yes..."

Flustered, Nachi forgot he was acting. He tremblingly pulled out his wallet and then collapsed to the ground, only snapping back to reality when the director shouted, "Cut!"

It turned out Kido’s bearded character had snatched the wallet, bringing the first scene to a close.

"Excellent, Kido!" the director said, unable to hide his delight. "Great acting! Nachi, your performance was also outstanding—an exceptional effort, very realistic!"

"O-of course, my acting, the handsome Shingo Nachi..."

Nachi’s expression was unnatural. As he prepared to climb to his feet, he suddenly stiffened and instinctively squeezed his thighs together.

"Director, I’m not feeling very well. Can we film the second scene later?"

***

"Fine. Then let’s finish Kido’s parts first, and try to get him wrapped up by tonight." The director acted as if he had found a hidden gem, becoming increasingly impressed with Kido’s bearded look the more he saw it.

That aura of a ruthless, hardened criminal was simply divine; it even made him feel that using Kido as a bit player was a waste of talent. To put this much effort into a bit role—he was truly a professional.

...

The first day of filming went very smoothly, and everyone was in high spirits, except for Shingo Nachi. As the scene where Yoko Okino accidentally kills Nachi’s character concluded, the day’s work wrapped up perfectly at sunset.

"Thank you all for your hard work."

The director draped a towel over his shoulder and looked toward Kogoro Mouri, who was hovering around Yoko.

"How was it, Mouri-sensei? Is there anything that needs adjusting?"

"Adjusting? The script is already perfect, especially Miss Yoko’s performance," the mustachioed detective said, eyes only for Yoko. "This film is going to be a rare masterpiece!"

"We owe all of this to Mr. Mouri for being willing to serve as our consultant."

"Exactly! It’s only because of the famous detective Kogoro Mouri that things are going so smoothly. This film will surely benefit from your reputation, Mouri-sensei!"

"Not at all, not at all... Hahaha!"

At the small pavilion by the shrine, Kido was removing his makeup with the help of Taeko Mayugaki. Listening to the mustachioed man’s smug, oblivious laughter, he felt the same urge to roll his eyes as Conan beside him. Only that guy would take such transparent flattery at face value without realizing it was all just courtesy.

However, Kido was also quite pleased. Once his scenes were finished, the glowing text that had been silent for days appeared once more.

[Career Achievement: First appearance in a television drama. Reward: 1 Star.]

A small, unexpected surprise.

Besides cases, the profession itself had star rewards. They were small, but they provided a new way to gain them. Including his previous accumulations, his storage pool now held 12 stars.

He hadn't fully mastered "Shooting Guide" yet, but the stars were already in hand. He was only 8 stars and 3 more career roles away from reaching Actor Level 2.

He had already checked the requirements for upgrading Detective Level 2: it required mastering a Level 4 detective book. The difficulty was too high, and it wasn't an urgent upgrade, so he didn't need to consider it for now. Unless he gained a combat-related profession, his best strategy was to concentrate all his resources on the Actor path.

...

"Yahahaha!"

A strange, jarring laugh suddenly rang out behind Kido. It was Anzai, the cameraman, who had come over to pack up his equipment, his skull-themed watch on his left wrist beeping incessantly.

Taeko Mayugaki, who was still helping Kido remove his makeup, jumped in shock, her body stiffening like a frightened rabbit.

"It’s just my watch alarm," Anzai said, showing off the watch with a grin. "Funny sound, right? I picked it up when I went to the US last month."

Taeko kept her head down, her face pale with terror, her fingers clutching her kit even tighter.

***

After removing his makeup, Kido intended to ask Taeko for some tips on makeup techniques, but he saw her walk over to Anzai and say something, causing a smug expression to spread across Anzai’s face.

A faint memory stirred in his mind.

This was an original case from the anime: "The TV Crew Murder Case."

The victim was this cameraman, Anzai, and the murderer...

Kido calmly looked at Taeko Mayugaki, who was greeting her fiancé, Yuji Shimazaki, with a happy smile.

Was it the makeup artist?

With her wedding imminent, what could possibly drive her to murder?

"Brother Kido!" Conan pulled on the corner of Kido’s sleeve. "Look over there!"

Kido followed his gaze and saw Anzai approaching Shingo Nachi, who had just changed out of his blood-stained costume. The flamboyant star looked terrified, his reaction even more exaggerated than Taeko’s had been.

Whatever was said, the two of them walked toward the small woods behind the shrine.

"This guy..."

Kido’s brow furrowed. Anzai seemed to notice him; before entering the woods, he licked his lips, his eyes filled with the mocking gaze of a predator looking at a fat sheep.

A guy like this was nothing but a troublemaker. Even outside the world of Conan, the outcome for someone like him would likely be no different.

"Great work, Kido!"

The director arrived at the pavilion with Yoko’s manager, Eiichi Yamagishi, to pay the previously agreed-upon fee, while also signaling an intent to scout him.

"Have you considered returning to the industry? We could work together on my next drama. A supporting role shouldn't be a problem; I actually have a script with a crime theme."

Eiichi Yamagishi was also intrigued. He only had Yoko Okino on his roster right now, and he could easily take Kido on. Judging by his performance today, a comeback was entirely feasible. He might even return to his former heights, or perhaps climb even higher. It helped that Kido and Yoko already had a good relationship...

"I’m not planning a comeback," Kido refused with a shake of his head. "For now, I only plan to do bit parts—uncredited, background roles."

Unless he possessed the masterful makeup skills found in the Conan world—the ability to change his appearance and create a new identity entirely, like Vermouth—it was impossible for him to step into the public eye.

"No comeback?"

The director and Yamagishi couldn't understand, assuming Kido was still traumatized by the past.

"Alright, then. But don't head back tonight. We’re staying at the Beika Hotel nearby; there’s a banquet tonight."