Chapter 8: The So-Called Great Detective Kogoro Mouri

“Taking you to meet Yoko is no problem,” Gao Mo’s eyes brightened the more he thought about it, as he fixed a probing gaze on Kogoro Mouri. “But you’ll have to cover the expenses.”

He could have dismissed Kogoro and investigated alone, but on one hand, it was awkward to charge an acquaintance, and on the other, Yoko’s agency might not even recognize him.

There was a risk he’d be casually brushed off; from what he remembered, Yoko’s manager was difficult to deal with and had long held grievances about Yoko maintaining contact with him.

“Really?” Kogoro Mouri’s face lit up with delight, his eyes sparkling with a fanatical gleam. “No problem, no problem. Hehe, as long as it’s for Miss Yoko, I’ll do anything!”

Anything…

Gao Mo’s eyes gleamed as well, nearly unable to resist shaking this guy down. Struggling to suppress his extra thoughts, he said, “First, take me back to my apartment by taxi.”

He was a man of principle; there was no need to get money through such means.

Besides, Kogoro wasn’t exactly flush with cash.

“And,” Gao Mo coughed lightly, “you’ll give me the entire fee Yoko pays later…”

Before Kogoro could glare at him, Gao Mo added quietly, “I can get you a one-of-a-kind autograph from Miss Yoko… or I can go alone.”

“Well…”

Kogoro’s mind briefly wrestled between temptation and reason.

The fee and Miss Yoko — obviously, the latter was more important.

If he refused, he’d get neither.

Beloved Miss Yoko…

Damn it, this brat had him right where he wanted!

“Make sure the autograph says — ‘To Mr. Kogoro,’” Kogoro stared hard at Gao Mo.

“Deal!”

Gao Mo grinned and shook hands.

Cash was tight, so earning a little extra was harmless and wouldn’t trouble Yoko too much.

Even if he didn’t say it, Yoko would surely sign for Kogoro.

“With the famous detective Kogoro Mouri involved, Miss Yoko’s case will be a piece of cake, right?”

“Of course! Ahahaha!” Kogoro basked in the praise, shedding all irritation as he chuckled triumphantly. “Just wait and see my skills; no one will harm Miss Yoko on my watch!”

Gao Mo was pleased too.

He hadn’t even landed a job yet but had already made some extra money.

With Kogoro’s current fame, Yoko’s agency would probably offer a fee between 50,000 and 100,000 yen, with the higher amount being more likely.

They were one step closer to their small goal.

“Come on!” Kogoro hailed a taxi, more anxious than Gao Mo.

Though he wasn’t too keen on paying the fare.

“Really, the money Ran gave me was supposed to buy beer… You used to be a big star, so why don’t you have your own car?” Kogoro grumbled.

Not only no car, but he acted stingy too… How could someone like that be friends with Miss Yoko?

It was utterly unfair.

“Usually, the agency arranged the car,” Gao Mo said regretfully.

The other guy actually had a driver’s license but lacked a car.

After wrapping up a case that morning and returning to his apartment, he had been enviously staring at Rei Furuya’s white sports car.

Rumored to be a high-end model with modifications costing over six million yen.

Possibly even equipped with special police authorization.

…

“What a splendid building!”

A high-rise apartment.

Kogoro helped carry some groceries down from the taxi, marveling before even entering the elevator.

“No wonder you were an idol; you live in such a luxury apartment… 16th floor, the view’s nice too. How much is the rent?”

“I own it.”

“Ah?”

From the hallway window, the Tokyo nightscape stretched out, with the Tokyo Tower clearly visible. Kogoro was stunned, unable to look away.

He had thought Gao Mo was proud when he was frantically shopping at the supermarket, but never expected he was secretly wealthy.

The slump in property prices didn’t affect prime locations like this.

Any apartment here probably started at 60 million yen; Gao Mo’s three-bedroom surely exceeded 100 million.

He’d never afford that in his lifetime… Even with business improving recently, the agency hadn’t saved much in past years.

“Ugh!”

Standing before room 1604, Kogoro suddenly felt constrained, awkwardly waiting for Gao Mo to emerge.

No matter how stingy Gao Mo was, earning that much was an achievement.

Wealthy people often had quirks.

“Let’s go.” Gao Mo glanced at Kogoro after closing the door.

He envied this guy in a way — inheriting a standalone commercial-residential building, located decently next to a shopping street.

The top floors housed his detective agency, while the lower floors could be rented out.

Rental income alone brought in a good sum yearly.

“Kogoro-san, keep Yoko’s matter confidential. We must investigate discreetly,” Gao Mo reminded him.

“Shh!” Kogoro looked around with exaggerated caution. “Don’t worry, with me, famous detective Kogoro Mouri, this case will be foolproof… By the way, what exactly are we doing first?”

“We’re going to meet Yoko. Seems there’s a stalker involved.”

Gao Mo checked a message from Yoko Kouno on his phone.

He recalled Yoko’s place wasn’t far from here and was also a high-rise apartment — her secret residence.

After meeting, they’d check that place; the stalker might be lurking nearby.

…

“Hurry! Yoko’s over there!”

At the agreed meeting spot, Gao Mo and Kogoro had just stepped out of the taxi when a wave of screaming fans nearly swept them up.

Through the frenzy, they spotted a slender actress in a pink dress hurriedly getting into a car, shielded by a few people.

It was Yoko Kouno with her manager and assistant.

The moment the car started moving, more fans surged forward, passing by Gao Mo, chasing after it.

The roar was like an ocean tide, shaking the ground; even Kogoro was shaken.

It had been a while since Yoko Kouno’s rise, and her popularity had only grown.

“There! That car!”

“Yoko—!”

“There’s a popular drama featuring Miss Yoko airing right now,” Kogoro lamented, “If only we’d come sooner, maybe I could’ve run away with her… to protect her.”

“What nonsense? Let’s head the other way.”

Gao Mo pushed the eager Kogoro back into the taxi.

Meeting Yoko now was impossible; they’d first check her secret residence and agency nearby. With luck, they might catch the stalker.

“Sorry, Senpai Kido,” Yoko called soon after, “I’m in a bit of trouble…”

“No worries. I’ve enlisted the help of detective Kogoro Mouri. We’ll head to your place first.”

“Thank you so much. I haven’t been sleeping well lately, and I have new appointments… I’ll have my manager meet Kogoro-san and send the case details…”

“Just send the case details directly to me.”

After getting Yoko’s precise address, Gao Mo hurriedly left with Kogoro.

Yoko’s residence was also in a high-rise but less central than his own.

…

Probably for privacy reasons.

“Is this it, Miss Yoko’s place?” Kogoro’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve always wanted to see where she lives. Can we go inside?”

“We don’t have the key.”

Gao Mo was already scanning for suspicious figures.

His hawk-like vision was perfect even at night, clearly picking out environmental details.

Yet, after a thorough look, the most suspicious person was actually Kogoro himself.

If only they had photos, Gao Mo could use his hawk vision’s active ability to lock on targets quickly, even if disguised.

Such supernatural powers attracted malice but not much; from the supermarket incident, short bursts were fine.

“Not allowed?” Kogoro frowned.

“It’s not that; Yoko’s manager will be here soon.”

“The manager?” Kogoro blinked. “So no meeting Miss Yoko? What about my autograph…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get it for you.”

“That’s great!” Kogoro perked up and volunteered, “I’ll check out the area.”

Gao Mo ignored him and checked the latest messages from Yoko Kouno, including full case details and several candid photos.

She asked him to pass them to the detective… Hah, with Kogoro like this, he might as well investigate alone.

Kogoro was just a figurehead.

However…

Receiving candid photos, silent calls, and furniture being moved around — would a stalker go this far?

If it were just a fan or reporter, they wouldn’t go beyond simple stalking.

Gao Mo’s expression grew thoughtful.

He felt that besides the stalker, there was another person — someone intimately familiar with Yoko and harboring resentment.

Looking up at the apartment building, an image of a woman flashed in his mind…

He remembered who she was — Yuko Ikezawa.

A fellow entertainer who debuted alongside Yoko, Gao Mo had met her several times.

Her signature wavy hair and mocking smirk when smoking left a strong impression. At a recent party, she sarcastically said, “An idol’s shelf life is only three years.” She was quite snobbish.

This woman appeared in the anime too, apparently jealous after losing a drama role to Yoko, and had threatened her in revenge.

Secretly, she stole a spare key to Yoko’s home and snooped around for scandalous material, trying to ruin Yoko and regain her own fame.

This woman was likely the one harassing Yoko now.

The stalker must be someone else…

A sudden flash of insight struck Gao Mo, memories piercing his nerves.

Could it be connected to the suicide case from the original anime?

In “Detective Conan,” Yoko’s high school ex-boyfriend, driven by love and hate, committed suicide in her apartment, nearly ruining the rising star.

So this was no ordinary stalking incident.

“Let’s go! Upstairs!”

Gao Mo acted swiftly, hailing Kogoro to follow the residents up the building.

He couldn’t recall all the details but, judging from Yoko’s description, the stalker was likely that ex-boyfriend.

It was possible the stalker had already found Yoko’s residence.