"Hakuba Saguru?"
Fujino recognized the blonde teenager instantly.
It was Hakuba Saguru.
He remembered that this Hakuba Saguru was supposed to be one of Kaito Kid's arch-rivals.
"My pocket watch is only off by 0.001 seconds per year."
Hakuba Saguru put away the pocket watch he was holding.
He addressed Nakamori Ginzo and the lined-up officers: "If you would be so kind, please use my time as your reference."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the reporters stationed nearby swarmed him.
Amidst the continuous flashing of cameras, the reporters began interviewing Hakuba Saguru.
Completely forgetting their purpose for being there today – to broadcast the live capture of Kaito Kid at the crime scene.
"What 0.001 seconds? And we're supposed to coordinate based on his time? Isn't this guy way too arrogant?"
Nakamori Ginzo frowned, somewhat repulsed by Hakuba Saguru's smug demeanor.
Recalling that Fujino seemed to have mentioned the arrogant boy's name earlier.
He inquired, "Fujino-kun, do you know that smug blonde kid?"
"Can't really say I know him."
Fujino waved his hand.
"I've just seen reports about him in the newspapers before. His name is Hakuba Saguru; he's also a high school detective."
"Ah, so he's a high school detective."
Nakamori Ginzo had a moment of realization. "No wonder he's so full of himself."
In his eyes, all high school detectives acted smug.
Except for Fujino, of course.
Personally, he didn't dislike Fujino much.
He was composed, not arrogant, and had even offered him several ideas for capturing Kaito Kid.
Even though he hadn't used any of those ideas.
"Inspector, you don't know Hakuba Saguru?"
An officer in a gray suit nearby looked surprised.
"Hakuba Saguru is the high school detective who returned from England. I remember his catchphrase is something like: 'I only have one question: Why did you do it?'"
"Just a pretentious fellow. He even has a catchphrase? Isn't he embarrassed? Bad guys do bad things; they don't need reasons!"
Nakamori Ginzo grumbled.
He paused, thought for a moment, then muttered, "But speaking of which, that surname Hakuba... why does it feel familiar?"
"Hakuba Saguru's father is Superintendent General Hakuba of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department."
Fujino reminded him.
"What? He's the Superintendent General's son?!"
Nakamori Ginzo's face was full of astonishment upon hearing this.
"Inspector Nakamori, you didn't know?"
The officer in the gray suit looked questioningly at Nakamori Ginzo.
"How would I know these things?"
Nakamori Ginzo sighed.
"Dealing with that Kaito Kid fellow all day is headache enough. Do I have spare time to think up countermeasures against him too?"
"Hahaha, this young officer is correct. That boy, Saguru, is indeed my son."
Just then, a voice came from behind.
Fujino turned and saw a portly middle-aged man walking towards them.
The man wore the uniform of a high-ranking police official, with four cherry blossom insignia pinned to his shoulder boards.
Fujino recognized those insignia; they indicated the rank of Superintendent General of the MPD.
The Superintendent General of the MPD...
That must be Hakuba Saguru's father, Superintendent General Hakuba, right?
"I apologize for the trouble, Inspector Nakamori. My boy Saguru kept insisting he wanted to see Kaito Kid's true face, so I brought him along."
Superintendent General Hakuba walked over.
As he spoke, he noticed Fujino standing beside Nakamori Ginzo.
"Speaking of which, Nakamori, I don't recall seeing such a young officer before. Is he newly transferred?"
Fujino was currently wearing a black suit, his expression and aura exuding a sense of composure.
Standing among a group of police officers, if no one mentioned it, most people wouldn't realize he was a detective.
"A young officer?"
Nakamori Ginzo paused, surprised, followed the Superintendent General's gaze to Fujino, then introduced him:
"This isn't one of our MPD officers, but the high school detective, Fujino. He's here this time at the request of Director Arima, specifically to assist us in protecting the Bronze Statue with Violet Eyes."
Fujino greeted politely, "My name is Fujino."
"Ah, so it's Fujino-kun!"
Superintendent General Hakuba's eyes seemed to flash with recognition upon hearing the name.
"I remember you. You're the Fujino who assisted us recently in cracking the Tsukikage Island drug ring case, the library drug trade case, and also busted a counterfeiting gang, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Fujino-kun, so accomplished at such a young age."
Superintendent General Hakuba smiled kindly, praising him, "So intelligent and brave at such a young age. If my boy had half your composure and temperament, I wouldn't have to worry so much!"
Saying this, he glanced at Hakuba Saguru nearby.
"That boy Saguru gets carried away whenever the media interviews him, forgets his own limits. Since returning from London, he doesn't even listen to his old man anymore."
Superintendent General Hakuba sighed softly.
"The reason I agreed to bring him here today was precisely to let him experience failure, to temper his sharp edges... give him a straightforward, heavy blow, make him understand the severity of casework."
"In a little while, I might have to trouble the two of you, Nakamori and Fujino-kun."
Superintendent General Hakuba wasn't worried that Hakuba Saguru would actually catch Kaito Kid.
If he could be caught, he would have been caught years ago.
Even if his dear son somehow managed to catch Kaito Kid by accident, that would also be a good thing.
"Superintendent General, your intentions are truly profound!"
Nakamori Ginzo saluted, saying seriously, "Leave your son to me, Nakamori Ginzo!"
"Leave him to me as well."
Fujino said, then paused, feeling something was slightly off about that sentence.
"With the two of you here, I can rest assured. I have a meeting to attend, so I'll be off."
Superintendent General Hakuba nodded with satisfaction.
Before leaving, he smiled kindly again and reminded the two, "Please look after that boy Saguru."
Watching the Superintendent General's departing figure.
Fujino could understand the meaning behind his actions.
Hakuba Saguru's smug attitude was much like Kudo Shinichi's.
Although it was unclear where so many people came from to die, both had solved hundreds of cases.
With such a track record backing them up, if Fujino's soul were ten-odd years younger, he'd probably be just as arrogant as the two of them.
After all, it's youthful vigor.
If you're not full of spirit, can you even be called young?
But it also depends on the person.
Kudo Shinichi being young and arrogant was one thing; his father was a famous novelist, so he didn't need to worry too much.
But Hakuba Saguru couldn't afford to be the same, because his father was the head of the MPD, one of those standing at the apex of Japan's power pyramid.
Those in high positions are typically composed, calm, their expressions not betraying their inner thoughts.
And just as the Superintendent General said, his purpose in bringing Hakuba Saguru here was to smooth out his rough edges.