39: No Matter How Skilled You Are, a Bullet Can Take You Down

"Mother, I genuinely just like Leonora as a person."

"It's not because there's something wrong with me psychologically."

"My mental health is perfectly fine."

"If there were really something wrong with me, how could I have gone to China to study martial arts?"

"In China, learning martial arts starts with learning how to be a good person."

"China would never pass on its traditions to someone with a flawed character or mind."

"I've also studied psychology on my own, and my level of understanding is more than enough to match a university graduate."

"I'd have no problem becoming a criminal psychology expert for the FBI."

"After all, I've already passed the FBI's online qualification exam."

"They even sent me an invitation for an in-person interview."

"Otherwise, why would Ryouko-nee keep trying to recruit me as her sidekick?"

Akira Sawamura explained exhaustively, providing examples and evidence to prove his point.

"Even though Mom doesn't usually act like a proper mother."

"She doesn't fit the traditional image of a mother in either China or Japan."

Sawamura Sayuri felt like she'd been shot out of nowhere.

"But my senior sister's mother, Aunt Tsubaki, is a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko."

"I've been a disciple of the Busujima family since I was young. My senior sister's home is like my own."

"Aunt Tsubaki has watched me grow up."

"To me, she's like a second mother."

"I'm very aware that I don't have an Oedipus complex."

"Otherwise, why wouldn't I have confessed to Aunt Tsubaki?"

The purple-haired Yamato Nadeshiko standing next to Busujima Saeko twitched her lips, clenched her teeth, and felt equally furious.

Why didn't the boy she'd watched grow up have feelings for her?

Instead, he fell in love at first sight with some foreign woman he'd just met?

Was this discrimination?

A crazy thought instinctively popped into Busujima Tsubaki's mind.

She believed she was in no way inferior to that foolish woman from Northern Europe, Leonora.

Besides, she had also trained in the Busujima family's swordsmanship.

Her looks and figure hadn't changed since her youth.

Her husband had long passed away.

They were both widows.

So why did Akira call her "Auntie" but call Leonora "sister"?

This was just too unfair.

"Mother, my junior brother often has moments of stupidity. Please don't take it to heart."

Busujima Saeko, seeing her mother's darkening expression, covered her face and tried to console her.

*Junior brother, you idiot!*

*Why are you being so dense again?*

*You made this mistake before, and now you're doing it again!*

*You call Tsukasa Managi 'Auntie,' my mom 'Auntie,' but Leonora 'sister.'*

*No normal woman would tolerate such double standards.*

*You're on your own now.*

"Akira, wouldn't it be nice to be my sidekick?"

"With your talent and the support of JACES, you could probably become the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency before you're thirty."

"It's one of the only two institutions in Japan, alongside the military, that holds the authority to use force."

"Unlike the military, which needs authorization from the Prime Minister and the Diet to act, the police can operate freely in urban areas."

Yakushiji Ryouko smirked, her eyes gleaming with ambition as she spoke.

"Akira, you'll have to choose a path eventually."

"Have you thought about how you want to live your life?"

"With your reputation as the master of the Tai'a Sword, joining the police would be the best choice for you."

"The annual physical exams for the police include either judo or kendo."

Seeing Akira's thoughtful expression, Yakushiji Ryouko pressed on with her persuasion.

Akira stroked his chin, deep in thought, while his eyes inadvertently glanced at Suzuki Ayako and Suzuki Sonoko.

This world was about to welcome a certain "Detective Conan."

After all, Sonoko would be starting her second year of high school after spring break.

Joining the police after graduating high school did seem like the best option.

"You're right, Ryouko-nee. That makes sense."

"Only the police can legally carry guns."

"This world is just too dangerous."

"No matter how skilled you are, a bullet can take you down."

"Compared to using a sword, it's much more convenient to just carry a gun."

Akira nodded in agreement.

But his reasoning left everyone feeling utterly baffled.

"You, the master of the Tai'a Sword, are saying something like this?"

"Isn't this a bit too absurd?"

Yakushiji Ryouko couldn't help but吐槽.

"I've said it many times before."

"I practice swordsmanship for self-defense and to stay fit."

"I'm a peace-loving person."

"I don't like fighting and killing."

"Besides, when I was a kid, I couldn't get my hands on a gun!"

"What else could I do besides practice swordsmanship?"

"You're Koko's only brother. Are you telling me you couldn't get a gun?"

"I mean, I couldn't legally carry one."

"Ryouko-nee, who's Koko-nee?"

Suou Yuuki ran over and clung to Yakushiji Ryouko's arm, pouting and acting cute as she asked.

"My intuition tells me she's someone very important to Onii-chan."

"You're right, Yuuki."

"Ryouko-nee, don't you dare say it."

"She's an arms dealer and a global shipping magnate."

"Akira's decision to become a police officer is largely because of her."

Everyone: "..."

This answer left everyone speechless.

Is this the social circle of a once-in-a-generation genius?

Even an international arms dealer and shipping tycoon is part of it.

Isn't this network of connections a bit too complicated?

"Ryouko-nee!"

"Akira, don't be mad!"

"Even someone as broad-minded as me couldn't help but feel upset when you confessed to Leonora."

"How is that the same? If I dared to confess to you, you'd drag me to the city hall to get married the next second."

Akira couldn't help but tease.

He didn't dare confess to Yakushiji Ryouko.

Otherwise, this older single woman would drag him to the altar.

"Oh, and by the way, Koko, like Leonora, has silver-white hair."

"Because of his own white hair, Akira seems to have a special fondness for girls with silver-white hair."

"Ah, it's a shame my chestnut hair will never turn white."

Yakushiji Ryouko pretended to sound melancholic, but her tone was clearly teasing as she dropped this bombshell.

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