Downstairs from the apartment.
Gao Mo reluctantly parted with some money to buy something to fill his stomach at the 24-hour convenience store.
He had only one feeling.
So expensive.
Passing by the supermarket where he used to work, he saw it had already reopened for business. Not only had the customer traffic not decreased, it had actually increased.
As expected of the Conan world. They're used to cases, right?
Gao Mo peeked his head in for a look.
Because it was an alternating day work schedule, he only saw the other shift's employees. The cashiers were two young girls who looked like students.
All the visible staff were also female.
He heard that the manager for this shift was a middle-aged woman, as strict as a nun, who would temporarily manage both shifts until a new manager arrived.
Truly strict indeed.
Gao Mo shook his head and didn't pay any more attention.
He was going to a regular supermarket, which was a bit further away.
Unlike the convenience store downstairs and this international supermarket, ordinary supermarkets focused on low prices and family purchases, suitable for stocking up, but their locations were more remote.
...
Suburbs.
By the time he arrived, the sun was already beginning to set.
What made Gao Mo uncomfortable was a group of fierce middle-aged women quickly swarming around him, armed with numerous reusable bags, clearly sharing the same idea.
In the world of Conan, buying discounted goods was a science, and also a war.
Gao Mo was well aware of his current physical condition. He couldn't even stand a whole day at the checkout counter, making it difficult to compete with these experienced and energetic housewives.
However, it wasn't without opportunity.
His main targets were those cheap breads nearing their expiration date.
The idol version of him was quite frugal with food and had been here many times, so he had experience in this regard.
The main battlefield at 7 PM was fresh food, followed by daily necessities—consumables like toilet paper and laundry detergent—which would be subject to hoarding-style panic buying.
Bento boxes, sushi, and the like were also quite popular, but that would be for the next wave. Their shelf life was short, so he'd have to see how things went.
"Hmm?"
A group of people were guarding the discount section, waiting for the supermarket announcement. Gao Mo and a mustached figure on the other side stood out somewhat.
They made eye contact but realized they weren't competitors.
The mustache was eyeing the discounted beer.
"Mouri Kogoro?"
Gao Mo recognized this guy.
His smug laughter during TV interviews was too unforgettable; it was hard not to remember.
Coincidentally.
The day he was resurrected was precisely the day Mouri Kogoro's career took off.
The previously struggling Mouri Detective Agency had recently shown signs of improvement. It probably wouldn't be long before he became a famous detective.
"It's starting!" A clamor arose from the crowd, their breathing a bit heavier.
Some people suddenly left, seemingly having received news of even lower discounts at other supermarkets.
The veterans just maintained a smirk.
Once you've set your sights on a target, don't change it easily. Indecisiveness will only lead to getting nothing in the end.
Some people were secretly pleased, apparently having spread false information in their social groups.
"The time is now... Price reduction begins!"
As supermarket employees stocked the discounted goods, the housewives swarmed forward, rushing straight for their targets. Once they got their hands on something, they didn't linger, immediately running to other sections as if rushing between venues.
Mouri Kogoro, however, was unhurried.
No one was competing with him for beer. He walked with the air of an emperor, until he slipped and took a nasty fall.
He scrambled up awkwardly, pretending nothing had happened, then immediately scowled, clearly displeased with Gao Mo's suppressed laughter.
What are you laughing at? Isn't it just a fall?
Gao Mo ignored the mustache. At the same time the housewives were panic buying, he had already activated his 5-second Eagle Eye Vision. His eyes glowed faintly, taking in all the surrounding details.
Dust motes in the air, lint... chaotic information that ordinary people would never notice all imprinted in his vision.
Fortunately, Eagle Eye Vision was, after all, a supernatural ability. The massive influx of data didn't overload Gao Mo's brain; instead, it brought him into a heightened state along with it.
The housewives' movements all slowed down, and their intended targets became crystal clear.
Without needing the full 5 seconds, Gao Mo instantly found the optimal path, weaving through the fierce crowd, and easily obtained his targets—two large bags of near-expiry bread and a pile of dirt-cheap instant noodles.
All near-expiry items in the instant food section were half-price, a paradise for those on a tight budget.
Most of the housewives had gone to the fresh food section first, so there weren't many people competing with Gao Mo either.
"Get some more eggs, to supplement nutrition."
Eagle Eye Vision ended prematurely. Gao Mo still felt a bit dizzy and quickly grabbed the last carton of eggs.
Perfect!
"This kid..."
Mouri Kogoro rubbed his eyes, observing with suspicion for a moment. He actually saw an air of ease about Gao Mo: "This kid is a bit uncanny."
What kind of person would display such masterful skill in supermarket panic buying?
It was simply inexplicable.
Casually grabbing a few packs of beer, Mouri Kogoro strode towards the checkout counter.
There was no need to rush; the supermarket was just a place he occasionally came to stock up.
"The second hurdle." Gao Mo's gaze swept back and forth between the long queues at the checkout counters.
He had also been a cashier and knew that a short line didn't necessarily mean a fast queue.
He had to choose a queue that wasn't too long or too short, and preferably judge the cashier's proficiency. There might be a slacker like him among them.
The clearance sale lasted for an hour, so he actually had plenty of time.
But he needed to check out now to prepare for the next wave of panic buying.
The supermarket was so far away; he didn't want to come every day.
Moreover, today's discounts were bigger than usual. There was also an additional limited-time discount at the checkout: 20% off for the first 40 customers.
Which line to choose?
Gao Mo carefully observed the cashiers ahead. Suddenly, a cold shiver ran up his spine. He turned his head and saw a middle-aged woman in the fresh food section glaring fiercely at the eggs in his hand.
That familiar feeling of death again...
No, it's just a carton of eggs. Does this woman want to kill someone?
Gao Mo couldn't understand it. Just then, Mouri Kogoro happened to pass by, and he quickly thrust the eggs into his hands.
The effect was immediate. The next moment, he saw the middle-aged woman leave reluctantly and throw herself into other panic-buying endeavors.
What was going on?
Could it be because he had just used a supernatural power?
Gao Mo took the eggs back from the mustache's arms. This time, it didn't attract any commotion.
Mouri Kogoro looked like a dazed goose: "?"
What does that mean?
...
A quarter of an hour later.
Checkout counter.
Gao Mo's expression was numb. Mouri Kogoro, following behind him, also looked annoyed.
After all that analysis, he unexpectedly ended up in the slowest line.
The cashier wasn't the problem; the people in the queue were.
Someone in front had suddenly started arguing for some reason.
Buzz!
It was finally Gao Mo's turn. The discount for the first 40 customers had long since ended.
Just then, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
"Hold on."
While paying, Gao Mo freed a hand to answer the call.
Yoko was finally calling.
"Senior Kido," Okino Yoko's voice was weary, tinged with fear. "Do you know any reliable private investigators? I think I've been stalked recently. I've received a bunch of candid photos, and yesterday when I was jogging at night, someone chased me. I'm really scared..."
"Yo-Yoko?"
Behind him, Mouri Kogoro stood frozen in place, dumbfounded.
It was his favorite Yoko's voice... Although he couldn't hear clearly, there was absolutely no mistake!
As Okino Yoko's super fan, drama fan, and loyal audience member, he couldn't have misheard...
"You know Miss Yoko... Wait, you seem to be that has-been idol named something Mo?"
Countless scenarios instantly played out in Mouri Kogoro's mind, as if struck by a bolt from the blue.
"You-you two are secretly dating?!"
"You misheard."
Gao Mo looked at the housewives around them who were pricking up their ears. After arranging to meet Yoko to talk, he hurriedly paid and left the supermarket.
Okino Yoko was currently very popular; no scandals could be allowed to spread.
He, even more so, had no intention of using Yoko to make a comeback.
Whether for his own integrity or his life...
"Wait!"
Mouri Kogoro, forgetting even to buy his beer, chased after Gao Mo, his face pale and sweaty.
"I couldn't have been mistaken! You participated in a show with Yoko before! My daughter even has one of your posters hidden away!"
Gao Mo paused at his words.
The mustache's daughter, wasn't that Mouri Ran?
Conan's older sister Ran... was also a fan of idols?
Honestly, he didn't think there was anything about his idol self that could attract Ran.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Mouri Kogoro gritted his teeth, almost grabbing Gao Mo's collar regardless of the occasion.
Damn brat, not only did he corrupt his daughter, now he was here to harm his beloved Miss Yoko.
"If I were dating Yoko, would I be here fighting for discounted bread?" Gao Mo turned back helplessly. "We're just friends."
"That seems to make sense," Mouri Kogoro remained skeptical. "But... you're going to see Yoko now, right?"
Before Gao Mo could deny it, the mustache suddenly transformed, putting on a fawning, lewd smile: "Um... can you take me with you?
Don't worry, I'm definitely not a suspicious person. To tell you the truth, my identity is actually the famous detective Mouri Kogoro, and also Miss Yoko's loyal fan..."
"No." Gao Mo refused decisively.
"Oh, come on, help me out, please."
Kogoro pleaded in a low voice, trailing beside Gao Mo.
"I heard everything. You're looking for a reliable private investigator... Yours truly is definitely the perfect choice!"
"Heh heh."
Gao Mo thought of this guy's performance in the anime.
He had a built-in intelligence-lowering aura, often dragging the surrounding police down to his level of case-solving.
He was rarely reliable.
Bringing this guy along would just cause trouble for Yoko...
Wait.
Gao Mo re-evaluated Mouri Kogoro.
Why bother looking for another detective? He could totally use the mustache's name to get a commission fee from Yoko's agency.
He would do the investigation himself.
With Eagle Eye Vision, he wasn't afraid of not finding clues.
"What's wrong?" Mouri Kogoro was taken aback by the look.
He had a bad feeling...