Manhattan, New York, America. A luxury apartment.
Vermouth leaned against the window, dressed in a fiery red short skirt. Her fair, long legs rested on the balcony, and her feet looked exquisite, her toenails painted in bright polish.
Beyond the window was the bay, green waves shimmering under the light. Across the water, the towering buildings of New York's downtown skyline stood tall.
An eerie children's melody echoed from the coffee table. Vermouth frowned, extinguished the lady's cigarette in the ashtray, stretched her legs, stepped down from the balcony, and picked up her phone.
"Boss."
"A key member lost contact in Japan? She has intel on agents from various countries?"
"Got it. When I get to Japan, I'll coordinate with the other Organization members to investigate."
With a gentle press of her finger, the call ended. Vermouth's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Boy, looks like we're finally going to meet again."
...
"Conan, a new Aquarium just opened in Tokyo! Want to go together this weekend?"
On the streets of Tokyo, several elementary school students were walking along the roadside, chatting excitedly.
Ayumi's eyes sparkled as she looked up at the giant screen on a tall building showing the Aquarium's grand opening and shouted in excitement.
"Sure..."
Conan responded weakly.
Ah, hanging out with elementary school kids and retaking elementary classes every day was killing him.
Genta put an arm around Conan's neck and grinned, "Hey, Conan, why do you sound so reluctant!"
"Ow ow ow, take it easy, Genta! Why would I be unwilling? I'm just not feeling great!"
Conan sulked inwardly.
He never expected that even after shrinking, he'd still be bullied by elementary school kids. And you, Genta, you're just fat!
"Huh? Not feeling well? Are you okay, Conan?"
Genta quickly let go, and Ayumi and Mitsuhiko also asked with concern.
"Haha, I'm fine, really. Just didn't sleep well last night."
Conan scratched his head and gave a silly laugh.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a car parked nearby. His pupils contracted slightly.
That's... a Porsche 365A? The license plate... That's right. It matches the one Martini told me belongs to that Black Organization member, Gin!
Conan didn't expect to run into this car in such a huge city like Tokyo.
His mind whirred. He didn't trust Martini at all. In fact, the guy might be using him to take down Gin.
But even knowing he was being used, could he sit back and do nothing?
No. With his personality, or rather, Kudo Shinichi's personality, he could never ignore a chance to gather intel on the Black Organization.
Sherry had threatened his family. He couldn't get anything more out of her. He couldn't let this lead slip.
With that, Conan quickly found an excuse to trick the others and sent Genta, Ayumi, and Mitsuhiko away.
Once they were gone, he quietly slipped into the parking lot.
"Alright, no cameras here. I remember back in Hawaii, Dad taught me several ways to unlock these old cars from the outside."
"Okay, done."
Conan swiftly picked the lock of the Porsche. He pulled out a tracking bug, stuck it under the seat using chewing gum, then gently shut the door and wiped away any traces.
As someone used to solving cases with minute clues, he naturally understood the importance of leaving no evidence.
The Organization is terrifying. He couldn't afford to be exposed.
Leaving the parking lot, Conan spotted a McDonald's on the second floor of the building across the street. Perfect. He ran in, bought some food, and sat by the window to wait.
He didn't have to wait long. Two men in black appeared in the parking lot.
Wait, those two... they were the same guys from the amusement park. The ones who gave me that drug. That's Gin!
Conan clenched his fists. Just seeing them made his blood boil. If only he could charge down and confront them head-on.
Gin was extremely sensitive to being watched. As he walked through the parking lot, he paused and looked around.
Vodka asked, "Boss, something wrong?"
"I've got a feeling... someone's watching us."
"Someone's watching?"
Vodka was startled and began scanning the area too.
Conan immediately ducked his head and focused on eating fries.
"This guy is terrifying. I only stared for a few seconds, and he already noticed."
Thankfully, Conan now looked like a kid. Gin searched around but didn't see anyone suspicious. He got in the car with Vodka.
Conan quickly activated the switch on his glasses, listening in on their conversation.
The Porsche pulled out and drove off into the Tokyo streets.
Inside, Gin lit a cigarette and said, "Rum issued a new order. His confidant, Curacao, has gone missing."
"Gone missing? She betrayed us?"
"Not sure yet. Rum sent her to steal key intel from the CIA and Japan's Public Security Bureau. She had some sensitive data on her. Whether it's betrayal or something else, we need to find her."
"But, Boss, Tokyo's huge. Where do we even start? And if she flew out of Japan already, it's gonna be a pain to track her down."
"Her last known location was near the Aquarium. We'll begin searching there. Vermouth is flying in from America. Kir, Chianti, Korn, and other official members are coming too. An elite team is already in Japan."
"So many people? Sounds like a major operation."
Vodka, who was driving, got excited.
"How's that helicopter I asked for?"
"Boss, couldn't get an Apache, but I did secure an Osprey."
"An Osprey, huh? That works too."
Gin nodded.
Last time, at the pharmaceutical lab in the Tokyo suburbs, he'd been shaken by the appearance of an Apache.
Now that he had an Osprey, he finally felt less vulnerable.
But just thinking about that incident made Gin's face darken.
The casualty report was out. Based on intel from an undercover in the Tokyo MPD, Sherry's body wasn't found at the scene.
In other words, Sherry might still be alive.
"Heh. Sherry... hmm?"
Gin suddenly sensed something. He reached under his seat and pulled out a small bug.
He stared at it for a few seconds, then crushed it with a cold snap.
Vodka's face changed. "Boss, someone bugged us? Who?"
"No idea. But if they could plant a bug in my car, they're not amateurs. Don't waste energy looking. Anyone who's our enemy... just kill them all."
Gin's tone was icy.
In McDonald's, Conan's glasses cut off.
"What a monster. He found the bug that fast. But I've already got enough intel."
Conan murmured to himself, excited, "...Vermouth, Curacao, Rum, Kir, Chianti. They're all named after alcohol. And they're going to search the Aquarium? Then I need to go too."
Just knowing the codenames wasn't enough. Conan wanted to figure out who these people really were.
"But it's too risky alone... Fujiwara is CIA. If I could share this info with him... no. Sherry is always around him. If I tell him, she'll find out for sure."
Conan grimaced. That twisted woman who created the drug... if possible, he really wanted to lock her up and throw away the key.
...
Tokyo, North District. Living room of a Western-style house. The TV was broadcasting the news.
"Famous Hollywood actress Chris Vineyard will soon arrive in Japan to promote her new film..."
Toru sat on the sofa, drinking coffee as he looked at Vermouth's photo on the screen.
At the bar, Haibara paused her typing and teased, "Smitten by the beauty of the big star?"
"I know her."
"You know Chris Vineyard? Don't tell me she's your old flame."
Haibara's voice was full of jealousy.
Heh, nailed it. But if I told you she's Vermouth, I wonder if you'd drop dead on the spot.
Toru chuckled silently.
But the thought of Vermouth coming to Japan gave him a serious headache.
She was troublesome. As passionate as she was in bed, she was that much harder to control. Impossible, even.
And if she found out Haibara was here...
"Buzz buzz—"
His phone vibrated. It was a message from Mizunashi Rena.
Soon after, other CIA agents in Japan sent similar messages.
Toru picked up the remote and changed the channel.
"A serious car accident occurred early this morning on a bridge in Tokyo. Six deaths and seventeen injuries have been confirmed so far. Authorities are still verifying the full casualty count."
Toru put down his teacup, frowning deeply. "Rena confirmed that the one who stole the CIA intel is Curacao from the Black Organization... but she's missing."
"Besides reporting this to me, she must have informed HQ. Looks like they're planning a response."
Sure enough, the CIA's main office sent a message:
[Kir may be compromised. If necessary, abandon her. I'll call you later.]
Toru's expression turned grim.
Looks like the information stolen included full details on Rena.
And the CIA wasn't even considering rescue. That was the fate of spies—once exposed, you're dead.
"I think I remember this incident..."
"Haibara, I'm going to the Aquarium the day after tomorrow. You stay home. A lot of people from your Organization are going to show up."
"No. I'm going with you. There's no way I'm staying home."
Toru suddenly remembered—Vermouth was coming to Japan.
And she knew his address. If she showed up at the house while he was out at the Aquarium...
He might come home only to find Haibara's body.
Haibara looked puzzled. If the Aquarium was crawling with Organization members, why take her?
Toru gave a rough explanation.
The moment she heard the Organization might come knocking at their door, Haibara started trembling like a leaf.
She made up her mind then and there—starting today, she wouldn't leave Toru's side for even a moment. Not even at night. She'd sleep in the same bed with him, under the same blanket.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)