“Kohn, let's go!”
“What's wrong?” Kohn looked at Chianti in confusion.
He had just gone on a mission with Chianti yesterday.
Shouldn't it be their day off today?
“Gin was beaten up again! Let's go pick them up. You know he doesn't trust peripheral members.”
“……”
Kohn's expression was subtle.
The silent, brooding man didn't say anything, just silently followed Chianti out the door.
But he also felt a bit of pity for Gin in his heart.
Kohn knew that Gin had taken Vodka on a mission today.
But what happened?
Has this guy Gin been having some bad luck lately?
Getting beaten up on missions every day?
Should I go to a temple in Kyoto to pray for him?
And Chianti, now our boss is beaten up, don't be so happy.
Meanwhile, Gin, injured in Nagoya, was hiding with Vodka.
Waiting for Chianti and Kohn to arrive.
Originally, they could have contacted Tequila, who was stationed in Kansai.
But he had temporarily gone abroad to complete a mission originally assigned to Vermouth.
Because the boss had sent Vermouth back to investigate the black mist man who attacked Gin.
Gin had not informed any of the peripheral members in Nagoya or the surrounding cities.
Just like Chianti said, he didn't trust them.
Like the FBI, with Akui Shuichi, and the Japanese Public Security.
They were always trying to capture the renowned Gin.
Gin had executed many undercover agents from among the peripheral members.
How could he trust these peripheral members?
————
“Vermouth!”
“……” Vermouth's tone was a bit strange, “Gin, from the sound of your voice, you're injured again?”
Gin fell silent immediately.
Vermouth knew she was right and chuckled.
“That man, he appeared again!” Gin ignored Vermouth's mocking laughter.
“Oh? Is he my target?” Vermouth became a bit serious.
Based on the current clues, it was still difficult for her to investigate and find the target.
She only knew that the strange man shrouded in black mist, who Gin mentioned as his attacker,
was the first time anyone from the organization had encountered him.
But since the target had appeared again, it meant her mission would progress.
Because whether it's a person or an event, as long as it leaves more traces in this world,
there is a chance to trace it back to its source.
“Yes, and I got robbed of the reward from this mission.”
Gin could now calmly talk about his mission failure.
Even over the phone.
Vermouth could guess that the cold, ruthless Gin on the other end of the phone had a hint of sigh and weariness on his face.
“……”
After a moment of thought, Vermouth speculated, “Perhaps that man isn't an enemy of the organization, but someone you've offended?”
After all, from what she currently knew.
The strange man shrouded in black mist.
His first appearance was to attack Gin on a mission.
And his second appearance was again when Gin was out on a mission.
Besides, at this point, none of the other members with codenames in the organization, not even the peripheral members,
had been attacked.
To say he had a grudge against the organization, targeting the organization, perhaps not.
Maybe Gin had offended someone himself.
Vermouth continued calmly, “Of course, this is just my speculation. I will continue to investigate, after all, this is my mission.”
“……” Hearing Vermouth's analysis, Gin fell silent.
“I understand. If there is a third time, then perhaps it is indeed what you speculate.”
—————
Following the address, Akitsuki Makoto, accompanied by Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko,
headed to Minagawa Katsuki's house for the Valentine's Day party.
“That's so scary! Thank goodness Makoto-san and Ran are okay!”
In the car, Suzuki Sonoko was about to ask Mouri Ran if she went to Arashiyama, the place she had mentioned, when she went to Kyoto.
But then she heard Mouri Ran talk about the Shinkansen bomb case in a depressed tone.
Later, it took some time for Mouri Ran and Akitsuki Makoto to help the Kyoto police with the investigation.
Fortunately, the surveillance footage at Nagoya Station captured Gin and Vodka leaving with their luggage, as well as Conan trailing them.
Based on the surveillance footage of the black briefcase Gin originally carried when boarding the train.
The suspect was confirmed, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
For the bloodstained Gin, it was just another drop in the bucket.
After all, he was already on the list of the Japanese Public Security.
“Anyway, it's all thanks to you, little devil.”
Suzuki Sonoko laughed and praised Conan for discovering the bomb.
“How about it, shall I introduce you to a few elementary school daughters? Save you decades of trouble, huh?”
“Hehe... I really appreciate that, Sonoko.” Conan twitched the corner of his mouth.
Speaking of the bomb incident.
Akitsuki Makoto also glanced at Mouri Ran.
It turned out that she had already noticed that Hirai Eri had lost her stockings on the train.
She was too embarrassed to ask Hirai Eri directly, but when she left Kyoto later.
She still used her phone to inquire.
Hirai Eri was originally worried about being discovered by Kuriyama Midori, but instead, she was discovered by her own daughter.
She was so ashamed that she turned red in the face.
Fortunately, she couldn't see it over the phone.
So she simply lied and said she had accidentally pulled a run in her stockings, which looked unpresentable, so she took them off in the restroom and put them away.
Mouri Ran knew that stockings sometimes get runs, and it would be awkward to go out in them like that.
So she didn't think much of it.
Afterwards, Akitsuki Makoto was bombarded with angry text messages from Hirai Eri.
She said she was going to teach Akitsuki Makoto a lesson, canceling their Valentine's Day date tonight and having Kuriyama work overtime at the office with her, who was single.
It's already bad enough that Kuriyama is single, and now she's making her work overtime.
Akitsuki Makoto decided that for tonight's Valentine's Day date.
He would bring the gymnastics uniform he had ordered to Hirai Eri's office to find her.
To rescue the overworked Kuriyama.