The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 271 The Dead Vodka, The Living Vodka, Ai Haibara's Revenge, Ai Haibara's Retreat
On a full moon night, in the central cemetery of the forest on Moonshadow Island.

As the damp sea breeze swept into the dense forest, the gradually thickening moisture made the night fog resemble a layer of silvery-gray gauze, lingering among the tombstones in the cemetery.

"It's just like something out of a horror movie," Vodka couldn't help but complain.

When he looked up just now, he could only see the blurry moonlight as if it were covered by frosted glass; the full moon had turned into a blurry halo.

To be honest, this would make him feel very insecure.

"bass--"

Vodka then picked up the shovel and positioned the blade directly against the white line drawn on the ground.

Then, he stomped on it hard, making the shovel head sink into the soil.

As he looked down, Vodka glanced at Gin lying on the ground out of the corner of his eye—pale-faced and lifeless-eyed.

The dried bloodstain on his chest clearly explained everything.

He was already a corpse.

"I still find it hard to believe..."

Vodka spoke in a low voice, but in the end he just shook his head and lowered his gaze.

Then--

"bass!"

Another shovelful of soil was turned up.

He shook the black soil, still fragrant with the scent of earth, along with the severed plant roots, and left it aside.

On this quiet, dreamlike night, Vodka suddenly felt as if the whole world was not quite real.

"It's like a dream."

Vodka felt as if he were seeing a color other than white for the first time—he could never go back, after all.

He dug out a rudimentary grave from the shallow pit, muttering to himself.

"The case... the passage of time..."

At this point, as if he had suddenly remembered something, his tone suddenly became curious and excited.

"Vermouth, have you ever read any science fiction novels about time travel? They say if we don't go back..."

"Shut up, vodka!"

Gin, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back anymore. He glared at Vodka and tried to shut him up.

Unfortunately, it was completely useless; Vodka is no longer "afraid" of his older brother.

This is also Gin's biggest regret: his status as a cold and aloof older brother has completely disappeared.

“I mean,” Vodka muttered as he continued digging, “if we don’t go back, then Kudo won’t ever run into us, right? That way—”

Vermouth looked at herself lying on the ground, vodka's incessant chatter making her frown.

Unlike the others lying on the ground, Vermouth was covered with a clean white sheet.

The way "Vermouth" lay there made her look somewhat peaceful.

Unlike Gin and Vodka, who lay on the ground covered in blood and with ferocious expressions, she wore a relieved smile.

Calm and silent, as if some long-term task had been completed.

She flicked away a spider that was trying to climb onto "her" body; perhaps she should have brought some insect repellent or something.

“Vodka, maybe I should take Gin’s advice and shut you up for good.”

Vermouth deliberately lowered her tone, but a smile appeared on her lips.

"For example, let the 'obedient you' stay, so you can at least dig the hole faster."

Vodka looked distressed, then turned to Gin and began to appeal to his emotions.

"You can't go back on your word! I risked my life back then..."

Gin had no idea when Vodka had started acting like a comedian. He sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

"She means that the only shovel is in your hands, so—dig quickly, vodka."

"Hey! Yes, sir!" Vodka swung the shovel again. "I'm going to be the first one buried!"

As he swung the shovel, he hummed, "Shut up completely... Shut up completely..."

At this, everyone finally laughed.

And that is also the purpose of vodka.

He wanted to make things easier for everyone—digging up another version of yourself is not an easy thing to accept.

Moreover, even Vermouth couldn't say for sure whether Boss would notice their unusual behavior once they left the island and returned to the Black Organization.

They now know roughly what abilities Karasuma Renya possesses.

Frankly, if they were to face each other head-on, Vodka felt they wouldn't stand a chance.

And there's something else.

Looking at his burly self lying on the ground, Vodka sighed.

Then he glanced at Vermouth, who was leaning against a tree trunk and lighting a cigarette, and Chianti, Cohen, and his older brother beside her.

They stood quietly between the night and the tomb mist, like a rehearsal before the curtain falls.

How absurd all of this is!

Vodka suddenly felt a sense of disgust for his black clothes—even more so than the child for a moment.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have said that.

……

"If you're still not satisfied, then let me die in my brother's place!"

Ai Haibara was stunned.

She saw Vodka standing in front of her, his imposing figure bathed in the moonlight filtering through the woods, his voice resolute, echoing in the small clearing.

"I was the one who fired the shot; it had nothing to do with Gin."

The sound of vodka caused the gun barrel, which was aimed at gin, to turn around.

As he said this, he reached out to pull Gin's trench coat, wanting him to step back behind him.

But he couldn't pull it—

Gin simply stood there, motionless.

This usually cold-blooded man was now staring fixedly ahead, at those eyes burning with hatred, and at that familiar head of long, brown hair.

Gin now felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

"To be precise, I was the one who fired the shot."

Chianti, who was holding a sniper rifle, suddenly spoke up, her tone somewhat bitter, "I was the one who shot Miyano Akemi back then."

Then, to Ai Haibara's somewhat surprised and puzzled gaze, she released the trigger and casually tossed the cold gun to the ground.

"If you want to avenge your sister..."

Chianti turned his head to the side, gesturing for Cohen to also lower the muzzle of his gun that was aimed at Ai Haibara.

"Killing me is enough."

Chianti's last words finally made Cohen speak up, "Hey, hey, it should be me—"

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare to fire a gun?!"

Her anger was almost uncontrollable, and Ai Haibara's voice suddenly became sharp. She pursed her lips tightly, and the sights of her pistol moved back and forth because of the scrambling and "passing the buck" among the people.

She was a little flustered—when did the members of the organization become so close?

"I will kill every single person in the organization later."

She coldly answered the people standing in front of her, trying to make them understand her thoughts and the cause of their impending death.

"It was the organization that killed my sister. No matter who it was, I will not let any of them go."

These words were like a cold knife, leaving Gin feeling not only powerless but also bitter.

What Shirley said was true, and it was a fact that could not be changed.

He remained silent, then suddenly took a step forward.

Then the next moment——

"Oh!"

A gunshot ripped through the night.

"Vodka!"

Gin shouted out somewhat uncontrollably, his voice filled with obvious urgency and panic for the first time.

Ai Haibara instinctively took a step back; just as she was about to pull the trigger, Vodka had shoved Gin away.

"No...it's okay."

Vodka clutched the wound on his waist, slowly sat down on the ground, and forced a smile.

"I should be able to hold on for a while longer."

Even at this point, even though Ai Haibara almost actually killed Gin or Vodka—

No one around made a move.

The two guns that had just been thrown on the ground were still lying there quietly.

No one drew their gun, and no one returned fire.

Instead, there was an intense, inexplicable sadness that was almost suffocating.

"This is their ruse; they have nowhere else to run," Ai Haibara told herself.

She tried to recall those memories, those brief, happy, and unattainable moments with her sister.

“Shiho Miyano, think about your sister—whether it’s Ms. Miyano or Akemi, they both died because of the organization.”

Ai Haibara's gaze hardened once more.

Shiho Miyano raised her gun.

But—but her index finger, which was on the trigger, hesitated to pull it.

Whether it was Chianti and Cohen's act of voluntarily throwing down their guns, or what Vodka just did...

She glanced at Chianti, who was trying to bandage the vodka, then looked up at Gin in front of her.

Gin never avoided her, and he didn't even try to take the gun from her hand.

Ai Haibara slowly scanned the group of people.

"Why did you save me just now, and now... like this?"

She paused, her voice revealing a hint of sarcasm and disgust.

“GIN, don’t tell me you suddenly realized you killed so many people in the past and now you’re having a hard time with your conscience.”

Gin's gaze fell on the vodka lying on the ground.

He suddenly recalled the scene when they climbed from that treacherous beach onto that reef.

At that moment, Vodka ignored his reprimand and loudly and with a smile recounted one embarrassing incident after another that happened when they went on missions together.

The initial purchase of a ticket at the Dorobiga Park involved a disarrayed experience of jumping into the sea and swimming dozens of kilometers, followed by "obediently" queuing at the entrances of crematoriums and funeral homes...

Gin knew that Shiho Miyano had wavered.

In fact, if he let things continue as they were, he might not only be able to keep the plan going smoothly, but also bring back the "vodka" who listened to his older brother.

Gin doesn't want to admit that he's a sentimental person.

But if I do that, this vodka that has now become fond of nagging and complaining;
Vodka, who occasionally sighs and complains about his organizational affiliation;
Vodka becomes humorous, even daring to joke about itself...

This vodka may very well be gone forever.

Gin paused, then, under Shiho Miyano's hateful and confused gaze, he spoke: "Shiho Miyano, you want to know what really happened today—"

"Big brother!"

Vodka, who was still panting, immediately shouted, interrupting Gin, and then gasped because he aggravated the muscles of his wound.

Vodka clearly remembered Vermouth's parting words—

If Shiho Miyano realizes that there is a problem with the timing, all their efforts will be in vain!
Now, Ai Haibara increasingly feels like a "villain" or a "bad guy".

It was as if some unseen force was compelling her to take the "right path"—which was indeed the case.

She pointed the gun at Vodka, who was lying on the ground: "Tell me everything, or I'll..."

The next thing Gin did made her pupils shrink.

Gin pulled his Beretta M92F from his pocket and pointed the muzzle at his temple.

"So what?" he even scoffed. "Kill me or vodka?"

Obviously, you can't threaten someone who isn't afraid of death.

Gin stared at the shrunken "Sherry" before him, the source of his powerlessness.

He didn't want to argue about right or wrong, but a complex emotion—something akin to a sigh—was faintly rising in his heart.

Compared to them, Shirley was much "luckier".

In the original plan, Professor Agasa would drive his other self and Vodka to the castle above the sea cliff.

What they need to do is deal with "Chianti" and "Cohen" sent by the [story timeline] during this period.

After telling them about the plan, Vermouth disappeared.

She's gone somewhere, or perhaps she's dealing with another troublesome version of herself. In her own words—

"You four can surely handle two people, right? So, I'll go find my other self for a 'heart-to-heart' then?"

Gin and Vodka had no objections to this, and Cohen readily agreed.

"Don't worry! Vermouth, there are four of us against just two of them. Besides, do you think Chianti and I don't know our own habits?"

"Just set a few traps, and that'll definitely take care of it!"

Knowing their weaknesses and having an intelligence advantage, taking down another Chianti and Cohen wouldn't be difficult.

—If Ai Haibara hadn't suddenly intervened.

Clearly, they couldn't let Ai Haibara meet with the two "selves" in the [story timeline], nor could they let her chase after them to the trap set in the abandoned port.

There's a submarine there that hasn't been completely dismantled yet, so in the end, it will still be exposed.

Therefore, they had no other choice.

Gin and the others had to find a way to deal with "Chianti" and "Korn" in the forest, which led to them being caught up by Ai Haibara.

The issue of "Sherry" had been repeatedly emphasized in the initial operational plan—especially regarding her safety—and even her psychological safety.

"No matter what, you must not let Sherry develop the idea that you are 'invincible' or cause her any harm."

"Can't I even scare her with a single shot? Just one shot to scare her?"

At that moment, Vodka felt that this was simply too unfair, and he raised his voice.

"If we can't shake her off, we'll just have to let her chase after us?!"

At that time, Vermouth's reply silenced those who had been secretly relieved to have learned the "truth."

after all--

Although no one said it aloud, everyone knew that they did not regret it, and in some ways they were even... somewhat happy.

A kind of happiness that Professor Agasa felt in the past.

Happiness comes from having choices.

Vermouth's cold voice ruthlessly shattered the last remaining illusions in Vodka's and his companions' hearts—the illusion of having a "choice".

"Vodka, Gin, Chianti, Cohen..."

She read out their names one by one, then looked into each of their eyes, meeting the "happiness" in each of their eyes.

“If… I mean if the plan doesn’t go well, if you run into her, can’t shake her off, and she’s going to kill you—”

"Then you have to let her do it."

Vermouth's tone and the seriousness in her eyes told Gin and Vodka that she was not joking.

"This is part of the plan, and I think you all know what the plan means."

The universe has never been fair; some people are simply more important than others, or even much more important.

"Hahaha! That definitely won't happen!"

Vodka tried to ease the tense atmosphere with his "humor".

"After all, our plan this time is so perfect, and it's four against two, how could we possibly lose!"

"Besides, we've already died many times by now."

Vodka tried to make his tone sound casual and nonchalant.

"What's that old Chinese saying again? 'If you walk by the river often enough,'" he thought for a few seconds, then added the second half, "'How can you avoid getting your shoes wet?'"

……

In fact, Vodka had been very excited ever since he learned the truth.

"Brother, does this mean we've betrayed our country?"

His tone was full of sighs, carrying a long-lost sense of freedom.

"Now I'm going to experience what it's like to be a good person, or even save the world."

Even during missions, his questions, those half-serious, half-joking exclamations, would occasionally echo through the communication system:

"You guys think this is real? It's like a dream..."

—For vodka, this was the first time he truly "had a choice".

Now, he lay on the ground, struggling to crawl toward Gin despite the excruciating pain, and Chianti tried to stop him but couldn't.

"Brother--!"

Those bloodshot yet stubborn eyes were filled with pleading and determination.

Vodka's gaze had already told Gin everything.

His final choice.

"Death was my choice!"

He propped himself up and pulled Gin's arm down, his voice revealing an unprecedented anxiety and pleading.

"Brother! I chose to die! I chose to die!"

"Vodka..."

Gin stared at him blankly, opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

He certainly understood his current thoughts.

Just like Chianti and Cohen just did, even... just like himself.

Otherwise, why hasn't he taken any action against Shiho Miyano yet?
"Planning is paramount."

After learning a piece of the "truth" and what the "plan" meant...

For the first time, Gin felt this tearing, helpless pain.

How exactly should he save Vodka?
How could they possibly persuade Shirley, who stood before them filled with boundless hatred?
Everything before her puzzled Ai Haibara.

It's a bit like someone who's in a fit of rage suddenly having their armpit tickled, forcing them to stop their anger.

Ai Haibara felt that everything that had just happened was a little... out of place.

As she watched Vodka's voice grow weaker, a sudden wave of dizziness nearly made her lose her balance.

Especially when her gaze fell on the bullet hole in Vodka's waist from which blood was gushing.

Ai Haibara's hand, which was on the trigger, suddenly seemed to retract slightly.

What did she just do?!

No, that's not right... We can't give up.

Ai Haibara—no, Shiho Miyano suddenly gathered all those remaining memories, hatred, anger, and resentment in her heart.

She gripped the gun tighter.

She went through great lengths to shake off the other members of the Detective Boys and chased them into the forest alone. After Professor Agasa separated from them, she found Gin and the others...

Isn't this the moment she's been working her way up all this time?

but……

She is now "Ai Haibara".

How could Ai Haibara kill someone?!
The scene of Conan arguing with her earlier resurfaced in her mind, along with that bet...

Oh, right! That bet!
"I have not given up on revenge."

She seemed to be defending herself, or perhaps desperately clinging to some faltering belief.

"But this scene is too strange, there are too many suspicious points."

“I can hand them over to Conan or GSSRA. As long as they are alive, I can try to kill them at any time to avenge my sister.”

"It must be like this...it must be like this."

But beneath that suddenly appearing "rational" exterior, a sense of despair quietly rose in Shiho Miyano's heart.

why?
Why couldn't she fire the gun?
"Haibara! You can't do that!"

A voice filled with a strong sense of justice rang in her ears.

The death of her older sister, the death of Ms. Miyano, her own painful past and experiences...

Everything seemed powerless against it—

She couldn't resist the ideas and persistence of a certain "detective," nor could she resist the "identity" of "Ai Haibara" as a child.

How could Ai Haibara kill someone?!
She should be, she should be—

No matter what she has been through in the past, she should still be that strong, calm, and kind child.

In any case, it cannot be a revenger who is consumed by hatred, loses his mind, and kills indiscriminately.

……

"I can use the APTX-4869 formula later..."

Ai Haibara murmured to herself.

“I can add it to GSSRA’s research projects as leverage for their death sentence.”

"There's also the formula for the antidote, and the final effect of this medicine."

"besides……"

Ai Haibara then mentally laid out all the advantages and leverage she possessed, step by step.

She gradually suppressed the uncontrollable hatred in her heart, the urge to pull the trigger, and buried it deep inside.

"There will always be a chance," she told herself. "Kudo said he would give them a fair judgment."

Finally, her gaze hardened again—though she still felt a pang of sadness, as if another version of herself was locked inside, screaming and protesting against her in despair.

“GIN, I’m giving you a chance. If you tell me everything, I can kill the person who killed my sister today.”

Gin looked at Sherry, who knew nothing, and at this lucky Sherry.

"Didn't she kill someone while researching that drug?"

This is the most unfair thing that Vodka feels.

"Why is it that she can..."

"No reason."

This was Vermouth's response to Vodka's question at the time; she shook her head.

"Sherry can choose the other side, there's no reason why."

"Okay! I'll tell you everything."

Vodka closed his eyes in despair, while Gin smiled; for him, there was a similar impulse within him.

A familiar, destructive force that crushed her self-righteous hope and her belief that she could control her destiny.

We are all “born” villains, criminals—Gin learned this from Vermouth.

A cruel-looking smile appeared on his lips.

Since these inherently evil people are willing to pay with their lives for the "plan"...

"Ah~~Sherry~"

Gin called out in his characteristic playful tone, then whispered:
“You know what? Sherry? Actually, it was two years ago.”

……

And what happened next was exactly as Gin had imagined. After a painful struggle and hopeless attempts, things turned out exactly as Gin had expected.

She flinched.

On that full moon night, I saw Conan Edogawa for the first time.

Ai Haibara wanted to rush forward and tear the source of all her tragedies to pieces.

But she was just like Gin back then.

She stood there, making no move, and even helped the "detective".

Dr. Agasa's somber expression upon learning the truth, Ran Mouri's warm and caring smile upon seeing her...

Even after she learned about the importance of the pointer and the sacrifices of her sister and Ms. Miyano...

No matter what she has been through in the past, Ai Haibara should always be that strong, calm, and kind child.

Those memories that were once blurry have all returned.

However, she would rather that Shiho Miyano and Ai Haibara had never happened.

That forest in the snowy night, that life-or-death escape, and—Professor Agasa and Ran Mouri saved my life!
In the end, the girl's tearful plea revealed her only wish before losing the "truth"—

"So, Doctor, could you please... take good care of him?"

Ai Haibara closed her eyes, and that plea, choked with sobs, was like a nail driven into her heart.

Ai Haibara really wants to escape back to the point in time when she didn't remember these memories, back to the version of herself that could hate and seek revenge.

But she had no other choice.

Ironically—

When the source of her pain, the detective who unknowingly obtained the pointer, was instead forced to help the person she hated most.

She is no longer the "Shiho Miyano" who only lives in hatred.

She is "Ai Haibara".

—She had no choice.

(End of this chapter)