Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Chapter 152 Shuichi Akai, Your Mom is So Cute
So tired, so heavy, so sleepy.

This is how Mary Akai felt after climbing out of the river.

She dragged her heavy body, leaning on a stick she had picked up from the river, and stood up.

It's possible that the drug was developed by her sister, who was protecting her.

Therefore, the poison Vermouth gave her did not kill her.

"Boom~"

"what!"

Mary Akai seemed to have bumped into something very hard, and sat down on the ground with a thud.

When she stood up groggily and looked ahead, she seemed to see a giant.

Is he an athlete? Why is he so tall?

Mary Akai couldn't even see the eyes of the person in front of her.

"Are you alright, little one?" the man asked with concern.

The man reached out and pulled Akai Mary up.

“I’m fine,” Mary Akai said.

Even if you're an athlete and tall, you don't have to treat me like a kid.

"You're all wet, did you fall into the river?" the man asked. "Where are your parents? Are they lost?"

“I’m not a child,” Mary Akai said.

She was a little angry at being treated like a child all the time.

My head was spinning and throbbing, and I didn't even have the energy to get angry.

"You seem to have a fever."

The man placed his hand on her head, and Akai Mary, feeling dizzy, collapsed to the ground.

As she fell, she glanced around and realized how big everyone was.

"I'll take you to the hospital," Zheng Yi said loudly.

This wasn't said to Mary Akai, but rather to the onlookers.

Some people wanted to stop this behavior of picking up children indiscriminately, but when they saw the gun Zheng Yi had revealed, they chose to respect his kindness.

Judging from his appearance, he is a good person and will definitely take the child to the hospital intact.

He then put Akai Mary into the car.

"Let's go back to the hotel."

"Yes."

On the way back to the hotel, Zhengyi called the doctor using his mobile phone.

Back at the hotel, Curaçao stared blankly at Zheng Yi holding a soaking wet girl.

"you……"

"Found it on the road, has the doctor arrived yet?" Zheng Yi asked.

"arrive."

Just as they put Akai Mary on the bed, the doctor came over, gave her an injection, and fed her medicine. After that, her body temperature dropped.

Then Curaçao changed her clothes and wiped her body.

Zheng Yi, carrying a few pieces of clothing, went to Ai's room.

"Why are you still in bed?"

"I'm adjusting to the time difference," Ai said casually, followed by a yawn.

What do you do when you're not working or going to school and you're not sleeping?

"These are clothes I just bought for you outside. Do you want to try them on?" Zheng Yi threw the clothes onto the bed.

Ai simply picked up the clothes, held them up against herself, folded them neatly, and placed them on the bed.

"They're all too big, I can't wear them," Ai said.

She looked at Zheng Yi with disdain.

You idiot, you can't even buy clothes properly.

"Really? That's a shame." Zheng Yi put the clothes away with a regretful expression.

If it doesn't fit, then forget it.

"Should we return it?" Ai asked.

"No need, it's not much money anyway, it's too much trouble," Zheng Yi said.

Ai pouted, "What a waste of a man."

Since it's Zheng Yi's money anyway, Ai doesn't care.

Ai wanted to shrink back into the covers and go to sleep again. She turned her back to Shoichi, clearly indicating that she wanted to see him out.

"The girl you picked up has woken up," Curaçao said as she approached.

“Okay, I’ll go take a look now,” Zheng Yi said.

As soon as he stood up, he took the clothes that Ai didn't want and went outside.

Ai got out of bed.

The girl I picked up?

Who did Zheng Yi pick up this time?
Because she herself was also taken in by Shoichi, Ai was very curious about that girl.

She got out of bed, put on her slippers, and went outside.

In another room, Mary Akai felt as if she had entered a land of giants.

The people here are all very tall.

Both men and women are very tall.

Even the little kid who just came over wearing slippers was much taller than normal kids.

"Where...where is this?" Mary Akai asked.

“This is the Ritz Hotel,” Zheng Yi said.

The Ritz Hotel, so this is still England.

Ai lay on the edge of the bed, curiously watching the girl that Masakazu had picked up.

The girl is a little older than her now, probably in junior high school.

"Do you know your parents' phone number?" Zhengyi asked.

He's been dead for many years, so he probably doesn't have a phone.

Mary Akai stretched out her hand and looked at it, and surprisingly felt that she was a bit young.

Zheng Yi took out some clothes and said, "Your original clothes are too big, put these on."

This is something I bought for my younger sister, but it's a bit too big.

Ai's eyes widened, then she blinked rapidly.

His gaze kept shifting between Shoichi and Mary Akai.

The clothes, mine, are too big. Should I give them to her?
Me, her, um?
Ai's eyes seem to hold a thousand unspoken words.

"Let's go, Ai. Come back to see her after your sister changes her clothes." Masakazu pushed Ai out of the room.

Xiao Ai reluctantly went out, but when she reached the door, she lingered and glanced back inside.

"Did you really buy those clothes for me?" Ai asked Masakazu.

“Of course, if it wasn’t bought for you, who was it bought for?” Zheng Yi said.

Ai crossed her arms over her chest, feeling that Shoichi's words were extremely unbelievable.

Zheng Yi rubbed Xiao Ai's head and said, "If you don't believe me, go ask the driver. I bought the clothes before I found that girl. They were for you."

Xiao Ai shook her head.

You better be.

After Akai Mary changed her clothes, Masakazu and the others went inside.

Upon seeing Akai Mary after she changed her clothes, Ai immediately pouted.

"These clothes fit perfectly," Ai said.

It fits perfectly, like it was tailor-made.

It didn't look like it was bought for her at all, and it turned out to be too big, so I had to give it to this girl instead.

Damn it, you're such a bastard!
"It fits so well, that's a surprise," Zheng Yi said.

Ai gritted her teeth; that bastard was still pretending.

Mary Akai felt somewhat lost.

She also realized what was happening to her body; she had regained her youth.

It must be the effect of Vermouth's pill.

She just said it was poison, so she didn't know about this effect of the drug?

"What's your name?" Zhengyi asked.

"I……"

“I gave you a bath and personally fed you your medicine, so you don’t need to thank me in any special way,” Zheng Yi said.

Mary Akai remained silent.

She's a mother of three, and yet she's still being seen naked by others.

Ai's eyelids twitched; she felt these words were all too familiar.

"Oh, right, this is your IOU. Sign it yourself." Zheng Yi took out an IOU.

Xiao Ai felt this process was all too familiar.

Furthermore, when exactly did Zheng Yi write the IOU?

Mary Akai didn't understand this arrangement either; her mind went blank when she saw the IOU. Why should she have to pay for your entire car just because I got it wet?

What kind of doctor is so expensive?

I'm being charged $50,000 for a simple cold?

This dress actually sold for $100,000. Can I take it off and return it to you?
Looking at Akai Mary's face, Ai Haibara felt a sense of having been through it all.

This child must have been terrified by Zheng Yi.

When she first saw the IOU, she didn't even have a mental idea.

You'll get used to it once you get used to it.

"I……"

"You're not trying to skip out on the bill, are you? I saved your life, and you're not even willing to pay for the life-saving treatment?" Zheng Yi asked.

Mary Akai pouted.

She had no idea that being rescued would cost so much money.

This is no longer a normal demand for payment; this is extortion.

Even a girl her age was being blackmailed, which showed just how wicked the man in front of her really was.

"I advise you to obediently sign your name." He placed the pistol from his pocket on the table.

Mary Akai flexed her wrists, wondering how much strength this body possessed.

No amount of skill can compare to the power of a decision.

She was not reckless.

On the IOU that Masakazu handed over, the name 'Sera Masumi' was written in English.

Seeing that she had signed her name, Ai's gaze turned to sympathy.

A child is a child.

I didn't even look at the interest rate; it seems like you'll never be able to pay it back in your lifetime.

Ai tugged at Shoichi's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Are you also planning to adopt her?"

“If she’s willing,” Zheng Yi said.

Ai punched Shoichi's arm.

Why didn't you ask me if I was willing back then? Now you're starting to consider this girl's feelings.

Shoichi pushed Ai closer to Akai Mary.

“Come on, let me take a picture of you sisters,” Zheng Yi said.

Ai and Mary Akai both resisted.

Why take photos?
Who is her sister?

Zheng Yi took out a camera and filmed two unwilling faces.

Curaçao stroked her chin, feeling that the two little girls looked somewhat alike.

She looked at Zheng Yi.

Does Zheng Yi like this type of child?
Zheng put the camera away.

He said to Mary Akai, "Since you're willing to be adopted by me, come back to Japan with me tomorrow."

“Wait? When did I say I wanted to be adopted by you?” Mary Akai said.

"Didn't you read the contents of the IOU carefully?" Zheng Yi asked.

"What content?"

Mary Akai quickly picked it up and looked at it.

The document does contain some information, including Zheng Yi's expenses for raising and educating her, which are not insignificant.

Ai walked over and patted her on the shoulder, saying as someone who's been there:

"Don't worry, Zheng Yi doesn't eat children."

Mary Akai slapped Ai's hand away and looked at Masakazu with a cold expression.

Ai waved her hand, thinking, "This kid's pretty cool."

“This is human trafficking!” Mary Akai exclaimed.

She immediately realized she had been rambling.

The person who can write such an IOU is definitely not a law-abiding citizen; he might even be a human trafficker.

Ai nodded.

This is human trafficking, and it's even transnational human trafficking.

The trafficked children had to work tirelessly for Zhengyi to earn money for him.

Oh, and we also need to provide him with emotional support.

In short, it was a terrible situation.

"Curaçao, keep an eye on her, don't let her get away," Zheng Yi said.

He then said to Mary Akai, "You don't need to worry too much. You can leave after you pay back the money."

“I’m calling the police!” Mary Akai said.

Zheng Yi picked at his ear and said, "If you call your parents over and they pay me, I'll still let you go."

This is a kidnapping!

Mary Akai glared at Masakazu through gritted teeth.

A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs; she never expected to be kidnapped and extorted.

“Give me a call, I can pay the ransom,” Mary Akai said.

"Okay, here you go."

Shoichi simply tossed the phone to Akai Mary, not at all worried that she would call the police.

……

"Hello."

Sera Masumi answered a phone call, and the person on the other end was very strange.

It sounded like a small child, covering their mouth with their hand as if deliberately lowering their voice.

What he said was even more inexplicable.

In summary, there were only a few people.

I'm your mother, send me money.

What a joke! What kind of child made this prank call? It's so rude.

Sera Masumi hung up the phone immediately.

"Kids these days, really."

She glanced worriedly at the clock on the wall.

It's already this late, and Mom still hasn't come back. It seems she might...

Inside the hotel, Masakazu looked at Mary Akai and asked:

"Did you get the money?"

Mary Akai remained silent.

The phone number was unfamiliar, and the voice sounded like a child's, so it was normal for Zhenchun not to believe her identity.

“We’re almost there, just give me a few more minutes,” Mary Akai said.

“Okay, you can continue,” Zheng Yi said.

Mary Akai continued making phone calls to her daughter from there.

Ai asked softly beside Masakazu, "Are you really planning to take her ransom?"

“How can this be considered ransom? It’s only right to pay back debts,” Zheng Yi said.

He placed his hand on Ai's head, braiding her hair, and said:

"Just like you, once you pay off your debts, you won't have to sell yourself to me or work to pay off your debts anymore."

“I don’t owe you any money,” Ai said.

Zheng Yi tugged at Xiao Ai's clothes.

Who bought the clothes you're wearing?

You don't actually think your sister's salary is enough to buy you such expensive clothes, do you?
"I don't owe you that much money," Ai pouted.

It's just a tiny bit short.

After I work for a few years, I'll be able to pay it all off.

"Could you give me a different number?" Mary Akai asked.

Her daughter no longer answers that number.

Zheng took the phone back and said, "Why don't you come back to Japan with me? I don't think your family cares about you much; they don't even answer your calls."

"Give me a different number," Mary Akai said.

She had already figured out how to bring it up, so that Zhenchun would know my identity immediately.

"Curaçao, give her your phone."

Curaçao casually tossed the phone to her.

"Can you get out?" Mary Akai asked.

Masayuki placed his hand on Ai's face, pinched her cheek, and made a face at Akai Mary.

"Aren't you going to cry and make a scene in front of your family later, so you don't want us to see it?"

Mary Akai stubbornly said, "Get out."

(End of this chapter)