Conan: Above all force, there is truth!

"Hmm~"

noon

— "Buzzing"

After feeling the vibration in his pocket, Longye took out his phone.

Upon seeing the caller's name displayed on his phone, he smiled slightly and pressed the answer button.

Given that detective fanatic's personality, the fact that he's only calling now suggests he's a bit lost because his plan failed.

"Kudo, how's it going? Did you catch Vermouth?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before the reply came: "No, there was a slight mishap. That guy seems to have gone abroad... Come to my house, I have something I want to talk to you about."

"Okay, then you have to treat me to lunch!"

"...I understand, I'll go then!"

Three minutes later, at the Kudo residence.

"How did you get here so fast?" Conan asked in surprise, looking at Ryūno outside the door.

"Please! My house is so close to yours, what are you talking about?"

"Uh... I forgot, this isn't a detective agency..." Conan covered his face and said helplessly.

Seeing this, Longye blinked.

Conan's mental state is clearly off; it seems to be because of yesterday's failure?

Thinking of this, Ryūno entered the room and sat on the sofa, his face full of worry: "Kudo, something doesn't seem right with you..."

Upon hearing this, Conan felt a surge of emotion.

As expected of my best friend who grew up with me, she cares about me so much and saw through my anxiety at a glance!

Just then, Longye continued, "You...you're not going to use your mental instability as an excuse to deny that you agreed to treat me to lunch, are you? You can't, can you?"

Conan: "..."

After a while, Conan watched as Tatsuno made a phone call and ordered high-end sushi delivery.

"By the way, what did you want to say when you called me here?" After putting down the Kudo family's landline, Ryūno turned around and sat down opposite Conan, asking the question.

Conan clenched his fist, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, and said, "You know yesterday's plan failed, right? That's because Vermouth suddenly took a plane and left the country. Just this morning, I received a call from Ms. Jodie."

Two days ago, an accident occurred on a highway in the suburbs of Mihana when a car suddenly exploded. When the police arrived, they found nothing but the wreckage of the car and remnants of explosives.

"The problem is, the police have no record of that vehicle's registration or ownership! Besides, how could someone just randomly blow up an empty car that has nothing on it?!"

Upon hearing this, Longye frowned.

He planted the explosives. He also did a quick check afterwards and was certain that Chianti and Cohen were indeed dead.

But according to Conan, there was nothing at the scene except for the wreckage of the car.

It seems that both the two bodies and the "equipment" they were carrying had been disposed of by the organization beforehand.

The fact that the scene was cleared before the police arrived indicates that the organization must have someone within the Metropolitan Police Department, and that person must be a high-ranking official.

Otherwise, no matter how many people the organization has or how fast it reacts, it would be impossible to clear the scene before the police arrive.

Seeing that Ryūno was deep in thought, Conan continued, "Besides that, there's something else that's also suspicious. That day, a pharmaceutical factory caught fire unexpectedly. Shortly after, a similar fire broke out in an abandoned building in the suburbs."

"Since no evidence was left behind, all three incidents were treated as accidents by the police."

"A mysterious car explosion, two similar fires. Although intelligence is insufficient, the FBI believes that these three incidents may be connected to the organization!"

"That explains why Vermouth suddenly left the country yesterday. Something must have happened within the organization!"

Chapter 247 Going Abroad?! How dare he go abroad?!

Ryūno nodded. It was already quite impressive that Conan and the FBI could draw such a conclusion from these three events that occurred on the same day.

After all, given Gin's style, he certainly wouldn't leave any clues at the scene.

However... when everyone knows that the "distillery" leaves no clues in its dealings, then the lack of clues becomes the biggest clue.

At the very least, the FBI and public security authorities will certainly focus their investigations on whether these incidents are related to any particular organization.

"Kudo, that's not what you really want to say, is it?" Ryuno crossed his arms and stared directly at Conan across from him.

"Yes, that's right. What I wanted to discuss with you is that Vermouth already knows my and Ai Haibara's identities, and we still couldn't catch her this time. What if she tells the organization about this..."

At this point, Conan sighed, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.

“Ms. Judy brought up the ‘Witness Protection Program’ again on the phone. She believes that in order to ensure our safety and the safety of those around us, Ai Haibara and I should participate in this program.”

“I agree. When do you plan to set off?” Longye lowered his crossed arms, smiled, and clapped his hands.

Seeing Ryūno's expectant look, Conan narrowed his eyes: "Hey! Why do you seem so happy?"

"Oh? I'm just so happy~ Don't worry, I'll pray for you!"

After speaking, Longye took out a small transparent medicine box and a metallic bracelet from his pocket and placed them on the table.

"This is Ai's improved antidote. The effect of a single pill should last for about one or two days. It is said that the duration of the effect will decrease with each additional dose."

"This bracelet is adjustable in size and is used to detect and collect your body data. Be sure to wear it before and after taking the medication."

Upon hearing this, Conan's eyes lit up as he picked up the medicine box and bracelet from the table: "Thank you, Takeda!"

"No need to thank me, I just don't want you to end up as an elementary school student~ Since you're going to die anyway, it would be more reasonable for you to be killed off as 'Shinichi Kudo', right?"

"Damn it! You bastard, you really are..."

Conan was interrupted by the doorbell ringing outside before he could even utter a curse word.

— "Ding-dong"

Longye glanced at the clock, then immediately stood up and headed for the door: "This delivery service is pretty fast! I'll give them a good review!"

A moment later, watching Tatsuno wolfing down his sushi, Conan shook his head and silently picked up the chopsticks on the table.

He knew that if he didn't act soon, both plates of high-class sushi would be eaten up by Takeda, just like last time.

For a moment, the only sound inside the room could be the two of them chewing sushi.

"Alright, I've finished the sushi, I should go now." With that, Ryuno put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and got up to walk towards the door.

Conan: "???"

After pausing for two seconds, Conan immediately stood up and shouted, "Wait a minute! We're not finished talking yet, are we?! Putting me aside, what are you going to do with Ai Haibara?"

Longye didn't turn around, but casually waved his hand: "Don't worry, she's now my and Xiaolan's 'family,' and I'll take responsibility and protect her from the organization."

"What about me? What am I supposed to do?!"

--"boom!"

The only response Conan received was the loud slam of the door closing.

Conan: "..."

……

The next morning

Conan has already explained the current situation to his father.

After listening to his description, Yusaku Kudo, unusually, didn't speak immediately. After a moment of silence, he said he needed to contact his friend first, and then he would call Conan back.

After hanging up the phone, Conan twitched his lips helplessly.

He originally intended to keep it a secret from Yusaku Kudo. But now, with the organization and the FBI involved... his mind was in complete turmoil.

And then there's Vermouth, whom Ms. Judy once unintentionally referred to as Chris Vineyard.

He felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing the name. After thinking about it carefully, he finally remembered why.

Chris Vineyard is my mom's friend, the daughter of that famous actress Sharon Vineyard!

Speaking of which, I think I heard on TV that Sharon Vineyard has passed away...

Although he later asked Ms. Judy, she only gave a simple explanation—that Chris Vineyard's true identity was Vermouth.

Once Vermouth tells the organization her story, her current situation can only be described as standing on the edge of a cliff.

The more he learned about the organization, the more he realized its immense size and danger.

Putting everything else aside, once Gin and Vodka find out that Shinichi Kudo is still alive, they will definitely come and get rid of him in the shortest possible time!

In that case, it might really be like Mom and Longye's prank, where I and everyone around me are...

In desperation, he finally decided to call his father for help.

After hanging up the phone, Conan looked up at the sky and muttered to himself, "Although I don't want to see that annoying face again, it seems like I have no choice but to talk to him! But his phone seems to be off... Oh well, it's not far anyway."

Twenty minutes later, outside Longye's house.

"Ding dong, ding dong..."

Conan rang the doorbell several times, but there was no response from inside.

Just as Conan was about to leave, Professor Agasa and Fusae happened to be driving out.

"Conan? Are you looking for Ryūno? He and Ran left this morning, they should be on the plane by now."

"On the plane? Where did they go?!"

"Hmm? Didn't Longye tell you? They're planning to go to London for a trip these days, apparently to watch some tennis matches... Anyway, we have something to do, we'll be going now!"

Conan: "..."

Watching the yellow beetle disappear around the street corner, Conan suddenly felt a little tired.

Putting aside Professor Agasa, who's becoming increasingly distant, Takeda actually chose to go on a trip abroad at this crucial moment?!

They're going to London again??

He'd been wanting to visit "221 Baker Street" there for ages! Damn it...

Conan walked towards the police station, putting his hands in his pockets. At that moment, his hand touched the small medicine box in his pocket.

"Wait a minute? Maybe I can..."

Thinking of this, Conan stopped where he was and turned to walk towards his house.