Ch. 211..220

Chapter 211 - 211: Vermouth: “I Surrender”

"Thank you. You've worked hard today.""Not at all—it was a pleasure."

Evening light bathed the city in soft orange hues.

A stunning blonde woman flashed a dazzling smile at the man beside her, and he blushed awkwardly under the attention.

The smile in her sea-colored eyes deepened.

Vermouth was, without a doubt, beautiful. Breathtakingly so.

Golden curls tumbled over her shoulders. Her face—flawless and radiant—was the very embodiment of charm. Her lean figure could have been sculpted by a master artist. Pedestrians turned to stare, some openly, others from behind sunglasses.

She didn't notice. Or perhaps she didn't care.

"Could you help me get these back to the hotel?""Of course."

The man cheerfully obeyed, loading the pile of shopping bags into the trunk of her luxury car.

Vermouth casually opened her phone, swiping through options to make a dinner reservation—she was the type who enjoyed life to its fullest when not on assignment.

Across the street, a construction crane was at work.

A large billboard was being raised outside a shopping mall.

The crane operator, a veteran of the trade, manipulated the swing arm with one hand and reached for his cigarette with the other. He flicked the butt down toward his makeshift ashtray…

…and fumbled.

The cigarette hit the cabin floor.

As he leaned down to retrieve it, a sudden tug in the machinery made him look up.

Snap!

A steel wire rope frayed at the billboard's end.

The billboard jerked violently in mid-air, swinging with unsteady weight.

Alarmed, the operator moved quickly to stabilize it, lowering the arm.

But—

SNAP!

Another cable snapped.

The massive billboard swayed dangerously, like a pendulum. Then—just as the operator panicked—a strong gust of wind slammed against the side of the swing arm.

Windows rattled.

He tried to lower it safely, but inertia pushed the swinging mass to extreme angles.

Down below, a white car turned the corner and headed straight toward it.

"No... no no no...!" the operator whispered.

CRASH!!!

The billboard slammed into the side of the speeding car like a golf club hitting a ball. The vehicle jerked violently, veered off course, and slammed into a row of parked cars across the street—

Right in front of Vermouth.

She barely had time to step back before—

BOOM!

Shattered glass and shrapnel exploded outward.

Thrown by the blast, Vermouth landed hard on her side. Her ears rang. Her ribs ached. The man helping her moments ago was also thrown to the ground.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The car alarm screamed into the chaos.

For a moment, Vermouth couldn't move.

Rooftop Observation Point

On a rooftop across the way, Gin lowered his telescope, chuckling darkly.

"What a mess, Vermouth..."

It was he who'd tipped off Cointreau about her whereabouts—at his request, of course.

"Said he wanted to 'teach her a lesson.' I have to admit... I'm enjoying the show._"

Behind him, Vodka watched Vermouth's crumpled figure rise unsteadily.

"You think that's it?"His voice was uneasy. "He's got a reputation, you know... he likes to end things clean."

Gin's smirk faded.

Even he didn't quite trust Cointreau to stop at just a warning.

If he really loses control…

Gin's eyes remained fixed on the scene below.

Luckily, the hit ended there. No follow-up. No killing blow.

Just chaos—and a message.

Later…

Bandaged and bruised, Vermouth sat in the back seat of a sedan, one arm clutched over her ribs.

There was no evidence. But she didn't need it.

Cointreau.

There was no way that billboard just happened to fall. Not in front of her. Not while she stood there carefree, unguarded.

A message…?

Instead of fury, a smile crept onto her face.

So you do care about the people around you, huh?

If he'd truly meant to kill her, she'd be dead.

But this wasn't murder. It was a warning. One he'd crafted with surgical precision.

"Stay away from Ran."

And yet, he hadn't broken ties with Rum either.

It was a show of strength—and restraint.

You care… just enough.Interesting.

She opened her phone, found the name "Cointreau", and after a long pause… sent a message.

Vermouth: "I give in, Cointreau. I surrender to you."

Within two minutes, her phone buzzed.

Cointreau: "Then ask the driver to stop the car."

Huh...?

She blinked. What did that mean?

Still clutching her aching chest, Vermouth looked forward, then frowned.

"Stop the car."

The driver hesitated but obeyed.

Moments later—

SKREEEEEECH!!!

Screams erupted ahead. Tires screeched. Horns blared.

A chain collision unfolded in the lane they'd been about to enter.

Vermouth stared, stunned.

If we hadn't stopped…

A long silence.

Then she typed another message with trembling fingers:

Vermouth: "It's gone now, right?"

She stared at the screen for a long time.

 

Chapter 212 - 212: Cleansing

Gin really helped this time.

Thanks to him reporting Vermouth's location and movements over the past few days, Hayashi Yoshiki was able to orchestrate the incident without ever needing to write her name in the Death Note.

The one written in the notebook? Just a disposable bag-carrying lackey working under Vermouth.

By scripting a fatal "accident" for that man—an accident that would spill into Vermouth's path without killing her—Yoshiki could invoke the notebook's mechanics to indirectly influence her fate. A perfect loophole.

The day after the Sunset Mannor incident, Hayashi Yoshiki returned quietly to Beika Town.

His private talk with Detective Hakuba still echoed in his mind—it had gone even better than expected.

Yoshiki had long anticipated that his increasingly visible actions—particularly the string of highly specific "accidental deaths"—would attract attention from the task force investigating deliberate accident-based homicides.

After all, he wasn't exactly low-profile.

One or two "accidental" deaths could be dismissed. But when members of the Organization were escaping danger through improbably staged accidents—repeatedly—officials with eyes on terrorist patterns would take notice.

And that was the whole point.

This was an opportunity. A doorway to the Red Side.

If he could infiltrate the task force—or even just get close to their command tier—he could become indispensable to the Red Team. And eventually, he could control it.

His situation remained dangerous.

As he gained deeper trust from the Black Organization, his exposure to people like Bourbon—undercover agents buried within—grew riskier. If one of them discovered his true allegiance, it would be disastrous.

But if he gained even modest favor on the red side, he'd have a failsafe—a political counterweight to balance both sides.

"So choosing the identity of a detective... was the right move after all."

It also justified his boldness. It let him shine.

"…"

After ruminating for a while, Yoshiki finally closed the Death Note.

As expected, news of the Dusk Villa incident had been tightly suppressed.

The political implications of a golden mansion were too vast. Hayashi Yoshiki had no doubt that Karasuma Renya was still watching the Twilight Annex from the shadows.

The tragedy that occurred there?

A punishment. A warning to those who dared to covet his treasures.

"Hmm… What car should I buy this time?"

His Mercedes-Benz E-W210 had been destroyed, but he'd liked how it handled. Still, it was time to consider something new.

Just then, his phone rang.

"Hello?""It's me."

Gin's cold voice crackled through the line.

"Did your car get bombed?"

"...How do you know that?"

"Heh."Gin gave a cold chuckle but didn't answer.

Of course, he knew. Word of the Dusk Villa had reached the Boss.

The Organization, known for shaking down powerful figures for funding, would never overlook something as obscene as Karasuma Renya's hidden gold.

But with the property now exposed and contested by the authorities, acquiring it would be... complicated.

Still, Karasuma's mood had reportedly improved.

Especially upon hearing that the decades-old mystery inside the villa had been solved—by one of his own cadres.

"The Boss is very pleased with your performance."Gin paused."Do you remember who that loser Pisco was before he died?"

"Of course. The chairman of that automotive conglomerate, right?"

"There are some great cars left in his estate. Come by and pick one."

"...All right."

Before hanging up, Gin added flatly:

"By the way—Vermouth did a good job."

"…"

Warehouse Lot, Later That Day

Yoshiki arrived by taxi to the address Vodka had sent.

It was a massive warehouse—filled with over twenty cars, most of them luxury-class.

"Yo, bro!!"A loud voice with a Kansai accent called out.

"Heard you gave that Vermouth bitch a real scare! Good stuff! Haha!"Chianti laughed.

Inside were several familiar faces from the Organization.

"Careful around Calvados. He's not too happy with what you did."Cohen, who had been eyeing a black coupe, warned him offhandedly.

"Calvados?"Yoshiki smiled calmly.

"He wouldn't dare."Tequila, fists clenched, scowled.

"Want me to rattle him for you?"Chianti leaned close, her eyes gleaming.

"Guy's just a sniper with an ego. Forget him."Gin dismissed the topic and gestured at the cars."Pick one."

Yoshiki walked the line.

To his surprise, Gin's Porsche 356A was among the cars.

"What's this doing here?"

"That one was seized after an old case."Vodka explained."But we bought it back legally from police surplus. Gave it a good clean—Gin's been using it again."

Yoshiki raised a brow.

"Tempting... Should I take this one?"

"Up to you."Gin's tone remained unreadable.

"Nah. Driving a classic car is too flashy."

—And frankly, if Conan or Ai saw him in that car, they'd lose their minds.

In the end, Yoshiki picked another Mercedes-Benz E-W210, this time in white.

Same machine. New skin.

The keys were already inside.

"No need to register the vehicle. If something happens, just ditch it."Gin advised.

But Hayashi Yoshiki planned to do the paperwork anyway.

"Need me to mod anything?"Vodka offered.

"No mods. I'm good."

Vodka looked a little disappointed.

Yoshiki slid into the driver's seat.

Click.The passenger door opened, and Chianti slipped in.

"Let's go! Spin through the city, just you and me! Drinks after, maybe?"She laughed as she shut the door.

Before Yoshiki could answer, Tequila knocked on the window.

"Change of plans. Everyone's heading out to drink together."

"Where?"

"Spider Bar, at the harbor."

"Idiot! It's called the Black Widow Bar, moron."Chianti shot Tequila a glare.

Tequila, unfazed, just shrugged.

Hayashi Yoshiki chuckled, started the car, and drove toward the docks.

Spending time with Chianti alone—tempting, but risky.

Drinks with the team? Less dangerous. Slightly.

 

 

Chapter 213 - 213: The Face Ten Years Later

"It hasn't been long, and you bought the exact same car again, Yoshiki!?"

"Yeah, I looked around, but I couldn't find anything I liked more. I'm used to this model, so I stuck with it."

On the highway to Nishitama City, Hayashi Yoshiki chuckled as he responded to Mōri Kogorō's incredulous tone.

"But this time it's white. Feels like a change of mood."

"...You're seriously loaded, huh."

Mōri sighed with envy.

Had it been him, he definitely wouldn't have gone for the same car again after changing models. But the memory of his own rental getting blown up at Twilight Villa made him bitter—especially since that two-million yen check barely covered the damages.

"From that perspective, Brother Yoshiki is a loyal man! A good man!!"

Suzuki Sonoko, seated in the back, suddenly burst with excitement.

From her angle, she could see Yoshiki's gentle smile reflected in the rearview mirror—and her mood soared.

Hehehe~

When Sonoko entered fangirl mode, she could be a bit... intense. But Ran, sitting beside her, was already used to it. She simply smiled.

"Thank you so much for driving us all the way out here, Brother Yoshiki."

"Don't mention it. I needed to put some miles on the new engine anyway."

It had been just over a week since the Sunset Manor case.

Mōri Kogorō had suddenly invited Yoshiki to check out a brand-new twin-tower skyscraper in Nishitama City. With nothing pressing on his schedule, Yoshiki happily agreed.

Located near Mount Fuji, Nishitama was about a three-hour drive from Beika. Before long, Yoshiki's pristine white Mercedes-Benz E-W210 rolled to a stop beneath the imposing towers.

"Whoa! This is incredible!"Kogorō tilted his head back, gawking."You can't even see the top!"

"It really is something... huh?"

Ran, stepping out next, paused.

"Conan? Professor Agasa?"

A group of familiar kids stood nearby.

"Ah! It's Ran-nee-chan!"Ayumi waved cheerfully.

"What're you brats doing here?!"Kogorō frowned.

"We were on our way back from camping, but they insisted on stopping to see the tower."Dr. Agasa scratched his head with a helpless smile.

Haibara Ai walked over toward Hayashi Yoshiki.

He knelt slightly and smiled, gently ruffling her soft hair.

"Was camping fun, Ai?"

"It was fine."She glanced up."Why are you here too?"

"Ah, it's like this."Kogorō cleared his throat importantly."The woman who built this skyscraper, Tokiwa Mio, was my junior in college. She invited me to get a sneak peek before the grand opening."

Ran immediately turned her head and stared at her father with cold, empty eyes.

She hadn't wanted to come, but Sonoko had told her—almost gleefully—that Tokiwa Mio was still single.

Just then, a sharply dressed secretary arrived to escort them inside.

The twin towers—Buildings A and B—were connected by several sleek sky bridges. The secretary led them to an exhibition hall on the second and third floors.

The space was packed with cutting-edge entertainment tech: VR, consoles, and gaming lounges.

"Welcome, guests!"A man in a suit and round glasses approached with a sunny grin."I'm Hara Yoshiaki, executive director and lead game engineer at Tokiwa Group. Want me to show you around?"

Hayashi Yoshiki studied him quietly.

He knew of Hara Yoshiaki—like Miyano Akemi, he was a peripheral affiliate of the Organization.

And he was now on their kill list.

Two days ago, Hara had hacked into the Organization's servers and stolen confidential files. Though he thought he'd covered his tracks, the Organization had already detected him.

He was probably trying to blackmail his way out.

Naïve. He had no idea what he was up against.

The kids were quick to swarm Hara, who cheerfully guided them toward the gaming setups. Eventually, they reached a peculiar machine.

"This one's special!"Hara gestured with pride."It scans your face and predicts what you'll look like in ten years."

The children and Professor Agasa were instantly hooked.

"I don't wanna see my ugly mug in ten years..."Kogorō grumbled, standing aside.

"Don't say that, Uncle Mōri."

Yoshiki smiled.

"You might not look all that different."

"You don't have to flatter me, Yoshiki ...

"He mumbled—but clearly, he was pleased.

Ran and Sonoko exchanged glances and laughed. They looked tempted to try it too.

Soon, Dr. Agasa and Ayumi's results came out.

Agasa's scan showed... not much difference. Still bald, still smiling.

But Ayumi's result?

An adorable high school girl with a radiant smile. Mitsuhiko and Genta nearly fell over in shock.

"Brother Yoshiki, want to see?"Ayumi shyly handed him the picture.

"Sure."Yoshiki took it with both hands and gently stroked her head."You'll definitely grow into a wonderful young lady."

Ayumi turned bright red.

Then came Mitsuhiko and Genta's turns. Their future selves looked like average high schoolers—nothing too dramatic.

"Brother Yoshiki, you try it too!"Sonoko, already dragging Ran toward the scanner, turned back to grin at him.

"All right. I'll give it a go."

He stepped up with a soft chuckle.

Hara Yoshiaki tapped the controls.

With a mechanical whirr, the scanner slid down, bathing Yoshiki in digital light. Rows of data scrolled rapidly across the screen—

Facial structure confirmed.

Symmetry analysis complete.

Neural line forecasting engaged.

The machine began calculating the face of Hayashi Yoshiki, ten years into the future.

And behind the gentle smile of the man standing there… something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

 

Chapter 214 - 214: What a Clear Prohibition Against Killing Companions

"Wow, that's amazing!"

"His face hasn't changed much, but..."

"Seriously!"

As the scanner rose and Hayashi Yoshiki stepped out of the machine, he saw several girls gathered around a printout, marveling over it.

They glanced back and forth between the photo and him—clearly comparing.

"What's going on?"Yoshiki asked with a light smile.

Ran grinned and handed him the photo.

"Here, Brother Yoshiki—look!"

He raised his eyebrows as he took it.

The face in the picture hadn't changed much—just a touch older, a bit sharper around the jawline, the eyes calmer and more knowing. But the most noticeable change was his hairstyle—pulled back neatly, with a certain elegance and power.

The smile remained… but somehow, it looked more dangerous.

Yoshiki gave a soft chuckle.

"Interesting... It gave me a good reference. I'll try this hairstyle sometime."

Despite the refined look in the photo, the real Yoshiki still gave off warmth and polish.

"You look a little different, but I like it."Ran smiled.

"Yeah! You look cool!"Sonoko chimed in cheerfully.

The two girls then eagerly lined up to try the machine themselves.

As their scans printed out to general acclaim, Yoshiki tucked his own photo away.

Just then, Tokiwa Mio's secretary approached, informing the group they were invited to the banquet hall on the 75th floor.

The sightseeing elevator, built along the tower's outer wall, whooshed upward, offering a stunning panorama.

While Mōri Kogorō was reminiscing with his old college flame, Yoshiki leaned closer to the window—his eyes settling on Mount Fuji, majestic in the evening haze.

But his thoughts were elsewhere.

The Tokiwa Group controls much of Japan's software and hardware markets…

That meant one thing:

Noah's Ark—the artificial intelligence rumored to soon make waves—was almost certainly backed by Tokiwa.

The sheer power needed to house that AI—along with the development of the virtual world Cocoon—couldn't come out of nowhere. The pieces were falling into place.

Buzz—

Yoshiki's phone vibrated softly in his pocket.

He cast a quick glance at Conan, who was distracted with the others, before pulling out his black burner phone.

Vermouth:"What a cruel man you are! You didn't seriously want to kill me after that, did you?"

Yoshiki smirked and typed back:

Cointreau:"Of course not. After all... isn't there a clear rule against killing fellow members in the Organization?"

On the other end, Vermouth chuckled coldly at the message.

"What a clear prohibition against killing companions…"

That was rich, coming from him.

The man she'd called to help carry her shopping that day? He'd died shortly afterward in a freak accident—a falling air conditioner, of all things.

It hadn't been subtle.

That message was as clear as a knife to the throat: "I could have killed you."

And what did Gin say?

Nothing. As far as he was concerned, the loss of one peripheral was no issue—he even seemed impressed that Cointreau had shown enough restraint not to kill her outright.

If Vermouth had made a fuss, Gin would've dismissed it with one line:

"Cointreau probably didn't know he was one of us."

Back in the tower, two maintenance workers came out from the staircase, chatting:

"Man, I can't believe we saw that car."

"Which one was it again?"

"A black Porsche 356A. Real classic."

Conan, who had been casually listening nearby, froze.

He suddenly spun around and rushed up to the men.

"Excuse me! Where did you see that car? What color was it again?"His voice was urgent.

"It's parked just outside this building. All black."

Conan's face drained of color.

Without hesitation, he darted toward the elevator.

"Conan?!"Ran called out, startled—but he was gone before she could follow.

Haibara Ai stared after him, her expression tense.

Yoshiki stepped beside her and spoke quietly:

"Don't worry. Their target isn't you... or Conan."

She glanced up at him.

"Then who are they after?"

"That... I can't say."

He smiled.

But his gaze shifted subtly—landing on Hara Yoshiaki.

He had his suspicions. If Hara had tried to blackmail or expose the Organization, someone like Gin would want confirmation that he wasn't acting under someone else's orders.

Letting him walk around was a kind of bait.

No need to get involved—for now.

Besides, if they were already willing to use Hara as a decoy, the data he'd stolen probably wasn't of major importance.

What mattered was something else:Any link to Noah's Ark.

"Jun..."Haibara opened her mouth, then hesitated.

As a few other kids approached, she changed her wording.

"Yo... Yoshiki—Brother."

"What was that?"Yoshiki crouched down.

"What did you call me just now?"His voice was teasing, but warm.

He stared at her directly, tilting his head just enough to keep eye level—like someone gently coaxing a shy kitten into conversation.

Haibara Ai suddenly looked away.

Her expression grew subtly embarrassed, and she mumbled:

"Hayashi Yoshiki."

"Tsk, tsk—nope, that won't do."

"Ai!"Ayumi marched up, hands on her hips."You're being rude! You should call him Brother Yoshiki!"

"Ayumi is right."

"Ehehe!"Ayumi beamed at the praise.

"And when Ai-chan talks about him to us, she always says 'Yoshiki-oniisan,' you know!"

"...Is that so?"Yoshiki blinked, surprised.

Haibara Ai showed no reaction... but her ears were a little red.

Why is this so embarrassing...?

Mitsuhiko, standing nearby, frowned as he watched the two girls chatting with Yoshiki.

He tugged at Ran's sleeve.

"Ran-neechan, can I ask you something? Could we... talk in private later?"

"Of course."She smiled kindly, not quite sure what was going on—but touched by his sincerity.

 

 

Chapter 215 - 215: "Yoshiki...-nii..."

"What? The councilman from Nishitama City was killed?!"

The day after returning from the Twin Towers, Hayashi Yoshiki received a call from Inspector Megure Jūzō.

Councilman Ōki Iwamatsu held more local power than even the mayor. The Tokiwa Group's twin-tower skyscraper project had originally been rejected due to local regulations, but Ōki had personally pushed through a legal change to approve the construction.

And now, that same councilman had turned up dead—found last night in a suite inside the towers he approved.

"I'm sorry, Inspector Megure. I've got something going on today and won't be able to come to the station," Yoshiki replied apologetically.

"Maybe you could email me the details the department has gathered? I'll take a look when I get a chance…But if Uncle Mōri-san is on the case, you probably won't need me anyway."

Although Megure sounded a bit disappointed, he still accepted Yoshiki's excuse.

Hayashi hung up the phone.

"You just lied to the police like that."came a voice beside him.

"That's not true. I said I have something to do today. And I do."he replied smoothly.

"…If going out to watch a movie counts as something."Haibara Ai muttered.

"Of course it does. I don't break promises to girls."

Yoshiki's tone was light and teasing, his smile as easy as ever.

Haibara Ai turned to look at him—her expression unreadable.He seemed perfectly content, even casual. And that bothered her a little.

As if sensing what she was thinking, Yoshiki spoke again:

"To be honest, this case doesn't interest me that much.The man who died—a councilman who rewrote city laws for his own benefit—maybe his death was a blessing for the public. Besides, isn't Kudō Shinichi involved?"

Huh...?

Haibara Ai blinked, a little surprised.

So he applauds the death of corrupt politicians...Cointreau's values seemed unusually simple for someone so tangled in the underworld.

It reminded her of the female criminal Yoshiki had once used to fake her death—a woman who had murdered a notorious trafficker.

He had used her and discarded her.It was a crime—no question. But…

Haibara Ai didn't find it disgusting.

Once you leave the Black Organization, no matter how clean you try to be, you've already got blood on your hands.

Even Haibara, who spent her time behind a microscope, had contributed to the deaths of many—at least a dozen victims by her drug designs alone.

Still, when she looked at Hayashi Yoshiki, a strange feeling stirred.

Can someone like him—who holds such straightforward ideas of right and wrong—survive long in the Organization?Will he be able to carry the weight...?

Her thoughts drifted back to her own sins…To the faces of test subjects screaming in agony…She felt the familiar tightness in her throat.

"...Why the sudden pale face?"Yoshiki asked, eyeing her gently.

"It's nothing..."she shook her head.

A pause.

Then, with quiet seriousness in her tone, she said:

"If something ever happens… please talk to me about it."

Yoshiki glanced at her.

"Hmm... If that's the case, there is something."

"What is it?"

"Yesterday, when you saw Ayumi and the others walk up—what did you call me?"He smiled as he said it.

Haibara Ai immediately fell silent.

She turned her gaze away from him—right as the theater lights dimmed and the film began to roll.

Yoshiki turned his eyes to the screen too.

He had brought her here to avoid the murder case Megure had mentioned.It didn't interest him right now.

He already knew the killer: Kisaragi Minemizu, once a celebrated painter and teacher to both Tokiwa Mio and Hara Yoshiaki.

Minemizu loved painting Mount Fuji—his life's passion. But as he aged and became too frail to climb the mountain, he built a small cabin for painting.

Then, Mio and Hara—his students—bribed Councilman Ōki and erected the Twin Towers right in front of his view.

Blinded by rage and betrayal, Minemizu planned to kill all three.

Hayashi Yoshiki's goal had been to let Minemizu kill Tokiwa Mio during the tower's grand opening—then stop the old man before more damage could be done.

A life saved during a crisis earns deeper gratitude.

Besides, the project Noah's Ark—likely tied to Tokiwa Group—was far more important.

If it really was an artificial intelligence system, it might prove more useful to him than even Koizumi Akako's magic.

The morning cinema was mostly empty.Hayashi Yoshiki and Haibara Ai had chosen a feature film—partly because she was curious, and partly because Yoshiki wanted to assess the director.

This same director was in talks to adapt the Kindaichi series into film—something Yoshiki wanted to observe firsthand.

He watched attentively.

But Haibara's mind wandered.

It's just a name... why does he care so much?

She glanced sideways at him.

Even in the dark, she could make out his focused profile, his expression completely immersed in the film.

Should I say it again...?

She didn't have any hidden feelings.She just felt… concerned.

He always carried so much on his shoulders—always calm, never tired, never asking for help.

She opened her mouth—then hesitated.

Nothing came out.

This is embarrassing.

Had her body returned to its original adult state, maybe she wouldn't have hesitated. After all, Yoshiki was several years older than her.

But now? With this child's body and voice?

Saying something like that would sound... coquettish.Too childish. And that was hard for someone like her, with such a cold personality.

How does Kudō say things like "Ahhh~" without shame?Seriously...

And finally, she whispered:

"Yo—Yoshiki... nii..."

She didn't even know how she managed to say it. Her voice was stiff, her expression frozen.

But... Yoshiki didn't react.

He kept watching the movie, eyes locked on the screen.

Did he not hear me?Was the film's volume too loud...?

She gritted her teeth.

Two minutes later, she gathered her courage again and softly said:

"Brother Yoshiki..."

This time, he turned toward her.

"Hmm?"

He smiled.

"You called me twice. Is something wrong?"

 

Chapter 216 - 216: Gin – “Cointreau is really a pain”

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Following the death of Congressman Oki Iwamatsu, the Metropolitan Police Department announced that renowned game designer Hara Yoshiaki had been murdered.

Just like in the case of Oki Iwamatsu, a small wine glass was found beside Yoshiaki Hara's body.

"According to the autopsy report, Hara Yoshiaki died between 5 and 6 PM yesterday evening. In addition, all the data on his computer had been deleted."

Since the congressman's death remained unresolved, and with this new case involving Hara Yoshiaki, Inspector Megure Jūzō once again contacted Hayashi Yoshiki by phone.

Hayashi: "Computer data?"

"What about Mr. Hosui? Where was he when Hara Yoshiaki died was killed?"

Megure: "Yoshiki-kun, are you doubting Kisaragi Hosui?"

"You're mistaken. Kisaragi-san is innocent. Conan and the Detective Boys were in his studio at the time of Hara Yoshiaki's death."

Hayashi: "...I see. Understood."

Hayashi exchanged a few more words with Megure before ending the call.

Yoshiaki Hara had been killed by Gin.

Just after sending Conan and the others away, Kisaragi Hosui had rushed back to Hara's house to carry out the murder. However, upon arrival, he discovered the body already there. He left a small wine glass to imitate the previous killing and quietly left.

What a coincidence.

Hayashi did not involve himself in the matter for the time being. The next day, he drove to the Mouri Detective Agency.

Ran: "Ah, Yoshiki-nii!"

"Did you really change your hairstyle?"

Ran and Sonoko had been waiting downstairs and were both surprised at his new appearance.

Hayashi: "How is it? Does it suit me?"He asked with a gentle smile.

Ran: "...It suits you."She nodded, smiling.

"But you look a little different from the Yoshiki-nii I'm used to. It's a bit hard to get used to."

Sonoko: "But it's super handsome!"She beamed.

Hayashi: "Then I'm relieved."

Hayashi glanced to the side.Through the reflection in the car window, he saw his newly slicked-back hair. He had also changed into a formal suit, given the significance of the evening.

Hayashi: "Let's go. If we leave now, we'll get to Twin Tower just in time."

Since Professor Agasa was driving Conan, the rest of the group set off together—same as last time.

Upon arrival at the Twin Tower Skyscraper, they handed in their invitations and took the elevator directly to the 75th-floor banquet hall.

The venue was already crowded with guests.

Because of Hayashi's drastically changed appearance, many were surprised at first. Still, some of his fans recognized him and eagerly came up to ask for autographs.

Ayumi (whispering to Haibara): "Yoshiki-san looks so different today..."

Haibara: "Mm..."

Thinking back to how Hayashi had "teased" her at the cinema a few days earlier, Haibara's face tensed slightly.

At that moment, Tokiwa Mio stepped forward and took the microphone.

Tokiwa: "Thank you all for attending today's opening ceremony of the Tokiwa Group's Twin Towers. Before we begin, let's play a little game! As you can see, there's a convertible sports car on stage. Whoever wins the next challenge can drive it home!"

The game involved silently counting to 30 seconds. Whoever was the most accurate would win.

Uninterested, Hayashi found an empty seat and took a phone call.

Caller: "Hey, why's it so noisy over there?"

Hayashi: "I'm at the Twin Towers in Nishitama City. It's the opening ceremony."

Caller (Hakuba Saguru): "Oh, that building constructed thanks to a corrupt councillor's backroom deals?"

After a short sigh, Hakuba continued seriously.

Hakuba: "I told my father about your deduction the other night. The task force agreed with your theory. I also mentioned bringing you onto the team."

Hayashi: "And the result?"

Hakuba: "It's under discussion. But here's the good news—I got a few more videos. I'll show them to you later. Also..."

Hayashi: "Hmm?"

Hakuba: "There was another incident recently. A suspected accidental homicide. But the 'accident' didn't actually kill anyone."

Hayashi (with a smile): "Really? What about the survivor? Have they been taken in for questioning?"

Hakuba: "Yes, but I don't know what came of it yet. Anyway, I'll stop bothering you now. Let's meet when you're free."

Hayashi: "Alright. See you later."

He ended the call and looked up—the mini-game was already underway.

Just as he was about to watch, his other phone buzzed with a text message.

Gin: "Behave yourself for the time being. The police have noticed someone's manipulating accidental deaths."

Cointreau (Hayashi): "Didn't we form a special task force with them too?"

...

A black Porsche 365A tore down the highway.

Gin, seated in the passenger seat, glanced at Hayashi's reply. A rare flicker of surprise crossed his normally blank face.

The Public Security Bureau's operation had been conducted in extreme secrecy.The organization had only caught wind of it because Vermouth, who had "survived the accident," was investigated—and suspicions had been raised.

Cointreau had known all along?

Cointreau: "I was planning to join them."

Gin stared at the screen in silence.

Was this black humor? A killer joining the task force investigating his own crimes? It was like letting a wolf guard a sheep pen.

Gin had merely hoped Hayashi would lie low—but instead, he had gone and stirred more trouble.

…Wait.

Had he intentionally caused the "accident" so that Vermouth would survive and trigger the formation of the task force?

Gin remembered Hayashi's ever-smiling face from their first meeting—a smile that always hinted at secret machinations.

Maybe even becoming a detective had been part of a long-term plan.

Gin: "Oh..."He grinned darkly.

Vodka, still oblivious, drove in silence.

Gin: "Drive faster."

If the subordinate he personally recruited was capable of such elaborate schemes, he—Gin, the boss—couldn't afford to fall behind.

Yoshiaki Hara was already dead. But if he had used Tokiwa Group's servers to steal information from the organization, then every trace needed to be erased.

The server must be destroyed—with a bomb.

 

 

Chapter 217 - 217: Are You Surprised?

"Ahahahaha! Now I can finally say goodbye to my car rental career!"

As the unexpected winner of the 30-second counting game, Kogoro Mouri was gleefully invited to the stage to share his thoughts.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled, clapping politely with the rest of the audience.

Truth be told, a convertible sports car didn't quite match Kogoro's image. If he actually drove it home, it would probably just gather dust in a garage—or end up being resold.

After the brief award ceremony, Kogoro stepped down from the stage, brimming with pride.

"Congratulations, Uncle Mouri."

"Haha, pure luck! All luck!"

"Maybe Ran inherited your good fortune, then."

"Oh! That might just be true!" Kogoro puffed up with zero humility.

Meanwhile, Yoshiki noticed Tokiwa Mio slipping backstage after her speech—and also saw Kisaragi Hosui vanish among the crowd of guests.

He politely excused himself from the group and followed them backstage.

"Everyone, next I'd like to introduce the most important guest of honor today!That is the work of our country's national treasure-level Japanese painting master—Mr. Kisaragi Hosui!"

The venue lights dimmed.

As the host's enthusiastic voice rang out under the spotlight, Tokiwa Mio prepared behind the curtain to give her opening speech.

She deeply respected her former teacher, Kisaragi Hosui.

Though she had acquired many of his Mount Fuji paintings through their personal connection—sometimes leveraging them for prestige or capital—she still admired his talent. Now, she was ready to offer him a surprise: a studio built in the Twin Towers, carefully positioned to give him the most breathtaking view of Mount Fuji imaginable.

She planned to reveal this in her speech.

"Ah...?"

Just before stepping out, Mio's pearl necklace came undone, falling to the ground.

Before she could retrieve it, Kisaragi's voice gently intervened:

"It's alright. I'll help you put it on."

"Okay... thank you, sensei."

She smiled in relief.

But as Kisaragi reached to place the necklace around her neck, another voice cut through the dim backstage atmosphere:

"Stop it, Mr. Kisaragi."

"!"

Kisaragi's eyes sharpened instantly.

Standing calmly nearby, a young man in a sleek black suit with neatly slicked-back hair held a steady gaze on the necklace in his hand.

"As expected... you were planning to kill Miss Tokiwa on stage."His voice was low, but clear.

"What?!"

Mio Tokiwa gasped, stunned by the accusation.

Kisaragi said nothing.

As her eyes flicked down, she caught sight of the piano wire—subtly attached to the clasp of the necklace, glinting under the spotlight.

A cold chill ran through her.

"The ceremony starts at 8:00 p.m., doesn't it?"Yoshiki glanced at his phone and smiled gently."You've got less than ten seconds. Miss Tokiwa, you'd better get ready for your speech."

Just then, Inspector Megure and a team of officers rushed into the backstage area, eyes locked on Kisaragi Hosui.

The curtains were rising.

Realizing he'd been exposed, Kisaragi didn't resist. He turned silently and walked away.

Two seconds later, Mio stepped forward under the lights, her face pale but composed.

During her speech, when she thanked her teacher and revealed the new painting studio overlooking Mount Fuji, Kisaragi Hosui froze.

His eyes widened.

The pearl necklace slipped from his hand, clinking onto the floor.

"Are you surprised?"

Hayashi Yoshiki stood beside him, speaking quietly.

"Miss Tokiwa didn't know those towers blocked your old studio. She put her heart into building you a new one. That was her surprise for you."

Kisaragi said nothing.

"So... Mr. Kisaragi really is the killer?"Inspector Megure approached carefully.

Still silent, Kisaragi only glanced at Yoshiki, as if waiting for him to lay out the truth.

"The shattered wine glasses at each scene were his signal, Inspector," said Yoshiki.

"An upside-down wine glass resembles Mount Fuji. Breaking it—symbolically destroying Mount Fuji—expressed his rage over his studio view being obstructed. When the Junior Detective League visited him, they noticed he painted with the curtains drawn. I checked the studio myself afterward."

"In the photo of Councilman Ōki's death, there's a strange gap in the blood spatter on the wardrobe. Something was removed—probably one of his paintings."

"You didn't kill Hara Yoshiaki, did you?" Yoshiki asked.

"No," Kisaragi finally spoke."I was going to... but when I arrived, he was already dead. So I left the wine glass and smashed it anyway."

"I thought so. Your police alibi didn't add up unless that was the case."

"And that's why you followed me backstage?"

"Yes. Based on the timing, I figured you'd try to kill her here—during the opening ceremony."

"...Why now?" asked Megure, narrowing his eyes.

"Because Mr. Kisaragi was angriest at Miss Tokiwa," Yoshiki explained, "yet he also cared. He painted a Mount Fuji piece just for her. My guess is, he planned to split that painting across her corpse onstage, with the building behind them, as poetic revenge for destroying his view."

Kisaragi looked at Yoshiki with deep, weary eyes.

He didn't deny it.

Megure gave the signal.

Officers moved in and quietly handcuffed the silent artist.

After completing her speech, Tokiwa Mio returned backstage.

When she learned the truth, her face became a complicated mix of pain and sorrow.

"Sensei..."

But Kisaragi Hosui only closed his eyes.

And said nothing.

 

Chapter 218 - 218: Escape

BOOM!!!!!!!

Shortly after the arrest of Kisaragi Hosui, while guests were still buzzing about the shocking development, a thunderous explosion suddenly rocked the entire building.

And then—

The lights went out.

"Ahhhh!!!"

"What happened?!"

"An earthquake?"

"Why is the whole building shaking?!"

Panic erupted.

Everyone in the banquet hall rushed to the floor-to-ceiling windows, but they were too high up to make anything out clearly.

Tokiwa Mio immediately pulled out her phone and called down to the building staff.

The response made her go pale.

"What?! There was an explosion?"

"Explosion?! On which floor?!"

"The motor and generator rooms—4th basement level! Also, the server room on the 40th floor!"

Tokiwa Mio nearly collapsed.

The Tokiwa Group's mainframe computer system was housed on the 40th floor. They hadn't yet backed up the data. If the damage was severe, everything—their entire corporate infrastructure—could be lost.

And the situation kept deteriorating.

A second report came through: a fire had broken out on the 40th floor.

Gin never left room for compromise.

Hayashi Yoshiki rolled up his sleeves and calmly glanced at his watch.

No panic in his eyes.

But all around him, chaos had already erupted. The worst came when someone shouted:

"The elevators are down!"

"Wait! There's still the observation elevator!"

"Right! That one's on a separate emergency power grid!"

"It can go down to the 45th floor—then we can cross to Building B via the skybridge!"

The police quickly began evacuating guests.

But the observation elevator only carried 9 people at a time. There were hundreds of guests.

"Let the elderly, women, and children go first! The rest can take the stairs!"

No one protested.

People rushed for the emergency exits.

Meanwhile, Hayashi Yoshiki stayed behind with Inspector Megure.

"Brother Hayashi, you should go too."

"It's alright. I'll wait until the kids and Ran-chan are on the elevator."He smiled. "Besides, Officer Megure, you're still here, right?"

"Brother Yoshiki..."

Ayumi looked up at him with wide eyes.

He gently patted her head.

Group after group boarded the elevator. Inspector Megure offered Kisaragi Hosui, still in handcuffs, a chance to go next.

But the old man stubbornly refused.

"Don't treat me like I'm some feeble senior!"

He insisted on using the stairs.

Yoshiki watched him go, then moved into a quiet corner.

He took out his notebook and pen, scribbling something with focus.

Time passed.

Finally, Ran, Sonoko, and the kids boarded the elevator.

Just before the doors closed, Ran called out:

"Brother Yoshiki, be careful...!"

"Yeah! Don't worry!"

His smile was calm as ever.

After confirming their descent, Megure turned to him.

"Let's get going, too."

"Right."Yoshiki cracked a grin. "But Officer Megure, can you run with that body of yours?"

"Of course! I jog in the park every day!"

"...Could've fooled me."

"Still haven't lost a single kilo, though!"

They laughed as they dashed for the stairs.

There were two connecting bridges between the towers—on the 60th and 45th floors.

But the VIP elevator could only stop at the 45th.

When Yoshiki and Megure reached the 60th floor, they hurried across to Building B.

"I'll check the 45th floor to meet up with Ran and the others."

"Alright. I'll keep heading down to coordinate with the police."

"Take care."

"You too!"

They split.

Yoshiki stepped off at the 45th floor's skybridge, just in time to see the observation elevator from Building A had stopped on the 47th.

He quickly made a call.

"Brother Yoshiki, our elevator stopped suddenly!"

Ran's voice was breathless. "We forced the doors open! We're heading up the stairs to the 45th!"

"I'm here now. I'll come meet you."

He hung up before she could answer.

On the 46th floor stairwell, Ran shouted into her phone—

But all she got was a busy tone.

"He's really coming here... in all this danger?"

"Is he coming?"

Though she hadn't heard the conversation, Haibara Ai knew who it was. And she knew he'd come.

Ran nodded.

"What?! Brother Yoshiki is coming now?!"Sonoko yelped, finally catching on.

BOOM!!

The building shook violently again.

They nearly toppled over.

The explosion on the 40th floor had unleashed a chimney effect—flames and thick smoke surged through the stairwell.

The fire now chased them from behind.

The skybridge was dead center in the corridor.

"The fire's coming!! RUN!!!"

The group of girls and kids broke into a desperate sprint.

Then—

From the far side of the corridor, Hayashi Yoshiki appeared, running toward them.

"Hurry! Watch your step!"

They had no time to exchange words.

Besides Ran, Sonoko, and the Detective Boys, there were two others: a young mother with a child, and a middle-aged woman fleeing with them.

"Faster!"

Yoshiki called from the edge of the bridge.

Ran turned to look at him, worry etched on her face.

Far from the flames, in a quiet area outside the twin towers…

Gin and Vodka stood beside their Porsche 356A, watching the rising fire from afar.

"This new bomb packs more punch than I expected, aniki," said Vodka.

Gin let out a cold laugh.

This device—recently developed by the Organization—was 30% more powerful despite being the same size. Vermouth had previously complained that the bombs she'd planted weren't destructive enough. That prompted R&D to kick into high gear.

"Since the unimportant ones have already evacuated..."

Vodka raised the detonator.

Click—BOOM!!!

A massive explosion erupted from the 60th floor skybridge.

Concrete and steel collapsed, the debris crashing onto the 45th floor bridge below——obliterating it in an instant.

 

 

Chapter 219 - 219: Didn’t You Pay More Attention When You Pressed the Detonator?

"Careful!!!!"

It was like a nightmare unfurling in slow motion.

The bridge above them—exploded.

As the collapsed structure came crashing down with a monstrous roar, Ran saw only one thing: Hayashi Yoshiki's face.

A face stricken with urgency, sprinting toward them.

Then—her hand was grabbed.

He pulled her with such force that she nearly stumbled, but she quickly steadied herself and began to run, blindly trusting him—just moments before the falling wreckage could claim them.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

The glass ceiling of the skybridge shattered like paper.

Concrete and steel rained down with horrifying weight as the collapsed 60th floor bridge tore through the 45th floor below it. The screams of twisted metal blended with the terrified voices of the trapped.

Ran nearly collapsed from the shockwave—but a hand steadied her again.

"It's okay. You're safe now."

Hayashi Yoshiki held her firmly.

Ran gasped for breath and turned around.

The skybridge... was gone.

"Yoshiki-nii..."

Her voice trembled.

But he didn't answer immediately.

Yoshiki walked to the edge where the bridge had once stood.

Now there was only a gap—a void—between the towers. Far below, the ground yawned like a death sentence. Any normal person with acrophobia would already be paralyzed.

"Ran! Yoshiki-nii! Are you okay?!"

Sonoko, across the chasm in Building B, shouted frantically.

"We're alright!"

Ran answered quickly.

Yoshiki turned back, his calm gaze finding her.

"Everyone's safe, but…"He exhaled."This just got more complicated."

Ran's expression tensed immediately.

She was only a high school student. It would be unnatural not to feel fear in a situation like this.

No bridge.No elevator.Flames behind them.

And the passageways downstairs? Blocked by fire.

Meanwhile, on the ground below—

Guests who had safely evacuated were stunned into silence as they stared at the smoke and flames rising from above.

Inspector Megure was shouting orders while coordinating with the fire department. But just then, Kogoro Mouri's phone rang.

His face turned pale the moment he answered.

"What did you say?! Ran and Yoshiki didn't make it across?!"

"What? Ran-chan and Yoshiki-nii?!"

Inspector Megure also froze.

Sonoko, sobbing on the other end, had explained everything: the 60th-floor bridge collapsed while Hayashi Yoshiki was helping others escape. He and Ran were left behind—trapped on the 45th floor.

Megure immediately turned to the firefighters.

"Can we send a team to the 45th floor?!"

"Impossible! The fire's too intense. We're trying to control the 40th floor now—we can't reach that high!"

The firefighters were sweating, frantic.

Just then, Sonoko, Ayumi, and the other children arrived, breathless and distraught.

"There's a fire on the 45th floor too!" Ayumi shouted.

Kogoro Mouri's face was ashen.

And then—

The press arrived.

They'd been invited to cover the skyscraper's opening, but now, they had a real scoop.

"Is it true someone's still trapped on the 45th floor?"

"Is one of them Hayashi Yoshiki, the famous novelist-detective?"

"Mr. Mouri! Can you confirm this?!"

Kogoro said nothing.

At that same moment, in a luxury apartment in Mihua City—

Wrapped in nothing but a towel, Vermouth emerged from the bathroom, towel-drying her hair.

She had been treating her stay in Beika like a vacation—relaxing, distant from her usual espionage grind. Still, as an informant of the Organization, she kept her eye on operations.

She was the one who had flagged that the Organization's old bombs weren't powerful enough.

So she was quite curious to see the results of today's test: Gin and Vodka were reportedly using a new model to eliminate a rogue programmer.

Opening her laptop, she casually searched news about the Nishitama City twin towers—

Only to freeze.

A banner headline glared back at her:

"Famous detective Hayashi Yoshiki trapped in tower inferno!"

Her eyes widened.

Cointreau...?!

Immediately, she dove deeper.

And then—her heart dropped.

Not just Hayashi Yoshiki.

Ran was trapped too.

The live feed from on-site reporters left no doubt. Judging by the timeline, he had stayed behind to save her.

No hesitation.

Vermouth snatched her phone and dialed.

"Hello? It's me."

Her voice, still silky smooth, hid a mounting tension.

On the other end, Gin's voice was as cold and deadpan as always.

She forced a chuckle.

"Looks like the new bomb's a real success. But... maybe next time, try being a little more careful before hitting the detonator?"

"...What are you getting at?"

Gin's tone dropped a few degrees colder.

"Thanks to your test run, Cointreau's now stuck on the 45th floor.""He might burn alive in the next few minutes."

—click.

The line went dead.

In his Porsche, Gin's expression twisted in a way Vodka had never seen.

"Turn around."

"Huh?" Vodka blinked.

He glanced sideways—and flinched.

Gin's face was a mask of fury.

No jokes. No smiles.

Just cold, deadly urgency.

Vermouth doesn't bluff.

He opened his contacts and began dialing with such force that the plastic of his phone creaked.

Vodka understood immediately.

No questions asked—he whipped the car around, ignoring every traffic law.

Whatever was about to happen, Gin knew one thing:

He hadn't just endangered a pawn.

He'd nearly sacrificed one of their own.

 

Chapter 220 - 220: Vodka Is Anxious

The higher you gaze at the night sky, the more you feel the depth of night.

It was quiet here.

Too quiet.

Just the two of them.

No distant sirens, no voices from the crowd below. The smoke hadn't reached them yet. The world felt like it had stopped.

"I just realized it's a full moon tonight."

Leaning against the wall beside the shattered bridge, Hayashi Yoshiki gazed out into the sky, voice calm and detached—as if none of this chaos surrounded them.

Next to him, Ran sat with her arms wrapped around her knees.

But her thoughts weren't on the moon.

They were on him.

"If… if you hadn't turned back to save me..."

Her voice cracked slightly.

She remembered it vividly—how he could've escaped. If he hadn't come back for her, he'd be safe by now, probably sipping water and catching his breath with the others.

But instead…

"Are you really going to start blaming yourself now?"

His voice was soft. Warm. Grounding.

"We're just stuck. That doesn't mean this is how it ends."

Ran turned her head.

She'd always been strong—but kindness sometimes made her vulnerable. Blame sat heavy on her shoulders.

"Let's just wait here for now."

"I'm sure Uncle Mouri and Inspector Megure are doing everything they can."

He smiled gently.

Ran nodded quietly.

She had earlier spotted a fire hose behind the extinguisher box and even considered trying to swing down with it, maybe break in through a lower window. But Yoshiki had gently but firmly shot that idea down.

It wasn't realistic. Not with two people. And not with the kind of weight and height they were facing.

Suddenly, thick black smoke began to roll down the corridor.

The air grew hotter.

Hayashi Yoshiki loosened his collar, tugging off his tie and unbuttoning his shirt slightly.

"This heat's getting annoying. I'm going to sweat my hair out."

Ran blinked.

"…You're worried about your hair right now?"

"Come on, haven't you noticed? I always care about my image."

He chuckled.

Then his phone buzzed.

He picked up—expression relaxing at first, then sharpening.

Gin's voice came through the speaker like a blade:

"What's the situation?"

"So you found out."

"Just answer."

"…Not hurt. But the situation's pretty bad."

"I'm mobilizing a helicopter. ETA: twenty minutes."

"Hmm... There's a fire here already. And besides..."He looked over the broken bridge."A chopper can't land here. Even approaching might be too risky. Ladders won't help either."

There was silence.

Gin's face, somewhere far off, twisted in restrained fury.

This was his screw-up.

He had pressed the detonation button that might just kill one of the Organization's most talented members—with his own hands.

Cointreau wasn't expendable.

He was worth more than half the Organization's grunts combined. Gin had tolerated him, even respected him. And now?

He'd walked him into a burning trap.

Meanwhile, in the front seat, Vodka was having a breakdown.

It's over.

I'm the one who hit the switch.

If Cointreau died here, would Gin ever forgive him? Would Cointreau?

Would he come back for revenge?

Cold sweat rolled down his neck, soaking his collar. He didn't dare say a word.

Gin's eyes were scanning his phone. Cold. Furious. Calculating.

He was ready to send in an armed helicopter if needed.

Exposure didn't matter anymore.

If he could save Hayashi Yoshiki, he would.

He was that valuable.

"But… if you could get me a parachute, that might work."

"Done."

Gin didn't hesitate. The call ended immediately.

Vodka held his breath.

And then exhaled… just a little.

Back at the tower, Inspector Megure was on the line too.

"We're sending a rescue chopper! Hold tight!"

Hayashi Yoshiki gave the same answer as before:

"We'll try. But a parachute is probably the only way we're getting out of here."

He then looked down at his watch.

Twenty minutes?Plenty.

Because he had already prepared for this.

[Kisaragi Hosui][Cause of death: Burned][March 21, 20:53 — Entered Room A2, 45th floor of Twin Towers][March 21, 21:37:42 — Consumed by flames]

[Kuto Daichi][Cause of death: Burned][March 21, 20:53 — Entered Room A1, 45th floor of Twin Towers][March 21, 21:45:42 — Consumed by flames]

If the fire was going to reach their part of the building, it had to first pass through A1 and A2. He had written their fates down in the Death Note—and as long as that timeline held, he and Ran would be safe until then.

He had traded two expendable lives for time.

And he didn't feel guilty.

Kisaragi had already made peace with death the moment he refused help.

He would've died anyway—in prison, in regret, in darkness.

This way, at least, he served a purpose.

Even if Gin and Megure hadn't called, Yoshiki had a dozen other plans. He was never going to die here.

"Twenty minutes."

He turned to Ran, gently:

"Are you nervous?"

She nodded slightly.

He smiled.

"Then we pray."

He looked up at the sky once more.

The moonlight shimmered brightly over the city.

"Ran's always been lucky. This time, I'll trust in your luck too.""We'll make it. I promise.