Ch. 251..260

Chapter 251 - 251: Vermouth in the Dark

Seeing Haibara Ai's reaction, Hayashi Yoshiki immediately realized that Vermouth was hiding nearby.

The Thousand-Faced Witch, a perfect actor...

Are you still worried about Ran?

Or do you want to observe me more, even now?

Recalling how she asked at the restaurant who was better at disguise between him and Kaito Kid, Hayashi Yoshiki lowered his eyes, a faint smile curving on his lips.

"Brother Yoshiki~!"

"Has Sonoko come to play too?"

Looking at Suzuki Sonoko, who was happily waving, Hayashi Yoshiki returned a gentle smile.

"What a coincidence today!" Sonoko said cheerfully. "I was originally here to attend the celebration party at the Red Castle Hotel tonight. When I came here to kill time, I ran into Ran and the others—and then I found Kazuha was here too!"

"It's a coincidence indeed."

"But I just got a call... there was an explosion on the top floor of the Red Castle Hotel. My dad told me not to go anymore."

At her words, Ran suddenly froze.

"The top floor… isn't that the client...?"

She looked at Hayashi Yoshiki, then at her father and Hattori Heiji talking with Conan.

Thinking of how they'd disappeared all day… how staff had suddenly come to replace their ID watches… and now the hotel explosion and all the police—

Ran began to piece it all together.

"Could it be that Brother Yoshiki and the others...?"

"Don't worry. It's over."

Hayashi Yoshiki gave her a soft smile, clearly dodging the question.

"How about some ice cream?"

"Don't try to hide everything from me, Brother Yoshiki!"

"But I really want ice cream now," he answered with that usual warm smile. "I've been busy all day. I deserve something sweet."

Ran bit her lip.

At this point... how could she argue with him?

He's too cunning…

Ran and Sonoko joined him to get ice cream. The other kids were too full from their sweets-filled day to follow.

"Brother Yoshiki, are you going to eat two?" Sonoko blinked.

"No," he smiled. "One's for Ai. She's… a little off. I'll check on her."

"You're so considerate, Brother Yoshiki..." Sonoko sighed.

As Hayashi Yoshiki walked off, Ran watched his back with complicated emotions.

He's always so gentle...

But why does he never let anyone help him?

This isn't how it should be.

Looking at her father—lounging like a beached whale—Ran suddenly turned serious.

"Ran? Where are you going?" Sonoko blinked in surprise.

"What is going on with today's commission?" Ran asked directly.

"Commission? It's nothing. It's resolved—"

"If you don't tell me the truth, you'll be cooking for yourself for the next month."

"...UGH!"

Weakness: exposed.

Mori Kogoro surrendered and spilled everything.

Meanwhile, Hayashi Yoshiki handed the second ice cream to Haibara Ai.

"You'll stand out more if you keep acting like this."

"...You knew?"

"Of course. I was the one who led her here."

That gentle, easy smile reassured her immediately.

She accepted the ice cream quietly.

Hayashi Yoshiki ruffled her hair gently, casually surveying the area.

Too many tourists.

If only I had the Eyes of Death, he thought. A disguise wouldn't fool me then...

But it didn't matter. Just knowing that Vermouth was nearby was enough.

"Brother Yoshiki!"

"Huh?"

"Dad told me everything."

Ran's face was adorably serious, her gaze fiercely determined.

Hayashi Yoshiki blinked in silence.

Then, finally…

"...As long as you're all safe, that's all that matters."

Bathed in the park's moonlight and neon glow, his elegant features softened.

For once, he let the mask drop.

In that one moment, Ran saw past his calm—

—and into the deep fatigue and genuine relief behind those eyes.

"...!"

She froze.

Yoshiki… you're tired, aren't you?

Then, the park's speakers came alive:

[We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused by the suspension of the "Super Snake" ride. It has now been repaired and will reopen in ten minutes.]

Hayashi Yoshiki turned back to her with a smile.

"I'm a little curious. Want to ride it?"

"Sure."

She didn't hesitate.

The other children ran toward the attraction, excited.

A woman in plain clothes joined them from behind—Vermouth, sitting alone in the back seat.

She stared silently at Hayashi Yoshiki, Ran, and the others.

So you really do love her, Cointreau...

But that makes you more dangerous than anyone else.

His charisma… that quiet power…

Women are drawn to him—and Vermouth knew that was no coincidence.

Even his scent was intoxicating.

He's real—but he's still not someone for Ran.

She turned to the boy sitting up ahead with Hattori Heiji.

Kudo Shinichi.

She had already known.

When his name appeared in the APTX4869 files, Vermouth returned from the U.S. to investigate.

It didn't take long to figure it out.

And then...

Haibara Ai, standing down below.

She hadn't boarded the ride. She was alone.

And to Vermouth, that was even more dangerous.

 

Chapter 252 - 252: Is There a Traitor in the Task Force?

Ito Suehiko has come to an end.

His predecessor, Soichiro Miyama of the Miyama Chamber of Commerce, was also sent to prison after the police collected a large amount of criminal evidence.

The other party's subsequent fate would be death by suicide.

"The life of a boss is really rich."

A cup of brewed black tea was placed in front of Hayashi Yoshiki, and Amuro Toru said with a smile:

"So you're planning to take some time off to write a book recently?"

"Yes, but it's also because I came up with a good idea."

"Oh? Can you please tell me?"

"Inconvenient."

"No hesitation at all."

"What has Mr. Amuro been doing lately?"

"I've been traveling and relaxing for a while. Now, I've become addicted to fishing."

Amuro Toru smiled and sat down opposite Hayashi Yoshiki.

He lies so easily.

Amuro Toru has been busy with the tasks assigned to him by Rum for some time, while simultaneously trying to spy on Cointreau's information within the Organization.

But this mysterious new member made him feel like he had no idea where to start.

This was someone discovered by Gin himself—his confidentiality level nearly the highest in the group.

Any attempt to retrieve his data would be logged.

Amuro Toru didn't have the authority.

Even if he did, the true identity file likely wouldn't be stored in any accessible location.

But Amuro wasn't discouraged.

He had cracked Vermouth's secrets—Cointreau's was only a matter of time.

But...

Toru Amuro looked at the young man across from him, sipping tea with a leisurely smile.

He hadn't expected that while he was investigating Cointreau, the man in front of him would be nearly killed by him.

Even if Cointreau didn't mean to, he had still gravely injured Hayashi Yoshiki.

That bastard.

Thinking back to the video—where Hayashi Yoshiki rushed to save a man even though he knew it was a trap—Amuro felt a surge of frustration.

"Fishing sounds interesting, but I probably don't have the patience for it," Hayashi said while replying to messages.

Kuroba Kaito: "What happened to the guy who accidentally killed someone?"

Hayashi Yoshiki: "What are you talking about?"

Kuroba Kaito: "Don't play dumb. I heard everything. You were seriously injured, right?"

Hayashi Yoshiki: "Don't get involved. Focus on your father's whereabouts, Kuroba-san who secretly used Hakuba Saguru's identity."

Kuroba Kaito: "Tsk!"

In Ekoda High School, Kaito curled his lips and was about to put his phone away when:

"Why was Hayashi Yoshiki seriously injured?"

"Whoa!?"

Kuroba turned to find Koizumi Akako.

"Why the silence?"

"I'm just curious. You looked so absent-minded," Akako said bluntly, brushing her crimson hair behind her ear.

"So what's going on?"

Kindaichi Detective Agency

Hayashi Yoshiki was still replying to messages.

Conan: "Would you like to talk after school?"

Hayashi Yoshiki: "Why, did some upperclassman bully you?"

Conan: "What are you talking about? I want to talk seriously."

Hayashi Yoshiki sighed. Now that Conan had revealed his identity, everything was more complicated.

But seeing how serious the kid was… it was hard to refuse.

Ikumi Soda: "Are you free recently, Mr. Hayashi?"

Hayashi Yoshiki: "What can I do for you?"

Ikumi Soda: "Nothing. I just thought it's a shame—we've dated twice, but something always went wrong."

The one using Ikumi Soda's name was Vermouth.

He'd saved her number under that alias and hadn't changed it since.

Hayashi Yoshiki: "Now that you mention it, that's true."

Hayashi Yoshiki: "Let's find another opportunity to arrange a time."

Vermouth raised an eyebrow. Surprisingly smooth.

Was it because he owed her a favor? Or… because he cared?

Either way, it worked.

Cointreau was too dangerous for Ran—especially for someone as inexperienced as her.

Boy (Kudo Shinichi) was slow now. He couldn't compete.

Thinking of what happened in America, Vermouth felt an odd sense of responsibility.

"He's suddenly smiling so much… did something good happen?" Amuro asked curiously.

"Let's just leave it at that."

"Are you going on a date with a beautiful woman?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Wait—seriously?"

Amuro sighed. Hayashi Yoshiki was brilliant in every way… but maybe just a little too romantic.

Still—it made him human.

Buzz! Buzz!

Hayashi Yoshiki's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, then his expression turned serious.

Ignoring Amuro, he stood, walked to the balcony, and answered.

(Is it about the task force?)

Amuro narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Is the murderer on the move again?"

"Yes. The victim this time was someone whose info was posted online, and…"

On the other end, Odagiri Toshiro's tone dropped into a grim whisper.

"The ones who died… were on the list we blocked immediately."

"...I see."

The task force had acted on Hayashi Yoshiki's advice—scrubbing the net of any posts revealing crimes.

Even those deleted within thirty seconds didn't save the victims. They still died days later.

That was when Odagiri began to suspect...

Was there a traitor inside the task force?

Hayashi Yoshiki fell silent.

Then he responded, his voice low:

"Let me think about it, and I'll contact you soon, Minister Odagiri."

 

Chapter 253 - 253: Gin's Cold Violence

A white Mercedes was speeding on the suburban road.

After passing through the dense forest, when a road sign finally appeared ahead, Hayashi Yoshiki turned on the turn signal and turned in.

The final destination was in front of a lake.

"Cointreau is here, brother."

When they saw a familiar white car stopped by the lake, Vodka said to Gin beside him.

Gin hummed.

When Hayashi Yoshiki got out of the car and walked over, he found that the two people in front of him were sitting on a camping chair each, and Gin was holding a... fishing rod?

The wonderful scene before his eyes made Hayashi Yoshiki stop.

But he only paused for a moment and quickly walked forward.

Vodka was about to say hello, but Hayashi Yoshiki, who was walking over, asked first:

"Is there a dead body in the lake?"

"…"

Vodka opened his mouth, and Gin's calm breathing paused.

His eyes glanced over from under the brim of his hat, and his voice was calm:

"I'm taking a break today."

What is going on in this Cointreau guy's mind?

You must be seriously ill to think of dead people when you're fishing.

Vodka brought a folding camping chair, opened it, and placed it behind Hayashi Yoshiki, who thanked him and sat down.

"Brother, I didn't have anything to do yesterday and today, so I came here to kill time." Vodka said as he put bait on the hook. "Do you want a fishing rod?"

"I'll try."

Vodka considerately helped Hayashi Yoshiki prepare the fishing rod.

As he cast the hook into the lake, watching the colorful buoys undulating slightly on the surface of the water, Hayashi Yoshiki said:

"I thought you were the type who wasn't interested in anything except work."

"Fishing can train patience and control of calm breath."

Gin's tone at this moment was unusually calm. "But there really is nothing to do."

"So did you catch any fish?"

"…"

The atmosphere by the lake is very peaceful.

A breeze blew by, rippling the surface of the lake and shaking the willow branches hanging down by the lake.

Gin began to use cold violence against Hayashi Yoshiki.

However, Hayashi Yoshiki was still smiling.

Gin had enough free time to go fishing.

But it's not to the point of being unbelievable.

After all, the other person is also a human being, and considering the softness of his long silver hair, he probably needs maintenance every ten days or half a month, and it probably takes an hour to wash her hair every time.

Hayashi Yoshiki came here for something important.

He took out a sealed document from his pocket and handed it to Vodka.

"I'll trouble you next, Mr. Vodka."

"OK."

Vodka wiped his hands and took it.

He opened the document and saw a total of three names and their criminal cases recorded in it.

——These are actually handed over to Cointreau after Gin's people investigate, and then Cointreau screens the circle and hands them over to Vodka.

"Or will they be exposed on the Internet like before?" Vodka confirmed cautiously.

"Yes."

"What exactly do you want to do?" Gin glanced at Hayashi Yoshiki.

"This... Keep it secret for now."

"Hmph, just don't move too much and expose yourself."

The other party's behavior was really confusing in Gin's eyes — he said he was cooperating with the task force, but on the other hand, he kept killing people on the killing list. Gin almost thought he was addicted to killing under this name.

As he paid more attention, Gin also discovered that those who died at the hands of Cointreau seemed to be scumbags.

However, he would not doubt that Cointreau was actually a "good guy" because of this — only a person with a dark heart could be so carefree and take the lives of others without any care.

Hayashi Yoshiki still had a calm expression.

Now there is no need to use Vodka's computer technology to forge posting records. Instead, the posts are made by peripheral members of the distillery. The names on the list are all people close to those peripheral members.

Even if the police investigate those who posted the messages afterwards, Hayashi Yoshiki can ensure that the matter will never be exposed.

Because just in case, he also wrote the names of some low-level members in the Death Note... using the influence of scientific time on the Death Note, he let them die in the distant future under circumstances that neither the police nor the winery would suspect.

"But there is one other thing that I need Mr. Vodka's help with."

"What?"

"Help me keep an eye on Minister Odagiri."

"OK."

Vodka didn't think it was troublesome and nodded in agreement.

Hayashi Yoshiki stayed for a while, then got up and left — Gin hadn't been served yet until he left.

Afterwards, Gin sat by the lake for a long time.

He was indeed very patient. Even when the float in the distance was motionless, he kept watching it and did not make any unnecessary movements.

Until after a while, a big fish slowly swam to the lake and swam leisurely beside the surface.

Gin noticed the fish immediately.

The fish poked its head out of the water and looked into Gin's dark green eyes. Its mouth opened and closed, and its lifeless eyes stared at him with disapproval.

"Damn, is this fish provoking me?"

Vodka noticed and couldn't help but curse.

He stood up and began to look for a landing net, but after searching around he couldn't find it.

"Brother, I forgot to bring the landing net."

"…"

Gin looked at the fish with cold eyes, which was swimming faster and faster, swimming away and then coming back, and even surfacing intentionally to look at him.

Finally, he took out a gun from under his windbreaker.

Diu!

The bullet went straight through the fish's head.

"…"

Vodka, who witnessed this scene, opened his mouth but still said nothing.

Wearing sunglasses, he squatted by the lake, paddling the water, waiting for the bleeding fish to float over and then picking it up.

"What a great catch, brother."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Gin didn't even look at Vodka and just retracted his fishing rod.

I saw that the silver fish hook on the fishing rod, whose float had been motionless until now, was as clean as new.

Vodka quickly put down the fish and baited the hook.

 

Chapter 254 - 254: Vermouth's Date

Everything is going according to plan.

Hayashi Yoshiki is monitoring various information about Schindler Inc, while also staying alert to the task force's response to the increasingly frequent accidental murders.

At the same time, he is apparently still working on the follow-up work of the "Kinda Series."

According to Hayashi Yoshiki's expectations, Odagiri Toshio might begin to suspect whether there's a traitor in the task force.

However, the other party has made no move so far.

"Okay, tell me about it."

In a random coffee shop parking lot, inside the car, Hayashi Yoshiki said to Conan, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

Conan was holding a cup of iced coffee in his hand.

He had met with Hayashi Yoshiki today mainly to talk about the Black Organization.

He didn't intend to ask for help investigating the organization—he only wanted to know whether the accidental killer was truly connected to them.

However, when he expected an answer…

The response he got was unclear.

"The task force has been set up until now, and we don't even know what the other party's shadow looks like."

"So far, the other party has committed dozens of crimes, but no clues can be found from the victims' trajectory before their death or anything else."

"It seems like it's just a pure coincidence."

"…"

Conan was struck by how calm Hayashi Yoshiki's voice sounded.

This kind of killer—one that leaves no trace—shouldn't exist. He wanted to ask if maybe something was being overlooked…

But considering who he was talking to—Hayashi Yoshiki—if even he hadn't found anything, there was little chance something had been missed.

"So, what is the task force going to do now?"

"Continue to follow up the investigation until the other party shows negligence and exposes flaws."

Hayashi Yoshiki didn't look at Conan.

"The task force will handle the murderer. You don't need to worry about unnecessary things… Compared to this, I hope you can play the role of a primary school student well."

"... I'll pay attention."

"Remember to remind Ai, but don't tell her it was my idea."

"You found out that Haibara is also...?"

"Have you forgotten who picked her up?"

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled as he said this:

"On such a cold, rainy day, she was wandering alone on the street wearing a white coat that didn't fit her at all... and that cold attitude that didn't seem like a little girl."

"Isn't it that Haibara isn't cold to you?"

"Anyway, just remember to remind her."

Hayashi Yoshiki didn't have much more to say. Seeing that the time was almost up, he sent Conan back to the Mouri Detective Agency.

Conan got out of the car and watched the white sedan drive away.

He felt like he had gained nothing, and his heart grew heavier.

Hayashi Yoshiki drove back to his apartment.

He was getting ready to pack up—for a date tonight.

A hand with purple nail polish steadied the bottom of a goblet, gently swirling the red wine inside.

Under the night sky, in a restaurant on the top floor of a high-rise building, Vermouth looked at the man sitting across from her, a smile playing on her bright face.

"It's not easy to find a restaurant like this that I like after returning to Japan."

"The taste of this restaurant is also a very pleasant inclusion for me."

Hayashi Yoshiki put down his cutlery and responded softly:

"Thanks to Miss Vermouth."

"It's weird to add a nickname after the code name."

The woman with the elegant smile took a sip of red wine. Her slender neck, slightly raised, looked even whiter and more beautiful against the neckline of her red dress.

"After all, I owe Miss Vermouth a favor, so I have to be respectful."

"So you mind if I become your creditor?"

"Not that I mind."

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled:

"After all, owing favors is also a way to build closer relationships."

"...You are really honest."

Vermouth laughed silently.

"This is a pragmatic experience. I've always been very purposeful."

"Then maybe we're the same kind of people."

"You can vaguely see it."

Hayashi Yoshiki said it as if it were natural.

Vermouth didn't mind.

In fact, both parties knew exactly what kind of people they were. It would be ridiculous to pretend otherwise.

At that moment, a waiter appeared with a food cart.

"Here are your desserts."

The waiter stood by the table, lit the gas stove, and began preparing the final presentation.

It seemed to be a muffin-type dessert.

The sauce in the frying pan boiled thickly. The waiter flipped the pancakes, poured the sauce over them…

Then, as the final touch, he picked up a wine glass.

"Finally, pour in the Cointreau."

The wine splashed into the pan—

Flames ignited immediately.

"The wine burns."

The flickering fire danced in Vermouth's eyes.

"This is a cooking method that uses fire to remove the alcohol in the wine, giving the ingredients the aroma of the wine. It leaves no trace while allowing the aroma to penetrate the dish."

"...So you chose this dessert specially?"

"Cointreau is a wine very popular among women."

Once the dessert was served and the waiter left, Vermouth's gaze returned to Hayashi Yoshiki.

"However, no matter how charming the aroma, it doesn't change the nature of liquor. Even if an inexperienced girl is attracted by the fragrance and the orange flavor... once she tastes the bitterness of the wine, she'll likely back away."

"I get the feeling there's some deeper meaning in your words."

"There is."

Vermouth's hand touched her wine glass. Her expression softened, the tipsy glow in her eyes growing warmer.

"After all, there are only a relatively small number of women who truly understand wine."

"Like Chianti?"

"…"

That one name instantly broke Vermouth's calm.

Chianti...

That woman, who sometimes drank beer and red wine while swearing, did know her alcohol.

Seeing Hayashi Yoshiki's amused smile, Vermouth knew he was hard to deal with.

She stopped pretending and downed the rest of her wine gracefully.

Hayashi Yoshiki checked the time on his watch.

"You've been looking at your watch all night. What's going on?"

"You noticed?"

He smiled:

"It's not a big deal... just that I feel uncomfortable when a girl makes all the arrangements for a date."

"You really are a habitual offender when it comes to dating."

"So, would you be curious about a habitual offender's next move?"

"I suppose I would."

"That's great."

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled very happily.

 

Chapter 255 - 255: It turns out that Cointreau, who is good at calculations, will also encounter such a thing

08:23 PM

The night was decorated with colorful neon lights, making it look particularly gorgeous.

A peaceful yet lively night.

Orange lights streamed from the open windows of shops on the bustling commercial street, accompanying the silhouettes dancing on the paved road.

Sitting in the passenger seat of the white Mercedes-Benz, Vermouth, who had just put on lip makeup, pursed her bright red lips, closed the makeup mirror, and smiled.

"Where are you going to take me?"

"Tokyo Tower."

"Isn't that where young couples go on dates?"

"Yes, are you surprised?"

"It's a surprise... but I'm very interested."

Taking in the bright lights and nightlife on the street, Vermouth said calmly:

"I have never been to that place."

"But you look like the type who would go to a lot of places by yourself."

"Don't judge a woman by her appearance."

The two of them chatted casually.

Soon, the vehicle merged smoothly into the traffic flow and headed toward Shiba Park.

The light from the street lamps passed through the windshield, fell on the two passengers, and quickly swept toward the rear.

The occasional bumps caused the soft valley in front of Vermouth to sway gently.

To match the dress, she wore a non-restrictive bra.

"Is there something on my face?"

Noticing her generous gaze, Hayashi Yoshiki couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing, I just suddenly became curious about what type of women you like."

"...Secret."

Looking at Vermouth, Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.

The woman raised an eyebrow.

She was actually wondering if Cointreau would like Ran's type... but then she suddenly thought of Sherry.

That day at the amusement park...

There's no mistake—that was Sherry!

After returning that day, Vermouth secretly did a lot of investigation. According to the results, Edogawa Conan's appearance aligned with Kudo Shinichi's disappearance, just like Haibara Ai's arrival followed Shiho Miyano's vanishing.

Cointreau... did you know she was Sherry?

A newcomer with a clean record and no intelligence channels shouldn't possibly know about APTX4869 and Shirley.

Given her hatred for Sherry, Vermouth should've struck already. But Cointreau—connected to Ran—was in the way.

So, are Cointreau and Sherry related?

Vermouth had to confirm this before acting. If she made the wrong move and Gin found out… Ran could be at risk.

"We've arrived."

The car stopped at the parking lot under Tokyo Tower.

Vermouth put away her thoughts and stepped out with a flawless smile.

Like a socialite, she extended her hand gracefully.

Hayashi Yoshiki took it without hesitation.

"Let's go."

They ascended to the large observatory on the second floor.

There were plenty of young couples present, and the pair naturally attracted attention.

"So beautiful…"

"Are they celebrities?"

"Is this a commercial shoot?"

The two ignored the whispers and focused on the view.

From this vantage point, you could see the glow of Tokyo Port, Zojoji Temple, and even the shadow of Mount Fuji on the horizon.

But the real charm was the city itself. Its vibrant chaos looked enchanting from above.

"Is it almost time? The time you've been concerned about."

"It's almost time. Come with me."

He offered his hand again. She took it.

They passed dessert stalls and a theater-like display before arriving near a wall of prayer tokens beside the emergency exit.

A window beside the glowing "EXIT" sign revealed the surprise.

"Ah?"

Seeing the view outside, Vermouth froze—then smiled.

"Are you surprised? This is another Tokyo Tower you can only see at this time."

The red taillights of countless vehicles on Sakurada-dori intertwined into a luminous tower—a Tokyo Tower within Tokyo Tower.

"So usually at this point, you'd wrap your arm around a girl's shoulder and whisper something romantic, right?"

"Oh? That's a trick?"

Hayashi Yoshiki widened his eyes innocently.

Such a charming face pretending to be clueless—it was almost disarming.

Just as she was about to reply, he checked his watch.

"10... 9... 8..."

It reminded her of Osaka.

But this time...

Fireworks.

Outside the window, a cascade of colors bloomed across the city skyline.

Vermouth's eyes sparkled.

"How can fireworks be set off like this in the city?"

"Let's not dwell on the details. And... it's not the only fireworks display tonight."

"Oh?"

"If you don't believe me... why not close your eyes and try it?"

"No need—I do believe you."

Still, she closed her eyes.

"5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."

"Bang!"

She opened her eyes—and saw a fairy wand in Hayashi Yoshiki's hand.

Tiny sparks danced at its tip.

She laughed.

"You're amazing."

She took it from him, eyes bright with surprise.

Just as he was about to offer a second one—

"Hey! No fireworks here!"

A nearby staff member spotted them and rushed over.

"Not good!"

Hayashi Yoshiki grabbed Vermouth's hand and bolted for the emergency stairs.

They ran down several floors, then stopped—safe.

"Pfft—"

Vermouth suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! What a surprise! So Cointreau, the master of calculation, also makes mistakes!"

She doubled over laughing.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled—then suddenly pulled her into his arms.

"No... it's still within the calculation."

Surprised, Vermouth landed against his chest.

Her scent—lemon and evening primrose—mixed with the city's distant fireworks.

"Ah, young people these days are so bold."

She didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer.

"But I'm not drunk yet."

Red lips close, eyes half-closed.

"It'd be boring if you were."

"So confident."

"A man without confidence gets fooled by you."

"That's a rude way to describe a lady."

"But it's a compliment."

"Hehe."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes full of mischief.

"Any more surprises coming?"

"Sadly, no."

"…I was kinda looking forward to it."

"It's our first date. I can't go full throttle right away."

"First date, huh?"

So you're erasing the past misunderstandings?

He let go. She slowly released him.

Their "game" was over—for now.

Back in the car, Vermouth leaned back with a content sigh.

"I feel warmer now."

"Ah, I'll need a cold shower when I get home."

Vermouth didn't reply—but smiled.

Before she left the car, Hayashi Yoshiki handed her a small package.

Inside: several more fireworks.

She laughed aloud.

...Just as I thought. He's a strange one.

She lit one, watching the sparks.

A text message buzzed.

Calvados: "Are you busy, Vermouth?"

She ignored it.

Driving back, Hayashi Yoshiki reflected.

Winning Vermouth's heart won't be easy... but tonight moved the pieces forward.

The next time they met, that hug would be their new baseline.

A stronger physical connection was within reach.

He glanced at the ring on his hand—a spider illusion prop.

Maybe next time.

Also... is she hesitating to act because she's unsure whether I know Ai's identity?

He messaged:

Hayashi Yoshiki: "Don't go to your sister's place for now."

Haibara Ai: "Got it."

She didn't ask why.

Hayashi Yoshiki: "Vermouth has discovered your identity. But don't worry. It's not a big problem."

Haibara Ai: "...Okay."

She curled up tightly, clutching her phone.

Then:

Hayashi Yoshiki: "It's okay—as long as I'm here."

 

Chapter 256 - 256: Conan is Hospitalized

Time passes slowly.

Afterwards, Hayashi Yoshiki's focus was apparently on writing novels.

Until one day, he received a message that Conan and his group were out camping, exploring a stalactite cave, and encountered a desperado—and Conan was shot.

Hayashi Yoshiki went to visit the patient on the following Wednesday afternoon, carrying flowers and fruits. However, before he even entered the ward, he heard a quarrel coming from inside.

"Why are you buying lilies here?"

"It's just buying flowers, why bother with all that?"

"But why would you give lilies to a sick person? Don't you know that giving white lilies to a sick person is a bad omen?!"

"Why didn't you just tell me clearly from the beginning, idiot!"

When he walked to the door, Hayashi Yoshiki saw Hattori Heiji and Kazuha Toyama arguing with their heads close to each other.

Both of them were still wearing their school uniforms.

"You two have such a good relationship."

Hayashi Yoshiki interrupted them with a smile.

Kazuha Toyama seemed startled. After coming to her senses, she quickly bowed slightly:

"He...hello."

"Brother, you're here too?" Hattori Heiji smiled, then frowned:

"What do you mean by 'good relationship'? I just bought some flowers and got criticized. It's so troublesome."

"But it's obviously you, Heiji, who did something wrong!"

"I didn't know anything about this!"

Osaka Black Chicken is very convincing.

Hayashi Yoshiki put the fruit basket in his hand on the cabinet next to the bed, looked at the empty bed and asked:

"Where is Conan?"

"I don't know. When we first came here, there was no one on the bed."

"Maybe he was taken out to bask in the sun."

Just then, Conan, sitting in a wheelchair, was pushed into the ward by Ran, with Suzuki Sonoko following behind.

"Brother Yoshiki? And Hattori and Kazuha... why is everyone here?"

"Brother Yoshiki!"

"Haha, I heard that this kid was seriously injured, so I rushed here right after school."

Hattori Heiji smiled and handed the bunch of white lilies in his hand to Conan.

Don't mention it yet...

Dressed in a black school uniform and delivering white flowers—he looked like he was attending a funeral.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.

He then looked at Ran again:

"What's the situation now?"

"Well, Conan is recovering quite well. The doctor said he'll be discharged in two or three days."

"That's good. Luckily nothing happened."

Hayashi Yoshiki said this, then as if remembering something:

"By the way, isn't three days from now the day Ran and the others will be performing in a play?"

"Ah, Brother Yoshiki, you remembered?"

Ran's reaction was joyful and surprised.

Because Hayashi Yoshiki suffers from time orientation disorder, if no one reminds him, it's easy for him to forget what day it is... but this time, he remembered clearly.

"Because it's Ran and Sonoko's performance, I'm of course looking forward to it."

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.

The truth is, after this plot began, the date changes became normal... which is how Hayashi Yoshiki knows something important is happening.

"Hehehe~~"

Hearing what Hayashi Yoshiki said, Sonoko suddenly smiled strangely.

Standing behind Ran, she nudged her with her elbow, then suddenly reached out and pinched her shoulder, her tone like a greasy uncle:

"Are you ready to give me your first kiss, Ran?"

"What are you talking about!!"

Ran blushed instantly.

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled.

"But I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't been back to Teitan High School for a long time."

"Brother, you were also a student at Teitan High School?" asked Hattori Heiji.

"Yes, Yoshiki was the top student in the school that year!"

Sonoko was excited:

"And he was the leader of the bad boys."

"Is it true?"

Hattori Heiji looked over. Quiet and kind—Hayashi Yoshiki didn't look like someone who could fight.

At this time, another group came to visit Conan.

Professor Agasa arrived with the Junior Detective League, and the ward became noisy.

Hayashi Yoshiki noticed that Haibara Ai looked worried.

He walked over and gently ruffled her head.

In return, Haibara Ai tugged his sleeve—she had something to say.

So the two of them left the ward together.

"It seems Ran has discovered Kudo's identity."

"Yeah?"

"When he was shot and rushed to the hospital, he was bleeding heavily. The blood bank didn't have his type, but Ran asked to use her blood without hesitation..."

Hearing this, Hayashi Yoshiki fell silent.

The girl lowered her head.

"You said Vermouth has discovered me, right?"

"Yes."

Her face darkened.

She'd heard of Vermouth—the Thousand-Faced Witch, as dangerous as Gin.

Although Cointreau said he was here, and she didn't need to worry...

"Mmm, mmm—"

With a sullen face, she was suddenly cupped on the cheeks by Hayashi Yoshiki, who squished her cute face.

"What are you doing?"

"You didn't look cute at all just now, so I helped you."

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and tapped her forehead.

The girl covered her forehead, glaring at him.

This Cointreau guy...!

What an idiot who takes everything on himself!

"Well, this expression is cute too."

Hayashi Yoshiki smiled again.

"Okay, I told you to rest assured. I'll take care of it."

She fell silent again.

He's not even trying to discuss it with me.

Haibara Ai felt discouraged—but also knew she probably couldn't help much now.

Maybe it was better not to hold Cointreau back.

She had a temporary antidote for APTX4869.

If Vermouth hadn't discovered her, she might have used it to let Conan become Kudo Shinichi again and hide things from Ran.

But now, that was impossible.

If Kudo Shinichi, supposedly dead, reappeared, Vermouth might catch on—

And Cointreau could be in danger.

That was the one outcome Haibara Ai could not accept.

 

Chapter 257 - 257: Maybe Cointreau is really a "good person"?

Saturday is Teitan High School Festival.

The school festival is also a school open day, and people outside the school can also enter and visit.

The theme activities are for each class or club to showcase themselves—whether it's a performance or a stall at the park—but they are basically organized by the students themselves.

"Come on, Ran, try to beat everyone else!"

Backstage at the gymnasium, Kogoro Mouri clenched his fist toward Ran, who was about to perform on stage.

"What? This isn't a karate match."

Ran was speechless for a moment, then looked at Conan, who was following beside her with a smile.

Conan was a little afraid to meet her eyes.

—The person standing here now is really him, not Haibara Ai pretending to be him.

"It's great that Conan can be discharged from the hospital."

Ran just said this at last, then raised her head and asked:

"Speaking of which, where is Yoshiki brother?"

"That kid, Yoshiki, was harassed by a bunch of people right after he came in."

Kogoro Mouri pouted and complained.

He had come here with Hayashi Yoshiki, but before they even reached the gymnasium, he was pestered by a group of female students for autographs.

"...There are many people in school who like Yoshiki-nii."

Ran smiled.

After waiting for a long time, Hayashi Yoshiki finally arrived.

He looked a little disheveled—it was obvious that he had run.

"Luckily I made it in time. Come on, I just bought a drink at the stand at the door. Are you confident when you go on stage later?"

"Yes! We have rehearsed for a long time, there will be no problem," Ran said with a smile.

"Thank you, Brother Yoshiki."

"Okay. As for Conan, he should not drink cold drinks when he has just recovered."

"Thanks…"

Very thoughtful, Yoshiki brother.

Holding a cool drink in her hand, Ran smiled at Hayashi Yoshiki.

"Where's the garden?"

"She went to the back to prepare, because Sonoko is playing a knight, and the costume will be more troublesome."

"Ran, please come here for a moment."

At this time, a handsome young man called out to Ran.

Hayashi Yoshiki looked over and saw the man also smiling and nodding to him in a friendly manner.

Shinichi… or rather, Vermouth?

In order to investigate the disappearance of Kudo Shinichi, and perhaps to keep an eye on her "angels," Vermouth had replaced Tomoaki Araide and infiltrated Teitan High School.

Now, she also worked part-time as a consultant for the school play. As an Oscar-winning actress, this kind of thing was naturally no challenge.

"Let's go sit down first, Uncle Mouri."

"Oh, okay."

Hayashi Yoshiki and his companions left the backstage and sat in the front row.

Conan, sitting next to Hayashi Yoshiki, had a gloomy expression, probably worrying about how to deal with the issue of his identity.

Soon, the packed venue darkened.

A voice came from the stage:

"The show now is 'The Black Knight' brought to you by Class 2-B. Please stay tuned."

Wow~

The red curtain opened, revealing an exquisite castle windowsill, and Ran, dressed as a princess, appeared on stage.

She read her lines with palms together.

Just as she finished speaking—

"Good! Good! Well acted, well acted!!"

Kogoro Mouri's loud voice startled the audience.

Conan was speechless.

Hayashi Yoshiki also took advantage of the chaos and shouted:

"Come on, Ran!"

How come even you…?

He looked at Hayashi Yoshiki in astonishment.

That wasn't something Yoshiki would usually do.

"That's my daughter, my daughter…"

Kogoro Mouri scratched his head awkwardly as the audience chuckled good-naturedly.

On stage, Ran smiled warmly and continued to act, encouraged by her father and Yoshiki.

In the audience, Vermouth, disguised as Tomoaki Araide, stared at Hayashi Yoshiki in surprise.

He actually did such a thing?

He shows two completely different faces depending on who he's with…

Being so gentle to the people around him—is this his true self?

As a member of the intelligence team, Vermouth had been informed about Cointreau's increasing involvement.

Almost all his victims were confirmed scum.

Though Rum and Gin speculated that Cointreau only targeted such people to avoid scrutiny from the task force…

But maybe—just maybe—he really is a "good guy"?

Vermouth's eyes flickered.

If Cointreau is essentially a good person, it would explain why he saved Sherry.

But how did he pull it off?

According to intelligence, Sherry escaped using APTX4869, shrinking her body and disappearing. But the subsequent attacks on Gin's group—especially the Haido Hotel incident—how did Cointreau orchestrate that?

Is he colluding with another organization?

The more she thought, the more complicated it became.

Cointreau seemed shrouded in a fog Vermouth couldn't pierce.

Meanwhile, the stage play continued.

After the princess was kidnapped by soldiers, Sonoko, playing the black knight, appeared and dispatched the enemies with over-the-top moves.

According to the script, she was supposed to wait for the princess to finish her lines before kissing her.

"If you have not forgotten the oath we made when we were young, please write your testimony on my lips!"

The princess's delicate face, moist eyes, and soft cherry lips—

"Aiya!"

Sonoko staggered slightly.

"Woo-ah?"

Her tacky voice from beneath the helmet confused the audience.

And then—

Screams.

The crowd turned.

A man had collapsed.

His drink cup rolled on the floor.

The ice scattered.

The liquid slowly spread across the polished gymnasium floor.

Someone is dead.

 

Chapter 258 - 258: Kudo Shinichi Appears

"The deceased is Mr. Kohei Kamata, 27 years old, a doctor working at the Beika General Hospital, right?"

"Yes."

"Then why did he collapse in the middle of the show today?"

"I thought he just felt unwell, but he fell to the ground all of a sudden."

"Could it be that the victim died from drinking the drink that fell next to him?"

Someone had died in the audience, and the performance had to be halted.

This time, Megure Juzo arrived unexpectedly quickly.

He looked at the drink cup that his men had picked up, staring at the remaining liquid inside. "There isn't much drink left... Does anyone know what time it was when he fell down?"

"He must have collapsed around 2:40."

At this moment, Ran, still dressed in her princess costume, came over, gently lifting her skirt.

She had rehearsed the play countless times and remembered exactly when each line occurred. She knew what had happened and when.

Megure Juzo nodded, then looked around, frowning: "If that's the case... does that mean that guy is here too...?"

"Who are you talking about, Officer Megure?" asked Kogoro Mouri, stepping closer.

(I'm talking about you, you plague god, Megure Juzo cursed inwardly, bringing misfortune even to your daughter's school festival.)

His eyes were... complicated.

"Inspector Megure."

"Oh!!! Brother Hayashi!!!" His face lit up instantly.

"...Why does Inspector Megure have completely different expressions when he sees me and when he sees Yoshiki?"

"Well, it's your illusion."

Megure Juzo cleared his throat awkwardly.

Hayashi Yoshiki was different from Mouri Kogoro... or even Conan.

Although cases seemed to follow him too, the frequency was worlds apart—and when Hayashi Yoshiki was around, the case would usually be wrapped up quickly and cleanly.

But in reality... those who died because of Hayashi Yoshiki always died far away from him...

"It appears that the victim died of potassium cyanide poisoning."

"When people die, they usually lose their color, but his lips and nails were pink, not purple... Unlike other poisons, potassium cyanide affects the nerve transmission system directly—bypassing blood oxygenation. It makes the victim's skin look deceptively healthy."

"And if we detect an almond-like smell from his mouth later, it'll confirm potassium cyanide."

A young male voice suddenly rang out.

Hayashi Yoshiki looked up—only to see a pale-skinned boy, partially hidden under a baseball cap, speaking confidently.

Everyone was stunned.

Hayashi Yoshiki chuckled. "Hattori-san is right."

"What, what Hattori-san?! I'm Kudo Shinichi, Kudo Shinichi!!"

The boy pulled off his cap with flair.

What emerged was unmistakably Kudo Shinichi's face. He blinked at Hayashi Yoshiki, and then swaggered toward Ran with a cheeky grin: "It was that kid Conan who called me and said his sister Ran was performing. So I came to watch!"

"…!"

Conan silently held his forehead.

He appreciated the gesture… but this "surprise appearance" would only deepen Ran's suspicions.

"Even if you're joking, at least hide your Kansai accent. And those thick eyebrows are a dead giveaway."

Hayashi Yoshiki calmly walked over, framing it as a prank, then glanced subtly at Tomoaki Araide—or rather, Vermouth in disguise.

Vermouth sat with her chin in her palm, clearly intrigued.

The police had begun questioning the deceased's companions.

Three people: one man, two women. All had graduated from Teitan High School the same year as the deceased, and all now worked at Beika General Hospital.

One, Yota Mitani, was a hospital security guard. The women, Mai Kogami and Yumemi Noda, worked in logistics and nursing, respectively.

Before the show, Mai had bought four drinks, handed them to Mitani, then went to the bathroom.

"The victim drank iced coffee, correct?"

"Ms. Mai Kogami also drank iced coffee; the others had oolong tea and orange juice, right?"

"Did the victim have a habit of chewing ice cubes?"

Hayashi Yoshiki stepped in.

Megure Juzo perked up instantly—here it comes!

Hattori Heiji also tensed—he saw where this was going.

"The drink lid was open... Was he the type to chew ice after finishing?"

"I think so..." said Mitani, unsure. "Right, Yumemi?"

"Yes."

Yumemi Noda nodded.

Hayashi Yoshiki pressed gently: "Ms. Kogami likely poisoned two iced coffees, taking advantage of the victim's ice-chewing habit. After drinking, he would've chewed the contaminated ice..."

"As for her own cup—let's inspect her bag, her clothes. Anything that may have stored the poison or leftover ice."

He turned to Mai Kogami with a gentle smile. "Do you have any objections, Ms. Mai?"

"…"

The color drained from her face.

The case was closed.

A collective hush fell over the crowd… then erupted into:

"So fast!"

"He really is the Fast Detective!"

"Senior Hayashi is so cool!"

At first there was light clapping, but it grew quickly into resounding applause.

Hayashi Yoshiki blinked in surprise.

Then Ran turned toward him—and then at Conan, who had been quiet all along: "Brother Yoshiki is amazing as always, but Conan not getting involved? That's rare."

"...Ah, yeah, I just feel a little tired." Conan gave a strained smile.

But just then—a clear male voice rang out:

"What? Has the case been solved?"

Everyone turned, stunned.

Hattori Heiji gasped. "Kudo?!"

"I rushed here as fast as I could, but it seems I'm still a little late."

The young man who walked into view now was none other than… Kudo Shinichi.

He strode confidently across the floor, exchanging a brief glance with Hayashi Yoshiki, then faced Ran.

"Long time no see, Ran."

"...Shinichi?"

The girl stared at him in disbelief—then looked back at Conan, confusion washing over her expression.

 

 

Chapter 259 - 259: Easier to take the bait than expected

"What on earth do you want to do!?"

Bang!

In the parking lot of Teitan High School, there was a crash sound next to a white Mercedes-Benz sedan.

Being pushed and shoved in the car a little roughly, Vermouth looked at Hayashi Yoshiki's calm face, which had a dark and gloomy look in its eyes, and she revealed a charming smile.

She ignored the pain in her body and just stretched her shoulders under his pressure, her full breasts becoming more upright as if to highlight their presence.

"Don't be so angry, Cointreau..."

Vermouth's hand slid across Hayashi Yoshiki's lower abdomen.

Facing the question, her eyes deliberately became ambiguous, as if she was appreciating his expression at the moment, and she said softly:

"Did I accidentally make you angry?"

"Don't answer a question with a question."

Seeing that she couldn't tease him, Vermouth stopped acting like this.

"I'll give you an explanation, but are you sure you want to stay like this in front of everyone?"

"..."

Hayashi Yoshiki let her go.

Then the two of them got into the car.

Vermouth touched her chest that he had just pressed hard on, and felt that this little boy was really strong:

"You really care about that girl named Ran... Don't show such a scary expression, don't worry, I don't have any bad intentions towards her."

"..."

"Kudo Shinichi is on the death list of the drug APTX4869 developed by the organization, but according to the follow-up investigation of him, the general consensus is that he is just missing... Rum is a little concerned about this matter, so he asked me to come and investigate."

As always, she put the blame on Rum.

Because it was unclear whether Cointreau knew that Edogawa Conan was Kudo Shinichi, Vermouth spoke very cautiously.

"This is also the purpose of my lurking in Teitan High School. However, judging from the performance of those people today, they really have no idea about the whereabouts of Kudo Shinichi. He should really be dead."

"Anyway, if I knew what happened to Ran and the others..."

"Just kill me, right?"

Vermouth laughed.

God knows how happy she was when she heard these words.

With a man like this guarding Ran, she didn't have to worry too much.

The woman smiled; she reached out her hands to hold Hayashi Yoshiki's cheeks, the action was ambiguous, just like her charming eyes:

"I thought you would treat me differently after returning home that night, but... you're so cute like this, Cointreau."

He is a villain with a lot of blood on his hands, but he would be so stressed out just because someone he cares about was targeted.

"I don't hate your rudeness just now."

"Stop it."

"Hehehe."

Seeing that he was too lazy to even act anymore, Vermouth laughed happily.

She slowly let go of Hayashi Yoshiki.

The two of them ignored this matter for the time being, and Vermouth received a message on her phone.

"Hello? It's me."

"Well... I have to leave for something urgent. Okay, I'll be back later."

She used a male voice.

Answering the phone with the voice of Aida Tomoaki, she smiled and looked at Hayashi Yoshiki happily:

"So let's continue our date next time, cute boy."

As she spoke, she prepared to open the car door and get out.

But before that, Hayashi Yoshiki stopped her—he pressed over from the driver's seat and pinned Vermouth underneath.

"Do you think you can just walk away like that after provoking me?"

"Ah?"

Vermouth raised her eyebrows with interest,

"So what do you want to do?"

"Do what?"

Hayashi Yoshiki, who was above, looked at her.

His dazzling beauty did not reveal any emotion, but his behavior was somewhat restrained with annoyance.

Especially after being provoked by Vermouth, he seemed eager to take the initiative back into his hands.

So, without even giving Vermouth time to react, his eyes met her rosy red lips, and he simply pinched her chin with his hand, then fell straight down.

For a moment, the woman giggled, but was quickly silenced and unable to make any sound.

Her lips, as delicate and juicy as dripping cherries, were extremely soft.

Facing Hayashi Yoshiki's somewhat rough actions, she was willing to accept it and did not resist at all.

Vermouth even took the initiative to put her arms around Hayashi Yoshiki's neck again.

She narrowed her watery eyes, happily looking at the man in front of her, and gently performed the act of mucous membrane contact with him.

The two of them could feel the weight of each other's breath.

When the breathing sound became moist and slightly nasal, inexplicably, the lips of the two people pressed tightly together seemed to be eager to eat each other——

Until Hayashi Yoshiki let her go.

Vermouth was panting slightly with a nasal sound, but her soft lips, which were covered with lip makeup, became even more delicate and moist.

"It's only the fourth time we've met, but you're too bold and impatient to do this to someone..."

"But aren't you just as proactive?"

"Then who made me wrong?"

She said this, she smiled and looked at Hayashi Yoshiki's reaction calmly.

But Hayashi Yoshiki didn't give her any response.

So Vermouth opened the car door with a smile, and Hayashi Yoshiki didn't say anything until she got out of the car and left.

After all, I am still young and a little impatient.

I'm afraid that the women he has met so far are basically easy to get. Once he meets a woman who doesn't buy into his tricks or even provokes him, he will become irritable and impulsive so easily...

Vermouth laughed and left.

In the car, Hayashi Yoshiki sat back in his seat and calmly looked at the time on his left hand.

There was no emotion in his eyes, as if his temper just now had disappeared without a trace—as if it had been a lie from the beginning.

If one of the two parties, who are each other's prey, thinks that he has found the other's weakness and becomes proud and calm,

it is possible that he has really taken the bait.

"..."

The woman named Vermouth saw what was going on between Ran and Conan, and after the case was over, she suddenly appeared in front of everyone in the image of Kudo Shinichi.

She is indeed smart.

On the one hand, it is to help Conan out of trouble.

After all, once Ran really knows that Kudo Shinichi is persecuted by the organization, she will never sit idly by...

According to the organization's policy of never letting anyone who knows the truth stay, Vermouth does not want to see that kind of thing.

On the other hand, it was to test Hayashi Yoshiki who happened to be present.

She needed to confirm how Hayashi Yoshiki would react if she appeared in front of Ran as Kudo Shinichi...

The result made her very happy.

The other party's reaction was even stronger than she expected.

However,

"It's easier to take the bait than you think."

Hayashi Yoshiki whispered softly, wiping the lipstick off his mouth with a tissue.

It's enough to make her think that I'm nothing special.

 

Chapter 260 - 260: Madman Cointreau's Close Combat Killing Simulation

It's really a place with nothing.

There is only a deep night without any starlight.

The buildings on both sides of the street were like a pure background wall, and there was not even a single passerby on the asphalt road illuminated by the pale light of the street lamps.

An eerily empty place.

Hayashi Yoshiki stood there, and opposite him stood a burly middle-aged man who was ready to fight.

Not far away, as the intercity train roared past, the strong man also rushed toward Hayashi Yoshiki at that moment.

His rapidly approaching figure was extremely oppressive.

Hayashi Yoshiki also tensed up in that moment. Noticing the heavy step of the man's left foot, he bent slightly to the left, causing the opponent's fierce right whip kick to miss. But the man spun with his momentum and kicked with his left leg.

With the sharp sound of breaking wind, Hayashi Yoshiki crossed his arms to block—

Bang!

The huge force knocked him back half a step.

But the attacker didn't give him any time to breathe. With another rush, he threw a rock-like punch at Hayashi Yoshiki's face!

Swish!

Hayashi Yoshiki barely avoided it, but his eyes had already locked on to the incoming hand.

He raised his right arm to block the punch to his chest—and with his other hand, he struck back at the man's torso.

Blocked.

The burly man caught his fist and grinned.

But the next second—

Thud!—Hayashi Yoshiki's knee smashed into his abdomen.

The man staggered back several steps.

Taking advantage of the gap, Hayashi Yoshiki reached to his waist, pulled out a dagger—and charged.

The man's pupils shrunk.

Hayashi Yoshiki dipped low and aimed the blade at the man's chest. The man desperately twisted to evade—but Hayashi Yoshiki was already watching for it.

The burly man danced back, barely dodging each time, the blade grazing his skin and leaving bloody streaks. Then finally—he lunged, grabbing Hayashi Yoshiki's knife arm—

Big mistake.

The second knife stabbed deep into his arm.

He hadn't noticed the other blade—hidden.

Bright red blood gushed from tangled muscles. The man cried out in pain, his grip failing.

That was it.

Hayashi Yoshiki stabbed him again—straight into the gut. Then, with no hesitation, slashed the blade across his throat.

Blood sprayed.

The man's eyes widened. Wet rattling gurgled from his ruined throat as he dropped to his knees... and then, the pavement.

"...Call..."

Hayashi Yoshiki let out a breath.

Then, with a soft smile on his face, he turned his head—without even breaking stride.

Sizzle!

Electric noise crackled.

The black sky, the street, the body, the blood... vanished like an illusion.

In its place—

A domed simulation room.

And not far away stood Gin and the others, hands in pockets.

"Forty-seven seconds..." Vodka glanced at the timer, hesitating. "That's... pretty neat, Cointreau."

The hesitation came from watching what looked like a man possessed. The way Hayashi Yoshiki kept stabbing, even grinning...

It was unsettling.

"Because I took some time observing at first," Hayashi Yoshiki replied, calm as ever. "Otherwise, it would've been faster."

"It's not about observation," Gin said coldly. "You should have been able to end it even faster."

"...I wanted to test how well the simulation replicates real combat."

Gin grunted noncommittally.

But deep down, he had to admit—Hayashi Yoshiki's precision, ruthlessness, and clarity of intent had exceeded expectations.

From the moment he pulled his knife, the kill path had been decided.

Only... he's a little crazy.

From what he'd just witnessed, Gin realized: even without the Death Note, Hayashi Yoshiki could kill a man with his own hands—and not bat an eye.

"Take a break," Gin said. "After that, we'll check on Chianti and Korn's drills."

"Sure."

Hayashi Yoshiki's smile didn't falter.

This was the Black Organization's newly developed simulation facility—

Capable of recreating fully immersive combat scenarios, complete with smell, touch, sound. NPCs generated in real-time for hyper-realistic training.

The "enemy" Hayashi Yoshiki had just fought was a master-level combatant—designed to challenge even Gin.

It reminded him of Cocoon from The Phantom of Baker Street.

A world indistinguishable from reality. Generated by pure calculation.

But unlike Cocoon, this setup was crude—all computing power was used on the enemy AI, while the scenery remained empty and minimal. Still—

If you added the AI processor Noah's Ark... this simulation could reach Cocoon levels.

Which raised the question—

Was the Black Organization connected to Schindler Inc.?

The timeline fit. Both Schindler's breakthrough in AI and the Organization's new simulation tech emerged around the same time. And the Black Organization was scouting top-level programmers...

"Mr. Vodka?"

Hayashi Yoshiki, pulling himself out of his thoughts, noticed Vodka shifting positions—subtly placing himself behind him and Gin.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.