After completing the car pickup ceremony, Gustave invited Kogoro to take the passenger seat for the first test drive. However, whether it was the staggering price tag or simple intimidation, no amount of coaxing could convince the detective to actually get into the vehicle.
Conan and Yang Chan, on the other hand, were absolutely fascinated. Unfortunately, since the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato only had two seats, Gustave could only take them for rides one at a time.
Yang Chan went first. Although she'd experienced much higher speeds before—like when Gustave carried her while flying—the sensation of sitting in a car and weaving through traffic at high velocity was completely different.
Throughout the entire ride, Yang Chan was pure joy personified. She squealed with delight from the passenger seat, her excitement infectious and genuine. The wind rushing past the windows, the powerful engine's growl, the way other drivers turned to stare—everything about the experience thrilled her.
When Conan's turn came, his approach was entirely different. Settling into the luxurious interior, he ran his fingers carefully over every surface, examining the craftsmanship with an almost reverent attention to detail.
"Limited edition racing brakes, hand-stitched leather upholstery," he murmured appreciatively, his voice carrying the tone of someone identifying precious artifacts. "The attention to detail is incredible."
"By the way, Gustave, could you pop the hood? I'd love to see the engine."
"The engine? Any particular reason?"
"For limited edition cars like this, there's usually a signature plate from the dedicated engineer who assembled it. I want to verify its authenticity!"
"Sure thing."
Since Conan was so eager, Gustave obliged. He activated the hood release, revealing the pristine 6.0L V12 engine nestled within the compartment.
"It's absolutely beautiful!" Conan breathed, his eyes wide with genuine awe. "Just think about how many skilled engineers poured their expertise into creating this masterpiece!"
He gently traced the engineer's signature plate mounted on the engine block, his expression one of pure reverence.
"I assume the engine specifications are identical to the standard Vanquish model? The limited edition status comes from the unique bodywork design?"
Gustave couldn't quite understand Conan's obsession—it reminded him of how the young detective discussed Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
"Of course! But even knowing that, doesn't this engineering marvel deserve appreciation?"
Conan had expected Gustave to share his automotive enthusiasm, to appreciate these incredible mechanical achievements. Instead, he seemed disappointingly superficial in his interests.
"Okay, okay, you win!" Gustave raised his hands in mock surrender.
The truth was, Gustave had purchased the car primarily for its stunning visual design. If pure mechanical performance had been his priority, he might as well have bought a Bugatti instead.
After this exchange, Gustave took Conan on his promised ride. The young detective's earlier disappointment evaporated the moment they pulled away from the curb, his face lighting up with childlike wonder. His moods really were remarkably changeable.
After dinner that evening, Gustave noticed Conan still gazing longingly at the Aston Martin through the window. He approached the young detective with a proposal:
"Want to go for a proper nighttime drive? Just you and me?"
"Really?" Conan's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he'd just been offered the chance to solve a case with the real Sherlock Holmes.
"Really. I wouldn't joke about something this important."
"YES!" Conan practically bounced with excitement, his composed detective facade cracking to reveal the seven-year-old beneath.
Gustave shook his head with amusement, then went to inform Ran that he'd bring Conan back later that evening. Moments later, the two climbed into the sleek vehicle. The V12 engine rumbled to life with its distinctive low growl, and they pulled away into the Tokyo night.
Even during the day, the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato had attracted significant attention on the streets. At night, under the glow of streetlights and neon signs, it was absolutely magnetic. Pedestrians stopped to stare, other drivers slowed to get a better look—the car commanded respect wherever it went.
Conan clearly relished being the center of such attention, settling back in the passenger seat with obvious satisfaction.
He really is just a kid at heart, Gustave thought with fond exasperation.
Not that Gustave minded the attention himself—after all, he wouldn't have suggested this evening drive if he didn't enjoy it too. Everyone had a bit of childlike wonder hidden somewhere inside.
They'd been cruising the streets for about twenty minutes when Conan suddenly tensed in his seat:
"Gustave, quick! Follow that car!"
The urgency in Conan's voice made Gustave immediately scan the road ahead. He spotted what had caught the detective's attention: a black Porsche 356A weaving through traffic about fifty meters ahead.
"Gin?" Gustave asked, understanding immediately.
"I can't be certain, but that car is identical to Gin's model, and the 356A is extremely rare in Japan!"
"Understood."
Gustave pressed the accelerator, and the Aston Martin surged forward with predatory grace.
While the Vanquish Zagato had slightly less power than some contemporary V12 models, its 600 horsepower and 630 Nm of torque still made overtaking a vintage Porsche relatively straightforward under normal circumstances.
However, Tokyo's nighttime traffic presented its own challenges. The streets were crowded with vehicles, leaving little room for maneuvering.
Fortunately, this wasn't a problem for Gustave. His driving skills had been honed through countless hours on advanced racing simulators, particularly WRC rally games. Combined with his supernatural reflexes and spatial awareness, he could probably dominate any professional racing circuit if he chose to compete.
Under his expert control, the Aston Martin moved like a silver fish through the urban reef, slipping between vehicles with millimeters to spare, steadily closing the distance to the black Porsche.
"Can you tell if it's Gin's car now?" Gustave asked as they drew closer.
"The license plate is different from what I remember, but I can't be sure yet," Conan replied, squinting through the windshield. "If it were anyone else, a different plate would mean it's definitely not the same car. But with Gin? Forging plates would be child's play."
"Alright, I'll pull alongside so you can get a clear look at the driver."
"Perfect!"
Gustave downshifted and pressed harder on the accelerator. The elegant Aston Martin responded with a throaty roar, surging forward until it ran parallel with the Porsche 356A.
But when Conan finally got a clear view of the driver, disappointment washed over his features. Behind the wheel sat not the silver-haired assassin they sought, but a young man dressed in hip-hop fashion, probably in his early twenties.
"False alarm. That's not Gin," Conan said, slumping back in his seat.
"Got it."
Seeing their target was a dead end, Gustave smoothly turned the steering wheel and guided the car toward the rightmost lane.
To be honest, Japan's traffic regulations still felt odd to Gustave. As a right-hand drive country, nearly everything operated opposite to its standards. Fortunately, both the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato and the black Porsche 356A were left-hand drive vehicles. In Japan, luxury imports typically retained their original configurations, making left-hand drive cars a symbol of wealth and status.
Gustave had been driving peacefully for several minutes when the Porsche 356A suddenly accelerated and pulled alongside them. The hip-hop driver rolled down his window and shouted over the engine noise:
"Hey! You want to race? Let's see whose car is really faster!"
Apparently, Gustave's earlier overtaking maneuver had been interpreted as a challenge. The young man felt his pride had been insulted and was determined to settle the score.
This made Gustave genuinely amused. While both vehicles were undeniably rare, they came from completely different eras of automotive engineering. The Porsche 356A was a beautiful classic, but comparing it to his modern Aston Martin was like pitting a vintage biplane against a fighter jet.
So Gustave simply pressed the accelerator and left the hip-hop driver far behind, the Porsche's taillights disappearing in his rearview mirror until they were nothing more than distant red dots in the Tokyo night.