A private hospital in Tokyo.
Yukiko, glowing with energy, had a lady's bag slung over her shoulder. Her silver crystal-like high heels clicked crisply against the marble floor, echoing clearly through the hallway.
When she arrived at the VIP suite on the top floor and pushed open the door, she saw Yusaku chatting with the shrunken Shinichi. The father and son were laughing together from time to time.
"What are you two so happy about?"
Yukiko placed her bag on a nearby chair, speaking lightly.
"You're back, Yukiko. You seem to be in a good mood. Your energy is way better than before. You should go out more often."
"The air in Gunma's countryside is fresh, and it's my hometown. Going back there gives me a sense of belonging. My mood just improved naturally."
Yukiko responded calmly.
Conan suddenly asked, "Mom, how come you and Fujiwara suddenly seem to be getting along so well?"
Yukiko's heart skipped a beat. She thought Conan had seen through something. Pretending nothing was wrong, she said, "I think that boy is pretty nice. What? You don't like him, Shinichi?"
Conan shook his head. "I really didn't like him before, but I realized I misunderstood him. He… he's actually a pretty good guy."
After learning that Toru was a CIA agent and was also investigating the Black Organization, Conan had subconsciously started seeing him as a comrade.
As just a high school student, going up against such a transnational criminal organization put immense pressure on him. He was desperate for someone to stand beside him in the fight.
And Toru, both in identity and ability, was top-tier. He felt like a life-saving ally Conan could finally hold on to.
Toru was a good person. The only true villain was Haibara, whose code name was Sherry. That wicked woman deceived Toru with her shrunken appearance and took advantage of his kindness.
That's right, that had to be it!
Seeing that Conan hadn't caught on, Yukiko quietly let out a breath of relief and smiled. "Shinichi, you should try to get along better with him in the future."
Conan immediately followed up, "Mom, next time you meet him, can you take me with you?"
Yukiko froze. Taking her son to see her young lover, who wasn't much older than her son… that was a bit, well, exciting.
But Yukiko liked excitement, so she quickly nodded. "Sure, I'll take you with me next time."
"Oh, by the way, while I was in Gunma this time, I ran into a murder case. Toru-kun solved it."
Yukiko immediately began retelling the story of how Toru cracked the case to Conan. Conan didn't notice that her way of referring to Toru had subtly changed.
He nodded to himself. Ever since changing his biased view, he felt Toru was good in every way. His way of solving cases had its own unique flair.
Too bad he hadn't been there. Otherwise, he would have liked to compete and see who could solve it faster.
Conan felt a bit regretful.
...
Toru pulled on a bulletproof shirt, layered a simple tracksuit over it, and after checking his pistol, left his room.
Haibara sat on a raised platform, tapping away at her computer. Her smooth, fair legs were crossed as she glanced at Toru and said, "You just got back and you're heading out again?"
"Japan might be getting a little chaotic, Haibara. Be careful."
Haibara paused her typing and asked in a low voice, "Is the recent chaos related to the Organization?"
"Yeah. The CIA and Public Security Bureau systems have been hacked. It's very likely connected to them. Even Akai Shuichi has come to Japan."
"You know Akai Shuichi well. His main task now is chasing the Organization. If he's in Japan, this has to be serious."
Toru sat down beside her.
A faint trace of fear appeared in Haibara's eyes.
Over ten years under the Organization's control made it difficult to completely break free from that fear.
But after glancing at Toru beside her, the fear faded.
"You haven't given Kudo Shinichi the medicine yet?"
Toru asked.
"No, I didn't force him. Once he realizes his cells will stop growing, he'll take it on his own."
"From my analysis of his personality, he's that kind of reckless type."
Toru nodded slightly. Letting Shinichi test the medicine first would make it safer for Haibara to use.
"This is the room card you asked for. I hacked into the Tokyo Prince Hotel's system. With this card, you can enter any room."
Haibara handed him a card.
Toru whistled. "As expected of Haibara. Handled it so easily."
Haibara's lips curved. "It's just a hotel's system. Too easy. Next time, give me a more challenging task."
"Hack the CIA system?"
Haibara's expression darkened. She growled, "That's way too hard. Most of the CIA's systems aren't even connected to the outside. Even if I wanted to hack it, I'd have to physically go there."
Toru laughed, pocketed the card, and walked out to the courtyard of the Western-style house.
A silver Porsche 911 was parked quietly.
This advanced technology sports car, gifted by the system, had finally arrived in Japan.
It had been heavily damaged during the Mossad attack in the U.S. and was sent for repairs.
It had to be said, the advanced tech from the system was impressive. Even the U.S. military industry couldn't figure out the car's secrets, assuming it was just an ordinary bulletproof car.
Once the dents and scratches were repaired, Toru had it shipped across the Pacific.
The Porsche 911's advanced bulletproof capabilities had also restored themselves automatically.
With this car, as long as he didn't drive into a battlefield, there wouldn't be any serious danger.
He got in, fastened his seatbelt, and drove off.
...
The Tokyo Prince Hotel, located near Tokyo Tower, was a luxurious high-end hotel.
Though the building wasn't tall, the fountain at the entrance was elegant, and the lobby itself was magnificent.
Wearing a hat, Toru walked into the hotel. Ignoring the guests checking in, he pulled out the ID card Haibara had made and used it to access the elevator and head to the sixth floor.
Once there, Haibara's voice came through his earpiece. "I've erased all surveillance of your entry."
"I also looped the cameras on the sixth floor. Nothing happening there will be recorded."
"Thanks, Haibara," Toru said softly.
He arrived in front of the target room, swiped the card, and the electronic lock clicked open.
Inside the room, Sera Masumi was chatting with her mother, Akai Mary.
"Masumi, you haven't made contact with Fujiwara Toru?"
Akai Mary sat on the sofa, wearing children's clothes, and asked slowly.
"Fujiwara doesn't come to the café much. I haven't had a chance to get close to him. If I pretend to run into him outside, with how cautious he is, he'll probably notice something."
Sera looked troubled.
She and Mary were much sharper than the Shinomiya family, who tried to stage a 'chance encounter.' Knowing Toru's CIA background, they wouldn't treat a top agent like some fool.
"My advice is, Masumi, for now, avoid any contact with Fujiwara Toru."
"Why? Did you get some new intel?"
"Your brother, Shuichi, is in Japan now. Plus, I received some vague information from my intel network in the U.S. Things are getting complicated. I can't fully make sense of it yet."
Just as mother and daughter were discussing Toru, their expressions changed at the sound of the door unlocking.
This was a high-end hotel. A staff member wouldn't open a guest room without notice.
Mary and Masumi exchanged a glance. They acted without a word.
Mary, in her child's body, curled up at the edge of the sofa, trembling as she looked at the door with innocent fear, trying to drop the guard of the intruder.
Masumi moved quickly, hiding behind the entrance, ready to strike at any moment.
As soon as Toru entered, he saw Mary sitting on the sofa.
He acted as if unaware of the ambush and walked forward.
"Hup!"
A shadow darted out in front of him.
Masumi, launching a sneak attack from behind the wall, let out a low shout and aimed a sharp chop at his neck.
Had it landed on the carotid artery, it would have knocked him out instantly.
But Toru had already anticipated it. He simply raised his arm and blocked the attack.
Masumi froze. Her ambush had failed. This guy was no ordinary target.
Before she could react, Toru threw an uppercut, the punch slicing through the air and landing straight in her abdomen.
The pain made her stagger backward two steps. She clutched her stomach and retched, dropping to one knee, nearly losing the ability to fight.
Seeing the intruder approaching her mother, Masumi panicked and shouted hoarsely, "Stop!"
She tried to get up again, but Mary called out, "Wait, don't act rashly!"
Masumi froze. She had noticed the silenced pistol in the intruder's hand, aimed directly at her mother.
"Who are you? What do you want with me and my sister?"
Masumi didn't recognize Toru in his current outfit and voice modulation.
Mary continued her act as a frightened child, teary-eyed, hugging a cushion on the sofa.
In truth, hidden behind the cushion was a gun.
She planned to use the fact that she looked harmless to mount a counterattack.
Toru smiled. "Ms. Akai Mary, if you and your daughter don't want to die, don't move."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)