Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

"That's impossible. We can't do what you say."

The exhibition hall of Hachijo Island is now crowded with people. The police are outside to stabilize the situation. Most of the people inside are high-ranking officials and people from all walks of life who came to attend the wedding.

In the middle of the encirclement were the Kudo family and the Suzuki family, who were having a second negotiation with the criminals.

"I have the money. They are all old bills with no marks." Kudo Yusaku held the phone, and the conversation between the two parties was still transmitted to everyone's ears through the loudspeaker.

"Mr. Kudo, I know you very well. To be more clear, I am very worried about you."

"We can take the money with us." Yuzuki and Kaori anxiously moved closer to the phone, and Xiaolan, who didn't know what was going on, also agreed.

"We just need the child to come and send him off. Of course, Mr. Kudo can come too."

The call was hung up again, and the people on the line looked at each other helplessly.

"The criminals designated you and this little girl to deliver the money." Maori Kogoro pinched his chin, bent down and put his face in front of Kuroba Rize, and asked doubtfully: "Are you worried that the people we sent will catch them all in one fell swoop?"

"Uncle, how can we let a child do such a dangerous thing!"

Yusaku Kudo was a little puzzled by Yuzuki and Kaori's eagerness, but this was not a problem that could be solved without willingness, as the social elites around them had already crowded over.

"Mr. Kudo, don't hesitate, let this kid take the money and appease those criminals!"

A group president raised his hand. He ignored the girls who were glaring at him and called on the people behind him to oppress the Kudo and Suzuki family who were obviously hesitating in front of him.

A few people did not speak or express their opinions, but just stood aside, and the few sporadic voices of "this is not good" had long been drowned out by the calls of "send her away".

"Uncle Kudo, the police..."

Kaori wanted to use her status as the granddaughter of her superior to suppress the people, but no one paid attention to her when her life was threatened, and even Amuro Toru's harsh reprimand was ignored.

"Everyone, we still need to think about it. After all, this is a child..."

"It's just a child." An old man who walked out of the crowd was extremely disdainful. As a senior councillor among the guests attending the wedding, the old man looked around and said, "Isn't the safety of a child less important than the safety of so many social elites?"

"you……"

Suzuki Jirokichi also stood up, but before he could finish his words, the phone rang again.

"I am very pleased with your wisdom and understanding, so I have prepared a fishing boat."

This time it was not Vodka who spoke with the voice changer. Gin was holding the phone, and after Vermouth nodded after entering the submarine lounge, he returned to his murderous face.

"When we get the money, we will activate the boat's automatic cruise function and drive it to the east coast of Hachijo Island. Then you can leave here by boat."

"Great!"

Cheers filled the hall. If it weren't for Yusaku Kudo and Jirokichi Suzuki protecting Rize Kuroba behind them, this group of people might have rushed over and pushed the girl to give them the money.

"so be it."

After coldly observing the crowd, Kudo Yusaku asked everyone to leave the exhibition hall while he checked the money again.

"Uncle, how can we ..."

Sonoko dragged Kyogoku Makoto towards Suzuki Jirokichi, but was stopped immediately. Seeing something in Kudo Yusaku's eyes, Suzuki Jirokichi rubbed his aching temple. "I have to tell your father that those guys just now, no matter what relationship they had with the Suzuki Group before, must be completely cut off." The old man smiled disdainfully at those who left.

"Uncle, we..."

Xiaolan hugged Rize worriedly, but found that Kudo Yusaku waved his hand, signaling everyone not to worry.

"I'll go with the kid." Kudo Yusaku pulled out a pistol from his chest pocket to everyone's surprise: "If those guys are deliberately making things difficult for us, it means it's not for the money."

Noticing that Kaori and Yuzuki were still a little scared, the old father had to promise: "I will definitely bring her back safely."

So, Kuroba Rize set off with her so-called uncle, but actual grandfather, taking the money with her.

The place to pay is on Hachijo Mountain in the east district. From the top of the mountain you can overlook the entire island. This is the place with the most beautiful scenery.

Carrying the cash box up the mountain, Kudo Yusaku kept staring at the frustrated girl out of the corner of his eye and sighed.

"unhappy?"

"Um……"

Kuroba Rize was naturally upset because of the looks on those people's faces, but the concern of the mothers still made her feel warm. At least Kaori and Yuzuki, who were clinging to the car door and insisting on coming along, made her realize again that she was living in love.

Girls who didn't grow up naturally often fall into self-doubt, but only with this point, she is now truly free from doubts and fears.

[But why did Kaori's mother secretly tell me not to worry? 】

At the end of the mountain road, several men in black were smoking quietly and waiting for the grandparents and grandchildren. The man sitting in the middle was a bald man wearing sunglasses. He didn't say much when he saw Kudo Yusaku, but asked the girl to bring the cash box over to count it, and then called his companions to go down the mountain road on the other side.

"I originally thought these people were just trying to take advantage of the situation, but now it seems that they might really be the ones behind it."

Kudo Yusaku lowered his head: "But they don't seem to be in the same faction. What's the purpose of using Shinichi's excuse..."

Kudo Yusaku didn't finish his words because there was an extra anesthetic needle on his neck. Even though old Kudo noticed the flying needle and turned around in advance, the person who shot it predicted his position after turning around well.

"Of course it's to take our Rize home!"

In the middle of the mountain top, after Vermouth climbed up from the cliff surrounded by guardrails, she knocked down Kudo Yusaku and opened her arms towards Rize, hugging her tightly as the girl exclaimed "Grandma".

A "bang" sounded in the distance. After fooling Rize with the excuse of fireworks, Vermouth smiled and said, "I'll take you to find your father."

"That Uncle Kudo... Grandpa..."

"Someone will take him down."

He ran away holding Rize in his arms. The sound of Vermouth's footsteps gradually faded away, and Kudo Yusaku, who was lying on the ground, turned over and sat up.

He first took off his disguised neck with an anesthetic needle, then walked to the guardrail, muttering to himself as he looked at the fishing boat in the distance that was floating and sinking with many black spots nearby.

"grandfather?"

(End of this chapter)