The unscrupulous detective in Conan

Chapter 1386 Wife’s former wife is guilty
"like?!"

Sonoko was a little confused when she heard this.

She swallowed hard, a slightly unpleasant thought creeping into her mind.

Xiaolan noticed her best friend's puzzled expression and was a little confused.

Sonoko hesitated for a moment, then said, "Hey, Ran, you said you like it..."

"Could it be that she has some... feelings for me?"

"what?"

Xiaolan was also dumbfounded.

No, what's going on in my best friend's head?

Is this...is this reasonable?
Her lips twitched slightly: "Garden?"

Sonoko coughed lightly, "Ran, what you're talking about, it can't be...the crush between girls, right..."

"Bridge Bean Sacks!"

Ran immediately interrupted Sonoko's lewd remarks: "What exactly are you talking about?"

"It's what you mean by 'like', Ran..." Sonoko whispered, "I saw it in a manga before, it's that kind of thing."

"..."

Xiaolan stared blankly at her best friend...

She wondered if her best friend had some strange fetish.

But after thinking about it, she still sighed.

He then explained, "What I meant was... she doesn't dislike you, she likes... she has feelings for you... ah, this..."

But as she talked, she realized she really didn't know what to say anymore.

Finally, after racking his brains, he took a deep breath and explained, "It means she doesn't dislike you..."

"It feels like we're two good friends."

"It feels like being sisters."

"That's it..."

Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Xiaolan: "..."

So now is not the time to let your guard down!

The most important thing isn't your relationship with Hongye and your senior!

She paused for a moment, mentally grumbling for a moment, before asking, "So, Sonoko, what do you think?"

"This..." Sonoko hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, "What do you mean, what do you think?"

"It's about you and Miss Hongye." Xiaolan narrowed her eyes, feeling that her best friend seemed to be playing dumb: "What are you really thinking? Is it about what she mentioned?"

"I didn't know..." Sonoko felt a little upset: "That's why I came to ask Ran."

Xiaolan: "..."

So, how could I possibly know the answer to your question?
This is a matter between you few, it has nothing to do with me, okay...

She was also having a headache over her best friend's absurd situation.

It's really absurd that plots from romance novels would actually happen in real life.

She could only say helplessly, "You'll have to figure that out yourself, Sonoko..."

Sonoko pursed her lips: "The problem is I can't think of what to do... so I thought I'd ask Ran for your opinion."

"How am I supposed to make a decision about something like this..." Xiaolan took a deep breath and thought for a moment. "It's so complicated. Let me explain the relationship between you, your senior, and Hongye from my perspective. It should be clearer from a third-party point of view."

The garden nodded at the chick pecking at the rice.

Xiaolan ran quickly back to her room, took out a notebook, and then started writing and drawing on the paper with a pencil:
"This is Sonoko, this is Fujino-senpai, and this is Momiji-san."

"Sonoko likes her senior, and Momiji also likes her senior. It seems that Momiji and her senior made a promise to get married when they were young, so Miss Momiji considers herself to be her senior's fiancée."

“Although I’m reluctant to admit it…” Sonoko stroked her chin, “that’s how it is now.”

Ran started scribbling again: "Miss Momiji must have noticed that you also like Fujino-senpai."

"In that case, you two will become rivals in love."

Sonoko nodded: "Logically speaking, that's correct, but why would she say something like that?"

Ran looked at the scribbles on the paper and pondered for a moment: "I think she probably didn't want to make things difficult for Fujino-senpai, right?"

"Look, as it stands, it's just a matter between the two of you. Senior hasn't clearly expressed his opinion yet..."

As she spoke, she looked up at her best friend and asked, "Sonoko, has your senior expressed his feelings towards you?"

"Well..." Sonoko thought for a moment, "It seems not, the key is that I haven't asked him either..."

“That’s true, after all, he’s Fujino-senpai.” Ran nodded, then said, “That’s the key…”

"You see, so far this matter has only involved you and Hongye. It's hard to guess what the senior is thinking, but as far as the senior is concerned, you should be able to sense this."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "So, the senior is now completely caught in the middle."

"Thinking about it this way, it seems to make sense!" Sonoko nodded, touched her chin, and looked as serious as if she were preparing for graduate school entrance exams.

Xiaolan continued her analysis: "His senior must be in a difficult position. After all, both of them like him, so it's not good to accept either of them. The other person will definitely be sad because of this..."

Sonoko nodded with her arms crossed: "After all, he's a very gentle person, he would never do anything to hurt someone."

"That's the key!" Xiaolan nodded. "You see, if the senior doesn't want to hurt anyone, then no one can agree. In that case, even if the two of you become adversaries, you still won't get any feedback from the senior..."

As she spoke, Ran's thoughts suddenly became clear: "I understand now. Miss Koyo must have brought this up with Sonoko because of this."

"Look, since neither of you can get the senior if you continue like this, it's better to bind the two of you together."

As she spoke, she drew a circle around the garden and the red leaves: "That way, the senior won't have to worry about either of them."

She narrowed her eyes: "I think this is what Miss Hongye was thinking. She probably didn't want to put the senior in a difficult position, so that's why she said that."

Sonoko also had a look of sudden realization: "So that's how it is!"

“I have to say…” Ran put down her pen and crossed her arms: “Compared to Miss Momiji, Sonoko, you really are far inferior.”

"what?"

Sonoko was dumbfounded, while Ran said in a serious tone, "Think about it, Koyo thought of this so much before you. If I hadn't helped you analyze it, you might not have understood Miss Koyo's intentions!"

"That's true..."

"Furthermore, she made significant concessions."

Xiaolan waved her finger. "Think about it, how would you feel if your fiancé, whom you've been betrothed to since childhood, had other people pursuing him?"

Sonoko frowned: "Of course we must take them down!"

“But that’s how Miss Hongye sees it,” Xiaolan said, arms crossed. “But Miss Hongye didn’t do that.”

She sighed: "Although it seems a bit outrageous, Miss Hongye must have thought about it for a long time before making this decision."

"Huh?" Sonoko didn't quite understand what Ran was talking about.

Xiaolan, on the other hand, immediately put herself in the husband's shoes and used an analogy: "Think about it, a wife discovers that her husband is having an affair, but in order to avoid making things difficult for her husband, the wife chooses to accept the mistress and live with her..."

Upon hearing this, Sonoko stroked her chin and clicked her tongue, already imagining such an outrageous scene of her wife committing such a crime in front of her.

She thought about it and sighed, "She's starting to look rather pitiful..."

“That’s how it is.” Xiaolan nodded. “To be able to make such a concession, I feel that Miss Hongye is quite impressive in some ways.”

"That's true..."

Sonoko nodded, agreeing with what Ran said.

At least, if it were her, she definitely couldn't do it.

But then, she realized something was off: "No, Xiaolan, shouldn't I be talking about the thing she brought up?"

"How did we end up here?"

Xiaolan crossed her arms and said seriously, "Because she brought this up precisely because of this."

“Miss Momiji has this idea, now it's up to you, Sonoko.” “I…”

Sonoko was conflicted for a moment: "But, how can you do something like this?"

"..."

Xiaolan paused for a moment, then sighed and said, "This is all I can think of. The rest of the choices are up to you, Sonoko."

Then she became serious: "After all, this is a major life event for you, Sonoko!"

"I choose..."

Sonoko stroked her chin, racking her brains, but still couldn't figure it out: "What should I do if I don't agree?"

"Then let's maintain the status quo," Xiaolan pondered. "In the end, one of you two will win, or rather, both of you will..."

Sonoko frowned, naturally knowing what Ran meant.

After all, modern society is based on monogamy, and having an extra person would certainly not be recognized.

Therefore, in the end, only one person can successfully rise to power...

Then that one might not be anyone in particular...

After considering this in her mind, she asked about another possibility: "What if I agree?"

Ran narrowed her eyes and gave Sonoko a deep look: "I guess... well, it's just like what Miss Koyo said."

"Of course, it depends on what Fujino-senpai thinks."

"Is that so?"

There's a reason why you shouldn't eavesdrop on conversations between girls.

Like this couple, their conversation was just too outrageous...

All we can say is that, apart from the people involved, no one will ever know just how explosive the topics two close friends discuss really are.

However, the two of them couldn't come to a conclusion in the end.

…………

It was five o'clock in the afternoon.

Fujino had just returned home from shopping when Vermouth, that old lady, sent him the meeting point.

Fujino disguised himself slightly and became Vermouth's henchman, who was using the alias Higashi Yukuren.

The older woman and Rena Mizunashi came together.

He also drove a Mazda MX5.

It's amazing that there was no traffic jam.

At this moment, Hidemi Hondo, codenamed Kir and using the alias Rena Mizunashi, changed into a black work uniform and wore a black hat, which looked like the kind of clothing used for infiltration within the organization.

As for why it's stealth clothing?
Because leather reflects light.

As for the older women, they were dressed similarly.

It seems that this was to prevent her body from reflecting light and being spotted by that old man Shuichi Akai.

Fujino glanced around and asked, "The others haven't arrived yet?"

"It's not time yet."

Vermouth raised her wrist, glanced at her watch, and explained, "About four minutes from now."

"Those guys were pretty punctual, huh..."

Fujino complained, "It's right before the evening rush hour in Tokyo right now, don't they know to leave early?"

Vermouth shrugged helplessly and glanced at Gil behind her: "Isn't it enough that the key person has arrived?"

Fujino then asked, "Was Shuichi Akai invited out?"

"Yes, we made a date, and it went very smoothly."

Vermouth replied, "He'll come alone at seven o'clock tonight on Yeshan Road."

Upon hearing this, Fujino glanced at Gil and said, "How lucky you are to have helped the organization eliminate such a formidable enemy. This is quite an achievement."

Kiel was also helpless about this, saying, "If I could, I would never want to face such a terrible man, but unfortunately I have no choice."

"is it?"

Fujino narrowed his eyes, and then he heard the sound of an engine behind him.

Fujino looked back and saw a Dodge Viper and a BMW.

Two men and one woman got out of the car: Chianti, who was wearing a black leather jacket and carrying a bag; Cohen, who was wearing a vest and also carrying a bag; and a blond, muscular man dressed in all black.

Clearly, this burly man is Ireland.

He's very muscular; you can tell he's a skilled fighter even through his sweater.

However, he's only evenly matched with Xiaolan.

If he hadn't resorted to underhanded tactics, he probably wouldn't have been able to beat Xiaolan.

At this moment, Chianti looked at Gil and narrowed her eyes: "It's been a long time, Gil."

“This is the one,” Kiel had barely finished speaking when Chianti spoke up again, “I really wish you were an undercover agent…”

"That way we can kill you and Shuichi Akai together!"

Kiel: "..."

So this punk girl is still just as wild as ever.

Ireland, standing nearby, turned his gaze toward Fujino.

He began by saying, "However, there seems to be a new face here..."

"What, aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

Vermouth glanced at Ireland: "He's one of my men."

"Oh……"

Ireland responded with a sound of agreement, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Clearly, he immediately saw this Vermouth as a gigolo.

As a practical cadre, he was most indignant at those who reaped credit without working.

He thought to himself, "Ever since Pisco died, the organization has been getting worse and worse, with more and more parasites appearing."

Fujino sensed the malice emanating from Ireland.

He didn't react, but secretly felt that this Irishman was already courting death.

Vermouth interrupted at this moment, saying, "Alright, let's stop reminiscing. The operation is about to begin. We only have two hours left, and we don't have much time."

Kiel glanced at Vermouth, clearly giving the old lady face.

After all, he was someone who saved my life.

Vermouth was very satisfied with this scene, and immediately began to make plans: "Kir is responsible for contacting Shuichi Akai and killing him."

"Dong... Xue Lian and I are in charge of surveillance."

"Chianti, Cohen, you two stay on high ground just in case. If Kiel betrays us, kill them both without hesitation."

"Ireland, you are the backup plan, to take care of them if the sniping fails, and eliminate both of them."

"clear."

The elderly woman's plan was brief, but it covered the existing situation.

Meanwhile, Kiel, who was being guarded against by snipers and thugs, was left feeling helpless.

Could you please not make these arrangements in front of me?

So, apart from me going to kill Shuichi Akai, the other two were just watching and doing nothing, waiting to be dealt with, right?
But considering the nature of the organization...

This kind of thing isn't too surprising.

(End of this chapter)