Conan: I'm really not the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 432 Gin Knocks on the Door and Enters My Dream

Conan Edogawa was curious about the family background of his former teacher and now older brother-like friend, but he wouldn't pry into it.

He went upstairs to pack his luggage, and not long after, Ran Mouri came up as well.

"Want me to help you?"

"No need, Sister Xiaolan, I can organize these things myself."

Conan Edogawa waved his hands repeatedly.

After Fumiyo Edogawa's visit, Ran seemed to no longer suspect his identity, and he had not yet decided whether to reveal his true identity, and was still facing her as the child Conan Edogawa.

When Ran Mouri saw that he refused, she didn't press him, but simply reminded him, "We're leaving at seven tomorrow, so we need to get up at six. You should get some rest tonight."

"Hmm." Conan Edogawa nodded, then asked, "Are we going to Gunma?"

"Anzhong City."

Ran Mouri recalled the information Kogoro Mouri had told her at dinner: "If the journey goes smoothly, it will take less than three hours to get there from here."

Conan Edogawa's mind raced through the relevant area, noting that it was very close to Nagano: "I remember there are some nice tourist attractions and hot springs there?"

Ran Mouri laughed when this was mentioned, "Yes. After Dad finishes his work, we might be able to go and see the surrounding area."

She was in a good mood, and Conan Edogawa couldn't help but smile when he saw how expectant she was.

The client didn't specify the details of the request, so their planned trip was for two days. Conan Edogawa only packed one day's worth of clothes. As he closed his bag, he thought for a moment and put in the small box containing the new transmitter that he had picked up from Professor Agasa's house.

Since they had to leave early the next morning, even Kogoro Mouri went back to his room to rest early. Before 11 p.m., the Mouri Detective Agency was quiet.

Conan Edogawa rolled over in his blankets, then suddenly opened his eyes and found that he was not sleepy at all.

The surroundings were pitch black and eerily quiet; even Kogoro Mouri's snoring, which usually filled the air every day, could not be heard.

A strange sense of unease settled over him. Conan Edogawa sat up in the thick darkness and reached for his phone.

He only wanted to use the light, but when he opened it, he found a new email on the page.

Seven o'clock in the morning? I understand.

P.S.: For mission requirements, I will be well-disguised, so don't be surprised when you see me.

It was an email from Aoyagi Akimitsu.

At this moment, Conan Edogawa's mind was in a daze, and he couldn't remember whether he had read the email before going to sleep.

He wanted to reply, but just as his finger touched the screen, he heard a soft knock at the door.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet room. Conan Edogawa's heart skipped a beat, as if the knock had struck his heart at the same time.

The knocking was only once, and then silence returned.

"..."

The uneasy premonition grew stronger, and Conan Edogawa unconsciously tightened his grip on his phone. He wanted to turn his head to look at Kogoro Mouri on the next bed, but he found that he couldn't move his neck.

His mouth opened, and he made a perfectly normal sound: "Sister Xiaolan? Is there something you need so late?"

The person outside the door should be Ran Mouri.

No, it should be said that it can only be Ran Mouri.

Currently, only the three of them live in the Mouri Detective Agency. He is sitting here, and Kogoro Mouri is lying on the bed next to him. He doesn't even knock before entering his own bedroom. So, only Ran Mouri, who lives next door, is left.

If it wasn't her, who else could it be?
"crunch-"

The door was opened from the outside.

A tall figure stood in the doorway, backlit, the light shining on his long silver hair. His expression was obscured; only a faint, chilling killing intent could be discerned in his emerald eyes beneath the brim of his hat.

As if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, Conan Edogawa felt instantly chilled to the bone.

……

"!!!" Conan Edogawa sat up abruptly.

In the darkness, Kogoro Mouri's loud, rhythmic snoring came from beside him. He sat there blankly, his back soaked with cold sweat. It took him a while to gradually come to his senses.

Was that... a dream?

His heart was pounding violently, each beat a vibrant, life-giving thud against his chest, making him acutely aware that he was still alive.

They are really still alive. The organization didn't come to kill them all.

Conan Edogawa seemed to realize something, so he turned around and picked up his phone.

There is an email above.

Seven o'clock in the morning? I understand.

P.S.: For mission requirements, I will be well-disguised, so don't be surprised when you see me.

It was sent by Aoyagi Akimitsu.

The message was sent at 9 p.m., and he replied shortly after Kogoro Mouri acknowledged it.

"..."

Conan Edogawa stared blankly at the email.

For some reason, he had an unprecedented sense of foreboding about the upcoming trip.

……

the next day.

The three of them got up early and had a simple breakfast. Kogoro Mouri went ahead to drive the car that was parked in a nearby parking lot.

Ran Mouri was locking the door with her luggage when she heard a yawn coming from beside her feet. She looked down at Conan Edogawa and asked worriedly, "Conan, didn't you sleep well last night?"

Conan Edogawa, who had been yawning since breakfast, shook his head: "I'm fine."

...Actually, it's not good. After someone who resembled Gin entered his dream last night, he couldn't fall asleep again.

But he couldn't tell Ran Mouri these things, so he could only say again, "I'm just a little excited. It's my first time going to Gunma."

Ran Mouri looked at him but didn't say anything.

The two walked down the stairs to the street, three minutes to seven. Conan Edogawa glanced into the distance and, seeing that the car hadn't arrived yet, planned to call Aoyagi Akimitsu to ask how much longer it would take.

However, before he could make the call, he caught a glimpse of a figure walking towards them out of the corner of his eye, and he instinctively turned his head to look.

An unfamiliar face came into view.

The newcomer appeared to be in his early twenties, with short, smooth black hair, dressed casually, and carrying a backpack over one shoulder. His appearance was neither ugly nor outstanding; he was the most unremarkable person on the street. However, the thin-rimmed glasses on his nose added a touch of refined scholarly air to his features.

University students nearby?

This is Conan Edogawa's first impression.

Then he saw this unfamiliar college student walk straight toward them, and he heard a voice that he knew all too well.

"Good morning, Ms. Mori, Conan. I hope I'm not late."

"...?"

Conan Edogawa and Ran Mouri were both taken aback.

Seeing their reaction, the "college student" smiled slightly behind his glasses: "I put on a little disguise, don't you recognize me?"

Conan Edogawa had the strongest reaction.

He stared at those emerald green eyes, and for a moment, it seemed as if they overlapped with another pair of eyes—

"Mr. Ao-Aoyagi?!?"

(End of this chapter)