I'm in Conan, I'm not a gangster

Chapter 625 Recruitment (1st update)
The villa's lobby was filled with a strong smell of blood and gunpowder.

When Shiraishi E and Koshimizu Nanatsuki pushed open the rickety door, they were met with a scene of utter devastation—the furniture was riddled with holes, bullet casings and shards of glass were scattered on the floor, and several corpses lay twisted in pools of blood.

"You're finally back!" Sera Masumi was the first to spot them, and she was using a bandage from the first-aid kit to bandage Hattori Heiji's gunshot wound.

Heiji winced in pain, but still managed to raise his uninjured hand to greet them.

Shinichi Kudo leaned out from the second-floor railing, his face pale but his eyes sharp: "I've confirmed it. Everyone else..."

He paused, his voice low, "It's just us left."

Miwako Sato is treating the gunshot wound on Hakuba Saguru's leg.

Although the detective, who had returned from studying in England, had cold sweat beading on his forehead, he maintained an elegant posture, though his tightly pursed lips betrayed his pain.

"Fortunately, they are all penetrating wounds." Sato Miwako skillfully disinfected and bandaged the wounds. "No bones or arteries were damaged, so it won't affect your mobility."

Shinichi walked down the stairs, looked directly at Shiraishi E, and frowned, saying, "This is clearly a trap. When did you realize it?"

Shiraishi E shrugged and casually kicked away the spent cartridge case at her feet: "I didn't find anything, but I just find it strange."

“I found it strange, so I didn’t follow their itinerary.”

His gaze swept over the mangled corpses scattered on the ground: "It seems these people are raising us like Gu worms, and those who survive are the ones they want."

Koshimizu Nanatsuki clearly knew something, but she didn't say it aloud. Instead, she said, "No need to guess. Now that only we're left, they'll show themselves soon and give us the answer!"

Hattori Heiji stood up cursingly and limped towards the display case in the center of the living room: "Whatever their purpose, let's arm ourselves first! If they don't give us an explanation—"

He spat angrily: "I'll definitely make them pay!"

The bulletproof glass of the display case has been raised, and various weapons are neatly displayed inside.

The crowd gathered around and began selecting equipment.

Shinichi picked up a Glock 17, expertly inspected the pistol, and said, "These weapons are all military grade; ordinary criminal organizations can't get their hands on them."

Hakuba Saguru selected a Walther PPK, his voice remaining calm: "From the monitoring system to the weaponry, it's clear that the other side has highly professional logistical support."

Sera Masumi was stuffing magazines into her tactical vest when she suddenly stopped: "Listen!"

The doorbell rang abruptly, its crisp electronic sound sounding particularly eerie in the deathly silent villa.

Everyone instantly raised their guns and aimed them at the door.

In the tense standoff, Tsuchio Hiroki pushed open the door and entered, followed by several armed maids.

Surprisingly, the once charming maids were now wearing tactical vests, their submachine guns pointed openly at the crowd.

"Put the guns down!" Heiji shouted first, but when he saw that the maids were all holding MP5 submachine guns, his voice noticeably weakened.

He awkwardly put down his pistol and muttered, "The difference in firepower is too great, I can't win."

Shinichi stepped forward, his eyes piercing: "What exactly is your purpose?"

Hiroki Tsuchio walked in calmly, with his maids forming a protective formation behind him.

He smiled and looked around at everyone: "It's very simple. We will select the best detectives from all over the country, screen them, and then invite you to join us."

"Join what?" Hakuba Saguru asked, frowning. "Who are you?"

Sera Masumi suddenly gasped: "Could it be that black-clad organization?"

Hiroki Tsuchio looked at her with slight surprise: "I didn't expect you to know. But..."

He shook his head: "We are not that organization that uses alcohol as a code name."

Everyone looked at Sera Masumi.

She explained, "The Black Organization is a transnational criminal organization whose members use the names of alcoholic beverages as code names, and their operations are very secretive."

Shinichi and Heiji exchanged a glance—neither of them expected that Sera Masumi knew about the organization.

Miwako Sato, the oldest police officer present, remained calm: "Before considering whether to join, we at least need to know what kind of organization you are, and what the benefits and costs of joining are."

Hiroo Tsuchio chuckled and took out a badge from his pocket—a kestrel with outstretched wings and rubies in its eyes: "You'll know everything once you join. Now."

He made a gesture, and the maids all lowered their guns. "Just answer, accept or refuse?" The scene fell into a deathly silence.

The falcon badge gleamed with a cold, eerie light, as if awaiting their choice.

Heiji was the first to break the silence: "What a joke! Who would want to join this kind of secretive organization!"

He had already been forced to join the Black Organization, and he didn't want to be forced to join a second criminal organization!

Hakuba Saguru elegantly straightened his collar: "On the contrary, I'm quite interested. After all, high school life is too boring. Joining you guys might bring me some fun!"

"Hey!! You, you just joined them like that?" Heiji looked at Hakuba with displeasure.

Shinichi frowned and said, "They're not exactly good people, Hakuba!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the corpses on the ground and reminded the other person that these guys were not good people.

"Shinichi Kudo, aren't you being far too naive?" Hakuba Saguru glanced at Shinichi and said with a hint of sarcasm, "What kind of detective are you if you're not prepared to make sacrifices?"

"Ah... I forgot, you've been playing a pretend detective game all along!"

"Although you two are famous, neither of you has solved any decent cases, such as transnational cases or anything like that."

"Every time a case is solved, doesn't a large number of people die? You think we're children who will quit just because people die?"

This taunt left Shinichi and Heiji with rather unpleasant expressions.

At this moment, Nanatsuki Koshimizu also spoke up: "I agree to join too! I also want to see what you're planning to do!"

"Welcome!" Hiroki Tsuchio spread his arms wide and said, "I can assure you, you will absolutely not regret joining us!"

"In that case, I'll go take a look too," Sera Masumi agreed.

“Sera-kun!” Sato Miwako looked at him with a slight frown.

"I'm sorry, Officer Sato." Sera Masumi scratched her head and said apologetically, "I don't want to die like this, without knowing why."

"Besides, even if we manage to kill them, we'll still be stuck on a deserted island!!"

"Officer Sato, I advise you to join them! As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances."

Of course, all of the above are just excuses.

She just wanted to sneak in and see what this organization was all about, so she could report back to her mother.

Anyway, if she wanted to leave later, she believed that with her mother's status as an MI6 agent, she would definitely be able to help her!

Sera Masumi had a good impression of the policewoman, and their cooperation was very pleasant. She was very much to her liking and wanted to persuade her to join the team.

“That makes sense.” Sato Miwako understood Sera Masumi’s predicament and stopped trying to persuade her.

She turned to look at Shiraishi E and asked, "Shiraishi-kun, what are you thinking?"

Shiraishi E suddenly realized that everyone was looking at him. He shrugged and said, "Sorry, I'll pass... I'm not really interested either."

Upon seeing this, Sato Miwako immediately said, "Then I won't join either."

Heiji chuckled, patted Shiraishi E on the shoulder, and said, "I knew you wouldn't join!!"

Shinichi moved closer to the other person and said, "I don't think they'll let us leave so easily."

Hiroki Tsuchio nodded and said, "Yes... leaving also requires passing a test. Someone will come to deal with you in twenty minutes."

"If you can kill them, you can survive."

With that, he gestured for Hakuba Saguru and the others to leave with him.

Hakuba Saguru followed without hesitation. Koshimizu Nanatsuki glanced at Shiraishi E, hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.

Sera Masumi said to Shiraishi E, "Don't die, get out of here alive... I'll come find you!"

Shiraishi E smiled and said, "We're not close, so don't come looking for me unless it's important."

(End of this chapter)