Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The next morning, the sea breeze was still lapping against the shore, and Zheng Yi was awakened from his light sleep.

Hongye was shaking him desperately.

"Wake up!"

Zheng Yi groggily opened his eyes and asked, puzzled, "How did you get into my room?"

He lifted the blanket and took a look.

Fortunately, nothing particularly joyful or uplifting happened.

Hongye slapped Ai's arm and said, "Get up! I've been calling Ai for ages, but there's not a sound from her room."

He hurriedly got up and walked quickly to the door of the guest room where Ai was staying.

I raised my hand and knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

"Ai? Is she awake?" Zheng Yi knocked a few more times with more force, but there was still no response.

"I've brought the keys."

The hotel staff quickly brought over the key.

With a creak, the door was pushed open.

The room was dimly lit, with thick blackout curtains drawn.

As soon as Zheng Yi took half a step in, a strong smell of chemicals hit him.

When Zheng Yi arrived at the bedside, the bed was empty, and the blanket was pulled back in one corner and piled up messily to the side, clearly indicating that he had not gotten up naturally.

He found Ai's sneakers on the floor near the balcony, the laces scattered haphazardly.

Zheng Yi calmly said, "If nothing unexpected happens, Ai has been kidnapped."

"Um!?"

Unlike Zheng Yi's composure, Hong Ye was much more flustered.

"That……"

"Don't panic," Zheng Yi said calmly. "The people who kidnapped Ai are probably some of my business competitors. Don't panic."

Hongye instantly turned her head to look at the garden.

Sonoko paused in rubbing her eyes, and hurriedly explained, "It wasn't me, and it couldn't be our Suzuki family."

Hongye looked suspicious.

Ai disappeared at your Suzuki family's hotel. You guys are definitely the most suspicious!

“It’s not Sonoko,” Masakazu said. “It’s someone else.”

This time, Koyo let Sonoko off the hook, saying, "You used those methods to harm your rivals, and now look what's happened! Someone else is using the same methods against you!"

Ai was caught in the crossfire when Shoichi was involved.

Moreover, Zheng Yi has offended so many people that it would be difficult to find even one suspect.

“Seiichi, you don’t seem worried at all,” Conan asked as he ran up to Seiichi.

“What’s there to worry about? Even if you are worried, those people won’t release Ai.” Zheng Yi said, “Besides, since we’ve chosen kidnapping, there’s no danger to her life.”

Hongye was very dissatisfied with Zhengyi's attitude.

"Call the police first!"

“Calling the police won’t solve anything,” Zheng Yi said.

……

"Hmm~"

Ai's eyelashes fluttered, and she rubbed her sleepy eyes, still looking dazed and adorably vulnerable.

"That's great, you're awake."

Seeing the dark figure suddenly approaching, Ai jumped up from the bed like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.

Her short, brown hair, which had been a little messy and frizzy from sleeping, was now standing up even more noticeably.

"Who are you?! Get away from me!"

Ai's voice was alert, but because of her soft, sweet voice when she had just woken up and her adorable, panicked expression, it seemed harmless.

It even made the dark figure smile.

“My name is Naomi Algent, and I was also kidnapped here.”

Naomi's hands and feet were bound, and she was kneeling and looking at Ai.

"Kidnapping?"

Ai shook her head.

Have I been kidnapped?

She then realized that she seemed to be in an unfamiliar environment, not in a hotel.

Where am I?

“I don’t know either, but I’m guessing it’s inside an abandoned submarine,” Naomi said.

Ai nodded.

Inside an abandoned submarine?
Have I really been arrested?

It turns out that Zheng Yi really wasn't lying this time; the organization really was going to arrest me.

However, this is also Zheng Yi's fault. It was because Zheng Yi kept lying to me that I lost trust in him and was easily captured by the organization.

Naomi looked at Ai intently and suddenly said, "You look like Shiho."

"Who is Shiho? I don't know her," Ai asked.

She only knew Shiho Miyano.

“Oh, you’re my friend. But all I can say is that you look a lot like Shiho when she was little. Shiho is all grown up now,” Naomi said.

Ai nodded.

Just as the two were about to say something, the door was suddenly opened.

Vodka and Kiel stood outside the door, coldly watching the two people inside the room.

Vodka came in with a tablet and frowned when he saw that Ai wasn't tied up.

"Why didn't you tie her up?" Vodka asked.

Kiel didn't bother to answer and walked in with a breakfast.

"Eat breakfast first, then tie her up," Kiel said.

Vodka was somewhat dissatisfied.

He hasn't even had breakfast yet, and you're already making the hostage eat?

However, he didn't say anything.

It's normal to give Zheng Yi's sister a little preferential treatment.

Gil put breakfast on the bed and said to Ai, "Are you hungry? Have some breakfast."

Ai paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Oh."

Kiel smiled and said, "Soy milk, milk, bread, sandwiches, and steamed buns—eat whatever you want. If there's anything else you'd like to eat, just let me know."

"No need, this is fine."

Ai didn't pick and choose, and just sat cross-legged on the bed and started eating.

Naomi blinked as she watched Ai eating.

Is this the portion that wasn't prepared for me?

We're all hostages, so why don't I get breakfast?
Does this evil organization even protect minors? They're so kind to children.

Ai ate her meal slowly, not worried about her situation at all, nor asking why these people had brought her here.

After she finished eating breakfast, she wiped her mouth and looked at Naomi, asking, "Isn't she eating?"

Vodka sneered, "If she's not willing to cooperate with us, then let her starve to death."

That was said in a particularly cruel way.

Ai frowned, picked up a sandwich, and held it to Naomi's lips. "You eat it."

"This……"

Naomi shook her head.

He won't let you get away with slapping that guy in the face like that.

But after Ai handed over the food, neither of the two people made a move.

Naomi glanced cautiously at Gil and saw that the woman was actually wiping Ai's mouth tenderly. She then glanced at Vodka, whose lips twitched, but he seemed very wary of the little girl in front of him and didn't dare to say a word.

Naomi didn't understand.

She opened her mouth blankly and ate Ai's food bite by bite.

After they finished eating, Kir handed Ai a tissue so she could wipe her hands.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Naomi didn't understand.

This little girl was clearly kidnapped as well, but she seemed to get along with the kidnappers quite naturally.

The kidnappers also took good care of the child.

Could it be that these kidnappers, despite being extremely vicious, actually like children and abide by the laws protecting minors?
"Alright," Vodka said, "Now that we've had breakfast, can we tie her up?"

"What's the rush? Let her process this first," Gil said. Ai nodded in agreement.

Yes, I just finished eating and need some time to digest.

She looked at Vodka, who didn't dare to speak.

Digest it if you will.

They'll definitely have to tie them up later.

Naomi was increasingly puzzled.

They are both hostages, but the treatment is so different. Are children really that popular?

Vodka pulled out a tablet, glared at Naomi with a fierce look, and shouted, "This little girl is the woman on the screen, isn't she!"

On the tablet, there is a comparison of two photos of Ai and Sherry, showing a 100% match.

Naomi glanced at him, then turned her head away without answering.

Vodka sneered, "If you don't tell us now, you'll be in for it once we've confirmed it."

Vodka made a throat-slitting gesture to intimidate her.

Naomi kept her eyes closed and remained silent.

Vodka was too lazy to pay attention to her now. When he turned his head to look at Ai, he put on a kind smile.

"Little friend, are you the person on the tablet?" Vodka asked with a smile.

Ai glanced at him and said softly, "You're so ugly."

"Um!?"

"Um!?"

Naomi and Vodka both looked at Ai with surprise.

"Don't make things difficult for her! Ask me!" Naomi shouted.

How dare this child curse such a brutal criminal to his face?

Vodka's smile froze instantly.

Is it ugly?

Vodka was furious.

Even Zheng Yi never said his smile was ugly. You're just Zheng Yi's sister, how dare you!

Vodka immediately stopped smiling and said, "Since you think it's ugly, then I won't smile anymore."

Vodka's smile remained gentle, and his voice was soft, as if he were afraid of startling Ai.

Naomi was taken aback again.

So easy to talk to?
She looked at the vodka, and the vodka looked back at her, his expression still fierce.

Naomi shrank back.

Perhaps, maybe, it seems, these people really do treat children well.

Kiel laughed and said, "Vodka, step aside, let me do it. Don't scare Ai."

Kiel asked, "Are you one of the people up here?"

"No." Ai shook her head.

Kiel nodded and said, "Vodka, she says she isn't, so let's release her now."

Naomi was even more shocked than Vodka upon hearing this.

They just released them like that?

Aren't you guys being too casual?
Is this really a member of a terrorist organization? Why would they release someone so easily?

Fortunately, Vodka wasn't as unreliable as Kiel and didn't immediately agree with Kiel's words.

“No, we need to let Rum or Big Brother take a look first,” Vodka said.

Otherwise, we'll be in big trouble.

Kiel nodded.

Okay, then let Gin or Rum take a look before releasing it.

“Can we tie her up now?” Vodka said.

"it is good."

Gil took out several colorful ribbons and asked Ai, "What color do you like?"

Ai hesitated for a moment, then picked one out randomly: "Red, I guess."

"it is good."

Naomi hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

She glanced at the colorful ribbons on Ai's side, then at the thick, stiff rope on her side.

This differential treatment is just too much!
Gil tied her up very slowly and gently, afraid of hurting Ai.

Naomi watched silently, then made some subtle movements.

She was in a bit of pain from being strangled.

"All right."

After tying it up, Gil clapped his hands, took a hair clip out of his pocket, and put it on Ai's hair.

"This is for you."

"Thank you."

This really doesn't seem like a kidnapper and a hostage situation.

Naomi didn't want to say anything anymore.

There are different kinds of hostages; she should have realized that long ago.

“Let’s go,” Kiel said to Vodka as he stood up.

"it is good."

Ai moved her body slightly, and the colorful ribbons that were originally tied to her hands and feet seemed to be only partially covered. With this subtle movement, they quietly came apart.

Gil and Vodka, who were standing nearby, quickly turned away, ignoring what was happening. They kept their eyes straight ahead, as if they had no idea that Ai had broken free of her restraints.

The two left the room expressionlessly, not even noticing that Ai's colorful ribbon had fallen to the ground as they closed the door.

Naomi glanced at the doorway, then at Ai, and remained silent.

This little girl must be someone important, otherwise these kidnappers wouldn't be so friendly.

Moreover, the little girl remained remarkably calm throughout, and the way she looked at the two kidnappers even seemed somewhat familiar.

Being tied up here, they didn't show fear, but rather helplessness.

"Who exactly are you?" Naomi asked.

"My name is Ai Haibara."

Why were you tied up here?

"I don't know," Ai said. "Maybe it's because I look like the woman on the tablet earlier."

Naomi remained silent.

She felt that the little girl wasn't telling the truth.

Ai said, "Let me untie your ropes."

"it is good."

As for Vodka and Gil, neither of them mentioned that Ai might have broken free of her restraints; they acted as if they hadn't seen it.

There's no need to worry about such a trivial matter.

Even if she wasn't tied up, what could a little girl do?
This morning, Vodka received an email from Zheng Yi.

[Take good care of Ai. If she comes back and says you bullied her, you're dead. And don't even think about running away. If you can buy a plane ticket abroad, I'll change my surname to 'Kurosawa'. —Shoichi]

Zheng Yi threatened him without any politeness.

Although Vodka wasn't afraid of Zheng Yi, he wouldn't take his anger out on a small child.

He still likes children very much, so it wouldn't be a problem for him to take care of Zheng Yi's younger sister a little.

Vodka glanced at Kiel.

Needless to say, this woman definitely received Zheng Yi's emails as well.

Look, this isn't kidnapping a hostage, it's clearly pampering a spoiled young lady!
Look at the treatment they received! Not only did they thoughtfully bring her a steaming hot breakfast, but they even carefully wiped the crumbs from the corners of her mouth.

Then, as if presenting a treasure, she handed over an exquisite hair clip, as if afraid that her hair would look messy.

Thinking back to when I tied her up, I was so gentle, afraid that I would hurt her if I used even a little force.

Someone who didn't know better might think this wasn't Zheng Yi's sister, but your sister.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kiel asked.

"It's nothing." Vodka shook his head and said, "Did Zheng Yi send you an email asking you to do anything?"

"No."

"Oh?"

Kiel squinted and asked, "Did Zheng Yi send you an email?"

"Heh, how could that be?" Vodka denied.

“If they haven’t even contacted you, then of course they won’t contact me,” Kiel said. (End of Chapter)