Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Regardless of the actual situation, if Vermouth is not mistaken, the FBI will not and dare not take any major actions until it understands the purpose of its return home and obtains the expected gains.

...However, besides that, there is another problem that is rather...not quite right.

It was quite unexpected.

Can someone explain to Vermouth why Rye is hanging out with Shuichi Akai?

And they're even sitting face-to-face eating together?!

Please, putting aside the issue of stance, just considering the personal identities of the old and new Black Rye, even if these two guys didn't immediately draw their guns and shoot each other the moment they met.

It shouldn't be this...harmonious, right?

Could it be that Rye and Shuichi Akai actually knew each other a long time ago, or even, to put it more deeply?

Is this guy an undercover agent?!

So, besides dealing with Shuichi Akai and the FBI agents behind him, I also have to add this madman to my list of problems this time I'm back?

Vermouth said she was deeply shocked, but she had to keep a calm facade.

He appears calm and collected on the surface, but is actually panicking.

But then again, does Shuichi Akai's blatant appearance in front of him mean that he doesn't know that he is actually Vermouth?

If you're still unsure and that's why you're planning to show your face and test the waters...

Shouldn't it be brought out with rye?

A simple accident?

However, after thinking things through and temporarily calming her inner turmoil, Vermouth arrived at the entrance of the observation restaurant with Judy and saw a little kid wearing glasses and a mask, huddled by the door like a statue.

Vermouth finally felt a little more at ease.

What the hell is this kid doing here??

...Although Vermouth now has some suspicions that Rye is an undercover agent, it's just suspicion.

There is no evidence to prove that Rye is an undercover agent.

What if the other party is actually just a criminal lunatic, what if these two guys run into him, and what if the other party discovers something?

Wouldn't that render it useless?!

Vermouth forced a straight face and leaned close to "Conan": "Little brother, what's wrong? Don't worry, I'm not a bad person. You should have seen me at the school fair before, right? I'm Tomoaki Shinichi, the school doctor at Teitan High School."

...In fact, Vermouth was somewhat unsure whether the "Conan" in front of her was the real Shinichi Kudo.

It's not that Vermouth thinks Conan isn't Shinichi Kudo, it's just that it's hard to say whether the Conan of the past and the Conan of today are the same person.

According to Vermouth's investigation, Shinichi Kudo was given APTX4869 by Gin some time ago while he was investigating Gin.

Logically speaking, being given that kind of drug should have resulted in certain death, but the other party suddenly appeared at the previous carnival.

This seems to prove that the other party is not dead and that nothing has changed.

However, Vermouth, through her secret contact with Ran Mouri, knew that Shinichi Kudo seemed to have surfaced at that particular time because Ran already suspected Conan.

It seems like Shinichi Kudo showed his face in order to prevent Ran Mouri from suspecting Conan.

Furthermore, based on Vermouth's earlier investigation into Conan's background...

The day Shinichi Kudo was drugged and "disappeared" happened to be the same day Conan appeared and moved into the Mouri Detective Agency, and coincidentally, his "parents were away."

Chapter 323, Section 322: Ito Taka Wants to Enter the Factory

In conclusion, Vermouth felt she had reason to suspect that the Shinichi Kudo was a fake, someone Conan had specifically hired to impersonate her.

Of course, it's also possible that "Conan" is fake, and that Shinichi Kudo that day was real. He just found someone to impersonate him as a child so that he could get rid of suspicion because he had mastered a way to temporarily turn back to his original form.

...Even when Vermouth checked on Shinichi Kudo when he was taken to the infirmary that day, she didn't find any signs of him disguising himself.

The latter is clearly more likely.

Of course, Shinichi Kudo may have already changed back to his original form, so the Conan in front of Vermouth may not be an imposter, but the real Conan.

As for who the person impersonating Conan is... well, that depends on why Shinichi Kudo was able to temporarily turn back, and what kind of person could impersonate a fake child.

Vermouth immediately pictured Shiho Miyano's face in her mind.

If it's that guy, he might be able to make a temporary antidote for APTX4869.

If that guy, like Shinichi Kudo, also consumed "If It Were That Guy" and experienced the same symptoms, then the reasons why she was able to escape from the research institute and remain undiscovered would be clear.

Furthermore, the fact that Gin discovered Sherry at the Beika Hotel was actually Shiho Miyano, not a child, can also be explained by the former.

In short, the "Conan" standing in front of Vermouth is very likely Sherry, Shiho Miyano!

Just thinking about this idea made Vermouth want to grin menacingly.

But then again.

When Shiho Miyano was sent to the detention room, she should have been searched.

If that's the case, then where did Shiho Miyano get the APTX4869 from?

Vermouth suddenly remembered that it was Rye who escorted Shiho Miyano to the detention cell.

Damn it, that guy Rye really is suspicious!

Shiho Miyano's older sister, Akemi Miyano, had an ambiguous relationship with Shuichi Akai.

If Rye is an undercover agent connected to the other side, she will secretly lend a helping hand, and then there will be no problem.

Or perhaps, the earlier gossip about Rye and Sherry was actually true, and he only made contact with Shuichi Akai in order to protect Shiho Miyano... But Vermouth also heard that Akemi Miyano was killed by him. If that's true, he shouldn't... Could it be that Akemi Miyano didn't actually die, and it was just Rye's doing?

Wait a minute, if Rye really is in contact with Shiho Miyano, that means he knows about "shrinking," which would also mean he has a connection with Conan, i.e., Shinichi Kudo...

Damn it, there's too little information; we can't draw any useful conclusions.

Vermouth's brain was racing, it was even getting hot.

In short, regardless of whether the Conan in front of her is Shinichi Kudo or Shiho Miyano, and whether Rye is an enemy or an ally, Vermouth should try her best to avoid encountering either of them. This is the best way to mitigate the risks.

Thinking of this, Vermouth squatted down again, leaned close to "Conan" who hadn't answered her question for several seconds, and asked again, "What's wrong, little brother? Are you lost? I'll take you back to the Mouri Detective Agency."

With that, Vermouth tried to forcibly pull Conan away.

However, Ai Haibara dared not let the other party touch her, and she took a few steps back in a flash.

...There was no way around it; the smell of the organization that Ai Haibara sensed in the restaurant was just too strong.

There was no doubt that there were more than just Rye members in the Lookout Restaurant.

There are at least two, or even three.

That's why Ai Haibara has been hesitating at the door, afraid to go in, and now she sees everyone as someone from the organization.

Even the seemingly kind-hearted Shinichi Araide is the same.

Just as Vermouth frowned and Ai Haibara was about to give up and run away, a surprised voice suddenly rang out: "Conan, what are you doing here?"

Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw Ran Mouri wearing a long dress.

"...Dr. Shinichi, Ms. Judy, you two are here too?"

Before either side could react, Ai Haibara's eyes lit up when she saw Ran Mouri: "Ran-neechan, something bad has happened! I just saw Shinichi down there. He said he has an urgent case to investigate and is already leaving. We have to go after him!"

At Ai Haibara's call, Ran Mouri's expression changed instantly. Forget about Vermouth and Jodie, she said, "Sorry, I have something to do, so I'll have to go now," and then hurriedly ran away.

Ai Haibara followed closely behind, letting out a sigh of relief.

Now everything should be fine, right?

...Actually, from the very beginning, Ai Haibara could have simply left with the shrunken Conan, but she hadn't forgotten what he had mentioned to her.

Ran Mouri had seen rye used during missions.

In other words, in Ran Mouri's eyes, Rye is undoubtedly a big bad guy.

If the two of them were to meet, Ai Haibara doesn't believe that this girl, whose sense of justice is in no way inferior to Conan's, would remain inactive.

To prevent Ran Mouri from getting herself killed, and also to prevent Conan from getting himself killed because of her, which could eventually affect her as well, Ai Haibara had no choice but to temporarily impersonate Ran and find an excuse to get her away from the observation restaurant.

...Although, well, there was a tiny little mishap and some minor obstacles along the way.

Fortunately, Ran Mouri appeared at that moment, otherwise she really wouldn't know what to do... Suddenly, Ai Haibara's thoughts went blank.

Damn it, was I stupid? Why didn't I just call Ran Mouri?

It's not like they don't have phone numbers; Conan even carries his own cell phone with him.

It's both fast and safe.

Just as Ai Haibara realized her brain had gone blank, she cursed inwardly as she ran after Ran Mouri. Vermouth, standing at the door, glanced at Jodie and said, "I'm a little worried about the two of them. I'd like to go check on them. Maybe we should just skip this meal."

Upon hearing this, Jodie was naturally more than happy to agree. After all, although she didn't know if Vermouth had discovered anything, if she hadn't and went back, the probability of Shuichi Akai being exposed to her would undoubtedly increase dramatically.

"Alright then, I'll go with you."

The two reached an agreement and immediately started chasing after the departing duo.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Sano and Shuichi Akai's "chat" had been forced to stop.

The interruption was caused by an outsider who suddenly joined the dinner party.

"...In short, someone has their eye on you, so they paid me to find you. I've already given them your location, and they're probably on their way with their men. They might already be downstairs."

Looking at the smiling guy with his hands crossed and chin resting on his hands, Sano couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

It wasn't that what the other person said particularly caught Sano's attention, but rather that the other person... was rather "special".

Ito Taka.

That's right, Sano's "fellow patient" and "apprentice".

Since he inexplicably appeared in Osaka some time ago and "reminded" Sano, he hadn't seen him for quite a while. He never expected him to come looking for him now.

...and they even used their own pseudonym.

"So, why are you telling me all this?"

Hearing Sano's calm voice, Ito Taka raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Because during the investigation of your whereabouts, I unexpectedly discovered that there is a very interesting organization behind you. I am very interested in this, so after completing the transaction with them in good faith, I immediately came to find you, just to... make friends with you."

Upon hearing Ito Taka's words, Sano and Akai Shuichi immediately understood what the other meant.