Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

Gin smirked and said sarcastically, "Heh, always calling her a child. She's not even your own, yet you keep talking about her like that. If you ever have a daughter, you'll probably become a doting father."

Is this an implication that she has already checked?

Sano's smile widened, and then he patted Gin's shoulder with feigned melancholy.

"Lord Gin, you don't have a daughter, so naturally you wouldn't understand how I feel right now."

...In addition to mockery, Sano added a touch of petty smugness and boasting, which together reached a level that bordered on arrogance and contempt.

Gin's lips twitched, and he directly slapped Sano's hand away.

Yes, I'm in my thirties and still single with no children, but is that a crime?!

"Alright, enough nonsense, tonight is your night."

Gin immediately switched to work mode and pulled out a map for Sano.

“This factory is a base of hostile organizations, and there are quite a few armed forces outside. Sending cannon fodder to launch a strong attack would not only waste time and potentially cause unnecessary trouble, but would also result in too many casualties. It’s not worth it.”

Sano glanced at the map, then looked away.

"So, Lord Gin is willing to gamble my life on the lives of those cannon fodder?"

Gin raised an eyebrow and gave a cold smile.

“I don’t think this is gambling with your life. At my gambling table, you’re just a hand to earn chips, not a chip.”

Wow, that was a brilliant speech.

Sano clapped his hands and then snapped his fingers.

"Then, let Lord Gin witness the new gambling technique of this hand today."

"Ok?"

Before Gin could fully grasp the meaning behind Sano's words, he heard a series of strange movements coming from the surrounding grove, as if a strong wind was blowing.

"..."

After glancing around warily, Gin noticed that the trees in his field of vision began to tremble—followed by countless densely packed dark shadows.

It emerged from the leaves.

"Gah!!"

Amidst the chilling cawing of crows, hundreds upon hundreds of crows gathered and circled above the heads of the three Sano members, forming what appeared to be a black tornado.

Only Daikoku stood out and landed on Sano's shoulder.

After blinking its big eyes at Gin, Dahei spread its wings and cawed twice, as if greeting an old friend it hadn't seen in a long time.

"This is……"

Gin was much more composed than Vodka in terms of mentality. His face, which was already not much change, looked even more calm after he calmed down.

"The raven you brought back from Amelica?"

"Ah."

Sano nodded.

"And what about these?"

"It's just a lackey it took in."

Sano smiled and said, "Perfect timing, this is their territory."

Gin was silent for a moment... Originally, when Daikoku first came to Japan, he always stayed close to Sano, especially in his rye vest mode.

That would make it even tighter.

He didn't see the shadow again, but it was just a bird after all, so Gin didn't pay much attention... He didn't expect that when he saw it again, the bird had already transformed into...

Bird head?

Judging from Sano's attitude, he'll probably go from keeping one crow to keeping a flock of crows. Luckily, he doesn't seem to have the same idea of ​​carrying these pets around like before. Otherwise, just thinking about meeting up at a cocktail bar would result in a room full of crows, feathers flying everywhere, a cacophony of "caw caws," and even bird droppings everywhere, possibly landing on his head.

Gin felt a sudden jolt in his head.

After rubbing his temples, Gin regained his composure and asked, "So, are you planning to use these crows to deal with a group of outlaws?"

Gin then imagined the scene of this flock of crows attacking humans.

...It might be possible to deal with some cowardly weaklings, but even if it's just an ordinary, normal man, it shouldn't be a problem.

Or perhaps Sano wanted these crows to play a supporting role, to harass or lure them?

...Could a crow, with its limited intelligence, possibly succeed?

Faced with Gin's question, Sano didn't waste any words, but simply reached into his pocket.

Then he swung it forcefully.

Sano flung out a shower of steel balls.

"Gah!"

At Big Black's command, the crows quickly and methodically snatched one or two steel balls each, then flapped their wings and disappeared into the woods.

"..."

Before Gin and his buddy could look away, Sano said, "Let's go find a higher spot with a better angle to watch the fireworks."

Fireworks?

Vodka tilted his head in confusion.

Gin narrowed his eyes. He already had a general idea of ​​what Sano was planning based on those steel balls, so he naturally understood the meaning of this strange term. However, he still had to say the same thing.

Could a crow, with its limited intelligence, possibly succeed?

Considering the fact that all the crows snatched up the steel balls as soon as Sano threw them out... perhaps this guy has been specially trained in this area, to the point that these beasts have developed a single instinctual pattern.

It seems there is indeed a chance of success.

With a hint of anticipation, Gin followed Sano to a high point.

The factory in the distance is roughly visible.

After snatching the binoculars from Vodka, Gin observed for a few seconds.

The flock of crows seemed to have flown over the factory, and there were some faint movements inside the factory below, but they weren't very loud.

"I call this move 'The Crow Takes Flight'."

No sooner had Sano finished speaking than another snap of his fingers fell, and then—

"boom--!!!"

Countless flames rose at the same time.

These flames weren't particularly large; Gin estimated they were roughly equivalent to hand grenades. But the sheer number of them caused a qualitative change, and the sheer quantity was truly terrifying.

Whether it's based on the number of steel balls Sano previously scattered, the number of crows, or the number of flames in the factory right now.

That would require at least several hundred or even a thousand explosions.

They completely bombed the factory from all sides; it was a real bombing.

"Wash the floor".

Vodka, though Gin had taken his binoculars, wasn't blind; he could see the bright light that was unusually conspicuous in the darkness.

It is naturally incredibly vivid.

It looked as if it had been stained red with blood.

...Terrifying, absolutely terrifying.

Vodka was chilled to the bone by what he saw. He knew that Sano often carried bombs with him, and quite a few of them, and that he seemed to occasionally carry high-powered bombs as well.

Isn't this number a bit too much?

What are you doing here? You're here to commit a crime, not to fight a war.

Is it really necessary?!

At this moment, Sano sighed and clicked his tongue, saying, "It's a pity that the bomb's power is still too small. We can't guarantee that no one will survive within the area. Those people hiding in the buildings will most likely only suffer minor injuries, and the casualties won't be too high."

"..."

Vodka's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but move his feet closer to Gin... To be honest, he thought that after spending so much time together...

They have gradually adapted to Sano's nature.

At least I won't be on edge all the time like I was at the beginning.

But now, Vodka feels like he's instantly back to when they first met—no, in a second.

Because Sano's current instability is no longer determined by himself.

Bombs are something that can be considered stable in some ways, but also unstable in others.

Just like even the safest car can have an accident someday.

It's simply a matter of whether something is big or small.

But bombs are never a trivial matter, especially with such a massive infrastructure. Even the smallest probability of something happening will result in a terrifyingly high chance of it occurring, and if it does happen... well, then there's no doubt about it.

Vodka should be buried with Sano.

...On the other hand, even if someone is not quite normal, why would they take such a big risk and carry so many unstable factors on their person?

It still doesn't quite feel right, does it?

Damn, this guy is definitely the most dangerous one!

Vodka now seriously suspects that Sano's illness may not actually be cured.

It didn't get better; in fact, it got worse.

"...This is not a big problem. The outer guard force definitely makes up the majority. Even if some escape, it will be insignificant."

Gin seemed to have given Sano's words a serious thought.

That's when the answer was given.

"But why is it a crow flying an airplane?"