Conan: I'm Really Not Tokyo Ghost Story

"Black Cat, on the other hand, seems to have anticipated the ambush. Although I don't know if someone tipped you off, you didn't tell me. Could it be that you, like Fox, suspect me of involvement?"

...Vermouth's words revealed three signs.

First, to clear his own name, and also to exonerate Calvados.

Second, probe Sano's sources of intelligence, especially rye.

Third, to probe Calvados's position.

Although it was somewhat accidental, Silver Fox's actions did indeed inadvertently force Vermouth to move, but the extent of the movement was still insufficient.

"Shut up, everyone. I said that's it for today. Dismissed."

After a cold snort, Sano didn't give Vermouth a chance to say anything more and was about to go home... If she still wouldn't move an inch after that.

Then Sano had no choice.

Let's consider this the end of the money the distillery has spent; we'll see what we do next.

Then let's keep spending money.

Sure enough, Sano clearly sensed that Vermouth seemed to be getting impatient as he turned to leave.

The distillery has probably prepared several plans, taking a multi-faceted approach.

Let's get straight to the point and reveal our hand.

Sano turned around completely, but before Vermouth could make a move.

A familiar figure caught Sano's attention, and he sensed something was amiss.

White tracksuit.

It was like a passerby who was just passing by and felt something was off about the group of Sano and his friends, but he didn't know for sure.

His steps were somewhat hesitant and unsteady.

However, Sano's subconscious pause and gaze were enough for Corin to realize that his acting was not up to par... or that it was impossible for him to pass muster. He then drew his pistol without hesitation.

"boom!"

Sano kicked the silver fox in the stomach.

As he kicked him to the ground, he also took a small step back.

He successfully dodged the bullet before Koren could fire.

"There are still some who escaped the net!?"

Yoshino's expression changed, and he was about to draw his gun when a cold light flew towards him, forcing him to stop and dodge to the side. But the second and third strikes that followed forced him to retreat continuously.

...Koren, Asai Narumi is here too, I see.

Sano ignored everyone else and rushed to the nearby cover... He could roughly understand what the brewery's plan was all about. Gin must have made a significant contribution to this scheme, using one enemy to devour another.

It's the same old trick.

The white coat was created specifically for the black coat.

Sano didn't know if the brewery knew about the white-clad figure, but he did know that Gin knew that Corin's target was the black-clad figure.

That's enough.

Revealing the news that it was definitely the black-clad black cat that had appeared to the other side would undoubtedly put Sano's side in trouble.

The two sides started fighting.

Corren, the traitor, died, which was exactly what the distillery wanted.

If Sano loses, regardless of whether he lives or dies, it will only benefit the brewery.

Either way, you won't lose out.

...Of course, if the distillery had directly leaked this information to the Armed Forces of Amelika, it might have achieved better results, but that's just a possibility.

Since the organization had planted an undercover agent in the FBI, they were able to leak this intelligence about the black-clad individuals.

The official stance of Amelia is naturally quite clear.

To be on the safe side, choosing the more reliable option is the right thing to do.

But beyond that.

Are only these two members of the white-clad group from the Koren side here to work?

That's rather intriguing—"Bang!!"

Just as Sano's mind was racing and he was about to reach the cover, a loud bang was heard, and the rusty iron door in front of him was suddenly smashed open by a brute force.

...This place is called an alley, but it's not the kind of alley where two impenetrable walls form a road. Every now and then, doors or gaps will pop up on the side.

It facilitates access to the areas on both sides.

Sano originally intended to enter the area on the left to avoid being shot.

But who would have thought that there were people inside?

However, considering that Corren approached directly, it was both unexpected and reasonable... I just don't know if this guy who hid here in advance, waiting for his prey, is actually a new member of the White Robe gang.

Sano stared intently at the approaching iron gate. As he stopped and retreated, he finally heard a strange sound that he hadn't noticed due to the unexpected turn of events—a "clattering" sound that seemed somewhat familiar.

...The silver-white armor gradually came into view behind the iron gate.

Sano's pupils contracted slightly, a strong sense of surprise welling up in his heart... This guy.

He was wearing a full suit of steel armor! ??

"Boom!"

The steel plate boots slammed heavily on the ground, and the monster, which looked like a small truck, crashed into Sano, its body propelled by an iron gate that resembled a shield.

"squeak--"

The leather shoes left a mark on the ground as Sano forcefully held the iron gate shut.

At the same moment he twisted his body, he used both hands to forcefully pull the iron door away from the armored man. Then, with a big spin, as if swatting a fly, he slammed the iron door hard into the side of the armored man's face.

The metal objects clashed, producing a piercing sound, and even a couple of sparks flew out.

The armored man lost his balance and staggered back two steps.

Without a doubt, this person is definitely the member in white.

...But why does this silver-white armor look so familiar?

Before Sano could give chase, a whooshing sound came from above again.

I looked up.

A pure white karate uniform came into view... No way, that guy Coren.

Could it be that they've recruited Ran Mouri into their group?

...Because it's midday, if you look up from the alley...

The sunlight was really too bright.

Therefore, apart from being able to roughly tell that the person above is wearing a karate uniform.

Sano couldn't see the person's face clearly.

With his brain spinning instinctively, Sano dodged, and the man's downward kick missed immediately. However, after landing, the man did not stop at all. He used one foot to support himself and turned around to unleash another very smooth series of leg and foot attacks.

This caused Sano to retreat repeatedly.

This allowed Sano to finally see what the person in front of him looked like.

...It wasn't Ran Mouri, it was a man, probably in his early twenties, with clean short hair, very young, but he looked very, very familiar.

I feel like I've seen this somewhere before.

"bass!"

A flash of cold light appeared, and Sano leaped into the air, dodging the long sword that was slashing at his waist from behind. In mid-air, he kicked the wall next to him.

This increased the descent speed, but the person flew backward several meters more.

To avoid being surrounded and attacked before even landing.

When Sano got up after landing, the armored man joined the other two, and the three figures lined up together, almost blocking the entire alley.

"bass!"

The armored man also drew his longsword from his waist.

The figure in the karate uniform next to him was striking a karate pose.

The man who attacked Sano from behind was wielding a long sword, looked to be around thirty years old, had a small mustache, and resembled Kogoro Mouri somewhat.

The person was wearing what should be a kendo uniform, which is essentially a simplified, mutated version of traditional Chinese clothing. However, if Sano remembered correctly, a normal kendo uniform should be white on top and black on the bottom.

This person was dressed entirely in white from head to toe.

...Hmm, probably again to match the name of the white-clad figure.

Three people: two with knives, one unarmed, one focused on offense, one was good at both offense and defense, and the last one was an incredibly tanky old man.

Sano tapped his toes, squinted his eyes, and was just about to shake off those trivial thoughts and deal with the three of them first when he suddenly remembered something again.

Where did that sense of familiarity come from?

The uncle with the knife, isn't he the same kendo master who almost killed Sano after his family's heirloom sword was pawned and he was caught?

The one wearing the karate uniform is Ran Mouri's idol, the senior who tried to take the blame for his girlfriend's murder but was exposed by Sano.

...Good heavens, so the person in white was recruited from prison?

Sano was both surprised and amused. It was one thing to recruit people from prison, but why did they all have to be his old acquaintances? Could this guy in armor really be the old curator of that art museum?

They are all full sets of Western medieval armor, but it doesn't seem to be that particular set?

Has it been changed?

...Speaking of which, if it really is those three people, what are their names again?

It's been too long.

Sano had almost forgotten what the three looked like, let alone their names.