give it all to miss machima

"There's no mistake!"

Haibara said affirmatively.

“Machima has a maid guard who not only takes care of her daily needs, but these maids have also undergone military training. Their clothes haven’t changed at all!”

Ah this...

Even Conan is speechless.

"Then... will they recognize you?"

Haibara shook her head:

"They probably wouldn't recognize me. I barely interacted with them during that period, let alone in my current state."

Going up now and exposing oneself is obviously risky—after all, Shiho and Conan had discussed before that the Makima in the eyes of this organization might just be a stand-in brought out by the remnants of Makima's loyalty, so neither of them made any rash moves.

However, Conan made full use of his talent for pretending to be young, asking the receptionist about the maids:

"Sister? Excuse me, is there any event being held at the hotel today? I just saw a lot of beautiful maid ladies?"

"Huh? That..."

The receptionist, seeing the adorable Conan, had no guard up and quickly told him what she knew:

"I don't know the specifics, but anyway... tonight's banquet is said to be the founding celebration of a private noble girls' school. I heard that many important figures from the political and business worlds are also attending. Those maids are probably brought by one of those important figures."

"A private, elite girls' school?"

"Hmm, it's that academy for young ladies that's been all over the news, I think the name is... Tokiwadai Academy?"

Chapter 167 Reunion (Part 1)

"Tokiwadai Academy? What a strange name..."

After Conan finished asking the receptionist, he and Ai Haibara sidled up together.

Have you heard of this?

Haibara nodded: "Yes."

She had heard Machima say before that she wanted to establish an academy to gather all the talented and beautiful girls in Japan and even the world.

At the time, the other party even asked her for her name, whether it should be called Kassel College or St. Freya College... Tokiwadai seemed to be one of the names on the list.

At first, Haibara thought the other person was just saying it casually.

After all, that guy never stopped coming up with similar weird ideas—including but not limited to things like "opening a prestigious culinary academy to select chefs specifically to cook for us," "holding the World Martial Arts Tournament," "promoting tank warfare throughout Japan and having beautiful girls compete in World War II tanks," and "building a third New Tokyo to prevent attacks from Angels," etc.

Haibara never took it seriously back then, only making sarcastic remarks like, "Why isn't it Tokyo-2?"

But unexpectedly, Tokiwadai Academy is now actually about to be established.

The two immediately tried to find out more about the academy.

Fortunately, the Imperial Hotel Tokyo has always been known for its high-quality service. In addition to providing customers with professional secretarial, translation and interpretation services, it also offers a variety of services such as photocopying, printing, faxing, and business card printing. If guests want to read newspapers and magazines, that goes without saying.

Although they were just two children, the staff in the shopping center's lounge area did not neglect the two little guests and quickly brought them the recent newspapers they wanted—if they weren't so young, they probably would have also prepared two cups of fragrant coffee for them.

Through newspapers and magazines, the two of them also gained a general understanding of the situation of this "Tokiwadai Academy".

In summary, this is a soon-to-be-established, unprecedentedly high-standard private academy in Japan—almost comparable to renowned aristocratic schools abroad such as Eton College, except that Eton College only admits males, while Tokiwadai is the opposite.

According to reports, unless one is extremely talented, the college almost exclusively admits students from the upper class. Although the current planning stage only includes kindergarten, primary school and high school, a university and graduate school will be established in the future.

"A true academy for young ladies..."

Conan looked at the article in the newspaper and complained.

"A nearly closed-off full-time education system, along with slogans promoting the cultivation of prudent, humble, knowledgeable, and well-mannered ladies... Heh, no wonder it has the support of so many important figures."

Haibara shrugs:

"After all, Japan's class system and conservative values ​​are so deeply entrenched that women are either ordinary people or socialites. But the average upper-class Japanese family wouldn't choose to send their daughters abroad to study and cultivate the free-spirited nature of Westerners, so..."

"Sending them to this kind of academy for young ladies to be trained into socialites is the best choice."

"Ah, and after screening based on the parents' wealth and social status, this kind of closed-off academy, which is full of children from wealthy families, is itself a circle, and they will have more privileges and benefits when they enter society in the future..."

If other people saw this, they would be quite surprised that two children who looked like elementary school students could say such things. Fortunately, from a distance, it just looked like two little kids flipping through a newspaper.

Having understood the situation, the current problem is how to sneak into the venue—an invitation is required for entry, so the security here won't let two children slip in so easily.

"Don't worry, maybe a murder will happen then."

Haibara looked at Conan and made a sarcastic remark.

"That way, when Inspector Megure and the others arrive, you can sneak in openly."

Conan couldn't help but roll his eyes:

"Don't portray me like the Grim Reaper, okay? It's not that easy to encounter a murder case."

In the end, Conan still managed to call his parents—Conan thought that the two of them had a lot of connections both at home and abroad, and maybe they could get in touch with him.

Unfortunately, the situation arose suddenly, and Yusaku Kudo and Yukiko had no way to get them an invitation for the time being.

Just when the two were at their wits' end, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them:

"Hey, what are you two kids doing here?"

The two looked up and saw that the person who came was none other than Shinichi Kudo's classmate, Ran Mouri's best friend, the future girlfriend of the Super Saiyan, the second daughter of the Suzuki Group, a low-budget version of Shiho Miyano, and Kogoro Mouri's substitute—Sonoko Suzuki!

Conan looked at Sonoko in surprise: "Sonoko... Sister!? What are you doing here?"

Sonoko shrugged:

"My dad brought me to a cocktail party tonight. What are you two doing here?"

Conan almost forgot that although Sonoko seemed carefree and outgoing, and had nothing to do with being a lady from a wealthy family, she was indeed a genuine heiress of a conglomerate, so it was perfectly reasonable for her to be invited to this kind of banquet.

Faced with Sonoko's suspicion, Conan could only quickly make up a lie on the spot, explaining that Professor Agasa had come to meet a major client who had invested in his inventions, and just happened to bring the two of them along.

Sonoko didn't suspect anything and glanced at the newspaper on the table:

"Hmm? You guys are also looking at the news about Tokiwadai Academy?"

Conan continues to wear his usual innocent, elementary school student smile:

"Yes, because I saw a lot of maid girls just now, and I heard the staff talking about them, so I was a little curious. Is Sonoko-neechan also going to the academy's founding party?"

Sonoko shrugged: "Well, there's nothing I can do. My sister had something to do, so my dad had to bring me along."

It's clear that Sonoko has absolutely no interest in these kinds of parties, but things will be easier after that. After Conan's persistent pleading, Sonoko agrees to bring the two kids along, since invitees can bring family and friends, and there's no limit to the number of people.

When the banquet started in the evening, Sonoko was dragged by her father to socialize with the others, and Conan and Ai took the opportunity to begin their investigation.

The two had initially worried that they might stand out too much among a group of adults in suits, but to their surprise, a significant portion of the guests at the banquet had brought their children...

Oh, no, strictly speaking, almost all of them brought their daughters.

They ranged in age from eight or nine to their teens, and were all dignified, beautiful, gentle, and graceful young ladies or girls.

So Ai Haibara was completely inconspicuous here, at most just a little young, while Conan was actually the only boy present.

He could only twitch his lips slightly, thinking to himself that it seemed the children of the participants in this banquet had probably already been pre-selected for the first batch of school admissions.

Soon, the two who were quietly strolling around the venue stopped in their tracks—Haibara stared dumbfounded at a figure in the distance.

"This...how is this possible..."

Chapter 168 Reunion (Part 2)

What appeared before Haibara was, without a doubt, a living, breathing Makima who could walk and talk.

She seemed unchanged, still wearing a simple white shirt and black suit as always, even at this party where almost everyone was wearing evening gowns. At first glance, she looked like a bad girl from a bar that caters specifically to female customers, just like Haibara's impression of her as a maverick.

At this moment, she was surrounded by several girls, who seemed to have come with their fathers. They were chuckling softly, covering their mouths, as if they were amused by a joke told by Machima. The girl in the lead was completely unconcerned about the rather improper hand placed on her waist, and even seemed to be enjoying it.

In an instant, Haibara's first thought was to rush up, jump up, and slap that guy hard across the face!

How could she?! How could she do this?!

Why didn't they come looking for me?! Or are they up to something again?!

Were all those words lies?! How could they just leave themselves out there like that...?

But slowly, just as Haibara felt her anger and resentment were about to burst forth, her body suddenly stiffened—Machima had seen her.

The other person slightly shifted their gaze, which fell on her, and after a very short pause... immediately swept over her, before resuming chatting and laughing with the girl beside them.

"..."

Conan watched Haibara with trepidation, observing the intense fluctuations in her gaze and emotions—from shock to anger and grievance, then to utter dejection, and finally even a hint of self-mockery…

"What's wrong? She just looked over here. Did she recognize you?"

"No, it's just...heh...what am I even expecting..."

Haibara gave a mocking laugh, then shook her head, not looking at Makima again, and turned to leave.

Conan, who was standing nearby, was completely bewildered and quickly caught up with her:

"What exactly happened?"

"That's not Makima, it's just a stand-in." Haibara's voice slowly regained its usual indifference.

"...??"

Conan glanced back at Makima, who looked like a playboy princess, then looked at Ai Haibara:

"Are you... sure? Didn't you say she was a womanizer..."

“I’m sure her eyes… are nothing like Machima’s. That’s the only thing I’m not mistaken about.”

During her time with Makima, Haibara knew her all too well—one of her favorite things to do was stare straight into her eyes until she looked away, embarrassed—especially in bars.

It was an intensely burning gaze, perhaps not quite love, but certainly containing genuine emotion—affection, possessiveness, compulsion, a desire to dominate, and a hint of mockery…

It's like a child staring intently at the pet cat they've been longing for and are finally allowed to keep.

But... that "Machima" from earlier...

Although they looked almost identical, the way they looked at each other... whether it was the way they looked at those girls or the way they glanced at her, it was completely unfamiliar to Haibara.

Even assuming it's really Machima, given her keen senses, she should have recognized her the moment she saw her.

After all, Haibara is like Shiho's sister now, and it's impossible for her to look at someone who looks so much like Shiho and not react at all.

But her gaze merely swept over it lightly, without paying it any attention whatsoever.

Thinking about this, Haibara almost burst out laughing.

How ridiculous...

She knew better than anyone that Machima was dead—right in front of her.

It's perfectly clear that no one in this world can survive being riddled with bullets.

Yet I still cling to the fantasy that "Machima might still be alive"... How naive! Has not only her body shrunk, but even her soul has shrunk?

Seeing Haibara's dejected mood, Conan could only sigh.

However, the two had already guessed this beforehand, so the current situation was still within their expectations.

"Alright, now that we've confirmed that Machima is fake, have you seen the adjutant you mentioned—Ryoko Tamiya? If we can find her, we might also find news about your sister."

Conan looked around the venue.

"Or... if we still can't find them, we should at least try to find Vermouth and Piske..."

The two continued to carefully explore the hall when suddenly, Haibara, standing nearby, shuddered: "They're here..."

"What?" Conan was completely bewildered.

"I can sense the organization's members!"

"...???"

Conan wanted to ask if he had some kind of radar that could detect members of the organization, but he still led the slightly trembling Ai Haibara to a corner of the banquet hall.

Before long, the two found their target—Vermouth made no attempt to hide herself and walked into the banquet hall openly and confidently.

The Thousand-Faced Witch, dressed in a black evening gown, looked radiant tonight. With her foreign appearance and mysterious aura, she was quite eye-catching. Not to mention men, even women would take a second look at this beauty.

The person accompanying her was none other than Ryoko Tamiya.

Seeing Haibara's deathly pale eyes, Conan realized something was wrong. He carefully examined the two people—in his opinion, this was the first time he had ever seen the Thousand-Faced Witch that Haibara had mentioned.