Akai Shuichi waited patiently, listening carefully.
The footsteps came closer and closer, and then stopped.
Akai Shuichi knew that Lin Yi was looking at the dead end, confirming his hiding place.
The footsteps sounded again, and they were getting closer and closer, but Akai Shuichi didn't move.
Choosing to be a scumbag in Conan Chapter 316
Only the sound of clutter being kicked aside could be heard. After the other party confirmed he was no longer among the debris, they turned and left quickly, running straight away.
Akai Shuichi didn't move either, lying there quietly.
As a veteran agent, his alertness was high, guarding against the possibility of the other party returning.
Moreover, if the other party could find him, they might have already stationed people around the area. If he went outside, he might run into their men.
Rather than running around aimlessly, it was safer to stay here.
Although the gunshot wound on his shoulder was somewhat painful, it was nothing to Akai Shuichi.
He had endured much heavier injuries; this little wound was nothing.
While waiting, Akai Shuichi fell into deep thought once again.
He didn't quite understand what Lin Yi meant by "You owe me, it's time to pay back." Did they have a history?
Akai Shuichi thought back, but he realized that he had never had any intersection with him before this.
Strange.
Even stranger.
Akai Shuichi had repeatedly confirmed that the other party's background information was fine. He had even personally visited his middle school and high school teachers; there was no way there was a problem.
Could it be that the background info was fine, but the other party just hid themselves very deeply?
Besides that.
One thing Akai Shuichi was even more curious about was how the other party determined his location.
Did they tamper with the voice recorder when they took it?
Akai Shuichi couldn't help but recall the scene at the cafe.
But after thinking about it seriously, he denied his own guess.
If he really had tampered with the voice recorder, then the other party should have made a move when he was staying at the hotel that night.
Those third-rate hotels were perfunctory even with basic identity registration, let alone expecting them to install any surveillance cameras.
Then what method did he use to track his location?
Could it be that he was so certain he would come to Akemi's house again for a second investigation?
That possibility wasn't very high.
Akai Shuichi's brow was tightly furrowed. There were a lot of things that didn't feel right, and he didn't even know where to start.
For no reason, Akai Shuichi thought of what Lin Yi had told him about Akemi being off—that she behaved differently outside than she did at home.
He always felt there was a problem here.
Suddenly, Akai Shuichi realized a problem:
If Lin Yi had intended to lie to him from the start, why would he admit to knowing Akemi in the first place?
It would have been better to just deny it and say he didn't know that person.
And before the other party left, they had already noticed his identity was suspicious and even exposed it.
Knowing full well he was suspicious of his identity, he didn't choose to call the police immediately to have them take him away. Instead, he warned him not to come looking for him again, saying he would only involve the police the second time he came.
Clearly, the other party really didn't want to get involved in these troubles, which is why they let him go.
If he had lied, he would definitely know that he would come back for him later.
In that case, the best way to handle it would be to call the police or not expose his impersonation of Public Security to lull him into a false sense of security.
Therefore, Akai Shuichi was inclined to believe the other party hadn't lied.
But if he hadn't lied, why was what he said different from what he had investigated?
This made Akai Shuichi very confused.
Moreover, he was only investigating Akemi's affairs.
Was it necessary for him to develop killing intent just because of the contents of his investigation?
He hadn't even found any leads yet, and the other party was already trying to kill him. Wasn't that a bit too impatient?
If it were someone from The Organization, he could understand... but at most, he was just a robber, was it necessary...
Suddenly, Akai Shuichi realized something and couldn't help but secretly guess: Wait... could that guy really be from The Organization?
If he were from The Organization and had seen his bounty... then his haste to kill him would be understandable.
However, after this thought surfaced, Akai Shuichi immediately crushed it.
No.
If Lin Yi were truly from The Organization, with the superb tracking skills he just displayed plus The Organization's efficiency, they would have broken into his hotel room while he was resting and turned him into a beehive.
If he's not a member of The Organization, why was he so eager to kill him?
And he didn't remember having a grudge against the other party.
Also, how was his location exposed?
Question after question swirled in Akai Shuichi's head, giving him a headache.
However, at that moment, Lin Yi's words popped up again—she behaves differently outside than she does at home.
Suddenly.
Akai Shuichi realized something.
Suppose Lin Yi didn't lie at all.
He had honestly confessed everything he knew.
He didn't want to get involved in any more trouble.
He didn't have any grievances with him either.
Then, he would have no motive to try and kill him with a handgun.
Lin Yi was just an ordinary High School Student. He hadn't tampered with the voice recorder, didn't have the ability to follow him quietly, and wouldn't have something as dangerous as a gun.
With Akemi's personality, she wouldn't make a move on her friend's boyfriend...
The Akemi outside is different from the Akemi at home...
Maybe they're not even the same person!
After thinking about this, a flash of inspiration struck Akai Shuichi's mind.
He fell into a trap!
He couldn't help but curse:
"Damn it... it's Vermouth..."
The one who took the initiative to approach Lin Yi was not Akemi, but Vermouth disguised as Akemi.
Lin Yi, who met Akemi at the izakaya, should have been Vermouth in disguise.
Before that, she must have actively contacted Akemi through some means.
Akai Shuichi now seriously suspects that the missing robber should also be Vermouth in disguise.
She set a trap and deliberately left this clue for him to find.
When he finds Lin Yi, it will be the time when he falls into her trap!
Akai Shuichi suddenly understood.
So, the sentence 'You owe me, it's time to repay' refers to the shot he gave her in New York a year ago.
Thinking of this, Akai Shuichi scolded himself severely, blaming himself for being emotional and impulsive.
Now, his life might be lost here.
Just as Akai Shuichi thought of this, he suddenly heard dense footsteps.
Then, he heard Vermouth's somewhat annoyed voice: "Couldn't find him? Are you kidding me? Didn't I tell you to guard all the exits?"
"Re... Really, we didn't see anyone come out... Madam. We searched from the outside to the inside, and we didn't see anyone."
"No one? Damn it! He must have run into the sewer... Chase him!"
"Yes! Madam!"
Hearing the chaotic footsteps, Akai Shuichi's heart turned cold. He quickly wriggled his body, trying to escape from their search range as quickly as possible through the sewer.
He must escape from their search range before they enter the sewer!
But, surrounded by so many people, can he escape?
Thinking of this, Akai Shuichi felt hopeless.
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