Pisco...
When the chandelier fell and killed the Diet member, Toru recalled the method used in this case, and he also remembered who had done it.
Pisco of the Black Organization, one of its veteran members.
The reason Toru did not think of him at first was mainly because, in his memory, Pisco was supposed to appear at a certain director's memorial service, not at the Suzuki Group's commemoration party.
Precisely because of that, he did not immediately think of him.
Toru was not worried about Vermouth's safety. She and Pisco belonged to the same Organization.
Moreover, with Pisco's old and frail body, he was definitely no match for Vermouth.
According to the Organization's usual methods, exposed members like this were typically eliminated. Whether Pisco could survive depended entirely on the Organization's decision.
Besides, even if Pisco managed to escape from this hotel, it did not matter.
This time, in order to capture Kaitou Kid, Toru had sent Rena and Curacao. The sniper rifles were already in position. Even if Pisco ran out, he would surely die.
...
On the hotel floor, Pisco pretended to abduct Vermouth and slowly retreated.
Once they were out of sight, the panic on Vermouth's face vanished, replaced by extreme calmness.
She curled her lips into a smile and whispered, "Pisco, your method was too crude. You were actually filmed killing someone."
Pisco gritted his teeth. "No, my method wasn't crude. I had already fooled those foolish police officers. If it weren't for Fujiwara Toru, how could I have been exposed?"
"If I get the chance, I will definitely kill him."
A trace of killing intent flashed in Vermouth's eyes, but she still smiled and mocked, "Do you know nothing about Fujiwara Toru's background?"
"His name is Adam Spencer, his code name in the CIA is Wick. You should know what he has done. Trying to kill him with your ability is nothing but a pipe dream."
Pisco fell silent. He knew his earlier words were nothing more than the fearful rant of a coward. With his ability, killing Toru was impossible.
Leaving aside the fact that he was old now, even in his prime he would never have been a match for that monster.
Besides, why was that man not afraid of bullets? He still could not figure it out.
Sweat dripped down Pisco's forehead. He whispered, "Vermouth, I am a veteran member of the Organization. I have shed blood and made contributions for it."
"We have known each other for so many years. For the sake of our time as colleagues, help me, Vermouth. Only you can help me now."
His tone was pleading, the old man almost in tears.
"You're not young anymore. Are you really that afraid of death?"
"Who isn't afraid of death? With my physical condition, living another twenty years is no problem. I don't want to die so early."
Vermouth thought for a moment. "I can help you, but only to escape this hotel. After that, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me."
"You should know that if a mission fails and you're exposed, the Organization will definitely hunt you down. I won't betray the Organization for you."
Her words instead reassured Pisco and made him trust her more.
If she had agreed to help him completely without conditions, he might have grown suspicious.
But helping him escape the hotel alone, that was indeed something Vermouth would do.
"You don't need to worry about what happens next. Gin is seriously injured recently, he can't come after me. As for the others, it won't be easy for them to kill me either."
"So, Pisco, what do I get in return for helping you?"
"I can't give you money. That money is an important bargaining chip for me to evade the Organization's pursuit. But I can tell you a piece of important information. This information will definitely earn you That Person's favor."
Vermouth's eyes flickered. She slowly nodded and chuckled. "I hope so, Pisco. Otherwise, I will join the hunt for you later."
"Don't worry. This information is enough for the Organization to forgive you for letting me go. They might even reward you. If I hadn't been exposed for killing someone this time, I would have reported this information to That Person myself."
Taking a deep breath, Pisco continued, "Vermouth, keep cooperating with me so the police don't dare act rashly."
"I advise you not to try escaping like this. Akai Shuichi is in Japan. If you abduct me, the Japanese police will definitely contact him. I suspect he's already rushing here."
"Or do you think you can evade Akai Shuichi's sniping?"
Pisco's expression froze. He said anxiously, "Then how do I run?"
"Don't worry. Come with me. I'll disguise you and let you leave the hotel under a different identity."
Pisco knew about Vermouth's ability as the Thousand-Faced Witch.
Vermouth walked toward a room in the hotel. Seeing that Pisco was still hesitating, she frowned. "Pisco, you still don't trust me, but right now you have no other choice."
Pisco gritted his teeth and followed her.
Inside an empty hotel room, Vermouth took out various cosmetic-like tools from the bag she always carried.
"Sit there, Pisco."
He obediently sat down.
She stepped in front of him, but instead of starting the makeup, she asked, "Tell me the important information first."
Pisco said anxiously, "No, do my makeup first."
"Just as you don't trust me, I don't trust you either, Pisco. You have no choice."
"You…"
He was furious, but anger was useless now. Taking a deep breath, he said, "At the venue just now, I saw Sherry."
"And then? That isn't very important. The Organization never found Sherry's body, so she was only listed as missing, not dead. You just confirmed she's still alive, that's all."
"Listen to me, Vermouth. The Sherry I saw wasn't the adult Sherry. It was Sherry as a child."
Pisco said excitedly, "You and I both know some details about the drug the Organization is researching. Our goal is to reverse time, to resurrect the dead."
"Sherry became small. I would never mistake her. I am very familiar with her parents. I saw her when she was a child. That was definitely Sherry, no mistake."
"And Sherry has continued researching her parents' drug. Yes, she succeeded. She truly reversed time."
Pisco's eyes were filled with fanaticism.
He was already sixty, his body aging and his functions declining rapidly.
With the Organization's help, he had built a massive company, living above others with power and wealth.
But against time, he was powerless.
Now he had seen a drug capable of reversing time, and it had truly succeeded. How could he not be excited, not fanatical?
"Sherry turned into a child. That is important information, Pisco."
"I will report this to the Organization. Perhaps this information can buy you your life."
Pisco nodded repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.
This was exactly why he had told her. In his view, this information was enough to save him.
"Sherry is the little girl following Fujiwara Toru. Be careful, Vermouth. I don't know whether the CIA has also obtained this information."
Vermouth's hands paused. She smiled and prepared to begin the makeup.
Pisco's expression suddenly tightened. He instinctively tried to grab her hand, but he was a step too slow.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out. At some point, a small ladies' handgun had appeared in Vermouth's palm.
The handgun could hold only one bullet. As a 9mm pistol, it did not seem very useful.
But at this distance, the bullet pierced straight through Pisco's temple.
His body fell to the ground. Vermouth revealed a mocking smile. "Pisco, the older you get, the more foolish you become. You actually believed a witch's promise."
"It wasn't impossible to spare you. But you dared to point a gun at my Boy. Then you can only pay with your life."
"But I still have to thank you for providing such important information."
Taking a deep breath, her expression instantly changed, and she let out a scream.
Police officers rushed over from other floors. They broke down the door and saw the Hollywood superstar Chris Vineyard huddled in the corner, her face filled with terror.
The murderer had committed suicide.
Experienced officers stepped forward and quickly determined that the bullet had passed through the head at close range.
In reality, there was a major flaw. By comparing the bullets, the police could have determined that the gun that fired it was not Pisco's.
But in this world, the police's investigative ability was too poor, and they would not conduct such an examination. Otherwise, why would it be the detective's turn?
...
Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, many guests were crowding around Toru.
Suddenly, dense white smoke sprayed from the fake pearls on the guests' chests.
Already shaken by the murder, the guests quickly tore off the fake pearls and threw them onto the floor.
In an instant, it was as if several smoke bombs had detonated. Smoke filled the entire banquet hall, making it impossible to see.
Screams erupted again.
"Help!"
"What is this smoke? Is it poison gas or a bomb?"
"Hold your breath! There might be poison in it!"
The banquet hall fell into chaos. The rising white smoke reminded them of the previous subway sarin gas attack.
Only Toru remained calm. At a glance, he could tell this white fog was similar to a smoke bomb and posed no toxic danger.
He took out his phone in the thick smoke and sent a message to Curacao.
[Target appeared, prepare to intercept]
Putting away his phone, Toru stood in the dense fog with his hands in his pockets. Ignoring the dignitaries around him who were covering their mouths and crouching on the ground, he slowly walked out of the banquet hall.
Kaito Kuroba, you cannot escape.
(To be continued.)
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