I scheduled my meeting with Seiran Hoshi in the warehouse district under the cover of night, coinciding with the exact moment intended for Kaito Kid's elimination. This timing allowed us to exploit the detectives' preoccupation with chasing the Phantom Thief. Midnight had passed, and the city's features were gradually drowning in darkness due to Kid's egregious act of bombing the power substation.
Deep within me, Furuya vented his fury. "That despicable thief!" he roared. Carrying out such an act in a metropolis like Osaka was nothing short of a miniature terrorist attack.
I watched a white hang glider drift between the buildings. A red laser dot fixed on the pilot's eye. A single gunshot shattered the nocturnal silence. Gunpowder smoke mingled with the moonlight. Watching the snipe from beside her, I gave a brief, light clap. "Impressive."
From a distance, I caught a glimpse of Kid falling into the open sea. The only response I received from her was a sharp click of the tongue, signaling her annoyance. Of course, Kaito Kid would not die from such a basic attack, so there was no need to worry about him.
Seiran Hoshi glanced at me, her words woven with icy indifference. "So, 'The Wolf's Dog'... what is your true objective?"
"What do you mean by 'objective'?"
"You have no intention of cooperating with me, do you? So why come to me at a time like this?"
"I told you earlier, it's a mere coincidence. I am currently working as Kogoro Mouri's apprentice and came here only to assist in capturing Kaito Kid. Meeting you was nothing more than a stroke of luck."
"I'm not so sure. One cannot trust the words of a beast."
Her tone carried disdain, yet I sensed a layer of extreme caution beneath it. She looked as though she were standing before a time bomb, uncertain of when it might detonate. Faced with this perceived threat, she stood rigid, never lowering her guard for a single second.
A faint laugh escaped me.
"If you obstruct my work, I won't show you mercy—not even you. I'll make sure a bullet scatters your brains through your right eye."
"I see. That is quite the resolve. I suppose I could cheer you on, if you'd like?"
It was the kind of provocative encouragement that meant: Keep up your desperate attempts. She seemed to catch the provocation; she gnashed her teeth, her face twisted with a murderous look. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she smiled slyly, alluding to Conan-kun.
"That clever boy who was with you. You seem very close to him and his companions."
"Indeed. Oh, but don't you dare get to him before I do. He is my private prey."
"...So the rumors are true. 'The Wolf's Dog' enjoys tearing children apart. What a sick taste you have."
I had successfully diverted her attention from my true intentions. Her eyes twitched with suppressed rage. I didn't bother denying the rumors; if she targeted Conan and the others, protecting them would become an exhausting task.
"In any case, I have no intention of hindering you. I don't care for that 'Egg,' and ancient treasures mean nothing to me."
"You prefer blood-soaked hunts over money and jewels. You truly are an ugly monster. That's why you would have been a perfect partner."
I grew tired of the conversation and decided to end the meeting there. I vanished with lightning speed and reappeared behind her. With a swiftness the eye could barely track, I curled my fingers like talons around Seiran Hoshi's neck. Her entire body shuddered at the cold touch. In a whisper like that of a lover, but saturated with sharp killing intent, I delivered my warning:
"In this business, it's a fundamental rule never to underestimate others, isn't it?"
"...Damn you."
"So, if you continue to make such condescending remarks... I shall be forced to 'pamper' you against my will, even if it isn't my hobby. Do you understand?"
"...H-Hiiiik!!"
"Since you are a beautiful woman, you should value yourself more. And with your intelligence... you know what I mean, right?"
I dragged my nail across her neck, leaving a shallow scratch───. The spilled blood glistened white under the moonlight. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably. Tearing her limbs apart and turning her into a lifeless corpse would have taken less than two seconds. However, for "The Wolf's Dog," this was a very mild threat.
"Well then, I'll take my leave."
With that, I departed, leaving her behind. No one followed me, and I felt no trace of a pursuit as the night sank into deep silence.
Early the next morning, Conan-kun raided my room. He leaned on the doorbell incessantly. When I opened it, he greeted me with a thunderous "Good morning, Mr. Amuro!" and forced his way inside. There was no need for such a violent entrance; I wasn't going to kick him out. Please, calm down for a moment, little detective.
"...Where were you last night?"
"I was with the person who sniped Kid. I watched the whole thing. Though not quite on Akai Shuichi's level, the shooter has decent skill."
"Bwooh!?!?"
Conan spat out whatever was in his mouth from pure shock. I made it a point not to lie to him regarding fundamental matters, so my answer was entirely blunt. I wasn't skilled enough to lie to a detective constantly, and admitting what "shouldn't" be said was often much easier.
Conan snarled like a threatened cat. "Since you were watching, why didn't you stop them!"
"I didn't want to. There was no compelling reason to intervene. Helping someone for no reason can become a weakness."
The underworld is a realm of rumors. If word spread that "The Wolf's Dog" had allied with Kaito Kid, it would only be a matter of time before it became a problem. Conan fell silent, his face showing clear dissatisfaction, but he seemed to understand my point. He gave me a searching look as if weighing his next words carefully.
"So, if there is a reason... it's fine?"
"Yes. For example, when I protect you, I use the excuse: 'I don't want anyone stealing my prey.'"
"Good grief, that's terrifying! ...Hey, you're joking, right? You don't actually intend to kill me?"
"I won't kill you, I won't kill you. I've told you repeatedly that I am not a manic killer."
He looked slightly relieved after my firm denial and exhaled deeply. Then, he shot me a quick glance and opened his mouth with obvious hesitation.
"Well, as long as that's the case... what did 'Zero' have to say about this? About Kid being sniped?"
"───I? I don't care what happens to an international fugitive who is a stain on Japan's reputation. His disappearance means the police can redirect funds to national security. ───That is what he said."
"My god, what is the 'correct' way to respond to that?"
Conan declared his immediate surrender to Furuya's "Japan First" extremism. I understood the feeling; it's hard to argue with someone whose principles are that radical. However, Furuya's answer was dangerous because it directly hinted at his true identity.
Perhaps this answer stemmed from his knowledge that Conan had been in close contact with Akai Shuichi recently. Conan suspected—with a high degree of certainty—that we were NOCs (Non-Official Cover) infiltrating the Organization. By asking "Zero" directly about the Kid incident, Conan was essentially saying: Tell me your stance as the primary persona of this body.
And when Furuya answered that way, it was as if he said: I belong to the Japanese Police. It was a message to Conan and his allies, who were scouring the NOC lists for Furuya Rei's identity through Akai Shuichi. The subtext was: Stop taking risks. If I want you to know my identity, I will tell you myself.
Conan's comment about finding it hard to respond implicitly meant: I can't give you an answer now. I'll keep verifying your identity through the lists. What a cold, complex dialogue! Such is the way people in Conan's world speak. I wish they would consider my position, speaking as I do based on the moment and the general mood. I wish they'd lower their IQs just a little bit.
After that, we moved to the next step. It seemed Conan had come to my room to act as a messenger for Chairman Suzuki. Due to the Kid incident, the "Memories Egg" exhibition was abruptly canceled. We were to return to Tokyo not by train, but via a luxury cruise with the Egg onboard.
On the ship, I decided to remain silent and observant, completely ignoring the murder of the film director, Sagawa. Intervening might have driven Seiran Hoshi to desperation, potentially harming Conan or the others—something I wanted to avoid. I knew the crime would occur. To ensure a solid alibi, I left my room at the time of the murder to talk to a security guard under the pretext of wanting to see the Egg.
Naturally, he wouldn't let me see a threatened treasure without the Chairman's permission. I ended up chatting with the guard for a full hour about completely trivial matters. Incidentally, I became quite close to him; he taught me everything from his history guarding ships to the best way to stand to avoid seasickness. He even showed me photos of his newborn child, who looked adorable sleeping. Since security guards in Conan's world face constant peril, I hope he continues to work hard and stay healthy for his children.
Morning arrived. Sagawa's body was discovered in his room with a bullet through his right eye. Chaos gripped the ship. As a guest invited as a detective, I wasn't too worried. My alibi was immediately established by the guard's testimony, and I was cleared of suspicion. A deep background check by the police is never ideal for the "Amuro Toru" persona, so proving my innocence quickly was essential.
Conan tugged at my shirt. I leaned down to his level and tilted my head. "What is it?"
"Listen... do you know the thief who targets the right eye? Scorpion?"
"Ah, so you've already found his alias. If by 'know' you mean we've met, then yes. We crossed paths on a previous job. I knocked him down, and he fled. I had no reason to pursue him then, so I let him go."
"...I see."
"───Had I known he would repeat such heinous crimes, I should have killed him then."
The air vibrated with that cold voice. I knew the plot, but Furuya had no knowledge of the original story. He was genuinely furious about the murder and felt regret for having been so close yet failing to prevent it. Conan furrowed his brows and looked down.
"Don't say that. A criminal must be judged by the law and atone through the law. That is what a nation of institutions and laws means."
"...You are always so upright in your principles."
Furuya patted Conan's head with a self-deprecating smile. It was a rough, somewhat awkward gesture, quite different from my own.
The ship was approaching Tokyo. Now, I had to prepare to greet the First Division officers of the Metropolitan Police, who would soon arrive by helicopter. I began to consider the best way to handle Scorpion.
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