Chapter 261: Bank Robbery
Without warning, Genta clutched his stomach and doubled over, his face paling to a sickly white. It seemed his earlier gluttony had finally caught up with him, and his stomach was now staging a very uncomfortable protest.
Seeing Genta's pained expression, a flicker of concern broke through Haibara's usual composure. She decided to get him some medicine to ease his suffering. Turning to Professor Agasa, she said, "Professor, let's go buy some medicine together."
Just then, however, Baizhu's calm voice cut in. "Wait a moment. I may have a way to make him feel better. It's best for children to avoid medication if they can."
As he spoke, he walked over to Genta and crouched down, his movements gentle and reassuring. He reached out, his long fingers applying firm, targeted pressure to several points on the boy's abdomen.
"Hey! It… it really doesn't hurt as much!" Genta looked down at his stomach, his eyes wide with surprise.
"That should provide some relief for now," Baizhu said, stopping his ministrations. He stood up and looked at Professor Agasa. "Professor, if you could hold our place in line, I'll take Genta to the restroom."
"Wait! We'll go too!" Mitsuhiko declared. He and Ayumi promptly grabbed Conan, Haibara, and Qiqi, pulling them along.
"Huh? There's no need for everyone to go just for a bathroom trip, is there?" Professor Agasa scratched his head, watching the small procession of children follow Baizhu away.
They arrived at the entrance to the men's restroom.
Baizhu turned to the group. "I'll take Genta, Mitsuhiko, and Conan inside. Qiqi, Ayumi, Haibara, you three wait by the entrance for a moment."
While Genta was in one of the stalls, the others chatted quietly, waiting for him to finish. Suddenly, a sharp, percussive crack shattered the mundane quiet of the bank.
Haibara's reaction was instantaneous. Her blood ran cold as her mind identified the sound with chilling certainty: a gunshot. Without a shred of hesitation, she grabbed Ayumi and Qiqi, her voice a sharp whisper. "Inside! Now!" She shoved them into the women's restroom next door.
At the same time, inside the men's room, the gravity of the situation slammed into Conan.
Seeing Haibara shepherd Ayumi and Qiqi to safety, a small measure of relief washed over him. He immediately turned to the others, his voice low and urgent. "Everyone, hide in the stalls. I'll go see what's happening outside."
He finished speaking and was about to bolt for the exit when a hand pressed down firmly on his head, stopping him in his tracks.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Baizhu's voice was soft, but it held an unyielding authority. "How could I possibly let a child run into a dangerous situation alone?"
With that, he gently guided Conan toward Qiqi. "Hold on to him for me."
Conan was baffled. How could Qiqi, who looked so small and frail, possess such strength? He struggled, but her grip was like a vise of cold iron. He couldn't break free and could only watch, frustrated, as Dr. Baizhu slipped out of the restroom.
It wasn't long before Baizhu returned, his expression grim.
"It's a bank robbery," he reported in a hushed tone. "There are five of them. You children need to hide in the stalls and stay quiet. I'm going to go out and see if I can…"
He trailed off, his head tilting slightly toward the entrance. His keen ears had picked up a new sound. He brought a single finger to his lips, signaling for absolute silence. Someone was coming.
Quickly, he herded the children into the stalls, ensuring they were out of sight before concealing himself just inside the restroom's entrance.
A moment later, Baizhu heard two sets of footsteps approaching. He held his breath, melting into the shadows.
He was surprised to see a vaguely familiar figure stumble into the men's restroom. Though her eyes and mouth were covered with silver duct tape, Baizhu recognized her at once: the FBI agent, Jodie Starling.
This was hardly the time for a reunion. Following closely behind her was one of the robbers, a gun pointed squarely at her back.
"Get in!" the robber growled, shoving Jodie hard. Blinded by the tape, she stumbled forward several steps.
Noticing an open stall door, the robber intended to force her inside, completely oblivious to the silent figure stalking him from the side.
Baizhu remained hidden behind the main door, watching as the robber and Jodie moved further into the room. The moment the man's attention was focused on pushing Jodie toward the stall, Baizhu saw his opening. He moved with a silent, fluid grace, striking the back of the man's neck with the edge of his hand.
The robber didn't even have time to cry out. He collapsed to the tiled floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Jodie, still blind, heard only the sudden, heavy thud of a body hitting the ground behind her. Her heart seized. Then, a familiar, calm voice spoke directly beside her ear. "Ms. Jodie, please don't move. I'll remove the tape for you."
"Jodie-sensei, are you okay?" Hearing that the immediate danger had passed, the children crept out from their hiding places.
"Dr. Baizhu? Why are you here?" After the tape was peeled away, Jodie's eyes widened in disbelief. Seeing the doctor from Beika Central Hospital was the last thing she had expected. "And… how do you all know each other?"
The unexpected reunion brought with it a sudden, sharp pang of grief. Her mind flashed back to their previous meeting, to a time when Shuichi was still alive, when Baizhu had been the one to treat his wounds. A shadow of sorrow passed over her features, a silent proof of a loss that still felt fresh.
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