Chapter 283: Mission: Impossible
Sera Masumi shifted in her seat, anxious to steer the conversation away from her older brother. She forced a nonchalant laugh. "Besides, the similar eyes are probably just a coincidence, right? I bet there are plenty of other people out there with eyes like ours."
"That's true," Natsume agreed easily, her tone casual. "In fact, I think one of the kids in the Detective Boys has eyes a lot like yours, Sera."
The comment barely registered with Sera, whose entire focus was immediately snagged by Natsume's very next sentence. "Speaking of the UK, that brings MI6 to mind, doesn't it? So, Sera, do you happen to have any relatives in MI6?"
Like your mother, for instance... Natsume mused silently.
Honestly, the first time she'd learned that Shuichi Akai, an ace of the FBI, had a mother who was an agent for MI6, Natsume found it utterly baffling. Could direct family members really serve in the intelligence agencies of two different countries? Did it never occur to anyone that Shuichi Akai or Mary Sera might be leaking intelligence to one another?
And then there was the fact that one family had produced three siblings with three different surnames. From a certain point of view, Natsume had to admit, Mary Sera was a truly impressive woman.
[I think their family drama is way more interesting than the whole conflict between Conan and the Organization,] Paimon couldn't help but chime in, her form flickering in Natsume's mind. [If you throw in the family of Mary's sister, Miyano Elena, you could film their story as a multi-season 'Mission: Impossible' series!]
Ignoring Paimon's grumbling, Natsume simply widened her eyes and gazed at Sera, her expression one of innocent curiosity, as if she'd just asked a random question that had popped into her head.
The sudden mention of MI6 nearly made Sera leap out of her skin.
First, her brother in the FBI, and now, in the very next breath, her mother's agency. If Sera wasn't absolutely certain she had never crossed paths with Natsume during her time in the UK, she would have sworn the girl knew something—something she had no business knowing.
"How is that possible!" Before Sera could even formulate a retort, Sonoko Suzuki jumped in, her voice full of confident dismissal. "I mean, Ran just had that run-in with the FBI, and sure, MI6 is famous in the UK, but how could just anyone living there know an agent? It's not like they hand out business cards, right, Sera?"
Sonoko looked at her expectantly.
"Y-Yes, exactly! Sonoko's right," Sera nodded, forcing a laugh that sounded more awkward than she intended.
Though her heart was still pounding, she was undeniably relieved. Desperate to escape the dangerous topic, Sera quickly donned her detective persona and turned to Natsume with manufactured curiosity. "By the way, Natsume, Sonoko mentioned you're a detective. Would you mind telling us about some of the cases you've solved?"
"Not at all." Seeing the faint sheen of sweat on Sera's brow, Natsume mercifully let her off the hook.
[You just enjoyed watching her squirm, didn't you?] Paimon accused.
'Who told them to cram themselves into a tiny place like Beika Town, all while hiding things and refusing to acknowledge each other?'Natsume shot back internally, a righteous indignation coloring her thoughts.'I'm just giving them a little push toward honesty...'
Following Sera's lead, Natsume briefly recounted a few minor cases. "But my main requests are still for finding lost cats," she concluded with a shrug. "Detective Mouri is the real famous detective around here."
"No way, you're amazing too, Natsume!" Ran protested. "There have been several times when you found the culprit faster than Dad." She felt that, compared to her father's sometimes-unreliable methods, Natsume was often the more capable of the two.
Sera's brow furrowed slightly. "That's a bit strange. If that's the case, why haven't I heard your name before?"
The media, after all, wouldn't let such a scoop pass them by. Yet before today, Sera had found next to no information on a 'Natsume Natsuki'—and she had looked. Before making her move, she had specifically researched the people in Conan Edogawa's orbit.
"I don't like being high-profile, and I have a friend who's a reporter and helps keep my name out of the papers," Natsume explained simply. "But my work isn't important. From what Sonoko said earlier, I thought you were more interested in Detective Mouri, Sera. Didn't you arrange to visit the Mouri Detective Agency together after dinner?"
"Yes," Sera confirmed, deciding it was time to get to the heart of the matter. "But to be honest, I'm more interested in that kid, Conan. When I helped Ran and the others with that ghost murder case at the Beika Hotel, I thought he was incredibly smart. I was hoping to have a proper chat with him this time."
At last, she'd asked the question she really wanted to know.
"Huh?" Natsume tilted her head, looking at Ran with genuine confusion. "But isn't Conan spending the night at Dr. Agasa's place with the Detective Boys today? I remember Diluc telling me that Klee went over there, too."
Ran gave an affirmative nod, confirming it.
"Ah—what bad timing..." Sera's shoulders slumped, and she lowered her head in visible disappointment.
Her plan had been simple: arrange a meeting with Ran, use it as a pretense to visit the Mouri Detective Agency, and observe Conan Edogawa up close. She was almost certain he was the person she thought he was, and she just needed a few more clues to prove her hypothesis.
But now, with Conan out of the picture, Sera hesitated, a wave of uncertainty washing over her. Was there even a point in going to the agency anymore?
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