Chapter 24: Hello, is this Miss Shiho Miyano, codenamed Sherry?

At Teitan Elementary School, the final bell had rung.

Ai Haibara absentmindedly packed her books into her bag. She stood up and walked out, ignoring the other members of the Detective Boys.

Immediately, both Genta Kojima and Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya grew indignant.

"Darn it, why does Haibara-san keep refusing to join us?"
"I thought that after we investigated the kidnapping of Toshiya-niisan yesterday, Haibara-san had finally become part of the Detective Boys and would be working with us from now on!"

Ayumi Yoshida quickly stopped Genta, who looked like he was about to rush out and demand an explanation from Haibara. She whispered to discourage him: "Genta, Mitsuhiko, let it be. Maybe Haibara-san has something important to do today?"

Pacified by Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko quieted down. They returned to their desks to pack their bags, grumbling softly.

"Honestly, we all have the same amount of homework today. What could she possibly be busy with?"
"Looks like we'll have to call Conan and continue our four-person Detective Boys mission today..."
"Wait, Mitsuhiko, Ayumi, where's Conan?!"

Only then did Genta notice that the pint-sized grim reaper had vanished from the classroom. Following a flurry of complaints, the leaderless Detective Boys dejectedly went to check the shoe lockers to see if any other students had left them a request.

Meanwhile, Haibara had already changed into her outdoor shoes. She placed her indoor shoes in the locker, picked up her bag, and headed out of the school. For some reason, she instinctively glanced at the small grove nearby, but the unfamiliar park ranger she had seen earlier that morning was gone.

A sense of unease crept into her heart, though she couldn't pinpoint the source. Could the Black Organization’s investigation really be this fast? The man in black had only mentioned "Renya Karasuma" last night; did the Boss already know by this morning, and was an assassin sent by the afternoon? Even Lord Voldemort from the modern fairy tale series *Harry Potter* didn't act with such speed.

Haibara walked quickly out of the school gates and looked back. She didn't see the pint-sized detective. She wasn't surprised; after their heated argument last night, the tension between them had reached a breaking point, and it was highly unlikely Shinichi Kudo would walk home with her to Professor Agasa's house.

She turned and began walking in the direction of the professor’s home.

*Tap, tap. Tap, tap.*

The sound of her footsteps grew fragmented, but suddenly, there seemed to be an echo. It was as if her own footsteps were bouncing off the walls, and then, a second set of footsteps joined hers.

Was that possible? Of course not—unless there was someone else behind her.

Before she could turn around, the muzzle of a gun was pressed firmly against her neck. The cold sensation spread instantly, chilling her to the bone.

"Hello there. Are you Shiho Miyano, known by the organization codename Sherry?" A mocking voice came from behind her.

Haibara’s body stiffened, unable to move. The deep-seated fear she held for the members of the Black Organization instantly consumed her. They were here—the Black Organization was actually here! But how could they have found her location and true identity so quickly?

"It seems I was right," the woman whispered. "I truly cannot believe that the drug was actually a success."

Vermouth was using neither her own face nor her own voice. She pressed the muzzle against Haibara’s neck while concealing the weapon with her sleeve and using the school bag to block the view from other angles, ushering Haibara forward as if she were an older sibling picking her up from school.

"So, Sherry, I’m sorry... but you’re going to disappear from this world now." *To keep the secret of Shinichi Kudo, who was also shrunk by that drug,* Vermouth thought silently.

However, the moment her finger touched the trigger and that overwhelming sense of lethal threat washed over Haibara, a soccer ball tore through the air with unprecedented force, slamming into Vermouth’s arm!

It was Shinichi Kudo’s super-powered soccer ball!

The sudden attack instantly cost Vermouth her advantage. Her arm felt as if it had shattered the moment it made contact with the ball. No, perhaps it wasn't just the pain of a fracture—it was an actual break, far worse than a simple dislocation!

*How could a soccer ball have such destructive power? Who kicked it?* Vermouth didn't have time to think. She dropped to the side, exposing Haibara. Simultaneously, the voice of the pint-sized detective rang out: "Don't run, Haibara! Get down!"

Conan Edogawa’s instructions were difficult for Haibara to process. Vermouth was temporarily restricted by the ball, so shouldn't she be running to find cover? Did he want her to be a sitting duck? But, trusting that Shinichi Kudo had just saved her, Haibara dove to the ground without a second thought.

Almost the next instant, a gunshot echoed through the street!

A bullet had been fired, transforming into a tiny metallic dragon, hungry for Haibara’s life. Yet, it missed her, grazing the top of her head and leaving a bullet hole in the concrete street nearby.

"Huh? Just lucky?" Calvados frowned. He couldn't understand how a mere elementary schooler could have dodged his shot. He had pulled the trigger the moment Vermouth stepped aside. It was too slow—it was suspicious. It was as if someone had known he was going to fire before he even did it!

But who had the ability to predict his actions? Unless Vermouth was a traitor, not even Gin could have known his sniping location, his target, or his timing.

Just as Calvados prepared to follow Vermouth’s order and fire again, a beam of intense light refracted into his sniper scope, blinding him. He realized immediately that his position had been compromised. He had to move!

Hidden in the shadows, Natsuki Koshimizu lowered her high-powered flashlight and couldn't help but snap her fingers.

"Hmph, you were late this time, but... things aren't beyond repair just yet."