Chapter Thirty-Five: Vermouth’s New Mission

"Vermouth, what on earth are you playing at?"

Gin's voice was icy. He felt that Vermouth lingering in Tokyo was a complete waste of his time.

"Why did you spread the false rumor that Akemi Miyano's floppy disk contained sensitive organizational intelligence?"

"Regardless of your true objective, why didn't you explain the situation to Rum beforehand? If you had, Rum wouldn't have tasked me with handling the fallout of Akemi Miyano's supposed leak at this particular time!"

Faced with Gin’s interrogation, Vermouth appeared unperturbed. She simply rested her chin on her hand and smiled.

"Naturally, it was to lure Sherry out from hiding after she escaped the lab, wasn't it?"

"As things stand, is there anything other than the supposed 'relics' left behind by Akemi Miyano that could possibly draw Sherry out? I’m doing this to help you complete your mission."

"Gin, isn't one of your primary objectives this time to find and eliminate the runaway Sherry?"

After saying this, Vermouth shifted her posture. She leaned back against her chair, her voice suddenly turning calm.

"I am not surprised that you came to eliminate Masami Hirota after receiving orders from Rum, fearing he might have leaked information about the organization."

"However, I am puzzled as to how the organization learned of this. This was a trap I set specifically for Sherry. Even if the organization has a mole planted within the police force, they shouldn't have been able to know that Masami Hirota possessed a disk with the organization's intelligence."

"This matter would never have reached the police."

Others did not know Sherry's true identity, but Vermouth did.

Sherry was currently masquerading as the ordinary elementary student Ai Haibara, living in Professor Agasa's home. Therefore, she had deliberately orchestrated the situation so that Professor Agasa would learn of the disk in Masami Hirota's possession, intending to use this opportunity to draw Sherry out. Sherry, in turn, would never have reported this to the police.

In other words, the police could not have possibly known about the disk, and therefore, the mole could not have reported this information to the organization.

If the mole truly knew about this, there was only one possibility.

"You aren't suggesting that the mole is a plant within the Japanese police force, are you?"

Gin's voice carried a hint of murderous intent. He had understood exactly what Vermouth was implying.

According to her logic, this intelligence could only have reached Sherry, thereby luring her out. The police had no way of knowing, and thus the mole could not have informed Rum, which in turn would have triggered his mission.

The only reason the mole would have this information is if they were colluding with Sherry, knowingly feeding false reports to the organization.

They were using this opportunity to intentionally frame him and Vermouth, hoping to make them turn on each other.

Rum had absolute confidence in the loyalty of the mole he had placed in the police. But Gin did not share that sentiment. From the very beginning, he had suspected the mole's loyalty. After all, he had seen too many moles, traitors, and useless cowards who said one thing and did another.

A large part of his success as the ace of the Black Organization’s operations team was owed to the incompetence of such fools.

So, the moment Vermouth pointed the finger at the police mole, a murderous impulse ignited within Gin.

His typical way of dealing with moles was to shoot first and ask questions later. But this particular mole had been placed by Rum; he could not move against them without permission. It was just like Pisco, that useless, senile old man—he couldn't touch him without the Boss's approval.

Gin stood up and shoved his hands into the pockets of his black trench coat. He had no intention of wasting any more breath on Vermouth, but before leaving, he paused and said:

"This is the last time."

"If there is a next time, even if the Boss wants to protect you, I will eliminate you without a moment's hesitation!"

"I mean what I say!"

Then, Gin heard Vermouth's voice.

"Of course. There won't be a next time."

Receiving an answer he hadn't expected, Gin frowned. He said nothing more, simply pushing the door open and leaving to carry out the night's arrangements.

*Tap, tap, tap, tap.*

Gin's footsteps gradually faded away outside the door.

Vermouth pulled out her phone; there was a read message waiting.

[The pursuit of Yan Shuangying is terminated.]

[A group in Beika Town is currently investigating Tottori Prefecture and the "Seven Children" song. Go and uncover the history of this group and the forces behind them. If conditions permit, eliminate them all. Leave no one alive.]

[Sender: ???]

It was a message from the Boss.

Clearly, the Boss was far more concerned about this group investigating Tottori Prefecture than about Yan Shuangying.

At this thought, Vermouth’s eyebrows arched involuntarily. She felt a twinge of surprise.

Not many people knew that Tottori Prefecture was linked to the organization. Sherry was one of them. Could it be that Sherry had leaked this information?

That would be truly troublesome. If it really was Sherry who leaked it, she would have to mobilize a massive number of personnel to ensure that Sherry was definitively killed.

After all, this matter had already seriously compromised the Boss's interests; she could not turn a blind eye to it.

*Swish.*

She packed her things into her handbag.

Changing her appearance, Vermouth pushed the door open and took her leave as well.

——————

In the original story, after Conan determined that the Boss's email address was located in Tottori Prefecture through the "Seven Children" song and postal codes, Ai Haibara immediately stopped him from investigating further, warning that if he did, everyone would die.

Consequently, Conan terminated the investigation then and there and never mentioned it again.

But while Conan would hesitate due to the danger of investigating the organization, Nara Hikaru would not.

In fact, he was counting on it.

At this moment, as dusk settled, Nara Hikaru was waiting for his target to appear on the busiest street of Kabukicho in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward—a place where all manner of people converged.

This was his backup plan.

He hadn't intended to trigger it so soon, but since Gin hadn't fallen for the trap involving Masami Hirota, Nara Hikaru felt it was necessary to elevate Gin's threat level. He would dangle an even heavier bait to ensure Gin would personally appear to investigate.

Yes, the vague information regarding Tottori Prefecture, the "Seven Children" song, and the Black Organization—it was all leaked by Nara Hikaru. He had chosen this specific location precisely to lure Gin and his cohorts into investigating it themselves.

"Gin, I’d like to see just how many times your good luck can save you!"

He whispered to himself.