Chapter 283
Regardless, Vermouth managed to brush off Usuha Izuki for now, and didn't dare meet with Usuha Izuki in the short term, afraid he'd discover her ulterior motives.
But Vermouth felt this couldn't continue.
Because after organizing her thoughts, she felt that since Usuha Izuki already knew Kudo Shinichi wasn't dead, what she should do now was: first, prevent Usuha Izuki from learning that Kudo Shinichi had shrunk into Edogawa Conan, and second—she couldn't let Usuha Izuki know this was related to the organization!
So Vermouth pondered and called Vodka: "Has Botanist contacted you recently?"
"...What are you pretending to be dumb for? Weren't you there during the Pisco incident?" Vodka was speechless.
"Besides Pisco, have you two discussed anything serious in these past two months?"
At this moment, countless instances of Usuha Izuki hinting that Gin had problems flashed through Vodka's mind.
He was silent for a second, then answered decisively: "No! What serious matters could he discuss with me! Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Vermouth also calmly found an excuse: "A bit worried about his social circle."
"...Then your worry is indeed very necessary." Vodka complained, "Every time we encounter him during missions, nothing good happens! Which friend could withstand such torment? Unless he only torments organization people and not outsiders?"
Vermouth probed: "Not that bad, right? It was just that Pisco incident. Oh, and that time he almost got blown up."
These two incidents, strictly speaking, hadn't affected Vodka's missions—mainly Gin's reputation had suffered some damage. So Vodka decisively gave an example of when missions were actually affected: "Not just that! There was also that time when Big Brother and I went to the amusement park for a transaction..."
Vermouth gripped her phone, her eyes lighting up on the other end—exactly! This was the mission she wanted to learn about! She thought it would take more effort to find out, but Vodka's lips were too loose... Though that made things easier for her.
She first needed to confirm that Usuha Izuki hadn't watched the entire process of Kudo Shinichi shrinking, otherwise no matter what she did afterward would be useless.
Vodka didn't know what Vermouth's focus was. He just kept complaining: "...I think he already saw there were conflicts between the tourists ahead of me, but he just wouldn't say anything. He watched us get on the roller coaster and get involved in a case, almost detained by police. He was laughing happily in the crowd of onlookers. When we finally escaped and wanted to settle accounts with him, he'd already run away! Tell me, is that how a friend behaves?"
Vermouth: "How could he do that? I'll talk to him about it later."
Vodka was almost moved to tears: "You finally said something fair!"
Previously Vermouth just knew how to gloss things over, saying things like Botanist had always been like this, his heart wasn't bad, telling him to bear with it... Now Vermouth was finally acting human!
Vermouth's acting skills were leagues above Usuha Izuki's. She didn't seem guilty at this point: "I ultimately hope he gets better and better. If he says anything to you that feels wrong in the future, come find me."
Vodka agreed.
Although he'd had places to complain before, like to Bourbon or Scotland.
But Bourbon had always been sarcastic, and it had become more obvious over the years. Talking to Bourbon was tiring and easy to owe favors.
Scotland was quite cooperative, but since Scotland stopped being Usuha Izuki's assistant, his status with Usuha Izuki seemed to plummet. With Scotland, he could only complain—don't dream about anything else.
But Vermouth was different! That Usuha Izuki kid favored women over men, and Vermouth wasn't Usuha Izuki's subordinate or assistant. The words Vermouth said, Usuha Izuki might actually listen to... Well, he knew the probability wasn't very high, but what if!
Just like that, Vermouth successfully extracted information and hung up, falling into contemplation again.
Hmm... She'd hinted for Vodka to avoid mentioning organization matters to Usuha Izuki. With Vodka not mentioning it and Gin never bothering to chat with Usuha Izuki, after Usuha Izuki saw so many people who looked like Kudo Shinichi, even if he saw Edogawa Conan, he shouldn't think much of it, right?
At most he'd jokingly shout about Kudo Yusaku being vigorous in old age with such a young illegitimate son...
Vermouth held her forehead, feeling that after she finished investigating Sherry, she should see if she could persuade Usuha Izuki to go to America with her for a year or two, isolating this dangerous source and preventing him from encountering Edogawa Conan.
As time passed and Usuha Izuki didn't cause any more trouble, Vermouth gradually relaxed her vigilance. She spent her days observing her angel Mouri Ran up close, investigating Sherry, and enjoying daily life—what's wrong with being on a mission? Being on a mission means you can't enjoy yourself? Ridiculous—she was the woman who'd expense even a single meal to the organization!
Especially with the school festival approaching, Vermouth hadn't experienced this when she was a student. This time as faculty, she also participated in school festival preparations and found it quite interesting.
Especially when Suzuki Sonoko sprained her wrist two days ago and had to withdraw from the stage play, desperately looking for someone to take over her role. After searching everywhere, she somehow found the new doctor that Vermouth was disguising as, asking her to play the Black Knight opposite Mouri Ran. Vermouth was even happier.
Oh my, although a high school stage play was overkill for a big star like her, being able to act with her angel made it not boring at all—she found it very interesting!
Vermouth happily substituted for Suzuki Sonoko, emergency rehearsing for several days, finally catching up for the performance on the last day of the school festival.
But just as she was about to go on stage, Vermouth was shocked to see an uninvited guest backstage.
Kudo Shinichi pressed his palms together, pleading with her: "Um, Dr. Niide, could you let me play the Black Knight?"
Vermouth: "...?!?!?!"
Wait! Wasn't Shinichi supposed to have turned into Edogawa Conan?! How did he get big again?!
Had he already found an antidote?! Then this must not be discovered by the organization! The organization couldn't even do that!
Vermouth's mentality was a bit broken.
Looking at Kudo Shinichi, who seemed to have no crisis awareness and was actually planning to go on stage and perform with Mouri Ran, she was both angry and anxious, wanting to immediately reveal her identity and call Kudo Yukiko to manage her son!
Fortunately it was her disguised as Dr. Niide! If it were other organization members, and the name Kudo Shinichi appeared when writing reports, Shinichi would be finished!
"Kudo-kun... right?" Vermouth barely maintained her acting, "I've heard of you. Aren't you on a secret mission? Is it okay to come back now?"
Remember that you can't appear openly now! What if someone recognizes you?!
Even if the Black Knight wore a mask, only half his face was covered! This wasn't Batman—anyone could recognize that familiar chin!
Earlier she'd been wondering whether to invite Usuha Izuki to this school festival, but fortunately one phone call from Usuha Izuki had dispelled that notion. Otherwise today would be very hard to handle.
If Usuha Izuki saw the living Kudo Shinichi, he really wouldn't think it strange, but he also wouldn't think it was something to keep secret! He'd very likely take photos and post them in the group...
The group recently had a new member. Although the codename was unfamiliar, the way they spoke felt familiar to her, which didn't seem good... But thinking about it, that gentleman probably wouldn't be so bored... Anyway, it was great that Usuha Izuki hadn't come!
Due to her disguised identity being unfamiliar with Kudo Shinichi, Vermouth couldn't persuade him and could only sadly hand over the Black Knight costume. She watched director Suzuki Sonoko enter backstage, see Kudo Shinichi and light up, guiding Kudo Shinichi onstage to perform, then prayed no one would recognize him.
Backstage, Vermouth had a headache. In the audience, someone else wasn't happy seeing Kudo Shinichi dressed as the Black Knight.
That was Haibara Ai disguised as Edogawa Conan.
The drug that turned Edogawa Conan back into Kudo Shinichi was developed by her based on baijiu components, but the effects probably wouldn't last long.
If it weren't for Edogawa Conan's poor acting arousing Mouri Ran's suspicion, requiring Edogawa Conan and Kudo Shinichi to appear in front of Mouri Ran simultaneously to dispel her doubts, she wouldn't have wanted to give this experimental drug to Kudo Shinichi.
Haibara Ai was coldly watching Kudo Shinichi perform in the stage play when suddenly, a terrifying feeling of dread enveloped her.
She instinctively stopped breathing, afraid of drawing attention from "that terrifying existence."
Her limbs stiffened, starting to go cold from her fingertips. Her pupils contracted uncontrollably, her stomach cramped physiologically from fear, and she might vomit from excessive pressure at any moment...
Haibara Ai's condition was wrong to the point that even people sitting next to her were puzzled.
Mouri Kogorou sat to her left, currently absorbed in his daughter's performance and not noticing Haibara Ai's abnormality. But a young man in a baseball cap sat to her right, almost immediately looking toward Haibara Ai and asking with concern in an Osaka accent: "Ko- Conan? What's wrong?"
Haibara Ai recognized this differently-dressed person as Hattori Heiji, but she had no strength to respond. All her attention was used to fight her instincts.
Can't tremble, can't tremble. If it's too obvious it'll draw attention...
Closer, closer... that terrifying aura... getting closer... coming toward her!
Haibara Ai kept her head down, seeing from the corner of her eye a pair of black leather shoes stop beside her right hand.
She also heard Hattori Heiji ask the person: "Is this your seat? Sorry, I saw an empty seat and sat down. Otherwise I'll..."
"No need."
That person spoke, with a voice like crashing ice that carried bone-chilling coldness: "Keep sitting."
After speaking, that person's aura gradually moved away.
Hattori Heiji wiped his sweat.
That was close—he almost gave himself away. He was currently pretending to be Kudo Shinichi, and Kudo Shinichi shouldn't know the other party...
However.
"Co- Conan, you seem really off today. What happened?"
As the terrifying aura gradually departed, Haibara Ai slowly relaxed mentally, but had no strength left to respond to Hattori Heiji.
Hattori Heiji was puzzled: "You..."
"Ahhhhh!!!"
A scream interrupted Hattori Heiji's words.
"Someone's dead!!!"
Backstage, Vermouth was more nervous than the still-dazed Haibara Ai: "...!!!"
Shinichi! Hold back! Don't expose yourself no matter what!!!