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"What did you say?" Mouri roared. "Steven is the bomber who blew up the Tokyo Metropolitan Police building?"
"Huh? He doesn't look like it at all."
Shock and disappointment flashed across Mouri Kogoro's face as he glanced at Akai.
"Just because someone's named Steven doesn't mean they're a bomber. The American FBI really is useless. No wonder they can't catch the Silver-Haired Devil."
Some things didn't need to be said out loud.
Deep down, Mouri sneered. The Steven he knew might have a bad temper, but he was full of righteous energy. No way was he a terrorist.
More likely, the FBI couldn't find the real culprit and panicked, grabbing someone with the same name to take the fall.
"Mr. Mouri," Akai said calmly, placing a transparent evidence bag on the table. "You recognize this, don't you?"
"A… a human-skin mask!"
Mouri's face drained of color the instant he saw it.
"That's right. Steven used a skin mask as a disguise. Earlier, when we said your daughter was with him, you seemed very relieved. Could it be that…"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Being linked to a bomber would completely ruin the image of a famous detective.
Mouri knew exactly what Akai was implying and waved his hands frantically.
But the moment the words left his mouth, the weight of the situation hit him.
"Damn it. Ran's in danger!"
Conan and Yukiko, who had followed him in, turned pale at once.
They both pulled out their phones, dialing anxiously.
"I knew something was off about that guy," Conan muttered through clenched teeth. "I just didn't expect him to be a vicious bomber."
"Ran, please pick up," Yukiko whispered. "If he dares hurt you, I swear I won't let him get away with it."
All they heard was the busy tone.
Unwilling to give up, Conan called again. Then again. Maybe persistence really did move the heavens, because the call finally connected.
"Ran, where are you right now? Are you hurt? You have to be careful of Steven."
"Mm… uh…"
"Your voice sounds strange. Were you kidnapped? If yes, just make an 'mm' sound."
Conan's expression darkened. A terrible feeling welled up inside him.
What Ran was going through might be even worse than a kidnapping.
"I had a really high fever yesterday and passed out," Ran said weakly. "A kind person brought me to a clinic. I'm not sure exactly where it is."
"Don't worry. I'm safe. They're doing follow-up checks right now. I'm hanging up."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The call ended. The stone weighing on Conan's heart finally dropped. He put away his phone, shoved his hands into his pockets, and strode back into the conference room with forced composure.
After hearing that Ran was alive and staying at a clinic, the Japanese police and the FBI temporarily set aside their differences and launched a joint search across the city.
After all, Ran had been taken by Steven. Using her as a lead might help them find both Steven and the Silver-Haired Devil.
Worried sick about his daughter, Mouri volunteered to join the operation.
Given his fame, Officer Hyoue Kuro surprisingly agreed without hesitation.
While Conan was on the phone, Yukiko had also called Vermouth.
"Hello, Yukiko. What's up so early in the morning?" Vermouth's voice sounded lazy and tired.
"Chris Vineyard," Yukiko said quietly, "are you hiding something from me?"
"What? All adults have secrets. Depends on what you mean."
"Your assistant."
Yukiko didn't rush to expose Steven's identity. After years at Kudo Yusaku's side, she had picked up a thing or two about deduction.
She decided to probe first, just in case Vermouth was an accomplice. Better not to tip anyone off.
"You mean Steven?" Vermouth replied casually. "What's wrong with him?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just curious where you found such an excellent assistant."
"Thanks for the compliment. He applied on his own. I liked the look of him, so I hired him."
Vermouth clearly sensed something and brushed it off with ease.
"So you really don't know?" Yukiko said. "I just heard from the FBI that your assistant is the bomber who blew up the police headquarters."
"What? A bomber? Don't scare me like that!"
"Chris, stay calm. Ran was taken by him last night. I'm worried…"
Unpleasant images flashed through Yukiko's mind.
"I'll go check Steven's room right now," Vermouth said firmly. "Don't worry. If Ran really is in his hands, I'll risk my life to get her back."
The line went dead.
Yukiko stared at her phone, stunned.
"Damn it. How could I even think that?" she scolded herself. "Ran will be fine. She might even become my daughter someday."
"Guess it's been too long since I got close with my husband. That's why my thoughts ran wild."
…
Elsewhere.
"Yukiko really isn't Kudo Yusaku," Vermouth muttered. "She's still too green to match me."
"Being woken up when I was sleeping so well is seriously annoying."
She tossed her phone aside. When she turned her head and didn't see Steven, an inexplicable sense of emptiness washed over her.
She rested with her eyes closed for a while before getting up to wash and dress.
As she passed the next room, faint sounds drifted out. Vermouth's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"So he's a real time-management master after all. A textbook scumbag."
"Hmph. Think I can't satisfy you? Don't even dream about being completely honest with me again."
She finished washing up without disturbing Steven.
After changing clothes, she glanced at the cold breakfast on the living room table and hurried out to see Araide to change her dressing.
At the same time…
In another room, Mouri Ran clutched the bedsheets tightly, her face twisted in pain.
"Why did you hang up?" Steven's voice was low and amused. "Why not tell him what you've been through? Your screams sound pretty nice. Letting Conan hear them wouldn't be bad either."
"Don't worry. I'll treat you properly. I guarantee you'll leave the clinic healthy and alive."
"As for whether you're intact or not, that's not my responsibility."
A wicked smile spread across Steven's lips.
The system had given him the profession of a ruthless criminal. He was never meant to be a good person. There was no need to pretend to be a gentleman.
"You despicable, shameless bastard," Ran sobbed. "You'll be punished for this."
"Conan will tell my dad everything I said. He's a great detective. He'll find clues and bring the police to arrest you."
"Stop… it's tearing…"
Ran's body convulsed, her mind going blank.
When she finally regained consciousness, Steven was leisurely smoking a cigarette.
With the Wolf Bro card boosting him, he really was absurdly strong.
From Vermouth to Ran, nearly five straight hours of intense action, and he barely felt tired.
"Worked up a sweat," he said casually. "That'll help your cold heal faster. Take a hot shower, then drink your medicine like a good girl. One day at most, and you'll be bouncing around again."
He stubbed out the cigarette and left the room.
After the door closed, Ran stared at the bloodstained sheets. Tears welled up as she silently folded them away.
What was lost could never be taken back, but evidence could be kept.
One day, when the police finally caught Steven, she could add another charge to his list.
"....."