Conan-kun, returning home, watches me with the utmost caution and vigilance!
After completing a two-week assignment in France, Haibara-san joined the Junior Detective League without my knowledge. They are now a quintet, along with the three original elementary school students: Mitsuhiko-kun, Genta-kun, and Ayumi-chan.
Today, Mr. Furuya and I are spending the day admiring the children, commenting on their small size, and how graceful and adorable they are.
So far, Conan-kun has not discovered my dual identity. This is partly because Mr. Furuya has grown accustomed to the "Amuro" persona, and partly because I have been deliberately mimicking the Amuro character that Mr. Furuya performs in front of Conan.
Although Lupin would figure it out in an instant, I have given up trying to reach his level, as it seems an impossible task even if I dedicated my whole life to it. That funny old thief only ever mocks me when Mr. Furuya's persona is accurately displayed.
In any case, the problem now lies with Conan-kun. Based on a suggestion from Mr. Furuya, we decided to help with some of the housework, worrying about Ran-chan who was overwhelmed with chores despite being a high school student.
We accepted the task for free, considering it a duty of a student. However, Detective Mouri, apparently not satisfied, has recently been trying to reward us with some monetary vouchers, feeling apologetic.
We do not actually need the money; Detective Mouri would be better off putting those funds toward the household budget.
Today's assistance involves cooking. Cooking is Mr. Furuya's hobby, so he is primarily responsible for the help, but I also participate occasionally for practice.
The menu is purely Japanese: Nikujaga (meat and potato stew), miso soup, grilled amberjack with teriyaki sauce, and a side of boiled spinach.
When I praised him internally by thinking, "Truly, this is Mr. Furuya," he replied, "I do not think your Western food is bad either."
Conan-kun returned to the living room, now fragrant with the scent of fresh food. He eyed me with the utmost, barely suppressed caution.
"... I'm back," he said, watching my movements more warily than a cat straying into a strange house.
He was trying hard to hide it, but his wariness was so obvious that anyone would have noticed.
When Mr. Furuya asked gently, "Did something happen, Conan-kun?" he froze visibly and abruptly.
"No, nothing. What's for dinner?"
"I made grilled amberjack with teriyaki, your favorite. The spinach is seasoned with noodle sauce, so it should be easy to eat."
"Wow, thank you, Amuro-san!"
It was a childish act that felt slightly forced. Sadly, his good looks just made him resemble an unskilled child actor.
── Good grief, what has got into him? Did we do something to make him angry?
── I honestly can't recall a thing...
Is it possible Haibara-san told him that I am Bourbon, the Organization executive?
If so, I need to hurry and arrange a meeting with Akemi Miyano.
Moving freely will be incredibly difficult if Conan-kun continues to view me with suspicion. If things go wrong, it could lead to a catastrophic failure.
At that moment.
My smartphone rang with its rigid, default ringtone.
I told Ran-san, "I'm stepping out for a moment to take a call," and went down from the third-floor living area to the second-floor hallway. As I did, I switched control so that I was the surface persona.
If Gin was the caller, he might figure things out if Mr. Furuya answered.
"Yes, this is Bourbon."
"Hello, Bourbon. Have you heard about Sherry escaping?"
"No. I've been completely tied up with the Lupin case, so this is the first I'm hearing of it. Sherry escaped? What was the cause, exactly?"
"I had locked her in the punishment cell, but she vanished three days ago. Kill her as soon as you find her."
"She escaped from solitary confinement? That's impressive... I didn't know she had that kind of technical skill. Even a NOC wouldn't have been able to get out of there. Was it a mistake by the guard?"
"The worthless subordinate in charge has already been disposed of."
I felt sorry for the lower-level member... Sherry escaped using a cheat-like trick called "shrinking," not because of any mistake by that poor guard.
"Understood. I will kill her on sight."
"Good. Get it on video. By the way, we're meeting next week at the usual bar. Don't forget."
"Right. I look forward to it, Gin."
Don't send me drinking invites in the middle of a mission! Gin, Vodka, and I are scheduled to go for drinks next week, but for me, that is practically just overtime work.
It is a session of "extreme hospitality," where Vodka and I just sit there flattering Gin while he relaxes and chain-smokes.
Anyone who fails to find joy in such a situation must be an AI incapable of understanding human emotion, or something of that sort.
While I was speaking, my sharp instincts picked up a presence behind me. Conan-kun was probably eavesdropping.
I deliberately walked up the stairs so he could hear me, and I sensed him scrambling back into the room.
When I opened the door to the third-floor living area, a tense Conan-kun was waiting for me.
Good grief. If I don't clear up this misunderstanding caused by Haibara-san immediately, things are going to spiral out of control.
But how am I supposed to explain the situation to Mr. Furuya?
If I simply said, "That kid is actually Shinichi Kudo, and she is Shiho Miyano, and they've both shrunk," my other half would simply think I had lost my mind.
It is a dilemma, but... let's try the direct approach this time.
── I've located Sherry. I'm going to try to get close to her.
── Huh?
After giving Mr. Furuya that brief notice, I plastered a broad smile on my face.
"You were listening, weren't you, Conan-kun?"
"!!!"
I flashed him a menacing grin, like a tiger staring down its prey.
At the same time, I shut the door behind me and locked it.
I didn't want him running off if the conversation went south before I could reveal the truth.
"Is Sherry doing well?"
"...... What are you talking about, Amuro-san?"
I hesitated slightly after starting with, "I just..." How should I phrase this?
Trying to be honest and polite, I chose my words carefully.
"I wanted to reunite her with her older sister... Would you come with me?"
He jerked his head up and screamed with every ounce of rage he had:
"You idiot!! Who would ever let you murder her in cold blood!"
Murder her!?!? ... Ah, no, wait a moment.
I may have made a fatal error in my choice of words.
Conan-kun slowly backed away with his hands behind his back, but his expression was utterly calm. He showed no intention of fleeing.
He was likely prepping his stun-gun wristwatch behind his back.
Facing an adult he cannot match in physical strength, how can a child's body put up such resistance? It is truly impressive.
While I felt a sense of admiration, I feigned confusion and exaggerated hesitation.
I did this to deliberately expose an opening in my defense.
"I think you're misunderstanding me a little. I—"
A faint firing sound was heard: Pshu.
I ruthlessly and coolly blocked the dart, which had targeted my neck with terrifying precision.
"W-Wait, you're kidding... right?!"
"Didn't Sherry tell you? I'm an executive who specializes in combat. At this distance, I wouldn't feel threatened even if you were firing live ammo, you know?"
When I caught the fired tranquilizer dart with one hand, Conan's face finally paled, and he braced himself to flee.
I scooped him up before he could raise his voice.
He was about to shout, "Ran, run—!" so I immediately clamped my hand over his mouth.
Wait, what are you doing? If Detective Mouri thinks I'm suspicious, we're done for.
Then, I whispered a single phrase in his ear:
"—Miyano Akemi is still alive."
His desperate thrashing stopped abruptly.
Even when I took my hand off his mouth, he didn't try to scream for an adult.
"...Tell me what this means, Bourbon."
"I may not look it, but I command a great deal of trust within the Organization. So, faking Miyano Akemi's elimination and smuggling her out wasn't that difficult."
"I can't believe that. There's no benefit for you in doing something like that."
"Benefit? If we're talking about benefits, there are more than enough."
Conan shot me a challenging look. "Then tell me, what is this alleged reason?"
What a radiant spirit, even in such a critical situation. And such powerful eyes.
I sighed in admiration, studying the boy who truly embodied the role of a hero.
"Because Miyano Akemi and I are childhood friends. Isn't it natural to want to protect her as much as possible?"
"......Huh?"
His jaw dropped in shock.
"Wait, wait, are you joking? There's no way such a coincidence exists..."
"By the way, her mother, Miyano Elena, was my first love."
"Haaah?!?!"
Deep in my heart, Mr. Furuya was screaming in rage at the exact same moment: "Haaah?!?! Why did you talk about that?! And was this really the time to say it?!?!"
My apologies, Mr. Furuya. Please be a sacrifice for the sake of lightening the mood.
"What do you think? Doesn't that lend credibility to the theory that Miyano Akemi and I were childhood friends?"
"Just saying that drops your credibility to zero! On top of that, it doesn't change the fact that you're an Organization member!"
"Well, there is no doubt I am an executive with the codename Bourbon."
"Not only that, but a scoundrel rumored to be a serial killer who takes pleasure in murder."
"I can't deny that either. I have killed a great number of people... Wait, what do you mean 'takes pleasure'? My killing is strictly business. Claiming I kill as a hobby is defamation of character, you know?!"
"Murder is murder! There's no difference!"
While we were making a scene, Ran-chan peeked out from inside.
"You two, everything is ready. Conan-kun, come on, let's have an early dinner together."
"...!"
"Ah, apologies, Ran-san. We'll be right there."
I set down Conan, whom I was still holding, and smiled gently.
I watched Ran's back as she disappeared inside, then shrugged and addressed him:
"Let's talk again tomorrow. I'll come pick you up in the morning."
"Do you think I'll just follow you?"
"But you are curious, aren't you? About whether Miyano Akemi is truly alive. Since our relationship will be a long one, let's stay on good terms as we were before. Deal?"
"...Who could possibly be on good terms with a criminal? You've deceived me too many times."
"No, actually, a real sense of camaraderie has started to grow in me towards you. What do you say? Wouldn't you like to become one of my subordinates in the future?"
"Impossible! Don't be ridiculous!!!"
As we bantered like this, the tension seemed to melt away significantly from Conan's shoulders.
I did it. The mission is tentatively complete.
This is what happens when I use my special skill of making friends with anyone.
Though problems and challenges remain stacked high, they have merely been postponed—nothing more.
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Bonus Chapter Goal: 2 extra chapters for every review or 15 Power Stones.