Chapter 36: Cooperation?

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Following the magical marker, Moray tracked the highlighted route across the ground.

He had left the organization’s tracking phone in the apartment and created a false magical projection to fool their surveillance. He himself had slipped away in secret.

He had noticed Conan following him several turns ago. Honestly, the boy had not even bothered to disguise himself while tailing someone, and he still fancied himself Sherlock Holmes? Too young!

Even so, Conan’s appearance had been a tremendous help to Moray.

Mr. Sherlock Kudo—the righteous detective, spiritual heir to Holmes, man on good terms with the police, and self-appointed enemy of the Men in Black—you wouldn’t want to see the organization’s conspiracy succeed, would you?

Then hurry up and take this hot potato. Hide it somewhere safe!

I, your mysterious undercover agent of unknown name and background, shall provide you with every kind of assistance—apart from actually doing anything myself.

After winding through countless narrow alleys and side streets, Moray entered an abandoned building.

Conan naturally followed close behind. Yet he could not help finding it strange. What was this man circling around for?

Was he trying to shake off a tail? But he had not noticed Conan at all.

Was he tracking Miss Hirota? But Conan had not seen any marks or traces along the way.

Conan had also agonized over whether he should continue following the silver-haired man.

Miss Hirota might merely have information related to the organization, whereas the silver-haired man was unquestionably one of its members.

Besides, he had no idea where Miss Hirota had gone, and finding her would not be easy.

After weighing both possibilities, Conan chose to follow.

At last, the man stopped outside a room.

Voices drifted out from within.

…

“...Cognac.”

Miyano Akemi watched him warily, but the terror she had felt the previous night was gone.

After all, whatever else might be said, the man before her had spared her life.

“...You know who I am?” Moray lit a cigarette. “A low-level member?”

Akemi remained silent.

“Did your sister tell you?”

Akemi swallowed. “This has nothing to do with her.”

“I’m afraid you have no value in your own right.” Moray casually flicked away some ash and continued, “Your only value to me is your sister. A scientist for the organization, a developer of some kind of drug...”

He looked at Akemi, who remained on guard.

“What exactly is that drug? Tell me only what you know.”

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“...” After a moment of silence, Akemi finally spoke. “I don’t know. My sister has never told me anything about it...”

“But...” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I heard that the organization uses that drug to fake murder scenes.”

“To make an execution look like the target died of natural causes.”

“She was forced into it! What she originally wanted to create was medicine that could save people, but the organization had control of—”

Outside the room, Conan clenched his fists.

Miss Hirota was actually a member of the organization!

And her sister was the very person who had developed that drug?!

The clue he had pursued so desperately for so long had appeared right before him today!

Suppressing the urge to immediately put the silver-haired man to sleep with a tranquilizer dart, Conan continued listening to their conversation.

“That’s enough. I’m not interested.” Moray waved away Akemi’s defense and lowered his head in thought.

When Gin tried to recruit me earlier, he said that Shinichi Kudo was dead.

Yet the outside world only knew that Shinichi Kudo had disappeared. For Gin to be so certain, he must have killed him.

And it was already known that Shinichi Kudo had become a child. If he had been shot, there was no way he could have shrunk. At the time, I thought the technology of this era had already advanced far enough to create a rejuvenation drug. But now, everything makes sense.

Akemi’s sister developed some kind of drug, and the organization used it to fake murder scenes. At Tropical Land, they drugged Shinichi Kudo to conceal their actions—and perhaps because of his celebrity status. Yet for some unknown reason, the drug caused him to become a child.

Interesting... So her sister is a supreme talent in biology and chemistry? She may even have developed the first rejuvenation drug?

Although I have no specific use for her at the moment, I’m claiming this person for myself!

And I can have her develop a timed antidote, giving me control over Conan’s lifeline...

The corners of Moray’s mouth rose despite himself.

Excellent. It’s settled!

I, Moray, will make Kudo protect this woman for me!

With that thought, he said aloud, “I’m afraid I don’t have a spare safe house in Tokyo.”

What did he mean?!

Akemi and Conan both felt their hearts jolt.

“However, some of my other friends may be able to help. For instance, the friend who has been following us.”

“Shinichi Kudo. The high school detective whose name resounds throughout Tokyo, drugged by a mysterious pair at Tropical Land and reduced to the body of a child, has been investigating the organization ever since...”

“Now that matters have come this far, don’t you think it’s time we met? Hmm?”

Looking at Conan as he emerged from the doorway, his face dark as storm clouds, Moray fought to suppress his delight.

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“Conan?!” Akemi stared at him in shock.

Wasn’t this the child who was always with Detective Mouri...?

“You really don’t need to worry. I didn’t report you to the organization after that incident, did I?” Moray produced a gun from somewhere and idly toyed with it. “Since I’ve already exposed your identity and allowed you to follow me here, I have no intention of killing you. On the contrary, I’m here to propose a partnership.”

“...I won’t join forces with people like you.” Conan’s brows drew tightly together, and the words seemed to be forced from his throat.

“Our interests are aligned. As you can see, I’m an undercover agent.” Moray gave him a false smile. “I came here to destroy this organization.”

He spread his arms wide. For some reason, his gaze made Conan deeply uncomfortable.

“Otherwise, why would I have saved this woman?”

“Saving her only proves that you have ulterior motives. It doesn’t prove that you truly intend to destroy the organization, nor does it prove that you’re an undercover agent.” Conan was wavering inwardly, but he was still unwilling to cooperate with the man before him. “Besides, you killed those two people last night, didn’t you?! I won’t work with a murderer—”

“Believe me or don’t. First, absolute loyalty is the only kind of loyalty. If the organization learns what I’ve done, I’ll be placed on its kill list. Do you understand?” Moray cut him off. “Second, those two were low-level members of the organization. Setting aside this robbery, what they had done before would have earned them several death sentences.”

“Didn’t the Sherlock Holmes you worship say it too? ‘When the law cannot bring justice to the injured party, private revenge becomes justifiable—even noble—from that moment onward.’ Isn’t that right?”

“You’re twisting the meaning!” Conan nearly shouted. “Holmes merely supported a victim’s right to seek revenge! You and your organization have no right to avenge victims!”

“You’re a greater evil—the persecutors of the persecutors!”

“How many times do I have to say it? The organization and I are not a ‘we.’” Moray looked somewhat helpless. “And in any case, let me make one thing clear: everyone I’ve killed deserved to die. I have never regretted it.”

“Still, although we can’t reach an agreement, there is one thing we should be able to settle.”

Moray let out a cold laugh.

“This woman... will you save her or not?”

“A chance to return to normal, clues about the organization... What a package deal.”

Conan struggled inwardly.

First of all, the man was telling the truth. That night, he really had not reported Conan and Ayumi’s presence to the organization.

Moreover, he was absolutely certain that Conan was Shinichi Kudo. He even knew exactly how Shinichi had become a child, yet he had still kept silent...

Although Conan had no idea what his ultimate objective was, one thing was certain: he and the organization were not on the same side.

Most importantly, there was Miss Hirota...

No matter what, he could not let this clue slip away.

Should he cooperate?