Chapter Thirty-Two: That Is Not Important. What Matters Is Making Gin and Sherry Believe Hirota Masami Has Something in His Possession.

"Well, it's a good thing the news of Junya Tokitsu's murder hasn't reached Tokyo."

"At the very least, no one will suspect you in his death, and as for me, I naturally won't become a target for that so-called Black Organization. That’s a good thing for me."

Natsuki Koshimizu's voice was quite relaxed, even carrying a hint of a playful smile.

In fact, even if someone were to link Junya Tokitsu's death to Yan Shuangying, it wouldn't matter at all. No normal person would believe that Natsuki Koshimizu, a former high school detective from Kyushu, would go all the way to Shikoku Island to kill a current high school detective like Junya Tokitsu just to avenge a childhood friend. Even if they did make the connection, it would be impossible to find Natsuki Koshimizu herself, who was constantly traveling for field studies and had no fixed address.

Nara Guang had no intention of responding to Natsuki Koshimizu's words. He didn't have the spare energy to engage in such meaningless chatter with her.

*Swish—*

Nara Guang unfolded a map of Beika Town in front of him. Marked on it were the addresses of people who had wanted revenge but had been taken over by Nara Guang, ultimately maintaining their normal lives. Most likely, the Black Organization was targeting Seimi Asai by following this same pattern. Consequently, all these people had now become potential targets for the Black Organization.

However, because Nara Guang had warned them yesterday, their homes would be empty for at least the next three or four days, meaning the Black Organization's members would only be chasing shadows. If they were unlucky enough to be caught by him, the Black Organization members sent to apprehend them would likely lose their lives.

Nara Guang tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, looking at the map and deep in thought.

"Ms. Koshimizu, if the Black Organization is to act next, where do you think they would start?"

Hearing Nara Guang's question, Natsuki Koshimizu tilted her head to glance at the various markings on the map. Without hesitation, she reached out and pointed to the spot heavily circled in red: [Dr. Agasa's Research Laboratory].

"This place, obviously."

"I recall you once saying that what you hate most are criminals and traitors."

"Although those people in the Black Organization have a different style than yours, they should be the same in this regard. Therefore, if I were a member of the Black Organization and couldn't find any other weak point, I would likely start by eliminating the traitor..."

"Unlikely," Nara Guang said.

Natsuki Koshimizu sounded somewhat unconvinced as she asked, "Why?"

"Because the Black Organization member who discovered this traitor's true identity wouldn't tell anyone else; they would handle it personally to eliminate the traitor," Nara Guang answered bluntly. "The person who was helping that Black Organization member has already been killed by me. If she wants to stay alive, she won't strike at Ai Haibara again anytime soon. She knows that if she doesn't have someone else to act as a scapegoat or cover for her, she would have been the one who died yesterday!"

Vermouth's disguise skills were indeed excellent. But as long as she made a move and Nara Guang was present, she would never be able to escape his sensory range. Given Vermouth's competence, even if she didn't know this, she wouldn't take such a massive risk.

"The only one worth paying attention to now is Gin."

"Gin has already abandoned his Porsche 356A; it's currently parked in the Metropolitan Police Department's garage. It won't be easy to track him down. Perhaps we need to lure the snake out of its hole..."

"Is that so? And who do you want to use as the bait?" Natsuki Koshimizu asked coldly. She knew Nara Guang was the type to be cruel to enemies but merciful to friends. He wouldn't be able to force a friend to risk their life as bait, unless he didn't consider that person a friend at all.

"...I went to Dr. Agasa's lab this morning."

"I met with Ai Haibara. She told me her sister had sent her some floppy disks featuring tourist landscapes, and she had sent some back in return, among which was one containing research data on APTX-4869."

"Even though Gin isn't the developer of the drug, he should know its value. If the research data on APTX-4869 were to fall into the hands of the police or other factions, he wouldn't find it so convenient to use the drug for assassinations anymore."

Nara Guang finished his thought. His implication was clear: as long as he subtly let it be known that Akemi Miyano's floppy disk contained the research materials for APTX-4869, Gin would naturally take action personally to recover it and silence anyone involved.

With that, Nara Guang pointed to a location on the map. "This is the exchange zone set up between Teitan University and Nanyo University."

Natsuki Koshimizu took a look and said, "It seems you're looking for one of the professors in the group visiting from Nanyo University to Teitan University."

Indeed, the person Nara Guang was looking for was Professor Masami Hirota of Nanyo University. He was a close friend of Akemi Miyano, and Akemi's floppy disk was kept with him. As for whether he had brought the disk—which he considered unimportant—from Shizuoka Prefecture to Beika Town... that wasn't important. What mattered was making the Black Organization believe that Masami Hirota had something.

***

It didn't matter; what mattered was making Sherry believe that Masami Hirota had brought Akemi Miyano's floppy disk to Beika Town.

Vermouth was quite confident in her plan. She had deliberately leaked some forged information about Akemi Miyano, ensuring it reached Dr. Agasa's lab where Sherry was staying. Sherry must have already started preparing to visit Masami Hirota by now, right? When the time came, she only needed to lie in wait near Masami Hirota's residence to eliminate Sherry.

However, Vermouth was unaware that Gin, who was busy investigating the household registration of Seimi Asai, had received the relevant news.

"Hmm? Akemi Miyano actually sent a floppy disk containing organizational intelligence to her friend Masami Hirota before she died?"

The top executive of the Black Organization frowned, sensing that the situation wasn't simple. In his impression, Akemi Miyano wasn't the type to pull such a trick. But... never mind. Since the information came from a mole inside the police department, he would trust it to some extent and go check it out. At worst, it would just be a matter of one bullet. It wouldn't take much time!

"Brother, should we continue with today's operation?"

"Why wouldn't we?" Gin said to Vodka. "Everything proceeds according to the plan!"