When James rushed to the scene, all he found was an empty ambulance. Jodie immediately drew her gun and ran forward to check. There was... n
When James rushed to the scene, all he found was an empty ambulance.
Jodie immediately drew her gun and ran forward to check.
There was... nothing.
The driver had vanished. Rena Mizunashi had also disappeared.
There could be no mistake—
It was that woman!
At the thought of that glamorous yet revolting face, Jodie's expression turned grim.
Most likely, Vermouth had drugged the hospital director early that morning and disguised herself as him to sneak into the hospital and gather intelligence…
Yet ironically, James, who had been unknowingly speaking with a disguised Vermouth, personally handed Rena over during discussions about transferring her.
"..."
When Hayashi Yoshiki and Conan stepped out of the car and joined them, James wore a troubled, helpless look.
Elsewhere, Vermouth had already reunited with Gin and the others—bringing along the newly awakened Rena Mizunashi.
They gathered in an inconspicuous garage.
"I heard you got played hard, Gin."
A middle-aged man stepped out of the car, speaking in a flirtatious woman's voice. As Chianti clicked her tongue in disgust, Vermouth pulled off her mask.
Gin's face remained blank.
His gaze locked onto the visibly weak Rena Mizunashi, whom he hadn't seen in some time.
According to Korn, he had discreetly confirmed with the FBI whether Kir had awakened or been interrogated. Their answer had been clear: she was still in a coma.
"When did you wake up?"
Gin's icy stare fell on Kir.
"About a day ago," she answered with a smirk.
"I lay there motionless with my eyes closed for a whole day under everyone's watchful eyes… Thank goodness you came today. Who knows how long I could've kept up the act?"
Gin accepted the answer—for now.
Judging by the FBI's actions, they clearly trusted Cointreau…
So perhaps Kir had not leaked any information about the Organization.
Still, Gin's sharp gaze remained fixed on Rena's face, applying silent pressure.
Just as sweat began to bead on her back, an unexpected ringtone shattered the silence.
Gin answered the phone.
"Hello. It's me."
"Kir has been successfully recovered, yes?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Hearing Rum's voice, Gin replied calmly.
"Good. I'll be reporting this matter to the boss myself."
"…What do you mean?"
Though Gin's voice didn't waver, a hint of confusion slipped in.
"What do you mean, what do I mean? Kir only escaped so smoothly because of me."
Upon hearing that, Gin glanced at Vermouth—
She smiled and pulled out a phone that wasn't hers—
It belonged to the hospital director.
In that moment, Gin understood everything.
He curled his lips into a sneer.
"Looks like you've completely misunderstood, Rum."
"What!?"
"Kir's escape wasn't your doing—it was Cointreau's."
Gin could sense it—Rum was beginning to panic.
After the Vespania ore incident, Rum's position had become precarious. Getting scolded by the boss had been brutal.
Now, Rum saw this mission as a chance to redeem himself.
And as Gin suspected, Rum had indeed made arrangements with James.
He planned to retrieve Kir before Gin, win favor, and redeem his image.
After confirming a transfer location with the director, someone was to deliver the unconscious Kir.
However, the plan failed at its core—
Vermouth had secretly replaced the director without anyone knowing.
"So that's the situation," Gin concluded coldly.
"He made himself useful in front of the FBI, while making fools out of you all…
And as for Kir's recovery—FBI's own leaders will bear the blame.
After all, they're the ones who trusted the wrong person."
"…Never expected even the hospital director was one of Rum's spies."
With a toss of her golden hair, Vermouth smiled brightly.
A moment of silence followed her words.
Then Vodka spoke up:
"That director at Beika Hospital was Rum's spy? Doesn't that mean Rum already knew Kir was there? Then why were we searching so hard all this time?"
Hearing that, Kir gave a cold smile.
"I suppose he wanted to see whether I'd become a traitor or reveal myself as a spy."
She turned to Gin.
"So, what do you think? Did I disappoint you?"
"Hmph."
Gin glanced at his phone—Rum had hung up.
He snorted and climbed into the car.
"We're leaving."
Watching Gin's calm demeanor, Rena Mizunashi secretly let out a sigh of relief.
She had made it—right under the nose of this paranoid man.
Just like that person said… maybe things really would go smoothly.
Since the others were on motorcycles, Rena ended up riding in Gin's car.
The group quickly left the underground garage.
Meanwhile, Rum was absolutely furious.
Damn it!
He had waited for this day—when Gin would act and fail, giving him the perfect chance to step in and claim victory.
And now, Cointreau and Vermouth had come out of nowhere and messed everything up!
Blindsided and unsure of the full story, Rum calmed himself and immediately contacted the director—
Only to find out that Vermouth had drugged him and stolen his identity.
And suddenly—
"Damn you, Cointreau!"
All this because James had vouched for the director's trustworthiness, which let Cointreau target him!
Everything was ruined... just perfectly.
Worse, that man—
He seemed to be gaining the FBI's trust.
Rum's single eye glinted dangerously.
James Black had been his collaborator for over a decade.
Yet just like in the original story, where James kept Conan and Haibara's identities secret—Rum never fully trusted James either.
Their relationship was built on mutual benefit—
and quiet suspicion.
But now, Cointreau'scapabilities were proving extremely useful.
He had even managed to eliminate Shuichi Akai.
If Cointreau could take down someone like James Black one day…
Then perhaps, Rum thought,
He might even have to protect Cointreau's identity from James—
until the day he no longer needed him.