The switchblade was short but razor sharp. If it struck, blood would spray three feet, leaving the victim either gravely wounded or dead.
Conan hadn't expected the killer to drop all pretense and go straight for murder. He had forgotten this was a serial killer who had taken 7 lives already—someone ruthless, with nerves of steel, who would never hesitate to kill again.
'Damn it, why aren't the police here yet?' That was all Conan could think in that instant.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out. The switchblade flew out of the killer's hand and clattered onto the floor.
The shot was so precise it stunned everyone. The newcomer had fired from behind the killer, hitting only the knife without harming anyone.
"Officer Matsumoto?" The man was the scar-faced detective from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, also the father of Kudo's junior high music teacher.
But Conan didn't let down his guard. When Matsumoto moved in to arrest the killer, Conan fired a tranquilizer dart. It shot straight toward Matsumoto's back—but Matsumoto tilted his head at the last second, as if he had eyes there, dodging it completely.
Instead, the dart struck Mizutani, the victim's boyfriend, knocking him out cold.
Meanwhile, the killer broke free and fought Matsumoto. But the officer was highly skilled and soon knocked the murderer unconscious.
Now it was just Matsumoto—or rather, Iris—and Conan left together.
"Being this close to the Black Organization, do you feel scared?" Outside Tokyo Tower, Liu A'dou was still working hard to treat Haibara's phobia of the Organization.
This was hands-on therapy. "That Iris may not be famous, but he's still a trained killer from the Organization. How do you feel?"
Haibara felt nothing. That's right—she wasn't afraid anymore. The crushing pressure she once felt around the Organization was gone, and she didn't even know why.
"Looks like the treatment's working," Liu A'dou said with a small smile. "In the end, the best way to protect yourself in this world is strength. If you're strong, you won't fear the Organization."
Haibara rolled her eyes, but Liu A'dou understood what she meant. "You're wondering why Kudo Shinichi never fears the Organization?" He laughed. "That's because he trusts his own strength. Unlike you, who panics and demonizes the Organization every time you meet them. I've told you before, the Organization may be powerful, but they're still just people—born of parents, eating, drinking, sleeping. If you have the guts, you can take them down too."
And he was right. Haibara really had been giving them too much credit.
"For example, if I fired a shot at Iris right now, I could end his life instantly," Liu A'dou said. "So your phobia can be cured."
Haibara didn't respond. She kept watching Conan and the Organization member talk.
The memory card was still on the killer. But the bigger shock was when Iris spoke up and called Conan by name: "Kudo Shinichi. When I compared your fingerprints, it scared me for a second…"
Haibara's heart tensed. Had the Organization really discovered Conan's identity? But then Liu A'dou whistled. "So the Organization does have brains after all. I thought nobody would figure it out until the finale."
"…" Haibara thought, 'I know too, you know. I was part of the Organization myself.'
"Haibara, have you ever considered this possibility?"
"What?"
"That Conan's identity gets exposed… and then you're the one protecting him. Switching your roles."
She had never thought of that. She had wanted to protect the kids of the Detective Boys, but never Conan. He always seemed so strong, like he didn't need protection.
"Alright, enough talk. Time for me to step in. That memory card looks pretty nice." Liu A'dou smirked. "Though come to think of it, isn't this supposed to be the year 2000? The tech looks a little advanced. But if time itself can jump from autumn to winter, then I guess technology can skip ahead too."
This world was already overflowing with unscientific things.
And once again, Kaitou Kid had to crash the scene.
Boom. Woo-woo~
All the emergency lights went out, and even the decorative lights wrapping Tokyo Tower went dark. Darkness was the mystery that always accompanied Kaitou Kid's arrival—the silence before the noise.
Kaitou Kid loved to appear in the night, then turn that night into a carnival.
What happened? Conan was still being chased by Iris and had no idea. But when he glanced outside, a bright full moon hung high in the sky.
There he was—the visitor in the moonlight.
Sure enough, it was Kaitou Kid. Conan was already used to his tricks: create darkness, make the moonlight stand out, then appear. Creating dramatic effect was Kid's specialty.
But this was Iris's first time facing Kaitou Kid. Until now, he had only heard stories.
What was that outside the window? A massive glider swept past the panoramic glass, circling around the observation deck in a full loop.
Iris raised his gun toward the window. If necessary, he was ready to fire.
Now! While the enemy's focus was on Kaitou Kid, Conan launched a sneak attack—he swung his foot hard at a soccer ball, aiming to knock Iris out.
But Conan underestimated a killer from the Organization. With instincts sharp as an alarm, Iris raised his hand and blocked the ball mid-air.
A battle-hardened killer indeed. Even a sneak attack failed.
This was bad. His intentions exposed, Conan quickly ducked into hiding. His mind raced. How could he escape? His opponent had a gun. The thief outside—who knew what he was planning? It was all on Conan himself.
Bang, bang!
Two bullets landed right at Conan's feet, nearly hitting him.
Run—keep running. Conan kicked a door wide open, bursting through into the outer deck. Now they were at the very top of Tokyo Tower.
The night wind cut like blades, lashing their faces until they turned red.
Conan ran. Iris chased.
Conan darted up the stairs toward the rooftop, then hid at a corner. When Iris came up, Conan suddenly lunged, kicking him down the steps.
Iris tumbled, his gun clattering away. Conan grabbed it and finally exhaled. Escaping death was exhausting. He aimed the muzzle at Iris. "A desperate reversal."
"As expected of the high school detective, Kudo Shinichi," Iris admitted. To survive under Gin's shadow, he had to be something. But he was still too green. Iris's legs snapped shut like scissors, catching Conan's hand. The gun went flying again.
Iris moved with lightning speed, leaping into the air to snatch the gun. "Looks like I still control the field, don't I? This time, you won't escape."
For the first time, Conan faced danger this sharp. Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
Ding ding ding~ The phone rang. Iris knew—it had to be Gin.
"The memory card is secured."
"Good. Let me see it."
"See it? Where are you?" As soon as the words left his mouth, a beast roared up from below Tokyo Tower—an armed helicopter.
"I'm here," Gin's cold voice came through. "Hold up the memory card."
Iris's face soured, but he complied. He never expected his own allies to target him. But Gin knew—the Tower was surrounded by police. Iris couldn't escape. Better to kill him on the spot and destroy the memory card.
A target the size of a memory card was no challenge for the Organization's killers.
Bang! The gunshot rang out.