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Obsession doesn't always get a response.
Yusaku seemed almost possessed, desperately hoping Steven would agree to enter the witness protection program.
Unfortunately for him, disappointment was inevitable.
"As for that…" Steven said casually. "I'm still thinking it over."
"Mr. Kudo, let's not talk about work when we're out having fun. It kills the mood."
"Come, cheers!"
He played it perfectly, neither agreeing nor outright refusing.
Being someone's subordinate was out of the question. If the prime minister wanted to step aside, maybe he'd consider it.
In short, he kept Yusaku hanging, impossible to read.
"Cheers."
The whole reason for inviting Steven out tonight had been to discuss witness protection.
Now that he was staying vague, Yusaku's enthusiasm dropped by half.
The group drifted into casual small talk.
"Ran, are you feeling unwell?" Yukiko asked with concern, noticing something off.
"No… no, I'm fine. Why?"
"You just look down, like you're not feeling well."
"Oh… it's probably just my first time in a place like this. I'm not used to it."
Ran glanced at Steven out of the corner of her eye, her expression turning complicated.
As the conversation wandered, it inevitably touched on relationships between men and women.
With Vermouth and Yukiko, two seasoned drivers, the topic instantly shifted into top gear. Hearing their wild, suggestive remarks, Ran's mind couldn't stop replaying the image of Steven riding her like a horse.
After their two encounters, she realized she wasn't as resistant as she'd once been. Unable to sort out what she felt toward Steven, her heart was full of conflict.
"This is my fault," Yukiko said softly. "I should've asked your opinion before bringing you here."
"Ran, I'm sorry."
She looked at her future daughter-in-law with guilt and sympathy.
"What's the point of apologizing now?" Yusaku said bluntly. "If Ran doesn't like this kind of place, you should take her and Conan home. I'll stay and keep Chris and Mr. Turtle-Egg company."
"No need to make it so complicated," Vermouth said, picking up her bag. "It's getting late anyway. If we're leaving, let's all go together."
"Alright then. Let's call it a night and meet again another time," Yukiko said, calling over the waiter to pay the bill.
They had just reached the entrance when a sudden scream rang out.
"Ahhh! Someone's been murdered!"
Murder?
The word instantly set off alarm bells in Yusaku and Conan's minds.
Ran, on the other hand, seemed distracted, as if she hadn't heard anything at all.
"You all head back," Yusaku said. "I'll go take a look."
He headed toward Room 444.
"I'm coming too!" Conan shouted, scurrying after him on his short legs.
"Conan—" Ran called out instinctively, trying to stop him as his guardian.
"Ran, don't worry," Yukiko said calmly. "That kid's obsessed with cases. With Yusaku there, he'll be fine."
A father-and-son pair of deduction maniacs. Give them a case, and they were like dogs spotting a bone.
Yukiko knew them well enough not to bother stopping them.
"Bad luck," someone muttered. "Just wanted a nice meal, and we run into a murder."
"Let's go, Turtle-Egg," Vermouth said quietly.
She knew exactly who the victim and the killer were.
"Alright."
Steven turned to Ran and Yukiko. "What about you two? Want to wait for Mr. Kudo and Conan?"
"No," Yukiko replied. "Who knows how long that'll take. I'll take Ran home first."
Once the police arrived, questioning was inevitable. Who knew how much time they'd lose?
"Yukiko," Vermouth said seriously, "let Turtle-Egg drive you home."
"Is that okay? What about you?" Yukiko asked.
"I just remembered I have something to take care of. He wouldn't be much help sticking with me anyway."
Vermouth brushed her hair back and smiled mysteriously.
"In the middle of the night?" Steven whispered, stepping in front of Ran and Yukiko and leaning close to Vermouth's ear. "Going to meet another man?"
"Meet your big head," she muttered back. "I can tell you're itching inside, so I'm giving you a chance."
"Don't think I don't know what you've been plotting. Trying to go after both young and old, huh? This is your perfect opportunity."
"If you don't appreciate it, I might just change my mind."
A playful smile curved at the corner of Vermouth's lips.
So she'd seen through him.
Steven really had thought about it, mostly as payback for Conan falsely accusing him.
He'd never told anyone and thought he'd hidden it well.
Yet Vermouth had seen right through him.
No wonder she was Rum's trusted right-hand woman. Her abilities were no joke.
"Don't, don't change your mind," Steven said quickly. "Thank you. Thanks to you and your whole family."
A chance like this wouldn't come twice.
He accepted eagerly, though his words made Vermouth frown.
Was that really a thank-you?
It sounded suspiciously like an insult.
"I've already told Turtle-Egg," Vermouth said, looking at Yukiko. "He'll make sure you get home safely."
"Thank you very much," Yukiko replied.
Though she knew Steven's true identity, she believed he was hiding it to avoid pursuit by the island nation's police and the FBI. She wasn't worried he'd do anything reckless.
She had no idea that confidence often led straight to trouble.
"Turtle-Egg," Vermouth said, "I'm leaving Yukiko and Ran in your hands. Drive safely."
"Roger that," Steven replied. "I'll be careful."
…
In the parking lot.
"You've had a drink," someone reminded him. "Take it slow. Safety first."
Yukiko opened the car door and gave Steven a careful reminder.
"Relax. I brought a hangover cure. This stuff works like magic. Want to try it?"
As he spoke, Steven took out a mini spray bottle.
It was a product from the Organization. No idea how reliable it really was, but testing it on Yukiko and Ran sounded like a great idea.
"Sure," Yukiko said casually. "The alcohol's gone to my head anyway. I'm feeling a bit off."
She was confident Steven wouldn't dare pull anything funny. Seeing that he didn't look drunk at all, she assumed it really was a hangover remedy. After a moment's thought, she agreed to try it.
What she didn't know was that Steven wasn't drunk because his body had already been modified by the Wolf Brother card.
"Ran, I'll spray some for you too," Yukiko added.
Before Ran could say anything, Yukiko aimed at her mouth and nose and gave a quick spray.
Steven never would have imagined things going this smoothly.
He had been worrying about how to knock both of them out without anyone noticing.
Instead, Yukiko had handed him the perfect opening.
Under the effects of the spray, the moment they got into the car, Yukiko and Ran fell into a deep sleep.
"Organization products really are top-tier," Steven muttered. "Aside from all that fake booze."
He glanced at them and smirked.
"Yukiko, Yukiko. You walked right into this. If I don't make a move now, can I still call myself a man?"
"If you want someone to blame, blame your precious son. If he hadn't nearly sent me to prison, I might've actually tried being a gentleman for once."
Steven fastened his seatbelt, looked at the two sleeping figures in the rearview mirror, and started the car, flooring it toward the Kudo residence.
Half an hour later.
After parking, Steven took the key from Yukiko's bag and carried the two of them inside one by one.
Then he finally began the plan he had been preparing for a long time.
"....."