Chapter 230: Liking Little Girls?
"As expected of someone from the intelligence group. You certainly know a lot," Cointreau remarked, raising an eyebrow. He massaged his temples, a headache already forming. "You must be talking about the Wanderer, correct? Ah, that's right. He's also known as Glenlivet now."
Not long after the operation at Beika Central Hospital had concluded, the Boss himself had personally bestowed a codename upon the Wanderer: Glenlivet.
The Wanderer's situation was unique, after all. He wasn't an original member of the organization but had been brought into the fold for a very specific set of reasons., his abilities were undeniably impressive, earning him high regard from the upper echelons. It was only a matter of time before he was granted an official codename. With this latest mission executed so flawlessly, the organization had naturally seized the opportunity to formalize his status.
Bourbon continued to probe indirectly, hoping to glean more details about this Glenlivet.
Unfortunately, by the time he parted ways with Cointreau, he had learned nothing more. All he had was the name 'Wanderer,' which was likely just a moniker used before his official induction.
Still, a name was a start. As a member of the intelligence division, Bourbon could now connect this individual to certain whispers that had been circulating within the organization. He had heard from others that a newcomer with an exceptionally deep background had recently joined their ranks. Every member who had worked with him, Gin included, spoke of him with a strange air of secrecy, finding him difficult to put into words.
This only fueled Bourbon's curiosity about the mysterious operative. He had longed for a chance to meet him, but whether due to bad luck or conflicting schedules, he had never managed to lay eyes on this legendary newcomer.
He never expected that the next time he heard news of the man, it would be that he had already secured a codename.
How much time had even passed? For a newcomer to earn a codename in such a short period, his capabilities had to be extraordinary.
And for Bourbon, the organization growing stronger was never good news.
On the other side of town, the arson case at the Mokuba-sō apartment building was drawing to a close.
After a thorough investigation and a bit of reasoning, the crucial clues left behind in Sugiura Kaito's diary led them straight to their primary suspect—a Mr. Makabe.
Just as they were solidifying their case, a nearby police officer received a call. Sugiura Kaito, the victim receiving treatment at the hospital, had regained consciousness.
Upon hearing the good news, Mitsuhiko's face lit up. "That's great! We should all go to the hospital and visit him!"
Considering the hospital was a considerable distance away, they decided the fastest way to get there would be to borrow a car from the nearby home of Dr. Agasa.
"A doctor?" The name seemed to snag the attention of Subaru Okiya, who had just been cleared of suspicion. He approached the children, his expression showing a deep, scholarly interest. "You mentioned a Dr. Agasa?"
Sensing Mr. Okiya's curiosity, the children warmly invited him to come along to the professor's house.
At Dr. Agasa's residence.
"So, Mr. Okiya is a graduate student in the Department of Engineering. No wonder you're so interested in Dr. Agasa," Baizhu remarked, his tone light and conversational.
"That is indeed the reason," Subaru Okiya confirmed with a pleasant smile. "Could it be that Dr. Baizhu had other thoughts?"
"Not at all," Baizhu said, a playful glint in his eyes. "It's just that back at the crime scene, I couldn't help but notice Mr. Okiya looking at that little girl, Haibara, over a dozen times. For a moment there, I almost thought you harbored some… unsavory hobbies."
The air shifted. Feeling the suspicious gazes of the other children land on him, Subaru Okiya quickly clarified, "I simply thought she looked a bit unwell, so I paid a little more attention to her. That's all."
"Ah, so that's how it was…" Baizhu nodded thoughtfully, his expression indicating he accepted the explanation completely.
However, this unexpected interlude left Subaru Okiya feeling somewhat hesitant. Should he proceed with his plan to ask to stay here? If he insisted, wouldn't it render his perfectly reasonable explanation moot?
But the opportunity was too rare to pass up. Citing the fact that his rented apartment had just been burned down, leaving him homeless, and combining it with his deep admiration for Dr. Agasa's inventions, Subaru Okiya braved the children's strange looks and made his request to temporarily live at Dr. Agasa's house.
As expected, Ai Haibara's fierce opposition was immediate and absolute. Subaru Okiya did not succeed in moving in.
It was then that Conan Edogawa stepped forward, offering a different solution. He proactively suggested that Mr. Okiya could temporarily stay at the Kudo Residence next door.
Watching Conan's display of "hospitality" from the side, Baizhu couldn't help but find it amusing.
Even if one didn't know Subaru Okiya's true identity, anyone who knew Conan would realize the clever little boy would never lower his guard and let a complete stranger live in the Kudo Residence, right next to Ai Haibara, without a very good reason. His offer was a clear sign that he found Mr. Okiya deeply suspicious and wanted to keep him close.
Just then, Genta noticed Qiqi diligently writing something in her little notebook. He leaned in curiously, his voice booming as he read the fresh entry aloud.
"The squinty-eyed adult who likes the Doctor and little girls—Big Brother Subaru Okiya."
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