Chapter 259: The Preliminary Round Ends
Meanwhile, the conversation on the other side of the eavesdropping device continued, each word filtering into Conan's ear with chilling clarity.
Alhaitham finally addressed the Wanderer's earlier question. "It's almost finished," he stated, his voice a low, unhurried murmur. "Cointreau is pushing so hard, so naturally, I'm focusing on this. I do hope Bourbon appreciates the gift Cointreau is sending him when the time comes."
The sentence landed like a hammer blow, confirming Conan's darkest suspicions. The pieces clicked into place in his mind, forming a chilling picture. This potion… it had to be an auxiliary drug, a tool provided by the Organization to help Bourbon hunt down Shuichi Akai.
"Tsk," the Wanderer scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "That guy Cointreau is just asking for trouble. Who told him not to pay attention in the first place?"
Not pay attention to what? Conan's mind raced, trying to grasp the fragment of information.
At the same time, the Wanderer sounded genuinely puzzled. "The potion is almost done, so why aren't you heading back to the base? Don't tell me you plan on sleeping in the car tonight. You might be used to it, but I certainly am not."
"What's the rush?" Alhaitham countered smoothly. "Are you that eager to get back to work?"
Even as he spoke, he knew he couldn't stall indefinitely. The subtle shift in the audio feed told Conan that the car's engine had just rumbled to life. They were on the move.
From that point on, the only sound filtering through the bug was the steady hum of the engine.
Conan's small hands balled into fists, his knuckles white. His gaze was glued to the blinking dot on his glasses, a beacon of hope representing the transmitter's location. This time, he thought, his heart pounding against his ribs. This time, he might actually discover the location of one of the Organization's bases.
Beside him, Okiya Subaru remained far more grounded. He didn't share the boy's unbridled optimism, knowing full well that two high-ranking members of the Organization were unlikely to be so incompetent. They wouldn't fail to notice the extra items on their persons forever. Still, the longer it took them to find the bugs, the better. At the very least, it would help them narrow down the general area of the base.
The silence in the car stretched on, broken only by the drone of the engine.
Then, Alhaitham's voice cut through the quiet, casual and utterly abrupt.
"Oh, right. Help me take off those two little things that were added to me."
The words struck Conan and Okiya Subaru like a physical blow.
They knew! They knew about the eavesdropping device and the transmitter. But since when? How long had they been playing along?
"Don't you have hands? Can't you take them off yourself?" the Wanderer's voice snapped back, laced with its usual impatience.
But the lack of surprise in his tone was damning. It was clear he also knew Alhaitham had been bugged.
Conan was floored. If they both knew, why had they said so much? Why reveal all that information about the potion, Bourbon, and Cointreau?
"I'm driving. It's inconvenient," Alhaitham replied, a hint of dry, unassailable logic in his voice.
The Wanderer let out another sharp "tsk." A rustling sound followed, the distinct noise of fabric shifting as he, however reluctantly, began to move.
"I thought you were going to bring these two little toys back to the base with you," the Wanderer commented acidly.
"I noticed them the moment I walked out of the crowd," Alhaitham said, his tone dismissive. "They're not important; they don't affect me. But bringing them all the way to the base… that would still be a bit much."
The next sound Conan heard was a sharp, piercing screech of static—zzt!—as the eavesdropping device was crushed.
Simultaneously, the blinking dot on his glasses vanished. The transmitter had been destroyed along with it.
The final exchange left no room for doubt. Conan and Okiya Subaru exchanged a look, the grim reality settling over them. Their targets had discovered the bugs almost immediately. They clearly hadn't cared, toying with their pursuers while carefully avoiding the disclosure of any truly critical information.
And yet, there was a silver lining. Judging by their tone, neither man seemed particularly loyal to the Black Organization. In a day filled with tension, that was a rare and valuable piece of good news.
But the other revelation was far more pressing: Bourbon was about to make a move. It seemed the coming days would require an even greater level of caution.
Okiya Subaru, in particular, would have to be careful with his disguise. He had no idea what a potion designed to expose him would be capable of…
The two slipped back to their seats in the auditorium.
Aside from Ran, who shot Conan a worried glance, checking on his health, the others were already accustomed to his sudden disappearances. Their attention was captivated by the spectacular performances on stage.
By now, the show was nearing its grand finale.
As the last of the contestants finished their acts, the preliminary competition hosted by the Kamisato Clan drew to a close.
The next and final segment was the announcement of the contestants who had passed the preliminary round and would advance to the semi-finals.
Thanks to the truly outstanding performances by both Barbara and Nilou, their names were among the first to be called by the host, earning a wave of applause.
Only three spots remained. As the host continued down the list, Kazuha's name had yet to be mentioned. A knot of anxiety tightened in the stomachs of his friends, a shared, unspoken fear that he might not have made the cut.
Sonoko, Ran, and Natsume held each other's hands tightly, their palms slick with nervous sweat. Their eyes were fixed on the host, their breath held as they waited for him to reveal the final three advancing members.
Even Hattori, who usually feigned indifference towards such competitions, found himself leaning forward, a rare flicker of tension on his face.
Unfortunately, Kazuha's performance, while excellent, had been just a shade short of what was needed.
When the host finally announced the last three names, a sliver of hope still lingered in the air. But the result was a quiet disappointment.
Kazuha's name was not among them.
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