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Chapter 1127: Don't Treat Him Like a Rookie
In the alley, shrouded in a fine mist, two employees of a moving company were unaware of the man who passed behind them. They were still examining the strange sound from earlier.
"Can you see what it is?"
"No…"
"Hey, someone go check it out!"
Wataru Takagi hurried up the staircase to the car, panting as he showed his credentials. "I'm a Police Officer! Is this truck yours?"
After running downstairs, Conan found that the Black-Clothed Man was almost out of the alley. Suppressing his urgency, he stared at the figure holding an umbrella.
What to do now? Should he ask Police Officer Takagi to stop him?
Someone had just died here. He could use the excuse of "understanding the situation" to gather everyone in the alley, and incidentally stop the other party. This way, he shouldn't alarm him, but…
Ahead, Chi Feichei continued walking at a leisurely pace, without accelerating or running.
He wanted to take advantage of Conan not being downstairs to quickly run out of the alley and shake him off, but if, after a death, someone in all black suddenly ran, it would arouse suspicion. Wataru Takagi would suspect him of being connected to the case, and the two moving company employees, having heard about the death, would also remember this strangely behaving man.
Then, Wataru Takagi might chase after him, or, while reporting to the Police, ask the arriving Police Officers to pay attention to someone like him.
Even if he wasn't stopped by the Police for questioning, alarming the Police on the eve of an operation and being noticed by them wasn't a good thing.
The Boss would make him explain the situation, and might even investigate the matter, adding countless troubles.
Compared to that, it was better to remain calm and pretend to be a passerby leaving.
Even if Conan had Wataru Takagi stop him, what could they do?
He was just a passerby; Wataru Takagi couldn't search him or arrest him. At most, he would have to cooperate and answer a couple of inconsequential questions. If he then said, "I have urgent business," Wataru Takagi would have no reason to detain him further.
From behind, Conan turned his head and saw Haibara Ai and three Children, who were unaware of the situation, also running down. He let out a long sigh of relief, trying to appear less tense. Taking advantage of Wataru Takagi's inattention, he quickly ran towards the Alley Entrance.
He couldn't let Police Officer Takagi help stop the man.
The other party was a member of a dangerous Criminal Organization. Suddenly being stopped by a Police Officer on vacation could make him paranoid and cause him to attack Wataru Takagi, who was alone.
Also, if Police Officer Takagi stopped the man, Haibara and the Children would meet and come into contact with him. Regardless of whether Haibara would panic, those three Children were experts at causing trouble. If they found that guy suspicious, they would definitely play detective and investigate.
The fellows in the Organization were different from ordinary Criminals. Even Kudo Shinichi had fallen for their tricks, let alone three Bratty Kids…
He had to chase him alone!
After turning the Alley Entrance, Chi Feichei didn't go any further. He turned around, his back to the Wall, standing outside the Convenience Store at the Alley Entrance. He took out his Mobile Phone, opened his Email, and entered The Boss's, Rum's, and Ireland's Email Addresses.
[An incident occurred nearby. Police may come to Shimono Town later. Bomb handover is postponed…]
Hmm, let's postpone the handover time…
Conan had just run out of the alley when he caught sight of a Black-Clothed Figure standing beside him in his peripheral vision. He was startled. Because of his rapid running and his subconscious stop, he lost his balance, falling to the ground with a thud. He instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
Careless!
The other party suddenly stopping at the Alley Entrance was consistent with an "anti-tracking" response, meant to confirm whether anyone was following him.
Him running out so hastily…
No, he had been noticed!
Chi Feichei glanced down at Conan, who had fallen in front of him, then moved his gaze back to his Phone Screen. He finished typing the four letters "Raki," which he hadn't been able to type before, and sent the Email.
It was intentional.
He wanted to remind Conan not to treat him like a rookie, and to follow with a little more skill.
If he let him go easily, the Famous Detective might be discovered by other Organization Members lurking in Shimono Town.
That would not only result in Conan's death, but he himself would also be suspected of letting him go.
Also, he wanted Conan to be vigilant and not follow him too closely, making it easier for him to shake him off later.
Lying in the rainwater, Conan belatedly felt the pain of his scraped palm from the fall, and became more alert. Seeing that the other party didn't seem to care about him, he felt relieved. He feigned the aggrieved, dejected, yet resilient appearance of a Child, sat up, and prepared to get up.
Thankfully, it seemed the other party thought he was a Child, so he wasn't paying attention to him.
Then, he would take this opportunity to secretly…
Chi Feichei suddenly took two steps back.
Conan was just about to use the act of getting up to stick the Eavesdropping Device to the side of the other party's Shoe, but when his hand reached halfway, he found that the other party's Shoe had retreated out of his line of sight. He was startled again and froze.
He'd been… discovered?
Chi Feichei retreated under the Convenience Store's eaves. Casually, he put away his Umbrella and stared at the Caller ID on his Phone Screen.
He wanted to remind the Famous Detective again not to try to put an Eavesdropping Device on him. He really wasn't that much of a rookie.
Conan heard the buzzing vibration of the Mobile Phone. Using the act of picking up his Umbrella, he secretly glanced sideways and found that the Black-Clothed Man next to him was just staring at his phone. He breathed a sigh of relief again, but abandoned the idea of secretly planting the Eavesdropping Device. He stood up, opened his Umbrella, and walked towards the nearby Vending Machine.
If he continued to lie there, he would be suspected. It was better to pretend to buy something and keep an eye on the man.
This would also cover up his previous opening – his hasty running wasn't tracking, but a Child rushing to the Vending Machine to buy something…
Chi Feichei stared at the incoming phone call for a moment before answering.
Ireland, who called, gave him a choice:
Answer the phone, and Raki's unique voice would be linked to this face by Conan.
Not answering the phone would mean a tense situation, that he might be hindered, and that the previous Email might not be credible, so the Organization would send someone to confirm his situation again.
Actually, Ireland wasn't wrong to call. As the other party in the handover, after receiving his "warning Email," it was correct to confirm his situation through communication. But if he had been more cautious, Ireland shouldn't have chosen to communicate immediately. He should have sent another Email to confirm his surroundings, and after confirming that he could talk, then make a phone call.
For example, if he had been listed as a Suspect or Eyewitness by the Police and couldn't leave their side for a while, then not answering the phone could lead the Organization to send investigators, and he himself might be noticed by the Police. If he answered the phone, Raki's unique voice would be easily remembered by the Police.
If it were Gin, Rum, or Belmode, they wouldn't have rushed to call without first confirming his predicament via Email.
Ireland's actions were rash, but the root cause was that Ireland and he not only had no relationship, but also had a Conflict. Ireland himself didn't know that The Boss valued concealing his Personal Information, and perhaps didn't care whether Intelligence Personnel would fall one by one. Naturally, he wouldn't care whether he would have trouble. Compared to that, quickly confirming the situation in Shimono Town would ensure the safety of their Personnel.
No matter what Ireland's Intentions were, he had to answer the phone to prevent the Organization from sending Intelligence Personnel to confirm his safety.
Even if it exposed Raki's voice to Conan, even if Conan would use this to deduce more Information, it didn't matter. It was just a false clue. He would control the situation and prevent Conan from obtaining information he shouldn't have.
The phone connected, and Ireland's voice on the other end was languid. "Raki, what happened? We're already at the meeting point."
A scream came from the alley, seemingly a Resident discovering a corpse, accompanied by shouts of "Someone's dead!"
Chi Feichei listened to the Movement in the alley. His hoarse voice was very soft. "Someone died in 4-chome. It's unclear whether it was Jumping Suicide or murder. There are Police Officers there."
Conan stood in front of the Vending Machine, raised his right hand, and calmly inserted a Coin into the coin slot. The left hand hanging by his side was clenched tightly, revealing his uneasy Mood.
Although the other party's voice was very low, the hoarse Voice was too unique.
Unlike the hoarseness caused by a Cold or Illness, the voice was even lower and raspy, making one suspect that the speaker's Vocal Cords had been injured. He immediately recognized it.
Raki!
After the murder of Programmer Itakura Taku, he discovered that Itakura Taku had a Transaction with the Organization. He had contacted Vodka, impersonating Itakura Taku. He originally wanted to take the opportunity to obtain some Intelligence from the Organization. In fact, he successfully arrived at Kenkyo Station, but when he tried to collect Vodka's Personal Information, he was discovered by Gin and the fellow with the code name Raki, and had to hide in a Locker.
That experience made him realize that the people in the Organization were far more difficult and dangerous than he had imagined.
If it hadn't been for Gin's intervention and Raki's giving up at the last moment, once the Locker he was hiding in was opened, he would have been exposed to the Organization Members' Line of Sight.
Under those circumstances, he would have been in grave danger, likely to be captured or killed directly…
So, who was the other party contacting now? Was Gin nearby?
Unfortunately, he couldn't hear the voice on the other end of the call. He could only try to judge why the other party was here based on Raki's words…
Under the Convenience Store's eaves, Chi Feichei seemed not to notice Conan, who had gone to buy something nearby, and listened to the phone.
"4-chome is some distance from our agreed-upon Location. If the Police are there because of the Incident, it's unlikely they'd come to our side, right? Raki, aren't you being a bit too careful?"
Although Ireland said so, he wasn't careless. He never mentioned the Specific Location of their meeting place.
He was also wary that Raki's side might be under Police Surveillance.
"I don't want any Accidents," Chi Feichei said in a hoarse voice, glancing at Conan in front of the nearby Vending Machine. He reopened his Umbrella and walked towards the Street Corner. "Anyway, there's a Kid buying something next to me, and someone might come here at any time. I'll leave first…"
After inserting the Coin, Conan pressed the button for a Beverage and bent down to pick up the drink that fell into the dispensing slot. He acted naturally, without turning his head, and listened intently to the man walking past him, his voice lowered.
"Then Plan B…"
"Don't worry about the Safety Issue. No one else can get within five hundred meters…"
Behind him, as the other party distanced himself, the low, hoarse voice gradually became inaudible.
After getting his drink, Conan didn't chase after him. He turned around, walked to the opposite alley, leaned against the Wall, and after confirming that no one was nearby, took out his Mobile Phone and made a call.
The other party was wary even of Children, extremely cautious, and had noticed him. He'd better not recklessly enter the other party's Line of Sight again…
He needed to ask the Doctor for help!
520 Happy, but no Bonus Chapter
End of Chapter
In the alley, shrouded in a fine mist, two employees of a moving company were unaware of the man who passed behind them. They were still examining the strange sound from earlier.
"Can you see what it is?"
"No…"
"Hey, someone go check it out!"
Wataru Takagi hurried up the staircase to the car, panting as he showed his credentials. "I'm a Police Officer! Is this truck yours?"
After running downstairs, Conan found that the Black-Clothed Man was almost out of the alley. Suppressing his urgency, he stared at the figure holding an umbrella.
What to do now? Should he ask Police Officer Takagi to stop him?
Someone had just died here. He could use the excuse of "understanding the situation" to gather everyone in the alley, and incidentally stop the other party. This way, he shouldn't alarm him, but…
Ahead, Chi Feichei continued walking at a leisurely pace, without accelerating or running.
He wanted to take advantage of Conan not being downstairs to quickly run out of the alley and shake him off, but if, after a death, someone in all black suddenly ran, it would arouse suspicion. Wataru Takagi would suspect him of being connected to the case, and the two moving company employees, having heard about the death, would also remember this strangely behaving man.
Then, Wataru Takagi might chase after him, or, while reporting to the Police, ask the arriving Police Officers to pay attention to someone like him.
Even if he wasn't stopped by the Police for questioning, alarming the Police on the eve of an operation and being noticed by them wasn't a good thing.
The Boss would make him explain the situation, and might even investigate the matter, adding countless troubles.
Compared to that, it was better to remain calm and pretend to be a passerby leaving.
Even if Conan had Wataru Takagi stop him, what could they do?
He was just a passerby; Wataru Takagi couldn't search him or arrest him. At most, he would have to cooperate and answer a couple of inconsequential questions. If he then said, "I have urgent business," Wataru Takagi would have no reason to detain him further.
From behind, Conan turned his head and saw Haibara Ai and three Children, who were unaware of the situation, also running down. He let out a long sigh of relief, trying to appear less tense. Taking advantage of Wataru Takagi's inattention, he quickly ran towards the Alley Entrance.
He couldn't let Police Officer Takagi help stop the man.
The other party was a member of a dangerous Criminal Organization. Suddenly being stopped by a Police Officer on vacation could make him paranoid and cause him to attack Wataru Takagi, who was alone.
Also, if Police Officer Takagi stopped the man, Haibara and the Children would meet and come into contact with him. Regardless of whether Haibara would panic, those three Children were experts at causing trouble. If they found that guy suspicious, they would definitely play detective and investigate.
The fellows in the Organization were different from ordinary Criminals. Even Kudo Shinichi had fallen for their tricks, let alone three Bratty Kids…
He had to chase him alone!
After turning the Alley Entrance, Chi Feichei didn't go any further. He turned around, his back to the Wall, standing outside the Convenience Store at the Alley Entrance. He took out his Mobile Phone, opened his Email, and entered The Boss's, Rum's, and Ireland's Email Addresses.
[An incident occurred nearby. Police may come to Shimono Town later. Bomb handover is postponed…]
Hmm, let's postpone the handover time…
Conan had just run out of the alley when he caught sight of a Black-Clothed Figure standing beside him in his peripheral vision. He was startled. Because of his rapid running and his subconscious stop, he lost his balance, falling to the ground with a thud. He instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
Careless!
The other party suddenly stopping at the Alley Entrance was consistent with an "anti-tracking" response, meant to confirm whether anyone was following him.
Him running out so hastily…
No, he had been noticed!
Chi Feichei glanced down at Conan, who had fallen in front of him, then moved his gaze back to his Phone Screen. He finished typing the four letters "Raki," which he hadn't been able to type before, and sent the Email.
It was intentional.
He wanted to remind Conan not to treat him like a rookie, and to follow with a little more skill.
If he let him go easily, the Famous Detective might be discovered by other Organization Members lurking in Shimono Town.
That would not only result in Conan's death, but he himself would also be suspected of letting him go.
Also, he wanted Conan to be vigilant and not follow him too closely, making it easier for him to shake him off later.
Lying in the rainwater, Conan belatedly felt the pain of his scraped palm from the fall, and became more alert. Seeing that the other party didn't seem to care about him, he felt relieved. He feigned the aggrieved, dejected, yet resilient appearance of a Child, sat up, and prepared to get up.
Thankfully, it seemed the other party thought he was a Child, so he wasn't paying attention to him.
Then, he would take this opportunity to secretly…
Chi Feichei suddenly took two steps back.
Conan was just about to use the act of getting up to stick the Eavesdropping Device to the side of the other party's Shoe, but when his hand reached halfway, he found that the other party's Shoe had retreated out of his line of sight. He was startled again and froze.
He'd been… discovered?
Chi Feichei retreated under the Convenience Store's eaves. Casually, he put away his Umbrella and stared at the Caller ID on his Phone Screen.
He wanted to remind the Famous Detective again not to try to put an Eavesdropping Device on him. He really wasn't that much of a rookie.
Conan heard the buzzing vibration of the Mobile Phone. Using the act of picking up his Umbrella, he secretly glanced sideways and found that the Black-Clothed Man next to him was just staring at his phone. He breathed a sigh of relief again, but abandoned the idea of secretly planting the Eavesdropping Device. He stood up, opened his Umbrella, and walked towards the nearby Vending Machine.
If he continued to lie there, he would be suspected. It was better to pretend to buy something and keep an eye on the man.
This would also cover up his previous opening – his hasty running wasn't tracking, but a Child rushing to the Vending Machine to buy something…
Chi Feichei stared at the incoming phone call for a moment before answering.
Ireland, who called, gave him a choice:
Answer the phone, and Raki's unique voice would be linked to this face by Conan.
Not answering the phone would mean a tense situation, that he might be hindered, and that the previous Email might not be credible, so the Organization would send someone to confirm his situation again.
Actually, Ireland wasn't wrong to call. As the other party in the handover, after receiving his "warning Email," it was correct to confirm his situation through communication. But if he had been more cautious, Ireland shouldn't have chosen to communicate immediately. He should have sent another Email to confirm his surroundings, and after confirming that he could talk, then make a phone call.
For example, if he had been listed as a Suspect or Eyewitness by the Police and couldn't leave their side for a while, then not answering the phone could lead the Organization to send investigators, and he himself might be noticed by the Police. If he answered the phone, Raki's unique voice would be easily remembered by the Police.
If it were Gin, Rum, or Belmode, they wouldn't have rushed to call without first confirming his predicament via Email.
Ireland's actions were rash, but the root cause was that Ireland and he not only had no relationship, but also had a Conflict. Ireland himself didn't know that The Boss valued concealing his Personal Information, and perhaps didn't care whether Intelligence Personnel would fall one by one. Naturally, he wouldn't care whether he would have trouble. Compared to that, quickly confirming the situation in Shimono Town would ensure the safety of their Personnel.
No matter what Ireland's Intentions were, he had to answer the phone to prevent the Organization from sending Intelligence Personnel to confirm his safety.
Even if it exposed Raki's voice to Conan, even if Conan would use this to deduce more Information, it didn't matter. It was just a false clue. He would control the situation and prevent Conan from obtaining information he shouldn't have.
The phone connected, and Ireland's voice on the other end was languid. "Raki, what happened? We're already at the meeting point."
A scream came from the alley, seemingly a Resident discovering a corpse, accompanied by shouts of "Someone's dead!"
Chi Feichei listened to the Movement in the alley. His hoarse voice was very soft. "Someone died in 4-chome. It's unclear whether it was Jumping Suicide or murder. There are Police Officers there."
Conan stood in front of the Vending Machine, raised his right hand, and calmly inserted a Coin into the coin slot. The left hand hanging by his side was clenched tightly, revealing his uneasy Mood.
Although the other party's voice was very low, the hoarse Voice was too unique.
Unlike the hoarseness caused by a Cold or Illness, the voice was even lower and raspy, making one suspect that the speaker's Vocal Cords had been injured. He immediately recognized it.
Raki!
After the murder of Programmer Itakura Taku, he discovered that Itakura Taku had a Transaction with the Organization. He had contacted Vodka, impersonating Itakura Taku. He originally wanted to take the opportunity to obtain some Intelligence from the Organization. In fact, he successfully arrived at Kenkyo Station, but when he tried to collect Vodka's Personal Information, he was discovered by Gin and the fellow with the code name Raki, and had to hide in a Locker.
That experience made him realize that the people in the Organization were far more difficult and dangerous than he had imagined.
If it hadn't been for Gin's intervention and Raki's giving up at the last moment, once the Locker he was hiding in was opened, he would have been exposed to the Organization Members' Line of Sight.
Under those circumstances, he would have been in grave danger, likely to be captured or killed directly…
So, who was the other party contacting now? Was Gin nearby?
Unfortunately, he couldn't hear the voice on the other end of the call. He could only try to judge why the other party was here based on Raki's words…
Under the Convenience Store's eaves, Chi Feichei seemed not to notice Conan, who had gone to buy something nearby, and listened to the phone.
"4-chome is some distance from our agreed-upon Location. If the Police are there because of the Incident, it's unlikely they'd come to our side, right? Raki, aren't you being a bit too careful?"
Although Ireland said so, he wasn't careless. He never mentioned the Specific Location of their meeting place.
He was also wary that Raki's side might be under Police Surveillance.
"I don't want any Accidents," Chi Feichei said in a hoarse voice, glancing at Conan in front of the nearby Vending Machine. He reopened his Umbrella and walked towards the Street Corner. "Anyway, there's a Kid buying something next to me, and someone might come here at any time. I'll leave first…"
After inserting the Coin, Conan pressed the button for a Beverage and bent down to pick up the drink that fell into the dispensing slot. He acted naturally, without turning his head, and listened intently to the man walking past him, his voice lowered.
"Then Plan B…"
"Don't worry about the Safety Issue. No one else can get within five hundred meters…"
Behind him, as the other party distanced himself, the low, hoarse voice gradually became inaudible.
After getting his drink, Conan didn't chase after him. He turned around, walked to the opposite alley, leaned against the Wall, and after confirming that no one was nearby, took out his Mobile Phone and made a call.
The other party was wary even of Children, extremely cautious, and had noticed him. He'd better not recklessly enter the other party's Line of Sight again…
He needed to ask the Doctor for help!
520 Happy, but no Bonus Chapter
End of Chapter
