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Kyushu, Kumamoto Airport.
In the Airport Hall, promotional banners for the 'Land of Fire Cup' were hung. This time, it wasn't just a competition for Children; there were also semi-finals and finals for the Professional Tennis Group.
After getting off the airplane, the three Children were excited.
Ayumi: "We're here!"
Mitsuhiko: "We're in Kyushu!"
Genta: "Kumamoto!"
Mori Kogoro, who had been suffering from indigestion and listlessness yesterday, perked up, "Shochu, here I come!"
Hissashi excitedly echoed, "Horse Meat Sashimi, here I come!"
The others wordlessly glanced at Mori Kogoro.
Chi Feichei: "..."
Alright, he'd buy Horse Meat Sashimi for Hissashi tonight.
At the Airport Exit, tennis news was playing On Television: "The semi-finals of the 'Land of Fire Cup' Charity Tennis Tournament, which will be held today..."
"It's Mr. Mabuchi!" Ayumi's eyes lit up, and she ran to the screen, looking up, "The 'see you at the competition' he mentioned Few Days Ago must be referring to this!"
Mitsuhiko and Genta saw a familiar face and crowded around.
"So he's also here to participate in the Land of Fire Cup competition," Mitsuhiko said with emotion.
"His Hometown seems to be Kumamoto. It's normal for him to come back and support a Charity Tennis Tournament held in his hometown," Conan said.
Genta looked yearningly, "The Promotional Poster is really cool!"
"What do you Kids know?" Suzuki Sonoko stepped forward, looking at the next group of Contestant that popped up on the screen, "If you're talking about real coolness..."
The next Promotional Poster played On Television: "The second round of the competition is between Masato Tachikawa, also from Kumamoto, and Mike Woven from Britain..."
Suzuki Sonoko put her hands together beside her Face, looking infatuated, "Masato-sama is the coolest~!"
The others gave Suzuki Sonoko, who was acting like a lovesick fool, Half-Moon Eyes.
Mitsuhiko said unconvinced, "I think Brother Chi is more amazing than him."
Ayumi nodded, adding, "Although we've never seen Brother Chi play Tennis..."
Genta was conflicted, "But how could we possibly beat those Professional Player!"
Mitsuhiko was helpless, "Genta, take a closer look at the Match Schedule."
"This competition is divided into Professional Group, Youth Group, and Junior Group," Chi Feichei explained, "You are participating in the Junior Group, and you won't be up against Professional Player or Participant over twelve years old."
"Moreover, the Professional Group and Youth Group competitions have already started," Haibara Ai said calmly, her Tone leisurely, "This morning is the Professional Group's Top Four semi-finals, and this afternoon is the Youth Group's Top Sixteen competition. Tomorrow, the Professional Group will rest for a day, and the Youth Group will decide the Top Eight in the morning. The day after tomorrow morning, first is the Youth Group's Top Eight into Four competition, followed by our Junior Group's first match. Multiple matches will be held simultaneously, and the top four Teams will be directly selected using Team Scoring. After that, there will be a lunch break. The first match in the afternoon is also our match, which is the Top Four semi-finals. Afterwards, it's the Professional Group's finals. The Professional Group's competition will end the day after tomorrow, and there will be an award Ceremony. And the day after the day after tomorrow morning is our Junior Group's finals, and the afternoon is the Youth Group's finals. Then the Organizer will present awards to us and the previous Professional Group Champion together."
"Ai remembers everything so clearly," Mouri Ran said with emotion.
Conan laughed dryly in his Heart. He had also looked at the Tournament Schedule.
Simply put, they were just there to make up the numbers.
The Professional Group's competition was one day of competition, one day of rest.
The Youth Group's competition only arranged one match a day.
Only their Junior Group's competition was in the morning and afternoon, hastily ending within two days.
But it was understandable, after all, they were all Children participating. Staying away from Home and coming to Kumamoto for too long might cause problems, and they were all Short Tennis Match, with not much Activity, so having two matches a day wouldn't be too tiring.
"Each Team only has four matches, right?" Suzuki Sonoko sized up the five members of the Junior Detective League, looking like she was eager for drama, "Among you five, who is going to sit on the Bench and be a Substitute?"
"We've already Discussed it," Mitsuhiko said seriously, "In the first match, Mitsuhiko, Genta, Ayumi, and Haibara will participate. In the semi-finals, Conan will replace Haibara to play. Then in the finals, we'll choose the Participant based on their State. In This Case, everyone will have a chance to play!"
Haibara Ai lowered her Eyes and remained silent.
Participating in the first Elimination Match was fine. With so many people participating, there would be fewer Lens from the TV Broadcast.
As for the semi-finals and finals, they would attract too much attention. She didn't plan to participate, just go cheer for the Children.
Suzuki Sonoko saw that there was no drama to watch and immediately lost Interest, "You Kid really have no sense of humor!"
"I think this is very good," Mouri Ran said with a Smile, "Everyone participates, and everyone sweats for the Team and Victory. No matter what the Outcome is, it's a very memorable and Commemoration Matter!"
"I said, are you guys going or not?" Mori Kogoro stood at the Airport Exit, urging speechlessly.
The Group didn't delay any longer, went to the Hotel to put their Things down, and then had Lunch together.
Chi Feichei packed the 'Morandi Color Scheme' PPT and sent it to Chi Kana's Email. Without waiting for a Reply, he took the five Children to report and register, and also to get everyone's Entry Pass processed.
By the time they returned to the Hotel, it was already past six in the Afternoon. Chi Feichei bought a portion of Horse Meat Sashimi for Hissashi on the way. He returned to the Hotel Restaurant, ate something casually with the others, and then excused himself to Return to Room first.
Considering that Chi Feichei had been running around all Day and was probably tired, no one felt anything was Wrong, and no one went to bother Chi Feichei again.
After Chi Feichei returned to his Room, he put down Hissashi, who was digesting food, found a Brown Coat from his Backpack and put it on, then left the Room alone.
More than an Hour later, in a Small Bar in Kumamoto Tsunamiura Town, two Men wearing Black Clothes and Sunglasses were sitting quietly at the Bar counter, occasionally whispering a few words.
Behind the Bar counter, the Waitress stood far away with an awkward Face, not daring to disturb them rashly.
Wearing Sunglasses in a Bar at Night, they didn't look like good people at first glance.
Moreover, both Men were very burly. She guessed that these two were probably members of some Violent Gang, and she was a little worried that she might endanger her own Safety if she said something Wrong or heard some Secret.
"Ding-a-ling!"
The Bell at the Entrance rang, and the Waitress immediately looked towards the Entrance with a Smile.
The Black-Clothed Man on the side near the Door also slightly turned his Head. After discovering that it was a Middle-aged Man wearing a Brown Coat who had come in, he withdrew his Line of Sight.
This Middle-aged Man was slightly hunched, his Shoulders slumped, and he had a ponytail tied behind his Head. His Face was a little sallow and carried a hint of Fatigue and disappointment. His Hands were wide and thick, and there were calluses on his index Finger from holding a Paintbrush. His Fingers and trouser legs were also stained with some Pigment. He looked like a frustrated Painter.
After being active in the City Night for a long time, you could always encounter some Weird people. In other people's Eyes, they might be even weirder.
But the Point was, this Middle-aged Man didn't look like the person they were waiting for.
"Hello, welcome!" the Waitress greeted with a Smile.
The Middle-aged Man saw two burly Men sitting in the Bar, paused for a moment, and walked to the innermost part of the Bar, sitting down in a Location far away from the two people.
The Waitress had a Reason to stay away from the two Black-Clothed Man. She breathed a sigh of relief in her Heart, but didn't show it on her Face. She walked to the Corner and asked softly, "May I ask what you would like to order?"
The Middle-aged Man pondered for a moment before opening his mouth. His Voice was a little low and hoarse, and he also spoke very softly, with a hint of awkwardness.
"Please give me a Gin and Tonic."
"Okay, please wait a moment!"
The Waitress went to busy herself with mixing drinks.
The two groups of people in front of the Bar counter were also far apart, with no Intention of casually chatting.
A Black-Clothed Man closer to the inside took out his Mobile Phone and Looked, then silently sent an Email.
"Excuse me," the Middle-aged Man sitting in the Corner Get Up, his Eyes still listless as he Looked at the Waitress, his Tone a little tired, "May I ask where the Washroom is?"
The Waitress Looked Up, "Ah? It's Behind the Door behind you..."
The two Black-Clothed Man turned their Heads. When they discovered that the other party had Get Up and gone to the Washroom, they didn't pay much attention.
After the Middle-aged Man entered the Washroom, he closed the Door and locked the Door Lock softly. He took out his Mobile Phone, found the phone call that had just been hung up in the Call Log, Looked at the Number, and redialed.
The Phone Call was quickly connected, and the Man's Voice on the other end was low and sinister, "Raki, the Promised Time has passed by five minutes, haven't you arrived at the Place yet?"
"Arrived."
Chi Feichei restored his original Voice, lowering it, so light that it was almost inaudible, but his Tone was still calm, "I came in Disguise. There are two of our people here, the Goal is not here."
"What's the Situation around you?"
"No suspicious people have been Discovery."
"Switch to Email Communication first. I'll Ask about the Situation and also find someone else to pay attention to the Movement Vicinity of the Bar."
After Gin finished speaking, he hung up the Phone Call in a hurry.
Chi Feichei was not in a hurry to Go Out. After waiting for a minute, he pressed the Flush Button of the Restroom, and went to the Sink to wash his Hands.
This time when he came to Kumamoto, he had also reported to The Boss in Advance, and then he had Gained a Task.
It wasn't difficult. Someone was already following up on this Matter. Rum had already had people investigate for a period of Time. Yesterday, the Action was launched, and Gin's people had also connected with Rum's people. He only needed to supervise the Task Procedure, adjust the Action Plan when necessary, and bring the Things he finally obtained back to Tokyo.
The Organization currently had no Core Member or more trustworthy people in Kumamoto, only some Outer Member. This was the Reason why The Boss had him come over to supervise the Task execution. At the same Time, it also Mean that these people were Not Necessarily trustworthy. When contacting them, he had to be more cautious.
Even Gin didn't dare to guarantee that the people he arranged were completely trustworthy. Feimo's Birds Legion hadn't covered Kumamoto, and he didn't Want To be watched by people from the Intelligence Agency.
And he couldn't bring a Gun through formal channels to take the Airplane. This time, he only brought APTX-4869 and Black Plate disguised with Candy Wrapper, plus his Skill. Self-preservation and Action were Probably not a Problem, but there was always a lack of deterrence from someone with a Gun.
After All, he wasn't here to Murder this time. The Boss had Say, the Goal must not die.
As for Injury...
If the Task required it, he could give up taking the Things and directly kidnap the Goal and take him to Tokyo. He couldn't care about whether he was Injured or not.
But taking a living person back to Tokyo was very Troublesome. He would also have to escort the Car, which would be even more Troublesome...
By the time Chi Feichei slowly washed his Hands, Gin's Email had also been sent.
【Their explanation is that the Goal and his Companion suddenly left the Bar In Advance. Rum's people have already Followed them. They are worried about alarming the Goal, so they are temporarily staying in the Bar, waiting for you by the way. ——Gin】
【I'll Go To Confirm. ——Raki】
【OK, I'll have them wait in the Bar. ——Gin】
(End of Chapter)
In the Airport Hall, promotional banners for the 'Land of Fire Cup' were hung. This time, it wasn't just a competition for Children; there were also semi-finals and finals for the Professional Tennis Group.
After getting off the airplane, the three Children were excited.
Ayumi: "We're here!"
Mitsuhiko: "We're in Kyushu!"
Genta: "Kumamoto!"
Mori Kogoro, who had been suffering from indigestion and listlessness yesterday, perked up, "Shochu, here I come!"
Hissashi excitedly echoed, "Horse Meat Sashimi, here I come!"
The others wordlessly glanced at Mori Kogoro.
Chi Feichei: "..."
Alright, he'd buy Horse Meat Sashimi for Hissashi tonight.
At the Airport Exit, tennis news was playing On Television: "The semi-finals of the 'Land of Fire Cup' Charity Tennis Tournament, which will be held today..."
"It's Mr. Mabuchi!" Ayumi's eyes lit up, and she ran to the screen, looking up, "The 'see you at the competition' he mentioned Few Days Ago must be referring to this!"
Mitsuhiko and Genta saw a familiar face and crowded around.
"So he's also here to participate in the Land of Fire Cup competition," Mitsuhiko said with emotion.
"His Hometown seems to be Kumamoto. It's normal for him to come back and support a Charity Tennis Tournament held in his hometown," Conan said.
Genta looked yearningly, "The Promotional Poster is really cool!"
"What do you Kids know?" Suzuki Sonoko stepped forward, looking at the next group of Contestant that popped up on the screen, "If you're talking about real coolness..."
The next Promotional Poster played On Television: "The second round of the competition is between Masato Tachikawa, also from Kumamoto, and Mike Woven from Britain..."
Suzuki Sonoko put her hands together beside her Face, looking infatuated, "Masato-sama is the coolest~!"
The others gave Suzuki Sonoko, who was acting like a lovesick fool, Half-Moon Eyes.
Mitsuhiko said unconvinced, "I think Brother Chi is more amazing than him."
Ayumi nodded, adding, "Although we've never seen Brother Chi play Tennis..."
Genta was conflicted, "But how could we possibly beat those Professional Player!"
Mitsuhiko was helpless, "Genta, take a closer look at the Match Schedule."
"This competition is divided into Professional Group, Youth Group, and Junior Group," Chi Feichei explained, "You are participating in the Junior Group, and you won't be up against Professional Player or Participant over twelve years old."
"Moreover, the Professional Group and Youth Group competitions have already started," Haibara Ai said calmly, her Tone leisurely, "This morning is the Professional Group's Top Four semi-finals, and this afternoon is the Youth Group's Top Sixteen competition. Tomorrow, the Professional Group will rest for a day, and the Youth Group will decide the Top Eight in the morning. The day after tomorrow morning, first is the Youth Group's Top Eight into Four competition, followed by our Junior Group's first match. Multiple matches will be held simultaneously, and the top four Teams will be directly selected using Team Scoring. After that, there will be a lunch break. The first match in the afternoon is also our match, which is the Top Four semi-finals. Afterwards, it's the Professional Group's finals. The Professional Group's competition will end the day after tomorrow, and there will be an award Ceremony. And the day after the day after tomorrow morning is our Junior Group's finals, and the afternoon is the Youth Group's finals. Then the Organizer will present awards to us and the previous Professional Group Champion together."
"Ai remembers everything so clearly," Mouri Ran said with emotion.
Conan laughed dryly in his Heart. He had also looked at the Tournament Schedule.
Simply put, they were just there to make up the numbers.
The Professional Group's competition was one day of competition, one day of rest.
The Youth Group's competition only arranged one match a day.
Only their Junior Group's competition was in the morning and afternoon, hastily ending within two days.
But it was understandable, after all, they were all Children participating. Staying away from Home and coming to Kumamoto for too long might cause problems, and they were all Short Tennis Match, with not much Activity, so having two matches a day wouldn't be too tiring.
"Each Team only has four matches, right?" Suzuki Sonoko sized up the five members of the Junior Detective League, looking like she was eager for drama, "Among you five, who is going to sit on the Bench and be a Substitute?"
"We've already Discussed it," Mitsuhiko said seriously, "In the first match, Mitsuhiko, Genta, Ayumi, and Haibara will participate. In the semi-finals, Conan will replace Haibara to play. Then in the finals, we'll choose the Participant based on their State. In This Case, everyone will have a chance to play!"
Haibara Ai lowered her Eyes and remained silent.
Participating in the first Elimination Match was fine. With so many people participating, there would be fewer Lens from the TV Broadcast.
As for the semi-finals and finals, they would attract too much attention. She didn't plan to participate, just go cheer for the Children.
Suzuki Sonoko saw that there was no drama to watch and immediately lost Interest, "You Kid really have no sense of humor!"
"I think this is very good," Mouri Ran said with a Smile, "Everyone participates, and everyone sweats for the Team and Victory. No matter what the Outcome is, it's a very memorable and Commemoration Matter!"
"I said, are you guys going or not?" Mori Kogoro stood at the Airport Exit, urging speechlessly.
The Group didn't delay any longer, went to the Hotel to put their Things down, and then had Lunch together.
Chi Feichei packed the 'Morandi Color Scheme' PPT and sent it to Chi Kana's Email. Without waiting for a Reply, he took the five Children to report and register, and also to get everyone's Entry Pass processed.
By the time they returned to the Hotel, it was already past six in the Afternoon. Chi Feichei bought a portion of Horse Meat Sashimi for Hissashi on the way. He returned to the Hotel Restaurant, ate something casually with the others, and then excused himself to Return to Room first.
Considering that Chi Feichei had been running around all Day and was probably tired, no one felt anything was Wrong, and no one went to bother Chi Feichei again.
After Chi Feichei returned to his Room, he put down Hissashi, who was digesting food, found a Brown Coat from his Backpack and put it on, then left the Room alone.
More than an Hour later, in a Small Bar in Kumamoto Tsunamiura Town, two Men wearing Black Clothes and Sunglasses were sitting quietly at the Bar counter, occasionally whispering a few words.
Behind the Bar counter, the Waitress stood far away with an awkward Face, not daring to disturb them rashly.
Wearing Sunglasses in a Bar at Night, they didn't look like good people at first glance.
Moreover, both Men were very burly. She guessed that these two were probably members of some Violent Gang, and she was a little worried that she might endanger her own Safety if she said something Wrong or heard some Secret.
"Ding-a-ling!"
The Bell at the Entrance rang, and the Waitress immediately looked towards the Entrance with a Smile.
The Black-Clothed Man on the side near the Door also slightly turned his Head. After discovering that it was a Middle-aged Man wearing a Brown Coat who had come in, he withdrew his Line of Sight.
This Middle-aged Man was slightly hunched, his Shoulders slumped, and he had a ponytail tied behind his Head. His Face was a little sallow and carried a hint of Fatigue and disappointment. His Hands were wide and thick, and there were calluses on his index Finger from holding a Paintbrush. His Fingers and trouser legs were also stained with some Pigment. He looked like a frustrated Painter.
After being active in the City Night for a long time, you could always encounter some Weird people. In other people's Eyes, they might be even weirder.
But the Point was, this Middle-aged Man didn't look like the person they were waiting for.
"Hello, welcome!" the Waitress greeted with a Smile.
The Middle-aged Man saw two burly Men sitting in the Bar, paused for a moment, and walked to the innermost part of the Bar, sitting down in a Location far away from the two people.
The Waitress had a Reason to stay away from the two Black-Clothed Man. She breathed a sigh of relief in her Heart, but didn't show it on her Face. She walked to the Corner and asked softly, "May I ask what you would like to order?"
The Middle-aged Man pondered for a moment before opening his mouth. His Voice was a little low and hoarse, and he also spoke very softly, with a hint of awkwardness.
"Please give me a Gin and Tonic."
"Okay, please wait a moment!"
The Waitress went to busy herself with mixing drinks.
The two groups of people in front of the Bar counter were also far apart, with no Intention of casually chatting.
A Black-Clothed Man closer to the inside took out his Mobile Phone and Looked, then silently sent an Email.
"Excuse me," the Middle-aged Man sitting in the Corner Get Up, his Eyes still listless as he Looked at the Waitress, his Tone a little tired, "May I ask where the Washroom is?"
The Waitress Looked Up, "Ah? It's Behind the Door behind you..."
The two Black-Clothed Man turned their Heads. When they discovered that the other party had Get Up and gone to the Washroom, they didn't pay much attention.
After the Middle-aged Man entered the Washroom, he closed the Door and locked the Door Lock softly. He took out his Mobile Phone, found the phone call that had just been hung up in the Call Log, Looked at the Number, and redialed.
The Phone Call was quickly connected, and the Man's Voice on the other end was low and sinister, "Raki, the Promised Time has passed by five minutes, haven't you arrived at the Place yet?"
"Arrived."
Chi Feichei restored his original Voice, lowering it, so light that it was almost inaudible, but his Tone was still calm, "I came in Disguise. There are two of our people here, the Goal is not here."
"What's the Situation around you?"
"No suspicious people have been Discovery."
"Switch to Email Communication first. I'll Ask about the Situation and also find someone else to pay attention to the Movement Vicinity of the Bar."
After Gin finished speaking, he hung up the Phone Call in a hurry.
Chi Feichei was not in a hurry to Go Out. After waiting for a minute, he pressed the Flush Button of the Restroom, and went to the Sink to wash his Hands.
This time when he came to Kumamoto, he had also reported to The Boss in Advance, and then he had Gained a Task.
It wasn't difficult. Someone was already following up on this Matter. Rum had already had people investigate for a period of Time. Yesterday, the Action was launched, and Gin's people had also connected with Rum's people. He only needed to supervise the Task Procedure, adjust the Action Plan when necessary, and bring the Things he finally obtained back to Tokyo.
The Organization currently had no Core Member or more trustworthy people in Kumamoto, only some Outer Member. This was the Reason why The Boss had him come over to supervise the Task execution. At the same Time, it also Mean that these people were Not Necessarily trustworthy. When contacting them, he had to be more cautious.
Even Gin didn't dare to guarantee that the people he arranged were completely trustworthy. Feimo's Birds Legion hadn't covered Kumamoto, and he didn't Want To be watched by people from the Intelligence Agency.
And he couldn't bring a Gun through formal channels to take the Airplane. This time, he only brought APTX-4869 and Black Plate disguised with Candy Wrapper, plus his Skill. Self-preservation and Action were Probably not a Problem, but there was always a lack of deterrence from someone with a Gun.
After All, he wasn't here to Murder this time. The Boss had Say, the Goal must not die.
As for Injury...
If the Task required it, he could give up taking the Things and directly kidnap the Goal and take him to Tokyo. He couldn't care about whether he was Injured or not.
But taking a living person back to Tokyo was very Troublesome. He would also have to escort the Car, which would be even more Troublesome...
By the time Chi Feichei slowly washed his Hands, Gin's Email had also been sent.
【Their explanation is that the Goal and his Companion suddenly left the Bar In Advance. Rum's people have already Followed them. They are worried about alarming the Goal, so they are temporarily staying in the Bar, waiting for you by the way. ——Gin】
【I'll Go To Confirm. ——Raki】
【OK, I'll have them wait in the Bar. ——Gin】
(End of Chapter)
