Beep… beep… beep beep—
The call went unanswered.
It was already ten o'clock in the morning.
After Conan called the Mouri Detective Agency to inform them that he would return later, he turned to Dr. Agasa, who was anxiously standing by the phone, his face pale with worry as the call failed to connect again.
"No, Shinichi… I can't reach her," Dr. Agasa said, his voice trembling.
"Relax for now, Doctor."
Given Haibara's personality, it was indeed strange that she wasn't answering. But right now, Conan could only try to calm Dr. Agasa.
He frowned deeply.
Should I go to their house directly?
While Hayashi Yoshiki still doesn't know his identity has been exposed… should I find a chance to test him?
But how? How can I test him?
Just as Conan was lost in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Dr. Agasa's face lit up in an instant.
"It must be Ai—she's back!"
He hurried to open the door, but when it swung open, the face standing on the other side left him completely stunned.
"Good morning, Dr. Agasa."
"Mr. Hayashi?!"
"What's wrong? You look a little flustered."
"N-No! It's nothing!"
Dr. Agasa's voice unconsciously rose as he scratched his head awkwardly, his overreaction betraying his nervousness.
Conan quickly approached.
"Yoshiki-nii, where's Haibara?"
"Wouldn't you let me come in and sit for a while?"
Hayashi Yoshiki didn't answer directly. Only when Dr. Agasa belatedly stepped aside did Yoshiki leisurely walk into the house.
Watching his back, Conan's suspicion only deepened.
He exchanged a glance with the tense Dr. Agasa and followed him into the living room.
"The fire-retardant paint you made for me was really useful. I haven't had a chance to thank you properly."
"It's nothing… really, just a small thing…"
Dr. Agasa tried to calm himself, but when he saw Hayashi Yoshiki's gentle smile again, he felt an inexplicable chill.
Even if he couldn't analyze as quickly as Conan, just knowing Hayashi Yoshiki was part of that organization was enough to weigh heavily on his heart.
He forced a stiff smile and asked, "Compared to that… didn't Ai stay at your place last night?"
"Yes, she did."
Hayashi Yoshiki still smiled.
At that moment, Conan's phone vibrated in his pocket.
He glanced at it and instantly felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
"Run!"
A short, urgent message.
The sender: Haibara Ai.
The two simple characters were like flashing alarm bells in Conan's eyes.
He snapped his gaze to Hayashi Yoshiki, his heart pounding wildly.
At the same time, the unaware Dr. Agasa continued to ask, "Ai—"
"Doctor…"
Conan suddenly interrupted.
Dr. Agasa paused, looking back to see Conan staring at Hayashi Yoshiki with a grim expression.
Hayashi Yoshiki was still smiling warmly, but something in his eyes had changed.
Click.
Just then, the sound of the front door opening echoed from the entrance.
The door was supposed to be locked.
The slow, deliberate creak of the door opening sent a shiver through Conan's spine, forcing him to turn his head instinctively.
Just one glance—
It felt like his heart had been seized by an invisible hand, almost stopping it cold.
A tall man cloaked in shadows.
His pale green eyes radiated a bone-chilling coldness as if even the air had frozen around him.
A suffocating silence blanketed the room.
Gin, having finally cornered his prey, curled his lips into a cruel smile.
"Let me say this one last time…"
"Good morning."
"Conan. Dr. Agasa."
"You're both… very interesting people."
"Then… goodbye forever."
Hayashi Yoshiki, following Gin's gaze, also gave a gentle smile.
But those eyes—
Those eyes were hollow, devoid of any warmth—only darkness.
Gin calmly drew his gun from his coat.
Conan's pupils shrank. His chest was filled with a suffocating mix of rage and helplessness.
He clenched his fists tightly and shouted:
"Why?!"
"Why what?"
Hayashi Yoshiki tilted his head as if he had just heard a particularly amusing question.
"Why did I come to kill you? Isn't that obvious, Conan—no, Shinichi-kun? You've discovered my identity."
"…"
"It's a shame, but once my identity is exposed, I have no choice but to kill you. Otherwise, if the organization finds out…" Hayashi Yoshiki's grin deepened, "it would be very troublesome for me."
"I'm asking why you are part of the organization!"
"Oh!"
But instead of answering, Gin chuckled coldly.
Hayashi Yoshiki simply smiled, watching Conan's enraged, desperate expression without a trace of guilt.
After a brief silence, he finally replied, his tone soft, almost pitying:
"Is it really so hard for you to believe I'm a member of the organization? How disappointing. Seems like I played the role too well—you were completely fooled."
"Hayashi Yoshiki, as you know him…"
"Never existed, to begin with."
"…"
The weight of those words crushed Conan's anger, replacing it with an icy stillness.
He never existed?
It was all a disguise from the very beginning?
Conan gradually calmed down—but his eyes still burned with stubborn defiance and deep regret.
I regret… why I couldn't see through his false mask earlier!
"What about Ai? What happened to Ai?!" Dr. Agasa couldn't hold back anymore.
"Sherry? Oh, don't worry. She's alive and well. After all, she's a scientist who can make incredible drugs like APTX4869—the organization really needs her talents."
"Enough talking. Kill them."
Gin's cold voice was merciless.
"Tsk, so impatient…" Hayashi Yoshiki chuckled. "Well, since I know you both, I'll give you a quick death."
Gin raised his pistol, the black muzzle aimed directly at Conan.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Conan's forehead. Dr. Agasa gulped nervously.
In this desperate moment, Conan racked his brain, frantically searching for any way to turn the situation around.
But… there was nothing.
Against Gin's ruthlessness and Hayashi Yoshiki's overwhelming skill, he had no chance.
Only one tranquilizer needle left—
But his every movement was under their watchful eyes.
There's no way out.
In these final moments, Conan thought of Ran.
…According to Hayashi Yoshiki, as long as his identity remains secret, he won't harm Ran or the others… right?
But still—he wasn't ready to give up!
Gin's finger began to pull the trigger.
Just then—
Click.
The door opened.
Haibara Ai stepped inside, completely ignoring the tense atmosphere in the room.
She casually closed the door behind her, changed into her slippers, and—without even glancing at anyone—walked toward them.