Seeing the Great Detective's pleading face, Tsuneo finally softened. He handed the camera back to Haibara, gesturing for her to keep it safe.
"Akemi-san, let me help you with lunch."
Yukiko, having finally finished smothering her shrunken son, headed to the kitchen with Akemi.
"I didn't plan on exposing you anyway. Why are you so nervous?" Haibara remarked, letting out another yawn. She had never expected to see the day where she would pull an all-nighter just to play video games.
"Yeah, yeah..." Conan muttered an absent-minded reply. He watched Tsuneo and his father disappear into the Professor's lab, then quietly slipped into a corner and adjusted his earpiece.
Alright... let's see what they're talking about...
"This is the one."
Tsuneo sat down at the computer in the lab and logged into the email account Noah's Ark had sent him via text.
"By the way, there's something I forgot to remind you of. Schindler Inc. is in deep trouble. You'd better cash that check as soon as possible," Yusaku warned, standing behind the repairman.
"I know. I haven't even filled in the amount yet," Tsuneo replied with a nod. He opened a file saved in the drafts folder.
"Once you've looked through this data, destroy it," Yusaku advised, his expression turning solemn as he scanned the screen.
Regarding the Black Organization, Noah's Ark had utilized its vast capabilities to uncover an incredibly complex web of connections. It had even meticulously labeled its sources.
Aside from Public Security—specifically the data from "Amuro-san"—several well-known international intelligence agencies had "contributed" a massive amount of documentation.
Tsuneo scrolled through reports of various incidents buried within the archives of different factions. It was a fascinating, albeit dark, read. There were detailed accounts of assassinations, terrorist activities, investigations into peripheral members, and reports on high-ranking members with codenames. The reports were incredibly thorough; it was no wonder none of them liked writing action reports—the sheer word count was exhausting.
"Tottori Prefecture?"
Yusaku noticed that this specific location had been highlighted by Noah's Ark.
"It seems he's already tracked down a few members," Tsuneo said, glancing at a small, fingernail-sized black device sitting on the desk.
Obtaining surveillance lists from various agencies wasn't difficult for an AI. For instance, the "Witch" that the FBI was tracking—the one currently disguised as Dr. Araide—had her identity laid bare.
There had long been rumors that Tottori was a stronghold for the Organization's Boss. It was only natural for members to be in contact with that region.
As for the black device on the table...
Both he and Yusaku knew it was a bug planted by the Great Detective. No one trips and falls on flat ground that awkwardly; it was a terrible performance. Conan had used the moment his father reached out to help him to stick the bug onto him.
Still too green, Conan.
Tsuneo thought for a moment, then typed a line of text on the keyboard and saved it to the drafts.
"Heh," Yusaku couldn't help but chuckle.
Ensuring that a certain silver-haired killer's phone would have no signal for the next three days...
"Only you would come up with a tactic like that," Yusaku remarked.
"Why did they stop talking?"
Conan crouched in the corner, pressing the earpiece tightly against his ear, his brow furrowed.
He could clearly hear the sound of keys clicking on the other end. Someone was typing, but neither of them was speaking a word.
"The Zoo?"
"Is that the name you came up with?"
Yusaku's voice suddenly crackled through the speaker again. It seemed they had finished reviewing the preliminary data on the Black Organization.
"The place is full of random little animals," Tsuneo replied with a chuckle.
"Kaitou Kid..." Yusaku read a familiar name.
By comparison, this "Zoo" organization wasn't nearly as structurally complex as the Black Organization. Noah's Ark would likely catch the mastermind behind it very soon.
"Just send this stuff directly to that guy."
"Actually, regarding Kaitou Kid..."
Just as Conan leaned in, a sharp burst of static hissed through his earpiece, followed by absolute silence.
They definitely found it!
What about Kaitou Kid?! Let me finish hearing it!
"Dammit!" the Great Detective hissed, punching the floor in frustration.
"..." Haibara noticed the outburst and took two cautious steps back.
What on earth did that guy just remember?
"You're much worse than me."
Tsuneo watched as Yusaku, having reached the most critical part of the conversation, casually dropped the bug into a glass of water. He didn't know whether to be impressed or horrified.
"Actually, Kaitou Kid—or more accurately, the Kaitou Kid of this generation..." Yusaku trailed off again.
"If you pull that 'to be continued' act on me, I'll have no choice but to teach you some self-defense techniques," Tsuneo said with a cold smirk. In the dim light of the underground lab, he looked quite menacing.
He didn't satisfy his curiosity the same way a certain dog-headed detective did.
"No, thank you. I have no interest in going to the park and running into trees with you. I was just thinking about how to phrase it," Yusaku said, shaking his head.
"What's so hard to say? Is he your secret love child?" Tsuneo asked, looking the novelist up and down. Now that would be an explosive secret.
At the same time, a new message appeared in the drafts—a reply from Noah's Ark.
"OK, (￣▽￣)~!"
"..."
Tsuneo remained silent. You really have learned some strange things, haven't you?
"He is my nephew."
"..."
Tsuneo turned his head again, staring at Yusaku. He stood frozen like a statue, his expression one of pure, unadulterated shock.
"You... you and Toichi Kuroba are sworn brothers?" the repairman finally managed to ask, trying to process the information. They actually became blood brothers?
"As I expected, you know his name. Toichi Kuroba is my biological brother," Yusaku said. He waved a hand in front of Tsuneo's face, which had frozen up once again.
"Impossible. I've never heard anything about that," Tsuneo said, shaking his head vigorously.
In theory, he could easily accept that Shinichi Kudo and Kaito Kuroba were brothers because they looked virtually identical. However, likely due to the different surnames, he had never once considered that the connection went back to the previous generation.
"..."
The repairman opened a browser and pulled up a news photo of Toichi Kuroba. His gaze darted back and forth between the screen and Yusaku's face.
To accommodate him, Yusaku even took off his glasses.
"We are twins. After our parents divorced, I went to live with our mother," Yusaku explained, putting his glasses back on once he saw Tsuneo had finally digested the news.
"So that detective out there... he should actually be called Shinichi Kuroba..." Tsuneo really wanted a glass of water to steady his nerves, but there was currently a bug soaking in the only glass available.
"The rivalry between those two children is quite spectacular," Yusaku said with a smile. He had been wanting to tell the repairman this for a while, but things kept getting in the way.
"So that's why you said it was 'interesting' when you heard we got Kaito to dress up as Shinichi Kudo?" Tsuneo took a deep breath. These two were certainly good at hiding things.
"It was very interesting, wasn't it?"
"Like I said... you're much worse than me..."
(End of Chapter)
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