Yukiko immediately scoffed, her tone carrying a hint of exasperation.
"The child my friend's family adopted? He's an absolute menace."
But the next moment, she cast a wary glance at Vermouth.
"Chris, why are you asking about him?" She crossed her arms, her expression turning defensive. "That kid is really troublesome. I'd rather not even mention him!"
Yukiko was well aware of Akashi's succubus nature. Naturally, she remained cautious whenever another woman took an interest in him. If she let her guard down, that little troublemaker would charm countless women in an instant!
Seeing Yukiko's strong reaction, Vermouth didn't press the matter further. However, even from that brief glimpse, she couldn't shake the feeling that the boy looked strikingly familiar.
Something about his eyes, the way his brows furrowed—it bore an uncanny resemblance to Bacardi. And that sudden, almost panicked retreat before hanging up the call? It only reinforced her suspicions.
A smirk played on Vermouth's lips as she swirled her wine glass.
That heartless still hasn't contacted me….
She took a slow sip of wine and leaned back against the cruise ship's plush seating.
Yukiko, still eyeing her curiously, finally asked, "Chris, what exactly brings you to Nihon this time?"
"Attending a memorial service," Vermouth replied nonchalantly. "And catching up with a few old friends."
Her lips curled into a teasing smirk. "Why? Want to come along?"
As she spoke, she playfully lifted Yukiko's chin with her fingers, her entire demeanor exuding both mischief and seduction.
Yukiko immediately swatted her hand away. "Hey, show some respect. I'm your elder, you know."
She huffed, adding, "Honestly, what did Sharon teach you to behave this way?"
At that, Vermouth threw her head back and laughed, her voice carrying a dangerous charm.
"Sharon?" she mused, her gaze darkening. "She's been dead for a long time. If you want answers, you'll have to ask her yourself."
Yukiko fell silent, momentarily taken aback.
She knew all too well about the fractured relationship between Sharon and Chris. They had barely seen each other for over a decade, and if it hadn't been for Sharon's dying request, Yukiko doubted she'd have any interaction with this woman at all.
Shaking her head, she sighed.
I already miss being back on land…
Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, Akashi frowned as he set his phone down.
In the original storyline, there was never a moment where Yukiko and Chris met.
How did these two end up crossing paths?
He could only hope that Yukiko remained cautious and wouldn't accidentally let anything slip about Conan.
Although he had planned to meet Vermouth eventually, he hadn't expected the encounter to come this soon. Especially not with the way she had looked at him—like she had already figured something out.
That woman is terrifying.
But there was an even bigger problem.
Vermouth had always harbored a deep hostility toward the Miyano sisters. And now, Haibara was living under the same roof as him.
If his identity was exposed…
Haibara's secret would be at risk as well.
A headache started forming as Akashi scratched his head in frustration.
What now? Should I just… put Vermouth to sleep?
His eyes flicked to his growing list of skills.
Technically, I could pull it off.
Still, he pushed the thought aside for now. There were more immediate tasks at hand.
Haibara needed chemicals and supplies for her experiments, and since she no longer lived with Dr. Agasa, that responsibility now fell to him.
With a sigh, Akashi grabbed his coat and headed out.
It was impossible for Haibara to go out and purchase the necessary supplies herself.
It was much easier for him to handle it.
With the right 'voice', a simple phone call was all it took.
Some of the old-timers would arrange for the delivery straight to the school—he only needed to pick it up. If there was ever a need to buy something in person, he could just go himself.
And if being a child posed a problem?
Well, that's what 『Hypnosis』 was for. Just make an adult buy it for him.
Everything went smoothly.
After all, how many people could resist his influence?
Even while running errands, Akashi remained vigilant.
He had stopped using public transportation—no more subways, buses, or any other crowded options.
Instead, he relied on 『Hypnosis』 to enlist female drivers to give him rides.
It was an efficient way to avoid any unnecessary trouble, especially from troublesome womens on trains.
By the afternoon, the experimental supplies had been acquired, albeit at a high price, and arrangements were made for delivery to the school.
It was then that Akashi suddenly remembered—he still hadn't bought Haibara any new clothes!
She had been wearing Ran's old childhood outfits, which weren't exactly a perfect fit.
With that thought, the car he was in made a sharp turn and headed straight for Beika Mall.
Once inside, he marched directly to the children's clothing section and started shopping.
With a black card in hand, all he had to do was swipe and go.
However, some of the sales staff hesitated. They assumed he had stolen the card from an elder and were reluctant to process the purchases.
Without a word, Akashi used his abilities.
In an instant, the female salesperson became compliant, following his instructions without question.
She eagerly fetched clothes, pushed the shopping cart, and showered him with enthusiasm.
Before long, five or six other saleswomen had also joined in, each carrying bags and assisting with the shopping.
Akashi didn't even need to lift a finger—he simply sat in the shopping cart, comfortably directing them like a little prince.
At that moment, he was undoubtedly the most striking figure in the entire mall.
Now this… he mused, smirking to himself. This is the proper way to use these skills.
Just as he was basking in his success, a familiar voice called out.
"Akashi, is that you?"
Life truly had a way of making people cross paths unexpectedly.
Akashi turned to see Ran standing just a short distance away.
And she wasn't alone.
Beside her, Sonoko stood dazed, while Conan—sporting dark circles under his eyes—looked absolutely exhausted.
This kid is like a ghost, Akashi thought, mildly annoyed. Always showing up at the worst times.
But a shift in the surrounding energy caught his attention.
The Yin energy here is fading…
He glanced toward a nearby arcade inside the mall.
A group of police officers were gathered, busy with some kind of investigation.
A strong sense of déjà vu hit him.
Wait a minute… this scene… isn't this…?
Before he could finish his thought—
Duang! Duang! Duang!
A foreign woman appeared, swiftly approaching with two cups of iced coffee in hand.
She wore a form-fitting purple dress beneath a red coat, her striking figure impossible to ignore.
Even the dress couldn't fully conceal her ample curves, and the swell of her chest was particularly noticeable.
Her short blonde hair framed her face, and behind her glasses, a pair of vibrant green eyes sparkled with warmth.
She was radiating charm, her energy brimming with enthusiasm.
In slightly awkward Nihongo, she called out,
"Ran, Sonoko, I got these for you!"
Then, with a teasing smile, she added,
"Sonoko, you're amazing! You figured out the real culprit so quickly. Looks like Kudo Shinichi isn't the only brilliant detective in your class!"
Akashi immediately put the pieces together.
This was Ran and Sonoko's new English teacher—Judy-sensei.
And if she was here, then this must be the murder case from her first appearance in the arcade.
Guess I arrived a little late to the party.
Sonoko, looking flustered just a moment ago, instantly perked up at Judy's praise.
She took a triumphant sip of her iced coffee and boasted,
"Of course! If I, Sonoko-sama, had taken this more seriously from the start, there wouldn't even be a need for that so-called high school detective, Kudo Shinichi!"
Beside her, Conan's expression turned utterly lifeless.
The next moment, Sonoko's gaze landed on Akashi, who was still seated on the shopping cart.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Akashi, you have no idea! I just solved a murder case!" She puffed out her chest proudly. "It was absolutely incredible!"
Before Akashi could respond, Judy's gaze followed Sonoko's and landed on him.
The blond woman's eyes immediately lit up.
"Wow! What an adorable boy!"
Without hesitation, she stepped forward—
And scooped Akashi up into a hug.
Akashi froze in place.
What just happened?!
His mind went blank.
One phrase suddenly resurfaced in his thoughts—something a certain someone had once said.
"The ones in purple are always the most dangerous."