Chapter 67: The Great Melee
After the gunshots, Frank still hadn't appeared. Akai Shuichi's first shot had been thunderous, and Vodka had fired several rounds as well.
Why does he have to fail at this crucial moment? What about Conan and his family?
This so-called fan is completely irresponsible.
"Alright, alright! When Aniki gets back, I'll definitely put in a good word for you!"
Vodka took the grenade, excitedly pulled the pin, and—imitating Natsukawa's earlier technique—found another target and hurled the grenade through the second-floor window where Akai Shuichi had just appeared.
Akai Shuichi should still be on the second floor. This will surely finish him off, or at least leave him severely injured.
However, the result was not as expected.
Less than a second after the grenade entered the window, there was a distinct click—a sound that didn't resemble the grenade hitting the floor, but rather colliding with something solid.
Natsukawa had a terrible premonition, swallowed hard, and took two steps back.
The next second, the grenade came flying back the way it came.
Damn it!!
Natsukawa dove like a predator, turning the corner.
Vodka, completely bewildered with his smile still lingering, stared blankly at the returning grenade.
Fortunately, the grenade completed its countdown mid-air, exploding.
The deafening roar echoed around them, a wave of heat and white mist sweeping across several meters.
The shockwaves made the trees within the vicinity tremble, and the accumulated snow, as if losing its support, cascaded down.
Vodka wasn't directly hit by the grenade, but the aftershocks left him dizzy and disoriented. If the grenade had landed at his feet, he might have lost his life.
Natsukawa reacted quickly, pulling Vodka to the corner of the wall for cover.
Vodka can't die—at least not while we're working together. Otherwise, it'll be impossible to explain to Gin when we return.
Against the wall, Vodka's legs trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat soaking his suit jacket. The intense palpitations made him cough twice.
Damn Akai Shuichi.
Realizing what had happened, Vodka raised his pistol and fired several shots through the empty window—not for any strategic reason, but purely to vent his rage.
Just then, Natsukawa finally breathed a sigh of relief. In his field of vision, a van was racing toward Conan's cabin.
Thank God, it's finally here!
Inside the Kudo Cabin
Inside the two-story building with smoke billowing from the chimney, Kudo Yusaku's expression was incredibly grim. He'd sensed something was wrong and felt growing unease.
The bad news arrived as expected.
Gunshots echoed in his ears, but that wasn't the main concern. Gunshots were common in America, and he frequented shooting ranges, so he wasn't alarmed by mere firearms.
The most terrifying part was the two explosions.
Grenades or bombs?
This isn't a war zone—why are they using explosives? What's happening?
He didn't dare look out the window, because he'd already tried once. The moment he'd peeked out, a bullet had pierced through the top hat of his Night Baron costume. Luckily, the hat was tall enough—otherwise, it would have hit his head.
"What do we do, Yusaku?" Yukiko clung to her husband like a koala, and the precarious situation made Yusaku almost want to draw his concealed weapon.
"We seem to be caught up in something terrible. Also, let me go—I can't think straight like this." Yusaku freed himself from his wife's grasp, pushed up his glasses, and held his top hat up to the window again.
A few seconds later, the hat remained unharmed, with only one hole.
"They seem to have repositioned their sniper." Yusaku breathed a slight sigh of relief, then remembered their son they'd locked up. "Quick, untie Shinichi's ropes. Our little game is going to have to end now."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, the hat was hit again—two shots tearing the upper portion to shreds.
"Damn it!"
Chianti gritted her teeth. This was the second time the hat had deceived her.
However, there was no alternative. Everyone was on edge. Akai Shuichi's sniping skills were world-class. Even a second's hesitation in firing could mean certain death. They had to strike preemptively as quickly as possible.
"Cohen, Chianti, I'll handle the cabin with the smoking chimney. You two focus on Akai Shuichi."
After saying that, Natsukawa turned to Vodka. "I'll keep watch on that cabin. You're in charge here."
Vodka grunted, then asked hesitantly, "Any more grenades?"
He'd learned his lesson and swore the same mistake wouldn't happen again.
"No more."
He wasn't joking. Even if he had more, he couldn't give them to Vodka. If that happened again, he might end up as collateral damage too.
Besides, the FBI had suffered heavy losses in the previous exchange. It was best to use high-powered weapons like grenades sparingly—otherwise, a completely one-sided fight wouldn't be interesting.
The FBI's Desperate Escape
A breach had been blasted in one side of the building, killing several FBI agents but providing the survivors with an escape route.
This direction was conveniently out of the snipers' field of vision, and several FBI agents swarmed out, stepping over their fallen comrades.
"Watch out for nearby enemies!" Akai Shuichi frantically searched the second floor for Cohen and Chianti's positions.
The complex terrain undoubtedly increased the difficulty of his search, and there was also Gin, who hadn't yet appeared, lurking somewhere ready to deliver a fatal blow.
Vodka had appeared—he couldn't believe Gin wasn't present.
Bullets whizzed through the air, heading straight for Cohen and Chianti who'd just taken their positions. The two Organization snipers were essentially suppressed the moment they exposed themselves.
They didn't even have time to aim, let alone fire. Akai Shuichi was too fast—like playing whack-a-mole.
"As expected of Akai Shuichi."
Setting aside their opposing sides, Cohen still admired Akai Shuichi's skill.
"Admire the enemy? Are you still dreaming? Just watch—I'll definitely kill him!"
Chianti's bloodlust was rare even within the Black Organization. She'd joined for one reason only: the Organization's numerous assassination missions allowed her to unleash her inner demons. Every time she completed a mission, she was incredibly excited, as if riding a natural high.
Cohen knew his partner and didn't respond. After observing Chianti's position, he immediately shifted his angle, wary of being caught in the crossfire.
"Cohen, move to the third building on the left and widen the firing line. The FBI agents have already escaped the cabin—only Akai Shuichi remains inside!"
Vodka was pinned against the wall, unable to raise his head. Even though several FBI agents had died, they still maintained numerical advantage. With Chianti and Cohen tied up by Akai Shuichi, and Tequila having moved to another cabin, his situation was precarious.
"Go, Akai!"
Camel unleashed all his remaining bullets, pinning Vodka down. While reloading, he yelled into his headset, "What if they still have grenades? Staying inside is too dangerous!"
The only response was the sound of bullets passing through suppressors, followed by several more rounds.
Akai Shuichi spoke coldly into his headset. "I'll hold off the two snipers. You take out Vodka and Tequila. Sending four codename operatives at once—the director's intelligence was definitely compromised. This is a complete trap."
"Four investigators are already dead, and we're running low on ammunition!" one investigator shouted, his face pale. What the hell are we even fighting for now? We should retreat!
The FBI investigator suggested that fighting on foreign soil was far less appealing than a hasty retreat, hoping Akai Shuichi wouldn't act rashly.
The enemy held the advantage of darkness while they were exposed. They hadn't even been given a chance to react before being bombarded with two grenades. Who knew if these lunatics had more grenades or other high-powered weapons?
The radio went silent.
After a long moment, a van appeared in Akai Shuichi's field of vision. Judging by its direction, its destination seemed to be the small house in the middle of their battlefield with the Organization.
Someone else?
Could the deal actually be happening? Even at this point, they haven't given up?
Is it Gin?
Instantly, Akai Shuichi turned his rifle, aiming at the van's driver. Regardless of whether the person inside was Gin, he fired.
Greeting him with a bullet—this is my respect for my nemesis.
Bang—
Frank's Close Call
"Damn it!"
Frank was startled, slamming on the accelerator. As the van lurched forward, his gaze swept toward the passenger side.
A bullet was embedded in the passenger window, the flattened projectile sending a chill down his spine.
These are sniper rifle bullets, damn it!
Thank God for bulletproof glass.
Although the sniper rifle didn't shatter the glass, cracks had spread like a spiderweb. This wouldn't withstand more than a few shots.
If it were a regular rifle or pistol, bulletproof glass wouldn't be a problem—it could withstand a dozen or twenty bullets easily. But unfortunately, it was facing an M200 sniper rifle.
Natsukawa, crouching near Conan's cabin, was also shaken by what he witnessed.
Thankfully, the Agency-supplied armored vehicle is sturdy enough.
The chaos of battle raged on, with all parties now fully engaged in the deadly melee.
(End of Chapter 67)
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