Oritis in the world of Detective Conan

Chapter 148: The Dark Pursuer (Part 6)

Inside the mall, Inspector Megure was giving instructions to the officers: "Okay, we'll follow the plan and spread out to conduct surveillance."

Several policemen were working in pairs, pretending to be passersby, watching Yoshii Risa from a distance. Conan also saw this scene from a high floor, and he guessed that it was most likely the police were watching the suspect.

Yoshii Risa waved to the people downstairs beside the escalator: "Amin!"

The policemen who had been paying attention to the developments here immediately contacted each other using headsets.

Inspector Megure: "Fakase has appeared. Everyone should wait at designated locations and make sure not to be discovered."

When the elevator reached the fifth floor, Officer Takagi sent a message, and Inspector Megure gave the order: "Okay, arrest him."

Several police officers took action immediately, but Officer Yamamura was so out of touch that he fell flat on his face while chasing after him, and his police ID dropped in front of Minoru Fukase.

Seeing this, the other police officers had no choice but to show their police ID and loudly tell Minoru Fukase to stop resisting.

But Minoru Fukase did not want to surrender just like that. He took out a knife and held a "lucky passerby" hostage. Seeing this, other passers-by all dodged.

At this time, Conan used his glasses to magnify the details from a distance and discovered some clues.

While holding a hostage, Minoru Fukase took the escalator to escape downstairs. When the escalator reached the second floor, Conan took decisive action and threw a football over. The "passerby" dodged it as if he understood what he was doing, and the football knocked Minoru Fukase from the second floor to the first floor.

Just as the police officers breathed a sigh of relief, Yoshii Risa picked up the knife that had fallen to the ground and rushed towards Officer Ogino, "Let Minoru go!"

At the critical moment, Inspector Megure rushed forward and took the knife with his body: "Very good, that's enough."

Inspector Megure covered the bleeding wound with his hand: "Risa, you don't need to make the same mistake over and over again."

Several police officers rushed forward to check on Inspector Megure's injuries, but Inspector Megure, in order not to worry everyone, joked: "It's okay, I have a lot of belly fat."

"I'm very sorry." Officer Ogino and Officer Yamato both stepped forward to support Inspector Megure.

"Don't mind it. We can't let other people's police officers get hurt in our jurisdiction."

After the police officers came to their senses and arrested the two suspects, they discovered that the lady who was held hostage had disappeared.

In the underground garage, Conan has been waiting for Vermouth for a long time.

"Is it okay to leave like this? Don't you have something to do with that man, Vermouth?"

Vermouth: "There's nothing I can do about it. You forced me to leave. Besides, that man just now shouldn't be the murderer."

"Yes, you are right."

"After all, with my right shoulder injured, I can't swing a knife and kill people."

"Unless the injury occurred after the crime was committed."

Vermouth chuckled: "But I didn't expect you to recognize me even when I'm dressed like this."

Conan shared his findings: "Your right ankle is bulging, so the pistol must be hidden there, right? Plus, his knife clearly cut your left cheek, but you didn't bleed a single drop."

"Really? Looks like I'll have to make a mask that bleeds next time."

"I'm guessing you deliberately let that guy take you hostage, so you can use that pistol to pull off a complete comeback once you're out of police custody. But I doubt you'll need the pistol."

"I never thought I would receive your praise." Vermouth slowly tore off her disguise.

"Why is your organization investigating this murder case?"

"You asked a very direct question, because among those people there are undercover agents from the organization disguised as ordinary personnel."

Conan was a little surprised.

Vermouth continued, "That guy might have been trying to protect himself. We discovered that he was carrying a memory card with the organization's undercover list. He was about to be killed by the organization, but unexpectedly..."

"But that person was killed before he was silenced."

"Yes, and the criminal also took the memory card. Probably without my knowledge."

"I see. If the police catch the criminal first, it would be bad if this information were exposed, so..." Conan suddenly thought of something. "If you're here, does that mean there's an undercover agent among the investigating officers? No, that's not right. You asked one of your accomplices to pretend to be the investigating officer."

Conan got anxious and bombarded Vermouth with questions like a machine gun, but unfortunately Vermouth was no longer willing to answer too many questions.

"Just a heads up, an organization called Oletus seems to be involved in this serial murder case. One of the victims was poisoned. The drug is quite unique, and we've been researching it for quite some time but still can't figure it out."

"Also, my accomplice's code name is Ireland. The rest is up to you to investigate. Good luck."

After saying that, Vermouth called the parking lot security to take Conan away, and then she drove away.

In the car, Vermouth called the mercenary: "Hey, Negroni, I remember that the Snow Country is secretly studying the poison sample that was brought back. Is there any progress?"

Mercenary: "Why don't you just ask him? Am I just a messenger?"

"Haha, his social circle is really too narrow. Every time he goes on a mission, he only goes out because he might have a chance to put someone in his 'gift box'. I don't even have his contact information, so I have to harass you, who has the best relationship with him in the organization."

"He seems to be busy researching a 'skin care product' lately. The poison hasn't been touched at all. I think you should go harass the other members of the research department."

After saying that, the mercenary hung up the phone, not giving Vermouth the chance to bribe him with delicious food.

[Mercenary: Haha, actually, that poison was developed by Carl. It would be easy to come up with some results.]

[Embarkantist: Actually, Mr. Lucchino also helped with that potion.]

[Bartender: You're worthy of being an expert in toxicology.]

[Composer: Speaking of which, what exactly is that 'skin care product'?]

[Embarkantist: It's made with belladonna juice extract.]

[Perfumer: Who are you trying to poison?]

[Embarkantist: No, no, no, I'm not trying to poison anyone. I intend to expose this as a failed product of "Eternal Beauty."]

[Madam Red: So, I'll be out of the game again soon after my comeback, right?]

[Red Butterfly: Isn't that great? From now on, you can enjoy afternoon tea to your heart's content.]

[Photographer: So I don't have anyone to help me with the work anymore, huh?]

[Perfumer: Technically, you're the boss now, Mr. Melody, who's hiding his identity and advertising his own perfume to satisfy his own tastes. I'm just an agent in name only, a laborer skilled in perfumery.]

[Prisoner: Wow, what a unique way to hide your identity.]

[Little Girl: It seems that in novels, these high-ranking officials like to go on secret visits, then suddenly reveal their identities to shock everyone.]

[Entomologist: Orpheus, what did you show little Alice?]

[Novelist: No, I didn't! This must have been Norton's doing!]

[Explorer: ? Don't try to defame me out of thin air. I wouldn't do such a stupid thing!]

[Little girl: Actually, it's a strange novel that Sonoko-san showed us. It's very different from what Aoi-san wrote.]

[novelist:......]