Chapter 64: Has the Organization Become This Ruthless?
The Outskirts of Tokyo
This area used to be a residential district, but due to urban planning a decade ago, it was abandoned.
Most residents received substantial compensation and relocated to nearby Beika Town.
However, the area wasn't demolished, supposedly because the planning wasn't finalized.
Some speculated the planning had changed, while others guessed it was related to economic downturns—the demolition company collapsing before work even began.
The true reasons remained unknown to outsiders.
The possibility that the project leader was murdered couldn't be ruled out. After all, this was Tokyo, and if the leader was from Beika, that possibility increased exponentially.
Near the entrance of a small house in the abandoned residential area, several ordinary vehicles were parked against the wall.
There wasn't much snow on the roofs, and the tire tracks in the snow remained clearly visible, indicating they'd just been parked.
Inside, several well-dressed Western men sat around a dilapidated table, conversing. Someone kept patrolling the windows, checking the situation.
On the second floor, someone was using tactical binoculars to observe a distant location. Judging by the direction, it was the temporary residence where the Kudo family of three were spending the night.
Everyone inside maintained rigid posture, their eyes resolute, and the dark metallic bulges at their waists spoke volumes about what they carried.
The man on the second floor wore a knitted beanie and a black coat. His features were stern, his expression indifferent and detached.
This was none other than Akai Shuichi, who had recently arrived in Japan.
He appeared calm, but his heart was far from peaceful.
After all, tonight he might face his 'nemesis' and former 'lover,' Gin—the man he'd always wanted to eliminate.
After observing for a while, confirming there was light on the cabin's second floor and the vehicle downstairs showed no signs of departing, he called over an FBI agent and handed him the tactical binoculars.
Downstairs, the people at the table all turned to look at him. As the operation leader, he was naturally in command.
"Akai, this operation is far too rushed. Our preparations are insufficient, our personnel incomplete, and we don't even have adequate weapons and ammunition," a square-faced man with spiky hair said with concern.
This operation was dangerously hasty. Not all FBI members in Japan could arrive—only those near Tokyo could make it, totaling fewer than ten agents.
Furthermore, weaponry was severely limited. The FBI typically relied on superior equipment for operations, but this mission was only announced that afternoon, with execution scheduled for tonight. They simply hadn't had time to prepare properly. Even their reconnaissance was extremely basic—they only knew there was a transaction tonight, but not the specifics.
Nearly everyone was equipped with just one weapon: a Colt M1911 holstered at their waist, with very few spare magazines, making them severely lacking in firepower.
In short, they'd never fought an operation with such limited resources.
And there was another issue.
This wasn't the United States—this was Japan!
They also had to be wary of the Japanese Public Security Bureau and the Metropolitan Police Department, which severely hampered their operational effectiveness.
They couldn't afford to be careless. If the Japanese discovered their covert operations on Japanese soil, it would be extremely problematic.
After all, unregistered operatives entering the country were no different from spies.
Akai Shuichi remained silent, his brow furrowed.
He had considerable doubts about this operation's reliability.
This operation was personally ordered by the newly appointed FBI Director, leaving him no choice but to participate—unless he wanted to lose his position at the FBI.
The new director, eager to prove himself, was extremely focused on the Black Organization, hoping to solidify his position through this operation.
Like a new broom sweeps clean, the first fire had burned the former director, who was now in prison.
Akai Shuichi didn't want the second fire to fall on him.
He still had so much to accomplish: expose the Black Organization, eliminate Gin, avenge his father, find his mother, and reunite with his family.
Wait, feels like I'm forgetting something.
Never mind. Those were his priorities.
"This operation was ordered by the director, and we have no authority to object. We haven't seen any Black Organization members yet, and the two suspicious men who made the deal haven't emerged since entering the cabin—which is very suspicious."
"Could there be a secret passage in that cabin?" Camel, with his distinctive square face and unusual hairstyle, speculated. "Maybe they've already left quietly through a hidden exit, and their transaction location is actually elsewhere."
Akai Shuichi shook his head. "Impossible."
He'd just seen a masked figure pass by the window. The person was definitely still there.
"That's not the main issue. The problem is it's already midnight, Gin hasn't appeared yet, and there's been no movement from inside the cabin."
He couldn't rule out that the transaction time simply hadn't arrived, but Akai Shuichi felt uneasy—a feeling lodged in his throat without clear explanation.
Suddenly, footsteps came from upstairs, slightly hurried. The footsteps quickly descended the stairs, and the FBI investigator who'd just taken over Akai Shuichi's observation duties rushed to him.
"There's a glasses-wearing elementary school student on the cabin's second floor. I saw him open the window and look down. His upper body is bound with rope—it looks like he's been kidnapped."
"An elementary school student?"
The FBI investigators present exchanged bewildered glances.
Really? Has the Organization gone so far as to abduct children?
"Could it be..."
Akai Shuichi trailed off, seemingly having a revelation.
He knew Sherry was researching some kind of drug. Now that a child had appeared, could Gin's deal with these two men involve this child?
Had Sherry's research reached the point where human experimentation on children was necessary?
Akai Shuichi placed his hands in his pockets and sat in his chair, silent.
The others dared not speak, knowing they couldn't disturb their superior's contemplation at such a moment.
Inside the Cabin
Conan tried to wriggle his body, hoping to use his child-sized frame to slip free of the ropes binding him.
However, it was ineffective—the ropes only tightened as he twisted.
Helpless, he looked out the window. This was the second floor. Even Shinichi Kudo before he shrank would suffer serious injury jumping from this height.
What should I do?
The two Black Organization kidnappers outside were sleeping. This was undoubtedly the best time to escape!
However, the man called the Night Baron was extremely meticulous. Besides a tattered rag, there was nothing in the room that could help him escape.
The rag could be torn and twisted into a rope, but with his arms bound, he couldn't accomplish that.
Escaping was currently impossible, but waiting for death wasn't in Shinichi Kudo's nature. There had to be another way.
Outside the door, the Kudo couple pretended to sleep but were actually conversing quietly.
"Are you really sure this is okay? It's so cold. What if Shinichi gets frostbite being left in that room?"
The mother still possessed a shred of maternal conscience, feeling slightly guilty about her son's predicament.
Playing pranks was fine, but she couldn't risk his health.
"It's fine. Have you forgotten how I used to take him ocean swimming in the winter when he was little?"
Wearing the Night Baron mask, Kudo Yusaku was full of confidence. He'd considered everything and had specifically told his son about tomorrow's "deal." Now he'd see what his son would do.
Today, he was going to scare some sense into his son, make him realize the danger he was truly in.
He hadn't even discussed the fact that his son had been shrunk by the Black Organization. If he hadn't fled back to Japan to avoid his manuscript deadline, he'd still be completely in the dark.
"But that was years ago. So much time has passed."
"Don't worry, isn't he essentially back to how he was as a child? Besides, my son couldn't possibly be that fragile."
Kudo Yukiko pouted, somewhat dissatisfied, as if Shinichi weren't her son too, as if he'd inherited all his superior genes solely from his father.
"By the way, don't you think it's a bit too quiet here?" Kudo Yusaku rolled over, looking out the window, an uneasy feeling creeping over him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
Did my editor follow me to Japan?
"This place has been abandoned for so long—isn't quiet normal?"
Why did we have to choose this godforsaken place? Not even proper heating, just a fireplace.
Kudo Yukiko pulled her coat tighter against the cold.
Little did they know, their "harmless" family prank was about to attract far more dangerous attention than they'd ever anticipated.
(End of Chapter 64)
[+100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Review!
P*atreon/Soulforger (30+ advanced chapters)
Buy me coffee - ko-fi*com/soulforger01