"Hey, where did this kid come from?"
On a tour boat heading to the Pacific Buoy, a Japanese police officer looked at Conan, who had appeared out of nowhere, and shouted in surprise.
"Uh-huh, I, I think I got on the wrong boat."
Conan scratched his head, showing a child's silly smile.
He and Dr. Agasa had won tickets for a whale-watching tour. While boarding, he saw these Japanese police officers, who looked like they had important backgrounds.
Out of curiosity, he jumped directly onto this police boat, followed them away from the Japanese resort island, and headed out into the Pacific Ocean.
A police officer with a burn scar on the right side of his face and one blind eye stared at Conan with his cold single eye, making Conan break out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, he was currently an elementary school student. If he still had Kudo Shinichi's appearance, he might have been caught as a spy and taken away for interrogation right now.
Kuroda Hyoue glanced at Conan a few times and said, "There's not enough time. The time we agreed on with the International Police is almost here. We don't have time to send this kid back, so let him follow us."
"No wonder Japanese police officers have become a joke internationally and are criticized domestically. A police boat can let a child board without anyone noticing. What use are you people?"
"If it wasn't a child who came aboard, but a secret agent, wouldn't all our secrets be exposed?"
Kuroda Hyoue's reprimand made the other police officers lower their heads and nod submissively, not daring to speak.
Conan breathed a sigh of relief.
He suddenly felt that shrinking did have its benefits.
If he had not known that he would not face legal consequences even if he were discovered, and would at most be sent back to shore, he would not have dared to do something like sneak onto a police boat.
But who exactly is this uncle? He looks so fierce. Seeing how he's scolding the others, his position in the Police Department must be high, or maybe he's from Public Security?
Conan pondered to himself.
But no matter what, he had successfully sneaked onto this boat and could now see what they were going to do.
...
At a private resort villa on an island coast, Haibara, wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, did not go swimming in the pool. Instead, she sat by the pool, typing on the laptop in front of her.
Beside her, another little girl who looked about the same age as her squinted and said, "Aren't you going for a swim, my niece?"
"Or are you saying you can't swim? If you can't, I can teach you."
The person speaking to Haibara was her great-aunt Mary.
"Mom, do you want to come down for a swim?"
In the pool ahead, Masumi was swimming quickly in her swimsuit.
She heard her mother's words and chuckled, waving at Haibara.
Haibara glanced at Masumi, then withdrew her gaze, looking coldly at the great-aunt beside her and speaking in a flat voice.
"My work is very busy, and I don't have time to play. If you want to swim, go by yourself. You don't need to bring me along."
Although Mary had the appearance of a little girl, she wore sunglasses on her face. She picked up the juice beside her, took a sip, and said, "You're really cold, my dear niece."
"Compared to your mother, your personality isn't gentle enough. If a girl isn't gentle enough, men won't like her."
Mary seemed to have a hidden meaning in her words.
However, Haibara did not fall for it at all. She crossed her arms and said, "However, my mother never mentioned you to me. If Toru hadn't told me, I wouldn't even know I had a great-aunt like you."
Mary smiled and said, "Your mother was also protecting you. My work is not something that can see the light of day. Knowing about my existence wouldn't do you any good."
Haibara snorted and did not speak.
Regarding Mary, she did feel a bit of closeness. This was the only living elder she knew of among all her known relatives.
However, even so, Haibara still remained wary of her.
Because Mary's identity was an MI6 agent, she did not dare to fully trust such a person.
Seeing the wariness in Haibara's eyes, Mary shook her head.
She really is a tsundere girl, and she lacks any sense of security.
But after thinking about Haibara's past life and the things she had experienced, Mary felt that it was normal for her to have no sense of security.
Having lived in such an Organization since childhood, she would naturally not easily trust strangers.
Even Toru only gradually gained her trust through the time he spent with Haibara.
The two fell silent, while Masumi continued swimming in the pool.
She looked at her mother and then at Mary, both looking calm and composed. She did not know what to say, so she could only continue swimming in silence.
Haibara thought for a moment and felt that this was not good. She spoke up, "Why did Toru ask you to stay by my side?"
Mary did not hide it from her and said, "Toru thinks you might be in danger and asked me to come protect you."
She also showed the medicine in her hand that could restore her original appearance and whispered, "He said if something happens, he'll notify me in advance and tell me to take this medicine."
Haibara's expression was serious. She did not know what danger she would encounter, but since Toru said so, she absolutely had to pay attention to this matter.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Thank you."
Mary shook her head and chuckled softly. "I'm also afraid of developing resistance to this medicine. If anyone else were asking me to casually take medicine to provide protection, even if it were Toru's request, I would consider it carefully."
"But if it's you, even if he didn't say anything, I would be willing to take it to protect you. You are the only child my sister has left. As for my sister, due to personal reasons, I didn't fulfill my responsibility as her older sister, and I didn't even have a chance to save her before she died."
"If you really want to thank me, Shiho, just call me Aunt."
Listening to Mary's heartfelt words, Haibara's heart softened.
Especially the name Shiho. She had not heard it in a long time.
Her expression was awkward, and she said hesitantly, "Aunt."
Mary's eyes grew distant, as if she were recalling the past.
Haibara pursed her lips and said, "I will develop the antidote, for you and for myself."
"Yes, I believe in your ability, Shiho."
...
On a private yacht in the Pacific Ocean, Toru and Vermouth were both wearing diving suits.
"We can't get any closer, or we'll definitely be suspected by the International Police on the Pacific Buoy. Vermouth, let's enter the water directly from here and swim over."
Vermouth nodded. The two exchanged glances and jumped into the sea together.
A few meters below the surface, they each held an underwater diver propulsion vehicle and moved toward their target.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)