Conan: I'm Not Small! (Voice Cracking)

Fujino watched the police car drive away silently, his smile gradually fading.

The effect of Failed Art Student is indeed very powerful.

Comparable to hypnosis skills...

We can make good use of it in the future.

The only drawback might be that the triggering method and the persuasive effect vary from person to person.

It's like hypnotizing a married woman into believing that you are her husband.

The other party definitely won't believe such an outrageous thing; they'll probably just treat you like a pervert and throw you in jail.

However, using rhetoric to fool prisoners is very effective; it works every time.

"Hey, Fujino- Senior."

Just then, Ran quietly crept over and asked, "What exactly does 'X' mean?"

"Well..."

Fujino hesitated for a moment, considering whether or not to tell Ran.

After all, he felt it was better to let Ran figure out what X meant on her own.

Please!

Ran clasped her hands together, her face full of anticipation. "Senior, please tell me what X means, okay? Tell me!"

"All right..."

Fujino nodded, deciding to tell the other party after all.

He couldn't resist others asking him for favors, and he felt it was a bit odd that only Ran was kept in the dark.

Joking aside, it wouldn't be good if it really came to the point where your best friend had to beg you.

So she explained, "As for X, Ms. Jodie said it's a kiss mark, a sign of love. But sometimes this mark can also be used by girls to tease boys. The specific meaning depends on the actual situation."

"Well?"

Ran was taken aback when she heard this, and her face turned red.

"It seems you already know what X means... Senior is still so soft-hearted."

Sonoko noticed the two of them at this moment, sighed, and then looked at her with a mischievous smile, "Now you know what X means, how about trying to send a flirtatious message like, 'Do you know what X means? If you do, I'll give you the most important X'?"

"Even if I sent him that message, it wouldn't make a difference."

Ran's face still had a slight blush. She said helplessly, "Even if he knew, he would definitely pretend not to know and fool him!"

"That's impossible!"

Sonoko waved her hand. "A man like him wouldn't possibly know anything about this kind of thing!"

"So what exactly does X mean?"

Conan then stepped forward and asked everyone.

"Oh?"

Jodie bent down and looked at Conan curiously. "Cool kid, are you really that concerned about this?"

"Hmph, this brat is curious about everything."

Sonoko nearby, looked at Conan and smiled, "But if you're really curious about this, it's better to let your Ran- neechan tell you!"

"Yes, you can't know about this yet!"

Ran nodded in agreement, and said seriously, "You're still too young!"

She felt that Conan shouldn't know such things at his age.

After all, it wouldn't be good if it were used indiscriminately.

She glanced at her watch and continued, "It's getting late, let's hurry back, otherwise my dad will worry!"

Conan: "..."

What do you mean I'm still too young?

I'm not young, okay?

Conan felt a surge of impotent rage, his curiosity itching to be piqued.

He scratched his head, kicked a pebble on the ground in frustration, and then looked at Ai Haibara beside him. "Hey..."

"You're still too young."

Ai Haibara responded decisively, then turned her head and followed. "Children shouldn't try forbidden fruit like this."

Conan: "???"

Forbidden fruit? I'm in for a surprise!

Could it really be something inappropriate for children?

Two days later.

"Fujino, are you ready?"

Outside the fourth-floor door, Ai Haibara, wearing an EVRIS fitted red dress with a pink belt around her waist, stood in front of the door and called out to the bedroom.

"Okay, all done!"

Fujino put on his suit jacket, responded, and pushed open the door. "Ai, Sister Akemi and the others changed their clothes too?"

"They're already downstairs waiting, and Uncle Mori and the others have gotten in the car too."

Ai Haibara spoke, she glanced up and looked them over, then held up her hand and reminded them, "Tie."

"Oh..."

"I told you I'd come back early today. I was in such a rush that I didn't even straighten my tie."

Ai Haibara stood on tiptoe and reached out to adjust Fujino's red tie.

"After all, it's a commission in casual clothes."

Fujino stood up and chuckled softly.

The entrance to the detective agency.

Uncle Mori drove a rented MPV van, and the members of the Junior Detective League were already waiting inside.

"This time we're going to a game launch dinner. I heard it's a game that's ahead of its time, using virtual reality to immerse people in the game environment."

"If it's a banquet, there must be a lot of good food there, I wonder if they have eel rice..."

The little ones chattered away, while Conan sat to the side, staring blankly out the car window with dead fish eyes.

Yesterday, he went to Jodie's house with Hattori Heiji to conduct an investigation.

Although they encountered a murder case, they still managed to uncover some things.

That English teacher is suspicious... Not only did she take their photos, but she also pretended to take a shower when she went there, as if she was hiding something.

Very suspicious...

He now suspects three people: Shuichi Akai, Jodie, and Tomoaki Araide, all of whom could be members of the organization.

Hattori Heiji originally wanted him to bring Fujino in as well, as Heiji believed that Fujino would definitely be able to see more.

However, he decisively rejected the suggestion.

"Brother Fujino!"

At that moment, Mori noticed Fujino and Haibara coming out of the detective agency and grumbled, "Why are you moving so slowly?"

"Some things were delayed."

Fujino responded and turned to the red Ford Mustang beside him, asking Akemi, who was sitting in the driver's seat, "Sister Akemi, this Mustang has plenty of power, is it okay for you to drive it?"

"No problem!"

Akemi gave a thumbs up. "Ai and I are already quite familiar with driving on the street."

"In that case, let's set off!"

Beika City Hall.

The city hall was brightly lit at night. Next to the domed city hall stood a pyramid-shaped building, and on the other side, a triangular building seemed to pierce the sky like a sword. At the entrance to the city hall, a huge crowd of reporters had already gathered to watch.

The group entered the venue and passed through the security checkpoint smoothly.

However, things didn't go very smoothly for Mouri-niisan.

"Beep beep beep!"

Mori Kogoro was completely bewildered by the buzzing sound in his ears.

"Sir, do you have any metal objects on you?"

A security guard approached and cautiously inquired of Mori Kogoro.

"No metal items... there aren't any!"

Mori Kogoro was completely bewildered and at a loss for what to do.

"Forehead..."

Fujino watched in silence as the security personnel were led away by staff and checked with a metal detector.

So, could it be Tranquilizer Dart?