First Mission from The Winery

After listening to Conan's explanation, Professor Agasa finally understood everything.

"You mean that detective named Guchuan discovered that you were the one behind 'Sleeping Kogoro,' and he may even have discovered your identity?"

"That's right." Conan nodded.

"I want to find Guchuan. If he leaks this information, not only us, but even Guchuan himself might be killed by people from that organization."

"Then where does Guchuan live?" Professor Agasa asked.

Conan froze. It seemed he did not know Guchuan's home address.

"I don't know, but I know he recently bought an Art Museum. He might be there now."

Leaving Little Ai home alone, Guchuan went to the bar.

Damn Gin, always making a good kid like him come to bars. Now that his strength had increased dramatically, he was itching to test himself against Gin.

"Hi! Long time no see."

Guchuan warmly slung an arm around Vodka's shoulders, leaving Vodka utterly bewildered.

They had only met once, and their last meeting had not exactly been pleasant. Why was he acting so warmly now?

"Mm."

You didn't slap a smiling face. Vodka nodded at Guchuan in greeting.

"What does big brother want with me?"

Guchuan sat down beside Vodka, glanced at Gin, then beckoned to the bartender.

"I like hard liquor. Pour me a glass of gin."

The bartender ignored Guchuan and looked at Gin instead.

"Children shouldn't drink."

Hearing Gin's words, the bartender wisely left.

Unbothered, Guchuan took out Vodka's lighter and played with the flame.

Chianti, Korn, and Calvados watched Guchuan curiously. This organization member seemed quite familiar with Gin and Vodka. Could he be an executive from another region?

"How is the task I gave you going?"

"I put in tremendous effort, but made zero progress," Guchuan said.

"Heh." Gin sneered.

He had investigated Guchuan's activities in America and knew he was a troublesome child who refused to obey orders. Still, The Winery never lacked troublesome children like that.

"Don't tell me you never even did the job?"

Gin took out a cigarette and put it between his lips. Guchuan hurried over like a lackey to light it for him. Gin paused for a moment, but still shielded the flame with his hand.

Watching Guchuan, alarm bells rang in Vodka's mind.

He never expected the once so arrogant Guchuan to make such a move. Was he currying favor with Boss Gin because he wanted to steal his position as driver?

Damn it! When he called Gin "big brother" upon entering, I should have been on guard.

Wait!

Why did the lighter in Guchuan's hand look so familiar?

"How could that be? I was even caught by the police and taken to the Police Station several times because I was driving around Tokyo looking for someone." Guchuan felt deeply wronged.

Gin did not believe his nonsense.

The organization had undercover agents in the Police Station, and they knew Guchuan had only been taken there for speeding.

Come to think of it, although Guchuan had only joined the organization recently, aside from the undercover agents stationed in the Police Station, he was probably the member who had entered and left the Police Station the most.

"You don't need to worry about Sherry anymore," Gin said.

"Why? I'll be able to find her soon," Guchuan said in surprise.

Gin exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and gave Guchuan an indifferent look.

"So much time has passed. There's no longer any point in searching for Sherry."

If she wanted to run, she might have already left Japan by now. Although the organization's influence was vast, searching for someone across the entire world was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.

"You have a new mission."

"I don't want to go." Guchuan refused without hesitation.

Gin looked at him in surprise. He had not expected Guchuan to refuse so decisively. Seeing Guchuan looking eager to fight, a trace of confusion flashed through Gin's eyes.

"The organization does not keep useless people."

"But the organization has never paid me a salary either," Guchuan said unhappily.

"Give Vodka your bank account number. From now on, the organization will provide you with monthly funds."

Being able to get a salary for free put Guchuan in a very good mood.

"What mission?" Guchuan asked.

"The organization has a deal. I need you to come along," Gin said.

"Something this minor needs me to personally show up?" Guchuan toyed with his lighter.

Gin looked at him without saying a word, then stood and left.

"Keep up." Vodka patted Guchuan on the shoulder.

Guchuan eagerly trailed after Gin. Chianti frowned at his retreating back, then walked over to Vodka and asked in a low voice.

"Vodka, what's that guy's codename? Is he an operative from another region?"

"You mean Guchuan? He's just an outer member." Vodka spoke with slight disdain, adjusting the brim of his hat as pride swelled within him over his status as a codename member.

"He's just an outer member?" Chianti said incredulously.

The way he had acted just now didn't look anything like an outer member's behavior. And he had made so many "disrespectful" moves toward Gin, yet Gin had simply turned a blind eye?

Strange. Extremely strange.

When they arrived at the meeting location, Korn and the other two set up sniper rifles in the distance. Guchuan and Vodka, the two bag-carrying lackeys, followed behind Gin and met the man conducting the deal with the organization.

"Where's the money?" Vodka asked.

"Right here."

A man dressed entirely in black opened a briefcase, revealing stacks upon stacks of cash.

Gin glanced at Guchuan. Understanding immediately, Guchuan stepped forward to take the case.

"Wait."

The man suddenly spoke.

Gin's expression turned cold. He pulled a gun from his pocket, then suddenly shot Guchuan a vicious glare.

Guchuan respectfully handed over the gun from his own pocket, then quietly stood behind Gin.

Gin couldn't be bothered to reprimand Guchuan at that moment. He pointed his gun at the man dealing with the organization.

"Relax. I just have a question for you," the man in black said.

"Talk." Gin was as sparing with words as ever.

"I know your organization has a lot of influence in Japan. Can you kill someone for me? The price is negotiable," the man in black said.

"Heh, we aren't—"

"Ring ring ring ring~"

"Sorry, I need to take this." Guchuan pulled out his phone with an apologetic expression.

Gin looked at him frostily and pressed the muzzle of his gun against his head.

"Who is it?"

"My little sister."

"You don't have a little sister." Gin's expression darkened.

Guchuan's background had been investigated thoroughly. As an only child, where could he possibly have gotten a little sister?

"My sweetheart."

"Heh. Answer it, and I'll kill your 'sweetheart.'"

Gin felt that he had been far too lenient with Guchuan. He actually dared to answer the phone in the middle of a mission—there wasn't the slightest trace of respect or fear in him.

"Fine." Guchuan quickly hung up, giving Gin plenty of face in front of outsiders.

2-20, 2-chome, Beika Town, Tokyo.

Little Ai listened to the busy tone on the phone, her mood turning sour.

"What the hell? It's so late, and he still isn't coming home." Little Ai paced back and forth in her room, feeling extremely irritated.