Haibara Ai said, "After I left the organization, the research on Aptx4869 began to stagnate, so..."
"I see." Thinking of Vodka's unusual behavior, Conan felt that he understood everything. "So they want you to go back and restart the research. And the human head they want is mine—the price of your return to the organization?"
"..."
Haibara Ai suddenly felt much more relaxed. Playing the Riddler with a detective who loved making up theories was so convenient—he even saved her the trouble of coming up with lines. Whatever was needed, he would invent on his own.
"That's right, though not entirely." Remembering the mission's guiding principle—make Conan experience the consequences of exposing his identity so that he would be more cautious about transforming—Haibara Ai continued with a sorrowful smile. "Not just you. Your parents, that Osaka detective who knows about the organization... Before sunrise, every one of those who know about the organization will disappear from this world."
Conan stared at her in undisguised shock. "My parents, sure, but how would the organization know Hattori knows about all this... You told them?!"
Haibara Ai said, "..."
Damn detective. Don't ask questions you shouldn't!
She gave a quiet snort and went along with it. "That's right. Professor Agasa was also taken hostage by them—I'm very sorry, but as a prisoner, I only had enough influence to save one person."
With a click, she cocked the "pistol," admiring Conan's expression of shock and fury. "But if you really think about it, perhaps you should thank me—at least I spared you from being dragged away by the organization for human experimentation. I'll let you die without pain, and let you go before your parents and friends, so you won't have to see their miserable state of death."
As she spoke those cruel words,