There was no key, and the person inside wasn't answering. So now...
The high school students exchanged glances. Their extensive experience let them reach a consensus instantly—time to break down the door.
Mouri Ran flexed her ankle. "I'll do it!"
As she spoke, she kicked out. With a deafening bang, the door lock gave way, and the flung-open door slammed into the wall before bouncing back.
Vodka stared at the warped door frame. "..."
He silently took a step back.
—The first time he'd seen this, he'd only thought that this high school girl was exceptionally helpful. He had even imagined some dramatic scenario where he fell into Uzo's trap and was accidentally rescued by Mouri Ran.
But now...
Remembering the autograph book packed with signatures, then recalling how Mouri Ran's eyes had lit up during dinner as she handed it to Kanazawa Ryuichiro, while Kanazawa Ryuichiro had happily signed his name under her watchful gaze... Vodka shuddered soundlessly. His back prickled, and he felt the lingering fear of having brushed past the Grim Reaper.
Good thing I saw through her true nature in time. Vodka quietly took a deep breath and comforted himself. That means my chances of surviving an encounter with Uzo have gone up again!
While a storm raged in Vodka's heart.
Conan gave him a suspicious glance. "..." What was this guy so nervous about? Could what had happened in the room really have been planned by Vodka and his accomplices?
Thinking that, Conan felt unbearably itchy with curiosity. He hurried to the door and peered inside.
The lights in the room were off, leaving it pitch-black. Only the television in the corner gave off a faint glow.
Someone sat in a sofa chair in front of the television with his back to the door, showing