(Thud)
Thinking this, Vodka took a deep breath. After confirming that the three students had entered another commercial building next door, he furtively set off toward his destination.
Meanwhile, on the escalator in the other commercial building.
Conan rested a hand on the steadily moving armrest and turned to glance toward the building entrance. For some reason, he felt a heavy weight in his chest.
"Could I have developed some kind of Organization Radar like Haibara?" The thought flashed through Conan's mind, but he quickly shook his head and muttered silently:
"How could a Black Organization Cadre have so much free time that they'd go shopping at a commercial building? And honestly, I get this sort of feeling every so often.
"Though I hate to admit it, this probably happens because I've been anxious about my current situation ever since I became smaller.
"Otherwise, it couldn't be that Organization Cadres keep showing up around me every other day, haha... Though come to think of it, Haibara really was a Cadre too, even if she's already defected."
Thinking this, Conan looked around again. Finding nothing strange, he relaxed and continued following behind Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko as they picked out a gift to bring when visiting Teacher Jodie.
In the commercial building next door.
Vodka walked faster and faster... until, with a smoothness even he found hard to believe, he entered the VIP Elevator lobby.
"Huh? I'm already at the elevator?" Even after pressing the button to call it and watching the number on the electronic screen steadily descend, Vodka still had not fully come back to his senses. He looked back, suspicion rising in his heart.
"Under normal circumstances, shouldn't I have had to dodge some 'suicide victim' falling from above right after entering the building, then