Since You Seek Thrills, Go All the Way

Conan's mind raced as he escaped the car, thinking about where he should go.

He couldn't return to the Mori Detective Agency. It was good that Ran and Uncle Mori hadn't questioned his identity; perhaps that organization wouldn't notice them.

His identity was exposed. He needed to go back to his own house and find Professor Agasa to figure out the organization's objective. Anyone who had come into contact with him was in danger, and he had to warn everyone to be careful…

Just as he thought this, a hand suddenly shot out from the alley beside him, grabbing him by the waist and yanking the small elementary school student into the alley.

Conan shivered in fear, then realized that Tang Ze's pair of clear blue eyes were right in front of him.

"Shh." Tang Ze covered his mouth and pulled him against the wall. Not long after, Edogawa Fumiyo, disguised as Yukiko Kudo, ran past in a furious rage, clearly having chased Conan all the way.

After she hurried away, Tang Ze released his hand that had been pinning Conan and said in a low voice, "Are you an idiot? Can an eight-year-old kid's legs outrun an adult? Honestly, why didn't you contact me?"

Conan watched the plump woman's retreating figure, his heart pounding. If Tang Ze hadn't appeared, by the time he crossed this street, the woman would definitely have caught up. What's more, he would have unintentionally led his pursuers to Professor Agasa's house, putting even the Professor in danger…

Conan said with a dry throat, "I can't drag you down with me, Tang Ze."

He still hadn't figured out the scale, objectives, or methods of this underground organization. It would be selfish to involve Tang Ze, who was isolated and without support in Tokyo. That's why, even knowing Tang Ze was chasing after them, Conan hadn't chosen to meet up with him immediately.

"What kind of tragic hero act are you playing, great detective?" Tang Ze patted his forehead. "I don't know what the people who took you plan to do, but they're your enemies, right? Are you going to deal with them in your current body?"

Conan shook his head, gritting his teeth. "My enemies are likely a powerful underground organization. I was turned into a child by a drug they created. I know nothing about them. Involving you would be even more dangerous."

"The moment I discovered your identity, I was already involved, Kudo-kun." Tang Ze crouched down to meet Conan's gaze, his eyes flashing with a bright luster, like two blue flames in the dark alley. "Instead of being on edge here, why not take the initiative? You've been exposed to them, and now they're exposed to you. This is an excellent opportunity…

"What kind of organization is this, how many people know your identity, and is there still time to intercept the message… It's not hopeless yet, pull yourself together."

In the narrow alley, only a few rays of sunlight pierced through the windows of the residential buildings and fell upon them. It was enough for Conan to see Tang Ze's fearless face. His heart, which had been beating violently from fear, slowly calmed down.

Yes, it wasn't hopeless yet.

Conan's thoughts shifted, and he began to consider how to counterattack. He slowly spoke, "Tang Ze, I have a plan…"

Although Tang Ze was spouting lines that sounded like they belonged in a shonen manga, the burning passion in his eyes wasn't any kind of fighting spirit or determination, but rather a fervent desire to stir up trouble.

Even if he helped Conan successfully bag Yusaku Kudo and Yukiko Kudo, it would be out of his sense of justice as a partner of justice, completely preserving his character and making things interesting!

What ill intentions could Tang Ze have? He just wanted to help the righteous detective who was being persecuted by the organization.

Didn't the Kudo couple want to educate their son, make him understand the danger of the organization, and dampen his hot-bloodedness? Then let them come; let the storm rage even harder.

Edogawa Fumiyo, or rather, Yukiko Kudo, hadn't noticed her son had disappeared at all. She was heading straight for her own house.

She knew her obnoxious, bratty son well. In such a critical situation, the only person he would seek help from was someone who knew his true identity. He would also instinctively want to return to a familiar environment where he felt safer. So, the runaway Shinichi might be going home and also seeking help from Professor Agasa next door.

As long as she found him nearby, it would be easy to ambush the brat, knock him out with anesthetic, and take him away for the next step.

Unaware that in just a few days, Tang Ze had become an unexpected variable among those who knew Shinichi's identity, Yukiko Kudo confidently continued to execute her plan.

"She's here." Tang Ze, hiding on the second floor of the Kudo residence, lowered the binoculars he was holding.

He had brought Conan from another block and they had directly climbed over the back wall into the Kudo family's backyard, without being seen.

"They really did investigate my situation." Conan's mood was heavy, because he had indeed intended to go home to ask Professor Agasa for help. The other party's prediction of his movements was very accurate.

"Isn't that obvious? Shinichi Kudo is not an unknown nobody." Tang Ze stretched his fists, looking fully prepared for a fight. "Now that their prediction has failed, the initiative is back in our hands. Can your bug hear anything?"

Conan took out his phone and opened the listening program. A sound of high heels came from the bugs Tang Ze had helped him place near the doorway.

The woman, who had been circling the area, seemed a bit impatient, pacing in front of the Kudo residence. After waiting for another ten minutes, she, as Conan had predicted, took out her phone and started contacting someone.

"There are accomplices."

"Didn't you just guess that? If it was just her, why would she want to 'take you somewhere'?"

The two boys, crouching, exchanged opinions, listening intently to the sounds coming from the program. The bug attached to the utility pole near the entrance clearly captured the "beep beep" dial tone. The woman seemed to lean against the utility pole and make a call.

"'Hello, it's me,'" the woman said when the call connected, "'There's been a hitch, the kid got away.'"

"'He's just an elementary school student now, where could he have gone?'" The voice on the other end was a magnetic male voice. Conan found it inexplicably familiar, but before he could figure out the source of the familiarity, the content of the conversation immediately captured his attention. "'He wouldn't go back to the Mori Agency. Besides his own home, he has nowhere else to hide. Did you lose him?'"

"'I didn't find him here. There might be some complications.'" The woman's voice sounded anxious, and the sound of high heels resumed. She seemed to be pacing in circles. "'Where else could he have gone?'"

"'Let me think.'"

Looking at Conan's serious and calm expression, Tang Ze realized that the people on the phone weren't criminals discussing plans, but rather anxious parents who had carelessly lost their son. Seeing both sides sparring with the air, Tang Ze quickly pursed his lips to avoid accidentally laughing out loud.

The Kudos are so amusing.

Conan nudged Tang Ze, who was inexplicably frozen, with his elbow and reminded him in a low voice, "It's time for the next step."

(●—●) Sorry, I fell asleep this afternoon! Please wait for the next chapter!