Mission Complete

After glancing at the place surrounded by flames, Lin Maoxian started the car and drove toward the spot where he had arranged to meet Kudo Shinichi and the others. On the way, he checked the notification the Source Point had just sent him.

"Adventurer killed 'Vodka' and received 1,500 Source Points. Since this kill was achieved through trickery, the reward is halved, for a total of 750 Source Points."

"Adventurer killed 'Gin' and received 2,000 Source Points. Since this kill was achieved through trickery, the reward is halved, for a total of 1,000 Source Points."

"Since Adventurer killed Gin and Vodka, who were responsible for pursuing Kudo Shinichi, Adventurer has completed the hidden mission—'Black' Attack—early and received 2,000 Source Points."

"Since Adventurer has completed at least three parts of Main Mission Two—'Wish'—and has triggered and completed a hidden mission, the Source Point grants Adventurer permission to return immediately. If Adventurer does not return now, the Source Point will forcibly teleport Adventurer back in twelve hours."

"Would Adventurer like to return to the Source Point immediately?"

"No." Although he wanted to find out about the Source Point as soon as possible, there were still things to take care of here, and twelve hours wouldn't make much difference. The Source Point wasn't going anywhere. But seeing that his reward had been cut in half, Lin Maoxian asked it, "What do you mean by a kill achieved through trickery? Why was my reward cut in half?"

"This question concerns the basics of the Source Point and can be answered. If Adventurer directly inflicts less than 10% of a target's total life force in damage, the kill is considered achieved through trickery. Rewards for all such kills are halved."

"Source Point, why do you have this rule? I set everything up using my own wits. Shouldn't that count as damage I inflicted?"

"Adventurer's contribution is insufficient. This question will not be answered."

"Damn, the Source Point sure has a lot of rules. I worked my ass off, and just like that, half the reward is gone. Looks like I can't rely on my brain alone from now on. If a fight's needed, I'll have to fight. Contribution, huh? Seems like that's pretty important. I wonder how you earn it." After hearing the Source Point's reply, Lin Maoxian swore under his breath. It might not have looked dangerous this time, but if anything had gone wrong at any point, he would have been in serious trouble. Now half his reward had been taken away for no reason. Of course he was in a bad mood.

Lin Maoxian drove to a spot at the docks and stopped. After getting out, he ran a short way, turning left and right along the road. When he spotted a red car parked by the roadside, he hurried over, opened the door, and got in.

Once Lin Maoxian was inside, the car slowly pulled away.

As soon as Lin Maoxian got in, Kudo Shinichi asked, "How did it go? Did you find anything out about that drug?"

"It's all on here. Take a look yourself. I recorded it." Lin Maoxian handed his phone to Kudo Shinichi. He had recorded their conversation earlier.

"Lin, you're amazing. You had them running around in circles, and took them out in no time." Yukiko praised him as she drove.

Hearing Yukiko's praise, Lin Maoxian replied modestly, "It wasn't just me. You and Shinichi helped, too. If you hadn't driven so steadily with Shinichi in the car, and he hadn't kicked those soccer balls out with such perfect aim, it wouldn't have been so easy for me to take them out. They might even have taken me out instead."

"That's right. I told you my driving skills were first-rate." Yukiko boasted without the slightest modesty. Then she asked, "Lin, where are we going now? I need to know which way to drive instead of wandering around without a destination."

"To the Mouri Detective Agency. We'll drop Shinichi off there. He can stay there for a while." After thinking it over, Lin Maoxian decided to take Conan to the agency and complete that mission while he was at it.

Kudo Shinichi had just finished listening to the recording. Hearing what Lin Maoxian said, he asked in confusion, "Why are you taking me back to the agency?"

"You're letting your emotions get the better of you. Calm down. Since I recorded the conversation, they should send the information back to the organization before they die. The organization will 'learn' that this had nothing to do with Kudo Shinichi, and that another large organization had targeted them. That means the people around you should be safe for the time being. I'm taking you back to the agency because Detective Mouri is likely to get cases, which will make it easier for you to investigate that organization." Lin Maoxian laid out his plan. Shinichi was asking such a foolish question because the fact that he hadn't gotten the antidote had shaken him up, leaving him unable to think clearly for a moment.

"Why will they only be safe for the time being? Didn't we already take those two out? And the organization won't suspect Shinichi, will it?" Yukiko asked in confusion as she drove.

Before Lin Maoxian could answer, Kudo Shinichi spoke up. "Mom, if the organization can't find the so-called large organization, they'll definitely suspect me. They'll send people to investigate, and they might find out something." Lin Maoxian's words had already calmed him down, clearing his thoughts so he could see the situation clearly.

Lin Maoxian picked up where Kudo Shinichi left off. "Exactly. And that's not all. I fired a shot at the scene with the gun that went missing from the Beika Center Building case. I took it at the time, and now one of its bullets is at the scene. It was an ordinary bullet, but we can't be sure they have no way of tracing the gun back to the culprit in that case. Then they'll know Shinichi solved a case there. Connect that to what happened today, and their suspicions will only deepen."

"What should we do? Will something happen?" Yukiko asked worriedly.

Lin Maoxian smiled. "Don't worry. Everything I just said was only a possibility. Maybe they didn't find anything at all. I only brought it up to remind Shinichi to be careful and not expose his identity. Otherwise, it'll be trouble if he draws them here."

"Anyway, let's take Shinichi to the agency first. That way, even if they find out Kudo Shinichi is still alive, 'Conan' can still carry on as before. We'll have 'Kudo Shinichi' leave Tokyo for a while to work on cases elsewhere."

"Fine, but having to live as Conan again is so annoying," Kudo Shinichi said listlessly. Just thinking about spending every day studying with those brats and playing detective games was enough to bore him to death.

Glancing at Kudo Shinichi's expression, Lin Maoxian reminded him, "Shinichi, once you're back at the Mouri Detective Agency, make sure to keep a low profile when you work on cases. I found you this time because you weren't careful enough. If you let your guard down again, someone else might start to suspect you. Understand?"

"Okay, I get it. But could you stop talking to me in my mom's voice?"

"What kind of way is that to talk?" Yukiko scolded him.

When Vermouth heard the explosion, she hung up the phone. She knew Gin and Vodka were dead. She hadn't liked them much, but she still felt a little sad now that they were gone. She couldn't help wondering when she would meet the same fate. So this was what it meant to grieve for the dead out of fear for yourself. After collecting herself, she picked up the phone again and dialed a number to the tune of "Seven Children."

Once the call connected.

"Boss, Gin and Vodka met with an accident. They're dead. According to the message they sent before dying, the people who attacked them belonged to another large international organization. They're also after the 'APTX4869' that our organization is developing, so they attacked Gin and the others to get all the information about the drug." Vermouth briefly reported what had happened.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. Then a low voice said, "Gin is dead? He was one of my most capable men. Someone dared to kill him. They must think they can get away with anything. I'll notify the others and have them assist you. You must root out this organization and make them understand what happens when they cross me. As for 'APTX4869,' pay attention to how they learned our organization was researching it. That could be a clue. Vermouth, I hope you won't disappoint me. Understood?"

"Don't worry, Boss. When have I ever disappointed you? I'll find that organization and investigate everything, so they'll learn how powerful our organization is." Vermouth promised.

"Good. I'll be waiting for your news, Vermouth." With that, the person on the other end hung up.

After closing the phone, Vermouth rested her chin on her hand and sank into thought. Gin's death had shaken her badly. If someone like Gin could be killed, who was this 'Adventure King' who had taken him out? She hoped she wouldn't cross paths with him during her next operation.

Meanwhile, our 'Adventure King' had just entered the Mouri Detective Agency with Yukiko and Kudo Shinichi.

"Conan, why are you back again? Did you miss me?" Ran Mouri set the tea she had brought down on the table and spoke to Kudo Shinichi, who had turned back into a child.

Lin Maoxian glanced at Yukiko and said, "Fumiyo, you'd better explain."

Yukiko smiled at Kogoro. "Mr. Mouri, because of my work, I'm about to go overseas. This child absolutely refuses to leave Japan, so I have no choice but to bring him here and ask you to let him stay for a while. Sorry for the trouble."

"What? He's staying here again?" When Kogoro heard that the brat would be living and eating there for a while longer, he wasn't too pleased. The kid had already freeloaded for so long last time, and they'd promised to show their gratitude but still hadn't. Now he was supposed to let him freeload for yet another stretch? There was no way he was going to fall for that.