Mission Accomplished

Lin Maoxian glanced at the area engulfed in flames, started his car, and headed toward the rendezvous point he had agreed upon with Kudo Shinichi and the others. On the way, he checked the notification that had just appeared in his mind.

"Adventurer killed 'Vodka', rewarded with 1500 Source Points. As this kill was achieved through trickery, the reward is halved, totaling 750 Source Points."

"Adventurer killed 'Gin', rewarded with 2000 Source Points. As this kill was achieved through trickery, the reward is halved, totaling 1000 Source Points."

"Because the adventurer killed Gin and Vodka, who were responsible for hunting down Kudo Shinichi, the hidden quest 'Black' Assault has been completed early. Reward: 2000 Source Points."

"Since the adventurer has completed at least three of the main quest 'Wish' objectives and has triggered and completed a hidden quest, the Space grants special permission for an immediate return. If the adventurer chooses not to return immediately, the Space will force a teleportation back after 12 hours."

"Does the adventurer wish to return to the Space immediately?"

"No." Although he was eager to learn more about the Space, he still had matters to attend to here, and 12 hours wouldn't make much of a difference; the Space wasn't going anywhere. However, seeing that his rewards had been cut in half, Lin Maoxian mentally questioned the Space: "What does 'kill through trickery' mean? Why was my reward halved?"

"This question pertains to the fundamentals of the Space and can be answered. If the direct damage dealt by the adventurer to the target is less than 10% of the target's total health, it is classified as a kill through trickery. All such kills result in halved rewards."

"Space, why is there such a setting? These were all plans I laid out using my intelligence; that should count as damage caused by me, right?"

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

"Damn it, this Space has so much nonsense. I worked my ass off, and my reward gets cut in half just like that. It seems I can't just rely on my brain in the future; when it's time to fight, I have to fight. Contribution? That seems to be a very important thing. I wonder how to obtain it?" After hearing the Space's response, Lin Maoxian cursed fiercely. Even though it had seemed safe, if any part of his plan had gone wrong, he would have been in grave danger. Being docked half his reward for no reason was enough to ruin anyone's mood.

Lin Maoxian drove the car to a spot at the docks and pulled over. After getting out, he ran through a series of turns before spotting a red car by the roadside. He quickly stepped forward, opened the door, and climbed in.

Once Lin Maoxian was seated, the car began to move slowly.

As soon as he settled in, Kudo Shinichi immediately asked, "How did it go? Any news about that drug?"

"It's all in here. See for yourself; I recorded the conversation." Lin Maoxian handed his phone to Kudo Shinichi.

"Lin, you're amazing! You had them running in circles, and you took them out without breaking a sweat," Yukiko said, praising him while she drove.

Hearing Yukiko's compliment, Lin Maoxian replied modestly, "Not at all, you and Shinichi deserve the credit too. If you hadn't been driving so steadily, and if Shinichi hadn't kicked that soccer ball with such precision, it wouldn't have been so easy to take them down. I might have even been the one taken out instead."

"That's true. I told you, my driving skills are top-notch," Yukiko boasted without a hint of humility. She then asked, "Lin, where are we going now? I need to know the direction so I'm not just driving aimlessly."

"To the Mouri Detective Agency. Let's drop Shinichi off there; he should continue to stay there for now." Lin Maoxian thought for a moment and decided to send 'Conan' to the agency to finish that quest.

Kudo Shinichi, having just finished listening to the recording, asked in confusion, "Why send me back to the agency?"

"You're letting your anxiety cloud your judgment. Calm down. Since I recorded the conversation, they likely sent the information back to their organization before they died. They will 'know' that this incident had nothing to do with Kudo Shinichi, but was instead an operation by another large organization targeting them. That way, the people around you will be safe for the time being. I'm sending you back to the agency because Detective Mouri often gets cases, which will make it easier for you to investigate that organization." Lin Maoxian explained his reasoning. Kudo Shinichi's foolish question was clearly a result of his distress over not getting the antidote.

"Why only 'safe for the time being'? Didn't we already take care of those two? And wouldn't the organization stop suspecting Shinichi?" Yukiko asked, still driving.

Before Lin Maoxian could answer, Kudo Shinichi spoke up, "Mom, if that organization can't find this so-called 'large organization,' they will definitely suspect me. They'll send people to investigate, and they might find something." Lin Maoxian's words had calmed him down, and his thoughts were now clear.

Lin Maoxian picked up where Kudo Shinichi left off: "Exactly. But that's not all. I fired a shot at the scene, and that gun was the one lost during the Beika Center Building case. I had taken it at the time. Now, the bullet from that gun is at the scene. Even though it's a common type, we can't be sure they won't find a way to link it to the culprit of that case. Once they realize Shinichi was there solving that case and connect it to today's events, their suspicions will only deepen."

"Then what do we do? Will there be trouble?" Yukiko asked, worried.

Lin Maoxian smiled. "Don't worry. Those are just assumptions. They might not find anything at all. I only said that so Shinichi would be careful not to reveal his identity. If we draw them here, that would be a real problem."

"Alright, let's get Shinichi to the agency. Even if they find out Kudo Shinichi is still alive, 'Conan' can still exist. Let 'Kudo Shinichi' go off to handle cases and stay away from Tokyo for a while."

"Fine, but living as Conan again is so depressing," Kudo Shinichi said dejectedly. The thought of spending his days reading with those kids and playing detective games was mind-numbing.

Lin Maoxian looked at him and warned, "Shinichi, when you get back to the Mouri Detective Agency, keep a low profile. I found you this time because you weren't careful enough. If you let your guard down again, who knows if someone else might figure it out?"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Could you stop talking to me like my mother?"

"You child, is that any way to speak?" Yukiko scolded.

After hearing the explosion, Vermouth hung up the phone. She knew Gin and Vodka were dead. Although she hadn't liked them, their deaths left her feeling a bit uneasy—a sense of 'the rabbit dying and the fox grieving.' She composed herself, picked up the phone again, and dialed a number with a melody reminiscent of 'Seven Children.'

The call connected.

"BOSS, Gin and Vodka met with an accident and are dead. According to the message sent before his death, the perpetrators were another large international organization. They have their eyes on the 'APTX4869' currently under development, so they targeted Gin and his partner to obtain information about the drug," Vermouth reported briefly.

There was a silence on the other end before a low voice replied, "Gin is dead? He was one of my most capable subordinates. To think someone would dare kill him—they clearly don't hold me in high regard. I will notify the others to cooperate with you. You must root out this organization and show them the consequences of offending me. As for 'APTX4869', pay attention to how they found out we were researching it; that might be a clue. Vermouth, I hope you won't disappoint me."

"Don't worry, BOSS. When have I ever disappointed you? I will find that organization, investigate everything, and show them the power of our organization," Vermouth promised.

"Good. I await your good news, Vermouth." The line went dead.

Vermouth put the phone away and rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. Gin's death was a heavy blow. If someone like Gin could be killed, then who exactly was this 'Adventure King' who took him out? She hoped she wouldn't cross paths with him during her mission.

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

"Conan, you're back? Did you miss me?" Ran Mouri asked, setting down a cup of tea for the boy who had turned back into a child.

Lin Maoxian looked at Yukiko and said, "Fumiyo, you tell them."

Yukiko smiled at Mouri Kogoro and said, "Mr. Mouri, because of my work, I have to go abroad immediately. This child refuses to leave Japan, and I have no choice but to bring him to you. I'd like him to stay with you for a while. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Huh? He's staying again?" Mouri Kogoro wasn't thrilled about the kid freeloading again. He hadn't even received a proper thank you for the last time, and now this? Mouri Kogoro wasn't that stupid.