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Isohei was silent. He knew he had lost. He stretched out his hands and let Officer Yokomizo handcuff him. As he walked out, he stopped and stared at Conan with a gentle and apologetic look: "The person I wanted to kill was Kawabata Shiro. If I hadn't——"
Chu Ming interrupted him directly: "Get to the point, I don't have time to listen to your long-winded talk."
"..." Being interrupted by Chu Ming, Isohei Hizou could only continue speaking obediently: "I have applied poison under the turntable. As long as you turn the turntable, your fingers will be sticky with poison. Remember to wash your little brother's hands later, and don't let him take things and put them directly into his mouth..."
Chu Ming nodded and signaled Conan to go wash his hands first. At this time, Xiaolan was already a little fuzzy and was staggering.
When Xiaolan was sent to the hospital, she had already lost consciousness, and her usually bright eyes were tightly closed.
Conan accompanied her with concern, and from time to time he used his hand to test the temperature of Xiaolan's forehead to see if her fever had subsided.
Xiaolan closed her eyes but kept murmuring something.
Chu Ming pricked up his ears and listened carefully, and could barely hear what she said: Killing a person may require a motive, but saving a person does not require a reason.
This should be what Kudo Shinichi said to Vermouth when he rescued the highway killer played by Vermouth in the United States.
It was also because of that incident that Vermouth, who had always felt that angels had never smiled at her, was deeply touched. She regarded Xiaolan as the angel who saved her, and also protected Kudo Shinichi, the son of her old friend, at the top of her heart.
The doctor put an IV drip on Xiaolan and whispered to Maori Kogoro, "Your daughter caught a cold because she was too tired and the cold entered her body. Don't let her get so tired next time."
Kogoro Maori nodded repeatedly. Chu Ming also felt that Xiaolan was too tired. Recently, she has been busy with academic exams, clubs, and taking care of the family's food and drink. Occasionally, she has to pick up her drunk father and take him home. Now there is another kid to take care of. Of course, she will be very tired.
Looking at it this way, Xiaolan is too pitiful...
After the drip was finished, Xiaolan slowly woke up. When she opened her eyes, Conan was putting his forehead against hers to measure her temperature.
"Sister Xiaolan's fever has gone down." Conan stood up straight, his eyes full of excitement.
"Ah, you finally woke up, Xiaolan. The doctor said you were too tired. Next time, don't be so busy with schoolwork and clubs." Then, Maori Kogoro asked casually, "By the way, when you were unconscious just now, you kept muttering something about saving people without thinking too much..."
Xiaolan sat up with a flushed face: "No, Dad, please don't say it, that's what I have always wanted to--"
Before she could finish her words, she stopped talking in annoyance, and her face was as red as Conan, who suddenly shrank to the side of the bed with only half of his face exposed.
She lay back on the bed stiffly and pulled up the quilt: "This sentence is my motto, don't say it again in the future, Dad!"
Looking at the two people who were obviously shy, Chu Ming said goodbye with a smile and went home first.
He sent the video of Xiaolan that he shot today to Vermouth: "Look, sister, you have a little fan~"
Vermouth opened the video in surprise, and saw the girl whom she regarded as a beam of light and an angel in the video smiling with starry eyes and full of longing: "...My favorite movie star is Sharon Wynyard. She is really amazing. Not only is she an excellent actress, but she is also very kind to others. I had the honor of meeting her once. At that time, she..."
After watching the video, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on Vermouth's face. She immediately saved the video, her fingers unconsciously placed on the girl's cheek in the video, watched the video over and over again, and listened to the girl's words of praise for her over and over again.
This is what her angel said about her.
After a long time, Vermouth finally recovered from her excitement and suddenly began to wonder why Granburch sent this video to her? Did he discover something that provoked her to reveal her true identity?
She thought for a long time before sending a message: "Isn't this the detective's daughter? Why, do you want to do something to her?"
If Granburch really wanted to take action, how could he save the lives of his godson and his angel...
Chapter 285 Substitute Literature
Seeing that Vermouth misunderstood him, Chu Ming directly called Vermouth and started crying as soon as he opened his mouth.
"Sister, what do you think of me? I'm just happy that you have a new little fan, so I'm sharing the happiness with you."
"..." Belmode was choked by Chu Ming. What kind of person did she think he was? What kind of person could she think of Granburch? Wasn't it that Granburch wanted to kill this or that at the beginning, and didn't he have some strange good person filter for her?
"Don't keep me in suspense. Just tell me straight. Did you figure out something?" Vermouth rubbed her forehead with a headache. She suspected that Chu Ming already knew that she had a special feeling for Xiaolan, so he had been mentioning Xiaolan in front of her intentionally or unintentionally recently, trying to find her flaws.
Hearing Vermouth's tone, Chu Ming knew that she had misunderstood, but he didn't want to clarify. Instead, he took the opportunity to bring up the matter.
"I heard from Xiaolan that she and Kudo Shinichi saved the Highwayman who was about to fall from an unfinished building in the United States. Sister, I remember hearing from Vodka that you disguised yourself as the Highwayman as bait to ambush and capture Akai Shuichi? So the person they saved was you? And it was because of this life-saving grace that you have been protecting Xiaolan intentionally or unintentionally, right?"
Vermouth didn't say anything, so Chu Ming continued, "But I don't quite understand. If you say you're defending Xiaolan, I can understand that, but I feel like you seem to like the child next to her... Why?"
Vermouth's hand unconsciously twisted the cigarette on the table: "What do you want to say? Just say it."
Chu Ming's voice suddenly became serious: "So, sister actually likes children? Is it because you are too lonely? Then do you want me to find a child for you to raise? How old does sister want? Is a first grader okay?"
Vermouth was shocked by Chu Ming's train of thought, and then she didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Why do I need a child?"
"So - Sister doesn't actually like children, but simply likes Conan? Why? It was Xiaolan and Kudo Shinichi who saved you, could it be -"
Vermouth's heart skipped a beat. Was Granburch trying to trick her?
She quickly interrupted Chu Ming's words: "Sweetheart, that girl saved my life. Without harming the interests of the organization, can you help me protect her a little? How about considering it as my sister owes you a favor?"
Chu Ming laughed softly on the other end of the phone: "Since sister said so, of course it's okay. But sister, you have to tell me honestly, why do you look at that boy differently?"
Vermouth pondered for a long while, and finally said with a smile: "Sweetheart, sister invites you to have a midnight snack, I wonder if you are willing to do me the honor?"
Chu Ming readily agreed. As it was getting late, he did not disguise himself and drove directly to the cafe that Vermouth mentioned.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw Vermouth sitting inside, who seemed to have been waiting for him. Vermouth leaned against the table and waved at him in a charming manner.
"Sister, you come out like this without putting on makeup or disguising yourself. What if the paparazzi catch the famous movie star Chris Wynyard having a late-night meeting with a young hunk? It doesn't seem very appropriate." Chu Ming walked up to her and teased her.
Vermouth rested her chin on the table, smiling as always, and winked at Chu Ming: "Why, sweetheart, don't you want to be in the newspaper with me?"
"I'd rather hear gossip than be in the newspaper. Besides, I haven't found a girlfriend yet. What if my future girlfriend misunderstands me?" Chu Ming was unmoved.
"Really? Sweetheart has become less cute because of that cold-hearted Gin." Vermouth sighed softly, pretending to be sad.
Chu Ming gently took a sip of the coffee brought by the waiter, pondered for a moment, and asked a soul-searching question: "Sister, are you resentful that Gin killed your savior?"
Vermouth was stunned for a moment, then smiled charmingly: "Sweetheart, you think too much, I——"
Chu Ming lowered his head and stroked the wall of the cup. In fact, he was quietly brewing for a while. His whole temperament suddenly became dark and gloomy. He interrupted her directly: "Sister, if you betray the organization, I will kill you with my own hands."
The voice was very light, but it hit Vermouth's heart hard. She curled her lips and said, "Don't worry, sweetheart. I have been in the organization for decades longer than you, so I don't need you to remind me. I'm not afraid of you knowing that I do have some special feelings for Xiaolan, and she is a simple girl and can't hinder the organization. If sweetheart is willing to help me protect Xiaolan, then on your birthday in a few days, I will give you an unforgettable gift, how about that?"
"A gift of equal value to what I spent?" Chu Ming raised his eyebrows. "Then Sister will probably have to bleed a lot of money. I am very worthwhile. But let me be frank. Normally, there is no problem with protecting her. Anyway, I have to maintain my positive image in front of detectives and police officers. But if she hinders the organization, no matter who she is, I will not give her face."
Vermouth breathed a sigh of relief. Before she could say anything, Chu Ming continued to ask, "Now, sister, can you tell me what's so special about that boy?"
Vermouth's mind raced. In fact, she hadn't thought of an excuse yet. She had asked Chu Ming to come out in order to disrupt his thoughts and stop him from thinking about this. However, Chu Ming still couldn't forget about it.
"Actually... this is what happened. Kudo Shinichi saved me back then, and when I returned this time I wanted to repay him, but I didn't expect that he had been killed by Gin, so I can only repay Xiaolan alone. And Conan, you also think he looks a lot like Kudo Shinichi, right? I think so too, so since Kudo Shinichi is dead, it's okay for me to transfer my feelings to him."
? ? ? ? ?
Chu Ming listened to the excuse that Vermouth made up in a hurry. He felt like swearing was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't say it. He always felt that Vermouth was treating him like a fool.
"You find it unbelievable, right? You think I'm lying to you, but the truth is this. If I really want to lie to you, wouldn't I come up with a more suitable reason to coax you? Even if the truth is outrageous, I don't want to lie to you." Vermouth's delicate and charming eyebrows drooped slightly, and thousands of worries gathered in her brows.
“…” But you are just lying to me!!! Do you think I read my script in vain?
Chu Ming shouted in his heart, but his face showed no sign of it.
Damn it, this is too much, they actually made up such a weird excuse to brush him off!!
Chapter 286: Not Following the Routine
The consequence of going out for coffee with Vermouth late at night and even chatting until dawn was that Chu Ming slept until the afternoon, then he scratched his messy hair and crawled out of bed.
After yawning, Chu Ming took a piece of toast to fill his stomach for the time being and planned to go to the mall to see if there was anything delicious.
It was just the time for school to be over, and Chu Ming was strolling aimlessly along with the crowds of people, trying to see if there were any new stores in the mall he had visited so many times before.
"Brother Chu Ming?"
"Oh~Mr. Chu Ming~"
Chu Ming turned around and saw Judy, Xiaolan, Yuanzi and Conan walking towards him with a smile. He also greeted them with a smile.
Conan was following the three people slowly, thinking hard, and no one knew what he was thinking. The moment he saw Chu Ming, he ran over with his two short legs, grabbed Chu Ming's hand and turned him in a different direction, avoiding Xiaolan and the others and quietly asked him: "Brother Chu Ming, do you know what X means?"
Chu Ming was stunned for a moment. It was so confusing and no one knew what it meant. But when it came to this, memories of his school days suddenly jumped out and attacked him.
"X represents an unknown number?"
Conan frowned, looking at the three people who were chatting happily behind him, muttering and trying to analyze it with Chu Ming: "Indeed, in algebra, X represents an unknown number, and also represents doubts, unknown, unclear, and uncertain things. X may also refer to X-rays. People under the age of 18 cannot enter the place where X is drawn. It may also be a synonym for something is about to happen. If you look at it as a cross, the cross represents something wrong or missing a word. A cross also represents a divorce. Sister Xiaolan said that it is good for girls to know this sign? Damn, what does it mean..."
Looking at Conan who was thinking hard, Chu Ming smiled and rubbed his head: "Why are you suddenly so entangled in this?"
Conan scratched his head in annoyance: "On the way home from school just now, Xiaolan asked me, saying that it was a question asked by Teacher Judy, but I couldn't think of it. The mind of a girl is indeed the most difficult mystery in the world."
"Speaking of girls, then I can think of another meaning of X..."
Conan quickly grabbed Chu Ming and asked, "What is it?"
"that is--"
The entire mall was suddenly dark, all the lights went out instantly, and there was a commotion all around.
Just as everyone was stunned, the lights came on again.
A shrill scream echoed above the shopping mall. Before Chu Ming could finish his words, Conan had already jumped out.
On the escalator in the shopping mall, a figure covered in blood was holding an empty file bag, swaying constantly as the escalator went up and down, like a child on a rocking car.
Chu Ming followed Conan and took a look. He saw a few symbols written in blood on the file bag: ○ × △.
Huh? Isn't this Sony?
Conan squatted beside the escalator and pondered, wondering what these symbols meant. At this moment, Xiaolan and Inspector Megure hurried over from downstairs.
"Brother Chu Ming, oh, Xiaolan and Conan are here too. So that means--" Inspector Megure began to look around, trying to find any trace of Kogoro Mouri.
"Oh~ Officer Megure, what are you looking for?" Judy said in a strange tone.
"Haha, I'm looking for Brother Maori. Where is he? Why can't I see him?" Officer Megure looked around but didn't see him. His doubtful eyes slowly fell on Chu Ming, "Brother Maori is not here?"
The implication is, how could there be a murder if the God of Plague is not around? Have you been infected by Kogoro Mori?
"..." Feeling vaguely implied, Chu Ming pulled Conan, who was lost in thought, to the front to block Inspector Megure's sight.
"Brother Chu Ming, you are encountering more and more cases..." Inspector Megure's vision was blocked, but this did not affect his complaints.
Chu Ming patted Conan's head and said, "I haven't encountered many of them. Conan is the one who follows Uncle Maori and is never absent."
Inspector Megure looked at the short Conan in front of him and didn't take it seriously. He looked down at the document bag taken out from the deceased's arms and sighed: "I don't know what this Dyin-death information of the deceased means..."
Originally, Inspector Megure wanted to express it in English as usual, but when he thought of the presence of Judy, who didn't speak Japanese very well but loved to correct other people's English, he silently changed his words.
Takagi ran over and handed the search information to Officer Megure. It is currently known that the deceased was a detective who was asked by the president of a company to investigate the embezzlement of public funds in the company. Now the information in the file bag has disappeared, which means that the murderer is the person who embezzled the company's funds.
This Detective Nakajo gave the president a list of suspects a few days ago. There were fifty-eight people in total, and the suspect was one of them.
Isn’t this the most luxurious lineup in history—a super unprecedented high-end game, with one in fifty-eight to choose from.