Chapter 155: Investigating the Surveillance
Vodka watched his boss's retreating back, a wave of relief washing over him. It was just as well; he had no idea how to answer Chianti's pointed question from a moment ago anyway. Wiping a film of cold sweat from his brow, he scurried past the two snipers, hurrying to catch up.
"Chianti, Korn, keep up. We have a mission."
Just as Chianti and Korn were nursing a flicker of disappointment, cheated of their chance to press Vodka for details, Gin's cold, sharp voice cut through the air.
The word "mission" was a potent stimulant. The snipers' curiosity about Vodka's secrets evaporated in an instant, replaced by a familiar, predatory excitement. All thoughts of the unanswered question vanished, consumed by the promise of the hunt.
The next day, the clock read 6:30 AM.
Driven by a shared curiosity about the mysterious individual who had been ringing Mizunashi Rena's doorbell, Natsume and Charlotte had risen before the sun. They moved through the quiet apartment building on silent, tiptoeing feet, arriving at the designated floor just as the minute hand ticked over.
As they approached, they saw the door to Mizunashi Rena's apartment swing open, revealing Kogoro Mouri and his entourage.
"Mr. Mouri, Ran, Conan, and Miss Mizunashi. Good morning," Natsume greeted them with a pleasant, easygoing smile.
Her eyes, however, were already taking in the scene. The entryway looked different from yesterday. Two neat stacks of old newspapers flanked the doorway, and tucked behind them… was that a child?
'So that must be him,'Natsume thought.'The one who's been ringing her bell every Saturday.'
Conan, ever observant, caught the directed gaze from Natsume and Charlotte. He saw their eyes fix on the space behind the newspapers and knew, with a familiar sense of camaraderie, that they had also pieced together the identity of the "culprit."
A few moments later, under Conan's subtle guidance, Kogoro Mouri theatrically "discovered" and pulled a small, trembling boy out from behind the stacks of newsprint.
As the story tumbled out, everyone learned the reason for the boy's strange behavior.
It turned out that Mizunashi Rena bore a striking resemblance to his mother, who had passed away some time ago. In his grief, he had started coming every Saturday to ring her doorbell, a ritual to "wake her up." The sleeping pills he'd left weren't a malicious prank, but a misguided, childish attempt to ensure she got some proper rest.
His voice choked with unshed tears as he explained, his small body shaking with the weight of his confession. Mizunashi Rena's professional, polished demeanor melted away. The hard lines around her eyes softened, and she sank to her knees in front of the boy, her expression full of a deep, aching sympathy. She placed her hands gently on his shoulders, her touch a silent promise of comfort.
Watching the scene unfold, even Conan felt a lump form in his throat.
Then, a flicker of movement in his periphery drew his attention. He turned his head just in time to see Charlotte, moving with a quiet, practiced stealth. She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, retrieving a compact camera from a hidden pocket, and began discreetly capturing the poignant moment before them.
'She really is a dedicated reporter,' Conan thought with a touch of dry amusement.
After a few more soft words from Mizunashi Rena, the little boy nodded, a quiet "Mm-hmm" escaping him. He scrubbed at his wet eyes with his sleeve, managing a wobbly, brave smile as he waved. "Goodbye, big sister."
"Goodbye," Mizunashi Rena replied, her voice thick with emotion. She stood up, her gaze gentle as she watched his small figure retreat down the hallway.
Charlotte approached, her own camera now lowered. "Miss Mizunashi, please don't be too sad. It's good for him to start moving on from the past." She held up her camera. "I also took a few photos of what just happened. If you don't mind, I can print them out for you later. So you can keep them as a memento."
"Thank you." Mizunashi Rena had been focused on the child, but she hadn't missed Charlotte's actions. The thought of having a keepsake of the encounter was surprisingly welcome. The boy reminded her so keenly of her own younger brother. "I wouldn't mind at all," she agreed readily.
With the doorbell incident successfully resolved, Mizunashi Rena insisted on paying Kogoro Mouri his consultation fee, a transaction that conveniently allowed her to acquire his email address.
Finally, the group said their goodbyes at the building's entrance.
"Sister Natsume, Sister Charlotte, what are you two planning to do now?" Conan asked before they could part ways, his voice pitched in that perfect, innocent tone.
"We were thinking of taking a look across the street," Charlotte replied with a bright smile, linking her arm through Natsume's.
"You're going to that apartment? To find the person who's been watching?" Ran immediately understood their intention.
"There's no helping it," Charlotte explained with a theatrical sigh. "I live here, and I have no plans to move. It's probably a good idea to figure out who's taken such an interest in the neighborhood."
In truth, neither Natsume nor Charlotte was particularly eager for what they knew would be a fruitless trip. But as Charlotte had said, she was a resident. Ignoring a potential stalker would be out of character. And as her friend, Natsume would naturally offer to help with the investigation. To do otherwise would be suspicious.
Ran's brow furrowed with concern. "But… will that be dangerous? Do you need our help?"
"Don't you worry." Charlotte waved a dismissive hand, using the other to pull Natsume forward. "If you don't trust me, you should at least trust Natsume's combat skills. With her around, there's no such thing as danger."
"Oh, that's true," Ran said, her worries instantly assuaged by the reminder of Natsume's capabilities.
"Then I want to go too!" Conan piped up, his curiosity piqued. He had already planned on investigating the surveillance himself later, but this was a perfect opportunity. Tagging along with Natsume and Charlotte would not only let him get to the bottom of this mystery but might also offer a chance to glean more information about the enigmatic Charlotte.
"You can't, Conan," Ran chided gently. "Natsume and Charlotte are going to investigate. You'll just get in their way."
"No! I want to go with Sister Natsume! I can help!" Conan immediately launched into his most convincing tantrum, his lower lip jutting out.
Natsume sighed internally. "...Forget it, Ran. Let him come with us. Like he said, Conan is a smart kid. He might actually be able to help."
Seeing his determination, Natsume knew he wouldn't be deterred. If she said no, he would just follow them secretly. It was easier to simply agree. Besides, listening to a high school detective whine like a first-grader was a uniquely bizarre experience. The sheer strangeness of it was enough to give her goosebumps.
With Conan's persistence and Natsume's consent, Ran had no choice but to relent. She wouldn't forcibly drag him away.
"Be careful," Ran warned one last time, before leaving with her father, who was already complaining about some urgent business he had to attend to.
"Alright, you got your wish. Let's go," Natsume said, ruffling Conan's hair with a tone of fond exasperation.
"Mm-hmm," Conan nodded obediently, his mission a success.
With their small companion in tow, Natsume and Charlotte started toward their destination. They hadn't even reached the crosswalk, however, when Conan suddenly stopped. He slapped his forehead, claiming he'd forgotten something at Miss Mizunashi's place and needed to run back and get it, promising to return immediately.
As he dashed off, Charlotte turned to Natsume. "What do you think, Traveler? Should we wait for him?"
"Let's go," Natsume said, not breaking her stride. "I estimate that our little detective won't be coming back. He's about to discover that Mizunashi Rena is a member of the Black Organization. Once that happens, his mind will be completely filled with clues about them. He won't have any attention to spare for this."
Though she had been prepared for this to be a wasted trip from the start, there was no sense in wasting any more time than necessary. Conan wasn't returning, which made this the perfect opportunity to get their own perfunctory investigation over with. She had no desire to stand around waiting for someone who was never going to show up.
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