Detective Conan: Death Note

Jodie and Camel, taken to the Metropolitan Police Department, were soon held in separate detention and interrogated. The interrogators were

Jodie and Camel, taken to the Metropolitan Police Department, were soon held in separate detention and interrogated.

The interrogators were from the Public Security Bureau.

In fact, Miwako Sato, who brought them in, wasn't entirely sure of the identities of these foreigners—

She only vaguely knew they were connected to the recent highway shootout and the explosion at Tsutsumikotsu Bridge.

But now, full responsibility had shifted to the Public Security Bureau.

When James Black learned of this, he hurried over to get them out.

The FBI lacked cross-border law enforcement rights; although sometimes they cooperated internationally with host country police and security agencies, that was limited to coordination work and required prior communication.

Jodie didn't know the details of how James negotiated with the Japanese Public Security, only that the police didn't open the detention door for her until late evening.

"Where's Shuichi?"

Seeing James' figure, Jodie grew anxious.

James adjusted his glasses and said, "Don't worry, I've already negotiated with the Japanese side. I'm going to find him now."

The escorting officer opened the door to Camel's cell.

The burly man with the gunshot wound on his shoulder, now treated, nodded to his two comrades and obediently returned to the group.

Next was the room for "Shuichi Akai."

But as they reached the door, the three's faces instantly turned pale.

Empty.

Inside the barren temporary detention room, only a crumpled object lay on the gray floor.

The escorting officer approached in shock, picking it up—and found it was a thin mask painted with gruesome burn scars.

"A human face mask..."

"That guy—it really was fake!?"

In that instant, the three FBI agents' expressions soured deeply.

They had sacrificed so many comrades all because of a fake?

Jodie felt the blow even heavier.

Her hard-earned hope turned out to be nothing but an illusion, and several agents had died for it.

A surge of grief and anger overwhelmed her, her face iron-cold as she stormed into the room searching for any more clues.

In the end, all she could do was clench her teeth, red-eyed and grim.

The officers, discovering the mysterious disappearance of the detained FBI and only that human skin mask left behind, frantically took out their phones to report the situation.

Chaos erupted throughout the Metropolitan Police Department.

The mastermind, however, Amuro Toru, sat in an office sipping tea and reviewing documents.

Some of the information he needed, Kazuya Kazami had painstakingly helped uncover—the order for the traffic police to cooperate with Hayashi Yoshiki's operation had come from a director-level officer within the Public Security Bureau.

Amuro Toru couldn't help but be surprised at this revelation.

But soon, a gleam lit up his eyes.

I see.

So that's how it was...

Amuro Toru, or rather Furuya Rei, belonged to a very special section of Public Security.

Unlike ordinary Public Security members like Kazuya Kazami, Furuya Rei was part of a division called "Zero" (meaning non-existence).

The director officers of Zero were even more secretive, divided into "front directors" and "back directors" —

positions so mysterious that even their identity files were destroyed, and almost no one knew who held them.

Why would Hayashi Yoshiki be involved with such a figure?

The most likely answer was that he had direct connections within the Public Security Bureau.

Unbelievable.

That was the only word Amuro Toru could use to describe his feelings at that moment.

He deeply respected Hayashi Yoshiki's abilities and had long considered recruiting him into Public Security...

But had never found the chance or reason to bring it up, since joining Public Security wasn't exactly a good thing in essence.

Yet, he never imagined Hayashi Yoshiki was somehow already involved with Public Security without even his knowledge.

No—he couldn't jump to conclusions just yet—

Still, Amuro Toru couldn't stop the corner of his mouth from curling upward.

A silver Mercedes pulled up to the Metropolitan Police Department entrance.

Seeing Hayashi Yoshiki in the car, a now calmer Jodie spoke:

"You two go back first. I have some things to discuss with Mr. Hayashi."

She said this to James and Camel.

James didn't refuse:

"Okay, I'll call you later."

"Good."

After James and Camel left, Jodie got into Hayashi Yoshiki's car.

The silver Mercedes quickly drove out of the police department gates.

It was past eight o'clock at night.

The bustling Tokyo night streets forced the car to stop and go repeatedly.

"Need a tissue?"

"You really treat me like a little girl, huh?"

Having settled her emotions, Jodie looked the part as she replied,

"Anyway, I'm glad we had your guidance today, Hayashi-kun."

"No need to thank me. On the contrary, I should thank you for giving me this opportunity to successfully test my long-held idea."

Hayashi Yoshiki said calmly.

Jodie fell silent.

Thinking about what happened at the Tsutsumikotsu Bridge, an unspeakable fear still gripped her heart...

How does one face such utterly illogical death?

She couldn't understand how Hayashi Yoshiki could have the courage to pursue the killer after learning of this—

Even now, as their car moved through the streets, Jodie felt uneasy, as if the next second could bring another unexpected accident.

Forget it.

"Jodie-san, did you feel anything was off about this operation?"

"No."

"Well..." Hayashi Yoshiki began, then immediately swallowed his words and smiled,

"No, nothing."

"If there's any problem, just tell me, Mr. Hayashi."

"Nothing at all." Hayashi Yoshiki smiled,

"I just wanted to ask if you had investigated the people on the spy list.

But considering what you went through today... I originally planned to ask after some time."

"I followed two people on the list."

Jodie named two individuals,

"Because their daily routines were easier to track, and their residences were convenient for me to sneak in and place bugs...

But I still haven't received any useful information."

Ah, so you did plant bugs?

Hearing her honest confession, Hayashi Yoshiki's joy almost spilled over.

This is exactly what I wanted to confirm.

Having gained Jodie's trust and drawn Black away, Jodie hadn't even considered guarding herself against Hayashi Yoshiki with such simple information.

This allowed him to operate with peace of mind.

Also, Amuro Toru's side should have already succeeded—

That sensitive fellow would surely be shocked to find police or Public Security cooperating with his orders.

Once he started investigating, he would immediately notice the involvement of Public Security's top brass.

Seeing how Hayashi Yoshiki manipulated the Public Security leadership using the Death Note, Amuro Toou would gradually realize...

Hayashi Yoshiki was on his side.

Everything—

Too smooth to be true.