Detective Conan: Death Note

Accompanied by the roar of the rotors, a black armed helicopter swiftly pierced through the clouds. "I see the airship, boss." Vodka, sittin

Accompanied by the roar of the rotors, a black armed helicopter swiftly pierced through the clouds.

"I see the airship, boss."

Vodka, sitting at the controls, spoke loudly.

"Approach it."

Watching the airship through radar and surveillance cameras, Gin issued the order in a cold tone.

In the back seat, Chianti aggressively wiped her gun.

"Who are these punks? I'll blow their heads off with one shot!"

Gin said nothing but focused his attention on the earpiece, hearing Vermouth's voice.

"Don't you find it strange, Gin? There's no police helicopter following that airship."

That was Vermouth.

This wasn't the only armed helicopter on this mission—Vermouth, Korn, and Tequila were following behind.

"It's probably just the kidnappers' threat—if a helicopter gets close, they'll kill the hostages."

As a bigger thug himself, Gin immediately understood the predicament the police were facing.

"That means they must have someone watching the airspace around the airship."

"Send me all the info on the Suzuki Foundation's airship."

Gin said immediately.

—Given Suzuki Jirokichi's flamboyant personality, since the day the Suzuki First Airship was built, there had been all sorts of leaked photos.

Therefore, photos of the airship from every angle were already online.

As for the radar installed on the airship, Gin completely ignored it, because both armed helicopters used coatings made from ores of the Kingdom of Vispania, so there was no worry about being detected by radar...

Thus, they only had to avoid being spotted with the naked eye.

"Got it. The observation deck is here. Approach from the blind spots the deck can't see."

After receiving the order, Vodka immediately piloted the armed helicopter to approach from the specified angle.

Gin could ignore the lives of ordinary hostages, but if Cointreau was among them, he couldn't just stand by.

Before the operation, he hadn't called or messaged Hayashi Yoshiki to confirm the situation, because Yoshiki hadn't sent any updates—after all, kidnappers would take away hostages' communication devices, and Cointreau, if really in danger, wouldn't be foolish enough to stay silent...

So there was only one answer: his phone was taken by the kidnappers.

Under Vodka's steady control, the armed helicopter quickly moved above the center of the airship and began descending.

The other armed helicopter's pilot was Korn.

His piloting skills were inferior to Vodka's, but still stable as he hovered above the airship, carefully managing the height difference.

"Rope deployed."

Vodka called out loudly.

Gin opened the cabin door, and the fierce wind immediately whipped his black coat wildly.

He crouched, grabbing the rope lowered from the helicopter with gloved hands, then descended directly onto the airship's surface.

Chianti followed closely behind, then Vermouth and Tequila.

"The view is really beautiful."

Vermouth smiled warmly, brushing her blonde hair blown about by the wind.

Chianti glared fiercely at her.

"You're so carefree!"

"And what good does it do you to be so anxious, Chianti?"

Vermouth laughed.

Though she said this, Vermouth was actually very anxious inside.

She knew it wasn't only Hayashi Yoshiki, but also Ran and the others who were on this airship.

"Quiet."

Seeing Chianti about to explode, Gin's cold voice cut through.

The four fought the fierce high-altitude winds as they searched the airship's surface for an entrance—and soon found one.

"Put on gas masks. Prepare to move."

"OK~"

After all, the Red Siamese Cat group claimed they intended to release the lethal bacteria over Osaka—no one knew what situation awaited inside the airship.

The four moved swiftly and stealthily inside.

Time was almost up.

Glancing at the time on his watch, Hayashi Yoshiki felt a flicker of happiness.

"Yoshiki..."

With breathless, dazed eyes, Ran looked at him.

Perhaps cherishing the last remaining time, or not wanting to think about such sad things anymore, she cooperated with Yoshiki's kiss, even leaning in toward him.

"Good news, Ran."

"What?"

"The bacteria are probably fake."

Yoshiki showed her the watch on his left hand.

The girl looked puzzled.

Until Yoshiki removed the watch, revealing the rash-covered wrist beneath, but where the watch had been was completely clear, white skin.

Why?

She was surprised.

A rash caused by bacterial infection shouldn't have spared exactly the area covered by the watch.

"Looks like a skin infection. I think it's some kind of lacquer or resin," Yoshiki explained, pausing briefly, "probably from the towel we used to disinfect."

Ran immediately thought of the waitress.

No wonder...!

They had disinfected so thoroughly—how could it still be a simple contact infection?

Fujio Takamichi hadn't even sneezed, and Yoshiki had kept enough distance from him.

"So what about us?"

"There's no real bacteria. The attack on the research lab was just a malicious pretense."

Saying this, Yoshiki moved to the door of the room.

"The priority now is to get out of here."

He knocked on the door.

The door was thick and heavy, but no matter how much he knocked, there was no response.

—Clearly, no one was guarding outside.

Ran's expression stiffened.

"Yoshiki, let me try."

"...?"

Seeing Ran take a deep breath and prepare to rush forward, Yoshiki quickly stepped back a pace.

Like lightning, the girl closed the distance to the door in an instant and kicked it hard.

BANG!!!

The sound shook the cups inside the room.

Yoshiki saw the door visibly dent inward.

The next second, Ran took a stance and kicked again; the dented door broke free from the frame and crashed into the hallway with a fierce impact.

Outside was indeed empty.

"We did it, Yoshiki!"

Ran's joyful expression was genuine.

Yoshiki's smile was faint but complex as he looked at her.

"Anyway, let's get out of here first."

"Okay!"

Ran's face turned serious immediately.

Opposite them was a group of heavily armed criminals—no matter how strong one was, a careless mistake could be fatal.

Having finally found hope for survival, Ran naturally wouldn't relax.

Yoshiki put his watch back on, revealing a small smile.

The time had come.