118: Chapter 118 Shinichi Kudo's Exposure

The school dismissal bell at Beika Elementary School felt like a dull blade, slowly slicing through the quiet of the afternoon.

Conan Edogawa, carrying a backpack wider than himself, walked out the school gate mixed into the chattering crowd, but his peripheral vision remained vigilantly scanning his surroundings—this feeling of being watched had persisted for three days.

The first day was on the way home from school. As he crouched down to tie his shoelaces, he caught a glimpse of a man wearing sunglasses in a black sedan at the street corner, staring at him.

By the time he stood up, the car had already merged into the traffic, leaving behind only a blurred license plate number.

The second day was downstairs at the Mouri Detective Agency. When he went to buy soy sauce, he kept feeling a gaze stuck to his back, but when he turned around, he only saw hurried pedestrians; only a figure wearing a black trench coat flashed past the alley entrance, as fast as an illusion.

And today, this feeling was particularly intense. It was as if a venomous snake was hiding in the shadows, flicking its tongue, waiting for a fatal strike.

"Conan, what are you daydreaming about?"

Ayumi's voice pulled him back to reality. The little girl held up the cotton candy she had just bought, smiling until her eyes curved into crescents, "Mitsuhiko and Genta are waiting for us ahead, saying they want to go to the park to play hide-and-seek!"

Conan forced a smile and followed the three little friends toward the park.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadows on the ground, yet he felt a chill all over his body.

He knew this wasn't an illusion. To be able to tail him for three days without him noticing, the other party was definitely a top-tier expert—was it someone from the Black Organization? Or those Zaibatsu assassins coveting the secret of "rejuvenation"?

"Conan, look! That dog is so cute!" Genta pointed at a golden retriever not far away and ran over excitedly.

Conan's gaze, however, fell upon a man on a park bench.

He was wearing a gray jacket and a hat, his head lowered while reading a newspaper, but the edge of the newspaper was deliberately raised to cover half of his face. When Conan looked over, his fingers paused almost imperceptibly.

That's him!

Conan's heart constricted violently.

The man's sitting posture looked casual, but his legs were slightly spread, poised to stand up at any moment, and the black backpack by his feet was bulging, its outline resembling a gun.

"Conan, what's wrong? Your face is so pale." Ayumi touched his arm with concern.

"It's nothing." Conan shook his head and pulled Ayumi in the opposite direction, "Let's not go over there; let's go play on the slide instead."

As he walked, he observed the man out of the corner of his eye. Sure enough, not long after, the man put down the newspaper and slowly followed, pretending to look at the flowers and plants in the park.

"Mitsuhiko, Genta, let's play a game."

Conan lowered his voice, speaking at a volume only the three friends could hear, "Let's pretend to argue, then run off in separate directions to see who can get to the Mouri Detective Agency first."

"Argue? Why argue?" Genta looked puzzled.

"Idiot, this is a new game!"

Conan glared at him and deliberately raised his voice, "I don't want to play with you! You cheat every time!"

"I do not!" Genta immediately bristled and started arguing with Conan.

Ayumi and Mitsuhiko also cooperated by joining the "argument," and the four of them scattered noisily, running in different directions.

As Conan ran, he kept an eye on what was behind him. The man indeed hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to follow him.

Very good, he's hooked.

A cold sneer curled the corner of Conan's mouth, and he turned into a narrow alley.

This was a route he had scouted out long ago; it was crisscrossed and maze-like, perfect for shaking off a pursuer.

He didn't stop running, using the advantage of his small stature to weave flexibly between trash cans and walls, and quickly put some distance between himself and the man.

But when he rounded a corner, preparing to confirm whether he had shaken the pursuer off, he slammed into a hard chest.

"Little kid, running so fast, are you playing hide-and-seek?"

A cold voice rang out above his head, carrying a hint of elusive mockery.

Conan froze, slowly looking up—a black trench coat, long silver hair, and those eyes as cold as ice.

Gin!

How could he be here?!

Gin looked down at him, a cruel smile playing on his lips: "Conan Edogawa? Or... should I call you, Kudo Shinichi?"

Conan's mind went blank, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest. He subconsciously reached for the anesthesia gun in his pocket, but Gin grabbed his wrist.

"Don't waste your energy."

Gin's strength was astonishingly great, squeezing until Conan's bones ached, "Do you think you can hide for long with these little tricks of yours?"

He took out a photo, which was exactly how Conan looked at elementary school, with a photo of Kudo Shinichi attached next to it; the eyes and brows of both faces were circled in red ink, looking almost identical.

"From the day you were forced to ingest APTX4869, you should have known that no one can escape from the Black Organization."

Gin's other hand pressed onto Conan's head, the force increasing, "Tell me, how did you become small? I really didn't expect that you would actually be fine and even rejuvenated; you're really lucky."

Conan gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, his brain racing. Don't panic, must find a way to escape!

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He deliberately feigned fear, his voice tearful, "My name is Conan Edogawa, I'm an elementary school student, you've mistaken me for someone else!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Gin sneered and took out a dagger, the cold blade grazing Conan's cheek.

"It seems that unless I teach you a lesson, you won't tell the truth."

Just then, rapid footsteps came from the alley entrance, accompanied by Genta's shout:

"Conan! Where did you run off to? We won!"

Gin's eyes sharpened, and he subconsciously looked toward the alley entrance.

Now is the time!

Conan suddenly lifted his foot and stomped hard on Gin's leather shoe, while simultaneously using all his strength to break free from his hand, turning and running.

"Damn it!" Gin, in pain, roared and immediately gave chase.

Conan ran with all his might, his backpack bouncing painfully on his back. He could hear Gin's footsteps getting closer behind him, along with the sound of a bullet being chambered.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, the bullet whizzing past his ear and hitting the wall, splashing up a cloud of dust.

Conan was scared out of his wits and hurriedly turned into another alley. This one was narrower, with high walls on both sides and no exit!

It's over!

He turned around desperately, looking at Gin blocking the alley entrance; the man was holding a gun, approaching step by step.

"Run, why aren't you running anymore?"

Gin's eyes were cold, "I'll give you one last chance to tell me what method you used or the process of how you became small."

Conan clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He knew he couldn't say it. Once he revealed how he had become small, not only would he be in danger, but the Mouri family would also be dragged into this turmoil.

"I don't know."

He lifted his head, looking straight into Gin's eyes, fear gone from his gaze, leaving only determination.

"Just kill me."

Gin was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting this "brat" to be so tough. His eyes became even colder, and his finger slowly pulled the trigger.

Just at this critical moment, a dark shadow suddenly leaped down from the wall and kicked the gun out of Gin's hand.

"Gin, long time no see."

Akai Shuichi's voice rang out in the alley; he was wearing a black hoodie and holding a sniper rifle, the muzzle aimed steadily at Gin's heart.

Gin's expression changed abruptly: "Akai Shuichi? You're not dead?!"

"Thanks to you, I'm living just fine."

Akai Shuichi's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, "Let that child go, and I can let you leave."

"Do you think that's possible?"

Gin sneered and suddenly pulled another gun from his bosom, aiming at Conan, "He is the organization's test subject; I must take him back."

"Then don't blame me for being impolite." Akai Shuichi pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Bang!"

The bullet struck Gin's arm, and blood instantly stained his black trench coat red.

Gin, in pain, dropped the gun to the ground. He glanced at Akai Shuichi, then at Conan, his eyes sinister, and finally gritted his teeth, turned, and climbed over the wall to escape.

The alley finally quieted down, leaving only the sound of Conan's heavy panting and Akai Shuichi's suppressed coughing.

"You... you are Akai Shuichi?" Conan looked at Akai Shuichi, a flash of shock in his eyes.

Akai Shuichi put away his gun, walked in front of him, and checked to see if he was injured: "Are you okay?"

Conan shook his head, looking at the direction in which Gin had escaped with lingering fear: "How did he find me?"

"It was my carelessness."

Akai Shuichi's gaze was solemn, "The Black Organization has started investigating everyone who has taken APTX4869; your identity's exposure was only a matter of time. Your family must relocate as soon as possible."

Conan nodded, suddenly remembering something: "Ayumi and the others are still outside, will they be in danger?"

"Don't worry, I have already sent 'my' people to protect them."

Akai Shuichi patted his head, "Now, come with me. Your parents have already arranged a new safe house."

Conan followed Akai Shuichi out of the alley; the sunlight was so blinding that he couldn't open his eyes.

He looked back at the narrow alley, as if he could still see Gin's cold gaze and the dagger flashing with cold light.

He knew that escaping by luck this time was entirely due to Akai Shuichi arriving in time. But next time, he might not have such good luck.

The Black Organization had set its sights on him, and those greedy Zaibatsu were also watching covetously.

He was like someone standing in the center of a storm; the slightest movement could lead to being crushed to pieces or the destruction of his family.