38: Chapter 38 Yukiko's Shock

In the reception room of the Lin Family Manor, the air seemed to have frozen.

On the table lay a photograph of a beautiful blonde woman.

It was a photo taken when Lin Long had the Shadow Guards investigate the Black Organization, and the person in it was none other than Vermouth.

Kudo Yusaku stared fixedly at the photo on the table, his fingertips trembling slightly from the force, his pupils filled with incredulous shock.

The woman in the photo was wearing a long red dress, her makeup exquisite, the corners of her mouth curled into a faint, elusive smile. She was none other than the good friend he and Kudo Yukiko had known in the United States—the famous Hollywood actress, Chris Vineyard.

"Vermouth... it’s actually her?"

Kudo Yusaku's voice was dry, carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.

This name swirled in his mind, overlapping with the image of that elegant, generous, witty, and talkative woman from his memories, yet he couldn't reconcile it with labels like "Black Organization operative" or "vermouth."

President Lin Long picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, his red eyes carrying a hint of mockery: "What? Surprised?"

"Surprised is an understatement."

Kudo Yusaku took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his surging emotions. "She is Kudo Yukiko's best friend in the United States; we have known each other for nearly ten years... How could she possibly be a member of the Black Organization?"

Kudo Yusaku couldn't accept this fact for a moment.

The woman who would discuss makeup techniques with Kudo Yukiko, complain about Hollywood gossip together, and even held Shinichi Kudo when he was a child, was actually a core member of that cold-blooded, ruthless criminal organization that treated human life like grass?

It was too absurd, as absurd as a nightmare.

"Nothing is impossible."

President Lin Long set down his teacup, his tone flat. "The Black Organization can establish itself globally precisely because of this kind of 'unexpectedness'."

"Their members could be your neighbors, your respected superiors, or even... your trusted friends."

President Lin Long stood up, walked over to Kudo Yusaku, patted his shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of significance: "vermouth, skilled in disguise and impersonation, that is her specialty."

"What you and Kudo Yukiko saw was merely the 'mask' she wanted you to see."

Kudo Yusaku's heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, aching dully.

He recalled the bits and pieces of his time with Chris Vineyard—the lonely look she occasionally revealed, her abnormal obsession with "black clothes," her vague "work"...

It turned out that those details he had ignored were all flaws.

It was just that he had never thought in that direction.

"The infiltration of the Black Organization... has reached such a level."

Kudo Yusaku muttered to himself, a trace of lingering fear flashing in his eyes.

If President Lin Long hadn't pointed it out, they would probably still be kept in the dark, and might even have been betrayed by this "good friend" without knowing it.

President Lin Long was right; this organization was far more terrifying and pervasive than he had imagined.

"I have already introduced the person to you."

President Lin Long returned to his seat, looking at the disheartened Kudo Yusaku. "You don't need me to teach you what to do next, right?"

Kudo Yusaku raised his head, looking at President Lin Long with complex eyes.

He couldn't understand this man in front of him more and more—why did he tell him all this? Was it to force him to join the organization, or was there another purpose?

But regardless, the clue President Lin Long provided was his only breakthrough at the moment.

"I understand."

Kudo Yusaku nodded slowly, his voice low. "Thank you, President Lin Long, for informing me. I will transfer the remaining payment to you as soon as possible."

Kudo Yusaku stood up and straightened his slightly disheveled suit. Despite the stormy waves in his heart, he tried hard to maintain his composure on the surface.

"Then I won't overstay my welcome. Farewell."

"Take care." President Lin Long waved his hand without getting up to see him off.

Watching Kudo Yusaku's figure disappear at the door, the smile on President Lin Long's face gradually faded, a hint of amusement flashing in his red eyes.

Kudo Yusaku, Vermouth... these two chess pieces were already in place. Next, it was time to see how they would "play the game."

"Things are getting more and more interesting."

President Lin Long said to himself. He wanted to see what kind of spectacular show would unfold when Kudo Yusaku tried to approach vermouth, and when vermouth discovered that the Kudo Family knew her secret.

Kudo Yusaku sat in the car back to Beika Town, silent all the way.

The street scene outside the window flew by, but he couldn't read a word of it. In his mind, he kept replaying Chris Vineyard's face and President Lin Long's words about "vermouth."

Was that woman really as terrifying as President Lin Long said?

He took out his phone and pulled up an old photo—it was a photo taken years ago of him, Kudo Yukiko, and Chris Vineyard at an Oscars banquet.

In the photo, Chris Vineyard was smiling brightly, arm-in-arm with Kudo Yukiko, intimate and inseparable.

Who could have imagined that behind this seemingly warm photo, such a shocking secret was hidden?

"Yusaku, you're back!"

Just as he returned to Dr. Agasa's house, Kudo Yukiko greeted him, with a look of anxiety on her face. "How was it? Did President Lin Long..."

Seeing her husband's pale face and tired eyes, her voice gradually lowered. "Did something happen?"

Kudo Yusaku shook his head, said nothing, and walked straight into the living room.

Dr. Agasa (Conan Edogawa had gone to elementary school) saw him in this state and tactfully remained silent.

Kudo Yusaku sat on the sofa, rubbed his throbbing temples, and then slowly spoke: "President Lin Long agreed not to easily expose the secret of Shinichi Kudo's shrinking, but he demanded that we release the news of Shinichi Kudo's 'death' at a press conference tomorrow."

"He admitted it! I knew it would be him."

"This person is too evil," Kudo Yukiko said indignantly.

"Haha!" Kudo Yusaku smiled helplessly. "No, he didn't admit it, I just guessed it, but I have no evidence."

"But it doesn't matter, anyway, President Lin Long said he would pass the message to that person."

"Really?"

Kudo Yukiko was overjoyed, but seeing her husband's grave expression, she felt something was wrong. "But how did you..."

"President Lin Long also gave me a suggestion."

Kudo Yusaku interrupted her, his tone heavy. "A suggestion... to make us join the Black Organization."

"What?!"

Kudo Yukiko screamed, unable to believe her ears. "Join the Black Organization? Is he crazy? That's the organization that harmed Shinichi Kudo! How can we join?"

"I know this is absurd."

Kudo Yusaku said wearily. "But he is right; this is currently the most direct way to protect our family. As long as I can become a core member of the organization, I can take the initiative and protect you and Shinichi Kudo."

"But that's a criminal organization!"

Kudo Yukiko subconsciously retorted. "How can we collude with them? What if Shinichi Kudo finds out? What will he think? The father he respects the most has actually joined the enemy camp he has been investigating. He will be devastated!"

Mentioning Conan Edogawa, Kudo Yusaku's eyes dimmed a little.

This was what he was most worried about, and also the root of his inner struggle.

"Kudo Yukiko, we have no other path to choose besides this one."

"So, we have to hide it from him."

Kudo Yusaku said in a low voice. "At least hide it from him for now. Wait until later... until we find an opportunity to destroy the organization, then tell him the truth."

"This is too risky!"

Dr. Agasa couldn't help but speak up. "The Black Organization is so dangerous; once you join, you will never be your own master again!"

"I have no other choice."

Kudo Yusaku's tone carried a trace of determination. "President Lin Long already knows our secret; the Black Organization could come knocking at any time. We are like lambs waiting to be slaughtered; rather than waiting for death, it's better to take the initiative."

He looked at Kudo Yukiko, his eyes firm. "Kudo Yukiko, believe me, I won't let anything happen to you and Shinichi Kudo."

Kudo Yukiko looked at the determination in her husband's eyes, then looked at Conan Edogawa who was full of worry, her heart in chaos.

She knew Kudo Yusaku was right; they had no way out, but...

Finally, she sighed helplessly and nodded: "Alright... I'll listen to you."

Seeing his wife compromise, Kudo Yusaku breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up. "Kudo Yukiko, you call Chris Vineyard now."

"Chris Vineyard?"

Kudo Yukiko was stunned. "Why call her?"

"President Lin Long told me that Chris Vineyard is the code-named member of the Black Organization—Vermouth."

Kudo Yusaku said word by word.

"!!!"

Kudo Yukiko widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief. "What did you say? Chris Vineyard is Vermouth? That's impossible!"

Kudo Yukiko shook her head repeatedly. "I am her best friend; how could she possibly..."

"It's true."

Kudo Yusaku interrupted her, his tone heavy. "President Lin Long showed me the evidence; it can't be wrong."

Kudo Yukiko stood frozen in place, her face pale.

She recalled the days when she and Chris Vineyard talked about everything, recalled that she had even told her some of Shinichi Kudo's little things, and a chill instantly shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

It turned out that she had always treated a venomous snake as her best friend.

"Then... then why call her?" Kudo Yukiko's voice was trembling.

"Invite her to our house, just say we have something important to find her for."

A flash of sharpness crossed Kudo Yusaku's eyes. "Since she is Vermouth, she is our breakthrough to join the organization."

This was a dangerous move, perhaps even dealing with the devil, but he had no choice.

Kudo Yukiko gritted her teeth and nodded: "Okay, I'll call."

She walked to the side, trembling as she picked up her phone, found Chris Vineyard's number, took a deep breath, and pressed the dial button.

The phone rang a few times and was quickly answered.

A crisp, melodious, and slightly lazy, charming voice came from the receiver, the very tone Kudo Yukiko knew all too well.

"Kudo Yukiko? How come you have time to call me? Did you miss me?"

Hearing this voice, Kudo Yukiko's heart shrank violently, and the hand holding the phone couldn't help but tremble.

It was this voice that had accompanied her through countless happy or sad days; it was the owner of this voice whom she once regarded as a sister.

But now, she knew what a terrifying identity was hidden behind this voice.

Kudo Yukiko took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound normal. "Chris Vineyard, it's me... I have something I want to talk to you about. Are you free lately? Can you come to Tokyo for a trip?"

The other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, followed by Vermouth's soft laughter, carrying a hint of imperceptible probing. "Oh? What's so urgent? You need me to go to Tokyo specifically?"

Kudo Yukiko's heart was in her throat, following the script she had discussed with Kudo Yusaku. "Oh, it's just that I missed you!"

"Of course, there is also a small matter that I need your help with, but it's a bit complicated, I can't explain it clearly on the phone, I want to talk to you in person."

Hearing Kudo Yukiko acting spoiled, Vermouth on the other end of the phone seemed to pause, then laughed. "Alright, since it's your business, of course I have time. When?"

"As soon as possible, preferably tomorrow."

"So urgent?"

Vermouth's tone carried a hint of amusement. "It seems to be a very important matter. Alright, I'll come over tomorrow. I'll call you when I arrive."

"Okay, we'll be waiting for you."

After hanging up the phone, Kudo Yukiko's back was already soaked with cold sweat. She turned to look at Kudo Yusaku and shook her head. "She said she's coming tomorrow."

"Very good."

Kudo Yusaku nodded, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes. "From now on, we must be on high alert. Whoever comes tomorrow might not be the Chris Vineyard we know, but that cold-blooded Vermouth."

The atmosphere in the living room became extremely heavy instantly.

Dr. Agasa also looked at the Kudo couple with worried eyes.

Join the Black Organization? Dealing with Vermouth?

This was simply crazy!