Chapter 91: Conan is a Bit Overconfident
Conan nodded in recognition. He hadn't misjudged the Fellow; Chi Feichi's observation skills were truly keen. "Both of those people are suspicious, but we still don't know which one it is exactly..."
Kyogoku Makoto looked like he wanted to say something, but the drunkenness had gone to his head, and his mind was a bit foggy. He thought carefully but couldn't quite recall what it was. "In short, tomorrow we should keep a closer eye on those two."
"You watch them tomorrow. I'm not going," Chi Feichi said.
"Why?"
Both Conan and Kyogoku thought this was unexpected.
"Tomorrow, Sonoko is going to have a meal with Mr. Tao Xie. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to follow. I'm familiar with them, so secretly following would also make me easily spotted. You going is enough," Chi Feichi offered a reason.
Since the plot hadn't deviated too much, and Kyogoku Makoto's foot injury didn't seem to impact his combat power, there was no need for him to tag along and watch them be lovey-dovey (eat dog food).
"Uh-huh... Sonoko's safety, just leave it to me! Tomorrow..." Kyogoku Makoto raised his hand, intending to slam the table to show his determination, but his hand hit empty air. Turning his head, he saw that the table had already been destroyed by him earlier. He paused, stunned for a moment, then continued confidently, "Tomorrow I absolutely will not let her face any danger again!"
"Then we'll head back and rest first." Conan's eyelid twitched. He pulled Chi Feichi away. Before leaving, he couldn't help but glance at the table broken neatly in half.
In the future, if Kyogoku Makoto drinks again, it's better to keep some distance. He doesn't act drunk in the typical way, but his control over his strength isn't good. Compared to typical drunks, his destructive potential is even greater...
After Chi Feichi and Conan left, Kyogoku Makoto turned his head, looked at the broken table, and thought hard for a long moment. Only then did he remember what he thought he'd wanted to say: that he'd seen Masahiko Michie hitting on two or three girls before.
But everyone had left now. Tomorrow, only that kid would be following. It seemed useless to mention it now.
Never mind. I'll have to rely on myself. Tomorrow, I'll keep a close eye on Masahiko Michie!
...
Back in their room, Conan asked curiously as he was changing his shoes, "Brother Chi, you don't smoke, right? Why would you carry a lighter?"
"It's always wise to have a fire source when you go out," Chi Feichi replied, having already finished changing his shoes. "Your curiosity is too strong."
"Uh... well, it's okay." The question Conan had wanted to ask died on his lips.
Actually, there was also Chi Feichi's key charm...
He was curious why Chi Feichi carried a lighter. Then, while going upstairs, he had paid closer attention to the things Chi Feichi carried and noticed the ornament.
Last time at the Senyuan family estate, during the inspection of personal belongings, he had thought that key charm was a bit strange.
Two flat, long strips, one slender cylinder, two triangles of different sizes. The whole thing looked like a metal ornament composed of geometric shapes. But what he found strange was that the ornament contained no common round elements often used in geometric designs, and the overall shape was also rather slender.
If disassembled, it consisted of two flat strips of different sizes, a cylinder similar to a short toothpick, and two iron wires of different thicknesses.
Like lock picking tools?
With these few items, if one had the skill, it would be enough to open most car locks and door locks.
But he wasn't sure if the ornament was originally designed like this, or if Chi Feichi just liked how it looked and bought it randomly...
Furthermore, previously, Chi Feichi hadn't worn any accessories. But tonight, Conan noticed Chi Feichi was wearing a necklace. The chain and pendant were both hidden under his clothes, only occasionally revealing a trace of the chain. He only saw it clearly when Chi Feichi squatted down to 'play with the burning liquor'.
Had he bought it himself? Or was it a gift from someone?
He was just curious if this Chi Feichi fellow had found a girlfriend.
A detective should possess the insight and curiosity to notice everything, after all...
Chi Feichi, thinking about Conan's performance in front of Kyogoku Makoto, thought Conan had been a bit overconfident lately. He offered a hint, "Conan, has this 'personality' of yours been showing up frequently lately?"
"Ah?" Conan came back to his senses. He remembered how, when Chi Feichi had suspected him before, he'd let Chi Feichi assume he had Dissociative Identity Disorder, with one personality far more mature than a typical child. He scratched his head, smiling, and patched up his cover story, "Uh... yeah, seems like it. But during holidays, I tend to come out more often. During school, the other one is usually in charge."
Uh-huh, this way, in the future, if I forget to switch to the 'child personality', Chi Feichi won't get suspicious, right?
Chi Feichi just offered the reminder, nodded noncommittally, grabbed his toiletries, and went out to wash up.
Conan watched Chi Feichi's retreating figure thoughtfully. Wasn't it Chi Feichi's unsurprised, incurious attitude? Around Chi Feichi, he couldn't control his urge to deduce and discuss case details, often forgetting he was supposed to be a child...
"Aren't you going to wash up?" Chi Feichi asked, turning his head.
Conan instantly put on a smile, "You go first, Brother Chi. I'll go later!"
Chi Feichi said nothing more and went straight out.
Conan waited for Chi Feichi to leave, then turned to look at the medicated wine placed on the table. He found a cup and poured a little.
He secretly drank two mouthfuls. No reaction.
Could it be that it only works if you have a cold?
But, even without a cold, it was worth a try...
He drank two more mouthfuls. Still no reaction.
Should I try again?
He drank again...
Conan successfully made himself dizzy, staggered towards the bedding, and collapsed onto his quilt.
Chi Feichi returned from washing up, entered the room, and immediately smelled a strong smell of alcohol. He glanced at the scene, tucked the alcohol-reeking Conan into his bedding, then picked up the bottle from the table, staring at the medicated wine bottle, now less than half full.
Pretending to be a child for so long, does your personality actually become childish?
Surely the famous detective didn't think drinking liquor would actually change him back, right?
His medicated wine had been drunk, nearly half of it. He'd used some tonight, meaning there wouldn't be enough for tomorrow...
Chi Feichi turned to look at Conan, paused for two seconds, took out his phone, started recording a video, and squatted beside Conan's bedding. "Conan, do you have someone you like?"
He hadn't actually expected an answer, but after a few seconds, Conan actually mumbled, "Ran..."
"Miss Ran?" Chi Feichi prodded. "She's much older than you; you're not suited for each other."
"No..." Conan was quiet again for a long moment, then mumbled indistinctly, "I... shrunk..."
"'Shrunk?' What do you mean?"
"Uh-huh..."
Conan mumbled a response and fell into a deep sleep.
Chi Feichi sighed deeply, saved the video, and put his phone away.
Alcohol really messes people up.
...
The next day, Chi Feichi didn't go along to join the excitement.
He woke up in the morning and continued his morning exercises.
Yesterday had been the day his whole body ached the most. Waking up today, he felt much better. Can't slack off on exercise.
At noon, he ate a normal meal and checked data with Haibara Ai.
Just after lunch, Chi Feichi received a call from Ran Mouri. He heard Ran say the matter was resolved, so he drove Haibara Ai over.
They arrived at the edge of the woods just as police officers were escorting Masahiko Michie out.
More than half of Masahiko Michie's face was swollen. From time to time, he used his handcuffed hand to wipe his nose with a tissue, his face a mask of despair.
Recalling the past two days of his life, it felt like a complete tragedy.
He thought his incriminating photo had been taken. He'd successfully gotten close to Sonoko Suzuki and had felt a bit triumphant. But then, night fell, and he got bitten by a snake, and then bitten by a person.
He'd gritted his teeth in the mud pit, scratching his own shoulder and waist to hide the snakebite marks. Then, gritting his teeth again in the car, he endured the snake venom alone, soaking wet and paralyzed for half an hour, and caught a cold besides.
Even so, he hadn't given up. The next day, enduring the cold, injuries, and pain, he continued searching for the photo, planning to silence Sonoko.
To avoid Chi Feichi and Haibara Ai, with their indifferent faces and penchant for snakes, he had hinted to Sonoko in advance not to bring those two.
He thought he could just let the car slide off the cliff, getting rid of Sonoko, the camera, and the photo all at once.
But then, that girl who was always with Sonoko, the gentle-looking one, turned out to have amazing skills. She smashed the car window directly and saved Sonoko.
He managed to destroy the evidence with great difficulty. He waited until Ran and the kid left, took Sonoko aside, preparing to silence her. Then suddenly, some monster jumped out. A single kick, and he lost consciousness. He woke up in the hands of the police.
Why did I have to encounter these people?
I obviously tried so hard. Why did it still turn out like this?
I knew last night these people were strange. I should have run then!
(End of Chapter)