Conan: No, why aren't you following the script?

Vermouth was completely baffled.

Meanwhile, Ran, who had finally managed to fool Sonoko, was feeling the same way.

She couldn't understand what had happened. Dr. Araide had never seen Shinichi before, yet today he was suddenly so certain...

Suddenly, a sense of foreboding began to rise in Xiaolan's heart.

When school was over, she didn't go shopping with Sonoko until late as usual.

Today, she packed her schoolbag and went home early.

As expected, Kogoro Mouri went out to play pachinko as usual, leaving Conan alone at home, engrossed in reading the mystery novel he had just bought.

"Hey, Xiaolan, why are you back so early today? Didn't you say you were going shopping with Yuanzi tonight and we were supposed to take care of dinner ourselves?"

Seeing Ran rush in through the door, Conan closed his novel and turned back with a puzzled look on his face.

Since confessing his identity to Ran, when they are alone together, he no longer calls her "Ran-neechan" or "Conan" like before.

Although the way they address each other has become much more intimate than before, their actual relationship seems somewhat distant.

There was nothing they could do about it. Before they knew each other, they could even go to the bathroom together to take a shower, but now they were deliberately avoiding the topic.

Conan is worried that he will be beaten up by Ran in a fit of rage, while Ran is afraid to face these overstepping behaviors... even though they have long since decided in their hearts that the other is irreplaceable.

Thinking of this, Ran was momentarily lost in thought, but she quickly recovered, shook her head, and relayed to Conan what 'Shin-ide Tomoaki' had said to her at noon that day. Conan frowned and paced back and forth in the room as he listened.

"So... someone who looks a lot like me appeared in front of Dr. Araide, and in Beika Town no less. Is this... really not a mistake by Dr. Araide?"

Conan stroked his chin, puzzled, and said, "I haven't gone out since I came back with you yesterday, and how could I possibly turn back into Shinichi Kudo? What's going on..."

"Could it be that the new doctor mistook someone for someone else?" Xiaolan suggested.

Upon hearing this, Conan pondered for a moment before slowly shaking his head: "This is too much of a coincidence. I don't think it's a coincidence. Even if someone really looks like me, it's impossible for them to appear in Beika Town, right? And of course, Dr. Araide saw them... Ran, do you think Dr. Araide is lying?"

"Are you lying? I don't think so,"

Ran closed her eyes and recalled for a moment, then shook her head. "Dr. Araide was very serious at the time, and he really didn't seem to be lying. And... even if he was lying to me, why would he do that?"

"If he wasn't lying, then it means there really is a 'Shinichi Kudo' in Beika Town, and he just happened to appear at this time... I suspect this is the work of the organization!"

Conan nodded firmly, then sighed helplessly, "Of course, if Dr. Araide is lying, then it means he is very likely connected to the organization and is trying to test you in this way... In any case, whatever the situation, we are in a very dangerous situation now. The organization... may already be watching us."

Upon hearing this, Xiaolan immediately tensed up.

"Shinichi, I... what should we do now? Should we talk to Professor Agasa first? He's invented so many things, I think he should be able to hide you temporarily, right?"

"It hasn't come to that yet, and what would you and Uncle do if I hid?"

Conan shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The most urgent thing right now is to figure out Dr. Araide's stance. Did he really see 'Shinichi Kudo' by chance, or is he hostile towards us? I can't get involved in this, so... Ran, I'll have to leave it to you."

"okay, I get it."

Taking a deep breath, Xiaolan nodded resolutely. She knew that this was one of the few things she could do right now.

Meanwhile, after seeing Ran agree, Conan stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "We'll definitely have to tell Professor Agasa, but he can't help us much with this... Hmm, later, Ran, can you cover for me in front of Uncle? I'm going to go talk to Haibara about a plan."

"Is it Ai Haibara who lives with Mr. Kitagawa?"

"Yes, her real identity is a researcher in the organization. However, because of her sister's death, although she has now defected from the organization, we can still try to get some information from her..."

Conan said casually, but in his heart he was thinking whether he could take this opportunity to urge the progress of his antidote.

The sudden pressure left him feeling uncertain. The man who suddenly appeared with a face resembling Shinichi Kudo was undoubtedly the biggest threat to his safety.

Right now, he's in a situation where he has no ideas of what to do, wants to ask someone for help but is worried about getting involved.

In this matter, Ai Haibara is one of the few who share a similar experience with him, so Conan is not worried about dragging her into it.

The main reason is that, based on the intelligence he currently possesses, all of this happened too suddenly, and he needs someone to help him sort things out from an outsider's perspective.

otherwise……

Conan felt he might not be able to figure out the key to this all night.

……

Meanwhile, Vermouth, who had returned from Teitan High School early, was not in a hurry to go home.

After pretending to shop around Beika Town for a while, she skillfully arrived at the inn where Phantom Thief Kid was currently staying.

After knocking on the door and handing Kid the supplies she had bought, Vermouth began her familiar caring questions:

"Kudo-kun, how's it going here? Is there anything you're not used to?"

"It's alright, don't worry about Dr. Shinichi,"

With a mouthful of ham, Kaito Kid's eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled. "I feel very comfortable here. I haven't had a good night's sleep in a long time."

Upon hearing this, Vermouth immediately felt heartbroken.

She still believed that 'Shinichi Kudo' had been taken away by the FBI, so upon hearing this, she naturally felt that her 'adopted son' might have suffered inhuman abuse at the FBI's hands...

How could she possibly tolerate that?