『Carl』: "We're just playing superheroes and villains."

『Carl』: "Wanna join us, Kudō Shinichi?"

Conan froze the moment he heard Carl's words.

How did this man know his real name?

Only a handful of people knew he was Kudō Shinichi,

Just himself, Professor Agasa, and his parents.

Not even his own girlfriend knew.

Well, maybe the Black Organization did.

Could this guy be part of the Black Organization?

No, that didn't make sense. He killed two of their operatives.

...Hmm.

After a brief moment of thought, Conan forced a smile.

『Conan』: "Mister Superman, what are you talking about?"

『Conan』: "I do know Shinichi-oniichan, but I'm Edogawa Conan, not Kudō Shinichi."

『Carl』: "Is that so?"

『Carl』: "Then do you know Kudō Yūsaku?"

『Carl』: "And Kudō Yukiko?"

『Carl』: "Hmm... what about Mōri Ran, Mōri Kogorō, and Kisaki Eri?"

Conan stiffened.

This man knew his parents.

He even knew Ran and her parents.

『Conan (thought)』: This guy... this guy in the Superman suit... he might really be part of the Black Organization.

Maybe there was some internal conflict, which is why he killed those two?

After all, very few people knew his true identity.

Aside from his parents and Professor Agasa, only the Black Organization might've discovered it.

And now, not only had they confirmed he wasn't dead, but they also investigated his background?

The thought sent chills down Conan's spine.

But he knew now wasn't the time to sit still.

He had to act.

『Conan (thought)』: I'll use my tranquilizer watch and put this guy down first!

『Conan』: "Ah... hahahaha. Who are those people? I don't know any of them..."

Feigning awkwardness, Conan took two steps closer, subtly.

Once he felt he was in range, he lifted his wrist and aimed his watch at Carl.

Whoosh!

The tranquilizer dart shot toward Carl's neck.

『Conan (thought)』: Got him!

He'd used this tranquilizer watch countless times.

It was usually aimed at Mōri Kogorō.

Thanks to the built-in targeting system, it was incredibly accurate.

This time, he was even closer to the target, barely a meter or two away.

There was no chance he could miss.

The only concern now was Miyami Hirota.

Would she play along?

As for Carl, Conan was sure he'd been hit.

After all, the tranquilizer had never failed.

As long as it connected, the subject would be knocked out within seconds.

『Conan』: "Miss Miyami..."

Just as he began speaking, trying to persuade her,

Clink!

A small sound hit the ground.

Conan instinctively looked.

His eyes widened.

The dart was lying on the ground.

『Conan (thought)』: No way! Missed?!

『Carl』: "Surprised?"

He picked up the dart.

『Carl』: "Something like this can't pierce my skin."

There was no doubt.

Carl's body was unnaturally durable, capable of withstanding even cosmic explosions.

Last time, Zhao Helen couldn't even draw blood from him.

Of course a tranquilizer needle wouldn't work.

『Conan』: "You..."

Fear spread across Conan's face. He tried to retreat, to keep a safe distance.

He was just a kid now.

Compared to the man in front of him, dressed in a tight black suit that showed off his powerful build,

He stood no chance.

Even at full height and strength, seventeen-year-old Shinichi wouldn't be a match.

Earlier, he could've denied everything.

But now, he had launched an attack.

Unless Carl was a complete idiot, there was no way to explain it.

Only one option remained: escape.

Conan turned on his heel and sprinted for the warehouse exit.

He was almost there!

Just as he reached the door, Conan lowered his skateboard to the ground.

His skateboard was fast,

But then, his vision blurred.

The next thing he knew, he was high off the ground.

Standing next to him was a black silhouette.

The man in the Superman suit.

『Conan (thought)』: Crap! He caught me!

Panic surged through him.

But he forced himself to react.

He reached down and twisted a dial on his sneaker.

These weren't ordinary shoes.

They were gadgets created by Professor Agasa.

They were called the Power-Enhancing Sneakers.

By stimulating pressure points in the soles through electric and magnetic pulses, they boosted muscular strength.

Conan had used them to kick down full-grown trees at school.

A kick from these would be devastating to a person.

But just as Conan's foot swung toward Carl,

A large hand caught his leg.

『Conan (thought)』: No good!

Now Carl held him by the neck and one leg.

He couldn't resist at all.

Was Carl going to kill him?

Probably.

He had taken out two Black Organization members without hesitation.

『Conan (thought)』: Ran...

『Carl』: "Calm down."

『Carl』: "I'm not your enemy."

『Conan』: "What?"

Stunned, Conan stared at him.

Not his enemy?

Then why call him out?

Why grab him?

The truth was, Carl just wanted to meet this little harbinger of death.

After all, he knew of him from his past life.

Carl had noticed Conan the moment he arrived.

It was hard not to.

After dispatching Gin, Carl decided to toy with the "Shinigami Elementary Schooler."

And honestly, the kid's reactions were pretty entertaining.

Shocked, afraid, nervous, but still calm enough to act and fight back.

Not bad at all.

As for grabbing him,

It wasn't his intention initially.

He just wanted to chat. Maybe tease the kid a little.

But Conan shot a tranquilizer at him.

For a normal person, Carl wouldn't care.

And while Conan had attacked first, Carl knew he was the one who started the game.

Besides, Carl genuinely liked the kid. He made a good impression.

He wasn't planning to hurt him.

『Carl』: "Like I said, I'm not your enemy."

『Carl』: "But… what happened here today... can't be leaked."

『Conan』: "What?!"

Just when Conan felt slightly relieved, Carl dropped the bomb.

『Conan (thought)』: Is he going to silence me?!

End of chapter...

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