Chapter 184: The Detectives' Preparation and Wait

Masumi Sera was checking the browsing history on Koizumi Kunio's computer, as well as the program's code.

She was trying to use these elements to understand the specific functions of the software they had developed.

It was a pity, just as Kunio Furuzumi had said.

Even he and Ryo Kawasaki, the ones responsible for its development, knew very little about this software.

Let alone the untrained Masumi Sera.

---

'None of the people targeted by the organization have simple identities.

They're either defectors, agents, or individuals with skills significant enough to threaten the organization.'

'It's understandable that Ryo Kawasaki was silenced after completing the software, but what kind of strength did Akikawa Ryoko have to evade the organization's pursuit for almost ten years?'

Sera Masumi thought about these things while using Koizumi Kunio's computer.

Unfortunately, there was very little relevant information.

---

Akikawa Kyousuke, who had the closest relationship with Akikawa Ryoko, basically knew nothing.

'Perhaps I should also contact Okino Yoko in the future. Speaking of which, I still don't know if her father's death is connected to the organization.'

'And regarding the car accident case and Akikawa Kyousuke, I've always felt something was off, but I never figured it out.'

'However, this time, if we can catch the killer behind the car accident, the entire truth will be revealed.'

---

As these thoughts ran through her mind, Conan's voice suddenly came from the side:

"Miss Sera, have you found anything in your investigation?"

"No, I haven't."

Sera Masumi shook her head, a trace of regret appearing on her delicate cheeks.

---

"We still don't know if the organization is aware that Mr. Koizumi has been taken.

If they don't know, they would have reported the location and time of the transaction as originally planned.

If they do know, as you said earlier, Miss Sera, they would send someone to sneak into the hotel and steal the computer."

---

"There has to be someone in the room to answer the phone, but to be safe, someone else should stay outside the hotel, and the person inside the room should use a voice changer."

Conan then pulled out a badge with the Detective Boys logo from his pocket and handed it to Masumi Sera.

This badge was a communicator designed by Dr. Agasa for the Detective Boys team.

Besides its function as a wireless communicator, it also had a positioning feature.

Conan could track the badge's location through his glasses.

---

"So, Sera-san, you'll wait outside. I'll use this Detective Boys badge to contact you when the time comes."

Masumi Sera took the badge from Conan's hand and placed it inside the collar of her coat.

However, instead of leaving immediately, she extended her hand back toward Conan.

---

Conan looked at her with some confusion, then heard her say:

"No, it's too dangerous for you to stay in the room.

If the mission fails and the other party sees your face, they will inevitably grow suspicious.

I pride myself on being pretty skilled at this. It's much safer for me to stay in the room instead of you, kid.

So, hand me the voice changer."

---

Conan knew Sera Masumi was right, so he took off the bowtie voice changer and handed it to her without much resistance.

---

"What else do you have to protect yourself, kid?"

Sera Masumi asked after taking the bowtie voice changer.

---

"Just this: the watch with a tranquilizer gun, the telescopic suspenders, the soccer ball inflating valve, and the strength-enhancing shoes.

I never expected something like this to happen on a hot springs trip, so I didn't prepare much."

Conan replied helplessly.

If he'd known in advance, he could've asked Dr. Agasa to make more powerful gadgets.

---

"No, I think wherever you go, kid, there will always be murder cases."

Sera Masumi teased.

---

Conan: "?"

A big question mark seemed to appear above Conan's head at Sera Masumi's "rumors."

He waved his hand and left Koizumi Kunio's room.

"I'll leave first. Please stay safe, Miss Sera."

---

After bidding Conan farewell, Sera Masumi fixed her gaze on the wall of the room.

Wherever she looked, there were small holes.

---

Masumi had already examined the wallpaper material. It was a multi-layered composite wallpaper.

Japanese rooms typically use wallpaper with soundproofing effects, and the ones in Kosenan were no exception.

This type of wallpaper was commonly used in Japanese apartments.

Its advantage was good soundproofing and decorative properties, but its disadvantage was its fragility—it could easily tear.

---

'Koizumi Kunio said that photos of him and Ryo Kawasaki's family were nailed to the wall after they woke up.

It seems these holes were left by the nails used to fix the photos at that time.'

'Since the other party could do this, it means they managed to obtain Koizumi Kunio's room keycard without anyone noticing.'

'There's also the possibility that they'll enter the room directly to take the computer.'

---

Masumi Sera mentally calculated her current position and the time it would take to rush to the room door.

'There'll be a sound when the door opens, which will give me enough time to react.

As soon as the door opens, I need to sprint to the door as fast as possible, not giving the other party a chance to respond.'

Masumi Sera confirmed that the other party's reaction time after seeing her wouldn't exceed a second.

She then sat tensely at her desk, waiting as time passed.

---

In her highly focused state, time seemed to move extremely slowly for Masumi Sera.

Minute by minute, second by second, time finally reached midnight the following day.

Masumi Sera had been waiting for more than an hour.

However, there had been no sound from the phone in the room or Koizumi Kunio's door.

---

Even though Sera's physical condition was several times stronger than an ordinary person's, her mental exhaustion was inevitable after staying on high alert for so long.

---

"Miss Sera, how's the situation there?"

Suddenly, Conan's faint voice came from the Detective Boys badge inside Sera's collar.

It seemed Conan was growing impatient after the long wait.

---

"There's been no communication, and no one has entered the room."

Sera lowered her voice as much as possible, pressed the communication button, and spoke to Conan.

---

However, just as she finished speaking, the phone in the room suddenly rang.

(End of Chapter)