Chapter 197 Belmode Sells Teammates Like a Pro
"You can take them off," Chi Feichei looked at the Photo and put away his Mobile Phone. "Next, I'll take you to the Claw Machine. You can keep whatever you catch."
"Hooray!"
The Children ran to the Claw Machine again.
"Hey, the Paper Strips on your faces..." Conan was about to remind them, but turned his head and saw Haibara Ai curiously blowing on the Paper Strip hanging from her head. "Haibara... you..."
Haibara Ai froze for a moment, instantly going cold-faced, then turned her head as if nothing had happened. "What's wrong?"
"Your face-changing speed is comparable to Brother Chi!" Conan muttered, then in the next second, Ayumi pulled him to the Claw Machine.
Chi Feichei finished distributing the Game Token, and was just about to try when he felt his Mobile Phone vibrate. He glanced at the incoming call number and handed his Game Token to Haibara Ai. "You guys play, I'll go answer a Phone Call."
"Okay..." Haibara Ai took the Game Token, watched Chi Feichei leave in a hurry, then turned to look at the Claw Machine, comparing to see which Doll looked good.
Chi Feichei walked to a Secluded Place, answered the Phone Call. "Hello?"
"It's really noisy over there," Belmode's smiling voice came. "Whether or Not you want to come out for dinner? My treat!"
"I'm not going." Chi Feichei refused.
"Alright, alright," Belmode chuckled casually, not insisting. "Then I'll call someone else!"
The Phone Call ended.
Chi Feichei put away his Mobile Phone.
At any other time, an invitation from a beautiful Female, especially from a Colleague, he would have at least considered it, not refusing so decisively.
But not now...
Before, the Protagonist Side and the Villain Side were facing off. Akai Shuichi in the Middle Lane used Disguise Skill, lurking in the Bottom Lane of the Villain Side. He notified the Protagonist Side Little Friend to Camping in Bush, intending to trick Gin into an Ambush Plan.
Unfortunately, Gin wasn't fooled. He sent a Minion into the Grass, and the Minion discovered a bunch of Protagonist Side people in the Grass. Gin decisively retreated. Akai Shuichi's Ambush Plan failed, and he was exposed, retreating back to the Middle Lane.
Belmode was the one facing off against Akai Shuichi and the FBI team. After hearing that Kudo Shinichi had been given medicine and his life or death was uncertain, Belmode couldn't sit still. Ignoring the FBI and Akai Shuichi she was facing off against, she ran to the Bottom Lane, bringing Akai Shuichi and the FBI to the Bottom Lane as well.
She wanted to confirm whether Kudo Shinichi was dead or not, and if not, where he would be.
Moreover, even if Kudo Shinichi wasn't dead, being targeted by the Organization was a Crisis, a dead end!
She wanted to run to the Bottom Lane to protect Kudo, and the FBI and Akai Shuichi she brought along could also distract Gin and other Organization members' Line of Sight. Only when the water was muddy could she operate effectively.
And Belmode clearly knew she had brought a string of tails along and was being watched by the FBI, yet she still called him at this time to invite him to dinner. Her purpose was to make the FBI notice him.
At the Memorial Service, their being together could still be explained as a coincidence, or Belmode using him for an Alibi. As long as there wasn't too much contact afterwards, it would reduce his Suspicion.
However, if he and Belmode frequently met at some high-end restaurant for Dinner and spoke secretly, the possibility of him becoming a focus of Observation for the FBI and Akai Shuichi would be very high.
Belmode might think that him hanging around Mouri Ran is a potential Danger to Mouri Ran and Kudo Shinichi. Or perhaps she thinks his presence will affect the Plan and impact the Situation. Furthermore, if the FBI is watching him, she could use him to lure the FBI out...
Perhaps there are other reasons, but one thing is certain—Belmode definitely wants to Sell Teammates him!
Akai Shuichi still doesn't know he's also Protagonist Side. Just Investigation, Surveillance, and probing will distract him and make it hard to Handle, preventing him from casually going to Mouri Ran's side. If Akai Shuichi comes up with another Ambush Plan, that would be even more Troublesome, and could accidentally disrupt his Plan.
If he didn't understand the Situation, a Newbie would probably have foolishly gone to dinner already, and been secretly targeted by the FBI without even realizing it.
Chi Feichei turned around and went back to the Claw Machine, feeling a bit emotional.
Belmode really sells Teammates like a pro... This is the real Pitfall. Who knows how many people get sold out and remain clueless...
The only certainty is that Belmode wouldn't dare Sell Teammates him openly.
Being an Undercover Agent is really tough. You have to guard against the Organization's Pitfall, guard against Colleagues who don't understand the Situation disrupting your Arrangement, and also guard against Belmode Selling Teammates...
And unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't cooperate with Akai Shuichi.
Although broadly speaking, everyone's goal is the same—to destroy the Organization—they ultimately belong to different Factions. If Akai Shuichi and Amuro Toru were to choose one to save and one to kill, he would definitely choose to kill Akai Shuichi and Amuro Toru. This isn't just about Relationship, but also about Stance.
Of course, a Win-Win situation would be ideal, but no one can be sure if that day will ever come.
Besides, Akai Shuichi is also a Pitfall! Take Kir for example. After Kir was captured, she went back Undercover Agent in the Organization. Because of her History of being captured by the FBI, even though she claimed to have escaped on her own and cooperated with Akai Shuichi to create the illusion of killing Akai Shuichi, she was still suspected by the Organization.
Doesn't Akai Shuichi know the Character of the Organization?
Having been an Undercover Agent in the Organization, Akai Shuichi naturally knows. Yet, he still arranged the Capture, making Kir his Informant and sending her back Undercover Agent into the Organization to provide Intelligence.
Years ago, Kir's Father died at Kir's hands so she could continue being Undercover Agent. She felt that giving up being Undercover Agent would betray her Father's Sacrifice, and she was unwilling to leave, so she took the Risk to go back. Otherwise, she should have withdrawn like Akai Shuichi long ago.
And Akai Shuichi used this to persuade Kir to Risk going back to the Organization. Because the FBI had no Mole in the Organization, they needed an Informant to grasp the Movement of the Organization!
Perhaps Akai Shuichi was confident his Arrangement could dispel the Organization's Suspicion of Kir, but Confidence is the most interesting thing in the world. As a result, Kir is still suspected. He doesn't trust Akai Shuichi's 'Confidence'.
If he makes one wrong move with his own chess piece, it's dangerous. It's best to keep Control Authority himself. Who would willingly hand over part of their Control Authority to someone else?
Even if it's not sharing Control Authority, just Intelligence Communication, facing the constantly probing Organization, problems can still easily arise. A small Mistake from the other side could make him lose everything. Increased Risk, no Benefit. He can Handle it himself, so why look for people from other Factions?
Therefore, the Protagonist Side has a certain Trust and Sense of Familiarity with each other. They all know in their hearts that Cooperation is best. However, unless the Situation is critical or it happens to be a Win-Win situation, it's difficult to actually cooperate. Even he and Amuro Toru haven't asked each other to cooperate in executing any Plan.
Each person is a Mole in the Organization according to their own Arrangement. They communicate and analyze the Situation of the Organization when necessary, making it easier to adjust or realize a Crisis. And because of their shared Stance and belief that the other is a Friend, there's no need to Guarding Against anything. This is the most comfortable Cooperation.
...
At the Claw Machine, Haibara Ai was struggling with a Snake Plushie. Hissashi was wrapped around Haibara Ai's arm, staring intently at the Claw Machine's hook, almost wanting to climb into the Glass Cabinet.
When the hook loosened, the Snake Plushie slipped back into the Pile of Plushies. Haibara Ai turned her head to comfort Hissashi. "Just a little bit more, next time will be better."
Chi Feichei didn't help, just stood aside watching. Haibara Ai tried again and caught the Snake Plushie. She handed it to Hissashi, letting Hissashi wrap it with its Tail and play.
After spending a lot of Game Token, the other three Children and Conan all got prizes. Then they gave each other a pile of Plush Toys. Hissashi and Non-Ink received the most. What Hissashi got was a Gift, and what Non-Ink got was a Meeting Gift.
Chi Feichei went to the Counter to ask for bags, carried two big bags, took the Children to eat, and then sent the Children Home.
When he got back Home at nine o'clock in the Night, Chi Feichei moved the Package containing the customized weapon from the Trunk back Home.
There were 54 Iron Cards in total, the size and thickness of Playing Cards. They felt slightly heavier than Playing Cards in hand, and weren't just made of Iron, but also contained other Materials. The Cards could spring open and return to shape immediately after being bent, showing the Materials were valuable.
Among them, 52 Cards had no Pattern on the face, just pure black. The other two Cards, one was printed with a golden Crow Crest on both sides, and the other with golden English 'Raki' on both sides, in an elegant handwritten font.
"Jokers?"
Chi Feichei found it interesting. After putting down the Iron Cards, he picked up a black Iron Rod.
Originally, he would have been satisfied as long as the Blade Edge could be hidden, but the finished product in hand was better than expected. The Rod part was only arm-length, two-section telescopic, with the Switch in the middle. Another Switch was next to it, responsible for popping out the Blade. The Blade was also two-section, unfolding only after being popped out. Closing it wasn't troublesome either, similar to a folding knife.
The entire Scythe had no strange patterns, except for the Grid-like Depression added in the middle and tail end for anti-slip, to prevent it from slipping out of hand, and the Pale White Blade Edge left after sharpening. The rest was simple black.
Chi Feichei tried it out and replied to Aperol:
[Things received, Good Point
——Raki]
This Good Point was definitely deserved!
Whether it was the Cards or the Scythe, they were basically what he requested. With slight modifications, they unexpectedly matched his Goodwill.
After that came practice. The Lethality of Iron Cards was stronger than Playing Cards. Chi Feichei didn't use Furniture and Appliances to experiment. He honestly found a Target. After practicing Flying Cards, he adapted to the Scythe, and didn't sleep until one in the morning.
When he woke up The Next Day, it was already nine in the morning. Hissashi was no longer in snake form, and the door was ajar. Chi Feichei went out to take a look. Hissashi and Non-Ink were busy in the Living Room. They had taken apart one of his Sweaters and used Yarn to hang up the Dolls they received yesterday, hanging them high and low on the Wall in the Living Room facing the Balcony.
Hearing the Movement, Hissashi turned his head and happily said, "Master, you're awake! We didn't want to disturb you, so we didn't Call you!"
Non-Ink also stopped what he was doing. "Master hasn't worn this Sweater in a while. It's okay to take it apart, right?"
"It's fine, you guys can do it." Chi Feichei went to the Restroom.
"Okay, then we'll continue," Hissashi said eagerly.
"Continue," Non-Ink sighed, "Masterpiece! It really has the Warmth of Home!"
While Chi Feichei was squeezing toothpaste and brushing his teeth, he couldn't resist peeking out from the Restroom and immediately fell silent.
At first glance, the Wall facing the Balcony was covered in Plush Dolls of various colors, which looked quite warm and homey.
But looking closer... Humanoid Dolls were hung up one by one with Black Yarn wrapped around their necks. Some had uneven Centers of Gravity, causing their heads to tilt when hung. One Big-Head Doll was even more exaggerated, its head tilted directly backwards, the Black Yarn tightly wrapped around its neck clearly visible.
Animal-type Dolls weren't much better either. Those with thin necks were tied by the neck. Small Animals with short arms and legs were wrapped around their bodies, their four legs twisted. And those with round bodies were wrapped in Black Yarn like Voodoo Dolls.
Non-Ink might have misunderstood 'Warmth of Home'. This was clearly the Creepy Series that got creepier the more you looked!
End of Chapter