"Anything new, Megure?", Kogoro asked with a heavy tone, placing his hand on Eri's shoulder, who was staring at her feet while sitting on the chair.
Everyone was still in the living room, but the Kyogoku family had decided to go home. Hondou Eisuke had also arrived to Japan after the first fight and had been here daily with the family, but now he was standing next to the newest ally standing in the living room; Hondou Hidemi.
"The news station you work in is one of the stations that broadcasts the fight, is there anything you know?", Subaru asked.
"The head of the station I work in received a phone call from a man who had his voice distorted, offered him a huge pile of money to allow the broadcast of the Bloodsport. I asked for some help from my colleagues to find out the location of the signal, but it's useless.", Hidemi explained.
"Is… is the CIA investigating this too?", Eisuke whispered to Hidemi, eyeing the Mouri parents.
"Of course. They're afraid such thing could happen in America. They too know he needs to be stopped.", Hidemi said.
Sonoko looked up once she heard Yukiko open the door, and in walked Masumi with a middle school aged girl wearing a fedora, and Shukichi.
"Kichi-nii offered to help when he saw everything.", Masumi explained, "And I couldn't leave my little sister alone.".
Haibara raised her head, and her eyes met with Mary's, and both of them recognized each other. Akemi had some photos of their maternal family, so she knew that this girl was her Aunt; Mary Sera.
Mary, on the other hand, did not need to have a photo to know that this was Elena's daughter, her only living one. She still remembers hearing on the news about the death of Hirota Masami, or to be exact, the death of Miyano Akemi.
"Right…. Tell me if something else comes up…", Kogoro ended the call with a sigh.
"What did he tell you?", Yusaku asked.
"They've identified some of the remains, and they managed to find out who the ones were invited to the tournament. They were 128 in total.", Kogoro said.
"128? But the tournament started with a round of 16, and if we add the two in the introduction match; they would be 66 in total.", Yukiko pointed out before her eyes widened in horror, "Don't tell me that the remaining 128 players were…".
"The dead bodies they found in the top floors? Yes, they were.", Kogoro nodded grimly, "The police are still trying to investigate the source of the letter invitation, but they managed to find out the names of the 128 fighters.".
Another person who had arrived to join the team was Hattori Heiji, alongside Toyama Kazuha, who was doing her best trying to comfort Sonoko.
Heiji was the first to notice that someone was missing in this meeting, "Wait, where's Conan?".
Conan sat in his old bedroom, on his bed, holding a photo album in his hand as he turned its pages slowly, staring with a solemn yet soft face expression at each photo in it.
At each photo of him and Ran, from kindergarten, until the day before he went missing.
At that moment, Conan hated what had happened back at Tropical Land more than ever. He hated how he was stuck in this body, unable to act freely in order to keep up some act, to protect those around him.
Well, now Ran was facing inevitable death, keeping the truth from her did not help at all, but rather make him feel even more guilty that she might die without knowing the truth.
He shook his head, not wanting to go there, as he closed the album and placed it on the table next to his bed.
'That's not gonna happen… I'll save her… We'll save her… And Kyogoku too…', He thought as he got off his bed, just as Heiji entered the room.
"Ya okay, Kudo?", He asked.
"What do you think?", Conan replied stoically.
"Yeah, dat was an awful question…", Heiji said while rubbing the back of his head, "How are ya holdin' up, I mean? Ya weren' down dere when da old man told us what da police found out.".
"I already deduced what they found out, so I went up… I needed some time alone to think… especially with the amount of anger I'm feeling… at myself more than anyone.", Conan mumbled, "I could've been more useful had I not been Conan… Now, she could die without even knowing who I am or thinking that Shinichi did not care… All because my stupid self had to eavesdrop on Vodka back at Tropical Land.".
Heiji remained silent, giving Conan the chance to let out all of his feelings of frustration before he said, "Dere is no use lookin' back on our past mistakes now. Ya need ta keep year mind in da present so dat we can save neechan and Kyogoku.".
"You know… as hard as it is to deal with this… I don't think it's as hard as how their parents feel, or Sonoko… She's in a situation where she might lose either her best friend or her boyfriend, or both… No wonder she's silent most of the time…", Conan said as he walked out of the room, "Come on, let's get back down there.".
Sonoko stared emotionally at the bracelet she had on her left wrist, while playing with it, her mind having a quick flashback.
"Sonoko-san, I'm sorry-".
"Quit it with the sorry! You said you'll hang out yesterday but you did not even call to tell me you won't come!", She argued with her arms crossed.
Makoto sighed heavily, "I know I know… My phone ran out of battery and when I charged it, you refused to answer my calls.".
Sonoko said nothing, still glaring at Makoto, who pulled out a bracelet from his pocket.
"Here, I brought this for you to surprise you with it yesterday, but consider it now as an apology gift.", He said with a small smile.
Sonoko took the bracelet from him, admiring it's beauty with a smile. She wore it on her left wrist as she said with a teasing tone, "Fine, you pass this time. But don't do that again, please.".
"Wouldn't dream of it!".
Sonoko sniffed once she returned back to the present day. She had just met up with Makoto a day before he went to that cursed building, now there was a chance that she may never see him again, and Ran for that matter.
Ran, her best friend since kindergarten, the one she could never be separated from, the one who understood her the most, and saw her for the person she was, not for her money.
"We'll bring dem back, don' worry.", Kazuha assured her as she handed her a tissue.
Sonoko nodded silently as she took the tissue to wipe her tears.
Minato sat in the living room, flipping between the album pages that showed Makoto growing up, winning different tournaments in each photo.
Hana sat next to him and glanced at him but said nothing.
"I was very hard on him… wasn't I?", Minato mumbled sadly.
"Not just him, you didn't treat Haruka any better. She even kept her boyfriend a secret from you.", Hana replied, with a slightly cold tone, "She's up in her room, talking to Eisuke-kun. He's the only one capable of comforting her.".
"Hana… Don't make me feel worse than I already feel.", Minato mumbled.
"How many times have I told you to be gentle with them a little bit? How many times have I told you to appreciate their achievements?", Hana raised her voice word by word, almost screaming at him in the end.
"Hana, enough.", Minato said sternly as he closed the album before he placed it aside.
Hana almost shouted at him, until she noticed how his eyes were starting to fill up with tears, but he wiped his eyes.
He said nothing as he got up and started walking upstairs toward their bedroom.
Minato was never the kind of man who would admit he was wrong, or who would cry for whatever reason, but he let the newly formed tears fall down, as he felt guilty over how he treated his children.
And now, one of them was nearing an inevitable death day by day.
Was Minato doubting those people at the Kudou Manor working? Definitely. They did not know his son enough and were obviously doing it for the Mouri girl, but that did not matter to him.
All he cared about was for Makoto to return back safely, by any means necessary.
"If we are to be sure about something, then whoever did this has connections and money.", Shukichi said.
"Give him a medal for his deduction.", Haibara grumbled, disliking the presence of the Akai family.
"We are all here for one goal, so let's not fight.", Rei pointed out once he noticed the Akai family eyeing Haibara, particularly Mary.
"Since when were you a peacemaker?", Subaru scoffed.
"I wasn't talking to you.", Rei pointed out.
"And you aren't one either.", Masumi spat at Subaru, "I may be starting to like him, but I don't GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU!".
Masumi's rage and seething at Subaru made him wince before he looked away with a frown, hating how Masumi still has not forgiven him. Jodie looked at him in pity, and wondered how she could help him in such a situation.
"Shiho-", Mary started as she approached Haibara.
"Don't.", Haibara spat, "It's too late for that. My parents and Akemi are gone, and you did nothing. It's too late for us to be a family.".
Her words made Mary wince before she silently nodded. She understood that Haibara had a point, so she dropped the subject at once. Haibara's words made the Akai brothers become sad, particularly Shuichi, who felt guilt because of Akemi's death, while Masumi just sighed heavily.
Amuro looked at the Akai family members as he thought, 'What a complicated family…'.
A knock was heard on the door, and Yukiko went to open it, and in walked in the last person everyone thought of; Vermouth.
The tension filled the living room as Vermouth walked in. She quickly took a glance at everyone's expression. Eisuke, Kogoro, Kazuha, and Eri were quizzical. Mary, Jodie and Haibara were giving her deadly glares while everyone else was neutral.
"Thank you for helping.". Vermouth ignored everyone and looked down at the one who spoke up; Conan.
"You know I'd do anything for you and her.", Vermouth replied with a small smile.
Conan remained silent but gave her a simple nod.
Vermouth then looked down at Haibara and slightly smirked, liking how she wasn't afraid of her but then she looked at Mary, recognizing her instantly.
"So it did work after all.", She said in English, directing her words to Mary.
Mary narrowed her eyes, understanding that Vermouth meant that she knew she would survive, but she was left wondering if she poisoned her on purpose knowing the effect.
"Can she be trusted with whatever we say?", Jodie asked darkly.
"You can shoot me if you suspect anything, but Ran-chan's life is at stake.", Vermouth replied and then she spoke up again, not wanting to give anyone a chance to speak again or disagree on her presence, "Bloodsport has been going on for nearly 7 years now, going live on the dark web, but this is the first time it airs on tv:".
"How did you know?", Kogoro asked suspiciously.
"Connections.", Vermouth gave him a quick glance before she continued, "It's funded by some of the most well known businessmen around the world.".
It was then that everyone noticed that she held some papers in her hands. She handed them to Kogoro as she said, "These are the ones I managed to get hold of proof of their funding. Bloodsport's main funding group is the Enigma Group, named after the announcer. It's noticeable since the bank account having the money transferred to is theirs.".
"I know the police is busy with the dead bodies so I took this part, it could help in identifying the mastermind behind this.", Vermouth said.
"Enigma Group…", Sonoko mumbled before she frowned, "This group is one of the shadiest group known in Japan… They're suspected to be involved in funding terrorism group and selling weapons, but whenever they're in court, their lawyer gets them out of it.".
Everyone frowned at Sonoko's words. Her being the heir of the Suzuki Group explained how she could know this information, probably from her parents.
"Not this time.", Eri said, her eyes darkening, "I'll make sure they will get the death penalty.".
"Sonoko-chan, can ya call yar parents and ask dem about dat group?", Kazuha asked Sonoko.
Sonoko nodded as she pulled out her phone.
"I found a location for the main building of that group.", Masumi said while motioning with her phone, "I could investigate the place.".
"Masumi-".
"I said I'm going.", Masumi stressed, interrupting Subaru, who winced at her harshness toward him.
"I'm coming with you, it would be better if we were a group.", Amuro said, "We need at least two other people with us, we don't want to look suspicious yet we can't be invulnerable.".
"I can ask Megure to send some officers to cover your back.", Kogoro said.
"If they know anything, then they'll be suspicious of us, so it's best if those who go are people not known to be close to both families. I can cover my face with my fedora, and I'm not publicly known to be Ran's friend.", Masumi added.
"Then it's only us then.", Amuro nodded.
"Save your efforts.", Mary said while looking at her phone, "The corporation's building has been closed for nearly a year, you won't find anything.".
"Well there has to be some building for that group, and definitely a place for the tournament.", Masumi argued.
"Every time we find a clue, it leads to a dead end.", Yukiko sighed heavily.
Conan rubbed his chin before he narrowed his eyes, "Not exactly…".
'He has planned everything before hand, so we need to think in another strategy…', Conan thought before he said, "There's a connection between the competitors, and this is some sort of payback.".
"Indeed, why else is he particularly airing Makoto and Ran's fight? This is isn't some sort of coincidence.", Yusaku agreed with a nod.
"We need to call Megure-keibu and ask him to conduct an investigation about the fighters' families, particularly people they've faced against one way or another. If we find a common name among them, then we've got the guy.", Conan explained.
"Found something interesting.", Eisuke said while looking at his phone, "Enigma group fired all workers when they closed the building, including the legal office, but one man from them had started working on his own and has his own office. He's become pretty popular and mentions that he used to work for them out of pride.".
"Give us the address of his office, we'll pay him a visit.", Rei said, pointing at him and Masumi, who nodded.
"I'll continue searching in… with my connections about anything else.", Vermouth said, "It won't be an easy task, since this has been going on for years.".
"Well, it's going to go down sooner rather than later.", Conan said determinedly.