Chapter 331: Chapter 331: "Lupin and Fujiko"
Shuichi Akai, the "Gin" of the red team. In terms of personal ability, courage, and IQ, he was almost on par with Gin himself. The two oppos
Shuichi Akai, the "Gin" of the red team.
In terms of personal ability, courage, and IQ, he was almost on par with Gin himself.
The two opposing forces seemed to have clashed many times offscreen.
Letting a man like that die without achieving anything would be a complete waste.
Even though Gin hadn't spoken a word yet, Yoshiki Hayashi had already guessed who the "important target" was.
So... what to do?
As he gazed at the bright lights and partying crowd outside the car window, Yoshiki Hayashi smiled faintly.
The Death Note possessed the ability to control the cause of death of the person whose name was written in it.
What made it truly terrifying was its ability to influence third parties whose names weren't even written.
For example:
If you wrote, "On a certain day in a certain month, Shuichi Akai encountered his nemesis—whom he had set a trap for and wished to capture alive—at a certain location in Yokohama City, and during the fierce battle, was shot in the forehead by the enemy,"
...once this came true, Gin would inevitably go to Yokohama for various reasons.
If necessary, it could even be used to manipulate people's locations.
"This is giving me a headache. If Mr. Amuro can't come to work for a while, the office won't function properly."
"Aren't you exaggerating a bit?"
Amuro Tōru was driving his own Mazda RX-7, and traffic was surprisingly clear.
"In fact, it's just responding to emails using templates and handling appointments. I asked a friend to help with the emails—just keep an eye on the phone and messages."
"Can't you just not take leave?"
"...Sorry, Boss. I'll try to wrap things up and return as soon as I can."
Amuro Tōru replied with a wry smile.
He really did have something important going on.
Gin had tasked him with tracking down Shuichi Akai—a job that made Amuro's blood boil with excitement.
Just thinking the Organization might finally act against that bastard Akai made Amuro eager to drop everything.
He didn't hesitate to ask Yoshiki Hayashi for time off.
But that... only gave Hayashi another headache.
The nickname "working emperor" wasn't an exaggeration.
Over a long period, Amuro Tōru had handled every aspect of office life—admin work, hygiene, reception, and even afternoon tea.
If one day he suddenly quit... Hayashi Yoshiki might actually cry.
The reason Hayashi was in Amuro's car today was simple:
His own was in the shop for maintenance.
"Why's it so noisy up ahead?"
"Sirens... they seem to be chasing someone?"
Amuro Tōru's eyes narrowed.
Still, he didn't react.
Chasing criminals was a police job.
If an undercover like him got too righteous, he'd have been ashes long ago.
Hayashi Yoshiki smirked.
"Didn't Mr. Amuro say in his resume that he was excellent at driving?"
"Boss... what are you trying to say?"
"...Never mind."
Even as a boss, asking an employee to take such a risk might be a step too far.
But Tōru Amuro understood exactly what Hayashi meant.
He recalled the file he had read—Hayashi Yoshiki, who once chased down human traffickers in his own car to rescue a kidnapped child.
(Although it later turned out to be a misunderstanding.)
Still, Amuro admired his sense of justice.
He'd been planning to recruit this man into Public Security.
If he backed down now... how could he look him in the eye later?
"What do I mean? Sit tight, BOSS!"
Wearing a cheerful grin, Tōru Amuro straightened his posture, and downshifted instinctively—
And the Mazda RX-7 launched forward like a bullet.
The white sports car darted through the bustling city, overtaking cars and pulling off daring maneuvers.
Hayashi Yoshiki gripped the passenger handrail tightly to steady himself against the wild inertia.
Meanwhile, in downtown Tokyo...
Miwako Sato and Wataru Takagi were in hot pursuit of a red car.
As Sato focused on the road, Takagi shouted into the radio:
"Emergency! Emergency! We've located a vehicle carrying an armed robber! They're fleeing from Sotobori Road to Miyuki Road!"
"Metropolitan Police Department received. Police 503, report the suspect vehicle model, plate number, and suspect description."
"Black van! Plate number Shinjuku 500 SA-3255! The suspects look like... Lupin and Fujiko!"
"Police 503, this is no time for jokes."
"I'm not kidding!!"
Takagi Wataru shouted in desperation.
While Sato Miwako slammed the pedal to catch the black van...
A white blur suddenly raced past—Amuro's car, streaking toward the suspects like a shooting star.
"Careful, BOSS!"
Clutching the wheel with both hands, Amuro wore a thrilled expression.
Just as Hayashi thought they'd collide head-on, something unexpected happened.
At the fork ahead, while the black van turned one way, Amuro veered off in the opposite direction.
Hayashi didn't ask questions.
The white car tore through a network of side streets, swerving between box-style warehouses.
After a few slick turns... Amuro blasted out of an alley and cut directly in front of the black van.
…
Grinning silently, Amuro floored it—aiming straight at the van.
Boom! Boom!!
At speeds over 180 km/h, the world outside became nothing but a blur.
The black van, headlights glaring, roared toward them with equal speed.
The distance between them evaporated.
At the last possible moment—
Amuro jerked the wheel left.
The van driver, blinded by headlights, panicked and swerved.
The white car skidded to a dramatic drift and stopped.
The black van? It flipped violently and rolled several times across the pavement.
A moment later, Sato Miwako and her unit arrived.
All three groups stopped their vehicles.
Takagi rushed to the wrecked van, while Sato turned toward the white sports car.
"Mr. Hayashi?"
"Let's check the suspects first, Officer Sato."
"Ah—yes!"
She hurried over.
Hayashi Yoshiki looked at Amuro, still smiling beside him.
"You're amazing, Mr. Amuro."
"It was just dumb luck," he replied with a laugh. "With the police behind them, they wouldn't dare risk a crash. And SUVs can't corner like cars—one wrong move, and they flip easily."
Sure enough, Sato and her team dragged out the suspects.
Not Lupin and Fujiko—just fugitives wearing their masks.
"Officer Sato, backup and medical should be arriving soon."
"Good... they deserved it."
"Huh?"
"For wearing a mask of my first love," she muttered.
Takagi Wataru looked absolutely crushed.
Sato, however, ignored him and turned toward Hayashi and Amuro with formal gratitude.
"Thank you, Mr. Hayashi. And...?"
"Tōru Amuro."
"Mr. Amuro—thank you."
Hayashi stepped toward the fallen suspects.
He stared at the eerily lifelike Lupin mask—
Though it wasn't the real Lupin III, this scene foreshadowed a coming collaboration between Detective Conan and Lupin.
"But why wear such ridiculous masks during a robbery?"
"God..."
One suspect trembled as his mask was removed, and with a shaking voice, whispered a single name:
"Kamishima Island..."