Evening. Fujino returned home from school, opened the door, and flopped onto the sofa.
He casually picked up the newspaper he hadn't read yet from the coffee table and scanned it, his eyes slightly unfocused.
The pages were dense with text – some political news, some idol gossip.
But the majority, as usual, was crime-related.
After scanning the pages, Fujino's gaze locked onto a crime headline:
[Hishihashi Bank Robbery]
This bank robbery had just happened yesterday.
The culprits took two guards hostage, stole ten billion yen from the armored truck, and vanished without a trace.
Bank robberies like this seemed almost commonplace in the crime capital of Beika Town.
It didn't even warrant a front-page headline.
"As expected of Little Gotham,"
Fujino tossed the paper back onto the table and leaned back heavily.
"But really, the Organization seems to have its fingers in everything."
If he remembered correctly, this bank robbery was orchestrated by the Black Organization.
The mastermind was none other than the Organization's loyal servant, Gin.
His stated purpose for this operation was to secure funds for the Organization.
But in reality, it was just an excuse to eliminate an Organization 'traitor' – Miyano Akemi.
Miyano Akemi was a peripheral member of the Organization.
However, five years ago, this peripheral member made a fatal mistake.
FBI ace undercover agent Akai Shuichi used Miyano Akemi to infiltrate the Organization's inner circle. During one operation, Akai came dangerously close to taking down the Organization's workhorse, Gin himself.
Unfortunately, Akai Shuichi had an utterly incompetent partner. Thanks to this partner's blunder, not only did Akai's plan fail, but his undercover identity was exposed.
After Akai's exposure, Miyano Akemi, as the one who introduced him, found herself in a precarious position.
Normally, members who bring traitors into the Organization are executed immediately.
However, the Organization hesitated to kill Miyano Akemi.
All because of her younger sister, Miyano Shiho.
Miyano Shiho's status was completely different from Akemi's. She was a key researcher in the Organization's science division, codenamed "Sherry," responsible for developing biological drugs.
APTX4869, the drug that shrunk Conan, commonly known as the A-drug, was her creation.
Therefore, to the Organization, she was an indispensable asset.
However, Miyano Akemi, sheltered by her sister, didn't want to stay quiet.
Just recently, she naively proposed leaving the Organization.
Upon hearing Akemi's rebellious idea, Gin immediately jumped to the conclusion that she was colluding with Akai Shuichi.
In a flash of inspiration, he devised a trap.
He told her: If she successfully carried out the bank robbery, the Organization would let her and her sister leave. If she failed, she would be killed.
But regardless of success or failure, the Organization never intended to let her go.
In Gin's eyes, the moment Miyano Akemi harbored rebellious thoughts,
she was already dead.
Letting her live longer was merely a way to use her – eliminate loose ends via the robbery, seize the ten billion yen, and squeeze out every last drop of her usefulness.
That was the Organization's way.
"Miyano Akemi..."
Fujino slowly stood up, walked to the balcony, and gazed out the window.
"Truly a foolish woman. Not only manipulated emotionally... but ultimately led to her death because of it."
After a moment, he pulled a white box from his pocket.
Flipping open the lid revealed five white cigars lying neatly inside.
White Wolf cigarettes...
Since pulling them from the gacha, he hadn't found an opportunity to use them.
"Looks like this time, I can finally use one."
Fujino gazed at the five cigars, murmured to himself, then took one out, placed it between his lips, and lit it with a lighter.
The lit end of the cigar began to emit thick white smoke.
The wisps of smoke didn't dissipate in the wind but instead coalesced calmly in the night air, gradually forming the shape of a white wolfhound.
As the details became clearer, Fujino realized it wasn't a hound.
It was a wolf, formed entirely of smoke, with distinct fur details and imposing features – a truly magnificent white wolf.
"Find Gin."
The white wolf circled once in mid-air, then abruptly dissipated.
Simultaneously, the cigar in Fujino's hand extinguished.
"Couldn't find him?"
Fujino frowned, watching the vanished wolf.
He then checked the item description:
[A Pack of White Wolves: The White Wolf will guide your way. (Item Effect: Light a White Wolf cigarette; the smoke wolf formed will seek the person you name.)]
The White Wolf seeks the person named, but clearly, it failed just now...
What was the problem?
Gin... right, that's probably not his real name.
Does it need a specific name?
Thinking this, Fujino stroked his chin. Lighting another White Wolf cigarette, he spoke:
"Mouri Ran."
This time, the smoke wolf circled continuously in the night sky.
After a moment, the wolf let out a roar that seemed to echo only in Fujino's mind.
The hovering white figure seemed to sense something, then flew directly towards the Mouri residence across the street.
The white wolf passed through the walls of the Mouri home, apparently entering Ran's bedroom.
This confirmed Fujino's suspicion.
The White Wolf only worked if he knew the specific name.
Furthermore, besides the user (himself), no one else could see, hear, or perceive the smoke wolf.
After all, if Ran had actually seen a white wolf suddenly burst into her house and enter her room...
She would most likely reenact the tale of "Ran Fights the Wolf," with the Human Horned Tyrannomon beating the White Wolf spirit senseless and throwing it out the window.
Not remain calm as she apparently was now.
Having confirmed the White Wolf cigarette's function, Fujino headed down to his underground garage.
The most crucial step – locating the target – was achieved. Now, it was time to prepare the necessary tools for the next phase.
In the garage, he took out the bomb he'd confiscated from the Organization's peripheral members earlier.
The bomb was already disarmed. C4 explosive, without a detonator, was stable even if exposed to fire.
Following the bomb-making knowledge in his head, Fujino divided the C4 into three smaller portions.
Using salvaged materials from the previous defusal and some items found in the garage, he constructed simple detonation devices and attached them to the C4 charges.
[Congratulations Host for constructing a bomb. +50 Bomb Expert Proficiency Points awarded.]
[Bomb Expert Rank Up: Advanced (0/1000)]
[Current Available Profession Skill Points: 1]
The Bomb Expert rank-up was expected.
However, for now, Fujino didn't plan to upgrade it further.
He'd save the point; it wouldn't run away.
"Perhaps, while ensuring my own safety, I can also deliver a major blow to those rats in the Organization."
Storing the newly crafted bombs, Fujino returned from the garage to his fourth-floor bedroom, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.