Chapter 310

The same question that Conan Edogawa thought of, Yukiko Kudo also thought of.

Even though she has been retired from acting for many years, her acting skills are still at the level of an award-winning actress.

Yukiko Kudo did not show any suspicious reaction, and even her actions of opening the cabinet to take out snacks were smooth and natural.

As she looked for the new tea and snacks she had bought, she asked, "'She'? Is she your girlfriend?"

For a moment, Usoya Saiki thought he was actually referring to a cat. He even had a target in mind: a cat that lived on the street near the Kudo residence. It was very friendly, and he would pet it every time he encountered it on his way here. Today, it seemed to have gotten into a fight with a dog and looked rather pitiful.

But after thinking about it, he decided to stop the charade and just add fuel to the fire.

“I’m still single,” said Saiki Usaba with a smile. “We’re just friends… Actually, you should know her too, she’s Sharon’s daughter.”

Yukiko Kudo's smile remained unchanged: "Ah—Chris, is that right? I'm not actually very familiar with that girl... because she seems to dislike people associated with Sharon."

Usoppei said casually, "Really? It's alright. Aren't many people who want her to act in movies only doing so because of Sharon's influence? She didn't just retire from acting because of that."

Yukiko Kudo asked with great interest, "So how did you two meet?"

“Um, we—wait, what is this?” Usakata Saiki’s voice suddenly stopped.

Yukiko Kudo looked bewildered: "What's wrong?"

"Um, Yukiko-neechan, don't move. There seems to be something under your clothes..."

Conan Edogawa's heart was pounding with nervousness.

However, Yukiko Kudo reacted quickly. When she noticed Saiki Usaba's hand reaching towards her hem, she immediately wiped the hem off and pulled the small listening device off: "What's wrong here?... Oh, I was just tidying up my makeup case. Maybe I got something on it. Don't worry about it."

Conan Edogawa breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt a wave of worry wash over him.

Even though the hiding place wasn't particularly conspicuous, he observed it so carefully and found it so quickly... But Bo Ye has always had strong observation skills, and he seems to be acting as a detective, so it's probably quite normal?

Moreover, is it just now that it has been discovered, or was it discovered a long time ago but is being brought up now to avoid answering questions?

Anyway, after Usuiba Saiki started asking him about makeup and disguise, it became difficult for Kudo Yukiko to continue asking him how he met Chris.

“Sharon is better at disguise than I am,” Yukiko Kudo said with a somewhat complicated tone.

She had initially thought Sharon was like her, learning these things only for the sake of acting; now it seemed more likely that she was doing it for that mysterious black-clad organization.

Sharon...why did you join that kind of organization?

Usakabe Saiki also sighed: "It's such a pity about Sharon... I wanted to see her act in more movies."

Yukiko Kudo nodded in agreement, then asked, "Speaking of which, how did you meet Sharon? I remember she said you were her friend's child?"

“Yes, but my father has been dead for a long time. I didn’t even know he knew a big star.” Bo Yezai helped carry the tray out. “After Sharon found out that I had been living alone, she said that I could just tell her if I needed any help… She’s such a kind person.”

Yukiko Kudo: "…………"

No, I don't think Sharon is that kind of person... So, did Sharon intentionally approach Saiki Usaku?

It's just that because the goal wasn't achieved, after Sharon died, Chris took over the role.

Although the bugging device was discovered, Yukiko Kudo secretly put it in her pocket, so Conan Edogawa, who was able to continue eavesdropping, had a similar guess.

This made him feel a little more relaxed.

After all, if that's the case, then Usakabe Saiki is someone targeted by the organization for some purpose, rather than a member of that organization...

To be honest, Haibara has met Usaku before, but she just doesn't react to him. Is Usaku really innocent?

Just like when he encountered his idol committing murder a while ago, Conan Edogawa was filled with mixed emotions, hoping to prove the innocence of Saiki Usaku.

Regardless of how close they were, they were still older brothers he'd known for years and got along quite well with. He still didn't really want the other person to actually be a member of a vicious organization...

After all, seeing how relaxed and stress-free he is, so different from Ai Haibara, if Usopp really is a member of the organization, he must have joined voluntarily! In that case, Usopp's values ​​are really questionable!

Conan Edogawa cannot accept people who don't value human life.

After insincerely agreeing with Sharon's kind words, Yukiko Kudo then used the topic to ask, "So, are you still living alone?"

"yes."

"...So, you have a job?"

Bo Ye Zaiji coughed: "I inherited quite a lot of wealth... enough to keep me from having to worry about food and clothing for the rest of my life."

Yukiko Kudo said with mixed feelings, "That's good. Sharon isn't here now, so you can ask me if you need any help."

Is the organization after Usui Saiki's legacy?

She didn't think the organization was so short of money that Vermouth would waste her talents by using her beauty to seduce someone else. She just suspected that the inheritance that Usoya Saiki had received might contain something that the organization wanted, such as data or codes.

"I'm an adult now, Yukiko-neechan."

Bo Yezaki gave her a sweet smile, a carefree smile that made him look at least five years younger than his actual age: "Don't worry about me, I have plenty of friends! If I'm in trouble, I won't even need to ask you for help, they'll find a way to help me!"

Yukiko Kudo nodded with relief: "That's good."

The two chatted for over half an hour in the living room, drinking tea and eating snacks. Meanwhile, Conan Edogawa, who had been sitting in a chair upstairs, moved to his bed, trying to sift through the pile of meaningless chatter to find something useful.

For example, when Usoppō Saiki mentions him.

“Conan looks just like Shinichi,” Saiki Usaba remarked. “But it turns out they’re just distant relatives… Genetics are truly amazing.”

Yukiko Kudo: "...Yeah, Conan used to keep pestering Shinichi, saying he wanted to be like Shinichi when he grew up..."

"Huh? Does 'same' mean he married the same wife?" Usakata Saiki tilted his head. "I don't know if kids these days are more precocious or what, but sometimes I feel like Conan looks at Ran the same way he does Shinichi."

Yukiko Kudo: "...Hahaha, after all, Ran is really nice. It's probably just a misunderstanding now. She'll understand when she's older."

Shin-chan's acting is terrible! Don't tell anyone he's my son!

The chat that had left some people sweating profusely came to an end. Usakabe Saiki was a little disappointed that he hadn't been able to meet Edogawa Conan, but the suspicion level he had raised was quite high, so he let it go for now. Even though the "all-powerful navigation" showed that Edogawa Conan was at the Kudo residence, he just wouldn't come out, and he didn't want to force him at this point, so he could only let it go for the time being.

Usaku Saiki made it seem like a simple visit; he chatted with Kudo Yukiko, drank tea, borrowed two books, and then prepared to take his leave.

Before leaving, he even asked, "Since you're in Japan now, should I return the key to you first? I can give it back to you after you leave Japan?"

Yukiko Kudo couldn't find a suitable reason to permanently reclaim the key. Besides, she herself had just said that she wouldn't be staying in Japan for long. Considering that she had already given it to him, if anything was going to be discovered, Saiki Usaba should have discovered it long ago. The sudden reclamation of the key now felt rather abrupt.

Moreover, looking at Usuiba Saiki, who was an orphan, she felt a surge of maternal affection, so Kudo Yukiko simply said, "No need, you can keep it. We'll talk about it when you've finished reading the books here."

"Thank you~ Yukiko-neechan, you're so kind to me."

Yukiko Kudo laughed: "Because you're so cute. I wish you were my younger brother."

But upon hearing this, Bo Yezaki looked at her and sighed deeply: "Really, don't say things like that so casually, I'll take it seriously."

Yukiko Kudo vaguely sensed that something was off about the tone of the voice.

She had actually relaxed after chatting for more than half an hour and thought that Usaku Saiki was just a pitiful person being targeted by Vermouth. But now, when Usaku Saiki suddenly stopped smiling and instead became serious, her heart started pounding.

What could possibly make the usually optimistic Usaku Saiki show such an expression? What was he trying to say?

"...Yukiko-neechan, haven't you been lying to me all along?"

Yukiko Kudo and Conan Edogawa both felt their hearts sink at the same time.