Chapter 554 This can't be happening!

"Alright, Professor Agasa and the others are still waiting for us. Let's go back." The pink-haired girl waved her wrist, her tone softening.

In the elevator heading downstairs, Conan remained silent, deep in thought.

Kawasaki Machi couldn't help but nudge him, "Conan, what are you thinking about?"

"Huh? I wasn't thinking about anything." Conan shook his head, snapping out of his reverie.

Upon hearing this, Kawasaki Machi stared at him quietly for a few seconds, then suddenly realized and said, "Oh~ I know, you're just too embarrassed to ask me why my brother has a gun, right!"

Conan: "..."

Well... I guess so.

"Don't worry, my brother has a proper gun license!" Kawasaki Machi said with a smile, patting Conan on the shoulder.

Back at the door, he waved to Conan and Ai Haibara before entering the room and closing the door. "Goodnight~ See you tomorrow!"

"Good night," they both replied in unison.

They looked at each other and then went to bed.

The next day, after leaving the ski resort and returning home, Conan quickly rode his skis to Liu Qingyao's house.

The doorbell rang, and the homeowner, yawning and with disheveled hair, opened the door.

Liu Qingyao peeked at Conan with sleepy eyes, then yawned and asked in confusion, "Conan? What brings you here? Is something wrong?"

Conan, skateboard in hand, followed him, glanced at his back, scratched the back of his head, and smiled sheepishly. "Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you were home last night?"

"Last night?" Liu Qingyao thought for a moment and replied, "I wasn't home last night because I went to Qianye-kun's place. I didn't get back until almost dawn this morning, so what happened?"

Back inside, Liu Qingyao bent down to get Conan a pair of slippers, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Conan was initially wary after hearing the phrase "not home last night," but what followed made him more suspicious.

He definitely saw Brother Liu's face last night; he couldn't have been mistaken, could he?

No, it's not impossible that the other person looks exactly like Brother Liu.

After all, one of the thieves looks a lot like him.

Conan pondered for a moment, and eventually got angry with himself.

But... even the placement of the highlights is exactly the same.

Conan felt a slight unease, but he subtly probed further.

He tilted his head back, looking like an innocent elementary school student, and asked, "Brother Liu, why were you with Brother Qianzhu yesterday? Did he have another relapse?"

Liu Qingyao washed her face. "Yes, I originally planned to go and see him last night, but I happened to run into him having an attack, so I stayed there to take care of him."

Conan nodded knowingly.

"Is Brother Qianzhu awake? I'll go check on him."

"Maybe not yet, he went to bed quite late last night."

Liu Qingyao glanced at him, then went to wash up before going to the kitchen to heat up a piece of toast in the bread machine.

Conan sat cross-legged on the sofa, deep in thought.

The L I met last night looked exactly like Brother Liu, only he was much colder and more ruthless, and Brother Liu seemed to have no memory of what happened last night.

...Wait, cold-blooded?

Conan suddenly thought of another possibility, and his pupils dilated in shock.

Even after Behffinger was controlled, it was the same. Could it be that...?

No way? That can't be right? This can't be happening!

Thinking this, his mind suddenly went blank, and he looked up at Liu Qingyao, who was in the kitchen.