Conan: Begins to collaborate with Miss Bayonetta and become famous

Chapter 919 Vodka Remains Honest

"We should be turning soon, get ready," McCallen's voice came through the headset, though there was a hint of tension in it.

"Are you sure?" Baijiu gripped the accelerator tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. "But it doesn't seem to be slowing down at all."

"Buzz—buzz—!"

The roar of the train echoed throughout the dense jungle, like the roar of a steel behemoth.

Inside the train compartment, a woman with long, golden hair, wearing a pure white trench coat, walked calmly down the corridor, her hands in her pockets. Her brother, Zola, followed silently behind her. As they were about to head to the next carriage, a group of people dressed in black were talking around a table behind them.

"How can you be so sure he's in the car?" a man with a deep, honest voice asked.

“It’s simple.” Kava sneered, downing the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp. “Because that woman is here.”

“What if…he has a legitimate reason?” Vodka put down his chopsticks, wiped his shiny lips with the back of his hand, and looked unusually serious and earnest.

This was the first time Kava had ever seen Vodka with such an expression. Those eyes, usually hidden behind sunglasses, now seemed to radiate an unprecedented "wisdom"—even though Kava couldn't see it, he could sense that the look behind the sunglasses had changed.

"Who are you talking about?" Kava narrowed his eyes.

"You don't know?" Vodka seemed surprised. "It's liquor."

Kava's eyes widened instantly, one big and one small, like a fiery chili pepper about to explode. Before he could even speak, Vodka continued his analysis along his own train of thought, his logic so clear that even he was somewhat surprised—this was a rare moment when he was truly using his brain.

"What if he disobeys orders, but for a legitimate reason?"

"Ha." Kava crossed his arms and let out two contemptuous sneers. "You even worked with him before, and it seems you don't really know him. This is just his usual style." He tapped the table lightly with the bottom of his empty glass, and the bartender in the distance immediately came over with a bottle of liquor.

“He and his cronies are all the same, always making decisions on their own.” Kava turned his head and stared at Vodka.

Vodka disagreed with this argument, instead offering a reasoned rebuttal: "But what if they really have a legitimate reason this time?"

“You really haven’t changed at all… Vodka.” Cava shook his head and smiled wryly, then threw out a crucial question, “If that key were in your hands, what would you do? A key that would make the whole world submit.”

"..." Vodka remained silent for a long time before slowly opening his thick lips, "I will hand it over to Brother Gin to handle..."

"Because I believe that Brother Gin would not covet this kind of power. He would make the same choice as me, handing it over to his superiors instead of keeping the fruits of his labor for himself."

"You..." This unexpected answer left Kava speechless for a moment.

"Think about it carefully, the feeling of holding that power in your hands, wouldn't you hesitate for a moment?" Kavajiu coaxed persistently.

"No, not at all," Vodka replied crisply.

"Why?" Kava couldn't understand. In his mind, any normal person would yearn for the power to control the world.

“Because that kind of power is simply beyond the control of one person.” Vodka’s expression was serious; this was clearly not a casual remark, but a well-thought-out answer.

"Hmph, you're right." Kava nodded reluctantly.

Vodka, however, showed no sign of stopping, continuing, "Such dangerous power should never fall into anyone's hands. Knowing baijiu as I do..." He even chuckled lightly, "He probably thinks so too, doesn't he?"

"What do you mean?" Kava's voice suddenly plummeted to freezing point.

"What?" Vodka seemed to revert to his usual dim-witted self.

"I'm asking you, whose side are you on, kid? Vodka?!"

In an instant, a terrifying murderous aura flashed in Kava's eyes! He suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Vodka's collar tightly, the immense force causing Vodka's entire upper body to sway.

However, unexpectedly, Vodka did not immediately admit his mistake or back down as usual. "But I don't think I said anything wrong," he insisted.

“If the world is really about to be destroyed…” Vodka paused, thought very seriously for a few seconds, then patted his chest, revealing an extremely firm expression, “I think… I would stand on the side of all mankind without hesitation, even if it means bearing the infamy of betraying the organization.”

Meanwhile, in the fields outside the train.

A motorcycle was speeding wildly through the wheat field, sending mud and debris flying. Suddenly, Baijiu slammed on the brakes, the wheels leaving long tracks in the wheat stalks. "Not fast enough! I've missed the best jump point, activate the backup plan!" he growled into his headset.

"Wait...wait a minute!" Inside the BMW, McAllen frowned, his hands gripping the steering wheel even trembling uncontrollably. "You're saying you missed it? Holy crap?!" He was incredulous. "How could you miss it? My computer analyzed every possibility; there's no way I couldn't catch up!"

"What do you think?" Baijiu retorted coldly.

“…Okay.” McClane instantly understood the unspoken meaning behind Baijiu’s words, slamming her hands heavily on the steering wheel. “Pretend I didn’t say anything. I forgot that bastard Rum was still causing trouble in the car!”

“Okay…” McCallen took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “So what do you suggest we do now?”

"Are you asking me?" Baijiu paused, "You didn't prepare a backup plan?"

"A backup plan...?" McClane bit her lower lip hard. "I was thinking we'd just...

"Alright, alright," Baijiu interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Calm down now and don't think about anything."

He twisted the accelerator again, the engine's roar once more shattering the silence of the forest. "I'll find a way to keep chasing; you figure out how to get in the car," Baijiu's voice was resolute, like steel. "There's always a way. In countless simulations, there's bound to be a way out. The so-called 'intelligent body' is by no means invincible!"

"Holy crap, don't make it sound so exciting, bro! Let me catch my breath!" McClan wiped the cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "Can't you main characters at least have a thing on our side characters' minds? You're all invincible, while we're completely naked!"

He was almost in tears: "Where am I supposed to find a solution for you on the spot? Do you really think I'm Doraemon...?"

"Damn it!" McCallen slammed his fist on the steering wheel in despair.

Meanwhile, after delivering his inspiring yet stressful speech, Baijiu very "naturally" unilaterally cut off the communication.