Chapter 107: Escape from Death
The night was dark and stormy, the sea churning with violent waves.
A cruise ship sailed alone through the darkness, eerily quiet except for the constant roar of the ocean.
In the oppressive atmosphere, the cruise ship suddenly erupted with a massive explosion, followed by violent tremors.
Thick smoke rose from below the stern, flames spreading rapidly through the black clouds.
The shocking scene filled everyone with terror.
Even Conan stood there gaping, his legs refusing to move.
This... was too terrifying.
Assassins these days were more ruthless than the last.
This killer disguised as Butler Suzuki clearly intended to bury them all at sea.
The group from the restaurant rushed out at that moment, every face filled with fear and dread.
Especially Hatamoto Akie.
The life of a wealthy heiress had been calling to her—she'd originally planned to enjoy Tokyo's nightlife to the fullest.
Now it seemed she wouldn't live to see that day.
That damned Kenzo Masuyama!
It had to be him.
They'd said they would only act after returning to Tokyo, but now even she was about to be sunk at sea.
Men's words were nothing but lies.
But none of that mattered now—survival was the only priority.
"What do we do?! You have to find a way to get me out of here! Natsue and I will pay you handsomely!" Hatamoto Akie screamed desperately.
Her legs were trembling so badly you'd think she'd been electrocuted.
But the Hatamoto family were all the same—they always tried to buy their way out of trouble.
With Hatamoto Gozo dead, they all thought they were swimming in money.
"Where's Ichiro?" Hatamoto Natsue asked anxiously.
Natsukawa shook his head. "Couldn't find him. There's been an explosion at the bottom of the ship—we have to leave immediately, or the cruise ship will sink."
As soon as he finished speaking, another explosion erupted from below.
The rumbling sound sent chills down everyone's spines.
What a ruthless killer.
"I've already contacted the Metropolitan Police Department. They've dispatched a helicopter, but it won't arrive for forty minutes."
Yor checked her watch. "Make that thirty more minutes."
"I'm afraid we won't be able to wait that long." Mouri Kogoro's expression was grave, half his face illuminated by the rising flames.
The ship suddenly lurched violently, splashing up waves hundreds of meters high—like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's hearts.
It also knocked Mouri Kogoro, who'd just struck a dramatic pose, flat on his face.
Conan cursed their rotten luck, grabbed the wall to steady himself, and suddenly shouted, "Look out!"
Hatamoto Natsue was startled—Conan's warning seemed directed at her.
Turning around, she saw a steel pipe hurtling toward her from the third deck, falling before she could react.
"Ah!"
CRASH!
It missed Hatamoto Natsue, but the impact created a massive dent in the deck, and the thick iron pipe fell straight through to the first level.
Clearly, if it had hit someone, it would have been fatal.
"It's Butler Suzuki!"
Natsukawa hadn't expected this guy to dare show his face again.
"Are you alright?" Hatamoto Takeshi shouted as he rushed to Natsue's side.
Natsue was about to break down crying when she suddenly took a half-step back in terror.
SHHUNK!
A steel pipe, sharp as a spear, pierced straight through Hatamoto Takeshi's chest.
The blood-soaked pipe clattered against the deck. The intense pain caused Takeshi's eyes to widen, his pupils dilating in shock.
His arm, raised halfway toward Natsue, lost all strength and fell limply.
"Natsue..."
Hatamoto Takeshi died with regret in his eyes.
The opportunist who'd served three masters never got to truly enjoy the Hatamoto family's immense wealth.
"His target is Natsue! Yor, Anya's with you!"
Natsukawa lunged forward, using the tilted deck to reach Hatamoto Natsue. With one powerful motion, he swept the dazed woman into his arms.
Natsue couldn't be allowed to die.
If she died, Ireland's goal would be achieved.
After being annoyed by this bastard for so long, it would be too embarrassing not to strike back.
As for whether Natsue's survival would affect the Organization's takeover of the Hatamoto Group, Natsukawa no longer cared. Whatever happens, happens.
Anyway, the blame wouldn't fall on the Tequila identity—Pisco would bear the brunt of Gin's wrath.
"Uncle Natsukawa, hurry!"
In moments, everyone had taken cover inside the cabin stairwell.
Conan frantically called out, stretching out his small hand.
"Die!"
Ireland's voice was muffled by the waves and explosions, but Natsukawa knew it wasn't anything pleasant. Looking up, he saw a kettle of scalding water flying toward him.
Good grief! Throwing objects from high places repeatedly like this should be illegal!
Natsukawa moved with agility, dodging several falling objects before rushing into the cabin.
Before he could even steady himself and set Natsue down, the ground shook violently again.
This time, the trembling was extreme, showing no signs of stopping.
The cruise ship couldn't hold on much longer! The area where the explosion occurred was likely already flooding.
Natsukawa's gaze sharpened as he looked toward the end of the corridor. "Exit through the other side! I remember there are more lifeboats on the port side of the ship!"
Yor didn't question him and immediately took off with Anya.
Seeing this, the others followed suit. The flames in the cabin were spreading rapidly, and sparks were already appearing on the first deck.
As they reached another exit and prepared to leave, Conan raised his hand to stop them.
A small mirror had appeared in his hand. He extended it from the cabin, angling it to reflect the third deck.
After confirming Butler Suzuki wasn't there, Conan said, "He's not here. Everyone, let's go."
The group emerged onto the first deck again.
By now, the cruise ship's tilt had increased dramatically, its bow noticeably raised.
Mouri Kogoro leaned over the railing to inspect the lifeboats.
He saw a small motorboat roaring away, and the man in the tuxedo aboard turned back with a mocking smile.
"Damn it!"
Mouri Kogoro angrily slammed his fist on the railing, then winced in pain.
He realized he hadn't hit Conan on the head instead.
"The last lifeboat's been taken!"
"It's fine!" Natsukawa, who'd arrived moments later, remained calm, carrying two deflated inflatable rafts.
The sounds of inflating rafts rose and fell—they were racing against death itself, and no one dared slack off.
Ten minutes later, both rafts were fully inflated, and the group leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.
The cruise ship had reached the final moments of its death countdown, tilting at over forty-five degrees.
Countless objects slid down the angled deck.
The sounds of shattering glass and heavy impacts echoed constantly, occasionally punctuated by booming explosions.
The cabin was completely engulfed in flames—everything was about to be destroyed by water and fire.
Natsukawa held two bedsheets, tying them to the corners of the two rafts.
"What's that for?"
Anya was the calmest of the group, having fun bouncing the whole time.
"How can you be so calm facing a disaster like this?" Conan couldn't help but complain. This girl wasn't acting like a child—she wasn't even acting human!
At this critical moment, with their lives hanging by a thread, there wasn't a trace of fear on her face.
Unscientific!
Illogical!
Even Newton and Professor Agasa would shake their heads in confusion, wondering what kind of creature this was and how it differed so drastically from normal children.
At this moment, Natsukawa finally had a chance to explain to Anya: "A makeshift parachute. Anya, are you ready to jump?"
"Anya's ready!"
The little girl obediently climbed onto the raft.
Yor, Natsukawa, Anya, and Hatamoto Natsue would share one raft.
The Mouri family and Hatamoto Akie would take the other.
Everything was prepared—they were about to launch!
A gap had been smashed into the railing diagonally below them. The rafts just needed to slide down like a water slide and shoot out through the opening.
"Will this actually work?" Hatamoto Akie was scared out of her mind.
She'd tried parachuting before, but never this kind of 'slide plus parachute' combination—it seemed completely unreliable, especially with four people sharing a single bedsheet parachute.
"Just pray the sheets are sturdy enough!" Natsukawa continued with a smile. "Uncle Mouri, are you ready?"
"Ready!"
Mouri Kogoro's face turned pale—he was terrified of heights!
But for his daughter's sake, he absolutely couldn't back down!
The raft slid down a slope that was nearly sixty degrees.
The bottom scraped against the deck, making harsh grinding sounds. Everyone tensed up, gritted their teeth, and gripped the edges of the raft with white-knuckled intensity.
WHOOOOSH~
At the end of the corridor, the raft shot off into open air.
The next moment, sea wind caught the raft, the bedsheet billowed upward and snapped taut with a sharp crack.
Everyone pressed themselves flat.
"We did it!"
Anya shouted excitedly, glanced back at the cruise ship, and said to Natsukawa, "Papa, you were right—cruise ships are terrible! Let's buy a helicopter instead."
A question mark appeared above Natsukawa's head.
This money-devouring beast really has no idea how hard it is to earn a living. Why don't you ask Hatamoto Natsue to buy you one?
The rushing wind carried the raft away from the cruise ship.
A minute later, the raft smacked the water's surface, splashing up massive waves.
Safe landing!
Natsukawa breathed a sigh of relief and glanced toward the Mouri family's raft.
Seeing that everyone was safe, he finally allowed himself to smile.
"Yor, are you alright?"
He looked down.
Only then did Natsukawa notice that because the raft was so small, Yor was practically pressed against him—her soft chest against his thighs, her beautiful face pressed against his waist and... below. The situation was... indescribable.
Hearing his voice, Yor looked up with a curious gaze.
Oh no~
Natsukawa realized his angle was extremely awkward. Yor was clinging to his lower half, looking up at him with those innocent eyes. This situation was really... uncomfortable.
"I'm fine." Natsukawa propped himself up on his elbows, hunching over slightly to hide his embarrassment.
Yor, still confused, remained kneeling, quietly watching Natsukawa.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Natsukawa touched his cheek, asking curiously.
"No, I just think you're incredibly brave, Natsukawa." Yor grasped Natsukawa's hands tightly with both of hers. "Thank you!"
"Kiss him! Kiss him!"
Anya, never one to miss a chance for drama, started her matchmaking chant.
Anya's antics improved Natsue's mood considerably.
"Thank you, Mr. Natsukawa."
Natsue's gratitude was heartfelt and sincere.
If it weren't for Natsukawa, she'd probably already be facing death alongside Takeshi.
End of Chapter 107
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