Just as Conan's small hand was about to touch the zipper of the snowboard bag.
"Hey! You brat with glasses! What do you think you're doing?!"
Robber No. 2's angry roar was like a clap of thunder.
He spun around, his gun pointed at Conan, his eyes filled with murderous intent, "You're asking for death!!"
He strode over, pushed Conan aside, his finger on the trigger, about to fire.
"Stop!"
Just then, Vermouth, disguised as Dr. Araide, stepped forward and stood in front of Conan, saying to Robber No. 2:
"Conan is still a child! Children don't know any better, why are you, an adult, arguing with him? Please don't hurt him!"
Robber No. 2 was stunned, he shook the pistol in his hand, and laughed in anger.
"Ha? A child? I'm a robber! A robber who kills without batting an eye! Would you mind respecting my profession?! Get lost!
Don't try that moral blackmail on me! Otherwise, I'll shoot you too!"
He said, raising his gun again, his killing intent resolute.
Just at this critical moment, Robber No. 1 quickly walked over and pushed down his companion's gun. "Third Brother, let it go, let it go, why argue with a little brat."
Robber No. 2 growled discontentedly. "Second Brother! He just tried to touch our bag!"
Robber No. 1 leaned close to his ear and said in a very low voice.
"I know, but you damn well look at where we are. It's too close to the bomb. If your gun accidentally goes off and hits the bomb in the bag, we'll all be blown to kingdom come. Calm down!"
Hearing this, Robber No. 2's expression changed. He glanced at the snowboard bag so close by, then let out a cold snort, still shaken, and put his gun away, but his face was filled with gloom and displeasure.
Robber No. 1 turned around, ready to go back to the front of the bus to continue monitoring the driver.
However, he had barely taken two steps when Jodie, who was sitting by the aisle, seemed to casually stretch her leg.
"Ouch!"
Robber No. 1 was caught off guard and tripped, falling flat on his face.
"Oh! I'm sorry!"
Jodie immediately showed a panicked expression, apologizing profusely in her oddly accented Japanese,
"I didn't mean to! I'm truly very sorry! My leg just fell asleep, and I wanted to stretch it out…"
Robber No. 1 scrambled to his feet, veins throbbing on his forehead, and pointed his gun at Jodie. "You stinking wench! You're asking for death!!"
At this moment, Robber No. 2, who had been extremely sullen, suddenly cheered up, his mood inexplicably much better. He even came over to mediate.
"Second Brother, let it go, let it go, why argue with a silly foreign woman who can't even speak Japanese properly? The main business is important!"
Robber No. 1 panted, glared fiercely at Jodie, then gave up.
However, before he had fully calmed down, he took one step forward, and Robber No. 2.
Was also tripped by Ran's leg, which just happened to stretch out beside him.
Splat!
Robber No. 2, who had just finished mediating, followed in his companion's footsteps, also falling unexpectedly, and as luck would have it, he stumbled directly onto Robber No. 1, who had just regained his footing.
Their noses collided, and even more awkwardly, their lips, separated by scarves, also touched.
Instantly, the entire bus compartment fell into an eerie silence.
The two robbers quickly got up, their faces changing color.
"I can't take it anymore! You bastards have no respect for our profession!"
They simultaneously raised their guns, aiming at Jodie and Ran.
Ellen blinked, tensed her body, and began to gather strength in her muscles, ready to pounce and subdue the robbers at any moment.
Akai Shuichi and Jane Doe quietly leaned their bodies towards the robbers.
Ran reached out and gripped the nearby railing, ready to use it to launch a kick if things went wrong.
Conan placed his hand on his tranquilizer watch. From his earlier probing, he had already determined who the robbers' hidden accomplice was.
It was the woman who had been chewing gum.
She was giving signals to the robbers by blowing bubbles and making gestures. When they heard the sound of a bubble popping, the robbers would turn to check the situation and their female accomplice's gestures.
Now, he just needed the right moment to take down one of the robbers with a tranquilizer dart.
Just at this tense moment.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling—
Robber No. 1's phone suddenly rang.
The special ringtone made his face light up. He signaled his companion to wait, and quickly answered the phone.
"Hello? Boss?!… What? The police really released you?! That's great!… You've already shaken off the police? Understood! We'll also prepare to evacuate immediately!"
Hanging up the phone, Robber No. 1 and Robber No. 2 exchanged smiles, their faces showing the joy of impending victory.
They had completely forgotten the previous conflict and awkwardness.
Robber No. 1 ordered the driver. "Drive the bus into the tunnel ahead!"
Then, he contacted the police again.
"Listen! We are now heading into the tunnel. After entering the tunnel, we will release three passengers at regular intervals! You police are not allowed to follow! You are not allowed to set up any roadblocks at the tunnel entrance! Otherwise, we cannot guarantee the safety of the hostages!"
As the bus drove into the dim tunnel, the light gradually faded.
Robber No. 1 prepared to follow the pre-arranged plan and hold two hostages to exchange clothes with them.
He scanned the passengers inside the bus.
He chose Akai Shuichi and Dr. Araide, who were similar in build to them.
"You, and you! Come out! Take off your jackets and switch with us! Hurry! Don't try any tricks."
Akai Shuichi and Dr. Araide, who were called out, slowly stepped forward, silently cooperating and changing into the robbers' ski suits.
"Listen,"
Robber No. 1, after putting on Akai Shuichi's clothes, said to the driver and passengers,
"Next, we will pretend to be passengers and get off. After we get off, driver, you will continue to drive forward, do not stop. As long as you cooperate obediently, you will be safe once you exit the tunnel."
Robber No. 2, with a sinister smile, added.
"Of course, to ensure that you, Mr. Driver, will obey, we will randomly take one hostage with us when we get off. If we find any police following, or if you don't do as we say… we will immediately shoot this hostage!"
His gaze swept across the compartment, finally landing on the young woman in the back row who had been chewing gum.
"You're the one! Come with us!"
The woman, with a gun pointed at her, trembled in fear, unable to speak.
Just as the two robbers, now disguised, were about to take the hostage and get off the bus.
"Everyone, don't believe them!"
Conan suddenly stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs, attracting everyone's attention.
"They never intended to let us go!"
Conan pointed at the two snowboard bags at the front and back of the bus,
"There are bombs inside! The woman that chewing gum is their accomplice!
Their plan is to disguise themselves as hostages and blend in, then once the bus drives out of the tunnel, they will remotely detonate the bombs, blowing up everyone on the bus along with the vehicle! Destroying all evidence!"