[Conan] Black And Silver: The Bond Of Rivals Chapter 14
byPlace of Confinement · Persistent Obsession
The motorcade eventually drove into a hidden FBI secret safe house on the edge of the city. The area was heavily guarded with reinforced outer walls and full signal jamming, a place specifically designed to house high-risk targets. Shuichi Akai carried the still-weak Gin in his arms, stepping slowly out of the car. He passed through layers of security checks before finally entering a spacious, quiet room.
The furnishings inside were simple but complete: a soft sofa, a tidy bed, and a private bathroom. There were no cold shackles, no glaring surveillance cameras, and no interrogations or conflicts. It felt more like a residence isolated from the world than a place of detention. Shuichi Akai carefully placed Gin onto the sofa, his movements so gentle that he didn’t seem to be handling an Organization assassin, but rather a fragile treasure.
Gin slowly moved his shoulders. The effects of the anesthetic needle had not yet fully faded, leaving a lingering numbness in his limbs. He scanned the surroundings, a hint of amusement flickering in his cold green eyes before his gaze settled on Shuichi Akai’s tense profile. He let out a low laugh.
An FBI top-tier safe house, prepared specifically for me? He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying an unmistakable implication. Shuichi Akai, you kept me here not to interrogate me, nor to dispose of me, but to settle me in comfortably?
Shuichi Akai took a step back, creating some distance as he struggled to keep his voice calm and indifferent. You cannot leave for the time being, nor can you contact the Organization. Until then, you are free to move about.
Free? Gin arched an eyebrow. He suddenly stood up and, before Shuichi Akai could react, strode forward to firmly grasp the other man’s wrist, giving it a slight tug. Caught off balance, Shuichi Akai fell back onto the sofa. In an instant, they were inches apart, their breaths mingling as the atmosphere turned sharply tense.
Is being kept by your side considered freedom? Gin leaned over, bracing one hand against the edge of the sofa, trapping the man within his line of sight. You clearly could have made your move at the port. You clearly could have handed me over to FBI headquarters. But you did neither. You personally carried me into the car, personally brought me here, and are personally guarding me…
He paused, his fingertips lightly brushing against Shuichi Akai’s jaw, his tone deep and earnest. Do you dare say it isn’t because you couldn’t bear to let me go?
Shuichi Akai’s heart hammered violently. His fingers curled instinctively as he tried to break free, but Gin held him down firmly, rendering him unable to move. He could clearly smell the faint scent of tobacco on the other man and feel the warm breath so close to him. Those forcibly suppressed memories and wavering emotions surged back wildly in this moment.
The bullet he took for him during the mission in Northern Europe, the desperate shove during the Yokohama explosion, the unspoken chemistry during late-night missions, and those blunt, burning questions during that rainy night at Haido Port… piece by piece, none of it could be erased by simply saying it was fake.
Just as the atmosphere was about to spiral out of control, a soft knock came from the door.
Conan’s voice rang out, still possessing the clear ring of a child but carrying a hint of steadiness:
Mr. Akai, it’s Conan. May I come in?
Gin’s eyes instantly turned cold, and the air pressure around him plummeted as he entered a state of high alert.
He would never underestimate this child who had repeatedly thwarted the Organization’s plans, nor would he treat him as an ordinary elementary student.
Shuichi Akai immediately signaled for him to stay calm before saying in a deep voice, Come in.
Conan pushed the door open, carrying food and documents. After entering, he stood obediently a short distance away, making no move to approach or perform any unnecessary actions. He maintained a safe distance, neither provoking nor showing weakness.
I brought some food and some intelligence on the Organization. Conan’s tone was natural, like an ordinary child. He placed the items on the table and made no further move toward Gin on the sofa.
Gin stared at him coldly, his green eyes filled with scrutiny and danger. He didn’t speak, but he radiated an overwhelming sense of pressure.
He was observing, judging, and secretly wary of the abnormal sharpness hidden beneath this seemingly harmless exterior.
Conan naturally felt that piercing gaze as well, but he pretended to be oblivious, looking instead at Shuichi Akai. Mr. Akai, I’ll head back first. Contact me if you need anything.
He did not linger or say more, nor did he make any overstepping moves. He turned and quietly closed the door as he left.
Only after the door was completely shut did Gin withdraw his icy gaze and look at Shuichi Akai, his tone heavy with meaning. That brat… is not simple.
Shuichi Akai’s expression shifted slightly, but he neither admitted nor denied it.
Gin gave a low laugh. You don’t need to hide it from me. The aura he carries cannot deceive anyone.
Shuichi Akai remained silent for a moment before speaking flatly. There is no point in discussing this now.
No point? Gin took a step forward, closing in again as his presence loomed over the other man. I don’t care who he is, and I don’t care how many plans the FBI has.
I only care about you.
Shuichi Akai, stop using your allegiance to lie to yourself.
You have me in your heart. That fact is more real than anything else.
He lightly pressed down on Shuichi Akai’s shoulder, his voice low and determined:
I will stay right here until the day you admit it.
Night enveloped the window as two shadows stretched and intertwined under the lamplight.
The entanglement of light and darkness, the game between detective and killer, and the pull between archnemeses and their bonds—at this moment, everything quietly froze in time.