"Mary, what's wrong?"
Mary's sudden change in expression startled Toru, and he quickly asked.
At this moment, Mary felt pain all over her body, especially around her heart, as if it were being torn apart.
Mary did not have heart disease, but she felt that even the pain of a heart attack patient could not compare to what she was experiencing now.
She pointed at her chest with difficulty. At this moment, she couldn't even move and could only signal Toru with her eyes.
She was afraid that the scene of her shrinking would happen here in the bar and be seen by others, which would be very troublesome.
Toru immediately understood. He stood up, supported Mary, and quickly walked toward the restroom.
Some guests in the bar saw him helping Mary, and her posture looked like she was drunk. Some showed playful expressions, thinking the young couple couldn't wait and were going to handle things on the spot.
Toru helped Mary into the restroom and locked the door from the inside.
Once inside the enclosed space, with no outsiders, Mary finally relaxed.
She leaned against the wall, enduring the pain in her chest.
Toru also admired her.
When Haibara shrank back then, she screamed in agony, which showed how painful it was.
But Mary endured it without a sound. She truly deserved her title as the Queen of MI6 agents, her endurance far beyond ordinary people.
Under Toru's gaze, Mary's body began to visibly shrink.
In less than two minutes, Mary changed from a mature woman in her late twenties into a petite girl who looked like she was in elementary school.
After her body shrank, the pain completely disappeared.
Mary leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
At this moment, her whole body was drenched in sweat. Because of her reduced size, her loose clothes slipped off.
She paid no attention to Toru's gaze. Looking at the clothes and shoes she could no longer wear, she sighed.
"I was careless. I should have brought children's clothes with me."
"Didn't you say this medicine would last at least eighteen hours? Why did it wear off after just twelve?"
Toru was also embarrassed.
"Aside from your niece, this medicine has only been tested on one other person. Both times it lasted eighteen hours, so Haibara concluded that was the duration."
"Maybe your body is well-trained and stronger than others, so the duration was shortened?"
Toru couldn't explain it either and could only note it down to tell Haibara later.
Mary said softly, "Forget it. The sample size is too small, I can't blame you."
"I don't have clothes now, so you'll have to carry me out."
Toru nodded. He used her adult clothes to wrap her small body. To avoid being seen, he wrapped her tightly without leaving any gaps, like a large dumpling, and held her firmly in his arms.
As for the shoes, there was no way to take them.
Holding Mary like this, Toru quickly left the restroom.
Some guests saw him come out so soon and showed regretful expressions.
Looking at his strong physique, they didn't expect him to be all show, finishing so quickly.
But where was the woman? Why hadn't she come out? Was she still cleaning up?
Leaving the bar, Toru carried Mary back to the car.
After getting in, Mary finally poked her head out from the clothes.
Without shoes or socks, she sat on the passenger seat in a squatting position, her small bare feet exposed.
"You're quite bold, standing naked in front of me like this without any sign of shyness."
Even Vermouth occasionally showed embarrassment when she was intimate with him.
Among all the women he knew, only Mary remained this calm, so calm it even discouraged him a little.
"I am a mother of three, not a real twenty-year-old girl. That sense of shyness disappeared ten years ago."
Mary replied, her eyes carrying a faint smile.
Toru didn't know how to respond.
"Drive. Let's head back first," Mary said.
Toru started the car.
On the way back to the hotel, Mary suddenly spoke.
"Are you really interested in me?"
Toru hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
Mary scoffed.
"Ha, men really are... But that's normal. If men weren't interested in women, then agents who rely on their beauty to seduce would lose their most valuable ability."
"If you're truly interested in me, I can satisfy your needs, but there's one condition."
"What condition?" Toru asked.
Mary said calmly, "Find the one who killed my husband and let me kill him. Only then can I face my husband's spirit."
That meant killing Rum.
Rum's life was already in Toru's hands. For a moment, he even had the impulse to kill him immediately to fulfill her request.
But he quickly calmed down.
Rum was still useful. To take control of the Black Organization, he needed Rum alive for now, so he could sort out its internal relationships.
He couldn't ruin his larger plan for a woman.
"I promise you. Wasn't that already our agreement?"
"I'm just reminding you to do it quickly. Consider it your reward."
Mary snorted softly.
"Threats are the worst way to make someone work well. Proper rewards are what motivate people."
"This time, returning to my twenties also brought back my desires as a woman."
"In a child's body, I don't feel that. At my original age, I had already lost much interest in those matters."
"But when I returned to my twenties, my hormones returned as well. I have needs."
"My husband has been gone for over ten years. I don't need to remain a widow for him."
Toru suddenly understood.
This woman was extremely rational, purely considering her body's needs. She didn't care about emotions at all.
But that was also good. They could each get what they wanted without emotional burden.
Moreover, if he truly took over the Black Organization, he would need Mary's help. They would be the best partners.
And if that partnership also included a physical relationship, it would become even more stable.
The car continued along the road and soon arrived at the hotel's underground parking lot.
Mary still let Toru carry her, even burying her head in his clothes.
"While I was under the medicine's effect, did Masumi talk to you about wanting you to train her?"
Inside the elevator, Mary asked.
"You knew?"
"As her mother, how could I not know her thoughts?"
After a pause, she continued.
"I originally wanted her to stay away from this world, but I knew that was unrealistic."
"With Masumi's personality, the more I push her away, the more she will get involved. Since that's the case, for her safety, she must have the ability to protect herself."
"My daughter is temporarily entrusted to you. Don't give her anything too dangerous. Start with small tasks."
Toru joked, "Don't worry, I'll treat her like my own daughter."
Mary shot him a glare.
Back in the hotel room, Mary jumped down from his arms onto the floor.
Masumi stared in shock at the undressed Mary jumping out of Toru's arms.
"Mom, what were you two doing?"
"Go get me some clothes," Mary scolded.
Masumi looked at them suspiciously and ran into another room.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)