Chapter 234: A Second Plane, A Lingering Question
Just then, Ran's phone chimed with a new message. Her eyes scanned the screen, and a moment later, she looked up, her expression mirroring the group's dawning apprehension. "It's from Shinichi," she said, her voice tight. "He… he came to the same conclusion. The pattern means 'SOS'."
"This…"
The confirmation landed like a stone in the quiet room. The air grew heavy, thick with the sudden, chilling gravity of their discovery. The playful mystery of a paper airplane had vanished, replaced by the grim reality of a desperate plea for help.
The person who had thrown it was likely in grave danger.
Worse, Sonoko had found the airplane the day before yesterday. Two full days had passed since then. A cold dread crept into their hearts as they considered the possibilities. What had happened in those forty-eight hours? Was the person who sent it even still alive?
The thought sent a wave of anxiety through the room.
The immediate priority was clear: they had to find out if there were any other paper airplanes with those distinct patterns.
"Wait," Natsume said suddenly, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "When we were finishing lunch earlier, didn't we hear Noelle mention something? A strange paper airplane almost flew through the window and landed in Xiangling's pot. That has to be one of them."
Sonoko's eyes widened in recollection. She remembered it now—Xiangling had been complaining, half-joking and half-annoyed, that it had nearly ruined an entire pot of her carefully prepared stock.
"Natsume, hurry! Call Noelle and have her send us a picture," Sonoko urged, her face etched with worry. "I just hope she hasn't thrown it away."
Natsume nodded, her expression already focused. She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed. After explaining the situation in a few concise sentences, she asked Noelle to find the airplane and photograph it.
Hanging up, she addressed the others. "Noelle is looking for it now. If she didn't toss it, we should have a photo soon."
"Noelle?" Okiya Subaru inquired, his tone laced with mild curiosity. "It sounds as though you're quite familiar with the staff at that Chinese restaurant."
From what Conan had told him earlier, the 'Noelle' they spoke of was a member of the Teyvat organization. Not only her, but Xiangling, the restaurant's head chef, was a member as well. Yet, as for Natsume Natsuki, who was clearly close with both of them, Conan was still uncertain of her affiliation.
After learning this, he had conducted his own brief, discreet investigation. The results were puzzling. Whether in temperament or background, Noelle and Xiangling were worlds apart from the likes of Kaeya or Tartaglia. They were a diligent maid and a passionate chef, showing no signs of belonging to any sort of clandestine organization.
"Ah… yes!" Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ran fumbled for a response, a hint of panic in her voice.
"That restaurant is right downstairs from Natsume's apartment, so we eat there all the time," Sonoko added smoothly, picking up the conversational thread. "And the food is absolutely incredible. We should invite you to join us sometime, Mr. Okiya."
"I see," Okiya Subaru replied with a polite nod. "Then I thank you for the invitation, Miss Suzuki."
Sonoko waved a hand dismissively, a bright smile returning to her face. "It's nothing, really. And you don't have to keep calling me Miss Suzuki. Just Sonoko is fine."
The group fell into light conversation, the small talk a thin veil over their shared anticipation as they waited. A few minutes later, Natsume's phone buzzed. The photo from Noelle had arrived.
Everyone immediately gathered around her, their heads bent together as they scrutinized the image on the screen.
"This one has the same line patterns as the one we found!" Sonoko exclaimed, a flicker of excitement in her voice. "But what does the design on this one mean?"
A flurry of discussion and deduction followed. Piece by piece, they began to unravel the puzzle. The cryptic clues, combined with the location where the planes were found, painted a terrifying picture: the person sending the messages was a kidnapped company president, and he was being held captive on one of the high floors of the nearby Beika Building.
Just as they reached this conclusion, Ran's phone pierced the air with a crisp ringtone. She quickly answered it.
"Hello?" she asked softly.
"Ran, I've solved the code on the paper airplane!" Kudo Shinichi's urgent voice crackled from the other end.
His conclusion was identical to the one Natsume and Okiya Subaru had just reached.
Knowing the victim's approximate location sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through Ran. She knew time was of the essence. If they didn't act now, the president could face even greater danger. There was no time to waste.
Without a second thought, Ran began moving, following the instructions Shinichi was rapidly giving her over the phone. She told Sonoko to stay put and call the police, relaying the situation in detail. Then, with a determined look, she bolted out the door and sprinted toward their destination.
Of course, to ensure her safety, Shinichi had added one more crucial instruction: he specifically told Natsume to stay right by Ran's side.
Watching them go, Okiya Subaru turned to Sonoko, who was already on the phone with the authorities. "It seems you have a great deal of faith in your friends," he remarked, a note of genuine admiration in his voice. He was struck by how composed she remained, even knowing her friends were about to confront a group of kidnappers.
"Of course," Sonoko replied without a flicker of hesitation, her call finished. "Ordinary people are no match for Ran. And with Natsume with her? They'll definitely be fine."
"Is that so," Okiya Subaru murmured thoughtfully. His gaze drifted towards the direction the two girls had run, a flicker of deep curiosity and focus in his eyes.
He didn't doubt Miss Mouri's skills, but he was far more intrigued by something else. How did Kudo Shinichi, who had barely interacted with Natsume, know so clearly that she was capable? The two of them seemed to have very little overlap in their lives.
And judging by the way he had specifically instructed Natsume to accompany Ran, it was obvious that this Kudo Shinichi placed immense trust in her—a level of trust that couldn't possibly be built over just a handful of meetings.
Unless…
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