Akashi was certain that Akemi would return to her apartment to retrieve weapons before meeting Gin and Vodka.
In the original anime, Conan noticed something suspicious and decided to search Akemi's apartment for clues.
He even managed to meet Akemi there, without anyone from the organization discovering him.
In other words, Akemi's apartment was temporarily safe—outside the organization's monitoring range.
Coincidentally, Akashi knew exactly where she lived.
Though he had been active within the organization before, Akashi and Akemi had drifted apart after Vermouth reassigned him.
But in truth, he had never stopped keeping tabs on her, and they had maintained discreet contact.
For this reason, Akashi vividly remembered where she lived. Visiting her apartment was as familiar to him as returning to his own.
Soon, the taxi stopped in front of an apartment building.
Akashi stepped out and scanned his surroundings.
Indeed, there were no suspicious figures or vehicles in sight.
Without hesitation, he headed upstairs and stopped at the third floor.
He found the door to Akemi's apartment locked, as expected. Lowering his head, he retrieved a spare key from beneath a potted plant.
"She still keeps her spare key here? Some habits never change," he muttered, shaking his head. "This is far too unsafe."
With the key, he unlocked the door and entered the apartment.
Akashi's visit had a singular purpose: retrieving something.
---
Meanwhile, Conan was racing back to Yotsubishi Bank on his skateboard, its wheels practically smoking from the speed.
By the time he arrived, the scene had quieted down. Only forensic officers remained, busily working in the parking lot.
Conan headed straight for the bank's main hall and looked around.
The long-haired male guard, who had seemed suspicious earlier, was nowhere to be seen.
He quickly approached the woman behind the counter.
"Big Sister, where's the long-haired guard who got off the armored truck safely earlier?"
"Oh, you mean Kishii!" she replied. "He said he was injured and needed to go to the hospital. Then he left!"
Hearing this, Conan frowned. "This isn't good," he thought.
From what he had deduced, the guard named Kishii seemed highly suspicious.
The counter lady continued:
"Both of them took leave today. If I'd known, I'd have done the same, like Masami. Now I'm stuck with all this work!"
Conan's eyes widened.
"Miss Hirota Masami left too?"
Recalling how frequently Masami had checked her watch earlier, his suspicions deepened.
He grabbed the counter edge and asked urgently:
"Can you give me the addresses of the security guard and Miss Masami?"
The woman shook her head.
"How would I know? They haven't been here long, and I've never visited their homes."
Conan's suspicions grew stronger.
"Not long after joining, huh?" he muttered to himself before turning away.
He decided to ask the police for their information, though he realized his investigation might have started off wrong.
He had focused on Kishii, whom he suspected the most, instead of targeting the mastermind—Akemi.
All his efforts, for now, were in vain.
---
That afternoon, Akemi returned to her apartment.
Upon entering, she went straight to the study. Pulling open a desk drawer, she revealed a concealed socket board.
She lifted the board to uncover a small hidden compartment.
Inside was a key, which she retrieved before resetting the board and pushing the desk back into place.
Opening another cabinet, Akemi took out a pistol. Beneath the pistol was a photo frame, which she also retrieved.
In the photo, Akemi and a handsome man smiled brightly under the spring sun.
Her slender fingers gently traced the man's face, her expression softening.
As memories flooded back, a bittersweet smile appeared on her lips.
A single tear fell onto the photo.
"Shi," she whispered softly. "We'll meet soon."
Placing the photo close to her heart, she raised her head with renewed determination.
At that moment, her phone buzzed. It was a text message.
Vodka was urging her to meet.
With the pistol in hand, Akemi left the apartment.
She walked to the parking lot in her high heels and climbed back into her red Mazda.
The door shut with a decisive thud, and the Mazda sped off into the sunset, heading to her meeting with the organization.
As she drove, Akemi began composing an email.
It was addressed to her sister, Shiho.
If Shiho managed to escape, she would one day find this email and know what steps to take next.
---
The red Mazda sped through the dusky streets, its headlights cutting through the encroaching twilight. It finally came to a halt at the abandoned warehouse near the first transshipment port.
Akemi took a deep breath, steeling herself, and stepped out of the car. The sound of her heels echoed sharply as she entered the desolate structure.
"I'm here," she called, her voice firm but laced with unease. "Where are you?"
The warehouse was silent except for her footsteps. Then, an icy chill swept over her, and she instinctively turned around.
Two dark figures stood at the entrance, their silhouettes ominous against the fading light. Gin and Vodka had arrived.
Gin's voice sliced through the air.
"Efficient as always. Bacardi's girlfriend doesn't disappoint. Now, where's the money?"
At the mention of Bacardi, Akemi's expression turned cold, her eyes narrowing with suppressed anger.
"I didn't bring it. It's hidden in a safe place," she replied curtly. "But let's not talk about that just yet. Where's my sister?"
Her voice hardened. "We agreed. After this job, my sister and I would be free from the organization. Bring her here, and I'll tell you where the money is hidden."
Gin's lips curled into a sneer.
"I'm afraid that's not possible."
His tone was laced with mockery.
"Your sister is one of the organization's finest minds. Her skills are indispensable. Do you really think we'd let her go so easily?"
Akemi's heart sank like a stone.
She had risked everything to save her sister, yet it was clear now that her efforts were in vain. A shadow of despair flickered in her eyes.
---
Akemi clenched her fists. "Then answer me one last question," she demanded, her voice trembling with fury. "Why did you kill Bacardi!?"
Before Gin could respond, Akemi drew her pistol and fired.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The gunshots reverberated through the warehouse as Gin and Vodka dove for cover, narrowly avoiding the bullets. Despite the suddenness of her attack, their reflexes were razor-sharp.
Gin crouched behind a stack of crates, his eyes gleaming with venomous intent.
"I underestimated you," he hissed. "You've always been weak, but it seems Bacardi's influence has made you reckless."
He steadied his pistol, his tone cold and calculating.
"Bacardi was a liability. He betrayed the organization and had to be eliminated. You, on the other hand, still have a chance to redeem yourself—for your sister's sake."
His voice softened, but the sinister undertone remained.
"Hand over the billion yen, and I might let you live."
But Gin's words were a trap, a final attempt to manipulate her.
Akemi's only response was more gunfire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets ricocheted off the warehouse walls, leaving a trail of destruction. Akemi's resolve was unshakable; she looked like someone ready to die for her cause.
Gin, however, remained unfazed. He silently counted the shots in his head.
---
Five, six, seven.
Seven shots.
He smirked. With six rounds in the magazine and one chambered, Akemi's pistol was now empty.
Moving with predatory speed, Gin emerged from his cover, his trench coat billowing dramatically.
"I warned you. That was your last chance."
But just as he raised his pistol to fire, his eyes widened in shock.
From the shadows behind Akemi, a muzzle flashed.
Bang!
A single shot rang out, striking Gin in the shoulder. Blood blossomed like a crimson flower, staining his coat.
Gin staggered, his sharp instincts overwhelmed by the unexpected attack.
"There's someone else here!"
His voice echoed through the warehouse, filled with disbelief and fury.