After a long wait, the Detective Conan series seems to be shifting from the Rum arc to the Boss arc, as fans have predicted. In the latest manga chapter, the shrinking effect of the APTX-4869 drug was mentioned for the first time by a high-ranking member of the Black Organization. This character is Rum, the main antagonist of the current arc, who has been closely monitoring Conan/Shinichi all along.
Besides learning about the shrinking property of APTX-4869, the new chapters also reveal important details to Rum, such as Rumi, the vice homeroom teacher of Conan’s class, being Asaka’s bodyguard 17 years ago.
Moreover, Rum discovers that Camel from the FBI survived the Umizaru Island incident in chapter 1066 and suspects that Akai is still alive.
This shocking information has sparked lively debates online about the story’s logic. Some fans wonder: “Why did the Black Organization create this drug, yet only now is the Boss learning about its effects?”
Veteran fans offered an explanation based on the story’s timeline: “Only a few months have passed in the current storyline. Initially, when testing the drug on lab mice, they died, so Rum thought Sherry’s formulation had failed to produce the drug the Boss wanted. Later, Sherry discovered the drug could shrink mice but kept this secret, so the Organization remained unaware.”
This explanation highlights Sherry/Haibara’s cleverness in hiding this crucial discovery, catching Rum and the Black Organization off guard.
Is the finale truly near?
The simultaneous build-up of multiple intense plot points has led many fans to speculate that Conan’s ending is approaching as direct confrontations with the Black Organization increase.
However, despite the rising tension, many longtime fans believe the Boss arc, the final chase of the true mastermind, has yet to begin. After chapter 1150, Conan’s side confirmed Wakita Kanenori’s true identity as Rum, who has since temporarily withdrawn.
As Gosho Aoyama has done with previous arcs, launching a major arc like the Boss arc usually requires a “shocking event” that forces the Boss to act, such as the news about APTX-4869’s shrinking ability reaching the Boss, as fans speculate.
Rum’s discovery of the drug’s shrinking effect signals that the Black Organization’s plans have entered a new phase, demanding the Boss’s intervention to protect this top secret.
According to community analysis, the Rum arc began in 2014 and might conclude in 2026, making it nearly 12 years long, the longest arc in the entire series.
If the Rum arc, focused on pursuing a secondary character, has lasted 12 years, how long will the Boss arc last? Will Conan finally confront the Black Organization’s shadowy leader in a final showdown? Or will Gosho Aoyama surprise fans with another unexpected intermediary arc?
Rum learning the secret of APTX-4869 could be the alarm bell for the Boss, pushing the entire series toward an unprecedented climax.