Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 351 The Ghost of Baker Street - Press Conference

Winter comes quickly and goes quickly.

Spring has arrived once again, a time of renewal and renewal for all things.

Professor Agasa returned home from his business trip looking radiant and mysterious, only saying that he absolutely had to attend the virtual game launch event this weekend.

The Kudo couple also returned together.

Yukiko Kudo seemed quite interested in the new elderly woman in her household, completely unaware that she was a former friend.

Vermouth seems to have genuinely come to seek refuge, keeping such a low profile that she acts as if she's truly an old lady, and her relationship with Ai is also puzzling.

For some reason, this woman harbored extreme hatred for Ai's parents, who developed the drug. After retiring from the industry, she came to Japan with the intention of killing Ai, who had inherited her parents' work and developed APTX4869.

But now he gets along well with Ai, which seems rather strange.

After observing for several days without much success, Gao Mo had to tell Ai privately during the press conference: "Weren't you always afraid of the organization members? She is Vermouth, who is hunting you down."

“I think I’ve got it,” Ai said with a sudden realization. “Did Bourbon send her here specifically because he discovered my identity?”

Not only the organization, but also the Japanese Public Security Bureau wanted to arrest her.

“No, it seems like someone is chasing her,” Gao Mo paused for a moment, “She probably came here to take refuge, right? Only they know the specifics.”

Speaking of which, Rei Furuya said he'd only stay for two days, but now it seems like he's going to stay for a long time.

Although Vermouth is a lone wolf in charge of intelligence and has a rather special status, she should be responsible to the organization's boss, right?

What's the deal with staying at his place?

"You want to kill her?"

Ai realized what was happening, and her expression became even stranger.

"Don't do anything rash. She's different from the others. If she gets killed here, it will cause a lot of trouble. Besides, she carries the organization's ultimate secret, the only achievement my parents made in this world..."

"When did I say I was going to kill her?"

Gao Mo looked down at Xiao Ai, who seemed a little lost in thought.

"Speaking of which, you seem to be unafraid of the organization's members now? Where's your radar?"

"What radar?" Ai Haibara was speechless as she came to her senses. "People always grow up, don't they? Besides, you were the one who told me not to be afraid of them, saying that there was nothing to be afraid of in any organization."

First Rum, then Bourbon, and now Vermouth. If she's afraid every day, how can she live her life?

“Don’t worry about me,” Ai said, walking ahead with her hands behind her back. “I can handle that woman. I’m not just a pretty face that can only be protected.”

"Are you sure? Don't let her fool you just because you've spent the last two days with her. No matter how beautiful a viper is, she's still a viper. Besides, she seems to really hate the kind of drug that turned her into what she is now..."

"But she hates the organization just like I do; the real enemy is the organization."

"Kirouto-nii!"

A joyful shout rang out from ahead.

Sonoko, dressed in a mature red dress, waved to Ran while holding her hand.

"We've been waiting for you for so long! Hurry up, the banquet is about to begin!"

The game launch event was held at the Mihana City Hall, where a large number of reporters gathered under the night sky, and there was a red carpet outside specifically for receiving important figures.

Ai's eyes twitched when she saw the red dress that perfectly accentuated Sonoko's figure.

This woman still likes to seek attention.

"Where's Conan?" Gao Mo couldn't help but feel strange when he didn't see Conan next to Ran.

"Conan and the others went inside with their father first." Ran was dressed very simply.

"them?"

"Yes, I specifically invited those little devils because they've been bothering me."

Yuanzi grabbed Gao Mo's arm and clung to him like a little bird, pulling him toward the red carpet filled with flashing lights.

"Let's go, it's time for us to make our appearance."

"You want to experience virtual games too?" Gao Mo noticed the game badge on Sonoko's chest.

"Well, because the Suzuki Group sponsors game development, we were able to get a trial slot. I was originally planning to give one to you, Kido-san, but they said it's only for minors to participate in the trial."

Sonoko glanced at Ai, whose eyelids were drooping.

"This badge is for Ai..."

"I'm not interested in virtual games."

Ai refused outright.

"I've read the promotional materials. It's just about using computers to hypnotize people and control their sense of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. I don't find it interesting at all."

"This child is still so unlovable." Sonoko was disappointed.

"I heard there are only 50 spots available this time," Ran said with a smile. "Sonoko pulled a lot of strings and spent days trying to find an extra spot, which she specially planned to give to Ai."

"It's not that exaggerated."

Sonoko chuckled dryly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Ai, who always kept her hands behind her back.

"I just thought kids might like it." As Gao Mo walked down the red carpet into the city hall, a reporter recognized him and tried to take a picture, but was quickly drawn to the commotion behind him.

It turned out that Yusaku Kudo and Professor Agasa had arrived at the scene in a limousine, attracting the attention of almost all the reporters.

Accompanying them was a foreigner with a rather ruthless appearance, who looked to be in his fifties, tall and burly, and never smiled. He simply waved his hand casually when reporters tried to woo him.

“He’s the president of the company known as the ‘Emperor of the IT Industry,’” Sonoko explained in a low voice. “This virtual game was developed in collaboration with a Japanese game company.”

Gao Mo turned around and glanced back.

Ai had mentioned this person before she arrived.

It seems that he will take the opportunity to kill someone at this press conference to cover it up. The victim is the father of the genius boy Hiroki, and the motive is to hide the fact that he is a descendant of the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper.

Although he felt the motive was a bit far-fetched and didn't understand why such a person would personally commit murder, he was certain that things wouldn't be peaceful after this press conference.

"Be careful," Ai whispered back, "The information may not be entirely accurate; it's just for reference."

"Intelligence? Reference?" Sonoko was completely confused.

What and what?
Was it necessary to say something like that in code to her?
Moving into the firm is urgent, otherwise we won't have anything in common to talk about anymore.

"Amo!"

Professor Agasa and Yusaku Kudo approached Gao Mo together. Despite changing into a suit, Gao Mo still looked comical, grinning like an old rascal, as if he was about to tell a lame joke at any moment.

"We'll be observing the game's progress in the control room later. You absolutely must see what Yusaku and I have accomplished. Yusaku solved the mystery of Jack the Ripper after a century."

“It’s nothing,” Yusaku Kudo said modestly. “Actually, it’s all thanks to a friend who provided some clues about Jack the Ripper. By the way, he’s the developer of this virtual game.”

Yusaku Kudo looked at Gao Mo and said, "The reason I wanted you to participate is to introduce you to the artificial intelligence that should only exist in fantasy, which has left traces in his computer."

I don't think that's artificial intelligence, but Kenmura... that is, my friend, insists it's a super AI developed by his son, Hiroki, and hopes you can take a look.

Gao Mo also doesn't believe in super artificial intelligence.

Because he researched a lot of information, he discovered that it was simply impossible for a super artificial intelligence with self-awareness to be born in this era.

The development of the network is too limited, and the hardware is completely inadequate, unable to provide stable computing power.

Not to mention that this super AI doesn't have its own host computer, but is hiding on the network and evolving on its own... Only a layman would think that artificial intelligence is so casual.

But at the same time, he believed that such a thing existed.

Because this is the Conan world where the supernatural and scientific knowledge coexist.

City Hall security checkpoint entrance.

Gao Mo then took out his belongings for inspection and suddenly noticed a woman in a short skirt and high heels behind him.

It wasn't that the other person had a great figure, but rather that she had touched his psychological barrier.

Not many people can do that.

Killer?
Gao Mo glanced casually and noticed that the woman in the short skirt had obvious training marks on her hands and legs, and that her seemingly ordinary short dress had also been specially treated.

The hair clip that held her long hair up, the earrings, and the necklace all looked very suspicious.

There were also handbags that were specially inspected by security personnel.

Spray, ballpoint pen, rubber band, tape, nail clippers... almost everything made him subconsciously think of murder.

This is no coincidence.

Because most of his assassin knowledge came from several female assassins, his sense of immersion was exceptionally strong.

These ordinary objects can become deadly weapons in special circumstances.

"What's wrong, Kido-nii?" Sonoko was a little jealous.

"fine."

Gao Mo followed in Kudo Yusaku's footsteps.

The other party may have been participating under a concealed identity rather than carrying out any mission, and therefore did not sense any malice towards him or those around him.

Let's meet with Kudo Yusaku, the friend who might be killed, first.

"Is Yukiko not here today?" Gao Mo and Kudo Yusaku asked side by side.

"She said she wasn't interested, so she went shopping with her classmates, and she even brought that old lady Saori along... It should be fine, right?" Kudo Yusaku asked somewhat embarrassedly.

"Well..."

Gao Mo himself wanted to know.

it should be no problem?

President Schindler, who was a step behind, exchanged a glance with the woman in the short skirt after passing through security, and then quickly followed Kudo Yusaku.

"Regarding speaking later, I'd like to trouble you, teacher..."

“It’s all as it should be,” Kudo Yusaku said with a smile. “Before that, I’d like to see Kenmura.”

“Kenmura is also responsible for checking the procedures,” Schindler said, his expression changing slightly. “I’ll call him over after the press conference.”

(End of this chapter)