Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

Tohru Tohno didn't know what was wrong with this person. The cup he usually used was decorated with cute little animals, but the container he used in the lab to hold large quantities of coffee was labeled with chemical reagents in a wicked way.

Is she afraid someone will steal her coffee? Who cares?

Shiho Miyano walked past him as if he didn't exist.

Tohru Tono grabbed her arm.

"What?" Shiho Miyano's tone was languid; this was the time she usually used for a nap, and her mind wasn't very clear.

"Maya Tachibana is here on her period, don't go upstairs yet."

"A relative?" Shiho Miyano paused, then regained her composure. "Isn't she an orphan?"

"Wait...it can't be...!"

"Her brother, a member of the Black Organization."

After Toru Tono finished speaking, without needing to emphasize it again, Shiho Miyano had already consciously taken the empty can back to the laboratory.

Although he's Maya's younger brother, he probably won't do anything to her... but there are quite a few people in the Black Organization who inexplicably hate her, and it's hard to guarantee that they won't secretly trip her up after recognizing her.

It's safer to stay down there.

Chapter 124 LV2

Tohru Tono followed him inside.

This wasn't his first time visiting Shiho Miyano's lab, but every time he came, he couldn't help but admire her professionalism.

All the bottles and jars are labeled and arranged in categories on the shelves. The functions of the experimental table, operating table, and breeding area are clearly defined, and there is absolutely no misuse.

Unlike Toru Tono, who has a mountain of inventions, none of which have a label.

In other words, the system should have a description of its functions; otherwise, sooner or later, people will not know where the invention actually came from.

"Speaking of which, you usually use that damn coffee can, don't you ever confuse it with sodium hydroxide? If you accidentally drink it, it'll be too late to save you."

"Anyone who can drink sodium hydroxide solution, a strong alkali, like coffee doesn't need emergency treatment."

Shiho Miyano stood on tiptoe to reach the reagents on top of the cabinet.

"Apologize to those victims who accidentally ingested sodium hydroxide!"

Shiho Miyano ignored his rambling and tossed him a test tube without turning her head.

Tohru Tono caught it with his backhand; the pale blue liquid inside was bubbling with tiny bubbles.

"Want to try some Blue Mountain liquor with an 82% concentration?"

"Thank you... but I'm not old enough to take poison yet—and what you're doing violates the lab's operating procedures."

"Sorry, I set the rules."

"That's absolutely fine."

Tohru Tohno disdainfully put the unknown solution in his hand back into the reagent bottle.

Just then, the metal tray suddenly clanged, and the two of them turned to look at the violently shaking incubator.

Shiho Miyano rushed over, her white coat fluttering, and pressed the emergency brake button without even putting on gloves.

The incubator stopped vibrating instantly.

"Hey, what dangerous thing are you working on?" Toru Tohno exclaimed in surprise. "Aren't you only researching APTX-4869?"

"I said, do you think that drug can be made just by hard work?" Shiho Miyano rolled her eyes at him. "Long-term experimentation is the essence of pharmacology. I can't just do nothing during this time, can I?"

"So you're going to blow up my lab?"

"Since you've given me this lab to use as office space, it's mine now."

"...Do you know how expensive the place we're staying is? This one room alone could buy the Mouri Detective Agency!"

Shiho Miyano stared at him without saying a word for a long time, but her eyes were full of contempt.

Tono Tou's momentum inexplicably weakened by half.

An annoying rich woman.

Shiho Miyano pressed a few buttons on the LCD panel of the incubator, and the machine resumed operation.

This thing was bought by Toru Tono, but the other party is obviously much more skilled at operating it than he is.

After all, he has a great system and doesn't need this.

By the way, speaking of the system...

He caught a glimpse of Shiho Miyano intently operating the instrument, and quietly opened the system panel.

APTX-4869 Research Progress: 37%

[Detective Points: 1008]

Oh wow, it seems like today is the perfect day to level up.

What good luck.

Tohru Tohno eagerly awaited switching the system page to the [Biological Enhancement] section.

The gray parts continued to glow as always.

(1008/1000)

Tohru Tono eagerly clicked the button.

[Level 2 cell editing unlocked, granting the following abilities: precise editing and metabolic synergy.]

[Precise Editing: Upgrading the human CRISPR-Cas12 system, adding a "gene memory backup" function to roll back erroneous mutations.]

[Metabolic Synergy: Symbiosis between mitochondria and artificial nano-mitochondria increases energy output by up to 3 times that of LV1.]

Why can't I understand it?

Toru Tono stated that he was not a biology student, and the terminology provided by the system was becoming increasingly obscure and difficult to understand.

"Um, I have a question for you."

There was a biology PhD present, so why not take advantage of it?

Shiho Miyano continued with her own actions, ignoring him.

Toru Tono was used to it: "CRISPR-Cas12... what is that?"

"What?" This time, Shiho Miyano also reacted.

"I've heard about the CRISPR-Cas12 system in the human body, what is that?"

“CRISPR-Cas12是一种属于2类V型RNA引导的核酸内切酶，这个蛋白家族中研究较多是Cas12a核酸酶，目前最常用的Cas12a蛋白来自氨基酸球菌属的BV3L6菌株和毛螺科细菌......”

"Stop, stop, stop... I mean, what's the use of this thing?"

Toru Tono felt that there must be something wrong with this person, why was he telling him things that laymen would find like gibberish?

"Generally speaking, it's a protein that can effectively cleave single-stranded and double-stranded DNA by recognizing crRNA, and it's more efficient than Cas9... How do you know this term if you don't know what it is?"

"Just asking." Toru Tohno was completely baffled. "Is this thing capable of altering genes?"

"It's not entirely wrong to say that."

"Oh, oh." Tohru Tono wasn't stupid; he probably understood.

In other words, the system made that thing 12 in his body more powerful, adding the function of "gene memory backup," making the cells in his body less prone to mutation.

Uh... is this something to prevent cells from becoming cancerous?

Toru Tohno recalled the "quantum teleportation medical pod," which was similar to this ability.

So, does that mean he can now take a bath in nuclear radiation? And drink water from Fukushima?

Forget it, he's not a divine metal, he wouldn't do such a strange thing.

Let's put "Precise Editing" in the useless skills category for now; I still think "Metabolic Synergy" looks better.

You don't even need to ask Shiho Miyano to understand what this thing means; it's basically about amplifying the "adrenaline rush," turning Iron Man into Superman.

As expected, simple and straightforward numerical adjustments are still the easiest to understand.

However, compared to the huge improvement in [Detective Technology], this seems pretty average, doesn't it?

Thinking this, Toru Tono noticed that the tech tree at LV2 was no longer just the main trunk; there were two gray icons flashing beside it, indicating that there were branches.

He shifted his thoughts there.

(8/500)

(8/500)

Pshaw, who cares?

Tohru Tono closed the system page.

It takes 1000 points in total, and that's how much it cost him to level up to LV2.

Why not grab it!

However, the higher cost might also prove that the effect is stronger... In any case, it will still need to be started in the future.

After looking at the system panel, with nothing else to do, he started wandering around, causing trouble for Shiho Miyano, and successfully earning a few sarcastic remarks and eye rolls.

"Ling ring ring~"

Not long after, the bell that was usually used to announce when it was time to eat rang outside the door.

Looks like you've calmed down?

Tohru Tono gave Shiho Miyano a wink, then pushed open the door and went out.

Upon entering the living room, the first thing you see when you open the door is Shinji Kamijou... Shinji Tachibana bowing at a 90-degree angle.

"Many thanks!"

Toru Tono felt he would never be able to adapt to this strange way of expressing gratitude among the Japanese.

So he just waved his hand to indicate that it was nothing.

Shinji Tachibana looked up, and Toru Tono then noticed that his eyes were a little red.