The Phantom Thief of Heart! But Conan.

"...This is the normal development process. Nothing can be achieved overnight."

After being ridiculed by Tang Ze, even Itakura Taku, who could not suppress his fear, could not control his anger and retorted.

Even though he was afraid of this young man, Itakura Taku had a lot of complaints about Ryusuke Soma, whom he was discussing, but he couldn't express them.

"Ideals, ideals! What project development can be sustained by ideals? He's been unable to find a single investor for 20 years, and he's blaming me for that? It's clearly his own stubbornness!" Itakura Taku said, patting his chest. He seemed furious about this as well. "I've told him many times, both openly and covertly, that this isn't a project an independent developer can afford. I told him to maintain the spirit of the internet and find partners when the time comes. Did he listen?"

Tang Ze turned his head and glanced at the indignant Itakura Taku.

"So you're saying you've done your best?"

"If my skills were that bad, you wouldn't be targeting me, right?" At this point, Itakura Taku finally let out the anger he'd been holding in his chest, speaking more calmly than before. "Why did I choose to do CG rendering midway? Wasn't it because as a simple software development engineer, I couldn't afford a project like this, a project that pointed to my ideal? He's accusing me of not putting in the effort, but did he actually value this project and bring it to the level of development it deserved?"

When this question was mentioned, the expression on Itakura Taku's face became much darker.

This was not a good environment for discussion, and the person standing behind him was not a suitable listener, but an executioner with a knife on his neck. But at this point, he could not find anyone else to talk to.

"These 20 years have been his, and mine too. No matter how busy I was, I never forgot this ideal. He was the one who got stuck in a rut, insisting on maintaining his so-called 'original intention' and unwilling to bring in other resources. To him, this project simply represented his love for shogi. He couldn't understand why I was facing so many difficulties, and couldn't understand why I was diverting my energy to pursue those commercial projects..."

In fact, Ryusuke Soma also understood at the beginning.

When he took on many high-paying projects and was too busy to spare the energy to deal with the algorithms here, Ryusuke Soma understood that he needed to do business with many companies in order to make a living.

But once you get into this rhythm, it becomes an unsolvable cycle.

For Itakura Taku, his friendship with him and his ideals are certainly important, but obviously for a programmer, eating is even more of a problem.

He was able to make a name for himself in the CG rendering industry with his own abilities, which was enough to prove that he was worthy of this income. He even mentioned to Soma Ryusuke that using his name to solicit investments might be able to attract a lot of sponsorship...

However, Soma Ryusuke refused.

"This isn't the era anymore." Finally, Itakura Taku concluded, "This industry can't just be about building cars in isolation. The fact that I can still remember this dream is already quite remarkable."

Is Itakura Taku's point of view wrong? Actually, it is not wrong.

This is not only a very standard conflict between programmers and product managers, but also a very standard conflict between startup partners.

No matter who listens, Ryusuke Soma's actions should not be considered wrong. However, in the case of Taku Itakura, Ryusuke Soma's conservative development concept is of no help to this project. This self-satisfaction is more like accumulating moral capital to attack the other party when conflicts arise.

The conflicts and differences between the two people always exist. It is not that their feelings have been worn away over time, but that after the emotional factors fade away, the gap caused by the differences can no longer be filled, and those problems are exposed.

Tang Ze raised his eyebrows, picked up the box of medicine again, and looked through it in his hand.

This is not an acute treatment drug like nitroglycerin, but a coronary artery dilator. In other words, it is a long-term drug that needs to be taken regularly every day.

But judging from the dosage of the medicine, Itakura Taku did not take it on time at all, which made his coronary heart disease so serious that it affected his quality of life and even lingered on the edge of myocardial infarction.

"Actually, he doesn't need to do anything to you," Tang Ze said honestly. "With the frequency you take medicine, you won't be able to get off the operating table in two months. Does your 'OCD' only affect the placement of things?"

Itakura Taku's expression froze for a moment.

Tang Ze casually threw the medicine bottle into his arms, indicating that he had no intention of coercing him and did not have any special feelings in his heart.

It is normal for guys with good skills to have quirks.

Didn't a true genius in the emerging technology field like Steve Jobs not believe in modern medicine, seek help from religion, and eventually kill himself?

He asked these questions, including the part about Soma Ryusuke, just to test Itakura Taku's thoughts, understand his character, and consider how to deal with this person next.

The program has been written - regardless of whether it can run or not - the only thing left to do is to complete the project. Under the intimidation of Tang Ze, Itakura Takuma worked non-stop and completed it overnight.

As time goes by, the chances of Kogoro Mori and others finding this place will continue to increase, and it is only a matter of time before they discover them.

Itakura Taku may have many shortcomings. He is not a satisfactory second party, nor a warm-hearted friend, but he does not deserve to die.

Therefore, the direction that Tang Ze needs to deal with is, of course...

"Just like you're a genius in this field, we also have our own advantages in many aspects." Tang Ze walked over to Itakura Taku's side, glanced at the "diary" on the computer in front of him, pretended to be unconcerned, crossed his legs, and leaned on the edge of his seat. "As long as you cooperate enough, a healthy body, a healthy heart, even your eyesight and vision... it's not completely impossible to recover."

Itakura Taku, who was holding the medicine bottle tightly, trembled, raised his head and looked into the pair of smiling amber eyes.

He was a guy who didn't know much about the field he was not familiar with, but even he vaguely knew that the handsome young man in front of him was a face that often appeared on TV.

But at this moment, even if his smile did not change, compared to the kind and gentle attitude on the screen, it was more like the smile of a devil, leading people to the abyss and to eternal damnation.

"You should also understand what you are doing. Even if you don't complete it, countless people will continue this great cause. Your stubborn resistance will not save anything."

Tang Ze raised his hand, placed it on Itakura Taku's shoulder, and lowered his voice.

"So, would you please do me a small favor, Mr. Itakura?"

----

Curacao leaned against the wall in the corridor, staring at the wallpaper opposite, in a daze.

Even though her mind was wandering, her body remained tense and ready to fight at any time, like a guard on a mission.

This formed a sharp contrast with Ireland, who was standing on the other side of the door, yawning.

Curacao glanced at Ireland and grumbled to himself.

Although they had only worked together for two days, she had already vaguely sensed that Ireland and she had completely different perceptions on many issues.

For example, Ireland has always insisted on calling Kumail only "boss" or "boss" and has never used any other nicknames.

It seems that he doesn't know that Tang Ze Zhao is not actually dead, and that hidden under Kumail's skin is not Tsuchiya Hayato or Akechi Goro, but a deeper, more cunning and more wise soul.

He knew of Kumail's extraordinary qualities, and he even knew that Scotland was not dead.

But when she mentioned Scotland and tried to inquire about it, he just touched the scar on his collarbone, and then said in a cryptic tone that you should not ask about things that you should not ask about, and be careful not to repeat the same mistake and end up on the road of no return where your new unit would also want to silence you.

Curacao, who had already guessed the position of his new unit, said: "..."

There must be something seriously wrong between her and Ireland, and Curacao doesn't think it's her.

"Click."

While she was in a daze, the tightly closed door behind her finally opened.

Tang Ze, dressed in black as Goro Akechi, strode out from inside, threw the things in his hand to Ireland, and closed the door again.

"Boss." Ireland reacted quickly, catching the object and standing up straight.

"Send this to Itakura Taku's villa in Gunma Prefecture. You know what to do." Tang Ze didn't even look up, with no intention of explaining anything. He ordered directly, "After you're done, take the backup to Shirley. She'll be waiting for you at the usual place. Take the software she gives you and go to the warehouse in the north to take care of it."

"Got it," Ireland nodded, picking up the bag at his feet without questioning the order.

He didn't need to understand what Kumail was doing, nor did he need Kumail to give him any explanation.

If he completed the instructions given by Kumail, many things would be solved naturally. Decision-making was not something he needed to worry about.

"Before you leave Tokyo, you can go check on Misaki and the others." Karasawa, who always adhered to the principle of hitting someone with a stick, made his moves very smooth. "They still can't move freely. You can go and reassure them."

Not only now, in fact, these people will not be able to see the light of day until the organization is dealt with.

He and Ireland were both well aware of this, so reassuring them was just a high-sounding excuse, which was actually a means to tighten the collar.

If the traction rope is too long, it will be difficult to control and the tightness will have to be adjusted from time to time.

Ireland, fully aware of this, still stood up straight and saluted respectfully.

He knew that Kumail was trying to pressure him with a small favor, but he still had to accept it because the other party had good reasons not to do so.

"I'll take care of the problem."

"Well, let's go."

Curacao, who was standing on the other side of Tangze, tightened his face and watched the scene stiffly.

Because the Irish etiquette is not a simple bow to show submission, he actually half-knelt down without hesitation.

The posture is very humble, with the head lowered very low while kneeling.

Judging from his actions, if Kumail allowed it, he would probably kiss his godfather's hand.

It was not until Ireland's figure disappeared at the entrance of the safe passage that Curacao let out the breath he had been holding for a long time and looked at Tang Ze with a horrified look.

She hesitated for a moment before she said politely, "Rum doesn't do that. Don't play too hard."

There are control freaks and people with a strong sense of ritual in the organization, but in this day and age, it is a bit embarrassing to still use the Sicilian approach.

Ah, but considering Kumail's age, it's not surprising that he likes this kind of middle school feeling...

Tang Ze stared back at her expressionlessly.

Do you think I like playing like this? God knows what Ireland is thinking.

Ever since the part about "then there is only one answer" that made Tang Ze's scalp numb with embarrassment, Tiancai knew what kind of power situation Tang Ze had in his eyes.

It may be that Tang Ze did not avoid it at that time, and some of his earlier arrogant attitudes used to express oppression gave Ireland an illusion that Ireland's words and deeds were becoming more and more like a mafia thug.

"Don't worry about it. I can't handle it all." Tang Ze waved his hand, too lazy to understand Ireland's mysterious train of thought. "I found traces of Binga."

Curacao was stunned for a moment, then his expression darkened.

The plan to kill Rum was something Kumail had declared long ago.

He said that he would not let go of those who targeted him and would settle accounts one by one. It was absolutely true that his words were true. This was also the first step that made her waver.

Now that he mentioned Binga's code name in front of him, it meant that the revenge against Rum mentioned by Kumail was gradually unfolding.

Bourbon and Kumel are on the same boat. Since he has been taken away by Kumel, the one who needs to be eliminated is of course Binga, who controls many of Rum's economic channels.

"Binga's been away from Rum for some time," she replied gravely. "I'm not entirely sure what they're planning. If you want to ask me for information on that, I'm afraid I can't help you."

Compared to Curacao, who is controlled by drugs and is basically a puppet, Binga, who has autonomy and is still serving Rum like a dog, is Rum's true confidant.

For a confidant of this level to suddenly leave Liram for two or three years just to accomplish a certain goal is enough to show the importance of the task he is responsible for.

It is precisely because of Binga's departure that Rum needs a handy tool even more, and Curacao will be more deeply controlled and become Rum's assistant.

"It's not hard to find him," Tang Ze said indifferently, "He's not that busy."

He is concentrating on cosplaying as a corporate slave, working from nine to five with two days off a week. Not only is he much more idle than them, he is also much more idle than most people in the organization.

Is that the reason why I didn't go back to see Rum...

"Perhaps his current appearance is too embarrassing, and he doesn't have the courage to go back and face Gin's ridicule."