Detective Conan: The System Takes Me to Zero's World

Kudo Yuki's encrypted communicator rang, and it was Morofushi Keimitsu's voice: "News from Nagano. The seizure of Nagano Trading Co., Ltd. went smoothly. Date and his men have already taken control of the core personnel."

Kudo Yuki breathed a sigh of relief, "Tell them to keep a close eye on it and don't let any of them slip through the net and pass the news back to the organization.

The moonlight outside the window was suddenly blocked by clouds, and the room became a little darker.

Shushu suddenly jumped onto Kudo Yuki's shoulder and said hurriedly, "They've increased the patrol density around the old house, especially near the cherry trees."

Amuro Toru picked up his coat. "As expected. We'll proceed as planned. Once Kazami's drone reconnaissance is complete at 3 a.m., we'll know the specific deployment."

He glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late. You guys should get some rest first. I'll go stay in the Poirot anteroom to avoid Miss Xiaozi getting suspicious."

Kudo Yuki nodded: "Be careful, don't let her see anything unusual."

After Amuro Toru left, Conan leaned on the sofa and looked at the route map. Suddenly, he asked softly, "Sister, why did Aunt Miyano hide the real location of the hidden box from Sister Akemi and Huibara?"

"Because she knows the organization's methods." Kudo Yuki sat down next to him, her fingertips running across the hydrangeas on the map. "Miyano Elena is an assistant to the Metropolitan Police Department, and she had long anticipated that something would happen to her.

The letter contained two clues: one was a memory for the children, and the other was the real backup plan—she was wary of the organization, and also wary of her own people who might be subverted.

Conan was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "Mr. Akai, are you sad when you know that Aunt Elena is his aunt?"

"Yeah." Kudo Yuki recalled how Okiya Subaru was silent at Dr. Agasa's house just now. "He said that some debts have to be repaid slowly. In fact, he has been protecting Haibara and Akemi in his own way."

Shushu rubbed Kudo Yuki's cheek, as if to comfort her.

Kudo Yuki gently stroked its back and suddenly remembered the words in Vermouth's text message - "When the cherry blossoms fall, the soil will spit out things that have been hidden for too long."

"Conan," her eyes narrowed, "When you say 'something spitted out by the soil', could it be more than just an iron box?"

Conan looked up suddenly: "You mean... the clues to the 'ES Dark Amber' plan?"

"It's possible." Kudo Yuki pulled up the 3D model. "Elena Miyano participated in the initial research of the project, so she must have left evidence. The letter in the iron box might just be a clue; the real key lies deeper."

Toru Amuro sent a message:

Vermouth posted another photo, which was the entrance to the cellar of the old house.

In the photo, the cellar door is covered with weeds, and the door knocker is wrapped with a circle of hydrangea branches.

Kudo Yuki enlarged the picture and found a tiny word "Ai" engraved on the inside of the door knocker.

"It's Aunt Elena's mark. There must be something in the cellar."

Conan's eyes lit up: "Then we have to change our route! After finding the iron box under the cherry tree, go to the cellar!"

"But this will take a longer route and increase the risk of exposure." Kudo Yuki frowned. "Rum's men are likely deployed on the main road. The cellar is off to the west, so we have to cross two uncovered areas."

Rat suddenly jumped onto the table and drew a straight line on the map with his claws - from just below the lightning rod of the clock tower, diagonally through a bush, and directly to the entrance of the cellar.

"Is this... near the loose steps that Subaru Okiya mentioned?" Conan looked at the line. "It's been in disrepair for a long time, and the bushes are tall, which makes it suitable for hiding."

Kudo Yuki immediately wrote down the new route: "It's settled. Tomorrow, when we take action, I'll go to the cherry blossom tree to distract attention, and you guys take the opportunity to go to the cellar."

"No!" Conan objected immediately. "You are the core of the plan. You can't take risks. If anyone has to go, I'll go. I'm small and can easily get away."

Kudo Yuki was about to retort when the communicator suddenly rang. It was Subaru Okiya's voice: "I just noticed some fresh footprints in the bushes on the west side of the clock tower. They look like someone has left them while scouting the area. If you're changing your route, it's best to go around from the north."

"Got it, thank you." Kudo Yuki responded, but in her heart she was even more certain that there was something wrong with the cellar. "It seems that Rum is also planning to go to the cellar. He may not know what's in there, but he must have noticed something is wrong."

After hanging up the communicator, she looked at Conan.

"It's settled. I'll go to the cherry tree, and you and Toru will go to the cellar. I have Vermouth's partnership as a cover, so even if we're discovered, we can still handle it for a while."

Conan wanted to argue, but Kudo Yuki held his shoulders and said, "This is not the time to be willful. The letter in the iron box may just be Aunt Elena's trick. The thing in the cellar is the key to overthrowing the 'ES Dark Amber' plan. You and Toru must get it."

Conan nodded vigorously: "I understand, I will definitely not mess it up."

At three o'clock in the morning, Yuya Kazami's drone reconnaissance report arrived on time.

Amuro Toru projected the aerial image onto the wall and pointed to a few red dots. "Here, here, and here are fixed sentries, changing shifts every half hour. Mobile patrols mainly operate between the east entrance and the cherry trees, while the west side is relatively relaxed."

He knocked on the entrance to the cellar. "There's no direct defense here, but there are three hidden surveillance points around. Subaru Okiya will destroy them before the operation begins."

Kudo Yuki looked at the map and said, "We'll set off at 7 o'clock tomorrow night and arrive at the outskirts of the old house at 8 o'clock. We'll sneak in when the patrol changes shifts. Conan and Mr. Amuro will go to the cellar, I'll go to the cherry tree, and Subaru Okiya will meet us at the clock tower."

She paused and added, "Wakasa Rumi will create chaos on the north side as agreed to draw some attention."

Amuro Toru nodded: "I have already agreed with Okiya Subaru that if we find anything unusual in Wakasa, we will immediately activate the backup plan."

The sky was turning pale, and the preparations were finally completed.

Conan was sleeping soundly on the sofa.

Kudo Yuki turned and looked out the window.

The morning light breaks through the clouds. This game of hydrangeas and old letters will come to an end tonight. And the secret hidden deep in the soil, whether it is salvation or the abyss, they must uncover it with their own hands.

Amuro Toru walked over to her and gently took her hand. The warmth of his palm dispelled the slight chill of the early morning. He whispered, "Don't worry, we will win."

Kudo Yuki looked back at him, the morning light reflected in her eyes: "Well, let's go together."

The rat in her pocket rubbed her fingers gently, as if to acknowledge the agreement.

Kudo Yuki looked at the red bloodshot under Amuro Toru's eyes, gently broke free from his hand, and pushed him towards the bedroom: "Go get some sleep, there are still a few hours before departure. If you don't rest now, you won't be able to hold on to the night."

Amuro Toru paused, glanced back at Conan who was sleeping soundly on the sofa, then looked at Kudo Yuki: "What about you? Don't you want to rest with us?"

"I'll check the equipment list again and be right there." Kudo Yuki pushed him into the bedroom. "Be obedient, or I won't take care of you if you lose focus during the action later."

Amuro Toru smiled helplessly and followed her strength into the bedroom: "Then don't stay up too long."

"I got it." Kudo Yuki closed the door for him, turned around and picked up the equipment list on the table.

Shushu crawled out of her pocket, yawned while lying on the list, and pointed at the item "Night vision goggles battery" with his chubby little paw.

"Don't worry, everything's charged." Kudo Yuki ran her fingertips across the paper, confirming that every item was checked before folding the list and putting it in her backpack. She walked to the sofa, tucked in the blanket that had slipped off Conan, and turned to tiptoe into the bedroom.

Amuro Toru was still asleep, leaning against the headboard, looking at the floor plan of the old house on his phone. When she came in, he moved aside, making half of the space available. "Is the list okay?"

"Yeah, everything is ready." Kudo Yuki lay down beside him, her nose filled with the faint aroma of coffee from him. "Don't think about it, just close your eyes and rest."

Amuro Toru put down his phone and held her in his arms: "I can't sleep. I always feel like something is missing."

"Are you worried about Wakasa Rumi?" Kudo Yuki looked up at him, "or are you worried that Rum has set a trap we haven't noticed?"

"Both." Amuro Toru rested his chin on the top of her head and said in a low voice, "Wakasa Rumi's position is too ambiguous. She knows the truth about the Haneda Hiroshi case, but she has kept it hidden for so many years. No one can guess her true purpose."

"But her goal is currently aligned with ours." Kudo Yuki held his hand. "At least when it comes to bringing down Rum, she won't play any tricks."

Shushu poked his little head out of Kudo Yuki's pocket and patted the back of Amuro Toru's hand with his chubby little paw: "Hurry up and catch up on your sleep. Xiaoxue said you must get enough sleep."

Amuro Toru tightened his fingers slightly and hugged her tighter: "I just don't want any more accidents to happen."

Kudo Yuki knew what he was thinking. The incident that had exposed Morifushi Kagemitsu back then was still a thorn in his heart. She raised her hand to smooth the wrinkles between his brows: "No, we are all here."

The morning light outside the window gradually brightened, casting a thin strip of light on the floor through the gaps in the curtains.

Amuro Toru's breathing gradually became steady, and he was obviously extremely tired.

Kudo Yuki stared at the dark circles under his eyes and sighed softly - he had carried too much over the years.

She closed her eyes and nuzzled the collar of his shirt, feeling the rise and fall of his chest.

Shushu curled up between the two of them and soon began to snoring softly.

Kudo Yuki was awakened by the vibration of her phone. She carefully pulled her hand away from Amuro Toru's, picked up the phone, and walked to the window. It was a message from Kuroda Heibei:

Wakasa Rumi has departed as agreed. Date and his team made new discoveries during their follow-up search of Nagano Trading Co., Ltd. They found a batch of experimental records related to the "ES Dark Amber" plan, which have been encrypted and sent to you.

Kudo Yuki clicked on the attachment and quickly scanned the file. It contained some fragmented experimental data, documenting the development of early brainwashing equipment. Several pages mentioned "adapter screening criteria," which vaguely correlated to the coordinates of the cellar in Miyano's old house.

"Sure enough..." she whispered to herself. The core database for screening compatible people might be hidden in the cellar.

Amuro Toru woke up at some point, stood behind her and asked softly, "What happened?"

"It's from Manager Kuroda," Kudo Yuki handed her the phone. "The experimental records found in Nagano prove that the contents of the cellar are directly related to the 'ES Dark Amber' project."

Amuro Toru quickly read the document, his eyes solemn. "Rum must have found some clues, otherwise he wouldn't have set up surveillance in the bushes on the west side."

"So our new route must be foolproof." Kudo Yuki looked at the clock on the wall. "We have three hours left before we set off. Let's check our equipment again and eat something to replenish our energy."

Amuro Toru nodded, and suddenly reached out to ruffle her hair: "Did you sleep well just now?"

"Yes, how about you?"

"I sleep very soundly with you by my side." There was a faint smile on Toru Amuro's lips, and the fatigue in his eyes faded a little.

Shu Shu ran out of the bedroom with Amuro Toru's spare communicator in his mouth, obviously reminding them to make final preparations.

Kudo Yuki took the communicator and put it to her ear. She glanced at Conan who was still sleeping soundly on the sofa and said softly, "Let him sleep for a while. Let's go prepare afternoon tea first."

Amuro Toru responded and followed her into the kitchen.

The morning light streamed through the window, filling the room with the aroma of fried eggs. Kudo Yuki leaned against the counter, watching Amuro Toru's busy back, and suddenly felt at ease.

No matter what awaits them tonight, as long as they have each other by their side, they have enough courage to face it.

Conan's voice came from the living room, hoarse from just waking up: "What a nice smell..."

Kudo Yuki turned around with a smile: "Are you awake? Go wash up quickly, breakfast will be ready soon."

Conan had just taken a bite of his sandwich when he heard Haibara Ai's voice on the communicator.

Kudo Yuki pressed the hands-free button and motioned for him to listen with her.

"There was half a faded photo tucked into my mother's letter," Huibara Ai's voice came through the electricity, a hint of sob in her voice. "On the back was written 'Akira's first time watering flowers.' My sister said it was a picture of her when she was eight years old, squatting in front of a bush of hydrangeas, holding a half-empty watering can in her hand."

Miyano Akemi's voice faintly came through the receiver, tinged with laughter: "Shiho always rushed to water the plants back then, and ended up getting herself covered in mud. Daddy always pretended to be angry, but then he'd secretly wash the muddy little skirt."

"Sister..." Huibara Ai's voice lowered, "The letter said, 'Freedom is not about running away, but about daring to look back.' Didn't mom know all along that we would have to come back here one day?"

Kudo Yuki looked out the window. The morning light had faded, and the sky was tinged with a light orange.

She remembered what Elena Miyano wrote in the letter: "The color of hydrangeas will remember the secret of the soil," and suddenly realized that it was not only a code, but also a signpost left by the mother to her daughter.

No matter how far you go, you can find your way home by following the memory of flowers.

"She's telling you that past pain can become armor."

Huihara Ai's voice gradually calmed down: "Sister Mingmei said that she sorted the letters from my mother by date and found that the last letter was signed on the day they left the old house. My mother wrote, 'When the flowers bloom again, I will hide the spring in the soil.'"

Conan put down the sandwich and suddenly understood what Miss Ye Elena meant - those flowers not only remembered the secrets of the soil, but also remembered a mother's promise to her daughter:

No matter how hurriedly she left, she would always leave enough warmth for them to find their way in the darkness.

After hanging up the phone, Amuro Toru put the last folding shovel into his backpack and looked at Kudo Yuki: "It's time to go."

The three of them walked out of the base, and the setting sun was dyeing the streets golden red.

The lights of the Poirot Café lit up on the corner. Azusa Enomoto, who was cleaning the windows, waved when she saw them. Everything was the same as usual, yet it held the power of the approaching dawn.

"Let's go." Kudo Yuki looked at Amuro Toru and Conan beside him, the sunset reflected in his eyes, "Let's go pick up Chuntian and take him home."

To be continued...