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

A black car stopped at the top-floor entrance on Kanagawa Central Street. Two men carried Hashimoto Shin to the stairwell, and their rough palms gripped his arms so hard that they hurt.

With every step Shin Hashimoto climbed, his heart beat faster.

Rum chose the top floor of a street with the heaviest traffic as the venue, which was definitely not a simple meeting.

The moment he pushed open the door, Shin Hashimoto's pupils suddenly shrank.

In the empty attic room, several politicians in suits were tied to metal chairs with their hands behind their backs, their mouths taped, their eyes filled with fear.

A man in a black top hat was standing by the window, holding a working loudspeaker in his hand. Hashimoto Shin recognized the tattoo on his body - he was Rum's leading subordinate.

A mechanical voice suddenly rang out from the loudspeaker. It was Rum: "Exactly on time. I thought you were going to play the 'Justice Game' with those officers."

Shin Hashimoto leaned his back against the cold wall, suppressing the urge to tremble. "What on earth do you want to do by arresting me? Don't hurt those politicians, they have nothing to do with the winery!"

"It's okay?" A sneer pierced the air from the loudspeaker. "You shouldn't be worried about these politicians, but the entire street downstairs, maybe even half of Kanagawa."

Shin Hashimoto looked up suddenly and heard the faint noise of the crowd outside the window. He suddenly realized that Rum had no intention of relying on just a few politicians to threaten him.

The subordinate at the window immediately stepped forward and turned the phone screen towards Hashimoto Shin, which showed the real-time monitoring footage:

The streets were crowded with people. Several people in delivery uniforms were installing a black box against the corner of the building. The red countdown timer on the box was particularly eye-catching.

Rum's voice was oppressive. "These politicians hold the power to approve infrastructure in Kanagawa. The ES Dark Amber project wants to build a laboratory here, and they can't do it without them. But rather than algorithms, the lives of the thousands of people downstairs might be more sobering for you."

Shin Hashimoto clenched his fists, his fingertips rubbing across his palms, leaving a few red marks, but he was completely unaware.

He remembered his father's last words: "We must never let the winery get the algorithm. It will ruin countless people."

But the vibrant lives downstairs were like a huge rock pressing on his heart, leaving him in a dilemma and with his lips pursed into a straight line.

The voice over the loudspeaker suddenly grew cold, its mechanical quality revealing impatience. "My patience is limited, Hashimoto Shin. Since you're still hesitant to make a choice, let the people downstairs race against time with you."

The leading subordinate immediately took out the walkie-talkie.

Rum's instructions came through clearly: "According to the original plan, activate the backup bombs within a three-kilometer radius of the building. Kanagawa has a permanent population of 1200 million. A few thousand more won't be much, and a few less won't be much either. But you must remember that it's you who's depriving them of their chance of survival."

Shin Hashimoto shuddered, his back soaked with sweat. He watched the countdown ticking on the surveillance camera and recalled his father's instructions. The two choices, like two knives, sliced ​​through his heart.

Rum's voice rang out again, with a hint of cruel inducement: "It's not too late to speak now. The whereabouts of the algorithm will be exchanged for the safety of 1200 million people. Or, you can wait and hear the explosion within three kilometers."

The words "1200 million" floated out of the loudspeaker and hit Shinji Hashimoto hard.

He stared at the crowds on the street on his phone, then looked at the red numbers jumping in the corner of the screen, and even his breathing became heavy.

Ran Mouri, clutching the strap of her canvas bag, and Suzuki Sonoko had just turned onto Kanagawa's central street when they were forced to slow down by the dense crowd in front of them.

She subconsciously looked up to confirm the direction, but her eyes suddenly stopped at the top floor of a tall building not far away.

Half of the glass window was open, and a figure in a black top hat was holding something to his mouth. There seemed to be another person standing next to him, and his posture revealed a clear sense of compulsion.

"Sonoko, look at the top floor..." Mao Lilan's voice was a little tense, her eyes fixed on the open window. "That person's actions don't seem like normal communication. It seems like... he's forcing the other person?"

Suzuki Sonoko followed her gaze, squinting for a long moment before she could vaguely make out two swaying figures. She couldn't help but grumble, "How can that be so exaggerated? Maybe this is a commercial? Look at that guy in the top hat, maybe it's a prop for a retro-themed shoot."

Mao Lilan immediately shook her head. "This isn't a commercial. Look at the guy being held, his shoulders are tense. And that thing in the bowler hat's hand looks like a megaphone. Why would they use that on the rooftop for a commercial?"

She immediately took out her cell phone. The moment the screen lit up, Mao Lilan looked up to confirm the situation on the top floor, fearing that she would miss any details. "No, I have to call Conan. He and Sister Xue should know what's going on."

Seeing her serious expression, Suzuki Sonoko dropped her joking thoughts and leaned over to watch her dial the number: "Is it really that serious? Do you want me to contact the security team back home now? They have a branch in Kanagawa and will be here soon."

As soon as the call was connected, Conan's anxious voice came from the receiver: "Sister Xiaolan? Have you arrived at the Poirot Cafe?"

"Not yet. We're on Kanagawa Central Street." Mao Lilan's eyes never left the top floor, and her voice was very low. "Conan, there's something wrong on the top floor of this tall building. There's a man wearing a black hat, holding another man up, and he seems to be holding a loudspeaker. The atmosphere is very strange."

The phone was still online and Conan was about to speak when he suddenly heard the sound of Ran Mouri's rapid breathing from the receiver.

At the corner of the street, two men in black coats were staring at her. One of them raised his hand and took out a walkie-talkie, his lips moving rapidly.

Mao Lilan's heart tightened, and she immediately grabbed Suzuki Sonoko and hid in the nearby shop: "Someone is watching us, go in quickly!"

As soon as he took a step, he heard a chaotic and hurried sound of footsteps behind him.

When Mao Lilan turned around, the two men were already right in front of her.

One of them reached out and grabbed the strap of her canvas bag with such force that he almost tore it apart.

"Let go!" Mao Lilan raised her leg and kicked the other person's knee, but another person grabbed her arm from the side and she could not move.

Suzuki Sonoko hurriedly took out her cell phone to call for help, but as soon as she put the phone to her ear, the man snatched it away and threw it to the ground.

The screen shattered with a click, and the light went out instantly.

"Don't resist, come with us." The man's voice was as cold as ice. The two men held Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko on the left and right and dragged them deep into the alley.

The loudspeaker on the top floor suddenly rang, and the report from his men came clearly: "Lord Rum, two women were found downstairs. They are calling the relevant personnel. It seems that they are aware of the situation on the top floor and have it under control."

Rum's mechanical voice paused slightly. His eyes swept over the still-dead Hashimoto Shin, and a cruel smile curved his lips. "Oh? That saves me the trouble of finding leverage. Take them to the underground storage room outside the bomb range. It's well-sealed and has a ready-made water injection system."

The leading subordinate was stunned, then lowered his head and replied, "Yes, to what extent do you need to inject it?"

"Wait a minute." Rum's voice was filled with calculation. "Hashimoto Shin refuses to speak, doesn't he? Let him listen to those two women's voices and see if he chooses to calculate or watch innocent people drown. Also, broadcast their voices through the loudspeaker so that everyone can 'witness' his choice."

The heavy iron door slammed shut, locking Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki into darkness.

The struggling sound in the receiver stopped abruptly, leaving only the "hissing" noise of electricity.

Conan clutched his phone, his pupils shrunken to the size of pinpoints due to tension. He clearly heard the words "water injection system" and "loudspeaker transmission", and his heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly.

"Conan?" Ai noticed his sudden paleness and just as she came over, she saw Conan suddenly grab the tracking glasses on the table and said, "Ran and Sonoko have been captured. Rum's men are on the rooftop of Kanagawa Central Street and have planted a bomb."

Haibara Ai's fingertips instantly clenched the corner of her clothes, and her face darkened. "Rum deliberately lured them to the central street, using bombs and hostages to exert pressure. I'm afraid his target isn't just the algorithm in Hashimoto Shin's hands."

She looked up at Conan, her eyes sweeping across the map of Kanagawa spread out on the table. "Central Street is a transportation hub. Once the bomb is detonated, the entire Kanagawa will be paralyzed."

Conan quickly called up the positioning function of the tracking glasses, but the screen only showed the last location where Mouri Ran's phone was - the alley next to the central street.

"No, Xiaolan's phone was dropped and the location is broken." He gritted his teeth, suddenly remembered something, and took out the microphone, "We must contact my sister and Mr. Amuro immediately."

Conan held the microphone, his voice trembling with rapid breathing: "Sister! Mr. Amuro! Xiaolan and Sonoko were captured by Rum's men! They are on the top floor of Kanagawa Central Street and have planted a bomb. They are locked in an underground storage room with a water injection system!"

In the Poirot Café, the afternoon sun shone through the glass windows onto the wooden bar, and Kudo Yuki was wiping the coffee cup with her head down.

Toru Amuro was sorting orders on the side, his fingertips just touching the printer.

Conan's trembling voice came out from the microphones in the pockets of both of them at the same time.

The coffee cup in Kudo Yuki's hand slammed against the bar, the rim making a subtle sound. "Water filling system? Underground storage room?"

Toru Amuro's movements also stopped instantly, and his originally gentle expression faded, replaced by the sharpness unique to a public security undercover agent.

He quickly walked over to Kudo Yuki and whispered, "Rum is on the top floor of Central Street, and he's planted a bomb. Ran and Sonoko are imprisoned in an underground storage room with a water injection system... It seems he wants to use the hostages to force Hashimoto Shin to hand over the algorithm, and lure us over there at the same time."

Shushu squatted in Kudo Yuki's palm, scratching it gently with his chubby paws. "The basement storage room of the old department store! I just sensed the vibration of the fire hose over there. It seems that what is going to happen in Kanagawa will alarm the Metropolitan Police Department!"

Kudo Yuki immediately grabbed her coat from the back of the chair and said to Amuro Toru, "You drive the car. I'll contact Manager Kuroda and have him dispatch Date and the others to shut off the water valves. Then, have Kagekawa help evacuate the people in the central streets to prevent the bomb from affecting any innocent people."

"Wait." Amuro Toru grabbed Kudo Yuki's hand that was grabbing her coat and glanced at the entrance of the cafe.

Through the glass window, you can see Sera Masumi riding a motorcycle to the side of the road, hanging his helmet on the handlebars, and walking quickly into the store.

Amuro Toru lowered her voice, "Sera is here, and so is Kyogoku Makoto. According to the original plan, he should come to pick up Sonoko for dinner. Now that Sonoko has been arrested, we have to stabilize them first and not let them lose their composure."

Kudo Yuki nodded, quickly adjusted her expression, put Shushu into her coat pocket, and just tidied up the table.

Shiliang Zhenchun pushed the door open and came in, shouting in a voice as soft as the wind: "Sister Xue! I'm here to give you the return gift of Jin Jun Mei black tea."

She raised the tea in her hand and glanced around the cafe. Not seeing Suzuki Sonoko, she asked in confusion, "Where's Sonoko? Didn't she say she would come here with Xiaolan and wait for Kyogoku Makoto to join her?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a tall figure walked in from the door. It was Kyogoku Makoto.

He was holding a paper bag in his hand, which contained the Chinese food that Suzuki Sonoko liked to eat: "I just arrived. Sonoko and Xiaolan haven't arrived yet? I brought her her favorite dish."

Kudo Yuki took the return gift from Sera and said with a smile: "Xiaolan just sent me a message saying that they saw a new dessert shop in Kanagawa and took Sonoko to look around for a while. She told you not to worry, Kyogoku Makoto."

She turned to look at Amuro Toru, her eyes hinting, "Toru, go put the food Kyogoku Makoto brought in the refrigerator, or it won't taste good if left out for too long."

Amuro Toru immediately understood, took the paper bag from Kyogoku Makoto, turned and walked towards the kitchen, and at the same time quietly took out his cell phone and sent a message to Manager Kuroda:

Rum set an ambush on the top floor of Kanagawa Central Street. Ran Mouri and Suzuki Sonoko were trapped in the basement storage room of the old department store with a water injection system. Date, Matsuda, and Hagiwara had to be dispatched to cut off the water injection valve, and Kagekawa Raku had to evacuate the crowd on Central Street to avoid being affected by the bomb.

Shiliang Zhenchun didn't completely believe it. She walked to the bar and lowered her voice: "Sister Xue, you are not telling the truth, are you? I just called Xiaolan, but I couldn't get through. She never refuses to answer my calls."

She recalled the suspicious figure she had seen at the station earlier and added, "And just on my way here, I saw a police car heading towards Central Street from the direction of Kanagawa. Did something happen?"

Just as Kudo was about to explain, the rat in her pocket poked its little head out, and its voice reached her ears and the ears of Toru Amuro who had just come out of the kitchen.

"The valve for the water injection system is in the fire control room on the second basement floor of the old department store. Rum's men have two men guarding it."

Amuro Toru thought for a moment and finally gave up hiding it - if Sera Masumi's sharpness and Kyogoku Makoto's fighting power could be properly utilized at this moment, it would provide an additional guarantee.

He quickly glanced at the scattered customers in the cafe, and after confirming that no one was paying attention to this side, he quickly walked over to Sera.

Amuro Toru leaned over and whispered in a voice that only Sera Masumi and Kyogoku Makoto could hear, "There's a case in Kanagawa. I can't go into the details for now, but I can confirm that Miss Xiaolan and Miss Sonoko are being held in the basement storage room of the old department store. There's a water injection system there, and the situation is urgent."

To be continued...