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

Sera Masumi suddenly tightened her grip on the bottle of sparkling water, creating a slight dent in the bottle, and her previous doubts were instantly answered.

She immediately put down the bottle and lowered her voice: "What do you need me for? My motorcycle is right at the door. I can get to Kanagawa as quickly as possible."

"Calm down first." Amuro Toru held her shoulders with a serious look in his eyes.

"That gang might have spies nearby. If you rush over now, not only will you fail to save anyone, but you'll also expose our actions. What you need to do is quietly go to the location where Ms. Sonoko and Ms. Xiaolan are trapped with Kyogoku Makoto and alert the police."

He pulled a folded map of Kanagawa from his pocket, quickly circled the old department store, and marked several alleys that avoided the main road.

"Take Kyogoku Makoto on your motorcycle and drive along these alleys. You'll be able to avoid the spies they've set up. Once you get to the old department store, don't get too close. Find a secluded spot and observe. Once you're sure there are no guards, call the police."

Remember, only contact 'Officer Chizuki Hagiwara' of the Kanagawa Police Station. Finding her will reveal Officer Matsuda's location and prevent any leaks."

Sera Masumi clenched his fists, pressed his fingertips hard on the "Old Department Store" sign, and nodded vigorously: "I understand! I will be careful and will never let anything happen to Sonoko and Xiaolan."

Kyogoku Makoto, standing by, couldn't hold back any longer. Upon hearing the news that "Sonoko is trapped," he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, and said anxiously, "Mr. Amuro, I will protect Sera and find a way to save Sonoko!"

Kudo Yuki then added, "Kyogoku Makoto, you may be strong, but those guys might be armed. Don't force your fight. Once you get there, meet up with Officer Matsuda. He'll arrange the follow-up rescue operation."

Kudo Yuki looked at the tense expressions of Sera Masumi and Kyogoku Makoto, and touched the rat in his pocket.

The little guy was rubbing her palm gently with his chubby little paws, as if to confirm the direction.

Kudo Yuki lowered her voice and added, "When you get to the old department store, keep an eye out for anyone wearing a black jacket or with a tattoo on their collar. Avoid them. If you see unusual water flow coming from a fire hose, avoid approaching. It's likely a branch pipe from the water injection system."

Amuro Toru came out of the kitchen with two packed sandwiches in his hand and stuffed them into Sera's hand: "Fill yourself on the way, don't go on an empty stomach. When you contact Officer Hagiwara, use the code word 'Poirot regular'. She'll know you're one of them."

He looked at Kyogoku Makoto again, "Kyogoku, your fighting power is enough to protect Sera, but remember, prioritize your own safety and calling the police. Officer Hagiwara will be in charge of the rescue. Don't be impulsive."

Kyogoku Makoto nodded heavily, took the sandwich handed to him by Sera Masumi, and took a big bite: "I know, as long as it can save Sonoko, I will follow your instructions."

Sera Masumi's eyes grew darker. He quickly folded the map and stuffed it into his coat pocket. He grabbed his motorcycle helmet and headed for the door. "Sister Xue, Mr. Amuro, we're leaving. We'll contact you as soon as we have any news!"

As soon as the two pushed the door open and went out, the sound of the motorcycle engine quickly faded away.

Dr. A Li's home.

Conan clenched the microphone, picked up the skateboard and rushed to the door. He hurriedly shouted past Dr. Agasa, "Doctor, I'm going out for a while! We must find Xiaolan and the others as soon as possible, otherwise it will be too late!"

Dr. Agasa quickly reached out to stop him, but he only managed to grab a piece of clothing. He could only turn around anxiously: "Conan! At least wait until the police arrive before you go! It's too dangerous!"

"There's no time to wait!" Conan's voice came from the doorway, and he had already rushed out. "Haibara, please use the map of Kanagawa and focus on the old buildings with fire water injection systems around the central streets - especially the underground storage rooms. Rum said to lock people out of the 'bomb range', which must be not far from the building on the top floor!"

Haibara Ai immediately sat down in front of the computer, her fingertips tapping rapidly on the keyboard. The electronic map of Kanagawa instantly filled the screen, and the red mark kept flashing.

"I've retrieved the data for the old department store, abandoned food warehouse, and underground parking lot. All three locations have independent water injection systems and are no more than 300 meters away from the rooftop of Central Street, meeting the criteria of being 'out of bomb range.' I'll send you the coordinates. Go check the nearest old department store first, and be careful to avoid Rum's eyes!"

Conan rushed into the traffic on his skateboard, pointing his tracking glasses in the direction of the old department store, and the coordinates sent by Huibara were displayed in real time on the lenses.

He could imagine how scared Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki must be, trapped in the dark basement with the cold water probably already up to their ankles.

In the storage room of the Metropolitan Police Department, Kenji Hagiwara was half-kneeling on the ground, holding a special bomb disposal tweezers between his fingertips, carefully picking up the tiny copper wire in the bomb fuse.

This is a key component of the bomb disposal bullet. As long as there is a slight deviation, the trigger device hidden at the end of the copper wire will detonate the remaining spare explosives.

With a soft "click," the tweezers pulled the copper wire out of the insulation. Hagiwara Kenji breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "If these bullets were to reach the market, the number of bombs in Kanagawa would only increase, not decrease."

He took out a detector from the toolbox, and as soon as the probe touched the core, the screen lit up with a dazzling red light.

Hagiwara Kenji frowned. "Not only does the core contain conventional explosives, but it also contains magnetic powder that can interfere with signals. No wonder the communicator kept interrupting when Xiao Zhenping was tracking Rum's men."

The door of the utility room was suddenly pushed open gently.

Date Kou leaned halfway in, clutching a freshly printed document. "Kenji, Manager Kuroda just sent me this: the floor plan of the fire control room on the second basement floor of the old department store, along with the latest portraits of Rum's men. Both of them have a history of arms smuggling and may have modified pistols."

Hagiwara Kenji took the document and circled the valve in the fire control room with his fingertips. "The main valve for the water injection system is in the southwest corner. There are two vents next to it, which is perfect for bypassing the guards. How's Kojinpei doing? He went after Hashimoto Shin and hasn't sent any news back yet."

"I just received his code. He says that after Hashimoto Shin was taken to the rooftop of Central Street, Rum has been using bombs and hostages to force him to hand over the algorithm." Date Kou squatted down to help sort out the scattered bomb disposal tools. "By the way, Manager Kuroda also specifically mentioned that we go to Kanagawa with Xiaoxue."

At the Poirot Café, Kudo Yuki immediately took out her cell phone and called Manager Kuroda.

"Senior, Sera Masumi and Kyogoku Makoto have already rushed to the old Kanagawa department store and are responsible for contacting Officer Hagiwara to assist in reporting the incident."

Kuroda Heibei's voice came over the communicator, unmistakably calm, each word conveying precise instructions: "Kudo, Hagiwara has successfully defused the Metropolitan Police Department's bomb. I've asked him and Date to accompany you to the area near the old Kanagawa Department Store to stand by and support the subsequent rescue efforts."

He paused briefly, his tone becoming even more cautious. "Matsuda is tracking down leads on Hashimoto Shin. Don't contact him for now to avoid exposing your location. Kagekawa and Amuro will remain at Café Poirot. You two must maintain your composure and never let Rum discover your true identities. Especially Amuro. If his undercover identity is exposed, the entire operation will be in jeopardy."

Finally, Kurodabei's voice softened slightly, but still held a note of caution. "Also, I've added two layers of guards to Miyano Akemi's side. They're all trustworthy and will ensure she isn't involved in this operation. You don't need to worry about the situation over there."

Kudo Yuki hung up the phone with Manager Kuroda.

Shushu called up the system screen, tapping her palms with his chubby little paws. His voice was filled with rapidity and fragmentation: "The water valve in the basement storage room has started turning! The water has already flooded Xiaolan's shoes. Yuanzi is trying to hook the vent grille with his backpack strap, but unfortunately he can't reach it!"

Amuro Toru's face instantly darkened. He quickly walked to the back of the bar, opened the bottom drawer, and took out a transmitter: "We can't wait any longer for Date and Hagiwara to reunite. If we're half a minute late, the water might reach their knees."

Kudo Yuki clenched her phone between her fingers, the screen still showing the structural diagram of the old department store. She quickly sorted out the route in her mind.

"It takes at least twenty minutes to get from Poirot to Kanagawa Central Street, but there's definitely Rum's spies on the main road, so we'll have to take the outer freight corridor. If we drive, I'll have Shushu report the basement's situation in real time. I'll also contact Xiao Ai and have her send me a diagram of the ventilation duct in the storage room. Maybe we can get in through the vents and save them."

Amuro Toru's fingertips clenched the microphone, his tone no longer panicked, leaving only the calmness unique to an undercover public security officer. "Conan, this is Amuro. There are two guards in the fire control room on the second basement floor of the old department store. The main water injection valve is in the southwest corner. When you arrive, don't force your way in - the ventilation duct is the best way. Huiyuan should have sent you the pipeline diagram."

He glanced at the rat spinning anxiously in Kudo Yuki's palm and added, "The water level in the basement has already reached Xiaolan's ankles. Sonoko tried to destroy the ventilation grille but failed. The skateboard you brought can be disassembled into a metal crowbar. Remember to avoid the surveillance cameras in the ventilation duct. They are hidden behind the grilles at the bend."

Kudo Yuki leaned close to the transmitter and lowered her voice to a whisper, "Shinichi, Rum's men have posted a secret sentry at the entrance of the old department store. He's wearing a black jacket with a tattoo on his collar. Enter through the abandoned back door on the east side. The lock there is rusted and can be pried open with the wheels of a skateboard. Also, don't use conventional communication equipment. Their signal jammer has a coverage radius of 500 meters. Messages are transmitted through Huibara's encrypted channel."

Shushu suddenly patted her palm with his chubby little paws.

Amuro Toru immediately chimed in, "Also, there's a backup switch for the basement's water filling system. It's hidden in the north wall of the storage room, behind the 'Emergency Exit' sign. If the main valve can't be opened temporarily, finding the backup switch will buy at least ten minutes, enough time for Date and Hagiwara to arrive for support."

Conan braked suddenly on his skateboard at the alley entrance. The outline of the old department store building was reflected in his lens. He responded to the microphone: "I know, Mr. Amuro, Sister Xue. I've seen the back door on the east side. I'll go there now. If there is any situation, I will synchronize with Huibara immediately."

Amuro Toru wanted to say something, but Shushu suddenly pricked up his ears.

He immediately became alert: "Wait, Conan, the sentry seems to be moving to the east. You should hide in the scrap yard next to it and wait until they leave before taking any action. Don't expose yourself. You are the key to finding Xiaolan and Sonoko. Nothing can happen to you."

It was not until Conan's response of "Received" came from the microphone that Amuro Toru released his finger on the call button and turned to look at Kudo Yuki.

"Rum is dispatching people. It seems they've noticed someone is going to rescue Xiaolan and the others. We need to have Date and Hagiwara speed up. If we're any later, the water level might reach above their waists."

Kudo Yuki patted Shushu's back to calm it down, and at the same time, he took out his phone to contact Manager Kuroda: "Senior, please allow Date and Hagiwara to sneak in through the underground parking lot entrance of the old department store and avoid the guards at the main gate. Conan has reached the east back door and needs support to help him open the vents."

Kuroda Bei's voice came from the receiver: "Ida and Hagiwara have received the order and are on standby at the entrance of the underground parking lot. Kudo, have Conan pay attention to the load-bearing structure of the third section of the ventilation duct. It has been in disrepair for a long time and is prone to collapse."

Kudo Yuki immediately relayed the message through the microphone: "Shinichi, the third section of the ventilation duct is unstable. When you pass through, try to stick to the right side of the duct and avoid stepping on the middle beam."

Conan was squatting behind a metal box at the scrap yard, watching two black-clad sentries slowly walk past the east back door. Hearing this, he murmured, "Understood."

When the sentry's footsteps completely disappeared at the corner of the street, Conan rushed out quickly, pried the rusty door lock with the skateboard wheel, and with a "click", the door lock broke.

He quickly glanced around to confirm that there were no hidden surveillance cameras or patrol officers in the hall before he skated across the empty first floor.

Dust floated in the sunlight filtering through the broken glass windows. There was no movement in the shadows of the abandoned shelves, so he headed straight for the fire escape in the west corner.

According to the drawings given by Haibara Ai, the stairs leading to the second underground floor are hidden behind a pile of abandoned shelves, just enough to avoid possible patrols.

He had just moved the outermost metal shelf when he heard vague footsteps coming from downstairs. He quickly retracted his head and watched with bated breath as two men in black coats walked up the stairs, with the unique tattoos of Rum's men faintly visible on their collars.

Only after the two people's footsteps completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did Conan grab the skateboard, hunched over and quickly went downstairs.

The fire control room on the second underground floor is at the end of the corridor, with a faint light coming through the crack in the door.

Conan slowly approached the wall and vaguely heard a conversation coming from inside:

"Lord Rum said that as soon as Hashimoto Shin gives in, we should immediately open the water valve to the maximum and leave no chance for those two women to survive."

"Don't worry, the water pipes in this broken building have long been aging. If we pour water at full capacity, the storage room will be full in less than fifteen minutes. Even gods can't save it."

Conan clenched the metal crowbar he had made from his skateboard, his heart pounding in his chest: "We must get rid of these two guards as soon as possible, otherwise Xiaolan and Sonoko will be in danger."

He remembered what Toru Amuro said, went around to the ventilation vent on the side of the fire control room, and carefully pried open the grille with a crowbar.

The ventilation duct was pitch black. Conan turned on the flashlight on his watch and crawled forward carefully.

The pipe was narrow, only wide enough for one person to crawl forward, and the dust made him cough.

When climbing to the third section, Conan deliberately pressed close to the right side of the pipe wall, and sure enough, he heard a crisp "crunching" sound under his feet. The middle beam was already rotten.

To be continued...