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

At 10:10 in the morning, the sound of keyboard tapping gradually rang out from the office area on the third floor of the scientific research zone. Zhu Fu Jingguang's fingertips slid across the experimental data on the report, but his eyes swept through the lenses to the security booth at the end of the corridor.

The third security guard had just changed shifts, and the frequency of the walkie-talkie in his hand was the same as the one marked on Noah's Ark before.

He lightly pressed the silver pendant on the inside pocket of his shirt and synchronized the information "Shift change at 10 o'clock, single duty for one hour".

Inside the silver sedan, the security data sent back by Zhu Fu Jingguang was flashing in real time on the floating screen.

Conan used his fingertips to draw a map of the patrol route on the third floor on the tablet and whispered, "It's consistent with our previous estimate. There's a three-minute gap between shift changes on the hour, which is just the right opportunity to approach the fifth-floor stairwell."

Kudo Yuki was debugging the mini-terminal when an encrypted message from Vermouth popped up on the screen: "There are equipment adjustments in the core area of ​​the fifth floor today. Researchers are coming in and out frequently, so it's not suitable for operation at the moment."

She looked up at Amuro Toru and said, "According to the news from Vermouth, it seems we have to wait until the afternoon when there are fewer people around before letting Hiro test it."

Amuro Toru stared at the screen as Morobushi Keimitsu lowered his head to "organize data," his brows furrowed slightly. "Karasuma Renya just had his subordinates check Kagekawa's file. Although Noah's Ark's fake identity is impeccable, Rum is sensitive to 'outsiders,' so we need to remind him not to reveal any flaws."

Shushu muttered softly, "Xiaoxue, that Yamamoto Ken is looking at Morobushi Kagemitsu again, and he's holding a test sample in his hand. Should we ask him for help?"

Sure enough, the next second, Yamamoto Ken walked over to Morobushi Jingguang's workstation, holding a stack of sample boxes marked "to be archived," and said calmly, "Kagekawa, help me enter these samples into the system according to their numbers. I need to submit them to the higher-ups for review this afternoon."

Zhu Fushigure immediately put down the report, stood up and took the sample box, his tone was just the right amount of youthfulness: "Okay, Senior Yamamoto, are there any format requirements for entering the system?"

"Follow the standard template, it's in the 'three-layer sample archive' folder on the shared disk." Yamamoto Ken said, turned around and left without asking any more questions.

Zhu Fu Jingguang looked at his back and breathed a sigh of relief.

Conan's voice came from inside his ears: "Yamamoto Ken is simply too bothered. Don't think too much about it. Just do as he says. This is a good opportunity to record the sample and see if there are any marks related to the 'ES Dark Amber' project."

Kudo Yuki's voice followed closely behind, "Noah's Ark has synchronized the shared drive's access permissions. When entering samples, pay attention to files with sample numbers beginning with 'AP'. That's the exclusive prefix for the 'ES Dark Amber' project. Remember, only view and do not leave any traces of access."

Zhu Fujingguang turned on the computer at his workstation and inserted a blank USB flash drive that he had prepared in advance, which was actually the signal relay of Noah's Ark, and began to enter sample information.

Most of the numbers scrolling on the screen started with "AL" or "AS", until the third box of samples was entered, a number "AP-073" came into view.

His fingertips paused for half a second, and he quickly memorized the "Neural Response Test Sample" marked on the sample box, and then continued to enter it as if he had just seen an ordinary number.

In the monitoring room on the top floor, Karasuma Renya's subordinate was holding up Morobushi Kagemitsu's "resume" and reporting, "Boss, Kagekawa Raku's high school mentor was Professor Yamada of Waseda University. We've contacted him and confirmed that he did indeed work as an assistant in the lab and was praised for his data archiving skills."

Wearing a helmet, Karasuma Renya's gaze fell on the back of Morobushi Keimitsu, who was concentrating on entering data on the screen. He said in a low voice, "What's going on over there in Rum?"

The subordinate answered truthfully: "Lord Rum didn't pay attention to the low-level assistant, but the commotion he made in Kanagawa yesterday alerted the police. It is said that they want the password to the core data."

Karasuma Renya's gaze from beneath his helmet remained fixed on the figure of "Kagekawa Rao" on the screen, his voice unrecognizable as either emotion or anger. "Core data password? He's more eager to get his hands on ES Dark Amber than I thought."

The subordinate lowered his head and dared not respond. The only sounds in the room were the typing of keyboards and the faint breathing of Karasuma Renya.

"Tell the lab to use the latest reagents on Vodka and speed up the 'enhanced adaptation' experiment. I want to see the results as soon as possible." Karasuma Renya's tone was cold, and his words contained a warning to Gin in the dark.

The subordinate responded: "Yes, notify the person in charge immediately."

After his subordinates left, Karasuma Renye connected to Gin's channel: "Keep a close eye on Rum. Don't bring Kanagawa's affairs to the Metropolitan Police Department. He can't touch the core data of 'ES Amber'."

Gin on the other end of the channel was staring at the "observation report" sent by Cohen on the screen, but it was the assassination mission feedback that he had tampered with.

Hearing this, Gin paused his finger on the trigger and replied calmly, "Understood, Boss. I will report any unusual movements from Rum's side immediately."

Karasuma Renya said nothing more and cut off the communication.

He turned his gaze back to the surveillance footage. At this time, "Yingchuan Luo" had just finished recording the "AP-073" sample and was tidying up the sample boxes with his head down. He looked focused and had a bit of the youthfulness of a newcomer.

Karasuma Renya chuckled, but his eyes grew sharper beneath his helmet. "Rum was anxious to get the password, and Kagekawa Raku 'happened' to come across the 'AP' number when entering the sample... Interesting."

He reached out and pulled up the surveillance window. The picture showed Vodka tied to a laboratory chair in the laboratory. There was a look of pain on his face, but he was still struggling to break free.

Karasuma Renya looked at this scene with a cold look in his eyes: "Gin wants to 'act', let him continue to 'act', and see who will show his fangs first, him or Rum."

He pressed the communicator again, this time contacting the secret person in charge of the laboratory: "Double the dosage of Vodka's reagent. I want him to completely lose his ability to resist and become the first group of 'adaptive carriers' of 'ES Dark Amber'.

If Gin mentions 'visiting' again, tell him that if he wants to save Vodka, he needs to clean up Rum's mess in Kanagawa. And by the way...find out that woman's whereabouts."

He knew very well that letting Gin handle it was both giving Gin something to do and testing Rum.

And "Yingchuan Luo", a seemingly ordinary scientific research assistant, came into contact with the sample of "ES Dark Amber" when Rum was about to make a move. Is it a coincidence or the beginning of another game? He has plenty of time to observe slowly.

In the office area on the third floor, Zhu Fu Jingguang had just finished recording the last sample. He stood up and stacked the "to be archived" sample boxes. He glanced around the office area seemingly casually, making sure that no one was paying attention to him. Then he sat back at his workstation, picked up the report he had not finished reading, and pretended to continue studying the experimental data.

Conan whispered through the in-ear communicator: "The information from 'AP-073' has been synchronized to Noah's Ark. I'm having it analyze the specific content behind the 'neural response test'. You better hold on tight and don't show your hand."

Kudo Yuki said, "There's no movement from Rum yet, but Karasuma Renya might make some moves. Keep an eye out for personnel changes in the office."

Zhu Fu Jingguang tapped the table twice with his fingertips, which was the "received" signal they agreed upon.

Just as he put his hand down, the intercom on the table suddenly rang. He picked up the phone, maintaining the cautious tone of a newcomer: "Hello, this is Yingchuan Luo."

"Yingchuan, come to the monitoring room on the top floor. The boss wants to see you."

The voice on the other end of the phone was that of Karasuma Renya's subordinate, without any emotion.

Zhu Fujingguang's fingers tightened slightly around the receiver, but his face didn't show any panic. He simply replied respectfully, "Okay, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the phone, he lowered his voice into the tiny microphone on his shirt collar: "I've been asked to go to the top floor monitoring room. Karasuma Renya wants to see me."

"What?" Conan was surprised. "He suddenly saw you. Did he discover something?"

Kudo Yuki immediately responded, "Noah's Ark is retrieving the layout of the surveillance room on the top floor. Keep an eye on the security personnel in the corridor. Their intercom frequencies haven't changed, and the shift change intervals are still three minutes. However, there's only one entrance to the top floor. Once you're inside, don't look around. Karasuma Renya's helmet can mask his expression, so just listen to what he says. Don't panic."

Amuro Toru's voice followed, "According to 'Kagekawa Raku's' character design—innocent but serious—answer whatever he asks. Don't mention anything related to 'ES Amber'. Xiaoxue and I are rushing downstairs to the headquarters. Signal immediately if anything happens."

Zhu Fujingguang adjusted the collar button, made sure the silver pendant and signal repeater were hidden, then stood up and walked towards the elevator.

Passing by the security booth, he deliberately slowed down his pace. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the security personnel who had just changed shifts fiddling with their walkie-talkies with their heads down. The frequency was the same as before, and he felt a little relieved.

As the elevator ascended, he quickly reviewed the resume of "Kagekawa Raku" in his mind - an assistant to Professor Yamada of Waseda University, good at data archiving, introverted, and had just joined the Karasuma Group's research area three days ago.

The elevator door opened, and the corridor on the top floor was empty, with only the lights on in the monitoring room at the end.

Zhu Fu Jingguang walked to the door and knocked gently, and the command "Come in" came from inside.

Pushing open the door, I saw Karasuma Renya standing in front of the surveillance screen with his back to the door, his helmet reflecting a cold light, and his subordinates standing beside him, their hands hanging down, waiting for orders.

"Boss, Yingchuan Luo is here." The subordinate reported.

Karasuma Renya slowly turned around, his gaze from the helmet seeming to penetrate the lenses and fall on Morobushi Kagemitsu: "Kagekawa, are you familiar with the samples recorded today?"

Zhu Fushiki Jingguang immediately lowered his head, acting with the reserved attitude of a newcomer facing his superior. "Boss, I've finished recording according to Senior Yamamoto's instructions. I followed the standard template on the shared disk. There are no problems."

"Oh?" Karasuma Renya's voice was low. "Did you see any special sample numbers when you were entering them? For example... those starting with 'AP'."

Zhu Fujingguang's heart trembled, and then he remembered Kudo Yuki's advice to "just watch and don't do anything, pretend to be normal". He raised his head with just the right amount of doubt in his eyes.

"Starting with 'AP'? I wasn't paying much attention. I was busy checking the serial number and sample information when entering it. Most of them start with 'AL' or 'AS'. I might have missed some." He deliberately expressed a hint of annoyance. "If the boss needs it, I can go back and check it again."

Karasuma Renya stared at him for a few seconds and chuckled. "No need, just asking casually. Professor Yamada said you were very careful in archiving your data, and it seems he was right."

He pointed sideways at the surveillance screen, which was showing images of the third-floor office area.

"From now on, besides Yamamoto, you will also be responsible for keeping a close eye on the samples archived in the research area. Report any anomalies immediately."

Zhu Fu Jingguang quickly responded: "Thank you for your trust, boss. I will do my best."

"Go down, I'll call you if there's anything." Karasuma Renya waved his hand and turned back to the surveillance screen.

Zhu Fu Jingguang bowed and turned to leave the monitoring room.

It was not until he walked into the elevator that he breathed a sigh of relief, a thin layer of sweat already breaking out on his back.

He whispered into the tiny microphone, "I passed. He asked for the 'AP' number, and I pretended not to notice. He didn't ask any more questions and told me to keep an eye on the samples and archive them in the future."

The elevator returned to the third floor. As soon as I stepped out, I saw Shushu squatting next to the potted plant in the corner of the corridor, whispering to Kudo Xue: "Xiaoxue, a man in black just came down from the top floor and stared at Yingchuan for a long time. It was weird."

Kudo Yuki was standing at the entrance of the security passage outside the office area. When she saw Zhu Fushigami coming back, she gave him a look.

The two walked to a deserted place.

She lowered her voice, "Karasuma Renya is testing you, and also giving you 'power' to see if you'll take the initiative to access the 'ES Dark Amber' samples. From now on, keep an eye on the office area; perhaps they'll be using the samples from the research area to transfer funds."

Zhu Fujingguang nodded. The silver pendant in his pocket suddenly vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from Noah's Ark:

Gin has arrived downstairs at the headquarters, heading to the monitoring room, and seems to want to talk to Karasuma Renya about vodka.

Kudo Yuki picked up the mini terminal and said, "Stay at your workstation. Communicate via the pendant if anything happens. Remember, don't get involved in the game between Gin and Karasuma Renya."

Zhu Fu Jingguang replied "OK" and turned back to his workstation.

As soon as I sat down, I saw Gin wearing a black windbreaker and walking through the office area with an expressionless face, heading straight for the elevator.

Zhu Fujingguang looked down at the report and synchronized the information of "Gin goes upstairs" to Noah's Ark.

In the monitoring room on the top floor, Gin said in a cold tone: "Boss, I want to see Vodka. He is my man. The experiment cannot be so disruptive."

Karasuma Renya didn't turn around. "If you want to save him, first clean up Rum's mess in Kanagawa and don't attract the police's attention. Keep an eye on him, and don't touch the core data of 'ES Amber'."

Gin clenched his fists and said in a deep voice, "I understand."

Then he turned and left.

In the office area on the third floor, Zhu Fujingguang looked at the "Sample Archiving Reminder" that popped up again on the computer screen, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Karasuma Renya's temptation, Gin's anxiety, Rum's ambition, and their secretly promoted plans, all spread quietly like an invisible net at the Karasuma Group headquarters.

And he, "Ying Chuan Luo", will continue to look for opportunities to pierce the darkness in this web.

To be continued...