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

The car traveled through the night, and the dim light from the dashboard outlined the silence of the three people and one mouse in the car.

Toru Amuro was controlling the steering wheel, but his eyes would occasionally pass through the rearview mirror, passing by Gin who was resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, and finally falling on Kudo Yuki.

"Where is Rum exactly in Beika Town?" Kudo Yuki broke the silence. The screen still displayed Karasuma Renya's instruction of "Clear the house and leave someone alive."

Gin slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear of any fatigue, only his usual coldness. "He's hiding his identity in a shop. He often goes there and is always accompanied and picked up by his men. He's probably hiding nearby."

Shushu half-stuck out of Kudo Yuki's windbreaker pocket, his chubby little paws scratching the edge of the car window, muttering, "Isn't that the place I found it?"

Kudo Yuki tapped its little head gently. "Rum will definitely be well-defended, but the more secluded the place, the easier it is to reveal a flaw. Bourbon, are you familiar with that place?"

"I understand it fairly well," Amuro Toru tapped his fingertips on the steering wheel, his gaze briefly meeting Gin's cold one in the rearview mirror. "Most of the hidden places in Beika-cho are hidden behind busy shops, especially those old shops with a fixed customer base and regular schedules. After all, the more familiar a place is, the easier it is to overlook it."

Gin suddenly scoffed in the backseat, his cold gaze meeting Amuro Toru's through the rearview mirror. His fingertips brushed the muzzle of the gun, "There's a 'rules shop' hidden in Beika Town. When an employee says 'keep out of the company's business,' the boss takes it as an imperial decree."

Amuro Toru continued, "It's always better to be cautious. After all, not all the 'fish' in Beika Town are tasty. If they have a hook, not everyone can catch it."

The wit in their words was like knives clashing in the dark night, neither side giving in.

Ignoring the confrontation between the two, Kudo Yuki used a telepathic connection that only Shushu and she could sense to ask, "Shushu, do you remember the license plate number of the black car you saw in that store last time?"

The next second, Amuro Toru heard Shu Shu's response simultaneously in his ears - this was the unique way of communication between the three of them.

Shushu scratched his round ears and shook his little head in distress: "I can't remember clearly! I just remember that the car logo looked like a silver crow, and the people sitting in the front seat all wore black-framed glasses, which looked weird!"

The moment the car lights went out, an iconic black Porsche 365A came into view in the alley.

The body of Gin's car had obviously been carefully maintained, but it could not hide some of the "flaws" that were deliberately left behind.

Kudo Yuki nodded slightly, stuffed the mouse back into her pocket, and patted the outside of the pocket with her fingertips, as if to comfort it, or as if to send a signal.

After Gin got out of the car, his eyes quickly swept across the body of the Porsche 365A, and his fingertips touched the door handle and then left. After confirming that it was safe, he turned back to look at the two people in the car with no warmth in his eyes.

"The mission that Rum gives to Coin, Coin will 'accept' it."

He pronounced the word "accept" very lightly, but with full of sarcasm, and it was obvious that he had no intention of actually completing the task.

Gin strode towards his car, his hand on the door, and said without turning back: "That gentleman is worried about Rum's men, don't bother anyone else, I will take care of them all."

The moment the car door closed, the engine started, and the black Porsche quickly disappeared into the night, leaving only the smell of exhaust.

Amuro Toru averted his gaze: "Gin's words are rare, but they contain a hint of 'personal vendetta'."

Kudo Yuki seemed to be sorting out clues, or weighing the situation.

"Personal grudge? Perhaps he's seen clearly that no one can escape unscathed in Karasuma Renya's game. Rum's desire to steal the 'Amber' has already entangled him in a knot. Besides, Vodka has been transferred to the lab, and Gin's anger has to find a place to vent."

Amuro Toru stepped on the accelerator, and the car slowly drove out of the alley. The light from the dashboard once again illuminated the thoughts in his eyes: "Karasuma Renya used vodka as a bargaining chip, but Gin insisted on taking advantage of this 'weak spot'. He's more patient than I thought."

Shushu twisted his body in the pocket of Kudo Yuki's windbreaker, his chubby little paws scratching at the edge of the pocket, half of his head exposed, and said in a voice that was a bit excited and a bit dissatisfied: "Xiaoxue, Gin's car is so cool, even more like a 'little leopard in the night' than the car driven by Amuro Toru! But he was so fierce just now, I almost hid my melon seeds in the wrong place!"

Amuro Toru paused as he gripped the steering wheel, a hint of a smile flashing across his eyes. He continued, "If Gin heard you say his car looks like a 'little leopard', I'm afraid he'll be staring at the melon seed jar in your pocket next time we meet."

Kudo Xue picked up Shu Shu in her hand and poked him with her finger: "Shu Shu, have you gained weight recently?"

Shushu was held in the air, his round body like a furry glutinous rice dumpling. His four chubby little paws frantically pawed twice before he finally managed to steady himself. Upon hearing what Kudo Yuki said, he immediately puffed out his cheeks in grievance, "No way! I only eat real melon seeds, that's why my fur is fluffy and I look fat!"

As he said this, he tried to straighten out his round belly, trying to prove that he was "just hairy."

Kudo Yuki gently pinched its soft cheek with her fingertips, a smile in her eyes: "Oh? Then who was it that secretly ate half of the box of cheese crackers I hid under the counter at the Poirot Cafe last time, and even stuffed the packaging bag into Amuro Toru's apron pocket?"

Shushu's ears drooped instantly, and he turned his head away guiltily. He scratched his round head with his chubby little paw, and his voice became smaller and smaller. "It was Biscuit who seduced me first! And Brother Poirot's apron pockets are very warm, perfect for hiding snack bags..."

Amuro Toru, who was driving, couldn't help but smile when he heard this. He looked at the back seat through the rearview mirror and said, "So those cookie crumbs that always appear in my apron are the work of a little squirrel that 'never gained weight'? Next time, how about I hang a cheese and melon seed jar around your neck so you don't have to search for snacks everywhere?"

When Shushu heard the words "cheese melon seeds", his eyes lit up instantly. He struggled to turn around in Kudo Yuki's hands and moved closer to Amuro Toru: "Really? I want the super large can! But Xuexue, please don't poke me anymore. If you poke me too much, my fur will get messy and I'll look even fatter!"

Kudo Yuki smiled and put it back in her pocket, tapping the surface of her pocket lightly with her fingertips. "Okay, I won't poke you. But next time you hide snack bags, I'll replace your melon seeds with plain ones."

Shushu immediately buried his little head in the soft fabric, leaving only the tip of his furry tail sticking out as he gently swayed. "Original sunflower seeds have no soul... I'll definitely hide the packaging bag in my pocket next time!"

The rustling sound in the pocket, mixed with its low muttering, instantly softened the originally tense atmosphere in the car.

Amuro Toru parked the car at the back door of Poirot Café. As soon as his fingertips touched the lock button, he turned sideways to look at Kudo Yuki in the passenger seat. There was a hint of subtle seriousness in his voice: "Xiaoxue, no one will disturb us this time. You better be prepared for what's going on."

The mouse in the windbreaker pocket had already pricked up its round ears, its little paws were digging into the crevices of the fabric, and its round eyes were rolling around, obviously "eavesdropping" secretly.

Kudo Yuki looked up at Amuro Toru, a knowing smile in her eyes, and said jokingly, "Mental preparation? Did Poirot's cheesecake get burnt again, or are you trying to use the excuse of 'trying new drinks' to delay sorting out the rum clues until closing time?"

Amuro Toru ignored her joke and held out his hand to shield her from the evening breeze blowing in from the alley. His fingertips accidentally brushed against her wrist, and he lowered his voice even lower, a coded message that only the two of them could understand: "Neither."

He suddenly leaned over, picked up Kudo Yuki horizontally, turned around and walked towards the secret weapons base.

Shu Shu, who was left outside, was so anxious that he scratched the door with his chubby little paws, muttering softly: "Why didn't you bring me along! There must be some delicious food hidden! Xiaoxue! Amuro Toru! Open the door!"

But after a slight sound came from inside the door, Shushu was left alone, scratching at the crack of the door. He could only vaguely hear the slight sound of the bed board and the low voice of Amuro.

Inside the door, Amuro Toru gently placed Kudo Yuki on the long sofa covered with light brown cushions, his fingertips resting on the edge of the sofa, looking at her with a serious look: "Xiaoxue, when are you going to tell me the secret you told me before?"

Kudo Yuki paused for a moment, lowering her eyes to look at her folded hands. After a moment, she looked up, her eyes showing a calmness yet a hint of consideration. "You mean... something related to rum?"

Seeing Toru Amuro nod, she continued, "It's not that I'm hiding this from you on purpose, it's just that some answers must be found by the person who should reveal them first."

Amuro Toru raised his eyebrows slightly and sat down beside her. His tone was a little helpless, but also full of trust: "The one who should reveal it? It should be Conan, right?

That guy has been keeping an eye on Rum for a while now. From Wakasa Rumi's identity to the details of Haneda Hiroshi's case, the way he pieced together the clues is exactly the same as when he caught the Black Organization's undercover agent.

He reached out and gently covered the back of her hand, the warmth of his palm carrying a soothing meaning: "Since you already knew it in your heart, why don't you just say it?

With the clues we have now—Rum hiding in the old shop in Beika Town, and Cohen being sent to "observe" Wakasa-sensei's movements—plus the information you have, confirming Rum's identity earlier can help us avoid being passive.

Precisely because we need to completely tear off his disguise, we can't be impatient." Kudo Yuki took his hand in hers, her fingertips gently stroking his palm, as if to comfort, but also as if to emphasize.

Conan's pursuit of Rum is driven by his obsession with the Haneda Hiroshi case, and even more so by the pasts of Ai, Akai Shuichi, and the others. Only by letting him follow the clues and uncover the truth can Rum's flaws be fully exposed.

Rum is best at hiding his true identity by using his 'rightful' identity. It's far better to let him reveal his true identity than for others to point it out."

She didn't mention the name "Wakita Kanenori," but simply looked into Amuro Toru's eyes and said, "Wait a little longer. When that guy finds us with evidence, you'll understand without me having to tell you why we can't break this window paper now."

Amuro Toru looked at the calmness in her eyes and knew that she would never act on impulse on crucial matters.

He squeezed her hand gently, his tone relaxed a little, with a hint of teasing: "Okay, I'll listen to you. But if Conan finds me first and takes credit for it before you, don't be jealous."

Kudo Yuki couldn't help but laugh, reaching out and patting his arm. "That one outside the door is still making a fuss. Don't forget to leave it a cheese biscuit—just as compensation for not hearing the 'secret'."

The rat outside the door seemed to have heard the sound of "Cheese Crackers" and immediately stopped prying at the door. He just muttered quietly: "You still have a conscience... But next time you have a clue, you must bring me along!"

Toru Amuro followed her gaze towards the door, smiled helplessly, and stood up to open it.

Shushu slipped in through the crack in the door. His little fat paws immediately hugged his trouser legs, and he looked up with wide eyes. "What are you guys secretly chatting about? Is it about the clues about that bad guy Rum? I want to help too!"

Kudo Yuki stood up from the sofa, bent down, scooped Shushu into her arms, and scratched its chin with her fingertips: "Of course you have a mission. Next time we go to that 'rule shop', help me keep an eye on it, and don't try to steal food."

Shushu immediately puffed out his chest and raised his furry tail high. "Leave it to me! But if you find any clues, I'll give you two cans of pine nuts as a reward!"

"Okay, I'll give you two cans as a reward." Amuro Toru came over, took out a small bag of pine nuts from his pocket, and handed it to Shu Shu's mouth: "I'll give you something sweet first."

The mouse's eyes lit up instantly, and its little paws grabbed the pine nut bag, and it gnawed open the packaging with its teeth. Its cheeks immediately puffed up into little balls of fluff.

Kudo Yuki looked at its greedy appearance, feeling helpless and amused: "I only knew how to bribe you with food. Be careful that one day Rum's people will lure you away with snacks and you will even forget that you are here to investigate."

Shushu held a pine nut in his mouth and mumbled incoherently, "No way! I have principles! Apart from the food given by Xiaoxue and Amuro Toru, I will only smell and not touch anything given by others, even if it's cheesecake!"

As he said this, he patted his round belly, as if to prove his "firm stance".

Amuro Toru leaned against the sofa, a smile in his eyes: "Our rat is more reliable than some people. At least he won't be fooled by superficial efforts."

His words hinted at something, but his gaze fell gently on Kudo Yuki, "But we also have to be on guard against Rum using 'special methods'."

After chewing the pine nuts in his mouth, Shushu crumpled the empty wrapping paper into a small ball and threw it on the table. He patted his chubby paw and said, "Don't worry, Amuro Toru! I have a very good nose!"

Kudo Yuki tapped Shushu's fluffy head with her fingertips, a smile in her eyes: "Your nose is only sensitive to the smell of snacks and Rum's men, right?"

Shushu patted his nose with his chubby little paws: "Leave it to me! I guarantee I'll sniff out the bad guys with one hit, and I won't let them get away!"

Kudo Yuki's tense shoulders gradually relaxed. She turned sideways, and her nose rubbed against his warm palm, bringing a reassuring warmth. After a moment, her breathing became steady and she fell into sleep.

Toru Amuro looked at her sleeping face quietly, then glanced down at the mouse in the middle who was sleeping soundly with his little tail still wagging gently, and the smile in his eyes became even more intense.

After confirming that the two people and the mouse were asleep, he slowly closed his eyes and his breathing gradually became synchronized with the people around him.

To be continued...