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

The mouse patted its chest: "That scared me to death! This guy's murderous aura was even stronger than Rum's!"

Amuro Tooru stepped forward, put his arm around Kudo Yuki's waist, and stroked her wrist with his fingertips: "Are you alright? That was too risky."

“He doesn’t dare to fire.” Kudo Yuki removed her butterfly mask, her eyes still sharp. “Vodka is his only bottom line. As long as you hold that line, he will have no choice but to compromise.”

She glanced in the direction Gin had left and sneered, "I bet he's wanted to rebel against the old man for a long time, he just needed an opportunity. Our deal gave him just that reason."

Amuro Tooru looked at the slyness in her eyes and shook his head helplessly: "What if he really doesn't care about vodka..."

“No, not at all.” Kudo Yuki interrupted him. “Gin may seem cold-blooded, but he considers Vodka his only companion. He can kill without hesitation for the organization, but he would never sacrifice his own people. This is one of his few 'human' traits, and it’s what we can use.”

The little mouse turned its head to the northwest: "Shuichi Akai has moved again! He chased after Gin in the direction he left, and now he's stopped halfway up the mountain!"

Amuro Tooru's eyes darkened. He took out a miniature terminal, and sure enough, the red dot on the screen was moving: "He probably wants to confirm Gin's movements, or... wants to extract more information from Gin."

Kudo Yuki snuggled closer to him and laughed, "Let him come along. Now, we should leave. Deliver the compatibility agent to Professor Agasa's house."

Amuro Tooru nodded and put his arm around her waist as they walked deeper into the dense forest.

The mouse perched on Kudo Yuki's shoulder, muttering, "I never want to deal with Gin again!"

Amuro Tooru switched to an encrypted channel: "Kagekawa, has Akemi arrived safely at the safe house?"

"Arrived, no abnormalities along the way." Morofushi Hiromitsu's voice came through the electricity. "Also, Kidd just left his business card and asked for the specific delivery time of the blind spot map. He said Rum seems to have increased the patrol density at headquarters tonight."

“Tell him to wait a little longer. I’ll deliver it to him myself tomorrow morning,” Kudo Yuki said, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Also, have him keep an eye on the layout of the lab’s ventilation ducts. The access control Gin gave us might not cover all areas, so the ventilation ducts could be a backup route.”

"Received, I will pass it on."

The two moved through the dense forest, with Amuro Tooru always keeping Kudo Yuki by his side, avoiding sharp branches and slippery mud.

As they reached the edge of the dense forest, a car was already waiting there. The person in the driver's seat saw them and immediately rolled down the window; it was Matsuda Jinpei.

With an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, he waved with a smile: "Furuya, Yuki, get in the car. Professor Agasa has prepared the equipment and is just waiting for your adaptors."

"Thank you for your hard work, Matsuda." Kudo Yuki bent down and sat in the back seat, Amuro Tooru followed closely behind, and closed the car door behind him.

The car drove away from the edge of the dense forest, the sound of tires rolling over the gravel road swallowed up by the night.

Matsuda Jinpei turned the steering wheel, his nonchalant smile reflected in the rearview mirror: "I saw a black Porsche in the distance just now, guessed it was Gin. Did your deal go smoothly?"

"It went fairly smoothly." Kudo Yuki leaned on Amuro Tooru's shoulder and took out a second test tube of the compatibility agent from the system space. "Gin provided the patrol route and communication frequency, and promised to send the Level 3 access control permissions in ten minutes."

The mouse squatted between the two, its little paws gripping the edge of the car window as it peered out: "That guy's aura is really scary! I wonder what Matsuda Jinpei's reaction would be if he met him."

Matsuda Jinpei raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Date and Hagi have finished the finishing touches at the Josai Brewery."

Amuro Tooru's eyes darkened slightly: "Rum can't find a replacement supplier in the short term, but the core module of 'ES Dark Amber' is nearing completion. We must obtain the complete energy circuit distribution map before he finds a breakthrough."

As the car entered Beika Town, the sky was already beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn.

In Dr. Agasa's residential area, the laboratory lights shone through the windows, casting a warm yellow glow.

Matsuda Jinpei parked the car at the alley entrance and made an "OK" sign: "I'll stay here and keep watch. Call me anytime if anything happens."

The two entered the mansion, where Professor Agasa was already waiting in the entrance hall. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Xue, Furuya, you've finally arrived! Ai has been waiting in the lab for ages."

In the lab, Ai Haibara was typing on the keyboard in front of the computer screen, which was filled with complex molecular structure diagrams. Seeing the two enter, she immediately stood up: "Where's the adaptor? I've already imported the APTX4869 metabolic data into the device."

Kudo Yuki handed her the test tube, her gaze sweeping across the screen: "A new discovery?"

“The activation condition for the reverse binding domain has been found.” Ai Haibara inserted the test tube into the testing instrument, her eyes filled with excitement. “The neurotransmitter stabilizer mentioned in Mom’s notes is actually a derivative of APTX4869 metabolites. As long as the aptamer is bound to this derivative, a double blockade can be formed.”

The instrument emitted a soft "beep" sound, and a set of data appeared on the screen.

Ai Haibara pointed to the diagram and said, "These are the complete reaction parameters. With this, I can mass-produce reverse adaptants, enough to dismantle existing brainwashing modules."

Amuro Tooru stared at the data stream on the screen, his finger swiping across the communicator: "I'll immediately notify Chief Administrator Kuroda and have the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI prepare. Once Kidd gets the energy circuit distribution map, we can formulate a specific raid plan."

The mouse hopped onto the testing instrument, its chubby little paws pointing to a line of small print in the corner of the screen: "It says here 'Refrigerate required'! Xiaoxue, we need to store the compatibility agent quickly, otherwise it will expire!"

Kudo Yuki lightly tapped the mouse's little head with her fingertip, a smile in her eyes, and communicated telepathically: "I know, our little hero reminded you in time."

She turned to Ai Haibara and asked, "Is the refrigeration equipment ready? The activity of the compatibilizer cannot be compromised."

“It’s all ready.” Ai Haibara took out the test tubes after testing and walked to the low-temperature storage cabinet next to her. “The batch production of the compatibility agent will take twelve hours. During this time, I will keep an eye on the equipment parameters, and there will be no problems.”

The door of the low-temperature storage cabinet closed slowly, making a slight sealing sound.

Amuro Tooru's gaze fell upon the instruments in the laboratory. "Once the mass production is complete, it will need to be transported to various infiltration sites in batches. Shuichi Akai will be in charge of receiving it at the FBI, Tsutomu Akai will be in charge of the MI6 contact, and I have already encrypted the Metropolitan Police Department's storage facility in advance. Only Chief Administrator Kuroda and we can unlock it."

Ai Haibara nodded and pulled up another set of data: "The adaptor's shelf life is seventy-two hours. I will mark the emergency activation code on the packaging. 'ES Dark Amber's' brainwashing module has a frequency locking function. The adaptor must be injected into the ventilation system thirty minutes before activation to maximize the blocking effect."

“Kid will handle this.” Kudo Yuki’s gaze shifted from the tablet screen to the blood test tube labeled “Akai Mary” on the lab bench, and she lightly tapped the tube wall with her fingertip.

"Xiao Ai, what derivative of APTX4869 is the transparent, tiny flocculent substance suspended in Aunt Mary's blood sample?"

She leaned forward slightly, her gaze carefully observing through the test tube wall, her eyes filled with inquiry: "Aunt Mary shrank after taking it. Could it be that the drug produces a special metabolic pathway in an adult's body?"

The mouse followed her gaze and leaned closer, its chubby little paws dangling from the edge of the test tube: "It looks like little bubbles to me! Could it be that the drug components are reacting with some substance in the blood?"

Amuro Tooru leaned closer to examine it, his fingertips stroking his chin: "If it's a special derivative, it might be related to Ms. Mary's bodily functions. Could it affect the effectiveness of the adaptor?"

Ai Haibara followed Yuki Kudo's fingertip to the blood test tube and pulled up a more precise microscopic analysis chart: "This flocculent substance is indeed a special metabolite of APTX4869, and its metabolic pathway is completely different from that of ordinary users."

Her gaze turned serious. "The cellular activity in adults differs from that in adolescents. Ms. Mary's body seems to be 'stress-adapting' to the medication."

"This derivative can both prevent cells from completely dying and continuously erode the immune system, which is why she became weaker and had frequent coughs and fevers after shrinking."

"Will it affect the effectiveness of the reverse adaptor?" Amuro Tooru asked, his fingertips unconsciously tightening around Kudo Yuki's waist.

The mouse suddenly jumped to the center of the lab table, its round body standing upright. Its two chubby little paws anxiously patted the test tube wall, and its little head kept shaking from side to side. The tip of its nose twitched slightly from its rapid breathing. The mouse said, "Does that mean that the adaptor for Akai Mary needs to be prepared separately?"

Kudo Yuki responded telepathically: "It should be. Ai means that this derivative will interfere with the formation of the double block."

Ai Haibara nodded: "Ordinary compatibility agents are ineffective against her, and may even worsen the corrosion. I need to readjust the formula based on the molecular structure of this derivative, which will take about three hours."

She turned to look at the doorway, where Conan was walking in carrying a thick medical dictionary. "Conan was just helping me organize relevant literature. With his help, the efficiency can be improved even more."

Conan walked to the lab bench, his gaze falling on the test tubes, and adjusted his glasses: "I just looked it up. This kind of stress-induced adaptation phenomenon is called 'compensatory metabolism' in biology, and it usually occurs when the body has a strong rejection reaction to a highly toxic substance. Aunt Mary's situation is a bit like... her body is having a tug-of-war with the drug."

The mouse jumped off the testing device and perched on Conan's shoulder: "Will Akai Mary be in danger? I still vividly remember the scene of her coughing!"

Kudo Yuki reassured her telepathically, "Don't worry, Ai-chan will definitely think of a way."

Amuro Tooru's heart softened upon hearing this, and he lowered his head to place a light kiss on her forehead.

“There won’t be any problem adjusting the adaptor, but we need Ms. Mary’s real-time physiological data,” Ai Haibara added. “I’ve already had Kagekawa collect it simultaneously, and it should be sent over soon.”

Amuro Tooru's micro-terminal vibrated, and a message from Morofushi Kagemitsu arrived:

Ms. Mary's latest physiological data has been sent. —Kagekawa Raku

Yes. As an undercover police officer, Amuro Tooru possesses both investigative acumen and medical knowledge. Considering the current plot logic, he would naturally make this reasonable suggestion:

Amuro Tooru's gaze swept over the two test tubes on the lab bench, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. He looked at Conan and said, "Conan, could you take a blood sample from me?" He paused, then added, "You and Ms. Mary are both users of APTX4869, but your states after shrinking are different—your body is relatively stable, while Ms. Mary has developed special metabolic byproducts."

He looked at Ai Haibara and analyzed logically: "By comparing the differences in the metabolic pathways of the two samples, we may be able to find a neutralization solution for the derivative more quickly, which will not only ensure the effectiveness of Ms. Mary's adaptor, but also improve the blocking mechanism of the 'ES Dark Amber' brainwashing module."

"Yeah, yeah! Conan's blood might be able to help Aunt Mary!" The mouse jumped onto Amuro Tooru's shoulder and patted his arm with its chubby little paws.

A gentle smile appeared in Amuro Tooru's eyes.

Conan paused for a moment, then nodded: "No problem! I also wanted to know why my shrunken state is different from Aunt Mary's."

He looked at Kudo Yuki, "Sister, I remember during the last physical exam, Professor Agasa had blood collection equipment, right?"

Kudo Yuki smiled and nodded: "I'll go get it, and I'll also check on Ai's progress in adjusting the formula."

She rose and walked towards the storage room, Amuro Tooru's gaze following her retreating figure the entire time, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the communicator: [If we can find a breakthrough through blood comparison, we can not only solve Ms. Mary's compatibility problem, but perhaps also uncover the potential connection between APTX4869 and the "ES Dark Amber" project.]

Kudo Yuki quickly retrieved sterile blood collection needles and test tubes from the storage room.

Dr. Agasa prepared a portable centrifuge.

Ai Haibara then retrieved Conan's previous blood test data, ready to compare and analyze it at any time.

"Bear with it for a moment." Amuro Tooru took the lancet and firmly held Conan's wrist with his fingertips.

The moment the needle pierced his skin, Conan frowned but did not flinch.

Having gone through life and death with Kudo Yuki and Amuro Tooru over the years, this pain is nothing to me anymore.

The mouse squatted on the edge of the lab table, its chubby little paws covering its eyes, but it peeked through its fingers: "Conan is so brave! I was so scared when I had my blood drawn last time!"

"It was clearly you who moved around recklessly, and Professor Agasa complained that you're 'harder to catch than a lab rat.'" Kudo Yuki's telepathic message was tinged with amusement.

Amuro Tooru chuckled softly upon hearing this, and handed the collected blood sample to Haibara Ai with his fingertips.

Ai Haibara placed Conan's blood sample next to Mary Akai's and inserted them into the centrifuge, then turned it on.

Amidst the high-speed humming sound, she pulled up the preliminary test data for two samples. The two fluctuating curves on the screen were clearly distinct: "In Conan's blood, the metabolites of APTX4869 have become stable, forming a structure similar to a 'dormant body'; but in Ms. Mary's sample, the metabolites are always active and are constantly reacting with immune cells, which is the source of those flocculent substances."

To be continued...