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

"I once worked with Yusaku Kudo to investigate the Karasuma Group, and this is the initial draft left from that time." Toichi Kuroba raised his hand to adjust the collar of his trench coat, his fingertips brushing against the communicator inside the coat. The communicator was seamlessly integrated with the collar, and if he hadn't touched it, there would have been no way to spot the flaw.

"Later, Kudo Yuki sent me a text message saying that he needed someone to keep an eye on Rum for a while, and I agreed since I was on my way. I didn't expect that this surveillance would bring me such a pleasant surprise - after three months, I finally managed to replicate the complete circuit diagram from Karasuma Renya's private collection using magician's techniques."

Kuroba Touichi looked at Morofushi Kagemitsu, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, "Mr. Kagekawa's cooperation in the laboratory helped me avoid many security traps."

Zhu Fujing's eyes flickered slightly: "You're the one who secretly modified the security system parameters?"

He had noticed that some of the laboratory's surveillance cameras had been having occasional "blind spots" lately, which turned out to be due to Toichi Kuroba's secret assistance.

Kuroba Toichi's fingertips traced the edge of the blueprint, his pupils reflecting the circuit patterns under the moonlight: "This blueprint contains the fatal weakness of ES Dark Amber's energy—as long as a reverse current is injected into the core circuit, the entire brainwashing system will overload and collapse, without triggering the headquarters' self-destruct program."

Kaito Kuroba's knuckles, which were gripping the blueprint, turned slightly white. His earlier surprise had turned into seriousness: "So my cousin told me to only do surveying when I infiltrated, she was waiting for this blueprint?"

“She always plans carefully before she acts.” Kuroba Touichi chuckled and patted his son’s shoulder. “You just need to hand over the circuit diagram as planned, and I will clear the last obstacle for you in terms of security in the core test area.”

The communicator in the trench coat pocket suddenly vibrated, and a line of encrypted information popped up on the screen, signed "S?".

When Morofushi Kagemitsu saw this name, he knew it was a note from Kudo Yukiho's message.

Kuroba Toichi quickly decoded the information, a knowing smile playing on his lips: "It seems your cousin has already started planning. She asked me to tell you that Rum is going to the lab tonight to check the vodka experimental data. When you infiltrate, avoid the patrols between 2 and 3 a.m.

"Rum went in person?" Morofushi Kagemitsu frowned slightly. "He's rarely been to the core testing area lately. Could it be that he's noticed something?"

“It’s Karasuma Renya’s idea.” Kuroba Toichi put the communicator back in his pocket and lowered his voice. “The old fox has begun to suspect that Rum tampered with the experimental parameters. Having him personally verify them is just a test. Gin will cooperate with the charade. You just need to create equipment malfunctions as planned.”

Kaito Kuroba put away the blueprints, hiding them in the lining of his top hat: "Dad, what are you planning to do next? Stay with Karasuma Group?"

“I still have unfinished business.” Kuroba Toichi’s gaze fell on the lights of the Karasuma Group headquarters in the distance, a complex light flashing in his eyes. “Kudo Yusaku still needs me to pass on messages, and… I have to keep an eye on Vermouth. She’s been very active in the lab lately, seemingly looking for experimental records related to APTX4869.”

Morofushi Kagemitsu's heart skipped a beat: "APTX4869? Could Rum's left eye recovery plan be related to this drug?"

“Most likely.” Kuroba Tou nodded. “Karasuma Renya keeps Rum around only to use him to improve ES Dark Amber. Once Rum loses his usefulness, this drug will be his death warrant.”

He glanced at his watch. "Time is running out. Kaito, you should leave first. Mr. Kagekawa, could you please create some chaos in the lab later to cover his escape?"

Zhu Fujingguang nodded: "Don't worry."

Kaito Kuroba put his wig back on, nodded slightly to the two of them, and turned to disappear into the shadows of the emergency exit.

Morofushi Kagemitsu watched his figure disappear before turning to Kuroba Toichi: "You just said that Vermouth was looking for records of APTX4869?"

“That’s right.” Black Feather Thief twirled his top hat with one finger. “She has a partnership with the fine wine, perhaps to destroy all traces of this drug. After all, this stuff is the source of her nightmares.”

Meanwhile, in the study on the second floor of Poirot Cafe, Kudo Yuki was chuckling as she looked at the surveillance footage on her computer screen.

In the scene, Rum's black sedan is driving into the underground parking garage of Karasuma Group's headquarters, while Subaru Okiya appears on the top floor of an office building opposite the headquarters, his binoculars pointed towards the laboratory.

“Mouse, look, Shuichi Akai is even more anxious than we are,” Yuki Kudo said telepathically.

The little mouse in the pocket poked its head out, its tiny paws scratching at the edge of the screen: "He's definitely worried about vodka! But Gin is kind enough to actually send the message and even cooperate with Karasuma Renya in this charade."

Amuro Tooru walked in carrying freshly brewed black tea, placed the cup next to Kudo Yuki, and sat down naturally beside her: "Banning Gin from visiting Vodka has only given Vermouth and you an opportunity. The video you sent to Gin has been watched by him at least ten times."

Kudo Yuki took a sip of black tea, a hint of warmth flashing in her eyes: "The neural transmission chip in Vodka's body has stabilized. Morofushi Hiromitsu said that the recent experimental data is fine. As long as we get the core circuit diagram, we can remove the chip without harming him."

She swiped her fingers across the keyboard, bringing up an encrypted file. "Kaito Kuroba should have already obtained the circuit diagram."

"Mr. Toichi is still alive." A glint flashed in Amuro Tooru's eyes. "With him assisting us from within headquarters, our chances of winning have increased even more."

The mouse curled up on Kudo Yuki's lap: "Yuki, have you confirmed the procedures for tomorrow's hearing? Are you really sure you know the location of Kishitani Hidehiko's USB drive?"

Kudo Yuki chuckled: "After Miyano Akemi cracked his email, I discovered that he habitually kept important items in a special compartment in his inner pocket. During the interview, I would casually mention the details of the patent being misappropriated, and the place he subconsciously protected was where the USB drive was."

She tapped the screen lightly with her fingertip. "Moreover, the smoke bombs in the fire escape have been tested and are ready. As soon as Rum's men make a move, we can immediately evacuate Kishitani Hidehiko."

Amuro Tooru grasped her hand, feeling the warmth of her touch on his fingertips: "I've already arranged the surveillance around the venue for tomorrow. Date Wataru and the others will be there to meet us from the shadows."

He added, "Wakasa Rumi will also be there. She promised to keep an eye on Rum's men for us. After all, she also wants to settle her score with Rum herself."

Kudo Yuki looked up at him, her eyes full of trust: "I know you will arrange everything."

She turned her head to look out the window, where Tokyo's lights shone brightly in the night. "We just need to go with the flow—once ES Dark Amber collapses and the organization's human trafficking dens are completely cut off, they will really have nowhere to retreat."

The mouse in the pocket suddenly sat up, its little ears twitching: "News! Kaito Kuroba sent a message saying he has safely evacuated and obtained the circuit diagram! He also said that Kagemitsu Morofushi has dealt with that intern in the technical department without leaving any trace!"

Kudo Yuki and Amuro Tooru exchanged a glance, a smile flashing in their eyes.

Amuro Tooru raised his hand and ruffled Kudo Yuki's hair: "It seems that everything is moving in a positive direction."

Kudo Yuki nodded and looked back at the computer screen.

On the screen, Subaru Okiya's figure remained on the top floor of the office building, while in the direction of the laboratory, a light suddenly turned on and then quickly went out—that was a signal from Kagemitsu Morofushi, indicating that everything was going smoothly.

"Tomorrow will be the day to close the net." Kudo Yuki's voice was soft but firm. "Rum, Karasuma Renya, and the entire organization, it's time for them to pay the price for what they've done."

Amuro Tooru gripped her hand tightly, a cold glint in his eyes: "I will stay by your side until the very end."

Outside the core testing area on the third basement floor of the Karasuma Group headquarters, emergency lights in the corridor reflected fleeting figures on the ground.

Vermouth disguised herself as a young researcher in a white lab coat, the name "Rie Oshima" on her name tag clashing with the aloofness in her eyes.

This was her temporary assignment from the technical department, enough to fool routine checks.

Vermouth, clutching a miniature camera disguised as a pen, walked through two iris scanning doors.

The laboratory door at the end of the corridor was ajar, and Rum's voice could be heard coming from inside, mixed with the sound of keyboard typing.

Vermouth slowed her pace, her hair falling to obscure the corner of her eye as she adjusted the cuffs of her white coat and wedged the pen-shaped camera into the gap between the lintel and the door frame.

That area happened to be a blind spot for surveillance cameras; the metal casing blended seamlessly with the cool color of the wall, making it completely undetectable.

A faint red light flashed briefly as the camera was activated.

Vermouth withdrew her hand, casually pushed open the door, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Lord Rum, the technical department has delivered the latest neural conduction chip calibration data as requested by you."

Rum sat at the lab bench, green code scrolling across the screen. He didn't turn around, but simply raised his right hand: "Put it on the table and get out."

Vermouth responded softly, her fingertips pausing slightly as she put down the data disk. She had already synchronized the camera signal to the encrypted channel reserved by Kudo Yuki, while simultaneously creating a dedicated link to "Fine Wine." The entire operation was carried out discreetly.

Meanwhile, in a private study on the top floor of the Karasuma Group building, the huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the lights of the capital city.

Karasuma Renya sat on the sofa, his fingertips stroking an antique pocket watch. The holographic screen in front of him was playing live footage of the laboratory, images transmitted from the cameras placed by Vermouth.

On the screen, Rum was frowning at the experimental data on vodka, his left hand unconsciously tapping the table, a greedy glint in his eyes.

"Hmph, in the end, they couldn't resist trying to get their hands on the core technology." Karasuma Renya's pocket watch metal chain reflected a cold light under the lamp. "Thinking that by repairing the left eye with APTX4869, they can tamper with the ES Dark Amber Project? How naive."

He raised his hand and pressed the communicator on the table, and Gin's image immediately appeared on another secondary screen.

"What anomalies have been detected?" Karasuma Renya's gaze did not leave the main screen. Rum was opening an encrypted folder, which contained a backup of the core parameters of the ES Dark Amber Project.

“Rum just accessed the core test area’s access logs, seemingly checking recent personnel coming and going.” Gin’s voice was completely calm, his black trench coat making his face appear even more stern. “In addition, he contacted Cohen half an hour ago. Although the communication was encrypted, based on signal tracing, it seems more like he was arranging a backup plan for the hearing.”

Karasuma Renya sneered, "Let him do what he wants. The hearing is his last chance, and also my opportunity to clean house. You keep an eye on him, and remember, he's still useful until the ES Dark Amber Project completes its final debugging."

"Understood." Gin nodded, and before the screen went out, a faint sneer flashed in his eyes—Karasuma Renya thought everyone was his pawn, but little did he know that the game had already been secretly manipulated beyond recognition by Kudo Yuki and him.

He connected to his encrypted channel, swiped his finger across the phone screen, and pulled up a video of vodka's recent activities sent by Vermouth.

In the video, Vodka lies in the experimental chamber, his face pale but his breathing steady, while Gin's taut jawline softens slightly.

Rum's one eye scanned the area several times, but ultimately found nothing unusual.

"Useless." He muttered under his breath, clearly dissatisfied with the data provided by the technical department.

Rum dialed an encrypted number: "Prepare the ambush for the hearing. Not only do we need to get Kishitani Hidehiko's USB drive, but we also need to ensure that ES Dark Amber's brainwashing program can be successfully launched. That man... I'll handle him."

A muffled response came from the other end of the phone.

Rum hung up the call and turned back to look at the screen.

He was unaware that his every move and every word was being shown to Karasuma Renya through that camera; even less aware that these images were being simultaneously updated on Kudo Yuki's encrypted terminal.

As night deepens, the city's neon lights shimmer on the glass curtain walls, but the study in Poirot Cafe is bathed in a calm, warm light.

Kudo Yuki looked at Rum's image on the computer screen and tapped her knee with her fingertip: "Mouse, look, Rum is still eyeing ES Dark Amber."

The little mouse reached out its chubby paws and clung to the screen: "He definitely wants to change the brainwashing program so he can control it! But Karasuma Renya isn't one to be trifled with either. These two old foxes are scheming against each other, which gives us a perfect opportunity~"

Amuro Tooru sat beside her, toying with a coin in his hand. He looked up at the screen, a cold glint in his eyes: "Rum thought he had the ambush to control the hearing, but little did he know that Karasuma Renya was already watching him from behind, and we had already laid a trap."

He added, "Gin just sent a message saying that Cohen has completely given up on tracking Rumi Wakasa, and Rum has one less card to play."

Kudo Yuki chuckled, her fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard, encrypting the live feed: "Vermouth did a clean job. Now we just have to wait for the hearing to begin and watch Rum walk into the trap step by step."

She turned her head to look at Amuro Tooru, a sly glint in her eyes, "After all, the most dangerous place is often the safest—we just need to wait for the results."

Amuro Tooru grasped her hand, his fingertips stroking the back of her hand: "Rum thought he was in control, but he didn't know that he was being watched by Karasuma Renya and had also stepped into our trap."

On the screen, Rum was frowning at the experimental data, while Subaru Okiya, on the top floor of an office building in the distance, was taking in all of this through a high-powered telescope.

He sent Kudo Yuki a message:

The target is in an abnormal state, suspected of modifying core parameters.

After sending the message, Subaru Okiya turned his gaze back towards the laboratory. This game was finally about to reach its most crucial showdown.

To be continued...