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

Cohen's shoulders tensed, and his eyes narrowed under the brim of his hat. He was clearly stung by the keywords "Haneda Koji case" and "Rum," but he still gritted his teeth, his throat gurgling with suppressed breaths, refusing to utter a single word.

He knew better than anyone that he was someone Rum had personally promoted and the organization's most loyal gunman. If he gave in, not only would he be doomed, but it would also completely disrupt Gin's plans—even though he didn't know that Gin had already taken a stand against him.

Seeing this, Date Wataru exchanged a glance with Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji, and the three of them already understood.

Cohen's stubbornness was expected; his obsession with the organization was deeply ingrained and would not easily crumble until the very last moment.

Matsuda Jinhei straightened up, his nonchalant expression vanishing, his tone turning icy: "You think you can get away with nothing by not speaking? Gin has already cleaned up all of Rum's spies. Your existence is no longer of any value to Rum; you've become a burden he's eager to get rid of."

"Even Gin is being monitored and listened to by Karasuma Renya, let alone you, his former subordinate. Gin deliberately let us take you away so that he could use the police to protect you and prevent Rum from silencing you. Don't you understand his intentions?"

Kenji Hagiwara said with pity, "It's not that you can't see it, it's that you're afraid to face it. The faith you've upheld for half your life is actually just a complete and utter deception."

The interrogation room fell into dead silence.

Cohen's breathing grew heavier, his fists clenched and trembled slightly. His stubbornness and the impact of reality were constantly tearing at him, but he still couldn't break through that psychological barrier.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes beneath the brim of his hat cold and hard as iron, uttering only two words: "...I won't say."

Ida Kou sighed softly and straightened up: "We have plenty of time for you to figure things out. Rum won't last much longer, the organization's end is just around the corner. Take your time to think it over, we're always ready for you to speak."

He gave Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji a wink, and the three of them turned and walked out of the interrogation room.

The door closed slowly, locking Cohen into silence.

Kuroda Hyōe was already waiting outside the door. Seeing the three of them come out, he asked in a deep voice, "How is the situation?"

Date Wataru shook his head: "He still refuses to talk about it, but his emotions are fluctuating. When Rum and Haneda Koji's case are mentioned, he is clearly wavering, but he is still putting on a brave face."

Matsuda Jinpei smirked, “He’s very stubborn, but it doesn’t matter. We didn’t expect him to talk right away anyway. His current state is enough for us.”

Kenji Hagiwara added with a smile, "Gin's scheme, Rum's desperate situation, and Renya Karasuma's suspicions—it's only a matter of time before they overwhelm him."

Kuroda Hyōe nodded, his gaze drifting towards the interrogation room: "Keep an eye on him, but don't push him too hard. The real game is no longer with him."

He took out his phone and quickly sent a message to Amuro Tooru, just a few words:

Cohen refused to provide the information, became emotionally unstable, and proceeded with the planned control measures.

Meanwhile, at the Kudo residence, Amuro Tooru looked at the message on his phone screen with a smile on his lips, then looked up at Kudo Yuki beside him, silently conveying everything.

Kudo Yuki looked down at the little mouse's head on her shoulder, her eyes calm and unwavering: "As expected."

The little mouse rubbed against her palm and said softly, "Cohen is just stubborn. He won't turn back until he hits a brick wall. Once Rum completely falls, he'll naturally panic."

Amuro Tooru gently grasped Kudo Yuki's hand, their fingertips touching, a tacit understanding flowing between them.

Conan looked up at Kudo Yuki, his eyes sparkling, and said in a slightly coquettish yet earnest tone, "Sister~ can you take me to the Metropolitan Police Department? I still have some questions and want to ask Korn about it myself. Maybe we can find some new clues!"

He tugged at Kudo Yuki's clothes with his little hand, looking eager to learn, but his eyes held a keen interest in Rum's movements.

Kudo Yuki glanced down at her expectant younger brother, lightly tapped his forehead with her fingertip, and said with a mix of helplessness and indulgence, "You're the most impatient one."

The little mouse peeked its head out from her shoulder and chimed in, "Go quickly, go quickly!"

Amuro Tooru chuckled softly, "Go if you want. The Metropolitan Police Department is safe now, with Date Wataru and the others watching over it, nothing will happen."

Kudo Yuki reached out and ruffled Conan's hair, her gaze sweeping over Sawada Hiroki's laptop in the living room—an encrypted USB drive was plugged into the computer port, and the screen displayed all of Rum's incriminating files: details of the Haneda Koji case, assassination records, APTX4869 human experiment data, ES Dark Amber project blueprints and target list, private resources and tampered communications, all clearly presented.

Yusaku Kudo and Hiroki Sawada sat upright, analyzing the situation, their fingertips marking clues on the keyboard. Subaru Okiya leaned against the window, sipping tea, his eyes fixed on the screen, noting down all of Rum's incriminating evidence and ambitions.

Yusaku Kudo and Hiroki Sawada sat upright to one side, intently analyzing the situation.

Subaru Okiya leaned against the window, leisurely sipping his black tea.

"Let's go." Kudo Yuki took Conan's hand, and with the slightest pressure, she and Amuro Tooru achieved a spiritual connection.

Mouse stretched out its chubby little paws and scratched at the system panel, chattering: "Xuexue, Rum must be getting restless. That old guy Karasuma is still holding back the orders. Gin must be itching to do something right now!"

Amuro Tooru gently squeezed her wrist in response.

Kudo Yuki led Conan out of the Kudo family home, the afternoon sun shining on them, warm and just right.

Conan skipped and hopped along, seemingly a child, but his mind was racing, trying to piece together the connections between Korn, Rum, and the Haneda Koji case. His fingertips unconsciously tightened around Kudo Yuki's hand.

“Sister,” he lowered his voice, leaning close to Kudo Yuki’s ear, “Cohen is clearly loyal to the organization, but Gin is on the opposite side, and Karasuma Renya is suspicious of Rum. In this game, everyone is a pawn, isn’t they?”

Kudo Yuki looked down at him and replied softly, "Not just a pawn, but a disposable piece that can be abandoned at any time. Cohen still refuses to believe it, but Rum's ambition and Karasuma Renya's cold-bloodedness will eventually shatter the faith he has guarded for half his life."

The little mouse dangled its short legs on the shoulder: "And another thing! Karasuma Renya transferred Vodka to the lab as a test subject, clearly trying to manipulate Gin. Gin made a deal with Yuki to save Vodka, and Rum will be caught in this mess sooner or later!"

Although Amuro Tooru was not with them, he could hear everything. He sat in the living room, lightly tapping his fingertips on the table, and exchanged a glance with Kudo Yusaku.

Hiroki Sawada's fingers flew across the keyboard, and the screen displayed the movements of the distillery staff, each line pointing to Rum's increasingly precarious situation.

Outside the Metropolitan Police Department's interrogation room, Kuroda Hyoue remained standing guard. When he saw Kudo Yuki leading Conan in, his expression softened slightly: "Kudo, you've come."

Conan tilted his head, feigning ignorance, but his eyes were clear and lucid.

Date Wataru, Matsuda Jinpei, and Hagiwara Kenji walked from the end of the corridor. The three of them still carried the aura of having just completed a mission. They nodded slightly to Kudo Yuki and stood guard on both sides.

"Cohen is still the same as always?" Kudo Yuki said calmly, her gaze fixed on the closed interrogation room door.

Matsuda Jinpei curled the corners of his lips: "I'm just holding on, but my breathing and heartbeat are all messed up, and my heart is pounding."

Kenji Hagiwara added, "We didn't put any more pressure on him, giving him enough time to work things out on his own. Now is the perfect time to go in."

Kudo Yuki put on a butterfly mask that partially covered her face, and led Conan through the door.

The interrogation room remained heavy. Cohen sat in a chair, his hat brim pulled down even lower, exuding a cold and aloof aura. He only slightly moved his fingers when he heard any noise, without looking up.

Conan broke free from Kudo Yuki's hand, took small steps to the interrogation table, looked up at Cohen with an innocent and curious expression.

Kudo Yuki didn't approach, but stood in the shadows not far from the door. Her butterfly mask concealed most of her expression, revealing only her chin and lips. She didn't speak, but quietly watched the gunman who remained as stubborn as iron.

The air was so still that only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Cohen could have continued to ignore it, but the gaze that fell on him was all too familiar.

It wasn't police interrogation or FBI scrutiny, but a cold, yet oppressive feeling he'd only ever experienced under orders from the highest levels.

His fingers tightened.

This aura... he could never be mistaken.

Within the organization, there was only one person who could inspire instinctive awe and obedience in him.

That person only obeys Karasuma Renya.

That person's code name is "Fine Wine".

Cohen slowly, very slowly, raised his head.

His gaze, hidden beneath the brim of his hat, was fixed on the butterfly mask that partially obscured Kudo Yuki's face.

The pupils suddenly contracted.

is her.

It's really her.

Cohen's muscles tensed up in an instant, then froze completely in the next second.

His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and for the first time, the stubbornness that had held him firmly in his grip showed signs of cracking.

He thought he had been abandoned by the police, abandoned by Rum, and used by Gin.

But he never imagined he would find fine wine here.

Cohen's lips moved, finally breaking the deathly silence: "...Fine wine?"

Two words, as light as a sigh, yet as heavy as a thunderclap in the interrogation room.

A quick glance of understanding flashed across Conan's eyes, but he maintained his childlike innocence, quietly taking a half-step back and handing the stage to Kudo Yuki.

Kudo Yuki then slowly stepped forward, her voice calm and composed, carrying an expression only found on the highest levels of the organization: "You still recognize this mask."

Cohen's breathing became erratic, his knuckles loosened slightly, then he clenched them tightly again.

He could remain silent to the police, be blindly loyal to Rum, and disbelieve Gin's reversal.

But he could not ignore the fine wine.

That was someone personally given a code name and directly dispatched by Karasuma Renya, whose status was above his, even outside of Rum's overt power.

"Why are you here..." His voice was strained and confused, "Why are the police with you?"

"The police arrested you not to force you to betray the organization," Kudo Yuki said calmly, her gaze piercing through the mask and landing directly in his eyes. "It's to protect you."

Cohen was taken aback.

"Rum sent you to assassinate Rumi Wakasa to your death. If you succeeded, you would be silenced; if you failed, you would take the blame."

Her tone was calm, but every word was piercing: "Gin changed the assassination to observation. It wasn't disobeying you; it was leaving you a way out at the last moment."

Cohen suddenly looked up.

That matter should not be known to a third person besides him and Gin.

"You think the old man really trusts Rum?" Kudo Yuki's voice was slightly cold. "He had Gin monitor Rum and even planted a listening device in Gin's communicator. Even Gin is being monitored, so who do you think you are?"

"Vodka was transferred to the lab, not to become stronger, but to be used as a test subject. Gin was even deprived of the right to visit him."

Looking at Cohen's violently fluctuating eyes, she slowly said, "The organization you serve is no longer what you think it is. Rum betrayed us, the old man is cold-blooded, everyone is a pawn."

Cohen's shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

His lifelong faith was shattered at this moment by the very person who should never have questioned him.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was so hoarse it was almost incoherent: "Then...why did you save me?"

“I’m not saving you,” Kudo Yuki said indifferently. “I’m carrying out the old man’s instructions—to clean up Rum’s undercover agents, preserve the people we can use, and prevent the overall situation from going awry.”

She took a half step forward, lowering her voice even further, carrying a commanding tone only those within the organization would understand: "I won't force you to talk to the police. But remember this—from now on, you'll only listen to me. Tell me everything you know about Rum, word for word."

Cohen stared at the butterfly mask that partially obscured his face, and at those terrifyingly calm eyes.

Long-held stubbornness, persistence, and loyalty crumbled in the face of the words "fine wine."

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the coldness in them had faded, leaving only a clear mind. He slowly spoke: "...I'll tell you everything I know."

Outside the door, Date Wataru, Matsuda Jinpei, and Hagiwara Kenji exchanged glances, each seeing an unexpected yet understandable shock in the other's eyes.

Kuroda Hyōe looked at the closed door and nodded slightly.

The game has finally reached its most crucial step.

Inside the Kudo family home, Amuro Tooru, watching from behind a screen, smiled slightly.

The mouse clung to Kudo Yuki's shoulder, chattering excitedly: "Yuki is so cool! She won Cohen over with just one sentence~ Rum is doomed!"

Amuro Tooru responded softly, "Yes, the time to close the net isn't far off."

Subaru Okiya held his black tea, his gaze fixed on the live feed, and tapped his fingertips lightly.

In the interrogation room of the Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Division, Cohen slowly loosened his fists at his sides, his taut shoulders completely relaxed, and his cold and aloof demeanor vanished, leaving only emptiness and submission after being crushed by the truth. His gaze was fixed on Kudo Yuki's butterfly mask, and he revealed the secret hidden in his heart, word by word.

He suppressed the fear in his heart.

"The case of Koji Haneda was committed by him personally. Asaka didn't die. He was afraid that Asaka would reveal the truth, so he sent me to silence her. Gin changed the assassination to observation. At the time, I thought Gin was being soft-hearted, but now I know... it was you who had set up the whole thing all along."

Conan stood to the side, his little hands clenching tightly. A sharp light flashed in his seemingly innocent eyes as he etched every word Cohen said into his heart. The conspiracy of the ES Dark Amber Project, Rum's ambition to tamper with the blueprints, and the solid evidence in the Haneda Koji case—all the clues finally came together at this moment.

Kudo Yuki stood still, her eyes beneath the mask calm and unwavering. She simply spoke: "What other spies has Rum planted in the organization? Explain clearly the channels through which he colludes with the outside world, and the locations where he hides evidence."

To be continued...