Out-of-control players in the world of Detective Conan

Qi Ming had no idea what the departing people were talking about.

He was busy examining the house's structure and sealing off the entrances and exits of the various secret passages and doors.

"Oh dear, I don't understand, I really don't understand."

"If Conan were here, he would definitely be able to solve this treasure mystery."

"Haibara-san, did you notice anything?"

"not yet."

"Why don't we go ask Brother Qi Ming?"

"...He's even less reliable."

Inside a room, the voices of Ayumi Kenta and Mitsuhiko came from inside. Qi Ming walked over with some curiosity.

A group of children were gathered around a table, looking at the chess pieces they had drawn in their notebooks with a troubled expression.

Even Ai Haibara frowned, staring at her notebook in deep thought.

Qi Ming slowed his pace slightly as he entered the room and suddenly shouted.

"Hey!"

"ah!"

Qi Ming's jumpscar was a success.

Apart from Ai Haibara, all the real children were startled.

"Brother Qi Ming, what are you doing!"

"Hey hey hey."

"dare you laugh!"

Qi Ming shamelessly smirked at the three children.

He then went behind Ai Haibara's chair and, without any hesitation, rested his chin on her head to examine the girl's notebook.

"What are you doing here? Describe the picture?"

"...Looking for treasure, it's quite interesting."

Ai Haibara shifted her head left and right, then sighed and stopped struggling after realizing that Qi Ming's chin seemed to be glued to her head.

They met the castle's young master while they were out exploring the castle.

The young master, probably seeing that the children were lively and liked to ask questions, told them the mystery of the castle's treasure.

The mystery of the castle is none other than the chess piece statues outside the castle.

"So this is the treasure mystery? I'm leaving it to you. You're at least as intelligent as me, I trust you."

"..."

Ai Haibara secretly rolled her eyes at Qi Ming.

Equal intelligence? You and me?

I've never heard of such vulgar insults before!

"No way? You can't solve it?"

Seeing that Ai Haibara did not respond, Qi Ming frowned.

Although I don't like deciphering things, do I really need his help?

"I can solve it, don't mess around."

Ai Haibara gave a sarcastic remark, looking at the chess illustrations in her notebook with a slightly serious expression.

For nothing else.

He just wanted Qi Ming to retract his statement that his intelligence was equal to Qi Ming's.

"Brother Qi Ming feels that the way he's interacting with Haibara is really strange these days."

"Yeah, it feels like the two of them are talking like they're the same age."

"Speaking of which, Haibara-san is surprisingly mature."

Ai Haibara and Qi Ming did not deliberately lower their voices when they were talking.

The way the two were talking caught the attention of the three children.

Although they didn't spend much time with Qi Ming and Ai Haibara, they still remembered the scene when they first met the two.

The way they communicate now is less like siblings and more like friends.

"..."

Ai Haibara squinted at the three children having a private conversation, then jumped off the chair and pointed to the door towards Qi Ming.

"Let's talk."

Qi Ming raised an eyebrow.

"I feel like you're developing more and more like Talkman."

……

In the corridor, Ai Haibara leaned against the wall and looked up at Qi Ming, asking him a question.

"So what did you all talk about in there?"

Qi Ming thought for a moment and answered seriously.

"After some discussion, we decided to severely punish the murderer regarding the follow-up treatment and future plans for the elderly woman who committed the murder."

"...What do you mean by that official tone you're using now?"

Hearing Qi Ming's sudden change in tone, Ai Haibara's eyelids twitched.

Qi Ming chuckled, took out a bottle of cola, and started drinking.

"That's how cadres talk. By the way, I got promoted to a cadre position in the organization. Isn't your brother Ming amazing?"

Ai Haibara was taken aback.

Are they cadres in the organization?

She quickly recalled the large-scale mobilization organized yesterday.

So, all the things Qi Ming did yesterday were just to complete the task of being promoted to a higher cadre position?

Come to think of it, even after being in the organization for so long, I don't seem to know about the hierarchical structure.

Ai Haibara remained silent for a moment, then asked Qi Ming.

"To be honest, I really want to ask you, what is your ultimate goal in this game?"

Qi Ming hesitated for a moment, then spoke seriously.

"Let's go to the dock and get some fries."

"...I'm serious."

"Then let's go to the dock and get some fries."

Ai Haibara couldn't help but roll her eyes at Qi Ming.

"...Are you some kind of idiotic bot?"

"Oh, so you've turned against the Heavenly Guardians?"

Qi Ming squatted down, squinted, and smiled at Haibara Ai.

"I've already said the final mission: to capture you and bring you back. So, tell me if you're going or not."

"Humph, forget it if you don't say it."

Ai Haibara stared into Qi Ming's eyes for a long while before slowly speaking.

"Actually, I wanted to say this yesterday... that is, games are not just about fighting and killing."

"Although all of us may be fake to you, and just data in your eyes, each person in these data is actually unique."

Ai Haibara's expression was slightly serious.

While Qi Ming was talking to those people, Ai Haibara went back to the place where the old woman disappeared.

Although the window was open, there were no signs of human contact on the dust on the railings or the fallen leaves outside.

This is enough to prove that the old woman did not escape, but rather that there might be some secret passage in the room where she hid.

Judging from Qi Ming's initial words, it was clear from his temperament that he intended to kill the old woman.

Ai Haibara wanted to try to change Qi Ming's mind.

It's not just about this incident, but about the more distant future.

"Are they all unique?"

Qi Ming hadn't thought about this question and frowned slightly.

"Yes, at least in all this time, have you ever seen two people with identical identity information and appearance?"

"..."

Qi Ming remained silent, his eyes lowered as he pondered Ai Haibara's words.

This girl is always like this; she'll say things that sound very sophisticated from time to time.

I didn't quite understand it, but it seemed to contain some philosophical meaning.

Ai Haibara glanced at the silent Qi Ming, then covered her hand and yawned.

"Never mind, I was just saying it on a whim. I know that people who play games hate it when others teach them how to play."

"I'm going to answer the questions now, brother, you can play by yourself."

After saying that, Ai Haibara returned to her room with her hands behind her back.

"Haibara-san, you're back?"

"Hmm, how's it going? Any progress on the puzzle?"

"Not yet."

Ai Haibara knew she couldn't change Qi Ming.

The only way to subtly influence the man is through verbal therapy, making him think things through more before acting.

……

"System, are those people really unique data?"

In the corridor, Qi Ming, who had been silent for a while, asked the system.

The system then provided a response.

[This requires the host to explore on their own, meow.]

"...Damn it, I should have punched your bear face more often yesterday."

Qi Ming murmured.

As he watched the sun gradually set, he stretched.

I bet the old lady downstairs is getting impatient too.