Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Chapter 182 Gin: Sherry and Cointreau are connected

After school in the afternoon, Ai didn't go home, but went straight to the lab.

Now all she cares about is her work.

Even though she didn't go home, she still saw Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi led a girl into the laboratory.

The girl was very pretty, and Zheng Yi called everyone over to introduce her to them.

"Let me introduce you all. This is Koizumi Akako, who is still in high school and will be the director here from now on," Masakazu said.

The researchers came up to greet them.

After all, there was already a seven or eight-year-old high school student researcher, so people were very accepting of a seventeen-year-old.

Ai looked at Koizumi Akako, then at the nameplate on her chest.

She was just the deputy director.

The researchers all went to greet Hongzi.

Hongzi responded to these people impatiently.

She didn't bother to hide her expression, which made the employees who came to greet her retreat.

After her field of vision opened up, Akako noticed Ai.

A little girl working here is conspicuous enough, let alone someone with brown hair.

What is her relationship with that woman named Shiho Miyano?
"Ai, come here for a second."

"doing what?"

Ai looked at Masakazu and asked.

Zhengyi said, "This is Koizumi Akako. You should work with her more often in the future."

"Oh." Ai nodded.

“She is a witch,” Zheng Yi said.

"Witch?"

Is it that witch you've been getting really close to lately?
Zheng Yi said, "Take another look at your phone."

Ai took out her phone, and a boy appeared on the screen.

The boy greeted him, "Hello, I'm Hiroki, nice to meet you."

"Is this the artificial intelligence?" Ai asked.

"Yes."

Zheng Yi said, "The three of you should cooperate more and try to produce research results as soon as possible."

"You'll get a bonus if you produce good research results."

With the bonus, you can get your freedom redeemed sooner.

"Okay," Ai said.

After helping Koizumi Akako complete her onboarding process, Zheng Yi gave Ai a good pat on the head before leaving the lab.

Late at night, in the laboratory.

The main laboratory was empty, with only the cold white glow of sterile lamps and a chilly smell of solvents and cleaning agents in the air.

Dozens of precision instruments emitted a low hum in the stillness.

Ai stood in front of the high-performance liquid chromatograph, the blue light from the fluorescent screen reflecting on her expressionless face.

She had just recorded a set of exceptionally perfect data curves—from a special catalytic matrix provided by Akako Koizumi.

"The efficiency exceeds the theoretical maximum by 37.6%," Xiao Ai said without turning around, her clear, cold voice ringing out in the laboratory.

"This violates the law of conservation of mass. It does not conform to any known chemical model."

Hongzi casually used her black-gloved fingers to pour a pinch of what was supposedly 'mandrake root powder picked under the moonlight' into a beaker.

"Science can't explain everything, young lady," Hongzi replied lazily, a familiar mysterious smile playing on her lips.

Ai asked, "How did you do that? What kind of medicine is this?"

She stared intently at Hongzi.

If this is some kind of illegal drug, Ai will call the police.

Hongzi stared at her for a few seconds, and her smile deepened.

She put down the powder in her hand and gracefully walked to the darkest corner of the laboratory.

At this moment, only the two of them remained in the laboratory.

No, there's still Hongshu.

“If Zheng Yi hadn’t specifically told me to, I really wouldn’t want to explain to a kid like you,” Hongzi said.

She slowly took off the glove on her right hand.

Then, under Ai's gaze, Akako laid her palm flat in the air, her five fingers slightly bent.

Without any warning, a cluster of eerie blue flames suddenly leaped up above her palm.

"you……"

"This isn't a chemical trick; it's a flame ignited using emotions as fuel," Hongzi said.
"The shock you're showing right now is its fuel."

Ai Haibara's pupils contracted slightly, but her strong rationality allowed her to suppress her instinct to retreat immediately.

With a flick of her wrist, Hongzi's flames vanished.

"I am a witch."

The air freezes.

Only the hum of the instruments continued.

"Witch?"

Ai stared blankly at Akako.

She thought it was just a romantic gesture between Masakazu and Akako.

“…Evidence.” Ai’s voice was even drier than before.

Hiroki's voice rang out: "Miss Akako is indeed a witch."

The flames and the proof from the macrotree just now.

This left Ai looking dazed.

There really are witches in this world.

"Then why did you come here?" Ai asked.

Why would a witch like her come here to work for Shoichi?

“You don’t need to know,” Hongzi said lazily.

Hiroki said, "This was all due to Mr. Seiichi's persuasion and invitation."

Ai nodded.

It turns out that Zheng Yi hadn't been home all this time because he wanted to lure you, this witch, to the lab to work for him.

Ai looked at Akako.

A witch can generate a lot of benefits, right?
She can definitely make a lot of money for Zheng Yi.

No wonder Zheng Yi has been away from home for so long because of her.

Akako walked towards Ai, stopping a step away from her.

Ai's gaze just now made Akako feel a little uncomfortable.

Ai asked, "Can your magic turn someone back into how she looked when she was a child?"

"Magic is omnipotent."

Ai asked again, "Can your magic turn me into what I look like when I grow up?"

“There is nothing in this world that Lady Akako cannot do,” Akako said.

"Can I ask you to turn me into an eighteen-year-old?" Ai looked at Akako expectantly.

Hongzi was stunned.

Ai said, "If you need payment, you can ask Shoichi for it."

Hongzi took a step back.

“Childhood is a wonderful time. If you become eighteen years old, you’ll definitely regret it,” Hongzi said.

"I don't regret it," Ai said.

"No, you'll regret it."

Hongzi shook her head and began to change the subject: "By the way, these things all have magic."

This definitely cannot be used for mass production; we need to find a solution to this problem.

Ai looked at Akako suspiciously.

Can you really do it?
If I could, I wouldn't need to go through the trouble of researching the antidote for drug A.

"Then let me see your... potion," Ai said.

Since Hongzi is avoiding this topic, let's continue with our work.

Under the lights, the witch and the scientist stood side by side.

……

Gin, you were looking for me?

When Zheng Yi arrived at the bar, he met Gin, who had been waiting for him.

Gin said coldly, "Today, one of my peripheral members came to me."

"Hmm, and then?" Zheng Yi asked.

“He said there was a guy in a shopping mall who was holding a picture of Sherry and asking people if Sherry was very charming,” Gin said.

After saying that, she looked at Zheng Yi with a deep gaze.

"Is there a problem?" Shoichi asked. "Is this some new art?" Gin asked.

"It's just helping a friend out, a kind of social practice," Zheng Yi said.

Gin looked at Shoichi in silence.

What kind of social practice would use Shirley's image?

“You don’t seem to know anything about the secret organization,” Gin said.

Even if Sherry has already defected.

She was once an important researcher for the organization, and her appearance still needed to be concealed.

“I know perfectly well,” Zheng Yi said. “You used a helicopter…”

"enough."

Gin interrupted Shoichi.

"I called you here today not just to talk about Shirley."

Gin said, "Shuichi Akai seems to work at your company."

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "That's right, he works as a sniper instructor at my security company."

Many members of the organization were his students.

Some members of the organization who are not very proactive are sent to Zheng Yi's security company for training.

Shuichi Akai's training organization has quite a few members.

"You didn't just find out, did you?" Zheng Yi asked curiously.

So many members have met Shuichi Akai, yet he still uses the name Dai Moroboshi. Gin should have known this long ago.

Gin remained silent for a moment.

“He deserves to die,” Gin said.

“Okay, go and kill him,” Zheng Yi said.

Zheng Yi said warmly, "If you need any help, just tell me and I'll do my best to cooperate."

There's just one thing.

Zheng Yi's voice lowered slightly: "Payday is coming soon, you have to kill him before you get paid."

Gin's lips twitched.

This condition really suits Zhengyi's personality.

“Once I have a plan, I will get your cooperation,” Gin said.

“Sure, call me anytime,” Zheng Yi said.

After finishing his conversation with Gin, Shoichi yawned.

He didn't pay any attention to Gin, stretched, and left the bar.

Go home and sleep.

After he left, Gin said to Vodka, "Keep an eye on Cointreau."

"what?"

Vodka asked in surprise, "Is Big Brother worried that he'll inform Rye?"

"Do not."

Gin shook his head.

He hadn't worried about that.

According to the members of the organization, being a coach at Zheng Yi Security Company is a high-paying job.

Zheng Yi, that miser, would definitely be willing to save a sum of money from his salary.

Since Shuichi Akai has joined Shoichi's security company, it means that the FBI is investigating Shoichi.

With Shuichi Akai gone, the FBI will send others to continue their undercover work.

And positive one can be repeated.

When payday is approaching, expose the FBI agent to the organization so they can eliminate him.

“I suspect he has a relationship with Sherry,” Gin said.

"what?"

Vodka looked at Gin with surprise.

Sherry? Cointreau?
This is impossible.

If Cointreau and Sherry are related, could he resist provoking his older brother?

Gin did not offer an explanation.

On Sherry's portrait, Zheng Yi wrote 'Heir to a trillion-dollar conglomerate'.

Sherry grew up in the organization, but Gin had no idea that she was the heir to a trillion-dollar conglomerate.

The trillion-dollar group he mentioned, it can't be an organization, can it?
Only someone who has gone mad would believe that Sherry is qualified to inherit the organization.

Zhengyi Group, on the other hand, seems to be quite large now.

"I know, I understand," Vodka said softly.

Keep an eye on Zheng Yi; that's going to be too difficult.

He could easily be killed by Zheng Yi.

But Vodka dared not disobey Gin's orders.

He wondered if he should get injured while dealing with Shuichi Akai, so he could use it as an excuse to cover up his mission of monitoring Shoichi.

But it's still quite difficult for a driver like him to get injured.

We can't afford to have a car accident, can we?
Gin sat in the chair, a cruel smile on his face.

He had only just learned that Shuichi Akai was working at Seiichi's company.

Those who saw Shuichi Akai dared not report this to him; instead, they tacitly concealed it from him.

I don't know why they did it.

Did they think that Cointreau had connections with the FBI, so they deliberately helped him conceal this information?
……

"You're back pretty late."

Ai looked at Masakazu and said.

He got off work later than her.

However, Zheng Yi didn't smell of a girl's perfume; instead, he smelled of alcohol and tobacco.

Ai asked Shoichi, "How exactly did you manage to trick Akako into coming here?"

“There’s no deception involved,” Zheng Yi said.

He genuinely offered advice to Hongzi.

Hongzi simply thought his suggestion was acceptable.

"hehe."

Xiao Ai gave a cold laugh.

She could imagine that Zheng Yi must have signed a really bad contract with Hong Zi, and then he would definitely find all sorts of excuses to exploit Hong Zi.

"How are things going between you and her?" Zheng Yi asked.

"She's still very easy to get along with." Ai took a sip of water.

A few compliments are all it takes to make her incredibly happy. She even promised to help her research a magic spell to 'enhance growth'.

She really is a seventeen-year-old girl; she's frighteningly naive.

Unfortunately, he encountered Zheng Yi, and was destined to be a slave to him.

Zheng Yi patted Ai's head.

"By the way, Ai, be careful lately."

"Why?" Ai asked, puzzled.

“Gin might be monitoring me during this time,” Shoichi said.

Ai looked at Masakazu with a puzzled expression.

"why?"

Given your status, what can Gin possibly do to you?

"It's probably because of your sister," Zheng Yi speculated skeptically.
"Your sister frequently visits our home; she may have been discovered by the organization."

Gin suspects I have a relationship with Sherry.

"Hmm?" Ai tilted her head.

Your sister's comings and goings at home are related to you and Shirley. What is that relationship?
Zheng Yi said, "You and your sister look so alike, and Miyano Akemi is a dead person."

It's perfectly normal for the organization to mistake her for you.

"My sister and I look quite different, don't we?" Ai said.

My sister always had a disguise on her face, and her most distinctive feature was her hairstyle. How could the people in the organization mistake her for someone else?
"Who knows? That's what my people told me anyway," Zheng Yi said.

"Oh."

Ai nodded and said, "Then I'll go tell my sister to be careful and not to give anything away."

During this time, I'll try to avoid seeing her as much as possible.

The organization's renewed attack cast another shadow over Ai's heart.

“It’s perfect timing that Hongzi has joined the lab, so you should work overtime as well,” Zhengyi said.

"I suspect you're threatening me to make me work overtime," Ai said.

"How could you think so badly of me?" Masakazu looked at Ai with displeasure.

(End of this chapter)