Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Chapter 195 Someone Needs to Test the Drug

"Stop thinking about those random things."

“It’s not that I’m thinking about all that random stuff, there must be a reason why you do good deeds,” Ai said.

You are a wicked person at heart.

I remember the last time I did a good deed was when I rescued Sera Masumi's younger sister from the water.

If I go up again, that will save me.

Come to think of it, she and I have some things in common.

"Can't it be because I like children?" Masakazu asked.

Ai shook her head, she couldn't tell.

"Are they really not part of the organization?" Ai asked.

“If they were part of the organization, you would have been arrested long ago,” Zheng Yi said.

Ai pouted.

Curaçao is also a member of the organization.

So I haven't been arrested yet?

When Ai and Shoichi were talking, they deliberately avoided talking to Curaçao.

As soon as Curaçao got close, Ai couldn't open her mouth.

Zheng Yi rubbed her head.

"What you need to do now is work hard for me. You can put the matter of Sera Masumi on hold for now."

……

On the experimental table, the complex instruments had stopped operating, leaving only a slight humming sound.

Ai let out a long sigh of relief, took off her goggles, and her eyes revealed an undisguised weariness and sense of accomplishment.

"...It's over. The final stability test passed. The theoretical model and the live cell experimental data show a 99.8% agreement."

She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.

Koizumi Akako sat gracefully on a high stool to the side, toying with a deep red crystal in her hand.

She wasn't wearing a white lab coat, but rather casual clothes, with a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

"This medicine? Can it really temporarily turn a person into an adult?" Koizumi Akako looked at the capsule with suspicion.

Akako didn't understand the complicated terms Ai used.

But when she and Ai were working on this drug together, it seemed like they were trying to crack something.

She helped provide a lot of advice on 'breaking the curse' and 'breaking the poison'.

Ai glanced at her, her tone flat but carrying a hint of barely perceptible joy.

"Of course, how could that be a lie?"

Hongzi looked at Xiao Ai suspiciously.

“I always felt that you were not an ordinary child; your knowledge was far too broad,” Hongzi said.

Such a young child possesses such a wealth of knowledge.

Furthermore, they are proficient in using all the instruments in the laboratory.

Is this really something a small child could do?

Hongzi picked up a capsule.

And this capsule was repeatedly analyzed during the drug research.

“Kids these days are all like that,” Ai said.

"Is that how it is?"

“That’s right.” Ai said seriously, “Lord Akako hasn’t observed mortals for too long and doesn’t know the true situation of children nowadays.”

I'm just a little bit better than the average kid.

There was still some hesitation in Hongzi's eyes.

Ai said, "After all, Lady Akako must have learned a lot of magic when she was very young."

We are all the same.

"The same?" Hongzi was still somewhat skeptical.

Although she didn't really pay much attention to ordinary children, she knew that Ai was abnormal.

This is based on the reactions of other people in the lab.

You can tell just by looking at it.

Ai doesn't care what Akako thinks.

"Without Lord Hongzi, this research would most likely have been stuck on the third stage of asymmetric synthesis, stagnating for at least two years."

Ai paused, looked at Akako, and said:

“I’m used to finding answers in electron microscopes and molecular formulas. But the things you’ve introduced… ‘irrational factors’ have forced a window open in a dead end.”

From an efficiency standpoint, your contribution is irreplaceable.

"It seems that in some areas, the 'witch's' intuition is more efficient than the simulation calculations of super artificial intelligence."

“Of course.” Hongzi raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

He readily accepted Ai's praise.

Lady Hongzi can accept any amount of praise.

On Ai's computer screen, Hiroki's image appeared.

Hiroki was looking at Ai with a resentful expression.

What am I doing all this calculation for?
Is it because you said you couldn't compare to Hongzi?
Ai seemed a little embarrassed and turned her head away from looking at Hiroki.

Hongzi is a child who needs to be coaxed.

Artificial intelligence is already very mature; we don't need these.

Seeing that Ai continued to ignore him, Hiroki seemed a little unhappy.

He's going to take this to Zheng Yi!
Hongzi chuckled and put the red crystal down.

"Science always tries to find formulas for everything, but some forces exist outside of those formulas."

The drug that 'accelerates time' is itself a miracle, almost like magic.

Such a miracle should naturally be performed by a witch.

"Can this medicine really accelerate a person's growth?" Hongzi asked.

“Theoretically, yes,” Ai said.

Theoretical analysis, machine performance, and artificial intelligence calculations indicate that this antidote can already alleviate the side effects of APTX-4869.

Whether it will actually work remains to be seen, but real-life experiments are still needed.

"Do you want to give it a try?" Hongzi looked at Xiao Ai curiously.

Ai shook her head.

No no no.

This is still too dangerous.

"Let's experiment with mice first," Ai said.

Hongzi nodded.

She rested her chin on her hands.

"If 'time acceleration' is possible, then is 'time reversal' possible?"

Ai remained silent.

It's already possible.

However, the drug's effectiveness is still unstable, and there is a high risk of death, so it is not recommended for people to try it lightly.

"If the research is successful, can I become a world-famous figure?" Hongzi said.

“Definitely,” Ai said.

If you could really make a drug that reverses aging, the whole world would go crazy.

"But I suggest you don't try it casually," Ai said.

Because that's too difficult, Zheng Yi won't allocate funds.

According to Zheng Yi, he took funds from the organization to help it continue researching APTX-4869.

However, Zheng Yi is not optimistic about the future of APTX-4869.

All Ai needs to do is take some time each week to fabricate some progress and data to fool the organization.

In any case, Zheng Yi will not invest a lot of money.

The money spent on researching APTX-4869 would be better spent on researching psychotropic drugs.

Or, you could turn Akako's love chocolate into... that would also work.

"You think I'm not good enough?" Akako frowned as she stared at Ai.

Ai shook her head and said, "Of course not."

Ai turned to Akako, her expression serious, and said, "To be honest, Akako. Without your 'Red Magic' intervention, it would have taken me at least several more years to recover on my own."

The catalysts and energy-directing methods you provided… well, those ‘unscientific’ approaches bypassed some of the pharmacological and toxicological problems that gave me the biggest headache.”

Hongzi raised her chin slightly, with a hint of pride.

"but."

Ai said, "You can't do anything without money."

Zheng Yi, that miser, how could he spend money on useless things?

Sending her to research the antidote for APTX-4869 is already incredibly generous.

Hongzi frowned.

What, would Zheng Yi really stop her?
Is there any way to stop her?
Ai carefully placed the antidote into a specially made incubator.

"Next comes the clinical trials. First, my lab mice, then..."

……

"Conan, come over to my house sometime!" Zheng Yi, the head of the Zheng family, had laid out melon seeds and fruit on the table and warmly invited Conan to come over as a guest.

"By the way, Conan, you can come alone, so don't call Ran."

"Besides Ran, Professor Agasa and those three kids, I'll invite them all. I live alone at home," Masakazu said.

He prepared strange medicine for Conan at home.

If you eat it, you might feel hot all over.

Sweating is a normal thing.

“Okay, Brother Zhengyi, I happen to have something I need to trouble you with,” Conan said.

After hanging up the phone.

Not only did Conan arrive at Shoichi's house in just half an hour.

Zheng Yi was all alone at home; even Curaçao had been sent away by her.

"Brother Zhengyi, what do you need me for?" Conan asked.

"It's about the antidote," Zheng Yi said.

Conan asked, "Are you out of money? If not, I'll ask my family for some more."

Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow.

He swallowed what he was about to say and nodded slightly.

The funds are indeed running low.

That guy Hongzi is actually researching a drug that can 'turn back time'.

Rejuvenation? Is this really something science can achieve?

Although Zheng Yi already knew there were three precedents.

However, I'm not optimistic about the possibility of a stable return to youth.

That guy Hongzi just loves to squander his money.

You're a witch, what do you know about science?

You should use your own magic to do these things.

"Brother Zhengyi, Ran seems to be starting to doubt my identity," Conan said worriedly.

"Oh?"

Conan said, "Ran has been mentioning Shinichi Kudo to me recently, whether intentionally or unintentionally."

Moreover, when I was solving the case, they said I looked a lot like Shinichi Kudo.

Especially when I'm focused on something, Ran always suddenly calls me Kudo.

Conan looks troubled.

If his identity were exposed, Conan felt that instead of the joy of reuniting with Ran, he would be killed by her.

The thought of those innocent telephone poles that Xiaolan beat to death...

Conan couldn't help but shiver.

Conan looked at Masakazu and said, "Brother Masakazu, you said I could come to you for help."

“That’s easy,” Zheng Yi said. “I know someone who looks a lot like you. Just have him impersonate Shinichi Kudo and appear in front of Ran with Conan.”

"No."

Conan shook his head.

"Xiaolan has seen that person many times."

Moreover, Xiaolan had threatened him many times.

He could never fool Xiaolan, especially when Xiaolan had doubts.

If one plan fails, there's always a second.

How about trying magic?

Zheng Yi said, "Then you don't need to worry too much. The antidote is already being tested on mice."

"Ran might not even find your weakness before you turn back into Shinichi Kudo."

"Really?" Conan asked in surprise.

This is really good news.

"Really." Zheng Yi nodded.

The money you invested was not wasted.

"When can we conduct human trials? I'll be there," Conan said.

So proactive?
Zheng Yi was starting to feel a little reluctant.

"This is very dangerous."

“I’m not afraid,” Conan said. “Besides, it seems like there’s no one else who’s been shrunk except for me.”

If he doesn't conduct human experiments, then who will?
Zheng nodded.

I love proactive kids like that.

Zheng Yi took out a large stack of contracts.

“Take a look, and then sign your name on it,” Zheng Yi said.

Conan looked at these things, somewhat bewildered.

What is all this?
Zheng Yi said softly, "These are all necessary legal procedures."

After signing these...

That was all done voluntarily by you.

Even if you have problems from taking the medication, it has absolutely nothing to do with me.

But Zheng Yi is, after all, a kind and good person.

If Conan really did make things worse by taking the medicine.

Out of humanitarian considerations, Zheng Yi will still provide some compensation.

"no problem."

Conan decisively signed the contract.

As for the content above, I didn't even glance at it.

Brother Zhengyi has already done a great favor by helping to research the antidote.

There is no other person in this world besides him who has been turned into a child by this drug.

There is no market for this kind of antidote.

Zheng Yi spent so much money to help me, so he probably wouldn't cheat me in the contract.

After Conan signed the contract, Masaru put it away.

"Wait a few more days, and I'll give you the antidote in a few days," Zheng Yi said.

I'll give you the antidote once you've transferred all the money.

"Okay." Conan nodded.

After seeing Conan off, Ai quickly returned home.

After looking around the house, Ai asked Shoichi:

"Excuse me, have you seen my lab mouse?"

"The lab rat has gone home," Zheng Yi said.

"Going home?"

"Yes."

Zheng nodded.

The lab rats paid money to extend their lives.

Let's give him the medicine later.

The white mouse went home, but Ai couldn't wait any longer.

She even considered testing the drug herself.

"I heard you've been involved in office politics and stripped Hongshu of his contributions?" Zhengyi asked.

"Huh?" Ai tilted her head.

Zheng Yi said with a straight face, "Don't try to act cute with me. You can't get away with it by trying to be cute."

Hongshu has already complained to me.

"Hmph~ I can't be bothered with you." Ai snorted coldly.

What kind of complaints would an artificial intelligence file?

Besides, those were just things she said to Hongzi; there's no need to take them seriously.

Don't use this as an excuse to make a fuss.

Ai sat on the sofa, hugging a pillow, thinking about what she would do after she turned back to normal.

She glanced at Zheng Yi cautiously.

“Don’t even think about running away. You still owe me money. You can’t escape,” Zheng Yi said.

"I won't renege on my debt," Ai said, dissatisfied.

If it's a normal debt, she won't default on it.

But Zheng Yi's debts are not normal.

This is something they will inevitably renege on.

Zheng Yi looked at Xiao Ai, whose eyes were darting around, and felt that this girl had a lot of messy thoughts in her head.

Such a small body, yet it holds so many thoughts.

When her body grows bigger, that'll be something else!

Zheng Yi really got her under control.

(End of this chapter)