Survival Manual of the Science Fiction World

Yesterday, Conan and Ai Haibara went to watch the Koshien baseball game. They are both currently in Osaka, but they were already on their way back this morning. Chu Ming asked them to come to his house when the game starts, saying that he has something important to discuss with them.

Since the FBI uses it to lure out organization members, the fact that he was able to buy it back can only mean that Shuichi Akai has become suspicious of him.

Although he felt he hadn't given anything away, Shuichi Akai's suspicions couldn't just appear out of thin air, and he wondered if he had just imagined something.

Conan and Ai Haibara wouldn't arrive for a while, so Chu Ming decided to stay home for the time being. He figured he should take advantage of the protagonist's aura when necessary.

He opened his phone and saw that the group chat was already flooded with messages. Among them was a message from Gin, who had also sent a message after seeing the photo of the Porsche 356a posted by Chu Ming.

Chu Ming took a picture of his Porsche 356a parked in his yard next to a Lamborghini and posted it in the group chat.

【I am the BOSS's confidant (a major threat)】: Image.jpg. Hehe, this car is mine now.

【White Elegance】：！！

[White Elegance]: I'm a student, give it to me!

[I am the BOSS's confidant (major threat)]: This car has problems. Its seller is an American, and after the transaction, there were so many trackers, listening devices, cameras, etc. on the car that I could set up a stall with it.

Chu Ming only said a few simple words, but the people in the group were not fools and instantly understood what Chu Ming meant.

It was an American again, a Porsche again, and they planted too many wiretapping and tracking devices.

I'm not considering anything other than the FBI.

An FBI investigation uncovered a large number of people who had been lying low in the community, and even those who hadn't spoken much in the group chat after being brainwashed started popping up one after another.

【Only Love? Goddess】: Have those FBI agents shown up? Do I need to go back to China?

[Sniper No. 2]: No need.

[Top Sniper]: Anyway, you don't have any big missions abroad, so you might as well go back to Japan. This operation is bound to be big, and we can even have a competition to see who can get more headshots.

【Thousand-Faced Witch】: @I am the BOSS’s confidant (major threat), are you buying a car to lure the snake out of its hole?

[I am the BOSS's confidant (a major threat)]: Yes, I already have a plan, and I need your assistance.

【AAA Amuro Detective Agency】: @I am the BOSS's confidant (major threat), my current mission is over, can I be counted in when it comes to taking down Shuichi Akai?

Chu Ming raised an eyebrow when he saw that even Amuro Tooru had come out. Even if Amuro Tooru had been brainwashed, he still hated Akai Shuichi to the core.

However, due to his special training and his extremely strong will, the brainwashing process took a relatively long time.

Moreover, his brainwashing was specifically targeted at him through hypnosis, transforming the side he strongly wanted to protect into the organization. In other words, the more he loved the country before, the more loyal he would be to the organization now.

We don't really interfere with other relationships.

Therefore, his feelings for his friends from the police academy have not changed.

The hatred surrounding the death of Morofushi Kagemitsu was largely transferred to Akai Shuichi.

Upon hearing of Akai Shuichi's whereabouts, he probably rushed to finish his mission and didn't care about his previous rivalry with Chu Ming. He immediately gave in and humbled himself, just to get involved in the mission to capture Akai Shuichi.

Chu Ming didn't refuse, after all, he couldn't fight the red-black battle alone.

However, he himself had to perform the main act first.

After sharing his plan in the group chat, there was no message for a full minute. After a long while, Lafitte slowly typed out: "When it comes to being cunning, you're the best."

Chu Ming took it as a compliment and didn't reply. He checked the time and realized that Conan and the others should be arriving soon. Looking at the car downstairs, Chu Ming suddenly had an idea. Since the car was already there, why not try to get some extra money from Conan and Ai Haibara?

*

Ai Haibara and Conan were slowly walking towards Chu Ming's house.

Conan had been scolded like a child by Chu Ming last time, and even after watching a ball game and solving a big case with Hattori, he wasn't feeling particularly pleased. He stared at the road beneath his feet, kicked away a small pebble, and turned to look at Ai Haibara's face: "What does Brother Chu Ming want us to do? Is he going to beat me up?"

Ai Haibara, hands in her pockets, glanced at Conan and said in a light tone, "Anyway, they won't beat me up."

"..."

The two didn't exchange more than a few words before arriving at Chu Ming's house, which was right in front of Professor Agasa's house and not far away.

Suddenly, Conan, who was walking ahead and had already stepped out of the alley, changed his expression, blocked Ai Haibara behind him, and shrank back into the alley.

Ai Haibara was startled and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

Conan's heart pounded like a drum. He slowly leaned out a little, glanced at the wall again, and then shrank back down, pressing himself tightly against the wall. He looked at Ai Haibara and said in a vacant tone, "I saw Gin's car parked in front of Chu Ming's house."

!!!

Gin came to see Chu Ming, and Conan saw him!

Ai Haibara's face turned deathly pale instantly, not because she heard Gin's name, or because Gin was right next to her, but because Conan had inadvertently discovered Chu Ming's hidden identity.

At that moment, only one thought filled her mind.

—No, we can't let Brother Chu Ming's identity be exposed.

She looked up at Conan's rounded back of the head, which was blocking her way, wondering if hitting him hard would make him lose his memories of this period of time.

No, no, Ai Haibara shook her head vigorously. How could she have such a thought...

She feigned composure, forcibly suppressing her emotions, and spoke calmly as she reached out to tug at Conan's sleeve, trying to pull him away: "No, it's not Gin's car. I couldn't smell their scent..."

[The promised second chapter~]

Chapter 585 Why are you only arriving now?

Conan's attention was completely focused on the car not far away, and he didn't hear what Ai Haibara was saying at all, but he still sensed Ai Haibara pulling him.

After thinking for a moment, he turned to Ai Haibara with a serious expression and said, "Chu Ming might be in danger. I can't just leave like this. Here's what we'll do: you go back and find the doctor first. If I don't get back, call the police immediately."

How could Ai Haibara possibly let him go? She still held onto Conan tightly: "Don't go and cause trouble for Chu Ming. With Chu Ming's skills, he can definitely escape on his own. Why don't we go back first and then send him a message to ask?"

Conan listened intently, trying to hear something, but all was quiet, and he could only hear his own rapid, pounding heartbeat.

He felt he couldn't wait any longer. After checking that all his equipment was still there, he felt a sense of resignation: "I have to go in. What if Brother Chu Ming gets ambushed? Or what if he's hiding somewhere right now? Wouldn't calling him give us away? I'll just sneak over and take a look. It's okay, the items the Doctor gave me are still there. I'll be careful."

After saying that, he turned to leave, and Ai Haibara, seeing that she couldn't stop him, quickly followed: "Then I'll go too."

The two moved slowly along the wall without making a sound, and went straight to the window.

Conan cautiously peeked into the window. There was no one downstairs. Ai Haibara and Conan searched the downstairs rooms quietly, but they didn't see anyone.

Just then, a 'thud' came from upstairs, like the sound of someone falling to the ground.

Conan and Ai Haibara exchanged a glance and quietly climbed the stairs.

The sound was coming from the room on the right. Conan had been to Chu Ming's house many times before and knew that this room was Chu Ming's study.

He tiptoed to the side window of the study, stood on tiptoe and looked into the study. He saw a man in black with silver hair sitting on the sofa with his back to the window.

He jolted awake and jerked his head back—it was Gin!

Where is Brother Chu Ming?

Conan cautiously peeked out again, but because Gin was blocking his view and he was too short, he couldn't see much. He could only vaguely see strands of brown hair under the table in front of Gin.

This should be the unconscious Chu Ming Ge—or, to put it more bluntly, it might be Chu Ming Ge's…

Conan clenched his hands tightly, his eyes filled with grief and despair. How could this be? How could Gin suddenly find Chu Ming?

He remembered that Chu Ming had messaged him before, saying that he had something important to discuss with them.

Could it be that Brother Chu Ming discovered some clues about that organization, which led Gin to find out and track him down? In order to keep the organization secret, Gin came to silence him.

When Ai Haibara saw Conan pull his head back and immediately fall into a state of grief, her heart skipped a beat. She was afraid that Conan had seen something he shouldn't have seen through the window, such as Gin and Chu Ming talking, or Gin giving Chu Ming a task to figure out Chu Ming's identity. She quickly asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? What did you see? Why do you look like that?"

Conan looked up at Ai Haibara, his eyes filled with sorrow: "It really was Gin. He was sitting on the sofa by the window, his back to me. I couldn't see what he was doing, but I saw Chu Ming fall to the ground..."

Ai Haibara recalled the muffled thud from earlier. Had Gin attacked someone again?

Her brows furrowed tightly, and before she could ask anything further, Conan's somber voice rang out again: "Brother Chu Ming is lying motionless under the table. Do you think... do you think he might already be—"

Ai Haibara's expression changed drastically. She knew what Conan was trying to say, but it was impossible!

Chu Ming is clearly a member of the organization, so why would Gin attack him?

Although I've seen Gin punch and kick Chu Ming before, actually killing him—

Even though Gin holds a high position, killing a codenamed member requires clear evidence. Gin wouldn't act without reason, unless—

Unless Gin finds out her identity and that it was Chu Ming who has been hiding it from the organization and her whereabouts...

She slid slowly down the wall to the floor, feeling her legs could no longer support her body: "It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Brother Chu Ming wouldn't be in this mess..."

Ai Haibara felt she was the one who had harmed Chu Ming, and she closed her eyes in anguish and struggle. It was all her fault; if it weren't for her, Chu Ming would have left the organization long ago, and he wouldn't be struggling in this quagmire of the organization...

"Let's go out first and call the police." Conan's expression was solemn. Having made his decision, he tried to control his emotions, glanced back at the window, and prepared to pull Ai Haibara away.

But that one glance was enough to terrify him, making him jump up in fright.

Gin stood by the window, his face cold and his eyes sharp as knives, staring at him and Ai Haibara for an unknown amount of time and hearing.

His eyes widened, his mind went blank, and he subconsciously leaned back. His once sharp mind seemed to have suddenly rusted, and he couldn't think of anything. He just stared blankly at the face that had plunged him into a nightmare.

Ai Haibara was startled by Conan's sudden shudder, and the hand that was holding her stiffened. She had a bad feeling. She slowly exhaled and turned her head, and saw a scene that almost made her heart stop.

"You two—" The silver-haired man by the window curled up a smile that Ai Haibara recognized. She instinctively gripped Conan's clothes, the despair in her heart almost overwhelming her.

Finished!

"Why are you two taking so long? I've been waiting for you for ages."

Conan and Ai Haibara, who were shivering, looked up in bewilderment and saw the silver-haired man leaning against the window with a faint smile, a smile that was completely out of character for Gin.

Is it—Brother Chu Ming?