An infinite journey starting from paradise

Therefore, Lin Shangren could only put their affairs on hold for the time being. His most urgent task was to collect the remaining Dragon God Pearls and Kaguya-hime's relics.

The sun was already setting. Inside the beach villa, Kirika and Mikami Reiko were preparing dinner with the help of four mechanical maids. In the living room, Hayashi Naoto, Fuyushi, and Aso Kasumi were carefully examining the ornate screen made of gold thread and lacquered wood.

"It's an old item, and it's still in such good condition. Hmm... this kind of Japanese-style antique screen will definitely sell for a good price in France. Buyers there like this kind of thing. If it's estimated to be worth hundreds of millions... right?"

As a former Phantom Thief, Aso Kasumi made a not very professional evaluation of the screen in front of her.

"I didn't ask you that... Never mind, I'll do it myself."

Lin Shangren felt somewhat helpless. He had already used various eye techniques, including [Eye of Innocence], [Caterpillar War God's Telescope], and [Soul Color Vision], to examine the golden screen thoroughly, but he hadn't discovered any secrets hidden within. It didn't even emit the slightest psychic energy. It seemed like an ordinary, priceless antique, nothing special.

"The pattern embroidered on it is just an ordinary dragon pattern. There's nothing special about it, and it doesn't hide anything..."

Just as Lin Shangren was deep in thought, a familiar voice suddenly appeared in his mind.

Hey! I scared you!

"Student Xiao Ai."

[Hey, I'm here! Did you miss me?~(?>?.

She saw a monster with a chainsaw head slaughtering everyone in a bloody and brutal world. She saw a warrior wearing black wolf-head armor, a giant sword slung over his shoulder, charging a group of demons amidst a sea of ​​blood and corpses. She saw a giant whale like a cream cake swimming proudly in the vast galaxy, and next to it was a giant octopus with candies growing on its tentacles...

"And... Meteor Academy? And... The Outlaws... and..."

"Xiao Ai-san? Ash Rose, are you listening?"

Lin Shangren's voice pulled Ashrose's consciousness out of the newly discovered worlds.

[Ahh, I'm here. (?˙ー˙?)]

"What's wrong? Why did you suddenly stop talking? What happened?"

[Um... things are a bit complicated. As you suspected, the being claiming to be the Mother Goddess did connect several universes through that sacrificial ritual. The problem is... there are quite a lot of those universes. And I can only stop a limited number of them.]

Some universes may not significantly increase your current power, but may be of great interest to you. My Lord, it is up to you to decide. (?_?)]

"what?"

Then, Ashrose told Lin Shangren all her new discoveries.

The sudden surge of information made Lin Shangren a little confused, but before he could figure out the current situation, the Mother Goddess was already ready to start the next action.

……

Tokyo.

Maori Detective Agency.

"Haa~ Haa~ Haa~ Kogoro, cheer up. We're only two sets away from finishing. Ah... huh..."

Inside the detective agency, Sayuri Chuangie, who weighed nearly 200 pounds, was doing squats with all her might, while Kogoro Mouri, who was standing next to her, was holding his waist and gasping for breath.

"No...I can't take it anymore...Madam, I really need to rest for a while..." Kogoro Mouri said, and fell directly to the ground.

Five days ago, Maori Kogoro accepted a large commission from Sayuri in front of his bed to help her investigate the villain who might want to assassinate her and embezzle her property. Maori Kogoro readily accepted the offer under the temptation of money, but he did not expect that he would fall into the trap of the other party.

Sayuri pestered him by the bed, and moved into the Mouri Detective Agency forcefully on the grounds that she needed close protection. She also pestered Mouri Kogoro in a very familiar manner, asking him to accompany her to lose weight.

To be honest, although Sayuri Chuangqian is a rich woman who looks like she needs a lot of steel wool, she is not the kind of arrogant and evil menopausal aunt with hyperthyroidism. Instead, she is a very sunny and cheerful woman, even a good wife and mother: after moving into the Mouri Detective Agency, she almost took care of all the housework in the agency, cooked for Mouri Kogoro and Conan, and even urged Mouri Kogoro to quit drinking and exercise.

In general, she almost replaced all the work that Mao Lilan had been responsible for. Even Conan had some good feelings for this auntie who was good in all aspects except for her appearance. However, when she and Mao Li Kogoro were losing weight, the squats, high leg raises, and big jumps were too loud and a bit disturbing.

"Huh... Huh... I've exercised too much today and don't have the energy to cook. Kogoro, Conan, how about I take you out to a restaurant? How about French food?" Sayuri said breathlessly in front of the bed.

"Yeah. I like Aunt Sayuri the most!" Conan acted like a child. Sayuri's attitude towards him was quite good, even like a stepmother trying to please her stepson.

"Good... At least my sweat was not in vain..." Kogoro Mouri said weakly.

Just as Sayuri was about to change out of her sportswear in front of the bed, she suddenly received a call.

"Hmm... Is that so? Oh... Thank you so much, it's a great help." After hanging up the phone, Sayuri turned to Maori Kogoro and said, "Kogoro, I asked a friend to look up the household registration information about the future daughter-in-law of that diplomat Mr. Okawa. Let's go get it after dinner. I hope it's useful. I may not have Watson's medical skills, but I do have some connections that can help you, the great detective."

"Ah, that's a great help... Sayuri."

She is rich, well-connected, has a good personality, and although she can be the breadwinner, she chooses to stay at home in front of her husband. Sayuri is indeed a good match for her husband.

"But... never mind." Maori Kogoro shook his head. "Let's go have a big meal first, and then we'll talk about it after we're done."

Chapter 435: The Thousand-Faced Witch

Tokyo, Seven Star Entertainment Co., Ltd.

In an office, Maya Tachibana is interviewing a young woman who wants to be Lin Shangren's assistant secretary.

As Lin Shangren became involved in more and more industries, Consortium B expanded at an ever-increasing rate, and he also had to deal with matters in other worlds, Lin Shangren could no longer manage every aspect of his business personally. Furthermore, his and He Huan's plan to recruit potential murderers was progressing too slowly, so he could only recruit a group of capable assistants.

However, due to the strong development momentum of Consortium B, each company wants to insert a few secret agents to test its strength. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, it is extremely important to review these applicants.

Tachibana Maya was examining the girl sitting before her, just as He Huan had examined her two months ago. Back then, Tachibana Maya was a hitman for the Li Nan Organization, sent to assassinate Lin Shangren, only to be brought down by He Huan and Fululu and then trained into her current state. It was unclear whether the girl before her was a "fully paid" employee or a bitch with ulterior motives.

"Ms. Theresa Takanawa, right?"

Maya Tachibana stared at the woman in front of her. She had long black hair, blue eyes, and facial features that were deeper than those of ordinary Asians but not as sharp as those of Europeans and Americans. It was obvious that she was a mixed-race person.

The woman named Theresa Takanawa smiled and nodded in agreement, her manner perfectly elegant, just like her attire—a model office lady's outfit. A well-fitting blazer, a fitted skirt, matte black stockings, and short heels. She didn't exude a deliberately sensual allure, but rather the capable spirit of a professional beauty.

"Japanese American, University of Pennsylvania graduate, finance, work experience..."

Tachibana Maye was flipping through the resume of the woman in front of her. She was not sure if she was qualified for the job, but she was sure that she would definitely be liked by Lin Shangren: a mixed-race beauty, long straight black hair, elegant temperament, long and beautiful legs... In Tachibana Maye's opinion, these characteristics all hit the G-spot of Lin Shangren's aesthetic fetish.

"That's a bit deliberate. Could it be a coincidence? Or did she do it on purpose?"

Tachibana Maya stared at the other person's peaceful expression, feeling a little unsure.

The interview continued, and Teresa answered all the questions raised by Tachibana Maya fluently and with ease. Seeing this, Tachibana Maya let her pass the initial test.

"Let Miss Hehuan and the master decide the details." Tachibana Maye thought.

"Congratulations on passing the preliminary interview. Please come to the company before 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, still in this office. Our chairman will interview you in person." said Maya Tachibana.

"OK, thanks."

Theresa maintained her demure and elegant demeanor, showing little sign of emotion. She turned and left the office. After exiting the Seven Stars Entertainment building, crossing several streets, and entering a hidden room, "Theresa Takanawa" finally revealed her true form: Vermouth, the thousand-faced witch of the winery.

"Did they figure it out?" Vermouth reviewed the situation just now. "Lin Shangren, you're indeed not simple. Even the HR in charge of the interview is a trained assassin? Who are you to be taken so seriously by the old immortal?"

Two months ago, when Hayashi Naoto founded Seven Stars Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Ikezawa Yuko became a rising star, Vermouth, who was still playing the role of the big star Chris Wynyard in the United States, suddenly received an order from "that gentleman", Karasuma Renya himself: to lurk around the policeman named Hayashi Naoto and find a way to get his body tissue sample.

Due to the special nature of her identity, Karasuma Renye rarely assigns her tasks. She is very curious about who Lin Shangren is and why he deserves Karasuma Renye's attention.

Belmode, believing he owned an entertainment company with several films in the works, planned to approach Hayashi Naoto by posing as Chris Wynyard. However, upon arriving in Japan, she read reports of Hayashi Naoto capturing Kidd and solving numerous mysterious cases, and even heard rumors of Gin and Vodka being thrown into prison by Hayashi Naoto, having their limbs crippled.

To be on the safe side, she did not contact Seven Star Entertainment Co., Ltd. directly, but secretly investigated Lin Shangren. However, just a few days ago, Karasuma Renye's condition suddenly worsened, and he urgently ordered Vermouth to speed up the progress and obtain Lin Shangren's body tissue as soon as possible.

"Body tissue? Could he be related to that arm?"

Vermouth recalled the severed hand she had seen in the Miyano couple's laboratory, the thing called "God's Arm." It was this thing that had transformed her into the immortal monster she was today.

Sharon Wynyard, Vermouth's previous hidden identity, is also her real name.

She is the granddaughter of Karasuma Renya.

Fifty-two years ago, Karasuma Ren'ya wasn't the underground emperor he is today, cloaked in secrecy, controlling the lifeblood of countless industries. Back then, he was just an ordinary wealthy businessman from a powerful family. As Japan suffered its second defeat and signed its unconditional surrender, the seventy-year-old Karasuma Ren'ya was still contemplating how to escape the post-war reckoning.

At this time, Karasuma Renya accidentally met a young man who had returned from Germany, whose name was Kuroya Naori.

At the time, Kuroya Naori was undoubtedly a highly sought-after young talent. Rumor has it that he played a significant role in the European battlefield and had a close friendship with Etna Stone (Uncle Nagaishi), a high-ranking US military officer stationed in Japan at the time. (Both were rescued by Michael Heinz and fought side by side for a period.)

As long as he makes friends with Kuroya Naori, Karasuma Renya might be able to become an "old friend of the American people", not only avoiding liquidation, but even obtaining preferential policies.

Coincidentally, Kuroya Naoori was very interested in a hill in Yamagata City that was owned by Karasuma Renya, and he could also chat with Karasuma Renya himself.

So Karasuma Renya exchanged a barren mountain and a small village on it that had long been destroyed by the US military bombing for the friendship of Kuroya Naori and a place in the US military's preferential policies.

Following this, the Karasuma family's fortunes soared, and as their relationship deepened, Karasuma Renya discovered the secrets of Kuroya Naoori. Kuroya Naoori possessed many magical items, such as a small stone that could levitate objects, paper that could simultaneously display writing, and a blue bead that could freeze water into ice...

The most amazing and mysterious of these is undoubtedly a sturdy human arm, which has countless uses. It seems to contain a huge storage space within, which can be used to store and retrieve all kinds of items at will. Touching a shadow with the arm can liquefy it into water, allowing people to hide inside. It can also release a strange light wave that can cause people to lose their fighting spirit. Most amazingly, the flesh and blood of the arm can heal diseases, practically bringing the dead back to life.

In 1947, Kuroya Naoori married the youngest daughter of Karasuma Renya. In the same year, his wife became pregnant. The following year, his wife had a difficult delivery. In order to save his wife and daughter, Kuroya Naoori burned incense and prayed devoutly to the arm. After kowtowing until his forehead bled, he used a small blade to cut off a piece of flesh and blood and fed it to his wife with great fear and trepidation. In the end, mother and child were safe.

Karasuma Renya witnessed the entire incident. Seventy years old and suffering from a chronic illness, he had always coveted Kuroya Naoori's treasure, and now he was even more tempted to kill him to seize it. However, he hesitated, instead probing gradually. Eventually, Karasuma Renya discovered that Kuroya Naoori came from another world, and his arm belonged to a god. According to Kuroya Naoori himself, that god, Hayashi Naoto, would eventually descend upon this world, restore order, and bring peace to the world. He would then be able to return to his youth and return to his true homeland, where he could begin his life anew.

Karasuma Renya is not interested in restoring order and achieving peace, but he really wants to regain his youth and become immortal, so he designs to kill Kuroya Naori and steal his treasure.

However, before his death, Kuroya Naoori put all his magic props into the black shadow space in Hayashi Naoto's arm. Karasuma Renya was unable to open the black shadow space, and in the end all he got was an elixir of immortality whose effect gradually faded: as the remaining spiritual energy of Hayashi Naoto in his arm gradually faded, its healing ability was also greatly reduced.

Although Karasuma Renya could prolong his life with it, he could not achieve immortality or rejuvenate himself. In order to achieve true immortality, Karasuma Renya used his own financial resources to bribe various scientists to study Lin Shangren's severed arm, and gradually established the brewery organization that now spans all walks of life in politics, business, and the military.

In 1956, Karasuma Renya launched the "Spare" Project to prolong his life. He selected some of his own descendants and had his scientists genetically modify them, turning them into his "spare organs," regularly drawing their blood to replace his own, extending his lifespan. Vermouth, or Sharon Wynyard, was born in the "Spare" Project's laboratory.

Originally, she would have been raised as Karasuma Renya's "blood bank." However, with the development of genetic and cloning technologies, her fate took a completely different direction.

With the development of cloning technology, Karasuma Renya began to fantasize about being able to clone God's body through God's arms, and then replace God's organs with his own body to achieve immortality.

However, due to Lin Shangren's "uniqueness," scientists were unable to clone his body. Instead, they used cells from his severed arm to induce the proliferation of flesh and blood tissue, which they then fashioned into organs. To test whether these "divine organs" would react to Karasuma Renya's rejection, Karasuma Renya himself ordered all of his descendants to become experimental organ transplants.

You might ask, given the advanced state of cloning technology, why doesn't Karasuma Renya clone himself to achieve self-sufficiency in blood and organs? Firstly, it's technically impossible. As in the Euphoria universe, a clone without a compatible soul would quickly succumb to organ failure. More importantly, someone like Karasuma Renya would never allow another person exactly like him to exist.

In short, most of Karasuma Renya's descendants (including those born naturally and those born from the "spare" program) died during the "God's Organ" transplant, effectively destroying his entire family. Only three people, including Sharon Wynyard, her mother, and her brother, were lucky enough to survive after receiving the "God's Organ" transplant, and they, unfortunately, became test subjects for subsequent experiments.

The final experimental results showed that transplanting "God's organs" could not give humans special abilities, and Karasuma Renya's plan failed. The winery's research focus also shifted from cloning God's flesh and blood to using God's flesh and blood to create an elixir of life, which is later referred to as Drug A.

Later, in 1976, the first version of Drug A was completed, and Sharon Wynyard and her family, along with the descendants of the Karasuma family newly created in the "spare parts" plan, once again became experimental subjects.

In the end, only Sharon Wynyard survived. Drug A took effect, leaving her body forever frozen at the age of 22.

Drug A was a success. However, the initial version's 99.5% mortality rate clearly didn't satisfy Karasuma Ren'ya. But with Sharon Wynyard as a successful experimental subject, as long as research continued, they would eventually create a non-lethal elixir without side effects.

However, as expected, things always go wrong at this time - at this time, the physical condition of Karasuma Renya, who is 120 years old, suddenly deteriorated and ordinary blood transfusions could no longer sustain his life.

At the same time, the scientist in charge of the "spare parts" plan suddenly died, and the research data was destroyed. In a short period of time, Karasuma Renye could no longer use genetic technology to create blood packs and spare organ banks for himself, and his remaining relatives in the world also disappeared inexplicably while he was unable to take charge of the organization.

Eventually, Sharon Wynyard was the only one in this world who was still visibly related to Karasuma Renya. At this moment, Sharon Wynyard offered to use her own blood to "save" her grandfather's life.

Originally, Karasuma Renya had treated her as a special experimental subject. After all, she had undergone two experiments, and injecting her blood into his own body was not certain if there would be any hidden dangers. But with her life in danger, Karasuma Renya could no longer care.

The result was that Sharon Wynyard's blood did sustain Karasuma Ren'ya's life, and even allowed him to live until now.

According to normal logic, after recovering, Karasuma Renya should have kept Sharon Wynyard under control and found a way to replicate more high-quality blood packs like her.

However, Sharon Wynyard wasn't completely defenseless. In fact, she had already organized her own forces, collaborating with other experimental subjects. It was they who orchestrated the murder of the person in charge of the "spare part" project and completely destroyed all data related to cloning technology and the development of Drug A.

They were unable to fight against the entire winery organization, but after completely destroying the source of raw materials that kept Renya Karasuma alive, their lives and themselves as Renya Karasuma's blood relatives became the best bargaining chips to threaten Renya Karasuma.

They want freedom, they want to live as human beings rather than living organ freezers, they want to break away from this organization and live a normal life in the sun.

However, the only person worthy of being used as leverage is Sharon Wynyard. Karasuma Renye is gravely ill, and ordinary blood transfusions are no longer effective. Only Sharon's blood can keep him alive. Sharon threatens to commit suicide, and Karasuma Renye, for the first time ever, accepts their demands. However...

"You are indeed my bloodline, but you are still too young, Sharon, my granddaughter. Even if you escape the organization's laboratory, you can't escape the laboratories of those bigwigs. Do you think I alone can support such a large organization?"

Lying on the hospital bed, Uramaru Renya, who was as shriveled as a mummy, said this.

“There aren’t too many people in this world who desire immortality, especially those big figures who truly control the lifeblood of the world.

What I've done for you has been very humane. At least it lets you know that there's a wider world outside the laboratory, and I've also taught you some basic common sense and knowledge. After all, we are blood relatives. If they knew of your existence, if you fell into their hands...

Oh, you know the white-feathered chickens raised by the world's largest fast food brand? Those pitiful lives, never seeing the blue sky. If you leave my protection, that will be the fate of you and your descendants.

Oh, don't look at me like that. I know you hate me and wish you could die with me. If those bigwigs in the alliance knew about your existence and my little tricks, I would definitely be in big trouble. But your deceased relatives, Sharon, your mother and brother, and their genetic source, my blood relatives will never come back!

"What do you mean? Don't try to scare me!" Sharon Wynyard was almost hysterical.

"My granddaughter, do you think the silver bullet's function is only to make people immortal and eternally young?

We can be both of God and the devil. Since we're trying to raise the dead against the stream of time.

It is a dreamlike existence that can defy the flow of time, rewrite history, and resurrect the dead. It will lead humanity into a new era. And they, my blood relatives, their death is only a temporary sacrifice. They will eventually return, just like the resurrected Jesus.

The premise is that it can be born smoothly.

I am living for this great goal."

Karasuma Renya's voice was dry and hoarse, but it revealed a kind of bewitching power.

Sharon Wynyard's mind told her that the immortal monster in front of her was deceiving her, but her emotions still wanted her to believe it all. Even though these words were absurd, she still wanted to see her dead relatives again.

At this time, Karasuma Renya continued to tempt them, "Actually, there's no need for you to make sacrifices anymore. The research on the silver bullet is already on track. You can actually live, study, and interact with the world like normal people. Of course, you're under my protection. Without my protection, those bigwigs will sooner or later discover your existence and turn you into experimental subjects again.

So, for our cause to continue, for your freedom to live, Sharon, my granddaughter, you still need to make some sacrifices. Don't worry, you don't need to sacrifice too much. Just provide me with some blood every year so that I can survive and continue to protect you.

Just treat this as a business deal, using your blood in exchange for your comfortable life and freedom."

Sharon Wynyard had only two choices: accept it or fight to the death. Regardless of rationality or emotion, she should choose the former.

So, after that day, the experimental subject Sharon Wynyard became the most prestigious codenamed member of the organization, Vermouth, and her companions, the clones of her cousins ​​and relatives, also lived a life of luxury under the surveillance of the organization until they died of genetic defects and organ failure, or at least lived a few years happily before their death.

And Sharon Wynyard also relied on the organization's resources to become a popular star, a master of disguise, and a ruthless killer, living an exciting and confusing life.