Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

Chapter 629: Contradictions within the Ocean Buoy

"The line is flooded. It is currently predicted to be on the 16th floor. The mechanical door on the 16th floor malfunctioned and opened automatically, allowing seawater to pour in. Now it is also slowly entering the 17th floor."

Naomi sat in front of the display screen, watching the warning on the detection map gradually turn red starting from the 16th floor, and immediately asked Director Makino for control authority.

"We must now completely isolate these three layers before the water pressure breaks through the 18th layer of defense, Chief!"

Grace also realized the seriousness of the problem and changed her image of a nympho: "At the bottom, there are servers that can host the cross-age system and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's police monitoring system. Chief, if seawater enters there, this base will be built in vain!"

"Naomi-kun, please seal off the 16th, 17th, and 18th floors immediately."

"I will immediately report to the rescue facilities on Hachijo Island and request their support!"

While entering the command, Naomi grabbed the phone at hand and prepared to call for help, but when she saw the signal interruption reminder, she immediately turned to look at Makino in disbelief.

"Director!"

In the director's position, Makino covered the signal receiving button of the ocean buoy. After pulling it up to isolate the entire base signal from the outside world, he looked at Naomi and shook his head.

"This mission was approved by the international police with great difficulty. Naomi-kun, what will happen if we ask for help now?"

Grace held her chin up and said solemnly, "I'm afraid that our mistake will be exposed in the news immediately, and the Japanese police will refuse to hand over the surveillance rights that are about to be obtained to us on this ground. The ocean buoy must be abandoned or sold at a low price to someone who is willing to use it as an aquarium."

"Not only that, Naomi-kun, your hard work, the cross-age system project will be completely delayed, and it will take at least ten years before it can be started again."

Makino was unwilling to give up this opportunity. He could serve as the director of the Ocean Buoy Bureau of the Japanese Cross-Age System and use some of the powers that only senior Japanese police officers could use. If the mission failed before it even started, he would have no choice but to retire. "But now the base is flooded..."

"The water intrusion does not affect the servers on the lower floors. You have already isolated them. We can just pretend that the three lower floors never existed."

Makino crossed his hands in front of him and said, "In just one week, the ocean buoy will be completely stable. By then, the International Police Headquarters will continue to send us funds, and we can just repair the three floors."

"What a joke!"

The German at the door of the command room slammed on the door frame. He glared at the three people inside and shouted, "You want me to stay in this place for another week?! Stop joking!"

Leonhardt looked at the red warning on the largest screen, which showed that the abandoned 17th floor had been completely submerged by sea water, and the 18th floor was not immune.

"Since there is a problem, it must be solved, rather than covering it up, which will not solve the problem!"

Leonhardt seemed certain that the three people in the command room would not agree with his point of view, so he ran to the diving road room in the ocean buoy and left a message.

"As long as we find the fault with the mechanical door, close it manually, and then use a pump to slowly drain the seawater, this method is much better than just watching from the command room!"

Seeing him take the initiative again bypassing his boss, Naomi's helplessness, Makino's dissatisfaction and Grace's ridicule appeared on the faces of the three at the same time, and when they looked at each other, they suddenly showed moved expressions.

(End of this chapter)