I'm in Conan, I'm not a gangster

Chapter 527 The Internet is Not a Lawless Zone! (1st Update)
The news of the collapse of the twin towers in Nishitama City has once again topped the trending searches, sparking widespread attention and heated discussions across the country.

The newly built city landmark collapsed amid a series of deafening explosions, with huge plumes of smoke covering half of the city. Footage from the scene spread rapidly through major media outlets and social media platforms, shocking countless people.

This explosion is different from the previous ones. It's not just that the building was destroyed; what's even more heartbreaking is the significant number of casualties that followed.

According to preliminary statistics, the number of casualties has exceeded 100, and the number is still rising.

Some perished in the panicked escape, others died in stampedes while scrambling for the limited helicopter rescue opportunities, many were killed directly by the shockwave of the bombs, and still others were struck by falling concrete blocks and died instantly.

Emergency responders and firefighters searched the site day and night, but the chances of survival for those trapped under the rubble were slim.

Netizens were shocked by the incident, and social media was flooded with videos, photos, and eyewitness accounts, causing a public outcry.

Some netizens began to suspect that this was the work of the notorious bandit Azu, after all, this infamous terrorist had carried out similar large-scale attacks many times.

Netizens dug up the past "criminal style" of the notorious bandit A-Zu and compared it with his past, and the discussion was heated.

But soon, without any official clarification, netizens reached a consensus: this is definitely not the style of the notorious bandit Azu.

Given Ah Zu's consistently arrogant style and the scale of his actions, it's impossible for him to be so "petty".

It's important to know that when the notorious gangster Ah Zu wants to bomb a building, he always goes all out—using at least several hundred kilograms of plastic explosives for a saturation bombing, and he always releases threatening videos beforehand, as if afraid that others won't know that he did it.

While the attack was brutal, it clearly lacked Azu's signature "ritualistic" and exaggerated style.

The Metropolitan Police Department held a press conference 48 hours after the incident to announce the preliminary results of its investigation.

Investigations revealed that the attack was meticulously planned, with precisely measured plastic explosives planted in key load-bearing walls and columns throughout the building, with the aim of ensuring the building collapsed in a specific manner.

This professional approach demonstrates both the perpetrator's expertise in explosives and their intention to deliberately control the scale of the damage.

Upon hearing the investigation results, netizens became even more certain that the notorious bandit Azu was not responsible for the incident.

“This is so unlike Ah Zu!” One comment that received tens of thousands of likes read: “Ah Zu always blows up buildings with a grand and spectacular style. Why would he be so meticulous? This is more like the ‘work’ of a professional demolition expert.”

Even so, several online bloggers remain convinced that this was the work of the notorious bandit Azu:
"Even if it wasn't him, he's still involved!"

"Where would ordinary criminals get so many bombs? There must be a notorious gangster named Azu behind this!"

"And you mobs, actually speaking up for a criminal! What are your true intentions, huh?"

"........."

Shiraishi E watched as these online bloggers, in their pursuit of traffic, spouted nonsense and wantonly smeared her.

He couldn't stand it at all!
The Black Organization is smearing me because they have the power to do so.

You few online judges dare to spout nonsense just for traffic?

We must strike hard and severely crack down on the criminal arrogance of these scoundrels!

So, he chose a dark and stormy night, followed the internet cable, and kidnapped those online bloggers back to the lab.

Inside the underground laboratory, the lights were a stark white.

Ai was intently adjusting the microscope's focus when suddenly the laboratory door was pushed open, and Shiraishi dragged in an unconscious man, followed by several men who were bound hand and foot and had rags stuffed in their mouths.

Ai looked up and was immediately stunned: "No way? You brought these guys back tied up?"

Shiraishi E casually tossed the last one on the ground, clapped her hands, and said in a flat tone, "Yes, that's them."

Xiao Ai rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit of a headache: "Even if they're talking nonsense online, it doesn't warrant kidnapping them and killing them, does it?"

Shiraishi E sneered, her eyes sharp: "What do you mean by 'not serious'? They've been wantonly smearing us online, confusing right and wrong, inciting public opinion, and misleading the public. Isn't that serious enough?"

He walked up to one of the bloggers, ripped the gag out of his mouth, and the man immediately begged in terror, "Brother! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I'll never do it again!"

Ignoring her completely, Shiraishi continued speaking to Ai, "Today they can smear me for clicks, and tomorrow they can drive an ordinary person to their death for attention. Ordinary people have no power to fight back; they can only let them trample on their dignity, even being driven to suicide!" His voice gradually rose, becoming increasingly dramatic, "What's the difference between this behavior and school bullying or workplace bullying? They hide behind their keyboards, thinking they won't pay the price? Today I'll show them—the internet is not a lawless zone!"

After hearing these words, Ai fell into a brief silence. She recalled her experience studying abroad as a child—the classmates who ostracized her, the malicious ridicule, and the moments of isolation and helplessness.

If the organization hadn't secretly assigned bodyguards to protect her, and if she hadn't been so engrossed in her research, she might have become one of the victims of school violence.

Moreover, she had seen too many tragedies in the news—ordinary people driven to depression, unemployment, and even suicide by cyberbullying. And what about the perpetrators? They simply change their accounts and continue to roam free.

Thinking of this, Ai nodded slowly: "Although your approach is a bit extreme... it does make sense."

Seeing that Ai agreed, Shiraishi E didn't delay any longer and immediately took action. He first manipulated the internet to ensure that the police could not trace the IP address, then put on his signature ruthless bandit mask and started a live stream using those bloggers' phones.

Tens of thousands of viewers flooded into the live stream instantly, and the chat was flooded with comments:
"Holy crap! It's the notorious bandit Azu?!"

"Is this real or fake?"

"How did those bloggers get kidnapped?!"

"........."

Facing the camera, Shiraishi E's voice was deep and clear: "Good evening, everyone. I am the notorious bandit Azu."

The barrage exploded instantly.

He continued, "The reason for going live today is to clarify one thing—I did not commit the bombing of the Twin Towers."

"My grandfather always acts with integrity and uprightness. If he wants to blow up the building, he will give advance notice and will never harm the innocent!"

As he spoke, he stepped aside to reveal the camera, showing several bloggers tied up behind him: "But these guys will stop at nothing for traffic, spreading rumors and slandering others online! Their behavior is no different from committing crimes!"

Those bloggers were already terrified, tears streaming down their faces, begging for mercy repeatedly:
"We're sorry! We were wrong!"

"We don't dare anymore!"

"Please, please let us go!"

Shiraishi E sneered, "You can slander me today, and you can drive an ordinary person to their death tomorrow! What's the difference between cyberbullying and killing someone with a knife?"

He looked at the camera, his tone stern: "Remember, the internet is not a lawless zone. Everyone must be responsible for their words and actions!"

"As for what follows..." He paused, "...it's too gory. For everyone's mental health, the live stream ends here."

After saying that, he decisively turned off the live stream and crushed his phone in the process.

In the laboratory, Ai had already prepared the medicine.

Shiraishi E secured the bloggers to the lab table, her tone icy: "You should feel honored—this is a drug that can change human history."

The group stared in terror, struggling desperately, but to no avail.

As the drug was injected into their bodies, their expressions gradually contorted, and their bodies began to convulse violently.

Four of them quickly fell silent, but the last one, though in excruciating pain, gradually regained his breathing—his skin became smooth, his wrinkles diminished, and he looked several years younger!

Ai's eyes lit up, and she clenched her fist excitedly: "It's a success! The direction of improvement was right!"

Eya Shiraishi smiled with satisfaction: "It wasn't all for nothing after all."

He looked at the surviving "experimental subject" and said calmly, "From now on, I'll trouble you to continue cooperating with the research."

The man looked at him in terror, but could not utter a sound.

(End of this chapter)