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

Chapter 670 Rum Again? (1 Update)
Ran, Sonoko, Miwako Sato, Yumi Miyamoto, and Naeko Miike witnessed firsthand the entire process of a middle-aged man rapidly shrinking into a seven or eight-year-old boy amidst extreme pain.

This surreal and illogical scene left them speechless, utterly shocked. They stared in disbelief, mouths agape, gasps of astonishment rising and falling, unable to recover for a long time.

"Am I...am I dreaming?" Xiaolan subconsciously pinched her arm. The clear pain told her that this was not a dream, but the scene in front of her was more absurd than any dream.

Sonoko rubbed her eyes hard and muttered, "This must be some kind of advanced magic... or holographic projection, right? How could a person... how could they shrink?!" She tried to explain it in a way she could understand.

As a detective, Miwako Sato had seen all sorts of situations, but what she was witnessing completely shattered her understanding. She murmured, "This...this doesn't conform to any scientific laws..."

Miyamoto Yumi and Miike Naeko were completely dumbfounded. They pinched each other, feeling pain and wondering if they were hallucinating.

In stark contrast to their shock and disbelief were the researchers in white coats.

After a brief moment of shock, seeing the experimental subjects successfully shrink, their faces lit up with extreme excitement and joy. They even forgot their current predicament, high-fiving and hugging each other, whispering excitedly:
"It worked! We succeeded!"

"My God! We have witnessed history!"

"A miracle! This is a miracle of life! We did it!"

"After so many years of research, we've finally seen tangible results!"

"........."

They resembled a group of fanatical believers, their eyes gleaming with the light of discovering a new continent, feeling that they were participating in and witnessing an epoch-making "miracle" in human history!
Miwako Sato barely managed to regain her composure from the shock. She grabbed the nearest researcher, who was still trembling with excitement, and urgently asked, "What happened?! What did you do to him?! How could a person become like this?!"

The researcher was in a state of extreme excitement, almost impatient to share his joy. He explained incoherently, "Rejuvenation! Rejuvenation, Miss Officer! We've been researching a drug that can reverse aging and make people young again!"

"I know this sounds incredible, like a fantasy! At first, we didn't believe it ourselves, investing countless amounts of money and time, experiencing countless failures... but!"

"Look! The results are right before our eyes! Living evidence! We are now completely convinced! This is feasible! Hahaha!"

Taking advantage of the chaos and everyone's attention being drawn to the "rejuvenation," Conan anxiously shuffled over to Shiraishi E, tugged at his sleeve, his face filled with panic, and said urgently in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Hey! Shiraishi! What do we do?! This...this situation...it might...it might expose my identity!"

Shiraishi E glanced down at him, smiled, and said, "Don't panic. What's done is done, panicking won't help."

He paused, then said in a softer but unusually clear voice, "Besides, as long as no one knows you are Shinichi Kudo, then no matter how similar things are, you, Conan Edogawa, will always be safe. Understand? Calm down."

Upon hearing this, Conan felt as if he had been doused with cold water and instantly calmed down.

Exactly! As long as he doesn't admit it himself, and as long as there's no solid evidence, who can say he's Shinichi Kudo?

Having figured this out, the panic in his heart quickly subsided, and he regained his composure. However, the look in his eyes as he gazed at the boy who had turned into a boy became even more complex and profound.

However, amidst this chaotic and shocking atmosphere, a sudden change occurred!

A remarkably young researcher pulled his phone from his lab coat pocket, dialed a number, and exclaimed excitedly, "Supervisor!! We did it! We did it! Subject APTX-4869 showed a perfect reverse reaction! He—"

boom!
His excited report was abruptly interrupted by a cold, crisp gunshot!

Shiraishi's face was expressionless, a wisp of smoke rising from the muzzle of the gun in his hand.

A bloody hole appeared on the researcher's forehead, his fanatical expression froze instantly, his phone slipped from his hand and fell straight backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

This sudden scene took Ran, Sonoko, Sato Miwako, and the others who were rescuing people by surprise, and they all froze in their tracks.

They looked at Shiraishi E with confusion, not understanding why he would suddenly be so ruthless towards a researcher who seemed to pose no threat.

“Shiraishi-kun! You…” Sato Miwako instinctively wanted to ask.

But Conan's expression instantly turned extremely serious. He immediately realized the gravity of the situation and hurriedly interrupted, "This is troublesome!! The news may have already been spread!"

"Even if he didn't finish speaking, the other side has likely already heard the key words! They will definitely send people over immediately!! There are still so many people who have been captured here!"

"We don't have much time! Hurry! Stop standing around! Quickly untie them and remove the IV!"

Ran, Sonoko, Yumi Miyamoto, and Naeko Miike only realized the urgency of the situation after hearing Conan's explanation!
The enemy's reinforcements could arrive at any moment, and at that time, let alone rescuing others, they themselves might be trapped in a tight encirclement!
Without hesitation, they sprang into action, racing against time to rescue the hostages who were strapped to chairs and looked dazed.

Shiraishi E slowly turned her gaze to the other researchers who were trembling with fear and huddled together.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it sent chills down everyone's spine: "You... know too many secrets. Tell me... what am I supposed to do with you?"

These words were like a death sentence. The researchers were instantly terrified, collapsing to their knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, and begging for mercy in tearful voices: "Don't kill us! Please don't kill us! We were forced! We were kidnapped! Or forced here by huge debts! We don't want to die!"

To make their argument more convincing, the group hurriedly rolled up their sleeves, revealing tiny, slightly raised, scar-like implants on their upper arms: "Look! Look! We've also been implanted with tracking chips! We're hostages too! We have no freedom at all!"

Shiraishi glanced at the traces of the implanted chips and nodded: "Alright, considering the situation, I can spare your lives."

The researchers breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

But Shiraishi E's tone immediately shifted, like a bucket of ice water being poured over someone's head: "However, even if I let you go... do you think that, knowing so many core secrets, the organization behind you... will let you live so easily?"

"When there are many people, there are many mouths to talk about; the dead are always better at keeping secrets than the living. This is an eternal truth."

He paused, then continued his cold analysis: "Even if they were to take pity on you and spare your lives... do you think you could ever return to a normal life? More likely, you'd be imprisoned for life in some dark underground facility, continuing to serve them until you lose your usefulness, or... disappear without a trace."

These words struck like a hammer blow to the hearts of every researcher. Their faces turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down their backs. No one working here was a fool; they immediately understood the utter despair of their situation—besieged on all sides, it seemed they were doomed either way! They panicked completely, looking at each other helplessly, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"Do you want to live?" Shiraishi E, observing their reactions, finally offered a way out. "Then obey my orders. Now, immediately, assist us in releasing all the hostages here!"

"Then, before their main force arrives, run with these hostages! Run as far as you can!"

"Tell as much as you know about what's happening here to the people outside!"

"Make this matter as big as possible! The more people who know, the greater the public pressure, and the less likely they are to silence you! Only in this way will you have a chance to survive!"

These words are like a beacon in the darkness!
The researchers suddenly realized what was happening!

Yup!

Only by muddying the waters and making the secret no longer a secret can they be safe!

The instinct for survival instantly overwhelmed the fear.

Without hesitation, they immediately got up and joined the rescue effort.

They were familiar with the equipment and restraints here, and they were even more skilled and faster at untying them than Xiaolan and the others!
The five girls who were bravely trying to save the girl, Ran, Sonoko, Miwako Sato, Yumi Miyamoto, and Naeko Miike, all felt a sense of admiration for Emi Shiraishi when they saw this scene.

Sonoko whispered to Ran, "Emi-chan is amazing... not only did she not kill them, but she even got them to help us save people!"

Miwako Sato nodded in agreement: "Winning hearts and minds is the best strategy... Instantly turning a potential enemy into an ally and providing the most reasonable survival plan... This grasp of people's hearts and the situation is truly amazing."

Miyamoto Yumi and Miike Naeko watched with shining eyes, feeling that Shiraishi E was not only incredibly powerful in combat, but also had ridiculously high intelligence and skills.

Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, the rescue operation was greatly accelerated.

In a brief lull in the tense and chaotic rescue efforts, Shiraishi E's sharp gaze swept over the busy researchers. She grabbed the arm of a researcher who looked older and seemed to know more, pulled him aside, and asked quickly in a low voice, "Who is in charge here? What organization is behind you?"

The researcher shuddered, his face turning deathly pale. He stammered, "I...I really don't know much about what's going on at the higher-ups...We're just in charge of specific research projects...We usually only take orders from the few PhDs in charge...But...but I've occasionally overheard them mentioning a code name in private...I think...I think it was Rum."

“Rum?” Shiraishi E raised an eyebrow, a hint of understanding and a touch of mockery flashing in her eyes. “So that’s how it is… It’s that old guy again.”

He never expected that this accidental act would lead to the dismantling of another important research institute under Rum's command!

This fate is truly... wonderful beyond words.

The rescue operation was underway and lasted only about ten minutes. Most of the people who had been restrained were now free and were gathering anxiously in the hall.

Just then, Shiraishi E sensed a strong danger rapidly approaching!

He strode to a window, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant night sky.

Against the dark sky, several points of light, unlike the stars, were rapidly growing larger, accompanied by the faint, yet increasingly clear, roar of propellers!
It's a helicopter!
And it wasn't just one!
"Tsk, you came so fast!" Shiraishi E said as she turned around.

He entered a storage room, shot and destroyed the surveillance camera, and then immediately bought a large quantity of weapons from the bandit's online store, filling the room with them.

Without any hesitation, Shiraishi E shouldered a light machine gun and a box of ammunition, and shouted to the terrified crowd in the hall, "They've arrived by helicopter! If you want to live, come in and grab your weapons! Prepare for battle!!"

The people who had just been rescued and had not yet had time to savor the joy of freedom, upon hearing these words and seeing that pile of cold killing weapons, instantly lost all color from their faces!

Some people even collapsed to the ground because their legs gave way.

"Fire...fire? I...I've never touched a gun before!"

"How could this happen... We're just ordinary people..."

"I don't want to fight! I'll die!"

"........."

The hall was immediately filled with cries of fear and despair.

Shiraishi looked at the panicked group of people with a blank expression and said, "Don't want to fight? Fine. The door is over there, you can run first... I won't stop you."

These words were like a pardon; the terrified hostages and some researchers were now left with only one thought in their minds: escape.

They practically tumbled and crawled, crying and screaming, rushing towards the hall exit as if death would catch up with them at any moment.

Shiraishi E stood at the entrance of the armory, expressionless as she watched the fleeing figures, and shook her head involuntarily.

These people were completely dominated by fear, losing the courage to think and resist. In this situation, the chances of surviving by blindly running away were extremely slim.

"This is hopeless." He muttered to himself, then stopped paying attention to those who had escaped and turned his gaze to the few who remained—Ran, Sonoko, Miwako Sato, Yumi Miyamoto, Naeko Miike, Conan, and a handful of former researchers whose eyes still held a trace of courage and will to survive.

"Alright, stop spacing out, come in and get your weapons!" Shiraishi E waved for everyone to come in, saying, "Hurry up and familiarize yourselves with your weapons, get ready to welcome our 'guests.' This is going to be a tough battle."

(End of this chapter)