The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 195 Death is just a resource of the alliance and the character setting problem is not simple (two in one)

To the Alliance, the minor dispute between Koizumi Akako and Kuroba Kaito was at best just—

It was just a momentary quarrel between two children.

Compared with the task forces, researchers, and logistics personnel in the alliance who really need "psychological counseling", this contradiction is so insignificant.

Take the experiences of the task force members at the operational level, for example. They despair of the future due to the resetting of their memories and personalities, and after undergoing the magical timeline surgery, they face collapse because they cannot maintain the stability of their own timeline...

Or maybe because of the sudden change in environment and dual timelines brought about by the [Loop], you experience a "Final Destination".

Physical injuries and even "death" are common occurrences.

For researchers at the research level, going to the Psychological Support Department is like going home.

For example, the Time Research Department, the Chronology Department, the Narrative Department... and a large number of members of research departments are almost accustomed to the existence of the Psychological Support Department.

Generally speaking, it is already a lucky thing that they can struggle or survive to the point of going to the psychological support department to receive "amnesiac procedures" or "belief strengthening procedures."

At least, this shows that their problems are still at the psychological level, rather than...a worse level.

After all, facing the various accidents and even disasters caused by the research layer——

For example, research related to timelines often results in timelines that are like balls of wool, or timelines that are broken, scattered, disintegrated, cyclical, or contradictory.

Research related to RSI values generally brings about some unimaginable "transformations".

For example, the study and reproduction of the phenomenon when the "Circulation Gate" is opened has given rise to classic papers such as "On the Thousand Manifestations of Cyclothymia".

Or perhaps it's research related to Red Magic and the CYZ effect...

At that time, the research and development of magical timeline technology created ghost cats, which made a large number of researchers fall into "ghosting".

If the Magic Eliminator had not been developed by the Department of Magical Research at the suggestion of the Department of Narrative Studies—

Those histories trapped and wandering in the laboratories, those ghosts trying to save themselves, may still be trying in vain to touch the "future devices" that they will never be able to touch.

In short, in these cases, simply removing the TDD to reset the casualty is not enough.

After all, the Conan universe is so biased.

Just like in the dual timeline perspective, all other civilizations except Earth or humans are just background boards.

Compared with the "main characters", the presence, absence, replacement and death of background characters are just common things.

Regarding the Alliance's attempt to use the reset of the [Cycle] as a treatment method, the dual timeline will only perform the most basic and simple reset based on its own operating logic.

However, once the situation is too complicated, such as being related to magic or the CYZ effect, they will directly try to give the background characters an identity card of "dead".

Save time and effort.

You can also try to weaken the alliance at the same time.

Therefore, for the Alliance, patients injured in these situations have to be transferred to medical departments or research institutes jointly funded by the logistics, research and operations levels.

For example, the Time Balance Center, the Space-Time Medicine Department, the Magic Effect Elimination Department, or the RSI Abnormality Clearance Institute.

They need the assistance of medical personnel, time stabilization chambers, consciousness stabilization devices, and a series of normal stabilization equipment.

Return to normal by extracting and stabilizing their consciousness, or restoring their timeline.

Even the logistics layer, which is considered the easiest job in everyone's eyes.

Let’s not talk about the daily complaints from the Sustainable Infrastructure Department - those outrageous experimental environment construction requirements sent by the research level.

For example, the classic sentence, "I need you to give me a testing site with an RSI value below 50."

This sentence has become a meme within the Ministry of Sustainable Infrastructure to describe the impossibility of something.

Even the most routine tasks, such as the daily maintenance of the Alliance's [Cycle] space-time structure.

People are often trapped due to dual timelines or the influence of abnormal fluctuations caused by [Kudo Shinichi].

Or getting stuck trying to work out some minor timing errors on the edges of the loop.

Just like what Dr. Agasa always complained about the Alliance’s very stable “suicide rate” or “mortality rate”.

"The death toll in the alliance is probably more than the number of cases that Kudo encounters in a day..."

After all, for the alliance, death in the alliance is just a manifestation of the timeline, or just a sharp fluctuation of RSI exceeding 25.

Just like the executive team has been emphasizing to everyone——

"This is only a temporary sacrifice, not a lifetime one."

Except for extremely special circumstances, such as the accident of falling out of the universe, or the Mobius incident that just happened.

With the alliance's use of the "cycle" and "science" characteristics of the Conan universe, and Lin Sheng's occasional help or relief -

"Resurrection", "Death".

These two things have become "resources" similar to the CYZ effect or time crystals in the alliance.

Even the daily work flow of the CYZ Ethics Committee is very related to this.

Their responsibility is to conduct preliminary reviews of research projects and action plans at each level before each department submits them to the executive level, so as to avoid any consequences that even the alliance cannot recover from.

"Chronology Department! Your death rate for this cycle month has exceeded three percentage points again!"

"Especially the Timeline Reconstruction Design Bureau. Compared to the previous cycle month, it has increased by %..."

The Ethics Committee Supervisor flipped the page and saw a long string of numbers suddenly pop up on the data report.

He stood in front of the logistics director of the timing department with a threatening look on his face, and his tone couldn't help but pause for a moment.

"Uh...are you sure you didn't fill in the data incorrectly?!"

The supervisor had an expression of disbelief and quickly reconfirmed the data in his hand.

"This...isn't this all destroyed?!!"

"Is this happening?"

The logistics manager, with a look of confusion on his face, skillfully retrieved the relevant memories he had deliberately retained before the "memory erasure procedure" from TDD.

Then, it dawned on him.

"Have you forgotten that they were involved in the research on the magical timeline last cycle month?"

"Our minister has already applied to the executive team for this matter. The death and resurrection quotas granted were specially approved, and the executive team has already restored them all."

"The data sheet you have in your hand might have been left unsynchronized due to the Mobius timeline incident."

"Just update it."

……

Compared with those alliance members who actually need psychological support after experiencing psychological "hardships".

There is no doubt that the conflict between Kuroba Kaito and Koizumi Akako is like playing house.

Although it may sound a bit cruel to say this, in this Conan world, the universe favors those few people.

Therefore, after the action layer obtained the entire process of this "vacation mission" from the recovered TDD.

The final task summary and analysis was still submitted to the executive level for decision after being marked as expedited.

"Due to the unique circumstances of Koizumi Akako and Kuroba Kaito, the Psychological Control and Guidance Team recommends transferring the matter to the Psychological Support Department at the logistics level to provide psychological counseling for both of them."

"At the same time, in the subsequent plan, the operations level requested that certain protective measures be taken for the interpersonal relationships of Nakamori Aoko and other Kuroba Kaito."

"Specific measures should be decided after consultation with Kuroba Kaito, Koizumi Akako, and relevant departments..."

Finally, Shigenobu Hitomi took a quick look at the document.

"Just do it."

But then, the long list of analyses provided by several research departments attached to the document made her expression become serious again.

She paused, and added a sentence after her approval:

"Let Professor Chen from the Psychological Camouflage Department take charge. He has experience in this matter."

So, under the instructions of the alliance, the two high school students who had just completed their mission walked into the "psychological clinic" specially arranged for them by the alliance.

A psychiatric clinic disguised as a mental health clinic. To prevent the two of them from being blocked by the dual timelines after entering the Alliance's [loop], the Alliance was forced to purchase a psychiatric clinic in reality and completely renovate it with reality stabilization equipment.

Although time crystals are no longer as scarce as they were in the past, they are still obviously a very luxurious thing.

Especially when this little thing even required an elderly man to risk his life to solve it for them.

Kuroba Kaito and Koizumi Akako suddenly felt the air become hot, and they could even feel their cheeks getting a little hot.

The gray-haired old professor smiled kindly, his tone very gentle.

"Okay, I believe you have calmed down now and can talk to each other carefully about your thoughts on this matter."

All the impulsive emotions in Koizumi Hongzi's mind disappeared at once, and were replaced by a strong sense of shame.

"I...I...I..."

The witch, who was originally willful, was no longer willful at this moment.

Kuroba Kaito watched as Koizumi Anko's face flushed red, and she stammered for a long time without uttering a complete sentence.

Koizumi Hongzi's expression almost made him laugh out loud.

Then he felt a pair of eyes falling on him.

When Kuroba Kaito raised his head, he met the old professor's smiling yet meaningful gaze.

——Now it was his turn to stop laughing.

The professor's tone was calm, "Kaito? You go first."

He originally didn't want to speak, but under that gaze that seemed to be able to see through his heart, Kuroba Kaito finally opened his mouth with some difficulty:

"I...actually I just wanted to protect them. After all, if they knew the truth, it would be too..."

The professor nodded slightly, motioning him to continue: "Well, what else?"

Koizumi Hongzi, who was standing beside her, raised her head slightly and pricked up her ears, wanting to hear what Kaito was really thinking.

Kuroba Kaito paused, hesitant for a moment, but he eventually succumbed to the gaze of those calm eyes and continued in a low voice, "And..."

"Also, I actually asked the staff of the Psychological Analysis Department a long time ago. I know that Qingzi will definitely join in after knowing this."

"But that's also the function of 'personality', isn't it?"

There was a hint of self-mockery in his tone, "Because Qingzi's 'personality' is such a simple sense of justice."

"Just like those people whose paths were set before they came into contact with the Alliance, this means that after they learned the truth, they actually only had one choice - to join the Alliance."

Kuroba Kaito acknowledged what Hongzi said yesterday.

He took a deep breath and lowered his eyes: "It's just like you said, Hongzi. Aoko's character is happy, but the truth is too heavy for her."

"Before you disappeared, that's true."

Koizumi Hongzi raised her head, her eyes fixed on Kuroba Kaito, and retorted, "But Nakamori Aoko has already begun to follow your path."

"Kaito, you should understand - as long as you don't appear in front of Aoko, she won't give up, just like when we went to hint at Hakuba Tan yesterday."

Then, Koizumi Hongzi told the fundamental reason for her impulsiveness yesterday.

"And the [story timeline] will modify the character settings, just like it once tried to add an undercover character for Professor Agasa, or the obstacles to Mao Lilan."

Koizumi Hongzi looked back at the old professor who was leaning in the wheelchair and seemed to be about to fall asleep, then sighed softly.

"So whether it's maintaining your persona or breaking through it, the most crucial thing is actually the alliance."

"If Aoko doesn't become a member of the alliance, Kaito, what will you do if her character is changed in the future because of Kudo Shinichi's needs, or because the dual timelines target you?"

Just when the conversation was about to reach a deadlock, the professor who had been listening to their argument quietly suddenly spoke up.

He asked Anko and Kaito a question.

"So why don't you report this to executive management and request a resolution?"

His words made the two children, who were beginning to be entangled, look up suddenly.

Kuroba Kaito and Koizumi Akako exclaimed almost in unison:
“Huh?!!!”×2
"In short, regarding the concerns you mentioned, the Alliance has already begun taking corresponding actions."

He opened the cabinet beside him, and with some difficulty took out two thick stacks of plans and proposals from it, and then stuffed them into the hands of Koizumi Akako and Kuroba Kaito.

"The operations team has listed about thirty preliminary plans."

His tone was calm and resolute as he briefly introduced the plans:

"All of these are plans that, while ensuring safety, allow Nakamori Aoko to gradually break down her persona or learn the truth, while also allowing her to feel happy and accomplished about her actions, and minimizing, or even eliminating, psychological and physical trauma."

Kuroba Kaito and Koizumi Akako looked at each other and were stunned.

Then, they saw the old man in front of them smiling at them mysteriously.

"So I think—" He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone teasing, "How about giving Nakamori Aoko a chance?"

Just like Lin Sheng forced himself to choose the option of "I want them all".

For the alliance with sufficient APTX-4869 reserves——

If you can avoid giving up, why do you have to make a choice?

……

At the same time, the Psychological Support Department, the Narrative Studies Department, and several research groups related to "Personality Theory" were all staring intently at the data and images on the screen.

"Make a note of this."

All members of the alliance, especially the research team, will not miss any opportunity to study issues related to "personality".

Most of the resources needed for this experiment were kindly sponsored by the Narrative Studies Department.

The expressions of sudden realization on the faces of Kuroba Kaito and Koizumi Akako on the screen made the expressions of several project leaders gradually become serious.

A researcher frowned and offered his own conclusion thoughtfully, "It seems that at that moment, the dual timeline still guided Koizumi Akako and Kuroba Kaito by historical inertia."

A voice immediately refuted this statement.

"No, their timelines are all in that new timeline that has not yet taken shape, and now is still the weak period of the dual timeline. They can't do this."

Another recorder offered his own opinion: "From what TDD recorded, the external environment after both parties entered the campus was exactly the same as when they left."

"Could it be possible that this is a simple psychological suggestion used in reality?"

"Then let's start by formulating a discussion about the impact of the target's 'response' on their personality."

One researcher quickly noted this down. After a moment's reflection, he noted that something still didn't make sense. "But in my opinion, even if this effect existed, it shouldn't have this effect."

"Because both Kaito and Anko have already experienced two large-scale operations."

A staff member from the psychological analysis institute projected Koizumi Akako's behavioral analysis chart.

Everyone can clearly see that around a certain point in time, Koizumi Akako's behavioral logic fluctuated greatly.

"Especially Koizumi Akako. We can almost be sure that her temporary modification of the alliance's distribution plan was due to her own personality."

"Not only that, according to the psychological quality assessment curve, both sides' psychological qualities and mentality have regressed to a certain extent after entering Jianggutian High School."

Another researcher flipped through the data in his hand, his tone clearly filled with doubt:
"They're already in a new timeline... Logically, the character effects of two people shouldn't be so stable."

"Also, the Narrative Studies Department's simulation results showed anomalies."

Everyone looked at the projection in the center of the laboratory, which displayed the columns of results.

"If it is allowed to develop on its own, after removing the influence of the alliance, the direction of its [historical progress] will turn to—"

The 333 simulation results, which were almost completely identical, plunged everyone in the laboratory into silence.

After simulating 'Ekoda High School' as a separate historical element, we confirmed that without further interference from the Alliance.
Its [historical advancement] direction will shift to the development model of romantic comedy.
——Chronology Department, Narrative Department.

The laboratory fell into silence because of this conclusion.

The head of the Narrative Studies Department who reached this conclusion at the time summed up his point with a deadpan expression:
"In short, the issue of character design is obviously much more complicated than we thought."

(End of this chapter)