Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Naomi curled up in the corner, the lingering feeling of restraint on her wrists causing her a dull ache.

She looked at Ai and felt a sense of time distortion.

The little girl in front of her gradually merged with the image of the little girl deep in Naomi's memory.

Those were the days when Naomi was studying in the United States.

Because of her mixed Japanese and Italian heritage and her Asian appearance, young Naomi felt out of place in the predominantly white school.

That day, she walked hurriedly to the last row of the school bus with her head down, clutching her schoolbag, just like always.

But as soon as she reached the middle of the aisle, several older boys deliberately stretched out their legs and tripped her hard, causing her to fall to the ground.

The books in the schoolbag were scattered all over the floor, and a burst of shrill laughter erupted around them.

Go back to your Asia!

"Freak! Don't sit here!"

Vicious curses accompanied the shoving. Naomi cowered under her seat, tears welling in her eyes, but dared not utter a sound.

Only a fair hand was extended in front of her.

Naomi looked up in surprise. Against the light, she saw a girl with short brown hair.

Shiho remained expressionless, merely glancing coldly at the bullies around her before asking her to sit in her seat.

Then, she picked up the chemistry book again and continued reading as if no one else was around, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her.

From that day on, the bullies shifted their target from Naomi to that girl.

Naomi later learned that her name was Shiho Miyano.

Naomi simply didn't have the courage to help her at the time, fearing that she would be bullied by those guys again.

“So, I want to create a world without racial discrimination,” Naomi said.

Hearing Naomi's words, Ai asked, "So, you created a cross-age recognition system?"

“That’s right,” Naomi said. “I’ve conceived a program that can identify people regardless of race or age.”

"Later, Interpol contacted me and granted me permission to access Japanese surveillance footage in order to test the system. At that time, Shiho was the first person I thought of."

"Then, I don't know why I was matched with you. I still don't understand what happened."

Ai nodded as she listened to Naomi's story.

First, she didn't understand how this system could eliminate racial discrimination.

Secondly, if Zheng Yi was the one being bullied, then he should want to create a world where there is only one race.

Ai shook her head.

Why are you thinking about that guy at a time like this?

Naomi continued, "After I developed the system, someone contacted me via email. He called himself Binga and offered to buy out the system and asked me to improve it."

"However, I refused because at that time, I had already decided to hand over the system to Interpol."

Ai looked up at Naomi.

What does the organization use this system for?

It couldn't be just about looking for her, could it?

Xiao Ai said softly, "If anyone else wants to buy this system in the future, I suggest you agree."

"what?"

Ai said, "You'd better agree."

The actions of Zheng Yi and the organization are highly unified.

Since the organization wants it, Zheng Yi must want it too.

It's better to let that bastard Zheng Yi benefit than to let Interpol or other organizations profit from it.

Damn!

Ai patted her forehead.

Why do I always think about Zheng Yi's feelings?

I'm being held hostage right now. It should be that guy trying to save me, not me trying to take care of his business.

"To be honest, I'm actually quite curious."

The sudden sound coming from inside the room startled Ai. She quickly took off the hair clip on her head, and the sound was coming from inside it.

Naomi stared blankly at Ai.

This hair clip seems to have been given to Ai by the woman who kidnapped her.

Is this a communication device?
Kiel's voice continued: "Like yesterday, coming in through the torpedo tubes?"

“It’s safer for our eldest brother to come in from the bridge, so we need to surface. I wouldn’t dare let him come in through the torpedo tubes; just thinking about it makes my liver tremble.”

"Why? Pressing this yellow button will take you into the launch tube, and then seawater will be automatically injected and the door will open automatically. Isn't that convenient?" Kiel said.

Inside the room, Ai and Naomi's eyes were blinking rapidly.

Ai knows more, including that Kir is an undercover agent, so it's normal for her to help her.

Naomi knew less about it and is now shocked.

This little girl has been treated well ever since she was kidnapped here, and it seems that someone is even teaching her how to escape.

"You idiot."

Vodka, seemingly oblivious to Kiel's thoughts, earnestly explained to her:

"That thing is usually used to launch torpedoes. If someone accidentally touches that lever, it will explode with a 'bang'."

Kiel nodded, seemingly understanding, "Lever?"

"What! I said you dared to come up here without taking anything off?" Voltgart roared, as if afraid Kiel wouldn't hear him.

"Come on, follow me."

Vodka led Kiel to the control panel and exclaimed, "See that? It's this green lever, green!"

Vodka repeated loudly, as if afraid that Kiel had misremembered.

"As long as you pull this lever, compressed air will be injected into the launch tube. If there is anyone inside the launch tube at this time, they are doomed."

Inside the room, Naomi and Ai listened silently.

Does Kiel really know nothing? Was the vodka really meant for Kiel?
Neither Ai nor Naomi knew the answer.

"By the way, Vodka, did you and Binga swim in by yourselves yesterday?" Kiel continued to ask.

“Of course not, do you want to exhaust us to death?” Vodka said, “Of course we’ll use underwater boosters.”

Vodka has a loud voice, and he wants everyone to know that he has a loud voice.

"The underwater booster and diving equipment were stored by Binga and me in the equipment storage cabinet next to the torpedo tubes. It's the one below the bridge, near the stern of the submarine. The cabinet door wasn't locked so we could access them at any time."

Kiel nodded.

She glanced at the vodka and said, "You really know how to answer every question."

Vodka gave a cold laugh.

He was able to establish himself within the organization and witness so many codenamed members die or escape, so he must have been capable.

He knew exactly how to use this submarine.

……

“Let’s go, let’s escape,” Ai said.

Naomi is a bit dazed.

Why did you run away?
I bet you'll thrive here; nobody will dare offend you.

"Isn't that too dangerous?" Naomi said.

You are safe here, but you would be in danger if you tried to escape.

After all, this is a submarine, a submarine submerged in the water.

"Are you planning to work for this organization, or just wait to be killed by them?" Ai asked. Naomi shook her head.

She doesn't want to, but if it's you...

"How about I run away by myself, and you stay here?" Naomi said.

Ai frowned.

You see, I'm just a kid, and I might hold you back when you try to run away, so you want to leave me here?

Naomi saw through her thoughts and quickly explained, "I think they treat you quite well, there's no need for you to run away."

She was completely confused.

At first, she really suspected that the little girl was Shiho's, but judging from the attitude of those guys, it didn't seem like Shiho.

She seems to be the daughter of a powerful figure, who may also be subordinate to the people who kidnapped them.

But if that's the case, why kidnap Ai Haibara?
"I can't stay here," Ai said.

Kiel is an undercover agent, and Vodka is a cowardly bully.

These two guys won't do anything to her, but it's hard to say what will happen if Gin comes.

If Gin is certain that he is Sherry, then Shoichi's face won't matter.

At least, if Shoichi wasn't there, he couldn't stop Gin.

"Hurry up," Ai urged.

“Okay.” Naomi nodded.

Ai walked to the door and tried pushing it; the door opened with a 'whoosh'.

Ai was stunned, while Naomi stared in disbelief.

"They seem to have forgotten to lock the door," Ai whispered.

Naomi remained silent.

Which kidnappers would leave the room where they hold the hostage unlocked after kidnapping someone?

Ai doesn't care.

Vodka and Kiel were so careless that they even forgot to lock the door.

However, Ai still left a piece of wire behind.

Well, it wasn't that they forgot to lock the door; she pried it open with a wire.

Naomi couldn't help but say, "Could this be a sting operation?"

“Unlikely,” Ai said.

As she spoke, she walked forward, and Naomi hesitated for a moment before following her.

Inside the submarine, the dimly lit corridors were illuminated only by the faint glow of emergency lights.

Naomi and Ai, barefoot on the cold metal floor, held their breath and tiptoed toward the equipment storage room.

"The one below the bridge, near the stern of the submarine," Ai muttered softly.

Why put it so far away?
Vodka is so annoying. It's left so far away. What if it runs over there and encounters someone? It could easily get caught and brought back.

As they rounded a corner, the two of them abruptly stopped, their hearts leaping into their throats.

Less than five meters ahead, a tall, blond, dark-skinned figure leaned against the wall, holding a steaming cup of coffee, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.

Bourbon?

Ai held her breath.

She knew this person too; Zheng Yi had told her that he was an undercover agent.

Zheng Yi said that there are too many undercover agents in the organization. They are either undercover agents, useless people, or traitors. There are too few people who are focused on doing their jobs.

The organization now relies on these undercover agents, so he doesn't dare to take action against them and often has to coax them into doing things.

As for whether Zheng Yi's 'coaxing' is different from other people's coaxing, Xiao Ai doesn't know.

He happened to be blocking the only way to the placement site.

Naomi turned pale with fright and instinctively tried to back away, but Ai gently tugged at her clothes from behind.

Ai raised a finger to her lips, shook her head, and gestured to Naomi not to be afraid.

The two huddled close to the cold cabin wall, barely daring to breathe, inching forward step by step.

The chill from the metal floor shot up from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and Naomi could even clearly hear her own heartbeat.

She held onto Ai tightly, preventing her from moving forward.

That person was blocking your way, how dare you go past him? He was resting with his eyes closed, not asleep!
Ai doesn't care.

She patted Naomi's hand, signaling her not to be so nervous, and pulled her forward.

Naomi felt like she had lost her mind, actually letting Ai pull her along like this.

The moment they brushed past Bourbon, Naomi froze, terrified that he might suddenly open his eyes or just cough softly.

However, Bourbon remained in that languid posture, as if he were blind, with his eyes closed, seemingly resting.

He ignored the two living people around him who were fleeing for their lives, as if they were just two wisps of transparent air.

"Bang~"

"Ow~"

As she walked over, Ai accidentally bumped into a metal pipe, and the pain made her cry out.

Naomi was terrified. She quickly covered Ai's mouth and observed Bourbon's movements.

Bourbon, however, was not only blind but also seemed deaf, and he didn't hear the commotion at all.

He closed his eyes, took a small sip of coffee, and then showed no further reaction.

Naomi blinked and looked at Ai.

Ai was clutching her foot, tears welling in her eyes. She had really been in a lot of pain, but her face remained expressionless because she was scared.

Naomi's lips twitched slightly.

Are they really running away?
After Ai calmed down, she pulled Naomi along and continued walking forward.

After the two walked around the corner and confirmed that Bourbon was not chasing after them, Naomi's legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground.

She clutched her wildly beating chest, looked back in disbelief, and then glanced at Ai beside her, who was unusually calm.

"That was close."

"It hurts."

Naomi looked at Ai, unsure of what to say.

What exactly is going on with these kidnappers?

One of them delivered a communicator but didn't lock the door, and he didn't even tie the person up properly.

One vodka was frantically sharing tips and tricks, telling everyone where to find diving equipment and how to get out of the submarine, without holding anything back.

There's another one now, which has also started "auto-blocking" mode?
The two not only swaggered past him, but Ai, in her nervousness, even stumbled and accidentally knocked over a nearby iron pipe, making a loud "clang".

But Bourbon was like a robot that had been completely de-energized, not even lifting an eyelid, completely oblivious to the commotion right in front of him.

Is he standing here to prevent the hostages from stealing equipment, or to protect the hostages?
Is this really a prison break?
Naomi felt this was a bit too casual.

The kidnappers gave them the green light the whole time, practically wanting to pack them up and send them home.

Suddenly, Naomi began to wonder if this was some kind of reality show.

After overcoming numerous difficulties, Ai and Naomi finally arrived at the room below the bridge, near the stern of the submarine, where the equipment was stored.

"Thank goodness, we finally made it here." Ai breathed a sigh of relief.

Naomi breathed a sigh of relief.

Where exactly was it 'dangerous'?

I feel so relaxed and at ease. (End of Chapter)