Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

......

A secluded safe house.

The blindfold used to block out vision was removed, and the sudden burst of bright light made Tohru Tono unconsciously squint.

Sofa, planning board, curtains that are always closed, shelves full of guns and ammunition, and a safe huddled in a corner.

It's one of the organization's safe houses; I've been there many times and the design is almost identical, so it's easy to recognize.

With his hands and feet numb from being bound for so long, Toru Tono straightened up with some difficulty to relieve the stiffness in his back muscles.

Although activating [Adrenaline Burst] would make it easy to break free from the seemingly tight ropes... I still want to see what this person's purpose in kidnapping me is.

"Very calm."

The person walked up to you.

The scarf used to cover his face had disappeared without a trace, revealing his dashing and handsome face, and his medium-length hair tied back like a samurai's.

Shinji Kamijou, the so-called "youngest police inspector in the National Police Agency," was someone I had just met in the previous case.

It seems this is the undercover agent within the Metropolitan Police Department that Amuro Tooru mentioned.

While it's somewhat surprising that such an outstanding person was an undercover agent, it makes perfect sense in retrospect.

Just as the people who infiltrate major intelligence organizations are all elites with ridiculously high work efficiency, like Shuichi Akai and Rei Furuya, it is quite reasonable that the people sent by the Black Organization to the Public Security Bureau are also aces.

In addition, the Black Organization itself possesses vast resources... so it's perfectly normal for them to quickly promote an already outstanding person to a higher position.

Toru Tohno didn't say anything, and Shinji Kamijou smiled at him.

"I just wanted to have a normal conversation with you... but why did you have to notify the police?"

The police actually came to our door on their own initiative...

On this point alone, Tohru Tono felt he was innocent.

"Now that's the case, I can only force you to do things you might not like." Shinji Kamijou rubbed his neck, seemingly experiencing some discomfort in his cervical spine.

Tohru Tono noticed a red hair tie on his left wrist.

Do you have a girlfriend?

If I were an undercover agent, wouldn't that be a bit too much of a scumbag?

"But don't worry, he is a very useful inventor after all. As long as you cooperate, you don't have to worry about losing your life for the time being."

"Don't even think about saving yourself. There's no phone line in this safe house, and almost no one else lives nearby... The police won't come looking for us either—I'm absolutely confident of that."

Shinji Kamijou comforted him, and at the same time walked to the window and secretly opened a small crack to observe what was outside.

He's absolutely right. This place is remote and located on the edge of the jurisdiction, making it almost impossible for Tokyo police to find it.

But just to be on the safe side, he would check the outside situation every fifteen minutes to make sure they weren't surrounded.

"Excuse me for asking... what do you intend for me to do?"

Tohru Tono uttered his first words after arriving here.

“Hmm… I don’t know the specifics of the job either; it all depends on the other person’s arrangements.” Shinji Kamijou glanced at him with interest. “To be honest, you yourself don’t have any real value to me… Do you know about gift-giving?”

“During holidays and festivals, some people like to give fruits, milk or other gifts to those who hold a certain position of power in order to foster a relationship.”

"Some might even cater to their tastes, gifting high-end bicycles to cycling athletes or antiques to collectors..."

Shinji Kamijou looked at him and smiled, "Do you understand now? You are the bicycle I bought."

......

Without untying the ropes binding his hands and feet to the water pipe, Shinji Kamijou left him with enough water and food before leaving.

Listening to his conversation on the phone before he left, he said he was just going to take care of some things temporarily and would be back soon.

Tohno Toru wasn't going to force himself to do anything, so he simply activated [Adrenaline Burst] to break free of the ropes, and then immediately deactivated it.

He had tried it before. Activating the skill for a period of time and then deactivating it would not directly weaken him; it would only consume a lot of energy in his body. Only after activating it for more than five minutes and then deactivating it would he become weak due to insufficient energy in his body.

The energy consumed in the instant of activation can be easily replenished by eating a few calorie bombs like donuts.

Tohru Tohru moved her wrist, which had been marked with red welts, and got up to find some dessert in the refrigerator.

He sat down on the sofa with a huge pile of things in his arms and began to ponder the real reason why Shinji Kamijou, the undercover police inspector, was doing these things.

Chapter 122 Flood washed away the Dragon King Temple

Based on the available intelligence, he wanted to contact me because he saw me as a "gift".

They originally wanted to communicate properly, but under pressure from the police, they had to resort to more extreme measures.

In other words, he is useful to the other party and does not want to resort to force unless absolutely necessary.

He has two public identities: a detective and a fledgling inventor.

The detective's reputation was somewhat due to the media coverage of the Morizono family case, but that was all; it was impossible for him to catch the eye of an elite undercover agent in the Black Organization.

Given his position within the Metropolitan Police Department, it's highly likely he knew about his cooperation with the First Investigation Division.

In other words, Shinji Kamijou only contacted him because of his inventor abilities.

...Does he want me to develop some strange invention for him? Or is he going to work for the Black Organization?

Tohru Tono took a bite of the donut and felt the heat explode inside her.

I don't understand him.

......

The "buzz" is the black phone vibrating.

After glancing at the caller ID, Tohru Tono put on his voice changer and answered the phone.

"Where are you?"

They got straight to the point.

"Huh? Of course I've just gotten home from school and am having a nice dinner right now!"

Despite saying that, he pulled out a plasma gun with his free left hand and fired a few shots at the floor.

The subtle sound was easily caught by Amuro Tooru on the other end of the phone.

Ignoring what "Starlight" was saying, Amuro Tooru frowned.

'Is this a gunfight?'

Although I don't know why he still has time to answer the phone, it fits the stereotype of "starlight".

"Can it be solved?"

"I said we're having a meal... it should only take about an hour, okay?"

What kind of meal takes an hour to eat? Even if it's a reason, it's too perfunctory.

"Let's meet at the usual place in an hour."

Amuro Tooru didn't say anything more.

"Okay, see you then."

Without asking why, I pretended to be in a hurry and hung up the phone.

Strange, what does Amuro Tooru mean? Shouldn't he be frantically searching for "Tohno Tooru"? How come he has the leisure to call and arrange a meeting?

Something feels off.

For the first time, Toru Tohno felt the lack of crucial information, which left him completely clueless about what had happened.

In that case, let's ask the guy who's probably the cause of all this...

"Kara"

The front door to the entrance was opened, and Shinji Kamijou reappeared with a gloomy face.

It seems things aren't going smoothly.

"you?"

Shinji Kamijou entered the room and saw Toru Tono sitting on the sofa eating snacks; his pupils dilated slightly.

First, they were surprised at how the other party had untied the knot on the rope. Second, they were astonished that after escaping, the other party did not immediately run away, but instead leisurely ate snacks here.

"Shh." Toru Tohno raised his index finger.

This time, he pulled out a silver plasma gun and pointed it at Shinji Kamijou's forehead.

"I was originally planning to play around with you and see what you were up to... but something came up, so it's definitely faster to just ask directly."

He patted the sofa cushion next to him. "Sit down."

Shinji Kamijou, as expected of an elite member of the organization sent to infiltrate the police force, showed his surprise for only a moment before it vanished without a trace.

He looked thoughtfully at the plasma gun in Tohru Tono's hand, then sat down next to him.

"You...are also a member of the organization?"

Nobody told him?

"Me? No, why do you say that?"

"Then where did you get this gun?" Shinji Kamijou was clearly not like Gin, who only loved Beretta antiques. "I remember it was a newly developed product in the organization."

With a look of "So you're one of us," he relaxed and walked over to sit next to Tohru Tono.

"You mean plasma guns? Although they are rare, they can still be obtained if you are determined..." Tohno Tohno was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly seemed to sense something and jerked his head back.

The next second, a sharp blade flashing with cold light slashed past his eyes.

"call out"

The incredibly fast sound of the blade cutting through the air didn't even start until after it had already passed.

Tohno Toru leaned against the sofa, his right hand moved slightly, and he fired a shot.

The plasma gun grazed the edge of Shinji Kamijou's cheek and shot straight into the somewhat decaying shoe rack in the entryway.

Thick, sticky blood trickled down his cheek and onto his chin. The steaming gun barrel made him afraid to make any further moves.