Survival Manual of the Science Fiction World

Conan swallowed hard, and seeing Ran's clenched fists, he couldn't help but shout, "Ran-neechan, calm down!! Don't smash the train—"

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Amidst their playful banter, the train soon arrived at its destination. Hattori bid them farewell and boarded the train to Osaka. Chu Ming went back to the detective agency with Conan and the others. When they left, the car picked Chu Ming up directly from his house. Chu Ming planned to hitch a ride with Kogoro Mouri to Beika Town, play for a while, and then go back. After all, there was nothing to do back home, but if the Mouri agency came looking for him with a problem, he could at least benefit from their influence.

Sure enough, as the group chatted and laughed as they went upstairs, they saw a girl in a sailor uniform with a pure and innocent face standing hesitantly at the office door. She tried to ring the doorbell several times but then withdrew her hand.

Conan asked curiously, "Big sister, what are you doing standing here?"

Kogoro Mouri, having paid his fare, walked at the back. Seeing everyone stopped at the door, he asked, "What's wrong? Why aren't you going in? Oh, does this young lady have something to ask me?"

Seeing a customer arrive, Xiaolan quickly helped her father by saying, "Miss, let's go inside and talk!"

The group walked in together. Xiao Lan hurriedly ran into the kitchen to prepare coffee, while Chu Ming, familiar with the place, sat on the sofa, hoping to get a chance to work at the table.

Several pairs of eyes stared intently at the girl. A little nervous, she fidgeted with her fingers and began to speak:

"My name is Akagi Ryoko. I'm here today because I want your help in finding someone. That person suddenly disappeared, and I don't know what to do. Here's a picture of him; we used to date. Please take a look—"

Akagi Ryoko handed over a photo, and Chu Ming and Conan craned their necks like giraffes to look at it.

Ok?

Uh-huh?

hmmmm?

Shinichi Kudo??

Chu Ming blinked, glanced down at Conan beside him, then at the photo in Akagi Ryoko's hand. This is explosive? Did my words come true?

Wow, what a show!

Chapter 67 Mr. Shinichi Knows Me So Well

Looking at the photo, then at Akagi Ryoko, and recalling Hattori and Chu Ming's words on the bullet train, Xiaolan's fists gradually hardened.

"You, and Shinichi, have, dated, before?" Ran Mouri asked, forcing out the words through gritted teeth with a smile.

Conan stared at the photo, equally horrified. He felt Chu Ming staring at him with the look of someone looking at a scumbag, and then heard Ran's angry question. He hurriedly waved his hands, "There... there must be some misunderstanding, like they look alike or..."

Akagi Ryoko was somewhat absent-minded and didn't notice the odd tone in Ran's voice. She hurriedly refuted Conan's words.

"There's absolutely no mistake, Shinichi and I have already reached the point of kissing!!!"

Good guy...

Chu Ming glanced at Conan with an incredulous look and exclaimed, "I never expected you, uh, he to be such a famous detective—"

Xiaolan was both embarrassed and angry, her face flushed red. Chu Ming guessed that if Shinichi Kudo appeared in front of her right now, he would probably be kicked into the wall.

So Conan, quickly say thank you to Gin. If Gin hadn't shrunk you, you would have been beaten to death by Ran by now.

Kogoro Mouri, stroking his chin, added fuel to the fire: "That guy, he said he had some case to solve, but it turns out he went off to date girls, really."

Seeing that Kogoro Mouri was about to add fuel to the fire, Conan hurriedly explained, "I think there must be some mistake—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiaolan interrupted him.

Her face was contorted with rage as she glared menacingly at Conan: "Adults speak, little kid, shut up!!!"

Chu Ming looked at Ran, who seemed to be possessed by Gin for a moment, and subconsciously sat up straight.

Ignoring the undercurrents among the people in front of her, Akagi Ryoko's tears streamed down her face: "If Shinichi-san weren't in my life, I would die! I can't, I can't go on living..."

Conan looked utterly dejected: "What the hell? Nobody believes me anymore—"

In order to prove that Shinichi Kudo is a scumbag, Kogoro Mouri started to pry and subtly asked Akagi Ryoko and Shinichi Kudo if they had ever performed any intimate acts of love, and that no one was willing to answer the phone when it rang.

Chu Ming was enjoying the gossip and didn't want to move at all. Only Conan looked at the group of people with helpless expressions and went to answer the phone.

Chu Ming's ears twitched. Following the wind, he heard a faint voice from the receiver—it was Professor Agasa!

"Okay, Shinichi-nii-san, I'll let her know," Conan suddenly shouted.

Chu Ming looked at Conan, who was planning to direct and act out his own scheme, but didn't expose him.

"It's Shinichi. What does he want on the phone?"

"Shinichi said he would call Ms. Quantum later and tell her not to worry."

Upon hearing that Shinichi was looking for him, Ryo Akagi stood up excitedly: "That's great!"

Ran, however, was quite displeased: "Anyway, let's go to Miss Akagi's house first!"

Conan blinked: "W-why...Shinichi-nii said—"

"Because Shinichi might also go to Ms. Quantum's house, so if we all go together, we can catch him!" Ran clenched her fist and smashed it through the table with a thud.

Her smile was gentle, yet she exuded a murderous aura: "Miss Quantum, this should be alright, right?"

Akagi Ryoko was startled by Ran's terrifying destructive power and obediently nodded.

Kogoro Mori slumped back in his chair: "I'm not going to get involved in these childish love-hate relationships. It would really damage my image as a famous detective."

Conan nodded in agreement: "Me too~"

After being glared at by Xiaolan with a threatening look, he obediently changed his tune: "I think, well, how about I, uh, go, go and take a look?"

Chu Ming stood up abruptly, his face seemingly righteous, but his eyes were actually full of eager anticipation.

"I'll go with you. That Shinichi Kudo is outrageous! We need to catch him and teach him a lesson!"

"Hey, hey—" Conan felt utterly speechless and thought it best to go to Akagi Ryo's house to see what was going on and clear his name of being a scumbag.

It was already quite late when I returned, and by the time I arrived at Akagi Ryo's house, the stars were already high in the sky.

Akagi Ryoko opened the door: "Everyone, please come in."

Xiao Lan took the lead and stormed in to catch the adulterers in the act.

Chu Ming finally had a chance to talk to Conan alone, and he nudged Conan's foot.

"What happened? You really betrayed Xiaolan? You got together with that Miss Quantum? Although Miss Quantum is pretty, she's not as beautiful as Xiaolan. Is this what they mean by 'the grass is always greener on the other side'? Are you getting tired of living and eating with Xiaolan lately? Looking for something new? Tch, that's scumbag behavior. Just you wait. If you really do something to betray Xiaolan, I'll introduce my colleagues to her. Our company's colleagues are all elites, we have all kinds of guys! There's the aloof and cold type, the loyal and honest type, the family man type, the muscular type... and even all kinds of beautiful ladies! We have whatever you want!"

With a snort, Chu Ming ignored Conan's dumbfounded expression and quickly went inside before he could react.

Conan froze for a moment, then immediately perked up. No, no, if he didn't solve the case quickly, he'd probably never be able to shake off the "scumbag" label!

He stared at the lock that looked like it had been pried open, and then went inside.

Chu Ming and Xiao Lan sat at the dining table, while Akagi Ryoko rummaged through drawers and cabinets looking for tea to brew for them.

Conan started searching everywhere as soon as he entered the room. Akagi Ryoko absentmindedly finished making tea and hurriedly turned on the TV to watch the soccer match. Ran asked her several times about Shinichi, but she ignored her.

A football match? This—Chu Ming vaguely remembered that this seemed to be—a kidnapping case?

Okay, I misunderstood. He just said that in his memory, Shinichi Kudo didn't have any other girlfriends besides Ran. Anyway, it's another day without any positive energy...

Chu Ming instantly slumped down, collapsing onto the table, completely listless. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Conan's bewildered expression and hurriedly rushed out.

It seems we've found some clues.

Sure enough, the phone in the living room rang a short while later.

Ryoko Akagi practically staggered as she ran over: "Hello—are you Shinichi-san?"

Seeing Xiaolan's indignant face, Chu Ming walked to the phone as if nothing had happened, reached out and calmly pressed the speakerphone button, but it seemed he was too late. Shinichi had already finished speaking quickly and efficiently, and was already at the end.

"—Send me the details by fax, the number is..."

After a brief visit to the Akagi family home, Conan had a basic understanding of the situation and explained it in detail over the phone.

Ran was furious. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "What's going on! What happened? Was that Shinichi on the phone?"

Akagi Ryoko felt a weight lifted from her heart. Kudo Shinichi learned about her situation and that Mamoru was saved. She was so excited that tears streamed down her face.

"I...I'm so happy because...because Mr. Shinichi knows so much about my situation—"

Chu Ming's lips twitched slightly: ? This ridiculously concise summary is truly a genius at summarizing!

Chapter 68 Chase

Hearing this ambiguous reply, Xiaolan was furious. She snatched the phone and yelled into the other end, "Where are you right now? Come out here and explain yourself!"

Huh? Xiaolan actually heard her own echo on the phone. She tentatively shouted again, and sure enough, her echo came through the receiver again.

"What's wrong?" Chu Ming asked as she suddenly shouted to those around her, "Is Shinichi Kudo at Ms. Quantum's house?"

"Yes, I heard my own echo on the phone..." Xiaolan's anger intensified, and she began searching everywhere.

Conan knew something was wrong and quickly hung up the phone.

Chu Ming lay on the table, feeling drowsy. He thought there would be some excitement to see, but it turned out to be just... not exciting at all.

"The ball's direction is unclear, is it a mistake? Oh~ Goal!!!" Chu Ming saw Akagi Ryoko looking tense in front of the TV, and when he saw the goal, he clenched his hands tightly in shock.

They practically threw the game out of control, yet they still managed to concede a goal. This team is just too weak.

Just then, a note arrived via fax: You have broken your promise and will never see your brother again!

Akagi Ryoko was in utter despair. She knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face and dripping onto the paper.

"What's wrong? Did Shinichi Kudo send you a breakup letter? Why are you crying like this?"

"No, it's—"

The phone rang again; it was Shinichi Kudo again.