Survival Manual of the Science Fiction World

As soon as I arrived there, I heard a client in the agency talking about how he had been misdiagnosed and had asked Silver Fox to kill him.

Why not use that money for anything else? Instead of hiring a hitman who often accidentally kills you, why not hire him? It's safe, painless, and you can even customize your own death script.

Chao Wenzhao, speaking with a Kansai accent, said, "I had no choice. I just thought I didn't have many days left to live—"

Kogoro Mouri didn't believe it, but Chu Ming did. As a sniper, he clearly saw someone on the opposite rooftop, holding a sniper rifle but without any intention to kill, and the muzzle wasn't even aimed at the person's body.

"Danger!!" Conan shoved Shio Bunzo aside, and Kogoro Mouri also shielded Ran and lay down on the ground.

"Brother Chu Ming, watch out!!! Get down quickly!!" Conan happened to look up and saw Chu Ming standing casually by the window without moving, which terrified him.

"This is the human outline assassin you hired? He's a bit of a noob—" Bullets whizzed past him, none of them hitting him.

"And—Uncle Mori, where did you buy your new table?" The bullet hit the table but didn't penetrate it; instead, it bounced off.

This is a table that Xiaolan could smash through with one punch, what kind of trash gun is this?

"Uh, I must have made a deal with Silver Fox. I wanted him to kill me during my favorite mountain-climbing event. What I just said was probably just his warning."

Chao Wenzao managed to smooth things over: "We'll have to wait until tomorrow to really carry out the killing, so let's talk about the details now, Mr. Mori. I'll compensate you for your losses!!"

"Alright, alright, I'll help you find the Silver Fox!"

Conan stared thoughtfully at Chao Wenzhao, then turned to Chu Ming for a conversation: "I have a feeling he's hiding something—"

“They’re definitely hiding it. What kind of lunatic would hire a hitman to kill themselves, unless they’re using themselves as bait?” Chu Ming carefully recalled the case from his memory, only remembering the gist. “I just saw the news on TV. Silver Fox accidentally killed a kindergarten girl. Do you think it’s possible that he was avenging his daughter?”

Entrapment, brilliant.

"Then we need to keep a close eye on Mr. Chao tomorrow. He absolutely mustn't do anything foolish."

"Paying back debts and avenging murder are things that should be done in kind," Chu Ming said casually.

Conan looked disapproving: "Killers like Silver Fox should be dealt with by the police. How can you do it yourself? Wouldn't that throw society into chaos?"

Chu Ming didn't argue with Conan: "Oh right, you're right."

Conan felt like he had punched a cotton ball. He had prepared a long argument to debate with Chu Ming, and his thoughts were almost finished, but Chu Ming unilaterally ended the conversation.

--------------

"Wow, the air here is so fresh! Brother Chuming, can you take a picture of me and Conan?" Ran said with a happy smile, wearing a yellow knitted hat. "The scenery in Danyuan Mountain is really beautiful."

"Yes, the air here is very fresh. Are you the first to participate in the mountain climbing activity?" A dark-skinned young man walked over. "I'm Kenichi Hirai. I joined the mountain climbing club in college and came here every year. Feel free to come to me anytime if you have any questions."

Kenichi Hirai laughed heartily, but his eyes were fixed on Ran Mouri with a hint of embarrassment.

"I'm Ran Mouri, you can just call me Ran. This is my younger brother~ And over there are my father and his friend."

"Hahaha, I am Mori-yama!" Kogoro Mori blurted out a pseudonym.

"Hello, I am Shingo Nose, a novelist. I hope you will take good care of me today."

A young couple carrying bags nearby came over after hearing their introductions: "Hello, I'm Kyoko Saegusa. We're not very familiar with the paths in the mountains. May we walk together?"

Xiao Lan waved gently: "Please take care of me on the way."

"Thank you. I'm He Bianhuang. Nice to meet you." The man carrying the large bag also came over.

Chu Ming was struggling to come up with a pseudonym, so he introduced himself upon hearing this.

"Hello, my name is Haidilao."

Chapter 121 How much magnetic field does Kogoro Mouri have?

Kenichi Hirai kept peeking at Ran. Conan, who was standing between them, realized that his small body couldn't block Kenichi's gaze from Ran, so he dragged Chu Ming over.

Disappointed, Hirai went to the phone booth and made a call to his uncle, the caretaker on the mountain.

Chu Ming glanced at the alley behind the phone booth and frowned. There was someone there; it seemed that Silver Fox was hiding there.

The group continued climbing up the mountain, and Chu Ming could sense that someone was following them.

As dusk fell, the group rested at the last rest platform, and then continued uphill to the mountain cabin where they would stay for the night.

Ran Mouri gazed at the afterglow of the setting sun in the distance. The golden sunset shone on her, as if draping her in a light veil. Conan stared at Ran's profile, gradually becoming mesmerized.

Xiaolan felt his gaze and turned to look at him: "What's wrong?"

Conan quickly lowered his head, his face turning red, and stammered, "Y-that's right—"

"I was just stunned by how good-looking you are." Seeing that Conan was speechless, Chu Ming said what Conan couldn't say for him.

Conan's face turned completely red.

Ran laughed heartily and hugged Conan tightly, exclaiming, "Conan, you're so cute!!"

To change the subject, Conan covered his face and asked, "Where's that dark-skinned older brother?"

"Tch, he probably ran away after his identity was exposed." Because Mr. Hirai was left-handed, Shio Bunzo was convinced that he was Silver Fox and didn't give him a friendly look the whole way.

On the other side, two people carrying large bags on a big rock suddenly looked at each other in alarm, whispered a few words, and then got up and left without resting.

"Ah—!!" Hirai Kenichi's scream rang out.

Chu Ming stood up and looked in the direction the voice came from: "It's over there."

Conan took the lead and ran over there. Below the platform, Kenichi Hirai lay on his back in a spread-eagle position, with a pool of blood beneath him. He had clearly been pushed off and died.

"Uncle, quick, let's go down and take a look." Conan led Kogoro Mouri down the side path.

Chu Ming was highly skilled and daring, so he simply found a protruding rock on the cliff and jumped down.

By the time Conan and the others arrived, Chu Ming had already finished investigating the scene.

"There was a dagger at the body, and a wound on the side of the face. It was probably because he fell off the cliff to avoid a throwing knife. Silver Fox is good at throwing knives, so this must be the one who did it."

"Go to the rest area and call the police. From now on, everyone should wait in the rest area until the police arrive."

"How could this happen? We're leaving. Who...who wants to listen to you!" He Bianhuang gripped the straps of his backpack, his face contorted with bravado.

"If you insist on leaving after a murder, you could easily be mistaken for the killer!"

"Damn it!" Kawabe Akira cursed under his breath, frozen in place by the roadside.

Dark clouds suddenly gathered on the horizon, and in an instant the sky darkened, and the rain began to pour down.

The group rushed toward the mountain cabin, and Xiaolan was startled when she opened the door.

A flash of lightning illuminated the scene inside the house, where an old man with a full beard sat with a sinister look in his eyes.

"Hurry up and dry yourself off, don't make the house dirty."

"Grandpa, are you the caretaker of this little house?"

The old man turned on the light with his left hand and managed a weak smile: "Yes, come in quickly, don't catch a cold."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and came in one after another.

Because he was playing the role of Ran's younger brother, Conan nudged Kogoro Mouri.

"Dad, hurry up and make the call!"

Good grief, last time you called me "Mom" and this time you called me "Dad," you've taken advantage of me completely.

"Sir, may I borrow the phone?" Kogoro Mouri picked up the phone to dial 110. "Hmm, why is there no sound?"

The manager, who was busy preparing dinner nearby, glanced at it and said, "It's probably just that lightning snapped the phone line. It's nothing unusual."

Chu Ming glanced at the administrator's crude disguise but did not reveal his identity.

After finishing their meal, there were no entertainment activities on the mountain, so everyone lay down immediately.

In the middle of the night, Chu Ming was awakened by a murderous aura. He saw He Bianhuang pull out a dagger and silently approach Kogoro Mouri.

Chu Ming's eyes widened with excitement. How much magnetic field would be generated if Kogoro Mouri were killed?

He held his breath nervously, watching the knife get closer and closer to Kogoro Mouri.

Chapter 122 Go to Hell to Find It

"Uncle, watch out!" Conan, who hadn't fallen asleep, covered his ears and inadvertently turned his head to see this scene.

Kogoro Mouri tilted his head slightly, and the knife pierced the pillow beside his ear.

"who!"

Seeing that Kogoro Mouri was alright, Chu Ming turned on the light with a sense of disappointment.

The dim light illuminated the room. The bed that should have belonged to Takanashi Wataru was empty, and the half-closed door creaked in the wind outside.

"Someone ran out! It was Mr. Gao Li! He's gone!"

Conan quickly put on his clothes and ran outside. Kogoro Mouri and Bunzo Shio chased after him, but seeing that Silver Fox was still inside, Chu Ming didn't follow.

His gaze lingered subtly on the large bundle that Akira and Kyoko Saegusa had just placed beside their bedding, as he plotted how to sneak away with that tiny bit of scrap.

As dawn approached, the three who had gone out still hadn't returned. Xiaolan looked outside with worry and anxiety.

"Why haven't Conan and Dad come back yet?"

"Then let's split up and go out to look for them," Chu Ming suggested.

The few people who remained inside nodded and went out.

Chu Ming turned around and returned to the cabin, just in time to see Huang embracing his girlfriend by the river. Suddenly, he grabbed a dagger and stabbed her viciously in the right hand.

"Kyoko, don't blame me, you were the one who said you were going to call the police first—" Kawabe Akira muttered to himself, just about to let go of Kyoko's body, when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his back.