Conan: What alias? That's my struggle!

The Porsche 356A's engine still maintains its low, muffled roar.

The car windows were tightly closed.

The carriage completely shut out the night and the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Only the lingering smell of burning nicotine remained in the car, permeating the cramped space. Gin's cigarette butt burned to the very end, making his fingertips slightly numb, before he slowly raised his hand and stubbed it out in the car ashtray, his movements swift and indifferent, without the slightest hesitation.

The tension he felt during his call with Madera hadn't left a trace on his face; only a barely perceptible hint of apprehension lingered deep in his eyes.

It was so fast it felt like an illusion.

Vodka, sitting in the passenger seat, didn't dare to breathe loudly the whole time. Only when Gin extinguished his cigarette did he hesitate to turn his head to the side, his rough voice breaking the silence in the car.

"Brother, is it... a bad idea to let Madeira contact that woman?"

His tone was cautious, and his eyes darted around, clearly showing a deep-seated fear of the man named Madeira.

Upon hearing this, Gin slowly turned his head and glanced at Vodka with a cold, piercing look, filled with undisguised mockery, as if he were looking at a foolish, clown.

"Do you think Madeira will feel sympathy for that woman?"

His voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of sneer and disdain at the end. His fingertips tapped lightly on the steering wheel, making a rhythmic sound.

It's as if it's mocking vodka's naiveté.

Before Vodka could speak, Gin's lips curled into a contemptuous smile. His gaze returned to the dark road ahead, his tone carrying an almost indifferent calm, yet every word carried a chilling undertone: "Madeira is a madman, a madman who treats the whole world as a chessboard and everyone as a pawn."

"In his eyes, everything in this world is just a game for his amusement, and even I am just a dispensable NPC in his eyes."

"I have no doubt that if I were to give him a mission to kill me right now, he could use his [Soul Soothing] to blast my head open the next second, without the slightest hesitation or mercy." The tapping of Gin's fingertips grew clearer, and the fear in his eyes gradually became apparent.

Vodka's body stiffened abruptly, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

"Brother, it's not that I'm afraid he'll sympathize with that woman, it's that I'm afraid that bitch will say something too nasty and anger Madeira. You know, his catchphrase is 'Kill them all!' What if he suddenly gets impulsive and kills that woman and everyone in the base? Then our entire plan will be ruined!"

Vodka felt a chill run down his spine under Gin's gaze. He quickly chuckled awkwardly, waved his hand, and spoke with a mix of panic and explanation.

Upon hearing this, Gin's mockery faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. Silence returned to the car, broken only by the continued roar of the engine. He remained silent for a moment, clearly aware of the hidden danger in Vodka's words—and so, without further hesitation, Gin slowly took out his phone.

His fingertips swiped rapidly across the screen, dialing the lab's number.

"Shirley, the person who came to pick you up is Madeira. You'd better keep your mouth shut, otherwise, no one can save your life."

……

The elevator stopped on the third basement level, and the doors opened.

The scene before him made Lin Ye pause for a moment.

The third basement level housed a massive research facility, its space illuminated by bright white lights, making it as bright as day. Along the corridors were rows of transparent laboratories, filled with various instruments and equipment he couldn't name. A faint smell of disinfectant mingled with the odor of some kind of chemical agent permeated the air.

At the end of the corridor was a heavy metal door, with two armed guards standing by it.

Upon seeing Lin Ye emerge from the elevator, both guards tensed up and gave a crisp salute.

"Mr. Madeira!"

Lin Ye nodded and walked to the metal door.

The door opened.

Behind the door was a small reception room, simply but tastefully furnished—a sofa, a coffee table, and a few potted plants. On the coffee table sat a cup of steaming black tea, and on a saucer next to it were a few biscuits.

But Lin Ye's gaze did not linger on these things.

His gaze fell on the sofa.

A person was sitting on the sofa.

a woman.

She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her skin was so fair it was almost translucent, and her features were as delicate as porcelain. She wore a white lab coat over a dark turtleneck sweater, giving her a cool and aloof appearance.

Hearing the door open, the woman looked up at Lin Ye.

Those were very beautiful eyes.

They were filled with fear.

"Madera...sir, thank you for your help." The woman forced a smile, clearly uncomfortable with such an expression and flattery.

"Um?"

Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat.

It wasn't because of her beauty.

It was because he recognized the woman. Dark long hair, a white lab coat, a cool and aloof demeanor, and being under tight surveillance by the organization—the woman's identity was obvious.

"Are you the asset we're transferring today?" Lin Ye heard his own voice ask, his tone so calm that even he felt unfamiliar with it.

The woman tilted her head slightly, a faint smile curving her lips.

"assets?"

She repeated the word, her voice pleasant, with a hint of sarcasm, "So this is what they think I am."

This was meant to mock others, not Lin Ye.

Lin Ye did not respond.

He walked to the coffee table, picked up the document next to the black tea, and quickly glanced through it.

The code name written on the document shattered his last shred of hope.

Sherry

[Department: Drug Development Department]

Current Status: Pending Transfer

Lin Ye put down the documents and looked at the woman on the sofa again.

Shiho Miyano.

Sherry.

The developers of APTX-4869.

The woman who will become Ai Haibara in the future.

She is no longer that calm and wise elementary school student, but a scientist under tight organizational control, an important figure being transferred as an "asset".

Lin Ye suddenly felt a headache coming on.

He thought the "important assets" that Gin had him transfer were money, gold bars, jewelry, or a safe containing the organization's secrets.

I didn't expect it to be a person.

He's still a troublesome character from the original work.

"Damn it! If I get involved with this kind of character, won't I be dragged into the main storyline?" Lin Ye was annoyed by the troublesome task he had been given, which made it difficult to escape.

His expression terrified Shiho Miyano.

In a short time.

All the information about Madeira that Gin had just sent her resurfaced in her mind. The details weren't important; she only remembered that Madeira would inevitably say one thing and do another when she got annoyed.

"Kill them all!"