Conan looked at Roy, silently marveling to himself: This man's features were undeniably strikingly handsome, deep-set eyes, sharply defined bone structure, the kind of face one wouldn't soon forget.
And somehow, he always felt that Roy was surrounded by an intangible fog, as if concealing secrets unknown to others, mysterious in a way that made one want to uncover them.
What caught Conan's attention even more was that Roy seemed to carry an indescribable air of nobility, the bearing of someone long accustomed to a high position and used to commanding the situation; even though he was currently chatting in a relaxed, pleasant manner, that deeply ingrained confidence occasionally showed through.
Thinking that Haibara Ai had actually opened up to this Roy, even willing to share matters concerning the life-or-death Black Organization, Conan found himself even more curious about Roy's identity.
Someone who could earn Haibara's trust to such a degree was certainly no ordinary person.
"Heh, the way he talks about a fiancé, maybe there's actually something to it."
Conan snickered to himself, his mind conjuring up the image of Miyano Shiho, that perpetually aloof face.
Just thinking that this woman, who usually kept everyone at arm's length, might actually have a close relationship with a man struck him as stranger and more captivating than any detective story.
He couldn't help but sneak a glance at Haibara Ai out of the corner of his eye, trying to catch a clue from her expression, but as if sensing his gaze, Haibara Ai acutely noticed his prying and, mortified, shot him a fierce glare, one that carried both a warning and a hint of undeniable awkwardness.
Seeing this, Conan wisely reined in his nosy tendencies, reminding himself that now wasn't the time to pry into private matters.
"Doctor, Roy has just arrived and isn't familiar with the area. He'd like to stay here temporarily. Is that okay?"
At that moment, Haibara Ai swiftly steered the conversation back to the main topic.
Before this, she and Roy had fabricated a plausible identity and backstory to pave the way for Roy's sudden arrival.
The suggestion to stay here had actually come from Roy.
First, it would make it easier to protect Haibara Ai's safety, ensuring she remained out of the Black Organization's reach.
Second, as a hub of activity for the "main cast," being in the center of frequent incidents might yield unexpected gains, which would greatly benefit some secret mission Roy was working on.
"Well, there are certainly plenty of empty rooms, but since no one's lived in them for a while, they're probably pretty dusty."
Dr. Agasa said as he scratched his head lightly, a warm smile on his face.
Since Roy appeared to be a close friend of Haibara Ai, letting him stay here temporarily was naturally no issue at all.
After all, Dr. Agasa had plenty of rooms, and he always enjoyed having a lively home, more people coming and going added some vitality to this little lab.
"It's okay, Doctor. I'll help him clean."
Haibara Ai immediately said, smiling.
Conan stood to the side, eyeing Haibara Ai with suspicion, a glint of nosy curiosity flickering in his gaze.
He couldn't resist teasing her. "Oh? Haibara, you're being so proactive. That's a rare sight."
Haibara Ai's cheeks instantly flushed bright red, and she shot Conan a fierce glare, her eyes carrying both embarrassment and irritation.
Then, without drawing attention to it, she snuck a glance at Roy, as if to see if he had heard Conan's remark, before lowering her head and falling silent.
Dr. Agasa watched the two bickering and, instead, laughed with delight. He genuinely enjoyed this lively atmosphere, having people coming and going at home always made things feel more vibrant.
Moreover, Dr. Agasa had noticed that since Roy's arrival, Haibara Ai really seemed to have relaxed quite a bit.
Before, although she never spoke of it, he could sense the fear and unease in her heart.
She was terrified the Black Organization would harm those around her, and that invisible pressure kept her perpetually tense and anxious.
But now, Haibara Ai seemed no longer to have only fear and unease in her eyes, which brought Dr. Agasa great relief.
Perhaps, for Haibara Ai, Roy's arrival truly signified a new beginning.
And so, Roy settled in.
Haibara Ai even took the initiative to help with all the arrangements.
She went from shop to shop, helping Roy get the essentials he needed.
Roy stood aside, quietly watching her figure, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"After all, you crossed the boundaries of time and space to come to my world," Haibara Ai said softly, her voice still cool, though her cheeks held a faint trace of awkwardness. "As your host, I should at least do the honors."
Roy smiled faintly at her words.
Yet as an Admiral in the world of One Piece, Roy still had many matters waiting for him.
They agreed on a time for his next visit, and Roy returned to the world of One Piece.
Watching his figure recede into the distance, Haibara Ai, for reasons she couldn't quite name, began to feel a twinge of reluctance.
"What's wrong with me? It's not like I won't see him again."
Haibara Ai gave a brisk smile and turned her attention to the chat group.
"What a wondrous thing it is."
Haibara Ai mused.
Meanwhile, Roy was back in the familiar world of One Piece.
He felt that time and space around him had finally returned to normal.
He recalled how, when he had been in Conan's world and asked Haibara Ai about dates, each day brought a different Valentine's date.
He had also looked at a calendar, one day it might be Sunday, the next Tuesday, the day after Friday, completely without pattern.
Now, at last, things were back to normal. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Turning his attention once more to Conan's world, Roy felt a sense of realization stir within him.
He finally understood why the chat group praised chaotic, disordered worlds so highly, treating them as treasures.
In Conan's world, time seemed to flow by a unique set of rules, unlike the world of One Piece or the world of Naruto that he knew.
He had spent half a day there, only to return to the world of One Piece and find that only a brief moment had passed. This temporal discrepancy left him in awe.
"So this is the peculiar nature of a chaotic and disordered world."
Roy reflected silently. This difference in time undoubtedly offered explorers more possibilities, even if that world was a low-martial one.
Even more strangely, when Roy circulated the power within him, he seemed to sense a subtle shift, though not obvious, it was definitely there.
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