Disclaimer: Detective Conan is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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Shiho's feelings were complicated. When she first met Ritsu, she thought he was a rational genius, but she hadn't expected his sense of danger to be so weak.
She looked around, inspecting the facilities. There were no surveillance devices installed, which likely meant that that gentleman had intervened in the lab's setup.
After all, Gin was famously paranoid so the absence of surveillance cameras inside the laboratory definitely wasn't his decision.
"Alex, the organization isn't as simple as you think. No matter what happens, you must stay on guard. In here…" Shiho's youthful face turned serious as she said firmly, "you can't truly trust anyone but yourself."
What kind of experiences would make a child, someone who should still be enjoying her youth, say something like that, with such an expression?
Ritsu set the contract down and replied calmly, "I know. But I won't give up such a high salary… especially since the direction of the research interests me. There's no way I'd leave."
After all, he had finally found an opportunity to approach her with a purpose, step by step descending into the abyss, there was no turning back now.
"Suit yourself."
"So, can you tell me now? What kind of drug does the lab need to develop?"
Shiho shrugged. "We haven't received the details yet. But judging from what the organization has had me study… it's probably something that shouldn't exist in this world."
"Poison?"
"Something even worse than poison. Knowing that, do you still dare to research it with me?"
Ritsu didn't seem to care. Holding a black pen in his left hand, he casually signed his name at the bottom right of the contract, capped the pen, and said calmly, "There's nothing more frightening than the human heart. Even researching poison doesn't matter."
"You really are strange."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Noticing that only his contract was on the table, Ritsu asked curiously, "Where's your contract?"
At the mention of this, Shiho's mood soured. She replied irritably, "There isn't one. If they gave me money, it would make it easier for me to run away."
So she was working for free… and as a child laborer, no less.
Shiho caught the trace of sympathy in Ritsu's eyes and shot him an annoyed look. "Don't look at me like that. While we're still waiting for the materials, I suggest you get some rest. I'm going back to my room."
"Alright."
Ritsu felt there was no point staying in the lab, so he might as well return to the dorm and catch up on sleep. Turning right from the lab led to the accommodations arranged by the organization. When he opened the door, he noticed there wasn't even a window. Were they that afraid of people escaping?
If not for the relatively spacious room, it would feel no different from a prison cell.
After unpacking and organizing his belongings, Ritsu headed into the bathroom for a shower. Before he could even dry off, there was a knock at the door.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he wiped his wet hair with another towel as he walked over and opened the door without a second thought.
"Ah!"
The one who screamed at the doorway was, of course, Shiho. On her way back, she had spotted a vending machine in the facility. Wanting a drink but having no money, she came to ask Ritsu for some coins.
Who would've thought that opening the door would present such a shocking scene?
"Die, you pervert!"
Bang!
If Ritsu hadn't reacted quickly and stepped back half a pace, his nose would've made very close contact with the metal door.
That was a bad habit, he had subconsciously thought he was still living in a boys' dormitory, completely forgetting that a girl lived right across from him.
Ritsu quickly dried himself off, threw on proper sleepwear without even fully drying his hair, and went to knock on the door opposite him.
The door opened just a crack. Shiho cautiously peeked through the gap, confirming he was fully dressed before opening it wider.
"Sorry. I forgot this isn't a boys' dorm."
"…It's fine."
"So, what did you need?"
Shiho held out her small hand, expressionless. "Give me some money."
"??"
"I want a drink… but I don't have any money."
Ritsu hadn't expected her situation to be this dire.
"Dire" didn't even begin to describe it.
He returned to his room, took out two bills, and handed them to her. "Since we can only move around inside the facility, it should be fine to keep this."
"Thanks. When I get the chance to see my sister, I'll have her pay you back."
"No need. Consider it an apology for earlier."
"…Oh."
Back in his room, Ritsu closed the door and looked at the dark green shirt hanging on the rack. Lifting the collar, he checked the inside and sure enough, just as that person had said, there was a transmitter installed.
Lowering his footsteps to near silence, approaching swiftly, placing the transmitter, then drawing a gun and pressing it to the back of his head, this sequence alone spoke volumes about Gin's skill.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down.
Climbing onto the bed and slipping under the covers, Ritsu wondered whether someone like him, who struggled to sleep in unfamiliar places, could get a decent rest.
.
Thirty minutes earlier — Parking lot of Meisen Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Gin stood in front of his car with one hand in his pocket, while Vodka circled the Porsche 356A, carefully inspecting it. After completing his check, he reported, "Boss, no issues."
"No issues" included no tracking devices or listening bugs.
The reason Gin had Vodka inspect the car was to rule out the possibility that Ritsu had deliberately approached Shiho to infiltrate the lab. After all, someone who could remain that calm under his intimidation was a first.
Hearing the report, Gin's mood visibly improved. His impression of Ritsu rose but not to the point of trust.
"Mm. Get in."
Gin opened the driver's door and got in, plugging the lighter into the socket. Before the heating coil turned red, he glanced at Vodka in the neighboring car and said slowly, "He's a promising one."
Vodka knew exactly who Gin meant. He nodded with a grin. "Nanase's definitely promising. Shame his physical ability doesn't look like much."
"Physical ability can be trained. Tomorrow, take him to Lab No. 2 for a physical assessment. Send me the data afterward."
"Got it, boss!"
With a flick of his wrist, Gin tapped a cigarette out of the pack, lit it using the car lighter, and stepped on the gas as smoke curled upward.
Meanwhile, Vodka pulled out his phone and called the person in charge of Lab No. 2, informing them to arrange a physical examination for the next morning.
"Vodka-san, is this for human trials of the new drug?"
"No. Just a routine physical check."
"Understood. I'll make the necessary preparations."
"Mm. That's all."
He didn't start the car right away. Instead, he opened the glove compartment in front of the passenger seat. Inside was a stack of photos, Ritsu's life at Columbia University.
If the physical test results showed he had potential… then it would be worth building a good relationship with him.
With a sly grin, Vodka stuffed the photos back in and finally drove off.
He might just be getting himself a new underling.
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