The Phantom Thief of Heart! But Conan

"No matter how many times I see this place, I still feel it's exaggerated every time I see it." Standing in front of the isolation door, Miyano Akemi looked at the three bright red arrows on the wall where she couldn't feel the material, and the sense of absurdity came back to her. heart.

She knew that as the founder of Cognitive Hexology, even after discovering the nature of the organization, he had been working in secret and delaying the progress of the project. Karasawa Ikawa's influence in this regard cannot be ignored - in the palace of Pisco, they I have fully seen the various effects of those fancy K words.

But in the impression space that represents the collective subconscious of the public, it is still strange to see such marks on the partitions on each floor.

"Perhaps, his influence in practical applications is greater than we expected." Thinking of the "Tang Ze School" hanging above his head, Tang Ze could only shake his head helplessly, "When entering the impression space, I I didn’t expect that this kind of theory that sounds like metaphysics not only has many supporters, but also treats him as a spiritual leader.”

"Then you took the lead in dissecting the children of the spiritual leader, right? No wonder the organization recruited people from among them." Xingchuan Hui rolled his eyes after hearing the cause and effect.

"Let's take a look at what's down there first." After rubbing the back of his neck, which had been bumped by the car, Tang Ze walked towards the isolation door, "This time we should reach the entrance to the next area..."

The eighteenth floor is already hell, don’t add more, don’t add more, just recreate a wave of passionate tower climbing. If you are a man, just go to the 200th floor, right?

Tangze, who habitually opened his third eye to look for interactive locations, saw something very familiar at first glance.

In the center of the wall, the shadow of a red line penetrated the wall and fluttered slowly. It was exactly the same as what Tang Ze saw when he first saw the lower isolation door of the Impression Space.

how? Are you coming to eat snakes again?

Karasawa, who was a little more alert, pulled off his scarf first to avoid another experience of almost being strangled to death by a prop.

Tentatively, Tangze moved the scarf in his hand forward and touched the red line in the middle of the wall.

As if attracted by something invisible, the red scarf immediately flew up, connecting with the red shadow, and the three red triangles on the door also lit up.

The red light swept across them all in an instant.

The familiar electronic female voice, with a flat tone and no ups and downs, rumbled throughout the hall like a broadcast in a subway station.

"New visitor detected."

"Visitor permissions are being confirmed..."

"Permission confirmed."

"Access has been unlocked."

"Welcome back, Karaze——Zi——"

The second half of the last sentence was drowned out by a harsh interference sound. When the pronunciation reached the second syllable of saw, it was completely impossible to distinguish the following content.

"...I almost forgot about this." Looking around at the isolation doors on both sides, which were crowded with dark shadows and the "shadow subway" that emitted red light through the doors, Miyano Akemi's hair stood on end and she couldn't help but He took a step back in the direction of his teammates and consciously formed a back-to-back defensive formation with them. "Ark, this sound is the same sound used to prompt you to open the game cabin. What kind of sound source is this sample? Or maybe , is this the sound effect you synthesized?”

"I didn't do it." Noah shook his head with a serious expression. "I am only responsible for the software part of the game. Those 'game cabins' actually provide me with the ability to use sensors to confirm people's identities and pull people into the game space. The medium... Speaking of the sound source of those prompt sounds..."

As he recalled, the data flow rolled in his eyes for a moment, and he slowly showed a look of confusion.

"It seems that it was automatically generated after the data connection was completed?" Noah frowned.

"Also, what does this 'Welcome back' mean?" Glancing at Karasawa, who was silently clutching one end of his scarf as if he was thinking about it, Hoshikawa Hui took the time to ask, "'Karasawa', what exactly?" Which 'Karasawa' you are referring to?"

"Uncle and aunt, have you really entered the impression space?" On this issue, Miyano Akemi was particularly confused.

She once asked Shiho in a subtle way whether he knew the existence of the cognitive world.

Compared to her part-time job during the holidays, Miyano Shiho is the real assistant to Ichikawa Karasawa and Leona Karasawa. Her academic background in life sciences and unparalleled academic IQ make her extremely capable in this cutting-edge field where there are no pioneers. It is normal for someone with rich advantages to be trained as an apprentice.

If she had an idea about this, then she would probably be able to accept it if I slowly told her about the Phantom Thieves.

What's more, she seemed to be aware of something.

Maybe it was still in the stage of suspicion and had not been confirmed yet, but when she occasionally came to House No. 22, the feeling of not daring to take a second look for fear of revealing some terrible secret was real.

"Seeing through without telling the truth is the professional quality of a Riddler." This is how Tang Ze commented.

However, Shiho's look of not understanding didn't seem like he was just pretending.

——This point has been certified by Karasawa. Shiho's acting skills are not that good. It is more difficult than expected for a smart person who has done relevant academic work for many years to pretend to be stupid. This may be the curse of knowledge.

If my uncle had really seen the cognitive world with his own eyes, there was no reason why he had to hide Shiho, who had the closest relationship with the couple, when he knew that he was not going to die soon.

But if the name after "Karasawa" is "Zhao"...

Miyano Akemi's eyes were also cast on Karasawa's silent back.

"Following common movie and TV drama routines," Naomi Asai, who didn't say a few words along the way because she didn't know much about it, said abruptly, "At this time, the joker should act out a split personality, or another black character should appear. A joker or something like that..."

Karasawa turned his head helplessly and glanced at them: "What kind of low-quality horror movie or toilet paper light novel plot is this? I said, hey, hey, hey, I'm just watching something, I'm not deaf, I made my voice low A little bit? What kind of split personality? It’s too cliche.”

"Isn't it?" Asai Narimi tilted her head, and the high ponytail behind her head swayed twice, "It's too much like a 'deliberately designed trap' or something like that?"

"Karasawa alter, right?" After making a remark that no one understood, Karasawa shook his head and continued to look down at the scarf in his hand, "Don't worry about the notification sound. It doesn't matter if it says 'Karasawa Ikawa' or 'Karasawa Lei'." Oona' or even 'Karasawa Akira' is fine, that's not the point now."

As he said that, Tang Ze gently let go of his hand, and the scarf automatically absorbed it back, rolled it up around his neck, and hung it there peacefully again.

The tail has grown another 20 centimeters - a small problem. Tang Ze had already predicted it when he saw Snake last time. His scarf looked like the one borrowed from the Journey movie next door, getting longer and longer. , sooner or later it will have to be dragged on the ground.

The brooch hanging on the scarf still stayed there peacefully.

However, on the thin golden chain connected to the brooch, there was an extra row of buttons for no apparent reason.

Originally this was just a decorative golden chain, with each link being the same size.

Originally, the focus of this brooch is the K-shaped part made of X alloy. The pins at the back and the feathers hanging on the other end are all designed to make it look more like a brooch and reduce the suspicion of the organization. Ornaments. If this fragment was not of a certain size and would be too conspicuous when made into a necklace, pendant, earrings, etc., it might not be a brooch.

But on this chain, there are inexplicably a few extra rings that are several sizes larger than the front and back rings, just like the connecting rings left on many chains to hang decorations.

And now, on the ring closest to the brooch, there is a dark pendant hanging.

Several people brought their faces closer to take a closer look, but none of them understood what was happening. They all turned their gazes to Tang Ze again, waiting for the answer.

Tangze's answer was to reach out and pull down the diamond-shaped, black crystal-like thing.

"I have to say, our own desire stone in Ke Xue World is just different."

"Ah? What did you say?" Xingchuan Hui's expression was stunned when he heard a string of unfamiliar words coming out of Tangze's mouth.

"I said, this thing is called the 'Desire Stone'." After spitting out this interdimensional taunt, Tangze, who felt relieved, switched back to the Japanese mode, pinched the small crystal and turned it twice, and then read out He read the "identification result" given in his toolbar, "As the name suggests, it is the crystallization of human desire..."

As he said that, Tangze's eyes couldn't help but drift to Noah's face.

Squeezing the hard crystal in his hand, Tang Ze stretched it out in front of Noah.

"Ah?" Noah looked at his movements blankly, not understanding what he was doing.

"Um, do you want to try eating one?" Tangze said with a very serious expression.

"Eat, eat? How to eat?" Noah tilted his head back and distanced himself from his fingers, "I don't need to eat..."

"Why don't you just give it a try? Eat one and crack it like melon seeds." Tang Ze suggested with a serious face.

"It's so good, why do you want me to eat this?" Noah asked incomprehensibly.

"Maybe if you eat it, you can feel something, the power contained in it, and learn human desires and so on. Then wouldn't you be able to become a human?"

It seems that the one in the audience that best fits Joseph's setting is Noah, an artificial intelligence robot that is not entirely human.

Although this kind of thing seems to be a new mechanism of the system at first glance, it is unlikely to be used to raise robots. It cannot be that his parents predicted that he would have a teammate who was not a human and gave him something to cultivate. Right?

But, what if, who knows what might be sewn out.

Under Karasawa's expectant gaze, Noah hesitantly took the crystal from his hand and bit it carefully.

"How about it?"

"Well...it's too hard to bite." Noah gave an honest answer.

"Stop bullying Ark." Taking the crystal out of Noah's hand, Miyano Akemi stuffed it back into Karasawa's hand angrily, "Anyway, it's also something produced by some cognitive world, right? You Just study it yourself, and if you don’t understand something, bring it to Shiho.”

Alas, it really isn't that simple.

Taking the crystal with regret, Tangze looked at his slightly changed brooch for a while and clicked his tongue.

"There are a few extra empty seats for no apparent reason. It's really unpleasant to see."

How should I put it? I feel like my equipment suddenly has a few more holes. I feel like the next step is to brush the entries and make inlays. If I am not careful, the gems will explode. I have a PTSD attack.

so……

"Go down, let me see what else is new." Taking a look at the wall revealing the steps below, Tangze cheered up, "Just in time to try the production mechanism of desire stone."

Looking at the desire stone growing out of his body - it's a bit strange why he has become a material output point, and now he has truly become a treasure demon - the desire stone in this world should not need to fill the maze by himself Crawling around looking for collection elements.

So now we need to test it. What kind of generation mechanism is it? Is it a naturally growing material? Will it grow if I brush the palace or shadow?

Anyway, if it's the latter two situations...

What, you look down on the level of hardcore players who can grind materials, right? I'm sorry for all the trash in Mikka Town!

Seeing Karasawa leading the way down with his head held high and his chest high, Noah's first reaction was to hide behind Miyano Akemi.

Miyano Akemi looked back at him strangely.

"Although I don't know why, I always feel that the leader suddenly burst out with inexplicable fighting spirit and fighting spirit." Noah whispered in a small voice, "It looks a bit scary."

"It's okay." Miyano Akemi patted Noah's head comfortingly and said pertinently, "We won't be the unlucky ones after all."

————

"Hey, a wedding invitation?" Mao Lilan, who had returned home after a long journey, answered the call from Suzuki Sonoko and said very unexpectedly, "Teacher Matsumoto, are you getting married?"

"Yeah, I'm surprised too." Looking at the wedding invitation in his hand, Suzuki Sonoko held her cell phone to her side and sighed with emotion, "After thinking about it, I haven't seen a teacher from a junior high school for a long time."

"Why was the notice so hasty!" Putting down his backpack, Mao Lilan glanced at Conan, who was leaning next to him with his ears upright, patted his head, and asked Suzuki Sonoko, "Ms. Matsumoto, it doesn't look like he knows how to do simple things. The one who made the decision to have a flash marriage?"

"Well, I've heard about it," Suzuki Sonoko casually chatted about the gossip she heard while picking up the magazine on the side and flipping through it. "It's not like a flash marriage. It seems to have been in love for several years, but The man is a rich young man, and it seems like something happened in the group."

"A rich young master?" Mao Lilan blinked in surprise, "Do you know him? What kind of person is he?"

"Yes, I saw the invitation. The man's name is Takasugi Toshihiko... If it's not the same name, I have met him at some banquets. He is the heir of the Takayama Group." He flipped through two more pages of the magazine. Suzuki Sonoko recalled her impression and replied briefly, "Well, Matsumoto-sensei actually fell in love with this guy, which is surprising."

"Oh? Is he not okay?" Hearing the implication of her best friend's words, Mao Lilan stood up, rolled up her sleeves and walked to the kitchen, holding her cell phone on her shoulder as well.

"The reputation is average. He seems to be quite gentle and doesn't have many of the bad habits of young masters. However, I heard that he has an indecisive personality and an unstable mentality. Many people are not optimistic about his inheritance of the group." Looking at the magazine. Suzuki Sonoko shook her head and turned to the next page, saying, "There are some ugly sayings that 'the Gaoshan Group will be destroyed in his hands sooner or later'..."

"Well, if you have a very soft personality, it will match well with Mr. Matsumoto." After imagining the other person's image, Mao Lilan raised the kitchen knife with one hand and touched the chopping board with the other, "Is it the man's intention to get married so eagerly?"

"It's probably something like that, inheritance rights will be recognized only after marriage, and you will have peace of mind only if you have the next generation." Suzuki Sonoko turned another page, "According to my father, it's all public opinion that drives up the stock price. .”

Mao Lilan's hand holding the knife paused, and he didn't know whether it was sympathy or lingering fear and said: "... It's really a lot of trouble to marry a rich man."

"Okay, this has something to do with the main business of each group and the history of the founder's fortune. It's not always the case... Hey, Xiaolan," Suzuki Sonoko, who had turned a few pages back, suddenly had her eyes lit up. "Do you want to go skiing? I saw a good advertisement for a ski resort. It seems like I haven't gone skiing in a long time..."

"Why did the topic jump so fast?" Mao Lilan, who was dumbfounded, suddenly felt a change in the touch of her left hand. She looked down and saw Conan running from the other end of the cooking table with a chopping board, and just handed it to her.

Seeing Mao Lilan's surprised expression, Conan grinned sheepishly.

How should I put it? At that time, he really listened to what Karasawa was saying about Mouri Kogoro one by one.

What "Self-care is what adults should do. If the wife doesn't do housework, the daughter must do it. What if a son is born and the two old men die at home together?" What "I don't want to be a criminal police officer because I neglect my family at work." Yes, it turned out that I left my job and my family was ruined, so whose problem is it?" and the like...

Well, in short, it is reasonable to stay at someone else's house and help the host's house!

"Thank you." Mao Lilan rolled her eyes as she watched Conan running back and forth.

"Eh? Why are you thanking me all of a sudden?"

"No, Conan was very obedient today."

"So, why don't you go skiing! Isn't it just a few days before the vacation? Oh, yes, you are going to the island, why are you back so soon?"

"Don't mention it, too many things have happened... Let's wait and see after the teacher's wedding is over? My father is still on the island and hasn't come back yet."

"But in such a hurry, if it only takes two days, the missing reasoning madman will definitely not be able to come, right?"

"Well, I guess so. I met his mother a few days ago. He is in the United States with his father now. Even if I tell him now, I guess..."

Hearing the chatter of the two girls, Conan felt more and more guilty as he listened. He picked up the garbage in the kitchen, tiptoed to the sofa, and picked up his mobile phone.

Chapter 2 today! Write a blast!