The Phantom Thief of Heart! But Conan

"What is it?" Seeing Conan hurriedly take out his mobile phone, Tang Ze kindly leaned towards him and held the phone steady for him.

Therefore, the live broadcast on Conan's mobile phone naturally fell into Tang Ze's eyes.

"Ah, it looks like it's been debugged." The little boy's smiling voice came out, and the Phantom Thieves logo that danced quietly in the center of the screen was lifted off like a curtain hanging before the stage. A black-haired head poked out from behind, "Can you receive the signal already?"

"Noah's Ark..." As soon as he saw the boy's robot body with very obvious features, Conan recognized the other person's identity.

As if he heard Conan's voice outside the screen, Noah turned his eyes, smiled and waved: "We meet again, Detective-kun. I just said, we will definitely meet again."

Although Noah, who was hanging on Karasawa's bag, could see the elementary school student living upstairs in person almost every day, the joy he felt when seeing him now was definitely not fake.

Being able to stand in his own space again and meet him in his true form was an unfolding that Noah had never expected.

Noah's eyes swept over Karasawa himself, who was standing behind Conan and looking at the screen with a smile.

There is a group leader with wild ideas, and his life is full of shocks and surprises.

"What are you doing?" Conan, who had not yet realized what he had seen, just thought it was an image sent by the Phantom Thieves through the Internet, carefully observed Noah's appearance, and asked tentatively, " Do you want to change the way to contact me?"

"Huh? Can't you see?" Noah stretched his hands behind him, grabbed the curtains on both sides and pushed them outward.

On a stage that looked somewhat familiar to Conan, two lines of large characters in the style of a newspaper clipping were displayed there.

[The Phantom Thieves special program is live now! 】

【Noah's Ark Amphitheater】

"After some time of preparation, we have restarted the stage and can't wait to show it to everyone who has participated." Noah turned around in a circle with his arms spread out, his face filled with joy, "Welcome our guests this time ——”

The screen went dark, then brightened again, and the camera focused on a woman's face.

She was wearing a yukata that she changed after bathing, and she tried to open the closed door of the Japanese room with a panicked look on her face. Due to her nervous state, her very fashionable wavy curls were stuck to the side of her face with sweat, and the corners of her eyes were carefully decorated. Fine lines are also exposed.

This is the missing Yumi Horikoshi.

Conan looked at the picture on his phone, then looked up at the Japanese room in front of him, feeling a strange sense of absurdity in his heart.

There is a high probability that Yumi Horikoshi was taken to a place similar to the current environment by the well-prepared Phantom Thieves. It is even said that they may have used the technology of Noah's Ark to directly generate a space that is the same as reality in the game. , making Yumi Horikoshi unable to notice the change in position, so that she tried in vain to escape here.

Although he understood this, comparing such a similar scene with the empty room in front of him, he still couldn't help but think that Yumi Horikoshi was here, but existed in a dimension they couldn't see. feel.

"Did you kidnap Aunt Horikoshi Yumi?" After dispelling this strange feeling, Conan did not forget Joker's previous preview and his own speculation, and asked, "Is she in your game world now? ,Noah's Ark?"

"This can't be called abduction... We just want her to participate in a test that can prove herself." Noah's clear voice came from the speaker.

Immediately afterwards, the confused Horikoshi Yumi suddenly heard a slightly ethereal child's voice, and was caught off guard and couldn't help but let out a scream.

"Who, who is it!" Yumi Horikoshi trembled with trembling lips and pressed tightly against the wall behind her. Her legs went limp and she slowly slipped to the ground.

Noah turned the camera at the right time, so that Yumi Horikoshi's taut body appeared in the frame.

Completely different from Conan's nervousness, the relaxed Karasawa watched this scene with interest.

I don't know if it was some kind of fate, but the position where Yumi Horikoshi was slumped happened to be the place where her body originally sat.

She really seemed to be listening to the verdict, sitting there stiffly, listening to Noah's children's voice with some electronic sound texture echoing.

"Hello, Ms. Yumi Horikoshi. Have you heard of the 'Phantom Thieves of the Heart'? Ah, judging from your face, you must have heard of it. So, have you heard of the holographic virtual game?

"Anyway, please allow me to formally introduce myself first. I am the artificial intelligence Noah's Ark, the manager of the holographic virtual game, and Ark of the Phantom Thieves of Heart."

Horikoshi Yumi breathed heavily until Noah was quiet for a few seconds, as if waiting for her answer, and then said with a trembling voice: "Holographic virtual game? You mean, this is a game?"

"That's right. Although you can't feel it now, after the brief dizziness when you stepped into your room door, you were already in my game. How about this level of simulation, is it enough to make it fake?"

Noah's voice was filled with a slight smile. He was really proud of it.

Being able to use the Different World APP to start and complete the conversion in such a short period of time, including the simulation and modeling of the environment, can be done so quickly without seeing any difference. He really feels that his abilities have improved.

Perhaps, this is the change brought about by the physical form he actually has in the real world after leaving the game space.

Even in the form of a rag doll, he could actually touch the real appearance of the world, and feel the blowing of the wind, the flowing of water, and the burning of the sun.

Along with this experience, he gradually gained some understanding, and his ability to build the world has ushered in a further upgrade.

Now, it's time to test the results.

Subconsciously touching her face, she lowered her head and groped for the clothes on her body and the tatami at her feet. Yumi Horikoshi was in disbelief: "Is this a game? Impossible, this is impossible...ah!"

The moment she questioned, a bunch of fire suddenly burned at her feet, igniting her bathrobe. Then, before she could scream in fear and pain, the flame suddenly disappeared, and her yukata was set on fire. The corners and floor returned to their original state at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Virtual reality games are amazing, aren't they, madam?" Noah's smiling voice sounded again, "Don't be afraid, you won't really be hurt."

"Then what do you want me to do when you grab me here?" Yumi Horikoshi asked in a trembling voice.

Horikoshi Yumi was shocked by the scene in front of her. Listening to Noah's clear and lovely gentle voice, she knew very well that this not only proved to her that she was indeed in the game world, but also clearly expressed that, Failure to cooperate is more of a threat in a way that makes you miserable.

She is proud and sarcastic at heart, but her ability to live peacefully to this day depends on one of the few advantages in her character - knowledge and knowledge.

Especially when the contrast in power is stark and she actually has no choice.

Very satisfied with how quickly she gave in, Noah let out a chuckle.

"Haha, don't be nervous, Ms. Horikoshi, we won't hurt you. Please take the time to come here, just because I want to play a game with you."

————

"Snapped!"

With a powerful and heavy blow, Ayashiro Yukio, who was swinging the racket, pumped the board very confidently. The small ball flew past the edge of Moori Kogoro's racket and landed on the table.

"Woo! Victory!" After scoring the last key point, Ayashiro Yukio raised his hands high and cheered cheerfully, "Kogoro, you have regressed. It seems that you have neglected to exercise in the past few years! "

"Cunning!" Mouri Kogoro moved his elbows dissatisfied, "You still like to play tricks so much! Come again!"

"That's how Yukio is, otherwise how could he deceive our club manager?" The chubby Omura Jun stood up with a smile, "Come on, Kogoro."

After saying that, he stood up, walked past Mao Lilan and Nakamichi Kazushi who were sitting on the side, and opened the door of the billiard room.

"Where are you going, Omura?" Nakamichi Kazushi raised his eyes and looked at him strangely.

"I'm going to the bathroom."

"It's your turn next, so move faster!"

"Know it--"

"Well," watching the door of the billiard room closed again, Nakamichi Kazushi cheered up and looked at the curious girl next to him again, "What did you just say?"

"Speaking of your results in the national competition." Mao Lilan, who has been practicing karate, said with interest, "I heard that, Uncle Nakado, you have won an individual championship in the national competition?"

"It did happen, but that was all during my junior year." Kazushi Nakamichi smiled sheepishly, "It was just that one time, it was just a fluke."

"But so to speak, you are indeed the strongest master in the judo club?" Mao Lilan showed a shining expression of admiration.

"No, there is actually a guy in the club who has a higher level than me! But he has never won even one championship..."

"Hey, who is it?"

"You know him too, isn't he just——"

"Tsk-" The sound of the wooden door being opened interrupted the conversation between the two of them, and Jun Omura came back with a pale face and beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Hey, you can do it fast." Nakamichi Kazushi teased. Seeing Omura Jun still standing there with no movement, he couldn't help but feel strange again, "What's wrong Omura?"

"No, it's nothing..." Omura Jun casually took off the short haori of his coat and stuttered, "Um, it's my turn, Mouri, change someone else."

"Don't rush me, hey, why do you look so ugly?"

"I feel a little uncomfortable after the wind. It's just right for me to do some exercise..."

————

"Do you understand what I mean, Ms. Yumi Horikoshi?"

Yumi Horikoshi covered her mouth, her face turned blue and white, and she looked straight ahead without making a sound.

Yumi Horikoshi believes that although she has many emotional flaws, she has never caused any major harm to the extent that her life was threatened.

She never interferes in other people's feelings or destroys other people's families. She just likes to use her beauty to attract the opposite sex and enjoy the feeling of being a hunter... This may be a bit bad, but it really comes to the point where she needs to be killed for it. ?

In addition, even though she didn't think she had caused any harm, having her despicable little thoughts pointed out by a child-like voice in a straightforward manner still made people feel extremely embarrassed, a kind of embarrassment and pain of being stripped naked and being scrutinized.

"So... what game do you want me to play? It's Kazushi Nakamichi who wants to kill me, but it's not me who wants to kill him!" Yumi Horikoshi trembled with excitement and said fiercely, "I just want him to give me an explanation. Why did you hide the blind date from me and hide the fact that I was getting married... If I hadn't discovered it on my own initiative, maybe I wouldn't have known about it until he got married!"

She always believed that she had a handle on the middle path and her will. Even though there were many quarrels and years of separation and reunification, she always had the initiative and was ready to come and go when the other party called her. Yumi Horikoshi felt the deception from this kind of deception. Insults and provocations, as if her eighteen-year relationship with Kazushi Nakamichi and her belief that she knew everything about this man were all her own fault.

Yumi Horikoshi, who calls herself a hunter and thinks she is the leader, cannot tolerate this kind of development that is out of her control.

"He has been entangled with me for more than ten years, and now he wants to leave me, marry a woman who is more valuable to his future, and use this marriage to climb the ladder of success... He is dreaming!"

Horikoshi Yumi's sharp voice echoed in the small Japanese room, making Conan outside the screen couldn't help but cover his ears.

Women's cries and screams were one of the things he feared most.

"Did you all investigate this?" Looking at Yumi Horikoshi, who was obviously right, Conan was surprised. "It only took one morning for us to meet her. Is this also your 'ability'?"

"That's pretty much what it means." Noah replied in a smiling voice, "Name, location, and a certain understanding of this person. The villains in this world have no secrets for us."

"Is that so..." Conan raised his eyebrows and expressed no doubt about his statement.

This statement is obviously not absolute, or it has a limited scope. If it is really that simple, why hasn't the joker, who is very difficult to deal with the organization, not gone to overthrow the black organization?

They are obviously wary of the organization.

On the one hand, the joker is actively sabotaging the organization's actions - you see, the Noah's Ark in front of you, isn't it just the wool he harvested from the organization?

On the other hand, his ability seems to be related to the organization, and he may be restrained in the organization...

Thinking of what Noah said just now, Conan raised his eyebrows and keenly captured something.

"Name, position, biography...could this be the reason why the organization insists on using codenames?" Conan pinched his chin and thought, "Well, the organization seems to have a lot of understanding of 'Cognitive Mysteries' Yes. Is this the reason, Tangze?"

The best explanation for this problem is undoubtedly the children of the leading researchers in cognitive science in organizations.

So Conan raised his head and looked at Karasawa.

Tang Ze stared back at him speechlessly.

Although, Conan's guess is correct to a certain extent...

For example, the essential reason why Karasawa has not packed up Gin, Vodka, Ireland, Bermod and others, changed their minds, or simply killed them, is that although he relies on the power of spoilers, he can identify their identities and even learn about them. ’s real name, but I really couldn’t find where the palaces of these people were, so I had to give up.

However, is it really necessary to insist on the code name? Isn't it normal for a criminal organization to have a code name or something? Who is the mafia without a hint of chuunibyou?

You have to twist the story towards Death Note, right? 6.

Facing Conan's expectant eyes, Karasawa blinked and honestly gave a good answer: "I don't know."

"Stop guessing, detective, you only need to know that we have the same purpose as you, that's enough." To stop the primary school students from continuing to use their brains to persecute the leader himself, Noah no longer paid attention to the two audience members sitting there looking at each other. , turning his attention back to the only player in his game.

"As long as you clear our game, we will solve the problem of Nakamichi Kazushi for you. He will completely lose interest in you, and may even forget all the harm you did to him in the past. You can leave without any psychological burden. How about ?”

"...Can't we change another condition?" Horikoshi Yumi's eyes flickered and she said softly, "For example, let him forget about the person he is dating, give up the idea of ​​getting married, or something like that."

After she said this, the room was quiet for a moment, and then Noah's laughter started again.

"Even in this situation, you will not forget to persecute others... You have the nature to be a predator. Unfortunately, hunters who lack strength and overestimate their abilities are destined to be backlashed by their prey." Although he still used a childish voice, Noah There was a hint of worldly sarcasm in his voice, "Are you sure you want to use this as a reward for passing the level?"

"I'm sure." Seeing that Noah didn't veto his proposal, Horikoshi Yumi breathed a sigh of relief and puffed up her chest, "Anyway, you won't let me go back, right?"

"The deal is established." The false simulated light source in the room changed rapidly, as if the time outside the window suddenly entered the dark night, and a faint point of light floated in front of Yumi Horikoshi, "Then, the last step. Sign this contract Well, we, the Phantom Thieves of the Heart, are an organization that respects contracts and never forces people to accept our methods."

Conan's expression dropped as he watched this scene, and his eyes immediately turned into half-moon eyes.

Never force... Isn't it forceful to tie someone up first and then negotiate terms?

Yumi Horikoshi raised her hand and touched the light spot. The next second, a piece of white, shining paper fell into her hand, with a few large bold characters printed on it.

"User Agreement".

[I have read the user agreement and confirm that I voluntarily participate in the holographic virtual game developed by Noah's Ark. 】

【Yes(10s)/No】

She lowered her head in stunned silence and looked at Yumi Horikoshi, who had stretched down from her hand and landed on the ground with more than half a meter of paper rolled up: "..."

Where are you, you look like you want others to look at you!