Koto Ward, Tokyo, on an artificial island, inside a pharmaceutical research institute.
It was already night, and most of the researchers had left work, but the interior of the institute was still brightly lit.
Especially inside a certain mysterious research room that all the researchers talked about, it was still a scene of busy activity.
Although Haibara currently had the appearance of an elementary school student, she was wearing a white lab coat and a pair of glasses on her nose, looking exactly like a young genius researcher.
In the laboratory, her eyes were sharp. She held a flask, occasionally shaking it gently, then walked to the computer and frowned as she stared at the various data on the screen.
"This substance is still too mysterious. Pure chemical methods can't fully synthesize it. Or perhaps I need to teach myself physics and see if I can try a new synthesis method under physical conditions?"
"It would be even better if I could find the original form of this substance. I could analyze its composition more accurately, thereby reducing its danger."
"I might even be able to reverse-engineer this chemical formula and completely create an antidote."
"But where did Father and Mother find this mysterious substance? They didn't leave behind any information or clues."
Haibara sighed softly. Even for a genius like her, facing something this strange and almost mystical still gave her a headache.
Just then, the door of the research room suddenly moved, as if someone had opened it from the outside.
Haibara was startled and asked in a low voice, "Who?"
Haibara's face tensed, and she instinctively leaned back until her back pressed against the wall.
No one was allowed to enter this research room. It had multiple layers of protection.
Now that someone could silently get in here, Haibara guessed that the person had come for her.
"Sherry, so you've been hiding here. You made me search for you for so long."
"I didn't expect you to turn into this childlike appearance. No wonder I couldn't find you."
A dark figure walked into the research room, and the crisp sound of leather shoes echoed across the laboratory floor.
Especially that slightly hoarse voice. It made Haibara's expression change in horror, and her body trembled as she recalled the things she feared most.
A black figure appeared in her beautiful deep blue pupils.
Dazzling long blond hair, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, a fedora on his head, a pistol in his hand, and eyes as cold as a vulture's. Anyone who saw him would feel a chill down their spine.
"Gin? How are you here?"
"Sherry, although the security here is strong, it can't stop me."
Gin pointed his gun at Haibara and sneered. "A traitor to the Organization must accept a traitor's fate."
"Wait, I've returned to the Organization! I'm working for Rum now!"
"Rum? He's also a traitor. I will kill him according to That Person's request. Besides, is the current Rum really that Rum? He must have been replaced long ago."
Haibara's face turned pale, and she murmured, "How could this be? How do you know all this?"
Suddenly, Haibara realized something was wrong.
Although the Gin in front of her was exactly like the Gin in her memory in terms of tone, expression, and eyes, he lacked the most important thing.
That was right. It was that aura, the aura of the Black Organization. Haibara was most sensitive to this type of presence.
She had been startled just now, which was why she had not noticed it. Now that her mind had calmed slightly, she discovered the flaw in this Gin.
"You're not Gin. Who are you? Vermouth? Or..."
Haibara asked tentatively.
Gin sighed and said, "Haibara, your performance makes me very dissatisfied. You only realized now that this Gin was fake."
"Especially your expression just now. It nearly exposed the fact that Rum has been replaced."
"Although you consider yourself a genius, you are still not mature enough when facing critical situations. You must remember to remain calm and composed no matter what, even in life-or-death moments."
Toru took off his wig, peeled the disguise mask from his face, and simultaneously removed the black trench coat he was wearing.
Haibara's face turned red, and she walked up to Toru indignantly. Under Toru's puzzled gaze, her small foot kicked his calf hard.
But in the next second, Haibara grimaced as an intense pain shot through her foot.
Were this guy's bones made of steel?
She turned away, not letting Toru see the embarrassed expression on her face, and snorted coldly. "I'm just a researcher, and I don't claim to be a genius."
"I can't be like you people, who can remain calm even when facing life and death."
But despite saying that, Haibara was filled with shame.
Toru was right. Her performance just now had been too poor.
If the real Gin had appeared here, Haibara would have probably exposed the whole truth.
But what could she do? Her fear of the Black Organization was deeply ingrained. Even though a large part of the Organization was now controlled by Toru, Haibara would still fear it.
The one she feared most was Gin.
Perhaps only when Gin died could she truly step out from that trauma.
To avoid embarrassing herself further, Haibara quickly changed the subject. "You finally decided to come back from America?"
"I was doing serious business this time."
"Of course I know. I saw it in the news. CIA Director Spencer is dead. Does that mean you won't be hunted by the CIA anymore?"
Haibara's tone was hopeful and anxious, and her two small hands instinctively clasped together.
Compared to the Black Organization's pursuit of her back then, she was more worried about Toru being hunted by the CIA.
The Black Organization was, at most, an international criminal group. Escaping their surveillance was not too difficult.
But behind the CIA was America. Even Bin Laden could not escape. Being targeted by the CIA meant there would almost be no peaceful days.
Toru nodded happily. "You don't have to worry about the CIA anymore. They won't come looking for trouble with me again."
Haibara breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "That's great. That way, Fujiwara, you won't be in danger either."
Her expression straightened, and she asked again, "Why did you take so long? I thought you would be back soon."
Thinking that Toru had gone out with her grandaunt this time and spent so much time alone with her, Haibara felt a trace of jealousy deep down.
It was because that grandaunt looked very similar to her when she was a child, and the adult Mary was of greater help to Toru, which gave Haibara a sense of crisis.
What people feared most was someone similar to themselves, but stronger in a certain area.
"Is Haibara jealous? To clear myself of suspicion, I naturally couldn't go straight back to Japan. I had to circle around Europe first and eliminate any suspicion."
Toru said it with a smile.
He would not be foolish enough to mention the days he had spent with Mary on the Atlantic Ocean.
"Who's jealous of you?"
Haibara snorted coldly, walked to the chemical reagents, picked up a flask, and began shaking it.
Wait a minute. What was the liquid in this flask for? Wouldn't it be dangerous to shake it randomly?
Haibara's mind was a mess right now. She could not calm down at all.
Just as Toru was about to say something, his phone suddenly vibrated.
He took out his phone and glanced at it.
The message was from Momiji?
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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