Chapter 874 This is not our strong suit

"......"

Upon realizing who was on the other end, Conan was momentarily stunned.

But before he could speak, Kita Aya Otogo spoke up again.

"This is the private number I left with Bechfinger. Where did you get it from?"

His tone carried a hint of doubt and displeasure.

Upon hearing this, Ai Haibara immediately explained, "Don't misunderstand, this was left to me by Behefinger. I called you today to... ask for your help."

Kita Ayane paused for two seconds before speaking softly, "I see. No wonder he hasn't called me. So he was leaving this only chance for you."

"...He did appear selfless."

He moved slightly away from his phone and muttered something quietly, then said simply, "Address."

Ai Haibara told him the location of the Kudo residence.

Immediately afterwards, they heard the sound of a chair moving on the floor coming from the phone, and then Kita Ayane spoke again: "Tell me the details."

Once she was sure he had really agreed, Ai Haibara breathed a slight sigh of relief, and then Subaru Okiya described the whole story in detail.

During this time, Kita Aya listened in silence, occasionally asking a question in a flat tone.

After understanding the whole situation, he hung up the phone.

Liu Qingyao also carried Xiao Zhenzhi, who had changed her clothes, back to the living room.

Nearly half an hour later, Kita Ayane brought Percy to the gate of the Kudo residence.

Conan and the others were already waiting, and they ran over to him the moment they saw him.

Percy nodded to them as a greeting, then, acting as Kita Ayane's professional mouthpiece, said, "We need to check on his condition and situation."

“Makoto is inside, but he’s still unconscious,” Conan explained.

Although Kita Ayane and Percy were both lawless church members, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing while Makoto suffered.

These are two different things.

Percy helped Kita Ayane into the house, and after helping him sit down, he had Liu Qingyao carry Kawasei Machi to the side.

As soon as Liu Qingyao approached, Bei Lingyinwu reached out and touched Chuan Shengzhenzhi before moving his hand to Chuan Shengzhenzhi's cheek and smoothing his waist-length hair.

His long, slender, fair fingers stroked Xiao Zhenzhi's long hair. He paused for a moment, then suddenly untied the cloth covering his eyes and opened his unfocused eyes.

Kita Aya lowered her eyes, seemingly looking at Kawasei Machi.

"Wake him up."

He uttered a few words softly and withdrew his hand from the long, light pink hair.

Liu Qingyao paused for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, "Okay."

He gently woke Xiao Zhenzhi.

Chuan Shengzhenzhi fainted and then woke up, his face full of confusion. He stared blankly at Liu Qingyao, as if he had no idea what had happened.

Until a cool voice rang in his ear, "Sit up."

Kawasaki Machi subconsciously turned to look at him, his expression still blank.

Having no other choice, Liu Qingyao had to manually change him from lying down to sitting up.

Kita Aya Otoko cupped Kawakita Machi's cheek with one hand and took out a pocket watch from the inside pocket of her coat with the other.

He pinched Zhenzhi's cheek and said calmly, "Look into my eyes."

"Huh? I..." Kawasaki Machi looked completely bewildered.

"Don't speak." Kita Ayanego's tone was slightly cold, containing a hint of unquestionable authority.

Zhenzhi silently shut her mouth and stared blankly into his eyes.

The people around him didn't know what he was planning to do, but they could only stand quietly and wait.

Kita Ayane pressed the pocket watch in her hand, and the watch immediately began to tick, its crisp ticking sound deafening in the quiet living room.

Kawasaki Machi's expression gradually became blank, and his body became slightly limp, but because his chin was being pinched by Kita Ayane's hand, he still maintained his gaze towards the other person.

The pocket watch chimed nearly sixty times.

The tracking stopped with a snap on the sixty-seventh attempt.

Kita Ayane also let go of his hand, opened the pocket watch and then closed it again.

"The liquid that Death injected him with was a gene recombinant agent that is still in the research process, and there will be two possible outcomes in the end."

He calmly stated, "The first is that the genetic recombination fails, resulting in death. The second is that the genetic recombination succeeds, and the people of Death will appear and take him away to serve as a new batch of 'symbiotic' experimental subjects."

"You should know what 'symbiosis' is from... Chino, right?"

“Yes.” Conan and the others nodded, then frowned and asked, “Isn’t there any way to disrupt the effect of that gene-recombining agent?”

“No.” Kita Ayane played with her pocket watch and answered without hesitation, “Biological research is not one of our church’s strengths.”

"The only thing you can do is make a choice. Either hand him over to me and I'll have my men develop a destructive agent, or do nothing and let nature take its course."

Everyone fell silent.

Kita Ayane wasn't in a hurry. He had Percy help him put the bandage back on, and then leaned back against the sofa, his fingers hooking the chain of his pocket watch and gently swaying it.

Conan and the others looked at Kawasaki Machi, who was sitting quietly in Liu Qingyao's arms like an autistic child who was indifferent to the outside world, and finally chose the first option given by Kita Ayane.

But before agreeing, they asked a few questions.

Where will you take this true knowledge?

Kita Ayanego: "Private hospital."

"Could we have someone stay with him at the hospital?"

Kita Aya: "Sure, please go ahead."

"Would you restrict Zhenzhi's personal freedom?"

Kita Aya Otogo: "Do whatever you want until he loses control of himself."

After asking several questions, they received answers that satisfied them.

They breathed a heavy sigh of relief, but Subaru Okiya had first consulted with Machimichi Kawasaki himself before doing so.

After all, it's their choice to agree, and his own thoughts are also very important.

Kawasaki looked slightly bewildered, but he nodded in response to their gazes.

Conan and the others went to help pack up Machi Kawasaki's change of clothes.

During this time, Liu Qingyao accompanied Zhenzhi.

However, Conan and his friends also went along this time.

Because it is a private hospital, it does not receive many patients.

Kita Ayane led them directly to the top floor.

The medical staff on the top floor greeted him as soon as they saw him, "Young Master Bei Ling."

Their gazes paused slightly when they landed on Liu Qingyao. They opened their mouths, instinctively wanting to greet him as well.

Liu Qingyao ignored him, as if she hadn't heard him.

Percy stepped forward, waved to them, and gave the order: "Next, we need to develop a potion. Everyone get ready; we're about to begin."