Chapter 201: Just Thinking About It Is Awkward

Day 12 of the Highway Survival Game!

There's no need to deduce who the victor is; it's undoubtedly Amanda's opposing party. In other words, the force that seized her father is likely the behind-the-scenes manipulators of the party that has held the US presidency for most of its history.

Without Japanese involvement, if the 'Silver Bullet' development data was obtained from his own father, and given the enormous profits represented by the 'Silver Bullet' after its release, the United States had no reason to share the spoils with Japanese pharmaceutical companies.

They will share some of the profits with Japan, which must be because they have a compelling reason to compromise. Considering the Japanese government's dismal response to the Scotland incident, and Ai Haibara's long-term hiding in Japan, being hunted by her organization and unable to leave...

The United States was able to learn about the Miyano couple's "Silver Bullet" project through its spies stationed in Japan. After discovering that there were initial results, the United States planted a large number of people in the organization to investigate, and even allegedly kidnapped his own father.

Given that Japan is a domestic power and the Miyano couple never concealed their research objectives, the existence of the 'Silver Bullet' could not possibly have been hidden from the Japanese government, nor from the fact that Japan is a country controlled by capital.

Japan, too, has its share of ambitious individuals who yearn to live longer and achieve immortality. Who wouldn't be tempted by the allure of eternal life? Shuichi Akai wouldn't be surprised if they did anything shameless for this research result that could grant them immortality.

He didn't feel that he had insulted those people with malice. The fact that the police had enough time to rescue him when he was exposed in Scotland is proof of this. The fact that Japanese pharmaceutical companies are involved in the future sale of the Silver Bullet is even more proof.

After all, Ai Haibara is currently trapped in the United States. Even if the Kudo couple are influential figures in Japan, they cannot smuggle her out of Japan. With Ai Haibara in their grasp, Japan has enough leverage to negotiate the division of interests with the United States.

However, if we follow this line of reasoning, was Jodie's eagerness to help Ai Haibara escape Japan after the full moon night, and her efforts to secure a spot in the witness protection program, her own idea? Or was it the intention of someone behind the scenes at the FBI?

He had assumed that Jodie had seen Vermouth's face, which showed no signs of aging, noticed Conan and Ai Haibara's maturity and high intelligence that were different from ordinary children, and had submitted Sherry's photo when he reported organizational intelligence to the FBI.

She had already realized that the organization possessed medical technology that could reverse aging, and deduced that Ai Haibara was Akemi's sister. Ai wanted to reunite with her and show her kindness, so she actively protected and helped her ex-girlfriend's sister in order to move her with her infatuation.

Looking back now, it was just wishful thinking on my part! Just like how I made up my mind before I knew the truth that I would never develop any unnecessary feelings for any member of the organization, how could Judy easily develop positive feelings for any member of the organization?

It's more likely that the FBI, acting behind the scenes, gave some kind of signal to Jodie, who had the most contact with Ai Haibara, which is why Jodie was so eager to persuade Ai Haibara to immigrate to the United States and join the witness protection program.

Heh... Once we're in the US, won't we be able to do whatever they want with us? The fact that they were able to realize Ai Haibara's importance so quickly shows that even without me as an undercover agent in the organization, the FBI is fully aware of the organization's intelligence.

They must have other spies within the organization. No wonder they deliberately devised such a treacherous plan to get themselves out of the organization. In their eyes, they weren't the only pawn, so there was no need to cherish or use them!

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However, there are no problems with the logic of these arguments, and no evidence is needed. I'm not going to put them in court and try them according to the law. Besides, even if they were put in court, how could those people, with their status, power, and wealth, possibly be brought to justice?

The problem is that he faces a very awkward dilemma: based on current reasoning, his father may have fallen into a disadvantageous position in a confrontation with certain people after he joined the FBI.

After the FBI discovers Sherry's defection and confirms the age-reversing effect of the 'Silver Bullet,' they will definitely shift their focus to Ai Haibara. In addition, they have also overheard that the world's time is constantly cycling between 2014 and 2015.

The timing of Shirley's defection was completely inaccurate. Under such circumstances, her father might suffer even more while trapped, and she was right under the FBI's nose.

The faked death was never a secret to James, especially since it had been exposed to Judy and Carmel a few days ago because of Bourbon's investigation. Under such circumstances, if he were to investigate those key medical research institutes in the United States...

This could instantly alert the mastermind behind the scenes. At that point, not only himself, but also his mother, brother, and sister, would lose their right to confront the other party, given that Ai Haibara is a more advantageous and controllable alternative.

Moreover, he did not want his father to suffer 17 years of imprisonment and torture. Ideally, he would want his father to be rescued like Scotland was, after the organization's research institute was destroyed 17 years ago, at the beginning of the crisis.

Even if it means he has to enter that game to survive, just like Scotland, and loses 17 years of the real world, he's willing to accept it, because he still can't imagine what would happen if his father was really kidnapped by those behind-the-scenes people in the United States.

If I've been trying to get the 'silver bullet' development data from him, given the US's so-called human rights and the principle that law enforcement shouldn't take lynching against suspects, they are actually among the most brutal countries in the world when it comes to criminals, often accidentally firing indiscriminately.

What my father did was completely illegal. How would they treat people who were kidnapped in private? Truth serum is just child's play. My father is a secret agent and has undergone rigorous training in this area. What else? To save his life, they probably wouldn't subject him to deadly torture.

But torture that is painful but not fatal, and various drugs that can destroy a person's spirit... When he worked for the FBI, he witnessed their methods for dealing with suspects who had insufficient evidence but were ordered to be eliminated.

He didn't want to see any of this, nor did he want to see his father, whom he had finally managed to rescue, transformed from such a wise man into someone controlled by drugs, his body and mind ravaged beyond recognition...

To achieve this goal, they definitely need to involve Gin's sister, since she is currently the only person from the future who can communicate with the present. Scotland and the others also need her cooperation to go back in time and intervene.

The problem is that in Gin's mind, he is a 'dead person' right now. If he suddenly appears in front of him and says, 'I'm still alive, are you surprised?', this suicidal act would not only be embarrassing, but it would also implicate those who helped him fake his death.

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Furthermore, given Gin's personality, even if I confessed my reasoning to him and explained that we no longer had a life-or-death feud, he would definitely not let go of the person who shot me through his cheekbone.

Not to mention that no matter what happens in the future, she certainly cannot let Gin kill her own family. She will definitely interfere with their investigation of the Miyano sisters now, which will only add fuel to the fire in their relationship!

It seems the only option is to try to persuade Bourbon and then contact Gin's sister through Bourbon to see what's going on. From what I overheard, Gin's sister is much easier to talk to than him, and they also mentioned helping Gin avoid this unknown loop.

Around April 2015, Gin's fate became unknown, and today's visit is for that reason. Based on what I overheard, they will definitely wait until this day in 2015 to re-enter the real world to check on the situation.

Before that, I need to find a way to persuade Bourbon! Also, I'm currently under FBI surveillance and can't investigate the research facility where my father might be imprisoned. I guess my mother and sister are also being watched, and as a celebrity, my brother can't get involved in this matter.

Therefore, the investigation of this matter may also need to be entrusted to Bourbon. In any case, Bourbon clearly showed today his intention to block the future release of the 'Silver Bullet' by any means necessary.

If he finds out that someone behind the scenes possesses another set of 'Silver Bullet' research and development data, and that failing to find it could create another 'Silver Bullet' crisis, he will definitely spare no effort to investigate it.

I just don't know what he thinks of those corrupt Japanese officials involved. That's something to keep in mind! Anyway, by this time next year, I must track down Bourbon and try to make direct contact with Gin's sister to ask them for help in saving my father.

Therefore, he needed to prepare enough benefits to entice them, or other things they might need, beforehand. Thinking about this, Shuichi Akai began racking his brains to figure out what Gin's sisters and the others would need in the game...

At the same time, before Bourbon could react, Gin, who was about to enter the next carriage, suddenly turned around upon hearing Vermouth's words, his cold eyes sharply fixed on Vermouth: "Vermouth! Are you sure that only Tsutomu Akai knows about the Silver Bullet?"

"Phew!" Vermouth was startled by Gin's murderous gaze, even though he wasn't pointing a gun at her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he didn't intend to attack her. With her shrewdness, she calmed down and thought it over for a moment.

He realized that Gin's words meant something different from what he had asked earlier, and explained with some confusion, "It's not that only Akai Tsutomu knows about the Silver Bullet, but that only Akai Tsutomu would use that name to refer to that drug that should absolutely not have been developed."

“Or rather, only a few high-ranking members of the organization have always referred to it as APTX4869, while we ‘ordinary members’ only know that it’s a poison that the organization recently developed!” Bourbon then realized the meaning behind Gin’s question.

With a half-smile, as if mocking himself, he uttered a sarcastic remark about how the organization had withheld information from them in this regard. Then, he looked up at Gin knowingly and said, "It seems that Akai Tsutomu might still be alive and has fallen into the hands of those who were planning to harm you!"