"APOTOXIN-433 was discontinued three years ago due to... insufficient funding?"

Morofushi Jingguang looked at the yellowed paper documents in his hand. It was the first time he saw such a plain and simple reason in the organization.

He subconsciously looked at Bermode.

The blonde girl scanned the information with her slightly raised eyes, her expression showing a hint of mockery.

"Why? The organization refuses to approve funding for experiments every year. This is just one of them. After all, the research only yields one result."

"What experiment did A undergo?" Zhu Fu Jingguang felt his heart beating faster and an inexplicable feeling of weightlessness came over him.

Abolition three years ago - three years ago he and Zero just got code names in the organization, and in the same year they came into contact with A.

By that time, Matsue Shigure had been "dead" for four years.

Bermode tapped his lower lip, showing a rare sympathy: "A attacked the organization's firewall that year, trying to destroy both sides. The boss wanted to teach him a lesson, and that group took the initiative to ask to be with him, saying that they would train A to be a qualified tool."

"Tools only need two functions: to be useful and to be obedient."

Vermode's body also needs the drugs produced by the organization to stabilize, so she often appears in the laboratory.

There was no shortage of people watching this first experiment to drag light into darkness.

Bermode still remembers that time, she saw A with his limbs tied to the medical bed, his eyes blindfolded, and his body covered with wounds.

In order to prevent him from committing suicide, his mouth was blocked with a cloth strip and he was kept alive by nutrient solution.

Next to him, the crazy scientists were arguing in front of him about whether to "erase memory" or "instill memory".

"The technology must be preserved, but the consciousness is not!" the man said, "Anyway, the gentleman just wants a 'proof of punishment for provoking the organization', so why can't we experiment with more things?"

He even leaned over and patted A's face: "What are you going to choose?"

"ha!"

Bermode heard a chuckle emanating from A's throat, a mocking laugh.

It turned out that he had been awake all along.

So, the final result of the discussion was that we wanted both.

They successfully broke the bird's wings and branded them with heavy lead blocks engraved with the organization's mark.

When she returned to the laboratory, she saw either a drowsy young man trapped in the room, or a violent and out-of-control beast on the verge of losing itself.

However, out-of-control tools still pose a risk of injury, and they must be corrected to keep the out-of-control situation within a controllable range.

So...A, who was extremely afraid of the dark and had difficulty walking, was born.

While listening to Vermode's story, Morobushi Kagemitsu involuntarily flipped through dozens of documents in his hands. He seemed to be reading quickly, but in fact he didn't read anything.

The voice of Bermode in my ears gradually became blurred, and collided in the air into a distorted, harsh and strange sound.

The data in hand did not explain A's experimental process, but only coldly recorded his "being used" time and time again, from the initial confusion to the success of just a few sentences later... many pages.

The photo in the file did not have a mask, and the person gradually changed from the familiar Matsue Shigure to the pale and thin A.

His appearance didn't change much, perhaps it was the result of the experiment, or perhaps this unique appearance was permanent. But his eyes became more and more lifeless, and in the end it was as if he had really turned into a tool.

He seemed to have told him...that he wanted to leave.

Morobuchi Jingguang could not empathize with the situation. He only felt that he was immersed in a solidified black nightmare until Bermode called out his code name.

"Yule."

"Um."

"Do you remember the injection that gentleman asked you to bring when you first went to see A?"

Zhu Fu Jingguang remembered it.

There are always a lot of messy injections and medicines on the table in A's room.

It was inconvenient for him to get it himself, so he would bring it to various people when they needed it.

Morobushi Kagemitsu once personally held A's pale and slender wrist and injected some unknown liquid into his vein.

… He did not struggle.

"That's 'control'." Vermouth was obviously thinking of herself, her beautiful eyes narrowed with a hint of sarcasm, "After the injection, he can't stand up, but without the injection... he will die."

"This must be the reason why the power behind A is so eager to bring him out in the open. After all, if we don't hurry up, we might not be able to catch any fish."

"Yuer, have you decided what to do? If I were you, I would probably give that poor guy some warmth in the last moments."

He seemed to know why Bermode appeared here.

——Out of compassion for one’s own kind.

Morofushi Kagemitsu avoided Vermode's sight. He turned his head and looked up at the sky as if to check the time.

The sun seemed to be setting soon.

****

[Aaaaaah! Are you guys trying to stop me from getting beaten?! Songjiang’s knife is stabbing me back and forth, and even the chopping board can’t handle it!!]

[Wife, how can you be so miserable in all kinds of ways? I suddenly became weak in the senior group. If Songjiang hadn't met Akabane, he wouldn't have become what he is now!]

[Wife! Songjiang wife! How can I live without you!]

[But A-chan is so shy when she is tied to the bed and gagged. You can touch her however you want (nonsense)]

[Crying and rushing (pants lost)]

[I cried, a 360-degree spiral of tears. Are knives free these days and sold wholesale? The dual narratives give me a different taste of knives? This is not the code to wealth, old thief!]

[Shit, so this is the truth behind Songjiang's inability to stand up? (Stupid) The organization is so vicious!!!]

[But now it seems that there are still some psychological factors, such as being unable to stand up when trying to use my skills, and being afraid of the dark...]

[Thinking about what Ling Ling did makes me even more upset (fists stiffen) even though I know it’s all a misunderstanding]

[Can he survive for another year... Wuwuwu, has Song Jiangjiang really figured out the situation of his own body? But his memory is not fully recovered now, so even if he wants to organize something, it will be difficult to find an opportunity to do so.]

[I was complaining about why the police exposed Songjiang so directly before, but after seeing what Bei Jie said, I suddenly realized that he was the one who proposed to be the "bait" TAT]

[Then we can also connect with Akai, after all, the public security and FBI are cooperating]

[Songjiang Xun also thought that he should be able to defuse the bomb, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do it because Songjiang Shigure was already dead in his consciousness]

[There is no need to interpret the knife upstairs (smile)]

[Hahaha, but in the last year, his students and friends are all by his side. The red team is gathering! The main storyline is finally coming to an end, hahaha! This is so sweet!]

[Another one has gone crazy, let’s carry him away (sad)]

*******

Songjiang Shiyu has to stay in the hospital for three full days for observation to ensure that the fever does not recur. As for staying with the patient - the children have to go to school and the adults have to work, it all depends on randomness.

Haibara Ai originally wanted to ask for leave, but was scared back by Matsue Shigure's rare cold face.

How can a child not study hard? Even a genius can't do that!

It's definitely not that he envies the elementary school students in this world who can ask for leave whenever they want! (猙獰)

"But it's still so boring! So boring!" Songjiang Shigure rolled over on the hospital bed, lying on the pillow like a salted fish, wrapping himself like a caterpillar.

Speaking of the weather in Beika Town, it's really changeable. It was extremely hot yesterday, but today it's inexplicably chilly like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

Songjiang Shiyu was afraid that if he caught a cold, he would have to stay in the hospital again, so he could only hold the quilt in a wronged manner.

He said weakly: "I have completed all the levels of Candy Crush. How lonely it is to be invincible..."

System: "If you hadn't [hackers] tampered with the data of the stuck level, I would still respect you as a man."

Songjiang Shiyu snorted coldly: "This is also a kind of strength!"

The system laughed at him: "Strength? Strength means you can't even deal with the bomb model without cutting the card?"

Matsue Shigure: "Go, go, go!"

That model is not meant for ordinary people to dismantle! His identity in this episode is just an ordinary undercover reporter!

The player was lying in bed and scrolling through his phone for a long time when he saw a message of condolence from his boss whom he had left aside.

Thinking about how many times he had been fooled, Matsue Shigure was a little touched that his boss was still so kind and cheerful.

He sat up and announced loudly: "I've made up my mind! I want to work!"

System: “???” The sun rises from the west?

Matsue Shigure flipped through the phone's address book and found Okiya Subaru's phone number: "I remember that the FBI gave me the list this time, and I was responsible for uploading it. It's not difficult."

System: "Yeah, that's right. After all, it was Akai Shuichi who ran the errand. You, a salted fish lying there, are really not difficult."

Matsue Shigure: "Hehe."

Yes, he is that cool!

…

Half an hour later, Matsue Shigure looked at the computer in front of him in a daze.

The laptop, with its smooth and low-key surface, looked very high-end. It was plugged in and placed on the small table beside his hospital bed.

In his disguise, Akai Shuichi looked particularly bookish. He wore a black sports jacket, had pink hair and squinty eyes that reflected light. He stood there like a mentor on his inspection.

"Matsue, I'm sure you also know the hidden meaning of the mission." Akai Shuichi's tone was very gentle, but the content was very vicious, "We just need to lock in three people whose whereabouts are suspicious from this list."

"That organization must be making a big move in the near future. The FBI will have further discussions with your agency and will notify you if there is any information... Don't act rashly."

"...act rashly?" Matsue Shigure repeated it subconsciously.

As Songjiang Shigure listened to him, his mind was filled with questions: Who am I? Where am I? What should I do?

Isn't it just a handover of a list? Why do they suddenly ask him to check and lock something?

organization?!

Matsue Shigure: The little cat stopped thinking.jpg

The system laughed at him: "Your Majesty, think about it carefully. How could the public security and FBI hand over such a big matter just to let you go for a walk and come back? Didn't your boss just ask you if your skills have recovered?"

Songjiang Shiyu was furious: "Then why don't you remind me?!"

The system said bluntly: "Because I am a hindsight person. I just thought of it."

Songjiang Shigure: “…”

Oh my God, it seems that he has become shameless!

A certain golden retriever realized belatedly that if he wanted to check any information, he would have to cut the hacker's ID card, and the one next to it...

"Matsue-kun?"

Current FBI, former organization member, Rye whiskey who has met A, Shuichi Akai, Subaru Okiya called him.

Songjiang Shigure quietly calculated the processing time, which was neither long nor short.

But with Akai Shuichi's sensitivity, if we talk to him midway... A's character tone is really hard to hide!!

But there is no reason for him to kick them out, right?! Or, what if Akai Shuichi comes back and something happens?

The player silently reached out to his vest in his heart.

No——!

He still wants to fight!

The system, which had seen through everything, quietly lit the candle for him.

***

Shuichi Akai was not actually surprised to receive a call from Shunya Matsue.

He even felt that Song Jiangxun had shown a great degree of restraint by being able to stay in the hospital for a whole day before contacting him.

But when he arrived at the hospital, he realized that he seemed to have underestimated Songjiang Xun's obsession with the organization.

The blond young man was unusually silent after hearing what he said.

"...Don't act rashly?" These words were said in an extremely calm manner, yet they contained an inexplicable hint of sarcasm.

The cobalt blue eyes were looking at the open computer in a daze. A pale and thin wrist was revealed under the loose and thin hospital gown, as if it would be broken with the slightest touch.

The young man seemed to be trapped in a not-so-pleasant dream, and even forgot that he was standing there.

Akai Shuichi frowned and called his name again.

Song Jiangxun also shuddered as if waking up from a dream, and then showed him his usual obedient smile: "I know, I won't act rashly."

Akai Shuichi moved his fingers and took off his coat, revealing the turtleneck sweater underneath.

He took a step forward and put his coat on Matsue Xunye's shoulders.

The young man's golden braid was also thoughtfully rescued from the crevices.

Shuichi Akai felt that Matsue Xun was also like a little animal. He shrank subconsciously, and his neck rubbed against his slightly cool fingers.

"It's getting colder today. Even in the ward, you have to remember to keep warm."

He sighed and couldn't help but give a warning - maybe he was just making small talk.

"Mr. Okiya is so considerate."

The blond young man let out a breath, but did not reject his kindness. Instead, he naturally put his hand through the sleeve of his coat.

Shuichi Akai's coat was very large, and when it was put on the already too thin Shunye Matsue, it looked like a child who had secretly put on adult clothes, making him look even thinner.

"Then let's do this—" Song Jiangxun also dragged out his voice and put his hands on the keyboard. The collision of black and white was particularly eye-catching. "You sit next to me for a while."

Shuichi Akai responded. He did not pay attention to what Shunya Matsue was doing, but instead looked down at the information he brought.

The sound of keyboards clacking rang out, crisp and rhythmic, and the aura around Songjiang Xunye seemed to become silent in an instant.

Shuichi Akai looked at the lines of text on the data, and his mood relaxed a little.

It was like going back to two years ago, when he was handling business in the safe house, and the young man, who was as quiet as a doll, was staying obediently beside him.

But now, to some extent, it is better than two years ago. At least Song Jiangxun can talk and smile, and there is light in his eyes.

“Bang!”

The light above my head flickered for a moment, and then there was a subtle sound as if something had gone out. The bright light flickered several times before suddenly going out.

Because we were worried about catching a cold due to the sudden drop in temperature, we drew the curtains, and as the lights went out, the sunlight was also blocked out.

Suddenly, the room became dim, and only the faint white light of the computer screen could be seen. The fonts on the data instantly blurred into a block with rough edges.

Akai Shuichi raised his head reflexively and immediately frowned.

Is there a power outage?

In theory, the facilities and emergency services in the hospital need 24-hour power supply, and there should be sufficient backup power, so power outages will not occur at all.

"I'll go out and take a look." Worried about something unexpected happening, Akai Shuichi immediately stood up and said, "Wait for me in the room."

"Wait, wait a minute!"

The young man's slightly hoarse voice suddenly became sharp, and even his breathing became a little faster.

Shuichi Akai felt his sleeves being pulled the next moment, and Matsue Xun's cold hands rubbed against his skin. The temperature difference between the skin made his fingers twitch for a moment.

The young man did not notice his little movement, but lowered his head and coughed several times, and said in a somewhat halting voice: "Before you leave, help me open the curtains."

He was the first to let go of his sleeves.

Shuichi Akai paused, reached out and touched Matsue Shunye's head, feeling the soft hair passing through his fingertips - he seemed to be trembling a little.

Are you afraid of accidents?

"I'll be back soon."

He walked quickly to the window and opened the curtains.

The afternoon sun poured in instantly.

Shuichi Akai turned his head and saw Matsue Xun also sitting on the hospital bed, staring blankly out the window. His cobalt blue eyes were tinged with warm light, like the sun rising over the sea.

"I'll be back soon."

He repeated it, looked up at the light, and quickened his pace.