Rice Flower Singularity (23) Let's make a deal...
"You arrived faster than I expected."
Moriarty clasped his hands together under his chin, a smile playing on his lips. Moreover, the purpose of his visit was somewhat different from what he had anticipated; it seemed the organization's members didn't share information at all.
"So the advisor had anticipated this all along." Amuro Tooru smirked, his right hand casually resting on the pistol at his waist.
Before arriving, Matsuda Jinpei had already told him the real name of the white-haired gentleman before him: James Moriarty, Holmes's nemesis, the emperor of the criminal underworld.
It was only natural that those lazy bums in the organization would be defeated by him, Amuro Tooru thought. His fingertip traced the trigger; if he shot a Servant at close range, would they die?
No, he looked up at Moriarty, who didn't even lift his eyelids, so certain. He chuckled inwardly, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips; this was like a lamb entering a tiger's den.
Moriarty glanced at Amuro Tooru's expression and smiled knowingly. "I've always admired Mr. Bourbon. You've put in more effort and paid a higher price than others to climb to this position, but you haven't lost your true self."
"...You don't need to beat around the bush anymore, everyone knows the truth."
“Alright then.” Moriarty shrugged. “Rei Furuya, I want to make a deal with you. As a bonus, I’ll tell you what you want to know about the four souls behind us who are doing performance art.”
Toru Amuro: "...?"
He wasn't surprised to hear his own name mentioned by Moriarty. His mind was racing, trying to figure out what the trade was and how he could use it, when Moriarty's last sentence momentarily stunned him.
He turned around in confusion, only to see his four friends all turning their backs as if they were ashamed to be seen. "Ha, what are you guys doing?"
The four of them looked at each other, and finally pushed Morofushi Hiromitsu forward. Morofushi Hiromitsu carefully chose his words, "Zero, Fujimaru-san, she... um, is glowing."
Light emission in a physical sense.
For some reason, when the group saw Fujimaru Ritsuka in the game, she still looked like a normal girl next door, and they felt friendly and gentle.
But after becoming a floating soul, when he saw Fujimaru Ritsuka again, he could hardly see her face. Various colorful lights reflected on her soul, like an embrace, or like possession.
In short, it is very eye-catching.
"...?" Amuro Tooru, being human, was not fortunate enough to enjoy the light pollution. He glanced at Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was holding a cake, and shook his head, skipping over this little episode.
While Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes seemed to be watching Moriarty, she was actually listening to Da Vinci and his team's analysis of the newly emerged singularity through Chaldea's covert communications.
Accustomed to all sorts of unexpected situations, her sixth sense went off the rails when she saw Moriarty's seemingly oblivious expression.
"We might have some clues about the new Lostbelts?"
“Shakespeare?!” Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked and exclaimed softly.
"Oh! So Lady Ritsuka is listening in too!" Shakespeare's voice was very excited. Then, another door opened, and a deep, tired voice reached Fujimaru Ritsuka's ears through the communication device.
"I'm the second informant who might have a lead. Honestly, I shouldn't have taken this client's job," Andersen complained dejectedly. "Look at what they've done to this script! A script can only be written by one person!"
"So, if you two have any leads, please let me know and thank me." Sion promptly interrupted the two who were about to begin their debate about the script, steer the conversation back to the main topic.
“Well, then we’ll have to put the controversy aside for now and get back to the main topic. Actually, there were originally four singularities,” Andersen said. “I’m in charge of the script for the third singularity.”
Ashiya Dōman was in charge of the First Singularity, Moriarty was in charge of the operation of the Second and Third Singularities, and Shakespeare was in charge of the script for the Fourth Singularity.
Because the first two singularities were so successful, several Casters jointly predicted that the fourth singularity was unnecessary and therefore it was cancelled.
But there are four Holy Grails.
"The last Holy Grail is missing?" Kadoc asked logically.
“No, no, it’s still in our hands. But we suspect it has been analyzed.” Shakespeare took out the Holy Grail, its color duller and less lustrous than its counterparts.
"And the location of the Lostbelt now is the same location of the Singularity we chose back then."
Moriarty raised an eyebrow and blinked innocently at Ritsuka's meaningful gaze. Then he turned to Amuro Tooru and explained his invitation.
"This is information about the organization's assassination attempts on two political figures, and the distribution of industries handled by Rum, who was once the second-in-command."
Toru Amuro: "...?!"
What is it? He subconsciously looked at Morofushi Kagemitsu. They had rarely come across such a big piece of information even after so many years of undercover work.
"Your undercover identity has not been exposed yet, and obtaining this information will not arouse your superiors' suspicion."
Moriarty said enticingly, "And I guarantee that, following the guidance of this information, the police behind you will definitely be able to destroy this criminal organization."
Amuro Tooru gasped. He couldn't believe what Moriarty was saying. The organization's current leader was plotting with the police to destroy it?!
"Well, it's because the professor is leaving with me. He doesn't want to just give away his things to someone he doesn't respect."
Seeing Amuro Tooru's pupils shrink slightly in fright at Moriarty, Fujimaru Ritsuka, still possessing a conscience, spoke up to remind him.
"Isn't this your ideal, Mr. Righteous Public Security Officer?" Moriarty stared into Amuro Tooru's purple eyes, which were trying to appear calm, and curled the corners of his lips.
"Your terms?" Amuro Tooru clenched his fist behind his back. Then he felt a chill brush against the back of his hand and shoulder.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his friends standing on either side of him. It was as if they were saying, "It's okay, we're behind you."
“I need you to destroy the following list of drugs and personnel when the police are cracking down on the organization.” Moriarty reached out and pushed a new list towards him.
He paused for a moment, then emphasized meaningfully, "This includes the statements of other members of the organization in the future."
Amuro Tooru lowered his eyes. No wonder Moriarty made a deal with him; he wanted him to use his identity to manipulate testimonies. He took the list, and the first line clearly showed the names APTX4869 and Shiho Miyano.
“I’m a bit interested in Shirley’s research, so she made a deal with me,” Moriarty said. “Have you thought it through? For you, my terms are a sure win.”
The drugs listed by Shiho Miyano are all capable of driving humans to madness; some are based on her own research, while others are products of her organization's predecessors. If these drugs were to fall into the hands of the higher-ups, it wouldn't be the scenario Amuro Tooru would want to see.
In doing this, Moriarty had considered every aspect, digging a pit that Moriarty had no choice but to fall into.
Amuro was shocked by the white-haired gentleman's grasp of human nature and couldn't believe what the organization would become if Moriarty really was the boss.
So, faced with this thorny deal, he seemed to have no choice. Taking the documents and list from Moriarty, although they were just a few thin sheets of paper, Amuro Tooru felt a heavy weight pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
After so many years of dormancy... is it finally coming to an end?
As if remembering something, Moriarty suddenly added, "Oh right, you came for the later soul entities, right? They're a byproduct of the game. They'll naturally disappear once everything returns to normal."
Afterwards, he confirmed the specific implementation plan with Amuro Tooru. Still thinking about the rumored new Lostbelt, he didn't keep Amuro Tooru and the others any longer.
Before Amuro Tooru left, he caught Fujimaru Ritsuka's hesitant gaze and suddenly called her to see the guests off.
Fujimaru Ritsuka was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening, hung up the call, picked up the skull candy given to her by the Smoke Mirror, and left the room with one person and four souls.
"Ritsuka, are you leaving soon?" Matsuda Jinpei asked curiously as he walked beside her.
"Yes, after the professor finishes dealing with it, the singularity will begin to repair itself, and then we'll head back."
To prevent them from worrying about the impact, Fujimaru Ritsuka added, "Don't worry, everything that seems abnormal will be self-corrected back to normal."
"And what about my memories of them?" Amuro Tooru suddenly asked.
"A beautiful dream, or perhaps one that will be remembered clearly. In any case, let's say goodbye to them properly today; this is probably... the last time we'll see each other." Fujimaru Ritsuka murmured softly, it was unclear whether she was referring to Amuro Tooru or herself.
She took out a skull-shaped candy and handed it to Amuro Tooru, saying, "Please give this to Conan for me. I wanted to say goodbye in person, but it seems I don't have time."
"Consider it a parting gift, wishing him good fortune in the future and that he may become a detective on par with Mr. Holmes."
—
"Achoo!" Conan sneezed loudly. He rubbed his arms and decided he should wear a new outfit tomorrow.
He was now sitting on Professor Agasa's sofa, waiting for Ai Haibara to give him something.
After he emerged from that horrible game, the banquet was long over, and Ran and the others had already gone home. Shuichi Akai was waiting for him at the door, telling him to go to Professor Agasa's house after he came out.
It seems that those who leave early will return to the real world sooner, but what important thing does Haibara have to give him?
At this moment, Haibara was in the basement, holding two capsules in her hands. With a complicated expression, she put them into a medicine box, then said to the air:
"Sister, I'm sorry. I have to use the last of my time with you to make medicine..." Her voice trembled slightly, "Delay could lead to complications, and I don't want to owe that guy any more."
Akemi Miyano shook her head, and her semi-transparent soul slowly floated in front of Ai Haibara. She half-squatted down and touched her cheek with her right hand. "Shiho, how have you been since you left the organization?"
Ai Haibara was taken aback, but she quickly replied, "Very good, I met a group of very, very good people."
"Then I'll be content. To see you, to know that you're doing better than before, and to say goodbye to you in person is something I've always dreamed of."
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Author's Note: * There will be one more chapter of Mihua Singularity tomorrow before it ends!
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