Chapter 200 Tacit Understanding
Since Morofushi Hiromitsu had to keep his appointment with Akai Shuichi, he didn't stay with Zero for long. After exchanging some information in hushed tones, he left the coffee shop first.
As soon as he got into the car, the anti-fraud expert immediately started up the batch of drones that had been stored in the warehouse, putting them into standby mode, ready to perform some "operations" at any time.
For now, the anti-fraud team will control the drone. With their level of autopilot, I can completely trust them to manage the drone well... provided they don't tamper with any of the functions to save energy!
[Anti-fraud expert #214: We understand. Now that everyone is rich, of course we need to have all the necessary components ready.]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: Don't worry, we'll adapt quickly. There's an old saying: "It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality," and the same applies to us electronic beings.]
Is this sentence used in the correct way?
Your response now makes me completely uneasy.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: ...Probably because of your huge success with this mission, he's really happy now, saying all sorts of ridiculous things. But we're keeping an eye on him.]
Zhu Fujingguang: ...
Sometimes, having too much of a human nature isn't necessarily a good thing.
The car slowly drove into the suburbs, getting closer and closer to the piece of land.
Although he and Shuichi Akai agreed to meet there, the project had not officially started yet, so there were no buildings. By agreeing to meet there, they were basically tacitly agreeing that the newcomer could choose any place around the area.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: This is still a relatively undeveloped area; there are very few security cameras, so finding someone will be quite a challenge. How about we bring out the drone first?]
It's possible, but it will probably be useful when Gin and the others make their appearance.
Finding Shuichi Akai isn't that difficult; he's just pretending to read a magazine in the corner of the convenience store next door.
As he spoke, Morofushi Kagemitsu turned his gaze to the convenience store that had seized the business opportunity and taken up a seat.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #148: ...This time we were too slow; we didn't expect him to be standing in a blind spot of the convenience store's security camera. But since he was hiding in that position, how did you see him?]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #214: Is it because he's still wearing that signature knit hat?]
...No, because this time his hair arrived before he did, and I recognized his hair.
[Anti-fraud expert #19: Oh~ it seems that the strand of hair you cut upstairs back then became the beginning of your relationship.]
Ha, with that way of speaking, it seems you have more than just those two accounts on the forum. Is that the aloof account you use to write stream-of-consciousness short stories also yours?
[Anti-Fraud Guru #19: ...]
At this point, Number 19 fell silent in shock, while the anti-fraud officers who had been watching the commotion suddenly perked up.
[Anti-fraud King #26: #19! So it turns out you were the one who stirred up the reversed war between Su and Bo in the forum! No wonder the occasional replies under the posts felt so familiar, it really was you.]
[Anti-fraud expert #11: You even activated the blocking function to try and hide this memory! I asked you about it before, and you wouldn't admit it!]
[Anti-fraud expert #66: ...No, judging from the way you two are acting now, how could she have dared to admit it back then? Besides, the person who kept stirring things up in that chat thread was clearly Vodka; he even created two alt accounts to keep commenting. What does that have to do with #19?]
[Anti-fraud expert #214: Wait! That aloof, stream-of-consciousness artist clearly messaged me privately, saying she was an undercover agent sent by Leisu's side, and even helped me edit last year's congratulatory illustration... How did she suddenly become #11?]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Hmm... I was the one editing the photo; I just logged into her account.]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: ??? You traitor!]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: You, who eats the food of many families, have the nerve to criticize others?! I'll poison your food tonight!]
[Anti-fraud expert #148: Hey! Don't hit the cook!]
...
The alpacas started fighting amongst themselves, so Morofushi Kagemitsu created a small room in their minds for them to argue about, and also to temper their arrogance after getting enough energy.
As for himself, he should first have a safe meeting with Shuichi Akai.
He thought for a moment, edited a text message and sent it, then asked the anti-fraud team to block Zero for two seconds, and then honked the car horn:
"drop--!"
The commotion was quite stimulating, not only making Shuichi Akai look up, but also startling the shop assistant who was dozing off.
The shop assistant quickly looked up and around, then stared at Morofushi Kagemitsu's car for a few seconds before looking away.
After looking away, Shuichi Akai casually picked up a magazine, took out his phone, and walked towards the cashier, seemingly intending to pay and leave.
When their eyes met again, Shuichi Akai had already walked out of the store, and Hiromitsu Morofushi pointed at the convenience store clerk from the right angle.
Understood.
That shop assistant was indeed someone arranged by the organization.
Shuichi Akai understood the situation and stopped trying to hide his acquaintance with Hiromitsu Morofushi in the car, walking straight over to him.
After opening the passenger door, he glanced into the car to make sure there was no golden retriever that shouldn't be there before getting in.
...This scene is so familiar.
You two are quite in sync on this point.
Morofushi Hiromitsu's lips curled into a slight smile as he said, "Bourbon is scouting the area nearby... No need to check the back, he's not hiding in the trunk = ="
Shuichi Akai, with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, nodded and began the conversation as if he hadn't done anything before: "So, Gin and his group only sent out a spy, and haven't made any other moves yet. I just don't understand why he would go through all this trouble."
Morofushi Kagemitsu withdrew his hand from the steering wheel and said, "It was Melo's idea. Perhaps she wants to make a fuss about Curaçao."
Shuichi Akai thought for two seconds about who Curaçao was, and said, "She is... Rum's person... I understand."
Morobuchi Kagemitsu then took out the lighter and tossed it to the person next to him.
Soon, the familiar, faint smell of tobacco filled the air.
Although Shuichi Akai didn't explicitly say what he had figured out, judging from the gradually relaxing atmosphere, Hiromitsu Morofushi felt that he didn't need to waste any more words explaining why they had temporarily formed the Whiskey Trio again.
He said, "It's relatively safe here. Why don't we talk about Shirley first, and then deal with the party in half an hour?"
Shuichi Akai naturally had no objections. Their meeting today was originally for this purpose, but it was interrupted by some inconsiderate people.
“I have specific information about Sherry’s current research project.” Morofushi Hiromitsu calculated the time; Sherry had probably officially become the person in charge of the APTX-4869 project by now, and could use it to make some deals.
Shuichi Akai stared straight ahead, offering no response for the moment, as if assessing the range of what Morofushi Kagemitsu meant by "approximately".
He paused for a moment, slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, and asked, "What is the purpose of the organization's research into this drug?"
Morofushi Kagemitsu raised an eyebrow and said, "The project Sherry is currently working on is temporarily named APTX-4869, which is a redevelopment of an old drug. And the people in charge of the initial development and research were Sherry's parents—Miyano Atsushi and Miyano Elena."
Shuichi Akai's fingers, which were holding a cigarette, twitched slightly.
Morofushi Kagemitsu continued, "As for the research objective... it's not that hard to understand. What I can tell you is that the predecessor of APTX-4869, which is currently under development, is the 'Silver Bullet,' and the 'Silver Bullet' is a crazy idea of those researchers. Perhaps its final effect will be related to changes in the human body's condition."
He actually wanted to name Vermouth directly, but considering that he and she might have opportunities to work together in the future, he only mentioned some keywords, which Shuichi Akai should understand.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: ...He definitely knows. Back in the US, the FBI assigned him a lot of work dismantling labs. The experiments they openly conducted were already shocking enough; their scientists did even more inhumane things, so he's very familiar with it.]
Just as No. 11 had thought, a knowing glint flashed in Akai Hide's eyes.
It seems I can stop here.
Morofushi Kagemitsu naturally wouldn't say a word. He had already told Akai Shuichi about such a secret, and now he was really looking forward to seeing what conditions the FBI would offer.
Shuichi Akai was probably thinking about this too, and the carriage fell silent again.
Morofushi Kagemitsu then turned his attention to Number 11, who had suddenly spoken up. It was clear that they had finished arguing.
[Anti-fraud expert #19: Jing, you did this on purpose QAQ...]
Really? How come I didn't know that?
He even imagined a dignified smiling emoji in his mind.
[Anti-Fraud King #214: ...Alright, our feud is over. Number 11 just finished processing a fragment of his consciousness and remembered something about that island.]
What's up?
Zhu Fujingguang quickly asked in his mind.
[Anti-fraud expert #11: I just suddenly remembered that when I was on the island, I seemed to have investigated someone who had been injected with a drug and died without a known cause. Now, combined with our understanding of APT X-4869, I think that drug was very likely the stranded "silver bullet."]
It seems the connection between the two countries' laboratories has always existed, and the organization has never given up on developing the "Silver Bullet." Moreover, if I remember correctly, shortly after Sherry's defection, the plan to merge those two projects was put on the table... The timing is too coincidental.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Indeed, there's a feeling the organization already knows about the side effects. But if that's true, there's no reason for them to hide for so long. Or is the organization actually playing the long game?]
fishing……?
Whom does the organization want to lure out? Could it be other forces that are also interested in the drug?
But given the Karasuma Group's position in the country, is it really necessary to do this?
Morofushi Kagemitsu couldn't think of anything for the time being.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
