Luo Shu had never expected that the villa Yoshimura rented would be in the same alley as the Kudo and Agasa residences.
However, Yoshimura's rented villas were at the front of the alley, while the Kudo and Agasa homes were further back.
That said, it made sense that Yoshimura had found Ai Haibara—Shiho Miyano, who had turned into a child after taking APTX 4869.
After all, for Ai Haibara to reach Shinichi Kudo's house, she would have had to pass by the villas Yoshimura rented. A little girl in an oversized lab coat walking past in the rain...
Well, the dozens of Ghouls renting those villas at the time must have smelled fresh meat.
Imagining the scene, Luo Shu's expression turned slightly odd.
The vaccine developed by the SDS to restore Ghouls' normal diets was effective, but it took two to three months to take effect fully.
Under those circumstances, a group of Ghouls who had once eaten human flesh saw a little girl—who clearly looked like no one would miss her if she disappeared—walking past their doors...
Thinking this, Luo Shu couldn't help but muse internally:
'Yoshimura took in Ai Haibara because he was afraid some Ghoul might lose control and hunt her, leading to her death, wasn't he?'
The whitelist Luo Shu had previously sent Yoshimura was used to shelter Ghouls who were skilled professionals, their families, and Ghoul children with clean backgrounds.
For example, Hinami Fueguchi's father was a highly skilled doctor. There were also engineers, researchers, and similar Ghouls among them.
The adult Ghouls could control themselves, but the children might not.
If a Ghoul child had actually tried to hunt Ai Haibara and it had reached Luo Shu's ears, he would have had no choice but to eliminate them.
In a way, Yoshimura was quite foresighted!
Just as Luo Shu was lost in thought, Chika Fujiwara in the backseat suddenly asked curiously:
"Was that little girl with the brown hair strange? Luo Shu seemed quite focused on her."
"Ah, that."
Hearing Chika's question, Luo Shu replied casually:
"That little girl—now called Ai Haibara—is a named talent on our recruitment list. Despite her appearance, she's already graduated from university and is a scientist specialising in pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacology."
"No way! Such a tiny child..." For the first time, Chika felt the disparity of the world.
Beside her, Kei Shirogane widened her eyes. "Is this what they call a genius?"
Then, Luo Shu dropped the truth on them:
"A child? She's actually a year older than both of you. She only looks like that because she took a special drug."
"Geniuses who appear young aren't rare on the mystic side. You'll understand when you meet a research director from a major organisation who looks like an infant."
"Ehhh?!" Chika drew out her exclamation, as if to express her shock.
"Regarding Ai Haibara's situation, it's best you know but don't inform her directly. She's currently under observation by the organisation and is still just a person of interest."
Hearing Luo Shu's reminder, Chika Fujiwara immediately covered her mouth:
"I understand, I won't breathe a word about it!"
Seeing this, though Luo Shu had some doubts in his heart, he chose not to comment.
While Chika Fujiwara might be unreliable, she'd never actually leaked confidential information before.
Thinking this, Luo Shu's mind turned to Ai Haibara and that legendary Reaper Elementary School Student:
'According to Conan's storyline, Ai Haibara's appearance means her sister Akemi Miyano is already dead - something I hadn't anticipated.'
'Though it's regrettable about Akemi Miyano, timing simply wasn't on our side. It's not my fault for failing to save her.'
'Just a pity about the potential points lost, though it's hard to say - if I recruit Ai Haibara, the girl might want to spend points reviving her sister.'
'After all, the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System does include resurrection abilities.'
'Simply revealing the possibility of revival would make recruiting Ai Haibara quite straightforward. Moreover, she's currently living with Ryōko Fueguchi, practically under my nose, which is why I'm taking my time without worrying about her escaping.'
'Wait a minute... If Ai Haibara has appeared, why hasn't Conan shown up yet?'
At this thought, Luo Shu suddenly realised something. Glancing sideways at the Agasa residence, through the living room window, he faintly saw a small boy wearing a navy blue suit.
Through Luo Shu's unique vision as the Calamity Bringer, he saw an almost impenetrable black cloud.
Seeing such an immense aura of misfortune for the first time, even Luo Shu was stunned. He couldn't help but think to himself:
'This scale of calamitous aura... Should I say it's exactly what you'd expect from the Reaper Elementary School Student? Wherever he goes, misfortune follows...'
'Does this kid have a Demigod Rank calamity-type artefact on him?'
While suspecting this, Luo Shu also considered other possibilities:
'But Conan has already appeared... I just don't know if he's already moved into the Mouri household...'
Luo Shu made a mental note to ask Kogoro Mouri about it later, then stepped on the accelerator and drove away from the alley.
The aura of misfortune around Conan was too thick and heavy, like a room filled with formaldehyde. Even as a Calamity Bringer himself, Luo Shu found the atmosphere extremely uncomfortable and thus decided to leave quickly.
Anyway, now that Conan has appeared, he won't escape the SDS's intelligence network.
Could a little brat possibly outmanoeuvre professional intelligence operatives?
After all, the training instructors for the FBI, CIA and SDS were the same batch of people.
As the car drove off, inside the Agasa residence, Shinichi Kudo, now going by the name Edogawa Conan, turned his head to glance out the window. Spotting a departing car, he paid it no further attention.
At that moment, Dr Agasa - only 52 years old but already balding and looking much older - emerged carrying sandwiches for dinner:
"I say, Shinichi, are you sure you don't want to contact Yusaku and the others?"
"You don't really expect an old man who can't even take care of himself to look after you, do you?"
"It's not like I want this either, Dr Agasa."
Conan's expression turned gloomy as he continued:
"Uncle Mouri, for some reason, absolutely refuses to let me stay at their place, even though Ran agreed. Honestly, why does that third-rate detective have to be so stubborn?"
"Ah, Kogoro... well, there's really nothing to be done about that."
Dr Agasa scratched his cheek, not finding Kogoro Mouri's actions particularly unreasonable either. Adopting a child out of the blue, especially a troublemaking deduction maniac like Shinichi Kudo - even Dr Agasa wouldn't be keen on that!
Yet letting the current Conan run wild didn't sit right with the doctor's conscience either.
"Sigh, anyway, come and eat first."
Hearing this, Conan jumped down from the sofa and approached, glancing at the dinner before his expression turned peculiar:
"Store-bought ready-made sandwiches?"
"Have some sympathy for a single elderly man." Dr Agasa retorted. "I specially went out to buy these. Otherwise, instant noodles would've been fine."
As he picked up a sandwich, Conan couldn't help but remark:
"Doctor, you really should find yourself a wife."
Blushing, Dr Agasa countered:
"Shut up! A man just needs to take care of himself. Who needs something like a wife anyway!"
"Yeah, yeah, Dr Agasa, being single is the best..."
Amid Conan's lifeless response, dinner began.