Inside Tadaaki Kashimura's office.
"I imagine the reason he brought that dagger was because of the DNA Tracking System Hiroki entrusted to me."
It was painfully obvious. Bringing such a lethal weapon meant Schindler had never intended to negotiate in good faith. What Kashimura hadn't expected, however, was that the Chairman would actually strike out at someone he had never even met.
"Sawada Hiroki... we were just talking about him," Tsuneo noted with a nod.
The super-genius who had passed away two years ago at the age of ten—a graduate student at MIT.
Chairman Schindler cast a dark look at Kashimura. Realizing that he no longer held any cards, he simply stood to the side, his face a mask of simmering fury, remained silent. Having just pulled a knife and attempted a murder, he truly had nothing left to say for himself.
"Yes. The DNA Tracking System Hiroki invented can trace human ancestry through skin and blood data," Kashimura said, turning his gaze toward the Chairman. "And through it, Hiroki discovered the secret—the one thing capable of destroying the Schindler Empire."
"Enough!"
"Don't say another word! If you want something, just name your price!" Thomas Schindler snapped, waving his hand dismissively to cut Kashimura off.
"But without Hiroki, this Artificial Intelligence could never have been completed," Kashimura continued, unperturbed. "So, you drove him mercilessly. You forced him to work day and night to ensure its completion as quickly as possible."
"Hiroki, pushed to his absolute limit and knowing he would surely be killed by your hand once the AI was finished, released his alter ego—Noah's Ark—into the telephone lines. Then, he jumped from the roof of his apartment."
Kashimura showed no intention of stopping.
"So, you're saying Noah's Ark traveled through the lines and entered the virtual network, right?" Tsuneo asked, looking at the Chairman.
One had to admit, while Professor Agasa and Haibara were top-tier scientists in the world of Conan, they paled in comparison to a ten-year-old like Hiroki. It seemed only a world as strange as this one could give birth to such a terrifying genius.
"A message appeared on the computer screen," Schindler said, his voice low. He realized he could no longer hide the truth and chose to speak. "'Noah's Ark has set sail. Goodbye, Hiroki.'"
"Some time after that, my computer was hit by a file intrusion from the DNA Tracking program. It was the work of Noah's Ark, carrying out Hiroki's dying wishes," Kashimura added.
That was how he had learned the truth—and Schindler's secret.
"Is that so? I thought Noah's Ark had been lying in wait within the game world this whole time." It had been a long time since Tsuneo had seen this part of the story, and his memory was a bit fuzzy. Based on what these two were saying, the AI seemed to be wandering freely through the internet.
"Lying in wait?"
Both men frowned simultaneously, confused by his choice of words.
"My request is simple," Kashimura said, staring directly at Thomas Schindler. "You must make everything public. Including the secret you've been so desperately trying to hide!"
Knock, knock, knock!
"Mr. Kashimura? Mr. Kudo would like to see you!"
A voice came from outside the door; a staff member had come looking for him.
"By the way, how much is my hush money worth?" Tsuneo asked, turning his head without opening the door.
After all, he was a victim of attempted assault!
"..." Thomas Schindler wordlessly scribbled a check, shoved it at Tsuneo, then turned and walked out the door.
"Hey! How many zeros can I fit on this thing?!" Tsuneo called out after him.
One could tell just by the Chairman's stiff back and clenched fists exactly how much rage was boiling inside him.
"Please tell Mr. Kudo that I'm waiting for him here," Kashimura said to the bewildered staff member.
"I understand." The staff member nodded and hurried away.
"The check is real. He wouldn't dare trick you with that," Kashimura said with a small smile, seeing Tsuneo turning the paper over and over in his hands.
As the saying goes: a problem that can be solved with money isn't a problem at all.
"I'm not worried about the money. I'm just curious what this 'Emperor of the IT World' will choose to do next," Tsuneo said, tucking the check into his pocket.
"I don't know. But he doesn't have any other options. Noah's Ark invaded my computer and planted that tracking program specifically so I would do this," Kashimura shook his head, his eyes growing more determined.
Regardless of what happened to Thomas Schindler or his business empire, Kashimura likely wouldn't survive the aftermath. There were far too many ways to make a person disappear.
"Your name is Saguru Hakuba, isn't it?" Kashimura asked, making a guess at the young man's identity.
Of the fifty game slots, aside from those given to the various second and third-generation socialites, one badge belonged to the Suzuki family's daughter, one to his friend Yusaku, and the last was reserved for the son of the Superintendent General.
"No, you guessed wrong."
At that moment, the best-selling mystery novelist stepped into the room.
"Hi!" Tsuneo waved casually.
"Don't tell me he's your son," Kashimura said, clearly happy to see his old friend.
"..." Tsuneo shot the man a look. I just saved your life and you start insulting me?
"He's effectively my employer," Yusaku explained, clarifying their relationship. I occasionally give him some benefits, and he helps us look after our kid. That's about it.
"If Yukiko hears you saying that, she'll have your head," Yusaku added with a chuckle.
"Am I supposed to be afraid of her?" Tsuneo scoffed.
"What a complicated and interesting relationship. The game won't start for a little while yet; why don't you sit down so we can talk?" Kashimura seemed much more relaxed now as he invited the two to sit.
"Did you just have a confrontation with Thomas Schindler?" Yusaku asked, a slight frown on his face. He had previously accepted Kashimura's request to investigate the cause of Hiroki's death and understood the general situation.
"Yeah. He even gave me a check as hush money," Tsuneo said, flicking the paper.
"I imagine you aren't particularly afraid of his retaliation..." Yusaku noted, glancing at Tsuneo. This was, after all, a man who dared to trade blows with that organization.
His friend Kashimura, however, was a different story.
"There's no need to worry about me," Kashimura smiled. No matter what, this was something he felt he had to do.
"These programmers are so naive," Tsuneo said, turning to Yusaku. "Their heads are filled with nothing but code."
"Yes... he is an uncompromising idealist who ignores the consequences," Yusaku cleared his throat.
"I can tell," Tsuneo nodded. It was obvious enough from the way Kashimura had scolded those arrogant rich kids earlier.
"Gentlemen, I'm still sitting right here," Kashimura reminded them. Why are you two talking about me like I'm not in the room?
Ten minutes later.
"Attention guests: Please proceed to the Cocoon venue in an orderly fashion."
The announcement rang out through the speakers. The game was about to begin.
-------------------------------
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