The Diplomatic Approach
Kaito understood that the asset Shiho Miyano (Ai Haibara) was not a common criminal to be captured; she was the scientific key to the entire Black Organization puzzle and the antidote's creator. Force would only drive her further into hiding. The approach had to be one of trust and irresistible, discreet support.
This required the subtle touch of Agent 007 (The Charmer), the Captain of The Hound's Counter-Intelligence Division. His mission was to gain the confidence of Professor Agasa, Ai Haibara's guardian, without ever mentioning the Black Organization or Shinichi Kudo.
The General's command was simple: "Create a scenario where the Professor willingly seeks the General's protection."
The Financial Strain
The Professor's biggest, most persistent vulnerability was his financial instability. His constant invention failures were costly, and protecting Ai Haibara required high-level, hidden security expenses that his meager income couldn't cover.
Agent 007's plan was elegant in its simplicity. Over the course of a week, Masato's cryptographers executed a series of highly targeted, minor financial maneuvers:
The Invisible Pinch: Masato subtly compromised the Professor's patent portfolio, making two of his most promising, yet still unmarketed, inventions appear momentarily unviable to potential investors.
The Timed Expense: Concurrently, The Hound executed two false alarms near the Professor's house—minor power surges or distant sounds—forcing the Professor to spend money on upgrading his home security system, draining his already limited savings.
Professor Agasa quickly found himself in a deep financial hole, panicked by the sudden, unrelated economic and security stresses.
The Timely Saviour
Agent 007 made his move. He arrived at the Professor's door not in a tuxedo, but dressed as a perfectly convincing, impeccably mannered venture capitalist scouting "groundbreaking, unconventional Japanese technology."
"Professor Agasa," 007 began, his voice laced with practiced charm and respect. "I represent an anonymous fund dedicated to preserving and funding true, high-risk genius. We have noticed a disturbing dip in your portfolio's market viability, which we believe is an error. My principals, who are friends of General Tenryuu Kaito, believe your mind is a national treasure."
007 didn't offer a loan; he offered a partnership. He proposed acquiring all rights to the Professor's early, failed inventions for a vast, seven-figure sum—a sum that instantly resolved all the Professor's debt and provided an unlimited research stipend.
The Professor, overwhelmed by the sudden salvation and the flattering mention of the powerful, respected General, accepted immediately. He felt immense relief, having successfully secured his own financial future and, more importantly, the safety of his precious inventions (and his ward).
The General's First Meeting
The contract contained one seemingly innocuous clause: The General of Special Operations, Tenryuu Kaito, would receive an introductory briefing on the Professor's work to ensure "alignment with national technology goals."
The following day, Kaito, accompanied by Shiori, visited Professor Agasa's house. The General did not arrive in military style; he arrived in a simple, high-end electric car, projecting an image of quiet, intellectual authority.
He was introduced to Ai Haibara, who was immediately assessing him with the cold, calculating eyes of a scientist and former Black Organization member.
Kaito, now sixteen, looked directly at her. He didn't see a child; he saw Sherry, the brilliant chemist.
"Professor Agasa's work is fascinating, Haibara-san," Kaito said, ignoring the Professor and addressing the girl. "But I find the science behind biological anomalies far more critical to national security than any robot."
Ai Haibara's demeanor shifted. Her eyes, normally guarded, flashed with alarm. She instantly recognized the danger—a powerful mind that saw beyond the disguise.
Kaito continued, his voice dropping to a near-whisper that only she could hear. "I require the antidote. And I have a private laboratory with unlimited resources, access to the Black Organization's encryption, and a security force led by John Wick. I am not your enemy. I am the only shield that can protect your work and your future."
The General had made his pitch. The move was aggressive, direct, and terrifyingly honest. Ai Haibara now faced the choice between continuous, lonely vigilance and alliance with the greatest power on Earth.