Chapter 138: A Free Gift
"Let's put those thoughts aside for now," Yusaku Kudo said, being the first to steer the conversation away from the heavier topic. He turned his attention to Conan. "So, that Miss Ganyu from earlier… like Ningguang, she's another member of that mysterious organization you mentioned, the one whose existence is still unconfirmed. I noticed they both carry similar glowing gems. I suspect Miss Keqing, the one currently in the United States, is part of it as well."
Pausing for a moment, Yusaku couldn't help but let out a low whistle of admiration. "That organization of theirs is truly brimming with talent."
Conan remained silent, his expression thoughtful. He mentally cataloged the people he'd met who possessed those distinctive accessories. They truly hailed from all walks of life, and almost without exception, each was remarkably capable and possessed a striking appearance. He had to admit, his father was right.
Sometimes, Conan genuinely couldn't fathom how these individuals, scattered across the globe with such disparate identities, had managed to forge a connection.
"Shinichi," Yusaku's tone grew serious, "you need to be more cautious when you encounter people like them in the future. While you say some of the ones you've met are kind-hearted and live like ordinary citizens, you can't deny that others are entangled with the Black Organization. The precise nature of their relationship remains a mystery. In short, pay closer attention during your interactions. Don't let them uncover your identity."
Yusaku was genuinely worried for his son. It was bad enough that Shinichi had provoked a multinational criminal syndicate like the Black Organization. Now, a new, enigmatic group—one even he had never heard of—had surfaced in his son's life. From the few names Shinichi had shared, Yusaku could already sense the immense influence they wielded. He could only hope their dealings with the Black Organization were minimal; otherwise, Shinichi's situation would become even more perilous.
Conan nodded, offering a quiet "Mm" of assent.
He agreed readily enough, but whether he could actually restrain his curiosity when the time came was another matter entirely.
Yusaku glanced at his watch, noting the late hour. He decided against saying more. With a final, firm warning to "be extra careful," he prepared to bid his son farewell and depart.
Just then, a clear, composed voice echoed through the speakers of the press conference venue.
Conan looked up. There, standing at the center of the stage, was Ningguang. She held a microphone, her expression serene as she addressed the crowd below, her tone gentle yet unwavering.
"Good evening, everyone. First and foremost, I wish to extend my sincerest apologies for the unfortunate incident that transpired tonight..."
After offering her regrets to the political and business luminaries gathered in the hall, Ningguang smoothly transitioned to her next point, informing them that the Sindora Group was now under her direct control.
A low murmur rippled through the audience, a mixture of shock and disbelief. Yet, Ningguang continued as if she hadn't noticed the undercurrent of dissatisfaction and questioning gazes, her poise unshaken.
"At the same time," she announced, her voice carrying a new weight, "to express my gratitude to the police for identifying the culprit who injured Mr. Kenmura in such a short time, and for their tireless efforts in protecting Beika and all of Japan, I have decided to present the DNA Tracking Program, developed by the Sindora Group, to the Japanese police as a gift, free of charge. I hope this may provide some small assistance in their future efforts to track down criminals and solve cases. Thank you, everyone."
As she finished her last sentence, Ningguang offered a slight, graceful bow.
The moment the meaning of her final words registered, Inspector Megure and the other police officers in attendance erupted into thunderous applause. They were well aware from past cases just how revolutionary the DNA Tracking Program was, especially for locating individuals. The boy who invented it, Hiroki, was nothing short of a genius. Learning that he had been driven to his death by Sindora himself had filled the Inspector with deep regret. They had coveted the technology, of course, but knowing it was forever out of reach, they had long since abandoned any hope of acquiring it.
To suddenly hear Miss Ningguang announce it would be given to them—for free—was a joy so deep it left them momentarily speechless.
With that single decision, Ningguang's standing in the hearts of every officer present soared. In the future, should she ever face any trouble, these policemen would certainly not hesitate to provide assistance, so long as it didn't violate their principles.
As for the other political and business magnates, they watched the police's ecstatic reaction. After a beat of stunned silence, they too began to applaud, their claps more measured, their smiles carefully constructed.
'To think she could turn such a disaster into a corporate takeover…'one mogul thought, his mind racing.'She truly is the woman who built the Jade Chamber. Her reaction time is terrifying.''We were all hoping for a piece of the pie,' another lamented internally,'but she was a step ahead of everyone.''And now she's forged a strong relationship with the police. As long as no one deliberately provokes her, her development in Japan will be virtually unrestricted.''To give away a tool as valuable as the DNA Tracking Program… such decisive action. She's a formidable player.''I heard she's close with the Suzuki Group. I'll have to make some inquiries with them later… to decide whether to court her as an ally or…'
A thousand different calculations spun through the minds of those below the stage, but on the surface, they all wore identical, pleasant smiles, loudly praising Ningguang's generous support for the noble cause of Japanese law enforcement.
Standing amidst the crowd, Haibara clapped along with the Detective Boys, her movements mechanical. She saw Conan returning from the direction he'd wandered off and greeted him with a wry smirk. "You're back, great detective. So, what did you manage to overhear this time?"
She had seen him walk off in Ningguang's direction earlier and had easily guessed his intentions.
Hearing her words, Conan shot her a helpless look. "...How did you know I went to eavesdrop?"
Haibara rolled her eyes, as if he'd just asked the most obvious question in the world. "Isn't that what you're best at? Or are you going to tell me you weren't just listening in?"
Conan hesitated, a flicker of indignation on his face before he offered a weak defense. "I just happened to run into Miss Ningguang talking with my old man. It wouldn't have been polite to interrupt, so I just… waited on the side for a bit."
'Besides,'he thought irritably,'what I'm best at is reasoning. She's just spreading rumors.'
Despite his dissatisfaction, he still gave Haibara a brief summary of what had just transpired between his father and Ningguang.
"Miss Ningguang is indeed a qualified merchant," Haibara remarked with a sigh of genuine admiration after he finished.
Conan found her reaction strange. "It sounds like you're not repulsed by her methods," he asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Haibara glanced at him, her gaze sharp. "Repulsed isn't the right word. The fact that she was the first to appear at the crime scene and save Mr. Kenmura in time shows she didn't disregard his life. And thanks to her intervention, his life was indeed saved. That's enough, isn't it?"
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