Chapter 385: Spider Prepares to Act
Spider forced his facial muscles to relax, smoothing away the shock that had nearly shattered his carefully crafted mask. He was in absolutely no mood to offer empty praises for a holographic technology that had genuinely rattled his nerves just moments ago. Beneath his calm facade, a singular, burning desire took root: he needed to get his hands on the core data of this system, and he needed it immediately. Securing that information would allow him to dissect its technical vulnerabilities and, more, integrate the terrifyingly realistic projection capabilities into his own organization's arsenal. Better yet, if he could ally with the few remaining tech competitors in the market who still possessed some financial muscle, they could utterly bankrupt this upstart Jade Chamber. The thought brought a phantom smirk to his lips.
Without shifting his gaze, he observed the two women who clearly held significant authority within the Jade Chamber. His peripheral vision locked onto Keqing first. She radiated a sharp, uncompromising aura, her posture straight and her eyes gleaming with a decisive, almost martial intensity. It was obvious at a glance that she was not a woman who could be easily swayed. Once she set her mind on a course of action, attempting to influence her would be like trying to move a mountain. She would never yield, nor would she offer the slightest concession to her enemies.
Standing quietly beside her, Ganyu provided a stark contrast. She possessed a slender, graceful figure and a remarkably beautiful, serene face. Where Keqing was all sharp edges and assertive fire, Ganyu exuded a gentle, fluid calmness, like a soothing spring breeze brushing against the skin. Her mild temperament made her appear far more approachable. Spider calculated the odds in his head. Extracting classified information or manipulating a situation would undoubtedly be much easier if he targeted the soft-spoken secretary rather than the fierce executive.
Having formulated his plan, Spider smoothly chimed in, echoing Amuro and the others with a few casual, well-placed compliments. He then deliberately drained the color from his face, letting a trace of lingering fear surface in his eyes. He turned toward the blue-haired woman. "Miss Ganyu, your company's technological advancements are truly astonishing. The simulation just now was entirely too realistic... I must admit, it gave me quite a fright." He offered a weak, self-deprecating smile. "Could you perhaps show me to a lounge where I might rest and compose myself? I would hate to become a burden or disrupt Mr. Mouri's upcoming investigation."
Ganyu blinked softly, her expression remaining polite and accommodating as she nodded in agreement. She naturally had no reason to refuse a guest's simple request.
Amuro tilted his head, his voice laced with a subtle, mocking surprise. "I certainly didn't expect Mr. Gunter to be so easily startled. Scared by a mere visual projection?" A faint, challenging smile played on his lips. "I would have thought that a world-renowned illusionist would possess a bit more nerve when facing a parlor trick."
Kogoro Mouri stroked his neat mustache, then reached out and clapped a heavy hand onto Spider's shoulder. "Gunter, my boy, your courage really needs a bit of polishing!" The detective boasted, his chest puffing out with pride. "You ought to learn from my apprentice here. Look at how quickly he adjusted to the shock! Of course, that is entirely due to my excellent tutelage. I make sure to provide him with plenty of rigorous training opportunities on a daily basis. Hahaha!"
A vein pulsed violently at Spider's temple. He forced his jaw to unclench, burying his irritation beneath a strained, polite smile. "I suppose I really should learn a thing or two from Mr. Amuro," he replied, the words practically squeezed through his gritted teeth.
'Just wait.' Once he secured the Jade Chamber's data, the very next person on his chopping block would be this smug, dark-skinned nuisance.
Before the tension could escalate, a childish voice piped up from below. "Big Sister Ganyu!" Conan tugged at his own collar, putting on a flawless innocent act. "I want to go to the lounge and rest too. Could you take me and Uncle Gunter together?"
Ran blinked in genuine surprise. She stared down at the boy in glasses, finding the situation incredibly odd. This was the very first time she had ever seen Conan willingly step away from an active crime scene just to take a nap. Usually, he would be running around looking for clues. However, recalling the subtle warnings Ganyu and Keqing had dropped earlier, she knew this Gunter von Goldberg II was highly suspicious. A knot of worry tightened in her chest. Was it truly safe to let Conan wander off alone with such a dangerous individual?
Fortunately, Amuro stepped in before her anxiety could peak. The blonde detective smoothly announced that he harbored a deep personal interest in the art of illusionism. He expressed a desire to take this rare opportunity to chat with Gunter von Goldberg II in private, adding that it would be the perfect excuse to chaperone Conan to the lounge.
Aside from Conan, whose face briefly scrunched up in visible resistance to the idea of a babysitter, the rest of the group found no reason to object.
Spider's mouth twitched involuntarily. 'Uncle?' Was he really old enough to be called an uncle? This bespectacled brat had absolutely terrible judgment. He had originally planned to leave the kid alone for the time being. But since both the annoying child and the irritating blonde detective were willingly delivering themselves right to his doorstep, they could hardly blame him for what was about to happen.
With the arrangements settled, the large group divided into two separate paths. Kogoro, Ran, and Sonoko remained in the main hall to be entertained by Keqing, while Gunter, Conan, and Amuro followed Ganyu down a quiet, elegantly decorated corridor toward the guest resting area.
The short walk ended in front of a heavy, polished oak door. Ganyu pushed it open with a soft click, gracefully ushering the three guests into a spacious, warmly lit lounge. She gestured toward a plush, velvet sofa, inviting them to take a seat and make themselves comfortable. Picking up a sleek remote control from the coffee table, she handed it to Conan, suggesting he could watch some television if he felt bored.
With her duties as a host in mind, she then turned and walked over to the elegant wooden counter nestled in the corner of the room, quietly preparing a fresh pot of tea for the group.
The rhythmic, soothing sound of boiling water pouring into porcelain teacups echoed softly through the quiet room. Conan slouched against the sofa cushions, tracking Gunter out of the corner of his eye. A prickle of suspicion crawled up his spine. It felt incredibly strange. The illusionist was sitting there entirely too patiently, making absolutely no sudden moves or attempts to isolate Ganyu.
Right at that moment, a bizarre sensation registered in Conan's palm. The texture of the remote control he was casually gripping felt wrong. It was no longer smooth plastic, but something cold, shifting, and distinctly scaled.
A wave of unease washed over him. He slowly lowered his head, his breath catching in his throat. What he held in his hand was no longer a television remote. It was a thick, jet-black snake.
The creature's muscular body was coiled tightly within his grip, but its small, distinctively triangular head was raised high, hovering mere inches from his face. A pair of cold, unblinking reptilian eyes stared directly into his own.
A triangular head. It was a highly venomous viper.
The realization hit him like a bucket of ice water. Every single hair on Conan's body stood on end, a primal jolt of terror freezing his muscles in place.
However, his sharp deductive mind quickly cut through the rising panic. He forced himself to breathe, his racing heart steadying as logic took over. This was impossible. He must have already fallen into a trap. He had no idea exactly when or how, but Gunter von Goldberg II had successfully placed him under a hypnotic suggestion.
Conan's thoughts immediately snapped to the man sitting right next to him. Bourbon. Had the undercover agent been caught in the exact same illusion?
The man Conan was currently worrying about was, indeed, trapped in his own waking nightmare. Amuro sat rigidly on the sofa, his eyes wide and unfocused. The luxurious lounge had completely vanished from his perception, violently replaced by the dizzying, wind-swept edge of a sheer cliff. Despite the sudden, disorienting shift in reality, the seasoned operative reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, bracing his body for an unseen attack.
Sitting across from them, Spider leaned back into the plush cushions, observing the vacant, unfocused eyes of both Amuro and Conan. A twisted sense of pride swelled in his chest at the flawless execution of his technique. Yet, a tiny sliver of doubt crept into his mind. He tilted his head, studying their frozen postures.
It was strange. Why were these two being so unnervingly quiet?
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