Inside Professor Agasa's Residence.
"Perfect timing, Shinichi! I just finished putting together a spare pair of tracking glasses for you," Professor Agasa said, holding up the high-tech frames.
Conan glanced around the room, his eyes scanning for familiar faces. "Where are Haibara and Miss Akemi?"
"They're in the bathroom, soaking in the tub," the Professor replied, busy fine-tuning the hinges of the glasses.
"Good. That's perfect." A small, satisfied smirk played across the Great Detective's lips. He intended to digest this latest lead entirely on his own.
The Professor looked at him with a deadpan expression, clearly exasperated. "I say, Shinichi... you aren't having any 'strange' thoughts, are you? They're in the middle of a bath, and you're saying it's 'perfect'?"
"Why on earth would I do something like that...?" Conan muttered, rolling his eyes.
He pulled a disk from his pocket—a copy painstakingly made for him by Detective Takagi—and walked over to the computer. He slid the disk into the drive and began to read.
[March 7th]
A man with a heavy Kansai accent suddenly showed up at the company looking for me. As far as I can tell, his goal was to get his hands on the software I'm currently developing. However, once he realized my eyesight was failing, he gave up on the idea and left without much fuss.
The man was dressed entirely in black. I never want to see him again!
This entry described the encounter between Tequila and Suguru Itakura at the office two years ago.
Is that all...? Conan thought, his brow furrowing as he scrolled. There was no mention of what kind of software the Black Organization actually wanted. He continued to flip through the diary with a look of mounting frustration.
There were no more related entries. It seemed the two parties had only interacted that one time.
"This diary writer sure is sloppy," the Professor noted, pointing at the screen.
He was looking at the line spacing between the entries. Some gaps were only two or three lines, while others were as large as six or seven. It was completely irregular.
"No, wait... from what I know, Suguru Itakura had a severe case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," Conan said, his eyes narrowing. He grabbed the mouse and began a series of rapid-fire operations.
Sure enough!
Every instance where the line spacing was unusually large contained hidden content. It was a simple trick: the mundane parts of the diary were written in standard black text, while the sensitive information had been set to the exact same color as the background.
The Professor gasped as he read the hidden words aloud: "I'm exhausted. If this continues, I'll end up losing my life sooner or later!"
The bald old man's heart began to race. Dealing with encrypted files and secret agendas felt like something straight out of a spy thriller. There were still several bugs planted in his house even now; if it weren't for the assistance of Noah's Ark, they wouldn't even be able to speak freely.
This feels way too much like a high-stakes espionage movie, Agasa thought nervously.
Conan began reading the hidden content from the beginning.
[March 16th]
The fountain pen on my desk was moved five centimeters today. Someone has definitely been sneaking into my office.
[April 15th]
Someone must have entered my house today. However, because nothing was stolen and there were no signs of forced entry, the police refused to open a case.
[June 11th]
I've changed the locks and installed security cameras. It was all useless.
[July 6th]
Who is it?! Show yourself!
[December 19th]
I'm exhausted. If this continues, I'll end up losing my life sooner or later!
[January 6th]
To escape this constant terror, I left a note in my drawer for the intruder. I told them I'm willing to accept any conditions.
[January 8th]
I didn't expect a reply so soon. The intruder took my note and left a memo behind. Aside from a red 'OK,' there was a suspicious phone number.
[January 23rd]
I hesitated for a long time. After deciding not to call the police, I dialed the number. To my surprise, a woman answered.
She had an arrogant attitude, like a queen. She stated that as long as I finished the software I'm developing within a year, she would buy it for a high price. That was her only demand. It seems she's part of the same group as that hulking man from before.
[February 13th]
We switched to communicating via email. They said they could wire the down payment first and promised that from now on, they would never appear near me again. I accepted.
[December 22nd]
I can't do it. I can't continue. The truth is, I didn't give up just because of my failing vision. More than anything, it was for the sake of all humanity.
[February 9th]
The deadline they set is fast approaching. I have no choice but to hide the unfinished software and the check they gave me at my mountain villa's computer. Then, I'll flee abroad and go into hiding.
I know very well that they will send an email in a few days to notify me of the delivery time and location. There are five days left. I must escape before midnight five days from now!
Conan glanced at his watch.
Five days after February 9th... wasn't that today?!
Fortunately, there was still plenty of time before midnight.
[February 10th]
I have no idea what those people want with this software. Lately, I keep thinking about that woman from the first phone call—specifically, her bizarre choice of words.
At the time, I couldn't stand her haughty tone anymore, so I snapped back at her, asking what they were really after.
To my shock, the woman simply laughed and replied in English:
"We can be both of God and the devil. Since we're trying to raise the dead against the stream of time."
This was Suguru Itakura's final diary entry, and by far the most absurd.
Conan and the Professor locked eyes, the shock written clearly on their faces. What kind of software could possibly have such a terrifying, world-altering purpose?
"Professor, can you get in touch with Hiroki?" Conan asked immediately. His first thought went to Noah's Ark.
"There's a dedicated terminal in the lab." The Professor led the Great Detective toward the laboratory.
It was there that Tsuneo and Yusaku had first received the secret files regarding the Organization.
"What are you two up to?"
At that moment, the sisters emerged from the bathroom. They looked at the two men, noting their grim expressions.
"Oh! Nothing, nothing at all! Hahaha~" Conan scratched the back of his head sheepishly, putting on his best "clumsy child" act as he followed the Professor into the lab.
"Did he just... try to pretend he's a primary schooler in front of us?" Ai asked, staring at the closed door with a flat look.
"It... certainly seems that way," Akemi replied with a small, knowing smile.
Elsewhere.
"The Professor and the others have already contacted me. They're preparing to head to Suguru Itakura's villa."
It wasn't just the Great Detective who was invested; Tsuneo and Hiroki had been monitoring the situation closely as well.
"What did you tell them?" the "Repairman" asked curiously.
They had discussed the sheer power of this international criminal syndicate many times. Given the Professor's current understanding of the danger, he shouldn't be indulging the "God of Death" brat in such a reckless gamble.
Tsuneo smiled calmly. "I told them that we'll make our move!"
"Ready when you are, partner!"
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