Afternoon.
Yang Tao followed Conan toward Dr. Agasa's house.
"Conan, have you made up your mind? Are you really going to reveal your identity to Ran?"
Conan looked at him, curious. "Why do I get the feeling that you're unusually invested in this?"
'Because I want to watch a horse try to pull a cart!'
But he didn't voice that thought. Even if Conan were seventeen and eight-tenths, that knowledge was beyond his reach.
Yang Tao feigned nonchalance. "I just feel a bit sorry for Ran. Maybe she stays awake every night thinking about you, worrying you might indulge in debauchery, drown in luxury, or accumulate a harem…"
Conan stumbled back, nearly falling over. "Hey! I'm nothing like that!"
"Heh, you just haven't met Shiho Miyano. Childhood friends can't compete with a heavenly arrival…"
"Shiho Miyano? Who's that?"
Though Yang Tao seemed unreliable, the information he casually slipped out was often significant.
"Shiho Miyano… a very beautiful girl. She'll be your classmate in the future."
"Just a classmate?"
"You'll see in time."
As they spoke, the two arrived at Dr. Agasa's doorstep. Conan stepped forward and rang the bell. In moments, the door opened from within.
"Conan, what brings you here?"
Dr. Agasa looked slightly different from his animated portrayal, yet his two-dimensional charm was still recognizable. His bald head gleamed like a mirror in the sunlight, and his two wispy gray mustaches lent him a certain allure.
As Yang Tao surveyed Dr. Agasa, the doctor, in turn, studied him intently.
"And this is?"
This time, Conan said nothing false or misleading; after all, Dr. Agasa was the one person he trusted most.
"Yang Tao, a person with extraordinary abilities. I suspect he doesn't even belong to this world."
Without hesitation, Dr. Agasa crouched down, placing his hand on Conan's forehead. "No fever… then why are you speaking nonsense?"
"Let's go, I'll take you to the hospital."
Conan sighed. "Doctor, I'm telling the truth. You can ask him if you don't believe me."
Yang Tao stepped forward, extending his hand. "Dr. Agasa, it's an honor. I haven't had the chance to visit before. What Conan said is correct—strictly speaking, I don't belong to this world."
Dr. Agasa hesitated, then shook Yang Tao's hand. "Well, let's go inside first."
Yang Tao and Conan followed him into the living room.
"Please, have a seat. I'll pour some tea."
"Thank you!"
Dr. Agasa's living room was modest, yet cozy and lived-in. Yang Tao sat on the leather sofa, scanning the surroundings. There was no hint of the high-tech lair one might expect from a genius inventor.
Soon, Dr. Agasa returned with two cups of tea, placing them on the table before sitting down. "So, when you said he isn't from this world, what exactly did you mean?"
"Literally what I said."
If there was one person in Conan's world whose inventions defied science, it was undoubtedly Dr. Agasa.
Butterfly voice changers, tracking glasses, the wristwatch tranquilizer gun—all could be rationalized scientifically.
But the "power-enhancing shoes"? What on earth?
According to the official explanation, "They stimulate acupoints through electricity and magnetism, pushing the muscles to their maximum potential."
Never mind that Conan always bounded around energetically afterward—kicking a soccer ball into a satellite, for example.
Were the people of Conan's world stronger the smaller they were? Adults < High schoolers < Elementary schoolers?
"Dr. Agasa, besides meeting you, I also need your help to study something."
Yang Tao retrieved a [Smile] skin from his backpack. Though its invisibility weakened over time, it remained intact enough for research.
Dr. Agasa's eyes widened at the transparent object on the table. Carefully, he examined it, murmuring in awe, "My goodness… what is this? Incredible. Invisibility! This could achieve true invisibility."
"Dr. Agasa, I thought you'd be fascinated. Could you study it carefully for me?"
Dr. Agasa nodded. "Of course. But may I ask where this came from?"
Yang Tao smiled. "It belonged to Smile. When alive, apart from the eyes and teeth, her entire body was completely transparent—no contours visible. After her death, the skin's invisibility gradually deteriorates."
After a brief explanation of Smile's traits and behavior, both Dr. Agasa and Conan were astounded.
"There really exist such creatures?"
"It's not even clear if they qualify as living beings… which is why I need your help, Dr. Agasa."
"Ah, understood. I'll figure it out."
"Oh, and could you make a set of survival gear? I can provide some materials for your research."
Yang Tao intended the set for Erik, at least to ensure his safety while recording data in the [Backrooms]. Finding a new recorder was no simple matter.
"Certainly!" Dr. Agasa said. For him, this was trivial.
Yang Tao then retrieved a glowing tooth from Smile, placing it on the table. "This is her tooth—a gift for you, Doctor."
Dr. Agasa immediately ran to fetch a jar and tongs, carefully placing the tooth inside.
"Phew… luminous objects like this usually emit radiation. I don't know if this one does, but caution is best."
Yang Tao froze, wanting to smack himself for forgetting middle school science. Radiation forms from energy released by matter; all glowing objects emit it—some harmful, some not.
"My apologies, Dr. Agasa. Rest assured, this tooth won't harm humans in the short term." If it did, he'd be bleeding himself.
Dr. Agasa harbored no complaint, though he seemed eager to research these items. Yang Tao, noticing this, spent 15 energy points to summon a [One-Time Door Key].
The key could open any door used for teleportation; the user merely had to hold it and think of opening a door.
"Dr. Agasa, if anything urgent happens, just use this key to reach me. I won't trouble you further—farewell."
With that, Yang Tao stood, and Conan quickly followed.