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"Dr. Chengshi said you have something very important to discuss with me?"

Lin Jiashu sat on the sofa, looking at Sawada Hiroki sitting opposite him. "Is there something you're having trouble adjusting to in your daily life? Or do you want some new computer equipment?"

"No, Yoshiki-san."

Hiroki shook his head, his expression suddenly turning serious. "The equipment is sufficient. I'm here because... I have something to give you."

"Leave it to me?"

"Yes, come to the study with me."

Hiroki jumped off the sofa and went upstairs.

The study on the second floor had been converted into a small control center. The curtains were drawn tightly, and several high-performance servers hummed in the corner, their heat making the room several degrees warmer than the outside. Huge monitors occupied an entire wall, displaying countless dazzling streams of data.

"Brother Jiashu, do you still remember 'Noah's Ark'?"

Hiroki sat in the computer chair, his feet barely touching the ground, but the confidence he exuded when facing the keyboard was enough to put any adult to shame.

"Of course I remember." Lin Jiashu leaned against the door frame, his eyes flickering slightly. "Including that game we played back then, I still remember it vividly to this day."

"..."

The Phantom of Baker Street, Jack the Ripper, Moriarty...

Thinking back to that time, Hiroki Sawada couldn't help but smile.

“The original Noah’s Ark self-destructed and no longer exists.” His voice was somewhat low, but his eyes quickly brightened again. “But I survived. As long as I am here, I can create a second Noah’s Ark. And this time, it will no longer be an ark that exists to escape reality, but rather, eyes that exist to… help Jia Shu Ge.”

As he pressed the Enter key, the data stream on the screen suddenly converged, forming a three-dimensional, ever-changing blue sphere of light.

At the same time, a mechanical yet somewhat human-like voice rang out in the room:

Hello, Hiroki. Hello, Mr. Yoshiki Hayashi.

Lin Jiashu's pupils contracted slightly.

Even though he had expected it, seeing the finished product still stirred up a lot of emotions within him.

Hiroki Sawada... actually managed to recreate that world-changing artificial intelligence under such rudimentary conditions, and in such a short time.

"This is 'Ark-2.0'."

Hiroki Sawada turned his chair around and looked at Yoshiki Hayashi, his tone carrying a hint of expectant anticipation, mixed with a touch of caution, "In the days that Yoshiki-nii hasn't come, I've been thinking. Yoshiki-nii has been fighting silently outside to save me, to save Dr. Narumi, to save that sister named Haibara...

“I know the outside world is dangerous, there are many bad people like Syndra, like those who try to control me and get Noah’s Ark… Although you never say it, I know you are carrying a heavy burden.”

Hiroki Sawada unconsciously clenched his fist. "I want to help you. But I don't have the strength, so this is all I can do."

He waved.

The images on the screen switched instantly.

Those were live feeds from countless surveillance cameras on the streets of Tokyo; encrypted databases from the Metropolitan Police Department's internal network; financial flow charts from major banks; and even... a few aerial views that looked like satellite views.

"It can infiltrate any network-connected device like a ghost. It can track anyone, predict their behavioral patterns, and even modify data without anyone noticing."

As Hiroki explained, his eyes remained fixed on Yoshiki's expression. "With it, Yoshiki-nii, you'll have 'omniscient' eyes. No matter what you want to do... it can help you."

Lin Jiashu fell silent.

He stared at the flowing data on the screen, knowing full well that with this, combined with his Death Note, he would truly become an omniscient and omnipotent god in this modern society. He could easily monitor political leaders of various countries, freely mobilize global funds, and make his organization flawless.

However, he did not immediately show any joy.

He knew he couldn't appear too suspicious to a sensitive and precocious child like Hiroki Sawada.

After a moment of silence,

"Hiroki".

Lin Jiashu walked up to him, but his gaze didn't even fall on the screen in front of him. Instead, he half-squatted down, his expression becoming unusually serious, even somewhat solemn.

Do you know what you're doing?

Hiroki paused for a moment, his expectant expression stiffening slightly. "Yoshiki-nii... don't you like it?"

"This isn't a matter of liking or disliking."

Lin Jiashu looked directly into his eyes, his tone heavy, "The power of artificial intelligence is too great. If it is used carelessly, it is enough to cause huge turmoil in social order. If it falls into the hands of bad people, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"I know that."

Hiroki Sawada replied.

He already had a very clear understanding of this matter when he was developing Noah's Ark.

Lin Jiashu then spoke up: "So this artificial intelligence you developed shouldn't fall into my hands... After all, I'm afraid I'll use it to do some bad things."

"Something bad?" Hiroki blinked, a hint of confusion flashing in his clear eyes.

“Yes… I was wondering if you sometimes have too much of a bias against me.” Lin Jiashu looked at him. “But I have to tell you the truth, I’m not a good person, much less a righteous knight in a fairy tale, Hiroki. I’m just a… despicable adult who has to get his hands dirty for some purpose… it’s too dangerous to entrust this to me.”

The room fell into a deathly silence.

The only sound was the hum of the server fans, like some kind of countdown.

Hiroki Sawada looked at Yoshiki Hayashi.

He looked intently at the man who had pulled him back from the abyss of despair and given him a second life.

Despite his childlike appearance, his soul had long seen through the ugliness of human nature. He had seen hypocrites like Syndra, desperados who would do anything to obtain Noah's Ark, and good people like Dr. Narumi who suffered for revenge.

But Jia Shu is different.

Yoshiki saved him, and also Dr. Narumi, and even the older sister named Haibara... Hiroki Sawada had been watching TV, and he never missed a single news report about Yoshiki—Yoshiki might have really done a lot of bad things as he said, but the number of people saved because of him was definitely much greater.

Like the Shinkansen bombing incident, the random bombing in Tokyo... If someone who always silently saves people and always gently pats their head and says "it's okay" is a bad person, then are there any good people left in this world?

"It's okay."

Hiroki then spoke up.

He did not back down because of Lin Jiashu's words. Instead, he reached out his small hand and grasped Lin Jiashu's large hand.

His hands were small and even a little cold, but unusually firm.

“The adult world is too complicated. I don’t understand absolute justice and evil.” Hiroki shook his head. “But I know… it was Yoshiki-nii who saved me. You gave me and Dr. Narumi the stable life we ​​have now. Besides, that sister named Ai Haibara also told me a lot… Yoshiki-nii may have hurt others, but I know there must have been a reason.”

"Just like you helped Dr. Narumi get revenge, if killing those people is considered a bad thing, I don't mind."

"If it weren't for Brother Jiashu, we would have died long ago."

"And Yoshiki-nii, you're carrying so much on your shoulders, it must be very tiring, right?"

“Hiroki…” Hayashi Yoshiki’s eyes flickered.

"In short, I believe in Brother Jiashu."

Hiroki gave him a warm, unreserved smile. “Whatever you do, there must be a reason. If it’s to protect everyone, if it’s to prevent something like what happened to me from happening again… then even if it’s something bad, I’m willing to help you. If Yoshiki-nii is going to be the one walking in the darkness, then let my achievements be your eyes.”

These words, along with his smile, were reflected in Lin Jiashu's eyes.

Looking at the child in front of him, even Lin Jiashu couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt.

He knew he was being despicable, after all, he was exploiting a child's gratitude and dependence... but he wouldn't stop. He needed this power to get everything he wanted in this eternally stagnant future.

"you really……"

Lin Jiashu sighed, reached out and pressed his hand on his head, ruffling his hair.

"Am I really that amazing?"

Hiroki Sawada, whose head was being pressed and whose hair was being ruffled, was quite proud... He was indeed much more lively now than before. Then, as if he remembered something, he stepped out of Yoshiki Hayashi's arms, took out a specially made USB flash drive from his pocket, and stuffed it into Yoshiki Hayashi's hand.

"This is the ultimate control key for this artificial intelligence. Here you go."

Hiroki Sawada glanced at the USB drive, his eyes flickering, and added, "However... just in case, or if Yoshiki-san, you ever do something really bad." He looked up at Yoshiki Hayashi earnestly, "I've retained the underlying emergency braking permissions, and I'll personally turn it off."

Lin Jiashu was taken aback.

Seeing Hiroki's serious expression, he was not angry at all, but instead showed an appreciative smile.

"You kept the safety pin? As expected of you, Hiroki. Okay, I promise you, if I really lose control, you'll be the one to stop me."

"Okay! Pinky promise!" Hiroki Sawada extended his little finger.

"Pinky promise".

The big hand and the little hand hooked together, making a pact that could change the course of the world.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Before parting, Asagi Nami escorted Hayashi Yoshiki to the door.

"That child... is very happy."

Asagi looked at Hiroki, who had returned to his computer and started working while humming a song, with a gentle gaze. "Although Hiroki has gotten used to school life and made some friends, this is the first time I've seen him smile so happily... He probably feels that he has finally been able to help you, so if possible, I hope Mr. Hayashi can come and see him more often."

"I will, after all, the situation is much safer now." Lin Jiashu said with a smile, "I need to trouble you to continue taking care of him. Chengshi, I also hope that Hiroki can live happily ever after."

The latter nodded, and soon Lin Jiashu was seen off as he left.

After getting into the car, Lin Jiashu looked at the USB drive in his hand, his eyes gleaming—this was the last piece of the key he had been hoping for.

Hiroki Sawada trusted him to this extent... Even though artificial intelligence has been developed, he doesn't seem to have used it to investigate Yoshiki Hayashi—although Yoshiki Hayashi was very discreet, if artificial intelligence were used to investigate, some clues could be found.

Even in that situation, Lin Jiashu still had plenty of things to say to smooth things over.

After all, he killed almost no good people.

"..."

Although he felt a little sorry for taking advantage of him, in return, Lin Jiashu would try his best to give him a happy and carefree life.

After putting the item in his pocket, Lin Jiashu quickly started the car and stepped on the gas. The black sedan shot off like an arrow and disappeared at the end of the streets of Beika Town.

Chapter 137: Conan, please just stay a great detective who never grows up (5K)

Mihana Second Apartment.

It is now 2 a.m.

The Tokyo Tower outside the window still shimmered with a warm orange light. Most of the people in the city had already fallen asleep. Lin Jiashu sat at his desk with only a dim desk lamp on.

A black laptop was placed in front of him.

on the screen,

Countless complex data streams cascaded down like a waterfall—a gift from Hiroki Sawada, "Ark-2.0," the second-generation Ark.

"Let's check the interior first..."

Lin Jiashu's slender fingers tapped lightly on the keyboard.

Almost instantly, the originally complex list of organization members was quickly filtered out.

Code names and avatars flashed on the screen, then were marked with warning symbols of different colors.

Rena Mizunashi and Tooru Amuro's names were unsurprisingly flashing red. Yoshiki Hayashi didn't linger on them, but instead focused on the names of several other seemingly insignificant peripheral members, and even a few mid-level executives.

As an international criminal organization, the Black Organization has attracted the attention of many institutions.

Besides the Japanese Public Security Bureau, FBI, and CIA, there are also MI6 and BND (German Federal Intelligence Service), etc.

The second-generation Ark can directly read the phones of these undercover agents, steal their daily activities and communications, and thus confirm their identities.

If Gin were to see this list, he'd probably be out there already, gun in hand, blowing everyone's heads off.

But Hayashi Yoshiki wouldn't do that.

"It would be a shame to kill him."

He muttered to himself, his finger lightly swiping across the screen, instructing the second-generation Ark to monitor them 24/7.

Getting rid of these rats would only alert the organization behind them, prompting them to send in new, unknown faces... and the precision with which they cleanse each time would raise their suspicions and make them wary. Rather than that, controlling the information they have access to is the best way to make them their mouthpiece, and we can even exploit their lowered guard against the current organization.

Then Lin Jiashu switched the interface again.

This time, the screen displayed several detailed personal files—stumbling blocks in the path of organizational expansion.

Juan Carlos, Senior Dispatcher at the Panama Canal Authority.

The information shows that this person was not an honest official, but a greedy bloodsucker who used his position to extort money from passing cargo ships for a long time.