Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

For Heiji Hattori and Conan, the deduction that followed was hardly challenging. The other party never imagined someone would directly break a car window to park, such a ludicrous move, which quickly allowed Heiji Hattori and Conan to see through the method of the crime. The only trouble was proving evidence against the person as the perpetrator.

If it weren’t for Fang Zheng’s reminder, Conan and Heiji Hattori might still be struggling to figure out who committed the crime. But after having identified the perpetrator, they quickly found evidence—that was the set of unread Sherlock Holmes mini-tests. Considering that everyone present except Fang Zheng and Ran had received the test and presumably completed it.

But his test sheet had not a single answer. As a seasoned Sherlock Holmes fan, he either forfeits the competition or knew the boss was already dead...

Okay, naturally, the next thing was the criminal’s breakdown, kneeling to confess they committed murder, revealing their utterly meaningless motive. Shortly after the confession, the police who received Fang Zheng’s call arrived at the scene, thus ending this case. Heiji Hattori also discovered Conan’s true identity as Shinichi Kudou... no need to mention it.

On the way back, Conan and Heiji Hattori were joking around, while Fang Zheng watched them coldly from the side, smiling silently. He had made up his mind to, someday, completely expose Conan’s true identity to Ran. In the anime, viewers never saw this plot because even though Ran sometimes suspected Conan’s real identity, he and Kidd always used various tricks to deflect it.

But this time, Fang Zheng would not let him have this chance. Exposing Conan’s true identity has been the dream of everyone watching Conan all along. Since Fang Zheng had time traveled to this world, he definitely had to fulfill this dream.

As for Conan’s worry that telling Ran might put her in danger—hahaha, Fang Zheng laughed three times and said, "Do you want to laugh me to death so you can inherit my Huabei account?!"

Absurd, just because you don’t tell Ran, her danger doesn’t decrease, does it?

Just from Fang Zheng’s recollection of the TV version, Ran almost got killed twice. Once, she nearly drowned, and another time, she was attacked by a bandaged monster with an axe, not to mention later occurrences Fang Zheng couldn’t clearly recall.

However, he very clearly remembered the movie version.

Detonate Skyscraper—Ran almost directly got blown up.

Target on the Fourteenth—Ran nearly drowned while saving Conan.

The Darkest Nightmare—at one point, she nearly got pushed onto a railway and collided with a train, chased as a target later, even facing firearms.

Countdown to Heaven—almost got burned to death; ultimately, she had to bungee jump to escape.

Undead of Baker Street—willingly jumped down to save Conan; if Conan didn’t pass, endgame for sure.

Detective’s Soul Requiem—wore a bomb on her wrist and almost got blown up.

These are all the movie versions Fang Zheng watched; he didn’t watch the new ones afterward, but even just in those he remembered, Ran had nearly died multiple times, even losing her memory once.

Except for Countdown to Heaven, the rest had nothing to do with the Black Organization at all.

At this time, Fang Zheng particularly wanted to quote that meme.

Fang Zheng: "Come on, Washing Machine, can you repeat that famous line?"

Washing Machine: "If they find out the Washing Machine is still alive, they’ll definitely come to kill me, thereby endangering the people around..."

Fang Zheng: "You now endanger fewer people around you?"

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

More debt doesn’t worry you, more lice don’t itch, why fear one more?

People dying because of you already fill the Mariana Trench, right!

You’re even worrying about this? Do you want to laugh me to death so you can inherit my Huabei account!

Such malicious intent!

In Fang Zheng’s view, this line was akin to "wanting to be the Holmes of the Heisei era" and "Ash must win the championship," classic jokes...

Moreover, even if Conan tells Ran about this, what can Ran do? She’s just a high school girl, okay? Can she listen to Conan’s words and suddenly tear off her uniform to reveal a skin-tight suit to fight the Black Organization in 800 rounds?

Utterly ridiculous.

Besides, Ran isn’t one of the three reckless Boy Detectives; if she learns the truth, she will definitely cooperate obediently with Conan rather than find trouble like those three reckless kids. Certainly further proving that people in love have negative IQs, including famous detectives.

But needless to say, Fang Zheng wasn’t planning to reveal it immediately. If he recalled correctly, the plot was just beginning, and Fang Zheng couldn’t clearly recall when Conan and Ran bathed or slept together. Anyway, he wasn’t in a hurry, the longer it took, the bigger the counterforce. Once Conan’s true identity is exposed, the storm he’d face from Ran would be more intense...

In short, let’s wait a while to talk further.

After this incident, Fang Zheng’s life temporarily returned to calm because of Dr. Agasa’s connection, he met the three Boy Detectives kids. Ayumi was very cute and obedient, but the other two reckless kids didn’t interest Fang Zheng much. Thus, he kept a distance from these daredevil youngsters... Overall, doing one’s own thing was most important.

Under Fang Zheng’s promotion, Tokyo’s "Skynet" plan was progressing steadily. Especially thanks to a certain clueless detective and a certain Shinigami elementary student, the number of murder cases within Tokyo increased during this period, greatly increasing the police’s pressure in maintaining public order. Therefore, Fang Zheng’s "Skynet" plan was almost effortlessly passed and entered the practical stage.

But perhaps due to the Will of the World protecting the detective, Fang Zheng’s plan wasn’t going smoothly during implementation. Originally, he wanted to put cameras everywhere across Tokyo Metropolis, fully monitoring the area, so if Gin appeared, even without Akemi Miyano as bait, Fang Zheng could detect their presence.

Unfortunately, possibly due to the world’s will, many places were resistant to installing surveillance cameras. Japanese thought processes are also peculiar; they claim our community is always peaceful, nothing happened, no need for surveillance cameras. On the contrary, if you install them, doesn’t it mean the community’s safety is questionable?

What kind of stupid logic is this?

After several tries, Fang Zheng abandoned communicating with these fools; back when he was an emperor, no one’s opposition mattered, everyone challenging it was hung from street lamps.

But now, Fang Zheng was left speechless, only able to be speechless. If he wanted to forcibly push the plan, he’d have to abandon business for politics, become Tokyo Metropolis’s governor might work—oh, probably even the Prime Minister of Japan couldn’t handle these dumb commoners.

Ultimately, helplessly, Fang Zheng could only opt for the second-best option, installing the Skynet system first in banks, libraries, civic centers, and parks. Those stupid residential communities were on their own; anyway, if someday a Shinigami elementary student goes there and accidentally triggers a serial murder event, causing house prices to fall, decreasing community value is none of our business...

The benefit was, during the Skynet system installation, Fang Zheng finally successfully located the bank where Akemi Miyano, under the alias Masami Hirota, worked.

To be honest, Fang Zheng was quite curious whether after learning the bank had strengthened its monitoring systems, Akemi Miyano would continue her plan.

Facts proved...

"Ah, she still did it."

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but comment, facing the snowflake-filled surveillance screen. To prevent unexpected incidents, he particularly arranged cameras to cover almost every dead corner in the bank. Unexpectedly, the opponent was also cunning, directly smashing the cameras—sure, force is indeed the only way to cut off surveillance.

But pity is... the Skynet isn’t that simple.

Fang Zheng’s Skynet system being favored by the Metropolitan Police Department was due to its fully networked cameras. Once destroyed or powered down, they immediately send alarms and replay the previously captured footage on the screen.

Although Akemi Miyano was aiding internally in the bank, this Skynet feature was only known to Metropolitan Police Department members. For those at the bank, it was simply a regular camera. They wouldn’t imagine, the moment they smashed the camera, an alarm was already signaled to the police department.

Because guys wearing black hoods and shooting cameras with guns look anything but normal... normal would be strange.

"They deployed, after all."

Fang Zheng tapped the keyboard several times, immediately seeing the Skynet Command Center from Metropolitan Police Department had issued orders to support the Shilih Bank Beika Branch. And according to other camera footage, the nearest police had also departed, heading to the incident bank.

Meanwhile, the robbers had already driven away from the bank, and soon a GTA-style police chase unfolded.

Logically speaking, with Skynet’s surveillance coupled with the coordination of the Metropolitan Police Department, these criminals should be trapped with no way to fly. However, what Fang Zheng didn’t expect was that it seemed like some will of the world was aiding these criminals. The police tracking the criminals either had flat tires, got stuck in traffic, or were blocked by trains. In short, after a series of twists and turns, the car finally escaped Skynet’s monitored area and vanished from sight.

This actually happened?

Fang Zheng couldn’t help but frown upon seeing this. He hadn’t anticipated such a development... Does this mean that the world’s rules dictate detectives must catch criminals, not the police?

Though this is an essential element in the world of detective fiction, otherwise if the police caught all the criminals, wouldn’t that render detectives useless?

If it’s really like this, it would be quite troublesome!

Although they didn’t catch the bank robbers, the internal evaluation of Skynet within the Metropolitan Police Department was still significantly improved. After all, according to logic, they should’ve caught the robbers. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side, with flat tires and traffic jams; otherwise, those robbers would’ve been trapped like fish in a barrel.

Even so, they’ve narrowed down the escape range of the robbers. Next, they just need to send people to conduct a wide search in that area, and they should be able to find some clues.

Fang Zheng had little interest in how the police conducted their investigations. His concern lay solely in monitoring Akemi Miyano and catching Vodka and Gin—or if not, then eliminate them!

Next, just like in Fang Zheng’s memory, Akemi Miyano knocked out Conan, who had come to her house to investigate, then drove to her destination. Meanwhile, Fang Zheng followed closely behind in his car, ultimately trailing Akemi Miyano’s car to the warehouse district at the port.

To avoid being detected by Conan and Gin, Fang Zheng deliberately took a detour, parked his car on the other side, and entered the warehouse district. Unfortunately, looking at the densely packed warehouses in front of him, Fang Zheng didn’t know where to start searching. But soon, he received a cue.

"Bang!!"

The sound of gunfire echoed in the silent warehouse district, and at the same time, Fang Zheng’s eyes lit up as he turned to look.

Over there!

In the next moment, Fang Zheng dashed forward, transforming into a black shadow, quickly rushing toward the source of the gunfire.

Before long, after rounding two corners, Fang Zheng spotted a red car parked at the warehouse entrance and a black car behind it.

Simultaneously, he saw two men in black suits, one tall and one short, walking out of the warehouse.

It was Gin and Vodka!

You’re not going anywhere!

Shooting them a cold glance, Fang Zheng reached for his gun, aiming at Gin and pulling the trigger—Damn it, it’s jammed?!

Is this cursed Will of the World actually targeting me?!

Fang Zheng was genuinely frustrated this time. This gun had never malfunctioned before, yet when he aimed at Gin, it suddenly jammed. Indeed, relying on firearms is unreliable—if he could summon Restia, he’d just chop away with a greatsword!

At this moment, Gin and Vodka also saw Fang Zheng charging toward them. Seeing the gun in Fang Zheng’s hand, they were alarmed. The burly Vodka quickly drew his gun, firing at Fang Zheng.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"

Damn, they never jam!

Currently, Fang Zheng was extremely frustrated, rolling to dodge behind a container to avoid their counterattack. Then he quickly reset his gun, forcefully pulling the slide—It’s fixed!

Die!

This time, Fang Zheng was ruthless; unlike Conan and his crew, he’s not concerned about capturing them alive. Dead or alive, it makes no difference to Fang Zheng!

Taking advantage, Fang Zheng peeked out again, firing at Gin and Vodka.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"

Fang Zheng shot four rounds in total; the first grazed Vodka, the second hit Vodka’s gun, the third glanced past Gin’s shoulder, the fourth... jammed again?!

Argh, this bias is too blatant.

Fang Zheng looked speechlessly at the jammed gun in his hand, utterly at a loss for words.

You’re blatantly playing favorites.

Fine, at least you didn’t blow up the barrel—I’ll endure it!

At this moment, Gin and Vodka had already reached their Porsche, with Vodka nursing an injured right hand, and Gin wearing a grim expression, defiantly opening the car door to flee.

Fang Zheng had lost hope in the gun, but he had other options!

Watching Gin open the car door, Fang Zheng squinted, lowering his right hand. Suddenly, a small dagger appeared in Fang Zheng’s hand. In the next instant, he swiftly raised his hand.

Little Li Flying Dagger, never misses!

"—————!"

A flash of cold light.

Gin’s body shuddered, then collapsed onto the seat suddenly.

Success!

Seeing Gin fall, Fang Zheng was thrilled, but unexpectedly, the next moment, Gin struggled to rise again. Fang Zheng saw the dagger meant for Gin’s throat was now merely embedded in his chest...

Come to think of it, when he threw it, there was a gust of wind......

Dammit, this also happened?!

You’re messing with me!

Gin shot Fang Zheng a cold glance, while Fang Zheng returned an icy stare. Their gazes swept across each other. The next moment, without hesitation, Gin hit the gas pedal, speeding away in the Porsche.

"Damn, what bad luck."

Watching the Porsche disappear into the radiant sunset, Fang Zheng spat helplessly.

Forget it, I should go check on Akemi Miyano’s situation...