Chapter 2143 - 2141: I Want to Be Little Black!
Although he didn’t manage to kill Vodka and Gin as planned, fortunately, through this battle, Fang Zheng also figured out the mechanics of this world.
Players who play games might not find this unfamiliar. In games, many times the BOSS isn’t something you can just charge at and win. Players need to destroy some things before fighting the BOSS, take away some items, or even step on a few arrays. Only then can they engage in battle with the BOSS.
If players charge in without doing anything, there’s no way they could defeat the BOSS with full buffs.
It’s the same in online games. Many BOSSes will apply some special buffs, and players need to kill certain minions or destroy certain summoned items during this time to debuff the BOSS and deal damage. Otherwise, it leads to a team wipe.
The rules of this world are the same.
Actually, think about it carefully, locked room murders in Conan’s world aren’t just a one or two-time occurrence. Each time, the criminals’ plans succeed, which from a probability point of view, is simply incredible.
It’s like pulling a string to lock a door; isn’t there a chance it might not lock correctly?
According to Fang Zheng’s understanding, the rules of this world must give criminals automatic buffs like "luck +100, success rate +50" when committing a crime, just like how police failed to catch bank robbers multiple times in Conan’s anime; whether in flashbacks or current events, the criminals always managed to escape.
If described in game terms, it’s like this:
[Mr. A begins committing a crime]
[Mr. A enters Little Black state, gains luck +100, auto-hit, success rate +50, invisibility, instant kill BUFF]
[Mr. A succeeds in the crime]
[Conan begins solving the case]
[Conan discovers clues A, B, C, D]
[Conan attempts to combine clues]
[Clue combination successful]
[Conan deduces the criminal method (great success)]
[Conan discovers the criminal!]
[Mr. A is locked by Conan]
[Mr. A (Little Black state exits), luck -200, will -100,]
[Mr. A receives DEBUFF (weakness) (unstable will) (despair) (misfortune)]
[Mr. A is arrested]
[Conan completes the mission, gains 10,000 experience points, skill point +1]
This is the core operating rule of this world.
Strictly speaking, Conan solving a case each time is like players systematically tackling an instance: killing minions first, debuffing, and finally dealing damage to the BOSS.
That’s the strategic process.
But what is Fang Zheng?
He’s like a level 100 player going into a level 60 instance. He disregards the setting or strategy, punching out 999999 damage straight away, sending them sky-high. No buffs work against him.
Someone like Toshihiko Takasugi, that was a side quest, so it’s done when it’s done.
But someone like Gin is a main questline BOSS, so you can’t complete the task by breaking the game balance.
It’s like a black bar cutscene where the level 99 player has to watch the NPC get taken out by the BOSS due to "plot needs," only to go up and one-hit the BOSS afterward...
The player might say, "Don’t shield me, don’t act as my meat shield, I’m level 99, that BOSS can’t beat me," but the NPC still runs in front and raises their hands "Hero, run, I’ll hold him—Ah!!"
And then dies meaninglessly.
Then the player says, "MMP, so in the end, I still had to fight the BOSS?" and with one hit of 99999 damage, they instantly kill the BOSS.
You see, this makes the NPC’s sacrifice unnecessary and laughable, doesn’t it?
According to logic, after figuring out the situation, Fang Zheng should have chosen to join Conan’s side and become a detective. However, he’s too lazy to do that.
Conan’s been chasing the Black Organization for 20 years and hasn’t gotten crap done. Work with him, and do I have to waste 20 years here as well?
So Fang Zheng’s decision is... not to be a detective; he wants to be Little Black!
Yes, during the fight with Gin earlier, it was really due to Fang Zheng’s lack of consideration. He didn’t think the world would apply suppression power, since, based on normal logic, Fang Zheng could defeat Gin with one hand, without any abnormalities. But he didn’t expect such a mistake... Alright, it is indeed frustrating.
But being Little Black is different.
In Conan World, Little Blacks naturally have luck, auto-hit, and instant kill BUFFs, right?
𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Imagine Gin and Vodka stepping out of their Porsche, and then a Little Black hides in the shadow, grinning fiercely at them... Is there a problem?
No problem at all.
Of course, there is a hassle, and that’s these two aren’t easy to catch...
But before that, a small issue needs resolving.
That is, everything Fang Zheng considered is just an idea, and it needs practice. But being an assassin in Conan World is very dangerous, yet... you have a clever plan, and I have a climb-over-the-wall ladder.
Since everyone decided to play by the rules, I have my rules too.
The rules of Conan World are indeed troublesome, but Fang Zheng isn’t without corresponding methods.
Originally, he drew two Bronze Rank soulstones, one was Ezio, and the other was 47...
At this moment, we should invite—famous Bald Guy Assassin 47 to the stage!
Ezio is an assassin; this guy is a pure killer who will definitely not be discovered or caught. Fang Zheng really wants to see, between the rules of Conan and 47, who’s stronger!
Alright, the next plan is almost ready, and what’s left is...
Watching the door in front of him, Fang Zheng paused silently, then reached out to push the door open and stepped into the room.
This is a guest room in Fang’s home. Besides simple decorations, there’s nothing inside. And now, on the bed here, lies a Sleeping Beauty.
No need to ask; it’s naturally Akemi Miyano.
After that, of course, Fang Zheng brought Akemi Miyano back to his own home. Gin’s shooting skills are undeniable, a single shot kill, straight to the heart. But Fang Zheng says, bro, you think that’s the end? You really thought I couldn’t save her? What do you think Medical Gel is for?
In the Mass Effect world, unless your head got blown off, as long as the blood hasn’t drained entirely, Medical Gel in one go can bring you back. You hit the heart; so what? You really think punching through the heart makes you unrevivable? One Medical Gel cures it instantly, then a CPR to get it done, right?
Of course, if the head got blown off, even Fang Zheng wouldn’t be able to help.
Luckily, Gin is quite dumb.
"Hmm..."
Unaware if it was due to Fang Zheng’s gaze, after a while, accompanied by a low moan, Akemi Miyano slowly opened her eyes.
Where am I...
Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling in front of her, Akemi Miyano felt bewildered and lost. If she remembered correctly, Gin should have killed her, so does that mean this is Heaven?
Thinking of this, Akemi Miyano gave a wry smile.
"I really didn’t expect Heaven to be so shabby..."
"Sorry it’s so shabby."
Yet no sooner had Akemi Miyano spoken, a cold voice rang out beside her, startling her. Akemi Miyano turned towards the source of the sound, and her eyes widened. At her bedside stood a young man dressed in black, arms crossed, staring at her.
What’s happening? Am I not dead?
Am I back in the organization?
"All right, don’t look at me like that."
Fang Zheng shrugged helplessly as he watched Akemi Miyano.
"After all, I am your savior."
"Savior... You saved me?"
"That’s right... By the way, to prevent you from overthinking, I can tell you directly that the reason I saved you is because you used to be part of that organization."
"... What does this mean?"
Upon hearing this, Akemi Miyano eyed Fang Zheng vigilantly.
"Aren’t you with the organization?"
"Of course not. Just because someone wears black clothes doesn’t mean they’re part of your dumb organization. Black clothes aren’t your exclusive right; I can wear whatever color I want. If Gin has the nerve to be upset, let him come find me and see if I don’t beat him... Well, I nearly beat him before, but unfortunately, he managed to escape."
"This..."
Akemi Miyano was clearly confused by Fang Zheng’s response.
"What exactly are you then? MI6? Public security? Or... FBI?"
"I’m sorry, but I have nothing to do with those government-run dogs."
Fang Zheng chuckled.
"If anything, you can see us as enemies of your organization... You’re familiar with the term ’black on black,’ right?"
Upon hearing this, Akemi Miyano instantly understood.
The Black Organization isn’t the only one in the world; although Akemi Miyano is just a pawn and isn’t privy to the organization’s internal secrets, thinking about it, having a Black Organization and another dark organization battling over territory and influence... doesn’t seem so strange?
"Originally, I intended to draw out the core members of that organization by watching you and eliminate them, but luck wasn’t on my side. However, I did manage to gain something."
Speaking, Fang Zheng glanced at Akemi Miyano, causing her to tense up.
"What do you want me to do?"
"It’s simple, be my maid."
"... Eh?"
For a moment, Akemi Miyano even suspected she misheard.
"Do what?"
"Maid. The house here is big, but I’m too lazy to clean it and don’t want to hire anyone. You seem fine, probably good at chores too. I saved your life, so in that sense, you belong to me, got it?"
"No, this..."
Faced with Fang Zheng’s request, Akemi Miyano felt a mess in her head.
"Don’t you want to ask me any secrets about the organization or gather intelligence or something?"
"How much do you know?"
"This..."
Upon hearing this, Akemi Miyano was stumped herself.
"For someone like you, an outsider, I wouldn’t expect you to know much about the organization’s internal details. But if you can provide information on the organization’s strongholds..."
As he spoke, Fang Zheng casually tossed several newspapers in front of Akemi Miyano, all filled with news of fires and explosions. It must be admitted, Gin and the others are truly ruthless; when the situation went south, their first thought was to immediately eliminate anything related to Akemi Miyano. Now Fang Zheng increasingly suspects that the Goddess of Order’s ’eradication’ policy is inherited from the Order Clan.
"It’s probably pointless now?"
"..."
Looking at the newspapers before her, Akemi Miyano had to admit Fang Zheng’s words were true; she was ultimately just an external member, and if according to the organization’s confidentiality level, she didn’t rank higher than her sister either.
Oh right, sister!
"Can you help get my sister out?!"
Thinking of this, Akemi Miyano urgently pleaded with Fang Zheng. She had always hoped to take her sister away from the organization, but clearly, it was impossible. Given the current situation, although Akemi Miyano was certain her sister wouldn’t be easily disposed of by the organization, she was equally worried about her sister’s current situation.
"If you can provide intelligence, I’ll give it a try."
"This..."
Faced with Fang Zheng’s response, Akemi Miyano hesitated.
"In fact, I don’t know much either, since my sister and my contact are strictly monitored by the organization. But I know that currently, my sister’s lab should be located inside a certain pharmaceutical company... because they need to use the facilities to produce poison, and the only place capable of openly purchasing biochemical lab equipment without raising suspicion is a place like this."
"Okay, that’s a lead."
Considering Akemi Miyano’s answer, Fang Zheng thought for a moment.
"So let’s give it a try."