IW: Chapter 291 - Ai Haibara, what do you think I want from you?
"Speaking of which, which school are you sending me to?"
Ai Haibara was woken up early in the morning by Bai Ye, who was preparing to send her to school.
Yesterday, she hadn't seemed to ask Bai Ye which school he was sending her to.
"What do you think?"
Bai Ye simply chose a nearby school for Ai Haibara.
Before choosing, Bai Ye was actually a bit hesitant.
However, he eventually made a decision.
The situation was no longer the same as in the anime.
So there was no need to follow the original settings.
"Mihana Elementary School?"
Ai Haibara had done some research beforehand.
She found that Conan was currently attending Mihana Elementary School.
Both of them had taken APTX4869.
It should be normal for her to be placed there, right?
After all, from Ai Haibara's perspective, she could continue to observe Conan in various ways later.
She wanted to continue researching this.
Then she had to continue researching Conan.
"No, I've arranged for you to go to Tomoeda Elementary School, because it's relatively closer to us."
Bai Ye had originally considered it.
Whether to arrange for Ai Haibara to go to Mihana Elementary School and follow the original plot.
But after considering it, Bai Ye ultimately decided not to follow the old path.
Mainly because there was no need.
Originally, there was only one Conan world, so perhaps he needed to exploit Conan.
But given the current complexity of this world, there was no need to follow the old path at all.
So Bai Ye chose a nearby school.
"So… what exactly is your purpose?"
Ai Haibara was a bit confused.
Actually, she had given that answer considering that Bai Ye might indeed arrange for her to go there.
But after getting the answer from Bai Ye, she was instead a bit lost.
Did Bai Ye not want her to continue researching APTX4869?
"So you actually think I also want immortality?"
A smile flashed across Bai Ye's lips. From Ai Haibara, he understood what she was thinking.
"Exactly, I don't think anyone could refuse, right?"
Ai Haibara nodded, then expressed her thoughts.
Although she hadn't said anything before.
Both sides had always maintained a certain understanding.
Ai Haibara didn't ask, Bai Ye didn't say, and she felt she could pretend not to know.
She considered herself to have made a deal with Bai Ye.
She would provide Bai Ye with the possibility of immortality, and Bai Ye would help her find her sister's soul.
So Ai Haibara didn't want to bother with too much.
As long as Bai Ye could help her find her sister's soul.
But now, from what she understood from Bai Ye, it seemed Bai Ye didn't necessarily want immortality?!
How could that be!
How could anyone in the world refuse immortality!
So even though Bai Ye never said anything, Ai Haibara had always assumed it.
"So you think APTX4869 will definitely make people immortal?"
All of Ai Haibara's theories were based on the idea that her drug could provide immortality.
But this drug had not yet been fully tested.
No one knew what the final effect would be.
So everything Ai Haibara was saying, perhaps even she herself couldn't be sure of it.
"The experimental reports are mostly deaths, but there are also successful cases, such as me and Kudo Shinichi."
Ai Haibara lowered her head, unable to refute Bai Ye.
Science was rigorous. Even if she really wanted to prove it, there were indeed only herself and Conan.
And there was another very important thing: were the two of them immortal?
Actually, no…
Perhaps they would still grow up and eventually die.
It was also unknown if this drug had a second effect.
But even if there was no second effect, or if the second effect was weaker.
This was enough to drive many people crazy.
After all, no one could refuse to double their lifespan.
Especially the wealthy.
Many wealthy people spent the first half of their lives striving, and by the time they were old, they had wealth, but their bodies were no longer young.
Such people would try various things to extend their lifespan.
Taking their wealth and having a younger body.
"This drug is currently in the experimental stage. First of all, if you consider yourselves as test subjects, then you haven't achieved the wish of immortality."
"But it's enough, isn't it?"
Ai Haibara would continue to research.
Given the results shown so far, wasn't it enough to make him interested?
"So why do you think only your drug can grant immortality?"
Perhaps it was needed in the Conan world.
But not here.
Moreover, in the Conan world, one could achieve immortality simply by relying on Conan.
After all, as long as Conan didn't turn back into Kudo Shinichi, the timeline of this world would be chaotic.
As long as they were on this timeline, and not killed, perhaps they could truly be immortal?!
"Ghost?"
Ai Haibara murmured, feeling that Bai Ye seemed to say that.
If she became a ghost like Sadako, it seemed there would be no such restrictions?
"You're wrong, this world isn't as simple as you think."
Bai Ye shook his head and said no more.
Not to mention that he himself shared lifespans with his counterparts in other worlds.
Just the existence of creatures like Thor.
Then there must be other ways to achieve immortality, not just as Ai Haibara described.
"So you actually have a way yourself, right?"
Ai Haibara understood. After all that talk, wasn't he telling her that he didn't need to rely on her to gain a very long lifespan?
But...
If Bai Ye really had a way, why would he seek her out?
Ai Haibara believed her only value was this.
If Bai Ye didn't even need these.
Then she really couldn't think of anything else.
"I'm just a little interested in your drug, there's no grand conspiracy."
Bai Ye saw Ai Haibara's eyes and naturally knew what she wanted to say.
However, in Bai Ye's view, there wasn't that much conspiracy.
He was just a little interested in the drug.
Of course, in scientific research, it was also possible that while researching, a strange new thing could be developed in that direction.
So in Bai Ye's opinion, scientific research still needed to be supported.
Who knows, maybe Ai Haibara would research something else?
"Besides making people younger, I can't think of anything else about this drug. If you don't mind..."
A wry smile flashed across Ai Haibara's face.
Something that people coveted was actually within his easy reach.
It turned out that this was quite unpleasant.
Mainly because she had researched it for so long.
Yet the results weren't that great.
"Actually, you can help me research some other things later."
Bai Ye shrugged and said slowly.
He felt that Ai Haibara seemed to have fallen into a misconception.
What he wanted was her research ability.
Not for her to research APTX4869.
"If you don't want to change back yourself, then I don't think it matters if you don't research."
Did she want to change back?
Ai Haibara was silent for a moment, and finally decided that she did want to change back.
Although her current child-like appearance allowed her to escape the Black Organization's pursuit.
But this after all...
However, before dealing with the Black Organization.
Ai Haibara preferred to maintain it.
But research still had to be done.
This was her life's work.
Her first half of life had been spent preparing for this research.
Having sacrificed so much, Ai Haibara did not want to give up researching APTX4869.
"I want to change back, to be able to appear as my original self someday."
She wasn't very willing to be a child either.
She also wanted to continue researching.
"It would be better with test subjects."
"So that's why you wanted to go to Mihana Elementary School?"
Bai Ye didn't deny it.
Ai Haibara's previous consideration might have been for this reason.
"Actually, I don't think it's necessary, unless you still want to get involved in the Black Organization matter."
In Bai Ye's view, the current situation was different.
Unless Ai Haibara really wanted to get involved in that matter.
"He's always investigating the Black Organization. If you choose to approach him, you'll also get caught up in this matter."
It could be seen from the anime.
If it weren't for the protagonist's halo and the intelligence-reducing halo.
Conan would most likely have died long ago.
Even those around him would be in great danger.
Actually, for someone like Kudo Shinichi, you should just hide directly.
Insisting on going head-to-head when you don't have the strength to fight the opponent.
This felt like cheating.
Of course, it was also because there were too many undercover agents in the liquor factory, otherwise Conan would have been discovered long ago.
He was almost discovered several times, but always managed to escape danger thanks to certain events.
"But if the Black Organization isn't resolved, I don't think I can recover, can I?"
Ai Haibara also felt it was very dangerous.
But she had also been thinking, if the Black Organization wasn't resolved, how could she change back?
"You don't need to worry about that. There are many undercover agents in that liquor factory, and even if it can be resolved, it's not something you can resolve."
Becoming the silver bullet that resolves the Black Organization wasn't just Kudo Shinichi.
This was simply a desecration of the undercover agents and various police officers who sacrificed themselves in the anime.
In Bai Ye's view, the real silver bullets were those people.
Even without Conan, this organization would eventually be destroyed.
Especially in a world like this one now.
Conan could just have his three lucky charms.
"I understand."
Ai Haibara took a deep breath, as if she had been persuaded by Bai Ye.
Before, she had indeed fallen into a dead end.
If it was really as Bai Ye said, the liquor factory wasn't invincible after all.
"You seem to know them very well?"
Ai Haibara reacted. She had never mentioned anything about the Black Organization to Bai Ye.
Even if Bai Ye saw through her from the beginning, she hadn't thought much of it then.
But now, from Bai Ye's ability to instantly reveal that this Black Organization was named after liquor.
He even knew that this organization had many undercover agents.
This also made Ai Haibara very curious.
Bai Ye seemed to know a lot about the Black Organization.
"Isn't it normal to know?"
Bai Ye hadn't thought of hiding anything from Ai Haibara.
"Then have you ever thought..."
Ai Haibara lowered her head, not daring to look at Bai Ye.
But in her heart, there was also a thought that she hoped Bai Ye could help resolve the Black Organization.
"No, I haven't."
"But what they're doing!!"
As Ai Haibara spoke, she suddenly realized that she seemed to be overstepping.
No matter what Bai Ye thought, if Bai Ye had an idea, that would naturally be best.
But if Bai Ye simply didn't want to get involved.
Then she was actually trying to morally blackmail him.
"They're doing dangerous things, they're killing people, they're doing something, right?"
"Mm."
"But people die every day, just like that library director. What's the difference between what he did and the Black Organization killing people? If I had to manage everything, then what would the police be for?"
Did he want him to become the Kami of the New World?
Give him a notebook, then.
For Bai Ye, the Black Organization, or anyone else, made no difference.
He also didn't want to get involved in this matter, mainly because he had some business dealings with the Black Organization.
The other party hadn't completely offended him, so why provoke them?
"The police, well..."
Thinking of Inspector Megure and those police officers, Ai Haibara was actually a bit skeptical.
After all, could they really catch them?
She felt it was really unlikely.
After all, during the last case, if Bai Ye hadn't reminded them, those police officers would have left.
"Don't think of the police as so weak. Actually, the Black Organization has already been infiltrated."
She only dealt with people like Inspector Megure.
But there were actually powerful police officers. Saying they were incompetent was a bit of an exaggeration.
It was just to highlight the detectives, which was why these police officers were portrayed as somewhat weak, appearing as if their intelligence had been lowered.
"Alright, I was thinking too much. I'll go to school properly and do my own thing afterwards."
Ai Haibara had only mentioned it briefly before.
Since Bai Ye wasn't very keen, Ai Haibara naturally couldn't force Bai Ye to do so.
First, Bai Ye wouldn't listen to her at all.
Second, she was still living under someone else's roof, and she should act like it, not haughtily order the other party.
It was just a bit of a shame that Bai Ye didn't seem prepared to act.
If Bai Ye was willing, she felt that the Black Organization would probably not survive at his hands. Wouldn't just one Sadako be enough to handle it?
Although Sadako's combat power was currently unknown.
But didn't ghosts kill people very easily in movies?
"It's good that you think that way."
Bai Ye also breathed a sigh of relief.
Ai Haibara didn't need to interact with the Black Organization anymore.
This was also why Bai Ye didn't send her to Mihana Elementary School.
As long as she interacted with Conan, it would be impossible not to interact with the Black Organization later.
So Bai Ye ultimately cut off the possibility of their interaction.
Solving the Black Organization matter later could be entirely left to Conan.
After all, that guy was now eager to deal with the Black Organization. Even without Ai Haibara, he should be able to, right?!
Bai Ye still had a little faith in Kudo Shinichi.