Unexpected Figure at the School Festival

Late at night, in Beika Town 2-chome, at Professor Agasa's house.

The room was dimly lit, with various experimental equipment scattered around and numerous reports strewn about.

It's easy to see that this is an old man's laboratory.

And it's the kind of place that frequently has accidents.

"Ai, are you sure everything's okay?"

Professor Agasa stood at the laboratory door, his tone tinged with worry, "The efficacy of the antidote is still unclear. If we rashly test it, it could..."

"Of course I understand that. Since I developed the antidote, it's only natural that the developer himself should test it..."

Inside the laboratory, Ai Haibara, with her back to him, interrupted him from continuing.

At this moment, she was wearing a white t-shirt and black sweatpants, which were clearly the same clothes she wore when she first returned to the Fujino family's doorstep.

"I see."

Professor Agasa knew that further discussion was pointless, so he stopped talking and instead asked, "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"No... there is one, though."

Ai Haibara paused for a moment, then continued without turning her head, "If it fails, you can help him make up a reason, like a car accident, or being adopted abroad, anything is fine."

"I see."

Professor Agasa glanced at Ai Haibara's Ai Haibara figure and sighed, "If something were to happen... although there's unlikely to be anything, I would tell him that you were adopted by relatives overseas, so there's no need to worry."

"Please."

Ai Haibara's tone was as usual, but with a hint of gratitude in it, "Close the door."

"If you need anything, just let me know. I'll be waiting outside."

Professor Agasa shook his head, gave a word of advice, and then closed the door.

Although their first meeting wasn't pleasant, their relationship gradually improved after spending time together, as they were both science majors.

It feels like I've gained a granddaughter who doesn't visit often in my old age.

Um... I suddenly felt a chill on the back of my head, and it felt a bit inappropriate... Maybe it's my daughter.

The door was closed, and the room became dark.

"Call..."

Ai Haibara let out a long sigh of relief. She leaned against the wall, raised her hand, and gently loosened her fingers. Lying in her palm was a small red and white pill.

However, it's too early to call it an antidote, because she doesn't know whether it's an antidote that can break the curse of APTX4869 or a poison that will lead her into endless darkness.

"Let fate decide. Is it the cure... or the poison..."

Ai Haibara looked at the antidote in her hand and gave a bitter smile, "But having escaped from the organization and survived until now, I should be quite satisfied... Why do I still feel somewhat unwilling?"

On the rainy night she escaped from the organization, she originally intended to seek refuge with Kudo Shinichi, but after leaving the Kudo residence, she clearly realized that she had nowhere to go.

Later, she vaguely found herself in a place that seemed like a safe haven, a home that could shelter her, and people who could protect her.

She thought this was her fate, but Kudo's situation woke her up again.

As she herself said:

"If he continues to maintain this disguise, that's fine. If one day he is suddenly discovered to have disappeared, he can explain it by saying he went home. But if he is truly exposed, he will do his best to investigate the organization."

Therefore, even if someone like her finds a place to stay, she will only bring boundless disaster to those who take her in and protect her once she is exposed.

She didn't know why she had such thoughts, but she felt a little discomfort in the corner of her eye.

If you eat it, there's a 50% chance you'll die.

In the past, she might have acted without hesitation...

But now she feels lost and somewhat unwilling to accept it.

She considered herself selfish and hoped this kind of life could continue.

But they didn't want their identities to be exposed, dragging those people into the abyss of being hunted down by the organization...

"So I really am selfish... I was already prepared to die, but when the time came, I was a little reluctant to give it up..."

Ai Haibara wiped her eyes, clenched the hem of her clothes, took a deep breath, and glanced at the adult clothes laid out beside her.

Feeling lost, she decided to entrust her future to fate, which was the pill in her hand.

If she can successfully turn back, it means she wasn't meant to die. Judging from the effects of the antidote on the sample studied, this antidote is only temporary, and she can go back to normal afterward.

But if something unexpected really happens, that's fine too, at least it won't drag the people around into the organization's quagmire.

If she could... she wouldn't want to leave.

After a moment's thought, she revealed a determined look and swallowed the pill.

Late at night at Fujino's house.

After finishing dinner, Fujino returned to his room and lay down on the sofa.

In the past, he could eat Ai Haibara's cooking every day when he returned home.

It's just that Ai Haibara isn't home right now, and there's no one who knows how to cook...

"I'm actually finding it a little hard to get used to all of this..."

Fujino sighed. He thought about how she would be back in a few days, and then stopped thinking about it.

Then, he opened the system interface and began to check his system balance:

[14.58 million yen]

"Fourteen million, even if you've already spent it once, you still have over five million left... It's still within an acceptable balance range."

Fujino looked at the system interface and clenched his little hands in excitement.

With so much money saved up, it's time for a lucky draw!

Open the system's Profession Ball exchange interface.

But just as he was staring at the lottery button that required ten million yen for ten consecutive draws, his hand, which was about to press it, suddenly paused, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Given my unlucky streak... I'd probably explode on the spot if I tried to enter the lottery directly, right?"

Fujino frowned, "Get the Overlapping Wave buff..."

He then took out Fortune Stick and Lucky Coin from his Pocket Dimension.

It is not yet certain whether Lucky Coin can affect the system's lottery results.

But adhering to the principle that buffs shouldn't be forgotten, we still have to give it a try...

Fujino tossed the Lucky Coin high into the air.

"Buzz!"

It was accompanied by a crisp sound.

The silvery-white coin shimmered in the moonlight as it hung in mid-air.

After tumbling a few times in mid-air, the coin fell directly to the ground.

Fujino reached out and caught it, then glanced at it; it was a flower-patterned mask.

At the same time, a system notification sounded in his ear:

[The Lucky Coin effect has been triggered!]

Cooldown time: 168 hours

"Next, let's check our fortune..."

Fujino put the coins away, then picked up the wooden bucket beside him and shook it devoutly, praying for his luck that day.

"Crack!"

A wooden skewer flew out of the small wooden bucket and hit the floor with a crisp sound.

Fujino bent down upon hearing the sound, picked up the wooden slip, and read: [Great fortune! Everything goes smoothly, blessings and prosperity come from the same source, and the Eight Immortals descend together]

What does this mean?

Fujino looked at the strange characters on the wooden stick and exclaimed in surprise.

He was a little confused.

After all, this is the first time such a comment has appeared.

But since it's considered very auspicious, there shouldn't be any problem, right?

That's what Fujino was thinking.

He then opened the Profession Ball exchange interface and began a ten-pull of intermediate-level draws.

[8.9 million yen has already been consumed for the host]

A system notification sounded in my ear.

The items drawn in this lottery appeared before the eyes: [Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Blue Job Card (Orator), Soap Set (Purple), All Profession Points x1, All Profession Points x1, Shen Nong Oral Liquid x1 (Blue), Advanced Strength Enhancement Card x1 (Purple), Attract Client Attraction Talisman x1 (Purple), Happy Soda x1 (Blue), Vespania Ring (Gold), Advanced All-Around Enhancement Card (Purple)]

[Congratulations, host, on obtaining the secondary profession: Orator (Beginner)]

Fujino paid no attention to the new profession; his gaze was first drawn to a fleeting golden light.

When the light faded, the item inside was revealed: a ring.

"The Vespania Ring?!"

He was taken aback and exclaimed in surprise.

It wasn't that he recognized her at first glance.

There is only a description or name on the item.

"I remember Vespania was supposed to be a small country in this world..."

Fujino murmured as he took out the ring, somewhat puzzled. "But why is this ring called Vespania?"

This is a silver ring with a pink gemstone set in it.

"Why is such an ordinary ring a gold item... Generally speaking, gold items produced by the system are extremely powerful?"

Fujino muttered something, but then, after a moment's thought, he rubbed his chin and continued to guess.

However, since it is a gold item, judging from the strength of items in the past, the gold color means that this ring is definitely not simple.

After pondering for a moment, he opened the system interface and began to view the system details of the golden item:

Vespania Ring: A Mysterious Gem That Makes the World Tremble

Ore from the Vesperian Kingdom, an advanced EMP jamming device capable of disrupting the military balance of various nations, is a Pandora's gem that all countries fear.

Effect: With this gem, no radar can detect your vehicle's location. Through a mysterious blessing, this ring possesses the ability to be used directly, paralyzing all electronic devices within a certain radius. Under extreme conditions, it can even temporarily destroy all communication channels, including wireless single-channel communication.

Holy crap!

Staring at the system interface in front of him, Fujino stood up abruptly.

Furthermore, some beautiful words, hidden deep within their bloodline, suddenly emerged.

"This thing is kind of weird..."

Fujino glanced at the gemstone ring in his hand and immediately felt its weight.

Although this ring is not very useful in terms of practicality.

For him, it simply meant being able to interfere with some electronic devices to achieve a reusable, advanced EMP.

However, this ring has far more uses than just that.

If this ring were to hit an intercontinental ballistic missile...

Yes, a nuclear bomb might fall from the sky and explode on some small white house or the Imperial Palace without any warning.

Furthermore, it was impossible to determine which country launched it afterward.

Just thinking about it is exciting.

"I can only say that gold items are indeed gold items, they are absolutely amazing."

Fujino shook his head with emotion, "The description of the system is correct. This thing is a big killer that can change the world structure."

He didn't plan to wear it with him, because even he couldn't be sure if some shrewd idiot would recognize the gem.

Anyone who discovers something this dangerous could be killed.

"Let's just keep it in our Pocket Dimension for now, and take it out when we need it."

With that, Fujino put the ring away and turned his gaze to the new profession on the profession interface:

[Speaker: Beginner (0-100)]

Special intonation: It can bring you unparalleled intonation to your speech, enhancing its persuasiveness.

Speech Location: Beginner (Speaking in specific locations will grant additional credibility bonuses; speech location can be changed; currently on cooldown for 24 hours; current speech location: beer hall)

"Forehead..."

Looking at the job skill description in front of him, Fujino was speechless.

Beer hall, speaker.

These two elements seem a bit familiar...

???

This isn't it, damn it.

Could it be that the former owner of this job, who was described as "infuriating and heartbreaking," was a head of state who was addicted to steroids?

"But this skill seems pretty good. At least I'll be more confident when trying to fool people in front of the media in the future..."

Fujino glanced at the skill description and clicked his tongue. "But this beer hall... hmm, we need to change it quickly, it just feels a bit off."

After checking the two important items, Fujino turned his attention to the newest items.

This time, he broke even after drawing just one gold item.

The rest included two purple, two blue, and one professional card.

Needless to say, I've won the Client Attraction Talisman, and Fatty's Happy Water before.

But what is that Soap Set?

Fujino was a little confused, so he opened the system warehouse and retrieved it.

The Soap Set was packed in a black briefcase.

Pull the black briefcase open; inside are several different colored soaps.

It even smells a little good...

Fujino didn't dare to move closer, because he felt a sense of danger from the soaps.

Based on his previous Bubble Gum Bomb, he had reason to suspect that these soaps might also explode.

Thinking of this, he opened the system interface and began to look at the description of the Soap Set:

Soap Set: A high-tech product, originally from Northeast China xxx

I'm selling soap. One bar of soap has four different flavors, the front, side, and back are all different. Don't believe me? Wenwen—it's truly an essential item for home, travel, murder, arson, and fraud...

Effect: It can cause a person to faint quickly upon smelling this soap, and the soap smells exceptionally fragrant.

(Note: Licking your nose can also help if you have a stuffy nose)

(Note: Please do not use this product for improper purposes - this is not a strict rule)

Fujino: "..."

Good grief, are you trying to scam me from a distance?

He even pulled this thing out of his pocket?

Why does that Northeastern accent feel so familiar?

Is this thing supposed to have an adaptive origin description?

Damn it, we've been misled!

Fujino's DNA was immediately triggered.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down and then looked at the soaps again.

This soap is supposed to be something that can make someone faint quickly after just two sniffs; it's much more discreet than Bat Dart.

But why does he always feel that this soap is a perfect match for the profession of a public speaker?

Use your public speaking skills to persuade people to buy soap, and once they're hyped up, quickly do something...

Ahem, of course he, Teng, would not use this thing for anything bad.

At most, they'll do some bad things.

A dimly lit laboratory.

Ai Haibara curled up in the corner of the room, letting out a painful whimper.

At this moment, she felt her heart pounding, her skin turning bright red, and her muscles burning as if they were being scorched.

Suddenly, wisps of transparent water vapor began to spread around her.

Suddenly, my heart stopped beating for a moment.

In an instant, the steam waves grew even denser.

Amidst the rising steam, her originally slender figure gradually grew larger, and her clothes were stretched open.

But it didn't end there.

"Ah--!"

Ai Haibara's pain did not lessen; the burning sensation in her muscles became more pronounced and gradually turned into a stinging pain. Accompanying the stinging pain was a strange palpitation.

A moment later, the smoke dissipated.

"Call..."

Ai Haibara took deep breaths of the fresh air.

No, saying it's Ai Haibara isn't accurate.

Because at this point, her body had already reached the size of a normal adult.

Clearly, she has reverted to being Shiho Miyano.

"Was it successful?"

Shiho Miyano stood up unsteadily, weakly raising her hand...

Those slender, snow-white hands felt both familiar and strange to her.

She looked down at the torn clothes hanging on her body and suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

"It seems that fate... doesn't want me to leave yet..."

Miyano Shiho put on the clothes he had prepared in advance and sighed secretly in his heart.

At the same time, the confusion in her heart also vanished.

To be honest, she doesn't want to leave yet.

Now that we've survived, let's keep going...

Although it's unknown how long the medication's effects will last, she has indeed recovered.

She regained her true self.

If that's the case, I should be able to go back tomorrow in my own name...

Even though I can't reveal my identity, I really don't know what his expression would be if he saw me now.

Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on her face, as if the pain from just now had vanished.

The next day, Teitan High School's school festival.

Teitan High School is considered a fairly well-known high school.

The Teitan complex includes Teitan Elementary School, Teitan University, and Teitan High School.

Among them, a great number of talented individuals have emerged.

The atmosphere at the school festival was even more vibrant.

A large number of people from the community and students from other schools rushed over.

Each class and club prepared its own booth and program.

"Class A, Year 1?"

Walking down the corridor of Teitan High School, Fujino stared intently at the maid café advertised in the brochure, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Maid cafes and stuff...

To be honest, he had never experienced this in either of his lives.

Yes, he was very curious, but it definitely wasn't about the maid.

He, Teng, is a respectable person.

"Um... excuse me..."

Just then, a woman's voice suddenly came.

Fujino looked up and saw a tall girl standing in front of him.

Shiho Miyano?!