It was early morning.
Fang Zheng gripped the steering wheel and watched the streets ahead. The morning wind blowing in through the window was slightly chilly, but that was naturally no problem for him.
The problem was...
"This is Lupin. Professor Moriarty, how are things on your end?"
"Everything's going smoothly... By the way, couldn't you use a different name, Riko?"
"Oh, come on, how can you say my real name? What if someone's listening in!"
In this tiny little world, who the hell could possibly eavesdrop on my Personal Terminal...? I'd like to see who was skilled enough to beat Little Angel...
Hearing Riko's complaints from the other end of the communications terminal, Fang Zheng silently sighed. They were not currently in Academy City, but in the city where Butei High, the school Riko attended, was located. Early that morning, Riko had dragged Fang Zheng out of bed, saying that she had tracked down the movements of the "Butei Killer" based on intelligence and needed Fang Zheng and Flanda's cooperation. So, yawning, Fang Zheng and the hurriedly arriving Flanda passed through the Teleportation Gate and came to this city.
To be honest, this was quite novel for Flanda as well. But after witnessing Fang Zheng instantly kill a Level 5 Meltdowner, Flanda had realized that Fang Zheng was clearly far more than an ordinary researcher. Besides, she herself was an Esper with spatial powers, so this degree of Spatial Transfer—well, she could still understand it.
"Fine, fine, I'm ready here too... Flanda is ready as well."
"Don't call me Flanda! Call me Irene Adler, Professor Moriarty!"
"...Fine, fine. Irene is ready too, Lupin."
Fang Zheng felt as though he were playing make-believe with children. He truly had not expected Riko to be interested in this sort of thing.
Still...