Guchuan's Collection

That night, while Guchuan was asleep, Little Ai stealthily slipped into the kitchen and retrieved a Kitchen Knife, placing it under his pillow.

She believed that staying with Guchuan would inevitably lead to her being killed by The Organization.

And it wouldn't even be because her identity as Sherry was exposed. More likely, Guchuan had provoked The Organization, and she would simply be an innocent little girl caught in the crossfire.

Little Ai touched the Kitchen Knife.

When that time comes, I'll just end it all.

The night passed without incident.

In the early morning, Guchuan rubbed his eyes as he emerged from his room and saw Little Ai eating breakfast alone.

"Why didn't you wake me up today?" Guchuan asked, his hair a mess, as he sat next to Little Ai.

"Because I'm mad at you," Little Ai replied calmly, eating her breakfast with small, elegant bites.

"Mad? Why? Was it because I got you involved with the Police Station yesterday or something?"

"If I told you, would you change?"

"Probably not," Guchuan thought for a moment before answering.

All he wanted to do now was live as he pleased, and he didn't want to change for anything.

"If you won't, then why bother asking me?" Little Ai seemed to have anticipated Guchuan's answer. She finished the food on her plate and then went to the kitchen to wash it.

"Where's my food?" Guchuan asked, rubbing his stomach.

"Why should I make you food?"

Guchuan rummaged through the kitchen cupboards and quickly found a sandwich.

"You clearly made it for me but just wouldn't say. See, you're being tsundere again." Guchuan stuffed the sandwich into his mouth.

Little Ai's hand froze. She turned to look at Guchuan Ning, annoyed.

I told you, I'm not tsundere!

"I'll take you to the amusement park at noon," Guchuan said, handing his plate to Little Ai.

"No interest," Little Ai pouted.

"You clearly want to go, so why pretend you don't? A tsundere Little Ai is too cute." Guchuan patted Little Ai's head.

Ai Haibara helplessly swatted Guchuan's hand away.

Fine, I'll just be tsundere then.

"Before we go to the amusement park, let's stop by my Collection Hall. All my collectibles have been shipped back," Guchuan said with a smile.

Upon arriving at the Collection Hall, Little Ai paused, staring at the Armor displayed inside.

"Why is it here?" Little Ai asked curiously.

"Someone insisted on giving me this Armor. I couldn't refuse."

Little Ai was convinced by Guchuan's explanation; it was logical and well-reasoned.

However, the "gift" might not have been willingly given.

A large pile of items was casually stacked on the floor. Each item had a piece of paper attached, inscribed with "Collection Points: ***," which were likely Guchuan's way of displaying the value of the items.

"A murder just happened yesterday, and today you've already taken over this Art Museum?"

"Yeah, I've already signed the contract with the deceased Manaka," Guchuan said, sounding a little pleased.

Originally, this Art Museum was something Manaka had eagerly tried to sell to him when he learned Guchuan was looking to buy a venue. Manaka had planned to buy the Art Museum himself and then sell it to Guchuan at a lower price, gaining favor.

Guchuan was happy with this arrangement. After all, Manaka was a dead man walking anyway, so there was no reason to refuse the favor.

"Why do you collect handguns here?" Little Ai picked up a Beretta.

"Someone gave it to me," Guchuan said, taking the gun from Little Ai's hand.

Children shouldn't touch such dangerous things.

"Do you have a gun license?" Little Ai asked.

"No," Guchuan replied matter-of-factly.

Of course, I shouldn't have asked such a stupid question.

Little Ai patted her head. She already knew Guchuan was someone who liked to disregard the law. Illegally collecting a single handgun was nothing to him.

"Are you sure this gun was given to you by someone else?" Little Ai was skeptical of Guchuan's statement.

Who would give Guchuan a gun?

"Definitely. If he doesn't come to ask for it back, then he gave it to me," Guchuan said.

If Gin didn't want to give it to him, this handgun would have been taken back, just like Gin's classic car.

Heh.

Little Ai, with a dark expression, continued to search through Guchuan's collection for other items, wondering if there were any more shocking collectibles.

To Little Ai's lack of disappointment, there were indeed more explosive things inside.

"You should turn yourself in," Little Ai sighed.

She felt that Guchuan deserved to be in prison more than she, an evil scientist, did.

"What nonsense are you spouting? While these things might be somewhat illegal, as long as the police don't catch me red-handed, I'm still a law-abiding citizen."

Heh, a law-abiding citizen collects explosives, does he?

If law-abiding citizens are like this, then what kind of criminals do you envision? People flying armed helicopters to bomb Tokyo Tower?

"And besides, if I go to prison, how will you live on your own outside?" Guchuan revealed his true feelings.

"I'll cook one less meal, wash one less dish. And I won't have to worry about being innocently implicated as a young girl after you stir up trouble outside..."

Little Ai listed all the ways her life would improve if Guchuan went to prison, and Guchuan irritably covered her mouth.

"Alright, that's enough. I know you can't bear to part with me." Guchuan didn't want Little Ai to continue.

With her mouth covered, Little Ai couldn't argue back.

"Wuwuwu~"

"Go on," Guchuan took his hand off Little Ai's mouth, then disgustedly wiped some drool on her.

Little Ai frowned and rubbed the drool-stained spot on Guchuan.

Guchuan skillfully dodged, causing Little Ai to miss several times.

"Are you 'collecting' handguns and explosives to commit murder, crime, and disrupt society?"

After Little Ai had rubbed all the drool off her clothes, she asked Guchuan, confused.

The things Guchuan collected were too bizarre; Little Ai genuinely couldn't believe he wasn't a criminal.

"No, I collect them purely because they have collection value," Guchuan shook his head.

[Beretta handgun, Value: 10 Collection Points. (Gin's sidearm)]
[Homemade Explosives, Value: 5 Collection Points. (Explosives used by a certain demolition genius to blow up a building)]
[Armor, Value: 6 Collection Points. (The most artistic murder)]
[...]

Guchuan then looked at Little Ai.

[Ai Haibara, Value: 100 Collection Points. (Real name Shiho Miyano, an escaped scientist from a certain criminal organization. PhD in Biology, engaged in drug research within the criminal organization)]

"What collection value? I think it's practical value," Little Ai scoffed.

Given Guchuan's personality, people would come knocking on his door sooner or later. Collecting handguns and explosives would allow him to deal with those who came seeking revenge.

Guchuan shrugged.

Of course, he collected these things for the system's Collection Points, which he certainly couldn't tell Little Ai.

After receiving the system's Collection Points, Guchuan actually no longer cared about these items. But he couldn't just throw them away, so he simply kept them displayed there.

"Little Ai, don't worry, I definitely won't throw you away."

"Whatever," Little Ai said indifferently.

What a strange thing to say. Who cares if you abandon me? And if I were to be abandoned, it would definitely be because I've had enough of you and left myself.