The Loyal Sera Family

After the police escorted, oh no, carried the criminal away, the mother and daughter, undisturbed, continued their reunion. Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Tang Ze smoothly handed Conan back to Ran Mouri, urging her to take him away quickly.

"Eh, wasn't Conan here to study with Tang Ze-kun? If he goes back like this..." Ran Mouri felt a pang of guilt towards her neighbor who had kindly helped look after the child.

"It's alright, I was the one who wanted to come out for coffee... Actually, Conan-kun recognizes Chinese characters quite quickly. He should be able to finish this book on his own." Amidst Conan's anxious gaze, wondering where the book came from and if he was about to be exposed, Tang Ze reached into his bag and pulled out a book.

Conan took it and saw it was indeed a mystery novel, a work suitable for young readers: Edogawa Ranpo's "The Fiend with Twenty Faces."

Conan couldn't help but stare at Tang Ze's rather flat commuter bag for a moment.

...What exactly did Tang Ze carry in his bag? Since he met him, the things Tang Ze had taken out of his bag included, but were not limited to: water, glasses, notebooks, books, bandages, and a change of clothes—Tang Ze's hooded sweatshirt was his own, and he had also handed his soiled pants to the police earlier...

Tang Ze, are you Doraemon?

Tang Ze naturally received Conan's shocked gaze, but he just smiled without saying anything.

Where else could the book have come from? It was "Arsène Lupin, the Gentleman Burglar" that he had borrowed from the library at Shujin Academy High School. For some reason, when he took it out, it had turned into "The Fiend with Twenty Faces," but it was all the same, enough to fool him.

"Enjoy yourselves," Tang Ze said, raising his half-finished latte. "I'll continue enjoying my coffee."

After watching Conan, who was clearly reluctant, being dragged away by Ran Mouri, Tang Ze's gentle smile faded. He met the gaze of the man quietly watching him from across the street.

Tang Ze wouldn't normally leave these main characters, but while waiting for the police to take Jusan Tono away, his peripheral vision had suddenly caught the unblinking stare of a long-haired man.

Tang Ze saw Shuichi Akai, who had been following him, again. From the man's unhesitating and unmoving posture, he sensed that Akai wanted to communicate with him.

Previously, Tang Ze had largely deduced that Shuichi Akai's undercover identity was not yet exposed and that his current mission was related to Tang Ze Zhao. However, being confronted directly was an unexpected development.

Unless something had happened that forced Akai to take the risk of direct contact with Tang Ze.

Slowly organizing his next course of action, Tang Ze unhurriedly finished the remaining coffee in his cup. He discreetly glanced at his Tarot cards on the system map, confirming that Tooru Amuro wasn't following and Conan had already left, before walking out the door towards Shuichi Akai.

Shuichi Akai, who had already assumed Tang Ze had noticed the follower, was not surprised by his choice. He turned and walked into the parking lot in advance, waiting for Tang Ze to follow.

"What should I call you?" Tang Ze asked as soon as he stood before Shuichi Akai.

Shuichi Akai didn't answer immediately. Instead, he carefully examined Tang Ze's face.

Tang Ze hadn't inherited his mother's blonde hair and green eyes. He resembled the Miyano sisters more, with the blue of his eyes perhaps a shade lighter than theirs, appearing a cool, icy blue in the sunlight.

Under the scrutiny of those eyes, Shuichi Akai couldn't help but smile.

"You can call me Rye, or you can call me Shuichi Akai."

Tang Ze did his best to control his expression, not letting his surprise show.

He had directly revealed his real name and his codename within the Organization. Tang Ze had expected, at most, to hear something like "Dai Moroboshi."

Shuichi Akai's next sentence caused Tang Ze's composure to crumble.

"Or, you can call me brother." Shuichi Akai observed Tang Ze's reaction and finished his opening statement. "Your aunt and uncle, that is, your parents, passed away over two months ago."

Tang Ze involuntarily took half a step back, his mouth slightly agape, his pupils wide with shock.

Huh?! Brother?!

Wait a minute, hold on, something's not right. This script is wrong. Let him sort this out, it's a bit messy.

His father's surname was definitely not Akai. And Shuichi Akai had just referred to his mother as "aunt," which meant...

...Tang Ze Zhao's mother, Tang Ze Leona, maiden name Sera?!

Good heavens, he could only exclaim "Good heavens!" No wonder a perfectly normal high school student was suddenly persecuted and had his life ruined. It turned out he was on the Sera family's storyline. This is truly an unlucky family reunion!

Shuichi Akai's understanding differed from Tang Ze's true reason for shock, but he believed he completely understood. He didn't give the slightly trembling Tang Ze time to react and continued, "For the eight years your parents were away from you, they were working in a research institute for a certain clandestine organization. They were under long-term control, and for your safety, they had to leave you alone in Japan.

"They were always wary of the Organization, concealing the core results of their research. From the early stages of the research, they began building a solid patent barrier around their own projects with specialized lawyers. By the time the Organization realized, they had already lost the opportunity to monopolize several formulas and technologies...

"This bought your aunt and uncle, and you, eight years of time. But now, the situation is different. Akai Zhao, you are in grave danger right now." Shuichi Akai quickly stated his ultimate purpose. "Come with me. Japan is the land most deeply infiltrated by this organization. You are in constant mortal danger in Japan. I have a way to get you out of the country. Leave here with me, the sooner the better."

These successive blows left Tang Ze almost unable to respond.

Why were technical personnel being persecuted again? And why were the persecuted technical personnel from the Sera family?

In this merged world, the Sera family had another sister, who was also involved in research, was targeted by the Organization, and was now gone...

Tang Ze covered his eyes with a trembling hand.

Shouldn't he be building a better relationship with Professor Agasa right now? He was genuinely afraid that in the near future, he too would be drugged, then knock on Professor Agasa's door disguised as a primary school student, and honorably join the first grade of Beika Elementary School...

"...I guessed it," Tang Ze thought, his mind in turmoil. There wasn't much acting involved in the tremor in his voice. "Two months ago, I should have guessed it."

The deaths of the Tang Ze couple were a conclusion Tang Ze had already largely reached. The memories left by the original body were like locked filing cabinets, only unlocking gradually when triggered by keywords. But based on the partial analysis he had obtained so far, Tang Ze Zhao's trial was also extremely suspicious.

Although the Tang Ze couple and Tang Ze Zhao were not close due to not seeing each other for many years, their love for their son was evident. They had not voluntarily absented themselves from their child's growth but were forced by circumstances.

For a major event like a trial, the couple would never have simply handed the matter over to their lawyer and stopped inquiring about it.

After Shuichi Akai's confirmation, it was likely that there was a causal relationship between the two events. The Tang Ze couple, deeply involved with the Organization, died. Tang Ze Zhao, having lost their protection, soon encountered a wrongful accusation, was isolated from his familiar environment, and handed over to the control of two Organization codenamed members.

As for these two codenamed members being two bottles of fake liquor, that could only be said to be an unexpected bonus of mutual attraction, which the Organization did not intend.

Tang Ze lowered his hand and pressed further, "What does 'Rye' mean? What is that organization? How did they die? And how do you know about my parents?"