The Magician

The second day after his transmigration, Tang Ze successfully obtained the contact information of Sonoko Suzuki, Ran Mouri, and even Edogawa Conan.

Through Conan's hints and implications, such as "Uncle Mori is a private detective" and "high school students are still minors," Tang Ze understood their goodwill in offering help for any unspeakable troubles.

After all, he wasn't the one whose reputation was being damaged.

Conan now looked at Tooru Amuro as if he were scum, but Tang Ze's conscience didn't ache at all.

Fake liquor was still liquor, and it was good for the current Conan to stay away from him.

Tang Ze remembered that early Conan's acting was truly clumsy, feeling like Ran Mouri would suspect him five times in three days.

It was better not to reveal his identity so quickly to Bourbon.

After sending off the Shinigami Squad, Tang Ze quickly rehearsed the upcoming conversation in his mind.

The groundwork had been laid thoroughly; if Bourbon didn't come to test him, he wouldn't be Bourbon. A grand drama was inevitable.

Coincidentally, Tang Ze also had something he needed Amuro Tooru's help to test.

"Your dinner."

Tooru Amuro placed a seafood pasta in front of the dazed Tang Ze and a cup of hot cocoa beside him.

Completely unprepared for the footsteps, Tang Ze was startled. He steadied himself and thanked him, remarking inwardly on the excellent professionalism of an undercover agent. He then politely declined, "Thank you, but I can actually..."

"The boss said your room and board are covered by the shop. Your parents should have paid the fees, so don't worry," the double-dipping undercover agent, who had multiple expense accounts, lied with a straight face, preparing to bill the organization for as much as possible. "Also, you can use the shop's kitchen freely. Don't keep eating cold rice balls; it's bad for your health."

Tang Ze, who had just poked the pasta with his chopsticks, paused.

So, did you actually install surveillance in a minor's room? What about Public Security's moral bottom line?

"Ah, sorry," Tang Ze slowly picked up a strand of pasta with his chopsticks. Recalling another possibility, he said in a quieter voice, "Did Miss Enomoto tell you?"

Amuro Tooru, who hadn't actually installed any surveillance, felt his conscience jump. He nodded and said, "She said she prepared a sandwich for you this morning, but you ate two rice balls and went to school. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Tang Ze."

Tang Ze first stuffed a roll of noodles into his mouth. After swallowing, he replied, "I understand."

"How does it taste? Is my cooking alright?" Amuro Tooru playfully nudged Tang Ze's head, which was almost buried in the plate, guessing that he would either choke on the noodles in the next second or freeze like a startled rabbit.

Why was Tang Ze so afraid of him? Amuro Tooru, thinking he had been very considerate and brotherly since they met, couldn't help but speculate.

Was he subjected to violence during case interrogations? Or was he threatened or warned before coming to Tokyo?

Indeed, upon learning that Amuro Tooru had made the pasta, Tang Ze's chewing stopped. He looked up at him in astonishment.

However, what Tang Ze was complaining about internally was: Why are you poking my head again? Does my head feel particularly good to touch?

Tang Ze somewhat speechlessly shifted his gaze. "It's delicious, thank you."

To be honest, Amuro Tooru's cooking was really good. The pasta was soft and chewy, and with the addition of roe, it was even more fresh, fragrant, and springy. One could only say that the "working emperor" found every job based on his skills.

Tang Ze picked up another chopstickful.

"I'm glad you like it. Actually, you don't need to be so formal with me. Am I that scary? You always seem worried about upsetting me. I don't have that bad of a temper, don't be afraid. We'll be spending a lot of time together." Amuro Tooru subtly brought this up.

He had certainly noticed Conan's wary gaze, the one that said, "I've figured out you're a bad guy."

Although Bourbon was indeed not a good person, Furuya Rei was also not a bad person. His interactions, devoid of any ill intent, shouldn't have caused Tang Ze's vigilance.

Amuro Tooru decided to first rule out the possibility that Tang Ze had detected the organization's surveillance. If Tang Ze's reservedness stemmed from thinking Amuro Tooru was a dangerous person, then it would be necessary to consider the option that "Tang Ze Zhao clearly knows the organization is persecuting him."

Tang Ze smoothly grasped his hidden probing and decided to shift the blame to the original host's experience of being betrayed by everyone. Although Tang Ze didn't understand it well, Amuro Tooru definitely did. So, he gave a bitter smile and said, "I didn't mean anything against you, I'm sorry. I just... don't know how to..."

He put on a sorrowful expression as if recalling a painful memory, hesitating to speak, then speaking again, leaving much unsaid.

In a word, those who understand will understand; it's up to you to imagine the rest.

Amuro Tooru, whose imagination was highly developed, understood after a moment's thought.

After the incident, Tang Ze Zhao's notice of withdrawal from school was publicly posted, followed by rumors that he had severely injured someone in a fight, caused a death due to drunk driving, or sexually harassed a junior high student, leading to a fatality.

Someone was deliberately destroying Tang Ze Zhao's existing interpersonal relationships, and it had been remarkably effective.

His classmates and neighbors avoided him like the plague. Insulting words were spray-painted on his doorstep, and his personal belongings in his school locker were maliciously destroyed.

It was precisely because Tang Ze Zhao could no longer live properly in his original environment that he was transferred to Tokyo.

A truly unfortunate and pitiable child, Amuro Tooru sighed, his tone becoming even gentler. "Do you think I'll treat you maliciously because of your past record? Has someone been bullying you?"

Tang Ze remained silent.

Amuro Tooru's question reminded him of some memories of the original host.

The child, curled up under the covers, tightly covered his ears but couldn't block out the incessant phone notification sounds.

He knew perfectly well what they were.

At first, there were questions and concerns, then doubt and rejection. Now, his social media and inbox were filled only with messages like "murderer" and "go die." The once friendly classmate relationships seemed to have been completely forgotten.

His gradual silence did not quell the turmoil; everything was escalating. Someone photoshopped his picture in black and white, adding the words "murderer" and posting it on social media, so strangers who had never met him began to judge him.

He became a startled bird, desperately avoiding everyone's gaze because everyone he passed on the street seemed to stab him with eyes full of hatred.

He had had enough.

Grabbing the noisy phone by his pillow, Tang Ze Zhao threw it with all his might.

"Won't you, Mr. Amuro?"

Tang Ze took a deep breath, his tone of questioning calm, but his tears were sliding down his cheeks one by one.

Damn, everyone who cyberbullies should die.

Damn, he was about to break, crying suddenly felt a bit embarrassing.

Due to his experiences in his past life, Tang Ze was a special talent adept at controlling his emotions and acting naturally, but now his tear ducts seemed to no longer belong to him. The sorrow and pain from "Tang Ze Zhao" were impacting him, and with all his might, he could only refrain from letting out a whimper of grievance.

This was the unresolvable grievance and despair of a teenage soul, a pure emotional wave crashing against Tang Ze's heart, leaving him unable to resist.

While Tang Ze was wrestling with his collapsing emotions, in Tooru Amuro's eyes, his sudden loss of radiance and the way his tears fell silently was incredibly convincing, making him appear weak, pitiful, and helpless.

"Of course not. Wipe your face, your tears are about to fall into the noodles." Tooru Amuro turned his head away with a bit of reluctance, grabbed the towel at hand, and patted it on Tang Ze's face, blocking his view. "I am your guardian now, I will protect you."

Tang Ze's tears were still gushing, but his heart had calmed down. Hearing Tooru Amuro's words, he felt a stir, sensing an opportunity.

"Really?" Tang Ze muffled, his face hidden by the wet towel.

"I'm not someone who deceives children, you can trust me a little more." Tooru Amuro patted Tang Ze's head. "I will fulfill my duties as a guardian; this is a promise between adults."

Bourbon harbored ill intentions, what did that have to do with him, Rei Furuya?

The undercover agent, with a clear conscience, made the promise without hesitation.

"...Okay." Reaching out to take the towel and wiping his face haphazardly, Tang Ze protested muffledly from within the towel, "So stop messing with my head!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound Tang Ze had been waiting for arrived as expected.

Lavenza's magnetic voice echoed in his ears.

"I am you... You are me..."

"Here, you shall receive a new pact."

"The pact is what is called,"

"The wings of freedom sought by breaking shackles."

"I, the first birth of the Magician's mask, bathed in the winds of blessing,"

"To soar to the final destination, gaining further assistance..."

A screen popped up in front of Tang Ze.

[Cooperation: Tooru Amuro (?)]

[Arcana: The Magician Rank 1]

[Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion. The person beneath the layers of masks smiles at you, just like you beneath the layers of masks. To see through truth and sincerity requires wisdom, genuine feeling, and perhaps, a flexible moral bottom line?]

[The Mille-feuille Cooking Competition is about to begin, ready, go!]

[Learned Ability: Free Fighting]

Actually, the initial draft was intended to be Justice, but after a long search for information, it felt like The Magician was more suitable. After all, The Magician is the guiding card for the protagonist of the P series, and usually the first male friend in Tarot. It's best not to deviate from tradition.

...Also, while researching, I discovered that the Magician card in the P series also carries the attribute of "hopeless love." It's a bit inauspicious to give it to others, so it's better to give it to the part-time emperor whose first love has truly ended; it's fitting.

And regarding the pact words in P5, they actually sound quite cool when spoken. Warenanji, nanjiware, but the Chinese translation might not capture the essence. You can find a clip to watch; it's very cool.