Chapter Five Has Come to an End!

“Already merged? What do you mean?” Tang Ze clenched the stem of his wine glass tightly.

“Literally,” Leon said, pouring himself another drink. “Since you’re familiar with the storyline, you know what it’s like when the cognitive world fully merges into reality. And as for this detective world—”

“Time is distorted, a high school student investigates murder cases, crime scene photos make the front page, people smash concrete with their bare hands, and any ordinary person could harbor murderous intent and strike without hesitation... Can this really be called the real world?”

Tang Ze swirled his glass, deep in thought.

Following the fine tradition of the Persona 5 series, the story includes branching endings. Aside from the conventional happy ending, there’s also a co-conspirator ending where the protagonist colludes with the main villain.

In the co-conspirator ending, the world isn’t truly destroyed; it’s simply become a manipulated chessboard. The protagonist indulges in the game of secret vigilante justice, becoming a falsely lauded hero of justice.

From this perspective, you have to admit, it really captures the essence.

The world of Detective Conan has strange detective rules; the timeline is forever stuck within a single year, and various physical laws are flagrantly violated... It is fundamentally an unreal manga world.

“So you mean that Conan’s world is inherently idealistic. So, the cognitive world no longer exists?” Tang Ze asked uncertainly.

Well, that’s like saying he had just finished the opening plot, excitedly ready to become a heart-stealer, and then the world tells him it’s all over!

“That’s not quite it, but the boundaries are very blurry. It’s possible that abilities from both worlds can interact. After all, if someone can shatter a load-bearing pillar with one punch, it’s only logical you’d have some special traits too. If I were to evaluate it, they are inseparable, and there’s no need to distinguish them. This is just part of the world.” Leon raised his glass and took a sip.

That really is impressive...

It seems the cognitive world still exists, and its fundamental rules remain effective, but probably very different from what he had imagined.

In the real world, as long as he doesn’t violate the principles of Conan’s universe, he might still possess some abilities exclusive to the cognitive world—like climbing towers barehanded, activating a third eye, or flipping onto someone’s shoulder to poke their eyeball?

...Never mind, that’s a bit brutal. Better use the karate chop—Conan’s karate chop breaks all laws.

“Got it. That’s how our Conan logic works. Now I completely understand.” Tang Ze nodded repeatedly. “So, what should my goal be now?”

“If you don’t know the answer, then I certainly can’t tell you.” Leon smiled wryly for the first time, teasing him. “Fate is stirring because of your turbulent journey; it has left its cradle. Will you follow and uphold it, or change and destroy it? This is no longer a game or a manga. It’s your rebirth. Only you can find your answer.”

Tang Ze set down his empty glass, silent.

To be honest, with two divergent storylines, can he really find a unified ultimate goal? Tang Ze felt lost.

---

But Leon was right—he now held the initiative, with supernatural power in his left hand and two scripts in his right. Whether to dive headfirst into the whirlpool or escape it was his choice.

Leon didn’t interrupt his thoughts, simply pouring him another glass of bourbon whiskey.

As the glass filled, Tang Ze slowly found a thread of clarity. A broad smile spread across his face, eyes curved into crescents—very much the grin of a villain.

Watching this change, Leon subtly leaned back, wanting to keep a slight distance from this guy whose face screamed, “I’m up to something.”

“I get it. I just have to survive this unlucky observation period until the end, right? But Leon,” Tang Ze raised his glass and looked at him with a mock accusing gaze, “didn’t you say no riddles?”

Leon lifted his own glass and asked, “So, how did you like that line just now?”

“Alright, it was kind of cool.”

“Thanks for the compliment. Cheers.”

Their glasses clinked crisply.

Tang Ze downed the whiskey, barely tasting it before plunging back into the dark dream.

---

“Hey, Ran, Ran!”

After several calls, Sonoko Suzuki waved her hand in front of her friend to snap her out of her daze.

“Ah! Sonoko, what’s up?” Ran Mouri woke with a start, blinking and looking up.

“Seriously, why have you been spacing out all day?” Sonoko turned and patted her desk. “I don’t think you were paying attention in class this morning.”

“Shinichi hasn’t shown up since we left the amusement park yesterday, and he didn’t come to school this morning either.”

Sonoko waved her hand nonchalantly. “Ah, he probably got caught up in another case.”

“But I called him and he didn’t answer—no news at all…”

“Kudou’s a busy man, you know—the ‘savior of the Japanese police.’ Whenever he encounters a complex case, he forgets to check his phone. Don’t worry about him.” Sonoko brushed the topic aside and excitedly shared some gossip. “I heard there’s a new transfer student today. A total heartthrob!”

“A transfer student?” Ran, unconcerned about handsome boys, focused on the first part. “It’s pretty rare to have midterm transfers.”

---

Sonoko clasped her hands, lost in dreamy thoughts about the handsome new student. “I never got to meet the charming, gentle campus prince beneath the cherry blossoms. My youth was incomplete. But now, in my second year, my girlish dreams might still come true. Just thinking about it makes me happy!”

Used to her friend’s infatuation, Ran didn’t interrupt her daydream and instead looked down to check her phone.

Still no reply from Shinichi.

Her heart had been uneasy since yesterday afternoon. She sent him another message, urging him to call back soon.

---

*Ding-ding~ ding-ding~*

As the school bell rang, Tang Ze followed the teacher into the second-year B classroom.

Turning to face the students, Tang Ze instantly spotted Sonoko Suzuki’s bright eyes and the girl sitting behind her—Ran Mouri.

Their features were unmistakable.

The teacher wrote Tang Ze’s name on the blackboard and introduced him: “This is Tang Ze, joining our class from today. Please get along well.”

“I’m Tang Ze, from Kyoto. I look forward to working with you all.” Tang Ze bowed slightly, eyes lowered.

“Wow... Is he mixed race?” Sonoko grabbed her collar in excitement. “Blue eyes too!”

“Keep it down, Sonoko.” Ran poked her friend’s back, a little embarrassed as Tang Ze looked their way, clearly hearing the excitement.

Tang Ze smiled at Sonoko, unfazed, which made Ran feel he was truly easy to get along with.

Of course, Tang Ze didn’t mind at all.

If anything, just a few smiles could easily win over these two innocent high school girls—the perfect entry point for his main story arc had arrived!