Amidst the swirling vortex, the flickering light shifted between moments of blinding brightness and dim obscurity, a rhythmic alternation that left one utterly dizzy.
Then, after a sudden flash of that strange radiance, a tall figure in a bright yellow suit stepped leisurely out of the vortex, as if crossing over from another dimension.
He had handsome features, an extraordinary bearing, and a faint, subtle smile at the corners of his mouth.
"Ooh, how amazing."
With this quiet exclamation, the man named Roy fully stepped out of the swirl.
His eyes, deep as the sea, curiously surveyed this entirely unfamiliar world, and he politely nodded to Haibara Ai, who stood not far away.
The moment he stepped into this world, Roy keenly perceived an indescribable sense of disorder.
It felt as if an invisible hand had scrambled time and space.
He mused to himself, "It seems this world has its own unique rules."
After taking a deep breath, Roy gently rolled his neck, then slowly stretched his arms and legs, gauging the flow of power within his body.
Roy nodded thoughtfully, unconsciously clenching his fists as he carefully assessed his current physical strength.
Given the situation, it seemed he could still use all his power.
Roy quietly sensed everything around him.
Gradually, an indescribable sense of confusion began to spread within him.
He slightly extended his Observation Haki to probe this world.
After a moment, he suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on the distance.
"Huh? Why is it that Tokyo is still sweltering in summer, yet Osaka has already entered winter?"
A wry smile appeared on Roy's face.
Next, Roy shifted his gaze to a calendar nearby.
It clearly showed today as Monday, but flipping to the next page jumped straight to Friday!
"This is unbelievable! Time and space are in such chaos here? And the bizarre weather changes..."
Roy's eyes widened, filled with curiosity and confusion about this strange world.
Though on the surface, Conan's world seemed like an ordinary, everyday one, beneath that calm facade lay hidden mysteries—this world actually concealed some truly monstrous beings!
Kogoro Mori was undoubtedly one of the most prominent among them.
Then, Roy turned to look at Haibara Ai beside him and said with a smile, "I look forward to your guidance in the days to come."
Haibara Ai paused briefly at Roy's words, then nodded slightly.
But at that moment, a sudden, urgent knocking shattered the room's original tranquility.
"Haibara, what's going on in there? I thought I heard some strange noises."
Conan's suspicious voice sounded from outside the door.
Hearing this, Haibara Ai's expression flickered with panic, and she appeared at a loss.
Conan persistently pursued leads, an unyielding gleam in his eyes, while Haibara Ai's face showed difficulty as she hesitantly glanced at Roy, her expression conveying both helplessness and worry.
Seeing this, a subtle, knowing smile tugged at the corner of Roy's mouth, as if everything was under control.
"Don't worry, Haibara. I'd like to ask you to play a little game with me."
His tone was light. Then, with a graceful turn, he gently pushed open the room's door.
"Con—" Conan's words caught in his throat, abruptly stopping. His gaze was instantly drawn to Roy standing beyond the door, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
"Huh? How come there's a big brother here?"
Conan scratched his head with feigned innocence, lifting his hands to the top of his head to mimic a child's naive ignorance, trying to mask his inner tension with his signature "Ah-le-le?" as he continued playing the role of his elementary school detective persona.
But this pretense didn't last long. A chill suddenly rose from the depths of his heart, as if freezing him solid.
"Kudo Shinichi, I went to a lot of trouble to find you."
Roy's voice was deep and forceful, each word like a hammer blow striking Conan's heart.
Sweat, uncontrollable, dripped from Conan's forehead, tracing down his cheek to dampen his collar.
He tried to respond with an even more innocent tone: "Ah-le-le? What are you talking about, big brother? I'm Edogawa Conan."
But Roy wasn't fooled by his act. Instead, his confident smile widened: "It's beyond my expectation that you managed to survive APTX4869."
These words, like a sharp blade, instantly pierced Conan's final defense.
It dawned on him: the safe environment he had always relied on was no longer secure.
This secret lab, known only to Haibara, why was there a third person here?
"So, you infiltrated this house in advance? Are you... with that Black Organization?"
Conan's voice trembled, a mixture of fear and anger flashing in his eyes as he finally realized he was facing an unprecedented crisis.
"What's your codename?"
Conan stared intently at the tall man before him, urgently questioning him while his sharp mind raced at full speed, desperately trying to devise a plan.
After all, the opponent seemed formidable; a direct confrontation would likely yield little chance of success, but perhaps if he caught him off guard with the anesthetic dart, there might be a glimmer of hope.
The man called Roy curved his lips into a cold smile before slowly speaking: "My codename? — Borsalino."
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