Her blue eyes shimmered with a faint light, her expression seemingly lost in memory. After a light cough, the girl added, "It doesn't really matter much after growing up, but—"
At that time, I really was close to death.
When speaking of this, Sheila was still very calm.
There was almost no sign of panic.
“The adoptive father had no choice but to try anything and everything,” she said, using a local proverb to describe the situation at the time, then tilting her head slightly, her gaze becoming somewhat distant. “He used APTX4869.”
This name made Gin's eyelid twitch.
You probably know about this solution—Sherry was specifically researching this kind of solution before leaving the Black Organization." After a pause, Sheila lowered his eyes slightly. "However, this solution was already invented five years ago.
Gin, who had not spoken for a long time, nodded in agreement this time, his voice sounding slightly hoarse, "I know."
How far back the death list of APTX4869 can be traced is unknown, but even Akai Shuichi's Mother, at this very moment, should also look like a junior high school student, right?
So it is not surprising that such a drug existed five years ago.
It is strange that the ICPO High-level members would have this kind of drug.
However, Gin clearly had no plan to continue asking. This was not the time to dig for the truth, besides—
Transactions between partners are based on the principle of equivalent exchange; he understood that well—though he didn't rule out the possibility of choosing forced sales from time to time.
So, your body—" Gin tilted his head, staring at Sheila's Blue eyes, asked, "Is it because of this drug that—
He did not continue.
However, Sheila clearly understood his unspoken meaning and nodded with a light chuckle, "Correct."
No one knows the exact potency of APTX4869.
Even in the Plot, this solution has almost become a synonym for "shrinking drug," but in reality, APTX4869 is currently still a lethal poison.
On that long list of Death, only a few people had escaped.
And besides 'shrinkage' and Death, what other functions APTX4869 possesses remains under investigation; furthermore, no one can say for certain whether those who have used APTX4869 will experience any other side effects.
Sheila is lucky, but not entirely so.
The solution that had been a matter of life and death five years ago helped her pull through the crisis. Since then, his appearance had ceased to change, as if time had frozen his at his most beautiful age—however, for this effect that countless women dreamed of, Sheila avoided it at all costs.
Five years later—or perhaps even earlier, the Solution gradually lost its effect, so her body began to gradually collapse—at some unknown time, the high-rise building will completely crumble.
She did not feel much panic, she just felt a bit reluctant to let go.
Because of APTX4869, she survived.
Because of APTX4869, his adoptive father suggested she go undercover in the organization.
Because of APTX4869, she joined the group and met her long-lost Brother.
She had already been lucky enough.
But—
To be honest, I really want you to join the ICPO.
Sheila gave a light smile, blinked, said somewhat playfully, "I am also a rare elite within the ICPO! If I die, it will be a significant loss!"
She boasted and spoke with high spirits—not a trace of sadness could be seen on someone facing death.
Gin gave a cold sneer, one hand in his pocket, said sarcastically, word by word, "In your dreams."
"That's a bit too discouraging, isn't it?" Sheila stuck out his tongue, feeling somewhat unwilling.
"You'd be better off daydreaming," Gin reminded him coldly.
Sheila gave a light huff and performed a very casual, barely perceptible eye roll—because he was handsome, even the act of rolling his eyes appeared exceptionally beautiful.
It seems you don't really like the Organization much either.
As she spoke, she began to put her clothes back on—although the weather wasn't too cold, it wasn't exactly warm either.
"It's none of your business, is it?" Gin retorted lazily, his toes pausing as his eyes shifted slightly toward Sheila.
Speaking of which, although Sheila's state just now was somewhat revealing, it wasn't overly excessive—it was about the same level as wearing an exposing bikini, except the clothes had to be pulled down a bit further to reveal the wound.
Although this move was direct and bold, capable of instantly intimidating the opponent to achieve his goal, she still knew how to maintain a sense of propriety; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to maintain his previous image while bickering with him.
Gin lowered his green eyes slightly.
Regarding people he did not want to get involved with—specifically that kind of relationship—he didn't mind being a gentleman, not to mention that even if Sheila was as beautiful as a celestial being, Gin did not want to do something where the costs outweighed the benefits just because of beauty.
Lost in idle thoughts, he was suddenly met by Sheila's sweet and mellow voice in his ear.
Like a sudden stroke of divine inspiration from beyond the heavens, the Girl stopped what she was doing and asked with blinking, curious eyes, "Then, do you like my brother?"
Gin didn't quite understand how the topic had shifted so suddenly. Her mouth twitched slightly. "Why do you ask that?"
No reason, just asking—
Sheila gave a light chuckle. "I think my sister likes you quite a bit, besides, you two seem to get along well."
The silver-haired man slightly raised her eyes and explained coolly, "That is because—"
Just as the explanation was halfway through, a "click" sounded from outside the door.
It was the sound of a key turning.
Gin's expression stiffened slightly, he immediately turned her head toward the door. At the same time, Sheila also stopped what he was doing and looked toward the door warily.
Soon, she would regret her subconscious vigilance.
Because in the next second, the door was opened.
“This is my Safe House, there shouldn't be anything—" The last word was abruptly cut off by the man opening the door.
He stared at the scene before him, frozen, feeling that the shock was too great for him to handle.
And behind him was the equally stunned blonde-haired youth.
Amuro Tooru.
The Goddess of Fate let out a ruthless laugh.
..
Heine's movement to open the door stalled.
Sheila's hand trembled as he was getting dressed.
Amuro Tooru and Gin involuntarily exchanged a glance, both seeing awkwardness and confusion in each other's eyes.
Inside and outside the door, the four people stared at each other, maintaining stiff postures, looking completely bewildered.
Gin's mouth twitched.
This time, he truly felt a headache coming on.
-----------------------
Author's Note: (1) Everyone should know this, right? Haneda Koji is on the APTX4869 death list, Sera's mother also looks like a middle school student.
..
By the way, many Little Angels mentioned Shiratori Midori in the last chapter, but Gin's threat to Sister Bei in the last chapter actually had little to do with Shiratori Midori; he was mainly doing it for Nana.
At first, he did indeed care about Nana purely because of Shiratori Midori, but later, he gradually began to take Nana to heart (though not as much as Shiratori Midori).
He always kept Dan Nani and Shiratori Midori strictly separate (in fact, Gin would not care about one person because of their relationship with another person who had nothing to do with him; simply put, he does not extend affection to those associated with someone he cares about—in the original work, he seemed to have some connection to Sherry, but he did not hesitate at all when he killed Miyano Akemi).
In the beginning, he would sometimes look at Nana and think of Shiratori Midori, it was always so; later, he only thought of him during critical moments (when Nana's life was on the line), after that, he thought of him not at all.
It could be said that he now views Shiratori Nana purely as a sister, rather than because of Shiratori Midori.
If it were because of Shiratori Midori, he would have chosen to protect Nana in the previous chapter as well, but he wouldn't have put in so much effort.
It could be said that Gin cares for Shiratori Midori because of the companionship of a childhood friend, the mutual support within the Black Organization over many years, the unwavering presence during the most critical times, the sole sincerity amidst an environment full of betrayal and bloodshed, the way she wholeheartedly and with all her might offers him her true feelings.
This kind of wholehearted sincerity, this way of placing him above his own life, is exactly why—and why it is worthwhile—Gin holds Shiratori Midori in such high regard. Shiratori Midori has given far more than he has.
As for Nana, it was the bonds left behind after Shiratori Midori departed, the bit by bit attention over many years, the careful yet sincere companionship of the Girl, the truth of the promise to never lie, the concern that Gin himself developed after being forced to protect him (because of Shiratori Midori).
It could be said that without Shiratori Midori, Gin would not pay attention to Shiratori Nana, but his current concern for Shiratori Nana is not solely because of Shiratori Midori.
Shiratori Midori planted a seed of emotion in his heart (unrelated to Love), Nana made it bloom into the bud of kinship.
By conquest standards, Nana has successfully completed 90% of the family route. Let's give his a round of applause!
However, it wouldn't be right to say that Shiratori Midori isn't important, because without him, Gin really wouldn't care about Nana, by the standards of a conquest game.. because of Shiratori Midori, the conquest Nana embarked upon was absolutely easy mode.
Actually, it wasn't just that; the cases Gin experienced and the people he met afterward all played some degree of role, to varying extents.
He had always been in a state of being "conquered"—conquered by the tiny bits of emotion found throughout the world.
Although the progress is extremely slow ORZ
..
The serial murder case involving Byrrh has not yet ended; there will be a sequel to this later.
..
Finally, let's light a candle for the four people who endured everything they shouldn't have had to endure 233333
Chapter 145 Chapter 129 "I'll help you get a promotion and a raise."..
In such a situation, Gin would actually refuse.
However, after he glanced at the expressions of the other three, he found with relief that he was not the most miserable one.
—Comparison only brings more pain.
Gin realized almost instantly the awkwardness of the four people present. He did not plan to be the one to break the ice, his green eyes sweeping over the others before pausing for several seconds on the disheveled Sheila.
The Silver-haired man gave a light cough, then decisively took off his black trench coat and threw it over Sheila.
This action undoubtedly caused the stiff air in the House to flow once more.
Sheila blinked, having already recovered from his confusion, she was no longer particularly panicked, casually pulling his coat closer. The Black-haired woman was about to speak when she suddenly let out a sneeze.
This single sneeze instantly melted most of Heine's wrath.