35 Chapter 34: Morals of Science

After having told the two officers what to expect, Conan leads the two officers into the 'Black Building'. Walking through the opulent entrance, while staying low profile, Conan, currently calling himself Jacques Farussi feels taken back in time to his trip to Rome following his first exile.

Pushing his past life aside, he guides Sato and Takagi to a semi-hidden elevator. Remembering the elevator code from Tequilas memories, Conan enters it, the elevator comes to life.

''This is insane...'' Says Takagi, attracting Santos attention and an annoyed eye roll from Conan. ''... We should have contacted Yakumaru!''

''No we can't...'' States Sato keeping her cool. ''... The moment we contact him this place will be shared with officers. Will you take the blame if our information is false or inaccurate?''

''Grazie per la vostra fiduciary, adorable Sato.'' Comments Conan, thanking her for her trust.

''Sei il Benvenuto...'' Says Sato in perfect Italian, before explaining to Takagi. ''... Before joining the force I was in Italy for a year. I guess I learned it there.''

''Awesome!'' Says Takagi the moment the elevator comes to a halt and it's door jump open.

Knowing the layout of this floor from Tequilas memories, Conan says. ''Ok. Let's split up. To the left, we should find the research department and to the right, we should find the production department.''

''Ok. Sato and I...'' Takagi starts saying but ends up interrupted by Sato. Preventing her lover from speaking the woman says. ''Takagi you take the right. Mr. Farussi and I will take a look at the research department.''

Frowning Conan asks. ''Why? Don't I go alone?''

''Because I don't trust you Mr. Farussi.'' Answers Sato his question the moment he asks it.

With no intention to go against her words, Takagi instantly turns right.

Seeing his retreating back, Conan is suddenly asked by Sato. ''What do you know about the research department?''

''From what I know, some kind of organization seems to be researching a series of drugs called APTX,'' Conan says, dropping the pretense of an Italian accent.

''Good...'' States Sato, starting to walk down the corridor to the left. ''... At least you know something.''

Just following after her, Conan uses his powers to first shortcut the cameras an the open the security door leading into the research department.

From Tequilas memories he knows that a department is a sprawling place encompassing numerous laboratories, office spaces, storage spaces, and centers for medical diagnosis and treatment.

Moving through the now open doors, Conan and Sato first see clean white walls and forming large hallways connecting the laboratories with the security post and the 'Clinic'. They are lined with beds divided by curtains and lined with medical equipment and hook-ups. In this hallway, the one they are currently walking leads directly to the security post and contains empty patient beds numbered 1 to 6.

Moving on to the security post, Sato draws her gun, before triggering the sensor that opens the door. The moment this door opens on its own, a strange smell instant envelopes them. Moving in they find two security guards unconscious.

''What the heck is going on?'' Asks Sato, checking up on the two men. Spotting two burn marks on the otherwise clean white floor, Conan smells not only the familiar smell of black power but also some kind of anesthetic.

So he says. ''I guess we are not the first one that is infiltrating this place today.

Leaving the unconscious men behind, they enter the next hallway, this one having an intersection, containing patient beds numbered 7 to 12. This section seems to be a rest area for patients who do not require intensive nor emergency care but must remain hospitalized. It contains an Oxygen refill station at one end, leading into the laboratories, presumably a distribution hook-up for providing pure Oxygen to patients requiring assistance breathing, and a medical supplies room which is locked. As already stated this hallway connects to a place called 'Clinic' and the other one to the laboratories.

Not wanting to suit up because of not wanting to break his illusion, Conan says, while pointing in the direction of the Clinic. ''Let's go this way!''

''Okay.'' Says Sato not lowering her gun, but directing Conan to go first. Feeling less like being in cooperation and more being used Conan obliges her. Once again just by stepping in front of the door, it opens nearly soundless.

Going through the doorway he finds himself in a seemingly empty waiting room. Looking around, Conan finds it to be a fairly small area with a vending machine and a plethora of seats. There are glass windows looking into administrative space which is directly connected to the I.C.U. ward without doors. Seeing spaces which should normally be staffed with medical personnel directing patients to wait or enter, Conan gets the feeling as if he entered a crypt.

Looking behind the counter, he finds two nurses, one male, one female and a doctor in a lab coat also unconscious, just like the guards in the security post.

Leaning also over the counter Sato takes the doctors key card from his lab coat while doing so toppling a stack of folders over. Seeing that Conan's attention peeks as he reads a very familiar name on one of the folders. -Aoko Nakamori? Isn't that Kaito Kids childhood/ girlfriend?-

Taking the folder and opening it, he finds a medical chart and a photograph of Aoko inside. Reading the chart Conan finds a disturbing line stating -To be injected with pure APTX-.

Shaking his head he curses angrily in Italian. ''Nessuna moralità scientific!''

While Sato, Conan, and Takagi are searching the 'Black Buildings' secret basement, Sonoko is having a headache turning migraine from reading the list of names over and over again, trying to get rid of the fog in her mind.

Unable to clear her confusion and remember where she had learned of these names, Sonoko remembers Ran and Shiho, Ais big sister, talking about a pill enhancing brain functions.

Thinking about it, Sonoko decides to take one of those to finally get rid of the thing stopping herself from remembering. Once again seeking into the basement undetected. Outside of the sealed laboratory where she can see Shiho working highly focused on something, she finds rows and rows of pill bottles lining a cupboard like little soldiers every single one labeled APTX and some number.

Unable to figure out which one to take, Sonoko checks out the animal changes, Shiho uses to hold her animal test subjects. To her own relief, not one of the lab mice looks like it is treated badly. Checking out the first cage, she finds it empty. Just when she is about to look at the second cage, out of the corner of her eye, Sonoko sees something incredible. The lab mice suddenly reappear inside the cage. Trying to make sense of the mice reaction, the mich just disappears. Unable to rationalize what is happening, she looks at the next cage where the mice look totally ordinary.

After checking out all cages, Sonoko finds a flip chart containing notes about the animal testing. This way she finds out the name of the drug that she wants -APTX 5001-.

Returning to the cupboard with the pill bottles, she hesitates, questioning herself, if it wasn't a better idea to confront her best friend Ran and ask for help. Remembering the sex tape, where she had heard Ran from behind the camera she pushes this thought away.

Taking out a pill with APTX 5001, she doesn't notice the big red label stating -Unrefined Prototype-.