47 Chapter 46: Confessions and Lectures

''Hello son.'' Greets Yusaku Kudo his son, while being mentally stunned. Aside from the obvious physical changes, his son now in front of him has, despite his young appearance, the calm and mature bearing of an old man.

Looking into the clear, calm eyes of his son, Yusaku is unable to see... something missing... as if something crucial, previously obvious has been replaced. Unable to pinpoint what exactly he misses, Shinichi's old man just remains silent as they continue their staring contest.

An unknown amount of time goes by until Erin, carrying a tray with tea and biscuits, comes in, ending the silence. ''Ah, there you are Yusaku! Nice to see you again. Where have you left Yukiko?''

Seeing his son show human emotions for the first time since his arrival, old man Kudo finally makes a sigh of release, before answering his former schoolmate. ''It's nice to see you, too Erin. How do you do? Still pining over your good for nothing ex-husband?''

A shy blush creeps into Erins cheeks, as she avoids Conan's gaze while answering Yusaku. ''I never pined over Kogoro. I have you know I am in a happy, steady relationship with a man that I respect and love!''

Placing the biscuits and cups on the small table by the sofa. Getting close to Erin, old Kudo helps Erin to pour the tea, while he touches intimately her fingertips still holding the teapot, saying in his lowest most suggestive voice. ''If that ever changes, you still have my number?''

Seeing Conan frosty deadly gaze zeroed in on his own father, Erin instantly tells Yusaku. ''No I don't and I don't think to have it will be necessary.''

Not realizing the mortal danger he is attracting, old Kudo continues to flirt with Erin. ''Oh, really. Then let me give you my business card...'' Adding his private number, he hands over his card over saying. ''... Remember call me whenever you need me!''

Seeing Erins hesitation, Conan nods, still shooting daggers at his father, saying. ''Take it. Let's just hope you never need to use it!''

Not wanting to be the reason for a son killing his father situation, Erin escapes the library, card in hand.

''What a woman...'' Seeing Erins well-shaped behind, Yusaku comments. ''... Whoever is hitting that must be a lucky guy...''

''I thought you wanted to talk to me...''Conan demands, sitting down on the sofa, taking the cup of tea poured by Erin. ''... Now talk! I am all ears!''

Being irritated by his sons halve treating half courteous demeanor, old Kudo joins his son for some tea. Sitting down on the leather armchair, he takes a sip of tea and savors it before answering his son's question.

Seeing his father's clear provocation to his authority, Conan uses his ability to slowly raise the pressure in the room.

Before long Yusaku is unable to bear the pressure and starts talking. As time goes by he confesses to his son the may problems crushing his marriage. Having had an affair behind his wives back for years, he himself admits to being the main factor dooming the marriage. The more they talk, the more a clear understanding between Conan and Yusaku talk. At one point old Kudo even warns him about lying to a woman, as lies always come back and bite a man in the ass.

''What about mom?...'' Asks Conan at one point. ''... I guess the two of you had a fight?''

''Do you always have to be a know it all?...'' Asks old Kudo, emptying his cup of the. ''... And yes, we had. And now she is nowhere to be found...''

While father and son are forming a peaceful understanding, over several cups of tea, while talking about Yusuke wandering eyes and hands, Erin joins her sister in the basement. Showing her disgusted face she throws the business cart in the nearest bin, before finding all three woman look at her with question marks above their heads.

''What just happened?'' Asks Ai Erin, who still has disgust written all over her face.

Seeing the need to explain herself, Erin explains. ''Yusaku Kudo just blatantly flirted with me, right in front of Conan!''

Ran, all smiles screams in fright. ''Oh, boy! That is a bold decision!''

''Nice, maybe I get a new corps to do some experiments on...'' Says Ai, showing first signs of going full-on the mad scientist. ''... Maybe I should prepare a corpse sack in advance?''

''Oh, come on...'' Sato says a bit disturbed that a fourteen-year-old wants to collect corpses. ''... I don't believe Conan will turn full on Oedipus. The man is his father for god's sake!''

''I wouldn't count on that...'' Explains Erin, as the silence following Satos statement gets too unbearable. ''... I mean we all know his personality!''

''Speaking of the topic of personality...'' Starts Ai, wanting to change the topic to her research. ''... What kind of abilities do you guys even want?''

The first one to reply is Ran, screaming. ''I want super strength, reflexes, durability, and flight.''

Hearing Rans ridiculous demands of wanting to become literally Wonder Woman, Ai can only shake her head saying. '' Too much super for a human body. Please lower your expectations a bit!''

''How about just durability?...'' Asks Sato, thinking about how great it would be to not constantly fear getting shot on the job.

Nodding, Ai says. ''That would be possible as a secondary ability.''

''Secondary ability?'' Asks Erin, not really understand Ais distinction into secondary and primary.

Understanding Erins confusing, as she herself only recently discovered her own secondary ability she named 'Accelerated Healing'. ''A secondary ability is either a secondary effect of an active ability or a totally independent passive ability. Take me for an example. I have the active ability to change my age...'' Ai explains, cutting herself on a scalpel before showing off her ability by becoming seven and then returning to being fourteen. ''... Aside from changing my age, any injury I have before using my ability heals rapidly...'' Showing everybody her already healed the wound, she further explains. ''... My secondary ability so being attached to my primary one.''

Mesmerized by Ais presentation Erin asks. ''Does Conan have a secondary one?''

''Yes, he does...'' Says Ai, never expecting a dumb question from Erin. ''... I call it 'Mana Absorption'... I have to confess, that I still don't really understand his ability and am still researching it... From my understanding, his acting ability is the manipulation of energies. As one would correctly assume, manipulating energies need large amounts of energies. I call these unknown energies Mana, as there is no scientific term for them.''

''So if I understand you correctly his secondary ability is independent of his primary active one but related to it?'' Asks Sato, understanding the basic concept of Primary and Secondary abilities as well as active and passive.

Before Ai can agree with Satos explanation, Erin already involves a question of her own. ''Would that mean, that my fertility ability is only a passive secondary one?''

''Yes to both questions...'' Says Ai, happy that aside from Ran who is still unhappy about the fact that she will not become a real-life Wonder Woman everybody seems to understand the concept. Turning to Erin she explains. ''... It stands to reason, that when you take APTX 5000 or APTX 5001 your primary ability becomes available to you.''

Contemplating her options Ran asks out of the blue. ''So technically more than one ability per person is technically possible. Is it one ability per drug or is it the drug cocktail that unlocks the abilities?''

''That...'' Ai stops talking, as she never even asked that question. Logically it should be one ability per drug, but that would mean that Conan would have the third undiscovered tertiary ability. Shaki her head in confusing, Ai states. ''It should be the cocktail and its specific composition.''

While Ai is lecturing the others about the risks and benefits of taking the APTX drugs, as well as her theories based on the data she stole from Piscos, Conan's and Yusuke talk ends abruptly thanks to a sudden unexpected call.

Seeing the caller ID, Conan remembers the caller from the manga, as he takes the call by saying. ''Kudo Mansion. Shinichi Kudo speaking...''