Chapter Text
Standing at one end of Agasa's dining table, Sonoko struck a pose.
"Marvel at my amazing resourcefulness!" she declared. Then she swung the enormous roll of paper she'd had propped against one shoulder forward and unrolled it across the tabletop like she was unrolling a carpet. "Voila!"
Standing around said table, the rest of the house's current occupants (which consisted of the house's owner, Ai, Shinichi, the Kurobas the Mouris, and Aoko) all gazed down at what turned out to be a map of Tokyo. A not inconsiderable section of the city had been highlighted in bright yellow. Within that swath of color were numerous buildings that had been marked with bold, purple numbers.
"I take it the numbered buildings are the ones being used for the World Expo?" Shinichi checked.
"Yep."
"I thought they weren't releasing that information to the public until the week before the conference starts," Ran said, surprised.
"They weren't," her petit friend agreed. "And they haven't. But I happened to know the people in charge of organizing the event schedule. They've been swamped with loads of new vendors hoping to get a foot into the event, so I've offered to assist them with getting it all properly arranged. Obviously, we couldn't do the work without a thorough understanding of the venues available. So I got to take this home for study. Note that each numbered building also has a letter assigned to it. That refers to the types of events that particular building is able to accommodate. So, like, some of them are exhibition only, some are okay for non-volatile demonstrations and so on. I have a few copies of the key here."
She pulled a stack of booklets from her bag and passed them out.
Along with the information on how to interpret the coded map, the booklets also provided a brief but thorough description of the buildings in question, their physical and magical specs and the most significant events that required use of each specific building.
"As you can see, we don't have the exact time of every presentation and panel and whatever other events there are scheduled for certain yet, but we do know where most of them are likely to be."
"You did excellent work," Kuroba Toichi commented.
Sonoko blushed, looking abruptly flustered by the Archmage's praise.
"Yes, well…" she stammered. "It really wasn't that hard since my family's on the organizing committee. Oh! Though that reminds me, I also mentioned to the lady in charge of coordinating with the Starshield Security people that you had some concerns you wished to discuss. She said you can call her anytime to set up a meeting about it."
"I'll do that. Thank you." The archmage flicked his wrist, pulling a rectangular box about the size and shape of a cell phone case out of the air as he took the floor. "I will be proposing the incorporation of these new devices into the existing security measures."
He opened the box and dumped its contents onto his open palm.
The object appeared to be a flat oval of polished, black glass with smoothly rounded edges and seamless curves. It was slightly smaller than the average phone, fitting comfortably in the archmage's palm.
"Clover Institute will actually be introducing these during the World Expo this year."
"What is it?" asked Ran.
"It's a portable spell analyzer," Toichi explained. "For years, we at the Institute have been exploring a wide variety of ways not only to use but to study the nature of magic itself. In the process, we have managed to devise methods by which we can observe magic at work as well as the movement of other forces that our spells touch upon. By studying how the energies of the world shift when we cast a spell to conjure fire, for instance, we can—"
"Dad," Kaito cut in with a mildly exasperated wave of the hand. "This isn't a seminar. We kind of don't have loads of time here. Maybe just get to the point and leave the longwinded explanations for later?"
Shinichi thought that he would actually be quite interested in hearing the longwinded explanation, but he understood Kaito's point as well so he kept the thought to himself. Maybe later, he could ask the archmage to explain it to him.
"I'll try to make it simple then," Toichi conceded. He held the device out so that everyone around the table could see it resting on his palm. "You activate the analyzer by channeling magic into it."
He did so, and the black glass abruptly lit up from within, going from opaque black to a translucent, iridescent blue.
"Since I am a Sky Mage, the magic I naturally channel is Sky Magic, and the color of the analyzer tells you that. The analyzer will then take the power I have just poured into it and use it to send out what you could consider to be the equivalent of ultrasonic waves, except, instead of sound, it is using your magical energy. In this manner, it can detect other Sky Magic spells and 'report' the shapes of those spells back to the holder of the device. A lot of spells can be categorized based on the shapes of their spell matrixes. So the analyzer will compare the matrix it detects with those in its database to determine its nature, purpose, trigger conditions, and likely area of effect."
"But this only works for Sky Magic spells?" Shinichi asked.
"For me it does because I'm fueling it with Sky Magic," the archmage clarified. "If Miss Mouri here were to supply the magic, the analyzer would function the same for Earth Magic spells. Try it."
Toichi handed the stone to Ran. Its inner blue radiance instantly blinked out when it left Toichi's hand, returning to its previous inert blackness.
Ran cupped it in her hand then frowned. "Am I holding this the right way up?"
"It doesn't matter," Toichi told her, smiling wryly. "The analyzer will adapt. Just channel your magic into it."
"I…guess if you say so." Ran frowned in concentration, recalling her magic lessons and using what she'd learned to guide her energy into the stone on her palm.
Once again, it lit up, but this time it was a translucent, iridescent green like jade.
Spotting the small book sitting on the table by Shinichi, Ran skirted around the room until she was beside him and held the analyzer beside the volume of 'My Little Library'.
The stone flashed, making Ran start in surprise and catching the attention of both Shinichi and Kaito. Their three heads bent over the analyzer as letters of light surfaced from its hazy green depths. There was also a little, three-dimensional arrow floating by the words, pointing from them to the book.
"Dual tone. Spatial," Ran read out. "Containment. Wow, that's cool. But what's 'Dual Tone' mean?"
"It means the spell you just analyzed is a fusion spell that uses both earth and sky magic," Toichi answered. "Although I'm afraid you have also just found one of this analyzer's flaws."
The girl looked confused. "Flaws?"
"Enchanted devices like my son's portable library here are comprised of considerably more than one spell. However, the analyzer isn't sophisticated enough to catalogue—or even detect—every one of them. Exactly which spells it can detect is determined by a variety of factors, but typically the most powerful and active spells on an object are the ones that will be picked up."
"So I guess the problem is that you can mask one spell with another one?" the brunette asked.
Toichi nodded. "Indeed. Although it would require a thorough understanding of exactly how the analyzer works and the ways different types of spells interact. It isn't as simple as layering one spell over another."
"Hold on. So is it or isn't it able to pick up on more than one spell at a time?" asked Shinichi. "I imagine most magical tools and things have more than one spell on them. If this analyzer can only pick one and only Toichi-san understands the logic behind it…"
The archmage chuckled. "Fear not. It's a more robust tool than that. I merely wanted to make sure that you all understood that there are things the analyzers won't catch."
"I don't see any controls though," Ran said, turning the glass oval this way and that as though she thought she'd missed a button somewhere.
"It'll list other spells it detects in the same object if you scroll down like you would on a touch-screen phone. If there are other magical objects detected within range, you'll see the outline of other arrows. Tap on the one you want to examine to switch targets. As for the range, that can be manipulated by adjusting the amount of magic you channel into the device. It's the most difficult part of using the analyzer," the archmage added with a mildly apologetic smile. "I brought one for each of you. I recommend you practice with them before the expo. For our purposes, however, the shortfalls in the analyzer's current capabilities shouldn't be a major issue."
Kogoro looked confused. "Isn't the whole point to use these to find the Foundation's cursed amulets?"
"Yes, but we cannot guarantee that the power those amulets use will register either to our Earth or Sky magic scans. Sky Mages using this device can use it to amplify the detection spell the police Sky Mages use to determine when there is magic of any type actively being used, but that won't tell us anything about the nature of the magic itself. And, at a magic expo, well, I'm sure you can all see the problem with that approach."
"Then what is the point?" asked Ai, frowning. "Unless… You said the analyzer uses the magic type of whoever is using it. Does that apply to Soul and Fortune Magic as well?"
Toichi paused, visibly taken aback for the first time that Shinichi had ever seen. "That is a very good question, young lady. We should test it out after this meeting. But I added an extra feature to several of these analyzers specifically to aid us in locating Curse amulets by scanning not for magic but for traces of blood. Those will be signified by red arrows."
There was a sudden silence at his words.
"Blood?" Aoko repeated, looking confused and more than a little unnerved. "I don't understand. Why did you add a feature for searching for blood?"
Haibara cleared her throat and caught Aoko's gaze. "How much have you been told about these Curse Mark amulets?"
"Well…just that they are apparently real but aren't as powerful as actual Mark magic," Aoko replied.
Ai nodded. "And what of the amulets themselves? Did anyone explain how they were made?"
Aoko thought about it then shook her head. "I guess not. Are… Are you saying it involves using blood?"
The little scientist inclined her head, expression blank as ever. "I do not know the exact process, but I do know that each amulet requires a certain quantity of blood from the person whose Curse Mark's power is to be used. Furthermore, the donor must be alive. The blood is the conduit, not the source of the magic."
Aoko shivered. "That's kind of creepy."
The little scientist shrugged. "If it helps, know that everyone whose blood is in these amulets gave that blood under the impression that they were merely getting blood tests. There was no force involved."
"I…guess that does help a little," Aoko decided. "But it still feels icky."
That got a snort of laughter from Kaito, which made the girl blush. Before either could say anything, however, Toichi coughed lightly, calling everyone's attention back to himself.
"As I was saying, the presence of blood will be indicated by red arrows. However, Red arrows can also indicate other dangerous spells like explosives or magic meant to incapacitate. Blood traces will register as 'unidentified, potentially dangerous substances'."
"We decided to keep the warning labels general as a precaution," Chikage elaborated. Setting a satchel on the table, she began pulling more boxes like the one that had held Toichi's sample analyzer from it and stacking them on the table (incidentally demonstrating that her husband's little conjuring trick earlier had been entirely for show). "Our main obstacle, as we see it, is that it's difficult to figure out who we can trust. But this way, we can recruit more searchers without needing to go into detail about what we're searching for. That'll hopefully make it easier to actually find something."
Each Sky and Earth Mage in the room received a box (Agasa immediately began examining his with interest). Aoko got two boxes.
"Give the second to Ginzo," Chikage told her. "He's seen a prototype, so he'll know how to work it."
"Can I have one for Saguru too? I won't tell him about Kudo-kun and all that stuff," she added, nodding to Shinichi. "I know those aren't my secrets to share, and I doubt I understand enough to explain it well. But like you said, the more people we can get to help us look, the better."
Chikage glanced at her husband, who mulled the question over before inclining his head. Taking another box from the small pile of extra analyzers, she handed Aoko her third.
"Remember though, these are being introduced at the expo. They haven't been officially released. So please don't go showing them around."
"Don't worry. We understand," said Ran.
Toichi nodded. "Good. That brings us to our next point." He turned to Kogoro. "Were you able to think of any police officers that you feel could be safely recruited to our cause?"
"I suggest Megure-keibu's core team," said the detective. "They're all good, solid officers, and they're already involved with the Institute case."
"We've also worked with them a lot over the years," Shinichi added. "They'll be easier to convince that we're being serious about all this."
Toichi nodded. "Ginzo has a few candidates for us as well. We will need to schedule a meeting to bring them all up to speed."
"Dad and I can do that," Ran volunteered, a determined look in her eyes.
"I can help," Aoko offered. "My dad will have to be part of it anyway."
Ran gave the other girl a warm smile. "Thanks."
"Right. Then we'll leave the police to the Mouris and the Nakamoris," Toichi concluded. "Now, the last item on our agenda today is the fundraiser."
"Sonoko looked confused. "Fundraiser?"
"One of the teams whose been working at the Institute recently came up with a new method for treating cancer patients. I looked over their proposal and findings, and it looks very promising. They need funds to expand the research and begin clinical trials, so they're holding a fundraiser just before the expo. With all the people coming to the city for the expo, they figured it was a good time to reach a wider audience."
Sonoko's bafflement was undiminished. "That's cool and all, but what does it have to do with us?"
Though the girl was looking at Toichi, it was Kaito who answered. "It's how I'm going to go fishing."