Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan. It belongs to Gosho Aoyama.
A/N: (Edited in 22nd July 2014) - I reposted this chapter as I made corrections in this chapter. If you notice any mistakes, feel free to point them out.
(Edited in 19th January 2014) - I have changed the summary of this story. The Wonder Drug will have two parts. There may be more parts, though.
Enjoy the reading and please review, thank you.
Chapter 1
Miyano Atsushi stood in the corner of the street of Osaka, waiting impatiently for someone. The sunlight shined on his young face, showing his excitement for who he awaited for. Atsushi's joy inside of him blocked everything around him. He seemed not to notice people moving next to him and cars driving on the streets. Atsushi just stood still not paying attention to anything, like a couple talking on the opposite street or a child running in front of his parents or even that there were hardly any cars since it was noon, and most people worked at that time.
From far, he would seem just like an ordinary man in a black suit, who, was waiting for his business partner to go into some quiet restaurant and discuss their company's performance. However, if people looked closer, they would notice Atsushi's excitement in his dark brown eyes, but also that he had begun to get nervous, even though the person he waited for was not late, yet.
Atsushi stepped from one leg to the other and played with his sweaty hands, though his head was still straight. Finally the minutes of waiting ended, which for him seemed like hours. A neatly polished black car stopped by the street. It looked like brand new as if just bought from the car dealership. The steering wheel side window of the car slightly rolled down and the man with black sunglasses appeared outside of it.
"Are you Miyano Atsushi?'' a man's thick voice asked.
"Y-yes," Atsushi responded. He was all shaking inside. He tried to say more about his enthusiasm but his dry throat did not let him.
"My colleagues and I are here to bring you to our boss for the interview, so get in the back," the same man said.
Atsushi, with his trembling hand, opened the back door and he quickly got inside the car. There were three men, who all wore black clothes and hats with black sunglasses. He was so fascinated by their mystery's aura that he did not noticed, that one of them spoke to him.
"Are you listening to me?" the man, from the passenger seat, asked him. His voice was monotonous and he seemed like he really did not care if he was listened to or not.
"Y-yes sir. I, I'm sorry," Atsushi said with his tremulous voice.
"Good. Like I said, you are not allowed to talk to us and so do we during the ride. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir," he said as he noticed that this man's voice actually sound unnaturally but he quickly shake off this thought.
He also wanted to ask their names, but he considered it for unnecessary, especially after, as they asked him not talk to them. He turned his head to the window side, but since all windows of the car were darkened, he just stared at his laps, thinking of what awaited for him.
Atsushi was glad that the car finally stopped as he checked his wristwatch. It took them almost three hours to get in here, wherever here was, though he was sure that they were not in Osaka anymore.
He felt his sweat on all of his body and he also tried to hide his yawning, but he was not surprised by it. Few hours in the car and almost four hours in the train before that, it did not actually help him to be fully rested. He just hoped that he still looked professional and he would make a good impression during his interview.
However, he was still happy that he got out of the car at least, and he could breathe in the fresh air. It was very quiet in that place, where they stopped. No sound was heard and there was practically nothing to be seen but the old building, which stood in front of them.
Atsushi eyed the board house, thinking, whether really, this place was where they supposed to be or maybe it was only a stop and they would soon drive again. This place looked completely opposite from what Atsushi imagined. In his head, he saw high-rise with big windows in a noisy city.
"Follow us," one of the men commanded.
He seemed to be wrong and this house was indeed the place, where he would have the interview for his dream job. Even though, it did not look what Atsushi pictured, the mystery aura was surrounding the area, which he could feel it in the air.
The man opened the double wood door in front of him and all four of them came inside. They found themselves in the dark corridor. One of the men turned the light on and Atsushi could clearly see the dark green painted walls with scratches at some spots on it and the dark wooden floor. Atsushi could hear the creak under his shoes as he walked.
They reached the end of the hall but there was no door, only the empty wall. Atsushi was going to ask what they supposed to do now, when one of men putted his right hand on the wall. The red laser went through the man's hand, the wall opened, and the door to the lift appeared in front of them. Atsushi's eyes and mouth widened of shock, that this old house had such advanced technology.
They came inside the lift and one of the men pressed three. Atsushi was surprised that the lift went down instead up. The three men stood still and they did not move by inch. Atsushi thought of saying something but he realized that they would probably ignore him, so he decided to remain quiet. The lift door opened as they reached third floor underground.
Atsushi hold his breath of impression of what he saw. It looked nothing what was above them. The light walls shined with cleanliness with no scratch on them along with the freshly laundered dark red carpet. Everything seemed so fresh and clean. Atsushi liked this place even more. He followed three men, hoping that he finally will meet the person, who he would have the interview with. His wish was granted as he heard knocking.
"Who is there?" To Atsushi's surprise, the child's voice answered behind the dark brown door.
"It's us," the man, with monotonous voice, responded. It still sounded funny.
"You may come inside." Atsushi's curiosity grew. It was impossible that he could be interview by a child, couldn't he?
The man opened the door and they all came inside. The first thing that Atsushi noticed was the black wooden desk and the small TV on the shelf behind it. It was turn on but only the dark blue walls and the black carpet could be seen.
Atsushi was more surprised by every second. He didn't expect to be interview in such odd conditions. He thought that he would meet the boss face to face and it would be an adult but then, he heard only his voice or maybe it was her. He was not told anything about the boss besides that he showed interest in Atsushi to work for him. At first, Atsushi assumed that the boss was a man in a mid age, but he wasn't sure about their gender and age, anymore.
"Three of you may leave." The men left the room and only Atsushi stayed in there. He looked straight on TV, waiting for the boss to appear but it did not happen, instead he heard the boss' voice again.
"Welcome Atsushi-san. I want to apologize first for your inconvenient journey. Please sit down, Atsushi-san." The boss' politeness amazed Atsushi. Even though, he heard the child, its tone of voice was calm and mature.
"You see, Tokyo is far away from this place, so it seemed easier for my men to pick you up from Osaka," the boss explained himself kindly.
"I have checked through your CV that I have obtained from my men and I can say I'm impressed, alike as the book written by you."
Atsushi remembered, after his book signing in Tokyo, two men dressed up in black suits approached him, and they informed him, that their boss showed big interest in Atsushi, and that person would like Atsushi to work for its organization and on its science research.
When, Atsushi asked them what kind of science research, they just smirked and said that he should read his book again, and they also would need his CV by tomorrow. When Atsushi received the phone call after two days, when he gave his CV, that he had this job, he jumped with joy and after that, he spent only his time on preparing for this interview.
"Like you know, the research that you will be working on, deals with what you described in your book. You will get all the details from the scientist who is in charge of this science research." Atsushi thought for a moment that he heard bitterness in the boss' voice when that person mentioned the scientist, but he recognized that he mistook.
"Yes sir. Actually, I would like to ask you, what is your name?" He should ask the boss' name earlier, but it got out of his mind.
"There is other important fact, Atsushi-san that you need to know. Only most trusted members of this organization know my identity and it is only limited number. Firstly, you need to obtain my trust. I am, also want to ask you, how much do you believe in what you wrote in your book?" The boss sounded seriously, yet he still remained calm.
"Very. I mean some scientists were pessimistic about what I wrote, telling me that these kinds of things would be possible in the distant future, but I personally believe that we may achieve it now, though they still liked the design of my book," Atsushi said.
"I like the confident in your voice. It is what it matters, belief in what you are doing. Well, I can see that you may be the right person for this job. Of course, you will not travel everyday from Tokyo to here, so you can live here in this house," the boss informed surprised Atsushi. He did not expect that he would have to live here, but he would not turn his back now.
"Yes, sir," Atsushi said. His face showed full determination. He was ready for everything.
"I hope this house would be comfortable for you. To be honest, I wasn't upstairs quite a while and I think I should check in there." Atsushi assumed that the boss spent most of his time in his office.
"There is last very important thing that I must tell you," the boss said. Atsushi could clearly hear how serious boss was.
"Nobody and it includes your family and friends must not know about this organization and what we are doing. Some people may not understand the purpose of our actions, so it is better to keep it in secret. Do you understand?" the boss asked. Atsushi knew if he would say no, he would have to say goodbye to this job, and he did not want to.
"Yes sir, I completely understand and please don't worry; I don't have a family and I only live with my friend. Of course, I would not tell him about this job. I didn't even say to him that I was coming here for the interview," Atsushi answered, hoping that he sounded honestly and the boss would not change his mind.
"Good. I will tell my men to pick you up in two days from now, at the same time and in the same spot as today. Do not worry about your baggage. My men will pick them up from your house. Now you can go," the boss informed, excited Atsushi, who barely hold himself back, not to jump with happiness.
"Before, I will call my men to drive you back to Osaka, you must know that those who do not follow my rules are severe punished. I hope you understand." Atsushi swallowed. He did not dare to ask what that severe punishment was. He just simply responded.
"Yes sir."
"Well, I will see you in two days. Have a good way back home."
