Chapter 308: Holographic Projection
Vermouth reached out, her slender fingers gently catching the small purple petal drifting through the air in front of her. As she rubbed the delicate material between her thumb and forefinger, it possessed the exact velvety texture of a real flower. Bringing it closer to her nose, she could even detect a faint, sweet fragrance lingering on it.
Sight, touch, and smell—every sensory detail was utterly flawless. If the petal hadn't suddenly dissolved into a shower of luminescent points of light and vanished from her palm after a few seconds, she would have sworn it was a genuine piece of nature.
How was this possible? Was this truly the level that modern holographic projection technology had reached?
Vermouth smoothed out her slightly startled expression, her signature enigmatic smile returning to her lips. She turned her gaze toward Bourbon, who stood beside her, mirroring her careful composure. She arched a single, elegant eyebrow. "Well, Bourbon?" she murmured, her voice a low, teasing drawl. "Did you manage to spot any flaws in this little illusion? Why don't you try tasting the next one to see if the flavor is just as authentic?"
Bourbon forced the lingering shock from his eyes, his shoulders rising and falling in a practiced, easy shrug. "I wouldn't know what a real glowing petal is supposed to taste like," he replied smoothly. "If you're so curious, you are more than welcome to try it yourself."
He had absolutely no intention of casually ingesting some unknown substance conjured by an organization they barely understood.
A few rows away, completely oblivious to the fact that high-ranking executives of the Black Organization were sharing the same audience space, Conan stared at the glowing particles fading before his eyes. His jaw was slightly slack. His mind instantly flashed back to his harrowing experience inside the 'Cocoon' virtual reality system. If he wasn't absolutely certain that he had walked into this venue on his own two feet, he would have suspected he was trapped inside a digital death game all over again.
"Don't worry, we aren't inside the Cocoon." Haibara's cool, steady voice cut through his rising panic. She sat beside him, her arms crossed defensively.
Conan snapped his head toward her, his eyes wide with silent questions.
Meeting his bewildered gaze, Haibara offered a rare, reassuring explanation. "I just sent a text message to the Professor and received his reply a moment ago. So you can rest easy. We are still firmly planted in the real world."
"Is that so? That's a relief." Conan let out a long, shaky breath, the tension leaving his shoulders for a fraction of a second before his heart hammered against his ribs once more.
If this was reality, the implications were terrifying. It meant that ever since Ningguang's Jade Chamber had absorbed the Sindora Company, their technological prowess had skyrocketed to a level indistinguishable from actual magic.
Wait. A sudden thought struck him like a physical blow. If their technology was this advanced, did that mean the impossible scene he and Hattori had witnessed near the Takahashi Residence was actually real?
"Hey, Kudo." Heiji Hattori leaned over, subtly nudging Conan's elbow. He kept his voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "Do you think that crazy stunt we saw earlier was just some kind of holographic projection too? No matter how you try to rationalize it, it's physically impossible for a human being to pull a glowing sword straight out of their own chest."
Heiji clearly harbored the exact same suspicions. "But why would the Kamisato Clan go out of their way to stage something like that?"
Conan pressed his lips into a thin line. He couldn't formulate a single logical motive either.
A short distance away, Okiya Subaru slowly uncurled his tightly clenched right fist. The phantom object he had snatched from the air was completely gone, leaving not a single trace of moisture or residue against his skin. He casually shifted his posture, pressing two fingers against his left wrist to monitor his pulse. He counted the beats in silence for a full minute. Steady. Rhythmic. There was no abnormal acceleration or sudden slowing, which meant his nervous system hadn't been compromised by airborne hallucinogens.
Deceiving touch, sight, and smell simultaneously... could current science truly achieve this?
Sera Masumi leaned forward in her seat, her eyes sparkling with pure amazement. Unlike the others, she had no prior knowledge of the Teyvat organization's hidden depths. Because she had experienced the Noah's Ark incident, she simply accepted this stunning display as a miraculous leap in modern engineering.
On the opposite side of the venue, the Detective Boys, Ran, and Sonoko were entirely unbothered by the technical logistics. They were completely swept up in the magic of the performance. Just like the rest of the cheering audience, they held up their cameras and camcorders, desperate to capture every fleeting second of the spectacle.
Natsume sat among the crowd, holding her smartphone up to record the vibrant stage. She pouted slightly, harboring a tiny sliver of resentment toward her brother. He had flatly refused her invitation to attend, citing his strict rule against frequently appearing near the 'protagonists' or drawing unnecessary attention. Even so, Natsume made sure to capture the most beautiful segments of the show, occasionally tapping her screen to send the video clips directly to him.
Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. It was Nilou's turn to take the stage, and the atmosphere in the venue reached a fever pitch.
The instant her delicate feet touched the platform, the entire environment underwent a drastic, instantaneous transformation. As the first melodic notes of the music echoed through the speakers, the solid ground surrounding the stage rippled and shifted, projecting the illusion of a vast, crystal-clear expanse of water.
A few curious audience members in the front rows leaned over, hesitantly dipping their fingers toward the floor. Gasps echoed through the crowd as they felt a distinct, cool wetness against their skin. The mirror-like stillness of the projected water broke around their touch, sending incredibly realistic ripples expanding outward.
Then, Nilou moved. She leaped and twirled in perfect synchronization with the lively rhythm. With every graceful step and spin, the watery stage reacted. Vibrant, glowing water lotuses burst into bloom beneath her dancing feet, trailing her movements like a garden springing to life.
As the tempo increased, Nilou spun faster, her skirts flaring out. The central water lotus beneath her grew larger and more magnificent with every rotation. As the final, triumphant chord struck, the massive lotus bloomed to its absolute fullest, and the performance came to a stunning, sudden halt.
Thunderous applause erupted, shaking the very foundations of the venue. The crowd leaped to their feet, chanting Nilou's name in a deafening chorus.
With the final performance concluded, the competition officially drew to a close, and the live audience voting commenced. There was virtually no suspense in the results; the undisputed champion was Miss Nilou.
Crowning the champion meant the event had reached its successful end. Yet, the audience lingered, remaining in their seats as they eagerly reminisced about the dreamlike spectacle they had just witnessed.
Suddenly, the stage lights cut out, plunging the venue into total darkness. Before a single cry of panic could ring out, a bright light flared back to life. The audience blinked against the sudden glare, only to realize that their entire surroundings had shifted once again.
They were no longer sitting inside the performance hall. Instead, they found themselves standing in a wide, open clearing, positioned directly in front of a magnificent, traditional pavilion floating high up in the endless sky.
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