Conan turned, his face etched with shock as he stared at the phantom thief standing atop the stairwell, his inner monologue echoing:
Beneath this silent night…
He descended before me, calm and unruffled.
His gaze seemed to pierce through everything, a fearless smile playing on his lips.
"Hey, Shinichi, are you listening?!" Dr. Agasa's voice crackled through the phone.
Conan pressed a button, ending the call and silencing the noise, facing the thief head-on.
Dr. Agasa: …
With a light leap, Kid descended from the stairwell, hands still in his pockets, a faint smile lingering as he approached the young detective with measured steps.
To Conan's surprise, the thief's age didn't match the rumors. Far from a middle-aged man, he looked barely twenty to thirty—maybe even younger.
"What's a kid like you doing up here?" Kid asked, addressing the boy who had suddenly turned away.
Crouching, Conan flicked his lighter, igniting a small firework he'd prepared.
Whoosh!
Bang!
A streak of light shot into the sky, bursting into a dazzling array of colors, painting the night with scattered firelight.
"I'm setting off fireworks," Conan said, his voice dripping with childlike innocence.
"Is that so?" Kid strolled to the edge of the rooftop, gazing at the sparkling display.
"Look, a helicopter!" Conan chirped, pointing a small hand at the police chopper slowly approaching to investigate.
"They've noticed us!"
Kid had initially thought this was just some kid from the Beika City Hotel sneaking up to the rooftop for fun. But now, something felt off.
"You're no ordinary kid, are you?" he said, his smile unshaken as the chopper's rotors grew louder.
"Edogawa Conan, detective," Conan replied, turning to introduce himself.
"Oh?" Kid let out an exaggerated, playful "oh," as if humoring a child, before resuming his calm demeanor.
"Is it wise to stick around, Kid the Phantom Thief?" Conan asked, one hand in his pocket, pointing at the approaching helicopter with a smug, all-knowing grin. "If you don't escape soon, the police will be here."
As he spoke, he reached behind his back, adjusting his tranquilizer gun.
To Conan's astonishment, Kid pulled out a radio communicator, cleared his throat, and performed a jaw-dropping act.
"This is Officer Chaki, currently on the rooftop of the Beika City Hotel. I've spotted Kid the Phantom Thief!"
"All patrol units in Beika and Beika Town, and all helicopters in the area, converge on this location immediately!"
"Apprehend Kid the Phantom Thief!"
His imitation was flawless—not just the voice, but every nuance of command, down to the smallest detail.
With a slight smile, Kid adjusted the radio's channel in front of the stunned detective and continued his performance.
"This is Officer Nakamori. All personnel securing the Beika City Hotel, listen up—Kid is on the rooftop! Surround him immediately and take him down!"
In mere seconds, without props or tricks, Kid seamlessly switched between two distinct voices.
Conan glanced at his own bowtie voice-changer, utterly floored by the thief's skill.
And why is he calling the police here? What's his game?
Within moments, several helicopters buzzed over the Beika City Hotel, their spotlights locking onto the thief.
"There, happy now, little detective?" Kid asked, standing in the light, his tone relaxed and teasing.
Talk about spoiling the kid…
As Conan stood there, still reeling, Officer Nakamori burst through the rooftop stairwell door, gun trained on Kid.
"Don't move, Kid!"
"Well, hello, Officer Nakamori," Kid replied, unfazed by the barrel aimed at him, even offering a casual greeting.
For once, Nakamori's brain had sparked early, deducing the true meaning of the notice. He'd already had the hotel's occupants thoroughly checked.
But he hadn't expected Kid to parachute from Tokyo Tower and land here.
This time, you've got nowhere to run, Kid!
"I only came to pay my respects," Kid said with a smile. "I have no intention of stealing that black pearl."
"Happy April Fool's Day?!"
Conan's pupils narrowed, recalling Tsuneo's words from earlier that day.
"Not bad, detective. You're right—April 1st, April Fool's Day. It's all a ruse."
Kid's thumb flicked a switch, and his hang glider unfurled behind him. A small flash bomb slipped from his sleeve, hitting the ground.
As blinding light erupted, forcing everyone to shield their eyes, Kid's mocking voice rang out: "Let me tell you something, kid. A phantom thief is a masterful artist, stealing treasures with flair and creativity."
"A detective? Just a critic, nitpicking in the thief's wake."
With that, the light faded, smoke swirled, and Kid the Phantom Thief vanished boldly from sight.
Conan stared at a new notice fluttering down from the sky, speechless.
…
Less than two hundred meters from the Beika City Hotel, in a dimly lit alley:
"Please, no more!" a portly, richly dressed middle-aged man sobbed, curled up on the ground, pleading for mercy.
His fleshy face was so swollen from slaps that his eyes were barely visible, tears and snot streaking indistinguishably.
"Did those girls beg you like this?" a cold voice asked.
A gloved hand reached down, seizing the man's hair and yanking his face up.
"I didn't—I didn't—I swear…" the man whimpered, his face twisted in terror, his courage shattered.
Suddenly, through his blurred vision, he glimpsed a figure at the alley's far end—a policeman, head lowered, adjusting his cap as he approached.
"Help!"
"Save me!"
The man's survival instinct kicked in, and he screamed for rescue.
The young officer looked up, startled, spotting the terrified man and the tall, menacing figure radiating a chilling aura.
What the hell is going on here?
(End of Chapter)
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