Conan caught Tomoko Suzuki's glance at Tsuneo, his brow furrowing. What's she smiling about?
"By the way," Uncle Mouri piped up, "with over five hundred guests here, all wearing the Night Star—and only one being real—how am I supposed to protect it if you don't tell me which one's the real deal?"
He was clearly stumped, despite being the Suzukis' great hope.
"No matter how well-crafted those fakes are, they're still fakes. A close look should reveal the truth, don't you think?" Tomoko Suzuki replied with a sly smile, leaving it at that.
Soon, with Tomoko at the center, guests approached, their faces alight with smiles, exchanging greetings.
"The Suzuki Consortium really is something else. This party's packed with tycoons and CEOs," Conan muttered under his breath, his gaze drifting to a certain outsider chatting up a woman.
"Mr. Tsuneo, running into you here? It must be fate!" an elegant woman in a gown and heels said, inviting herself to sit at his table.
Tsuneo scratched his head, feeling a headache coming on.
Yup, still got some high-end clients.
And this woman was none other than the one who'd given him concert tickets before.
One husband, two lovers, three kids…
Fate? More like a cursed connection!
Keep hanging around this grim reaper, lady, and you're done for!
"Mrs. Takasugi, here alone tonight?" Tsuneo asked casually, not wanting to be rude to an old client.
Her eyes sparkled, her smile teasing as she purred, "Could be."
Tsuneo: …
Cough, cough. A sudden throat-clearing from the stage drew everyone's attention, saving Tsuneo from the awkwardness.
Thank you for the rescue!
"I'm Officer Chaki from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. You've all heard of me. That notorious phantom thief has already infiltrated this cruise," the officer announced.
"He's a master of disguise, mimicking appearances, voices, even personalities to perfection."
"We'd planned to screen everyone thoroughly, but to keep the mood light, we ask you to confirm identities with those around you and set a secret code to prevent the thief from blending in."
As Officer Chaki finished, Tsuneo slowly turned, giving Mrs. Takasugi a deadpan look.
"So, Mr. Tsuneo, where should we start with this identity check?" she asked, her tone playful.
Tsuneo: …
Someone reliable, save me again!
As if on cue, the lights dimmed.
"Hahaha!"
A low, clear laugh echoed through the darkened banquet hall.
Seizing the moment, Tsuneo grabbed his plate of post-dinner desserts and slipped away to a secluded spot.
In a corner of the hall, about three meters above the floor, a burst of purple smoke erupted.
A spotlight snapped on.
A white-clad figure in a top hat appeared—the magician had arrived.
"No matter what codes you set, it's pointless. The Night Star is already in my hands!" Kid declared from his perch, a confident smile on his lips.
Tsuneo looked up, realizing he'd picked a terrible spot.
"What a troublesome thief," Tomoko Suzuki said, nodding with satisfaction as the stunned guests gasped.
Then, she pulled a pistol from her purse. "If Kid the Phantom Thief is this brazen, we'll have to deal with him quickly!"
Gunshots rang out. The thief, hit multiple times, plummeted from his perch.
"Mom!" Sonoko gaped as her mother casually blew smoke from the barrel.
Tsuneo frowned, watching the thief crash onto his table.
Does this ship have it out for me?
All I wanted was to eat!
Why all these obstacles?
As the figure on the table sat up, unscathed, Tomoko revealed his identity.
"Hajime Sanada, genius magician!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's applaud him for playing the role of Kid the Phantom Thief in his grand finale," she said with a smile.
Hajime Sanada glanced at the man holding a plate, cheeks stuffed with desserts, still munching. Confused but unfazed, he stepped forward, shedding the thief's costume.
"Whether it's him or me, we're both artists of deception," Sanada said. "But I'm a professional magician. I'd never lose to a mere thief by trade."
"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me by the stage for a magic performance."
Dressed in a sharp suit, Sanada strode toward the stage.
Conan sidled up to Tsuneo, rolling his eyes. "I thought you'd snuck off to the kitchen, but you picked a prime spot, huh?"
Never stops eating…
No way this guy could be Kid in disguise.
"When he fell, I nearly socked him," Tsuneo said, eyeing Sanada's confident grin as he ascended the stage, plate still in hand.
"Well, I'd have to thank you on his behalf," Conan replied, recalling a certain blackmailer who'd dropped a sandwich and paid dearly for it. He silently worried for Tomoko's hired magician.
"Tsuneo, stop eating—the magic show's starting!" Ran said, approaching with a smile, her red gown catching the light.
Conan frowned slightly but said nothing, turning his attention to the stage.
Tsuneo glanced at the unicorn-loving girl, a grin tugging at his lips.
"For my first act, a simple card trick," Sanada announced, showcasing a dazzling shuffle.
After several guests shuffled the deck, he invited Ran and Sonoko to participate.
"Wait—before you draw, let me use my 'x-ray vision' to peer into your hearts and guess your cards," Sanada said, stopping the eager girls and striking a thoughtful pose.
"This is kinda nerve-wracking!" Ran said to Sonoko, clutching her chest.
"Totally!"
Sanada opened his clenched fist, releasing a white dove.
"Dove, heart—that's the ace of hearts, right?" he said, offering the deck to Ran.
"Ran, draw the one on the right—the far right," Sonoko directed.
Without hesitation, Ran pulled the card.
"Huh?!"
To everyone's surprise, it wasn't the ace of hearts. The card was blank, save for a single message:
"Like Caesar ensnared by Egypt's queen, I'm already at your side. Kid the Phantom Thief arrives…"
(End of Chapter)
-------------------------
🚀 Want to read the latest chapters early and get exclusive content?
Support me on Patreon to unlock advanced chapters and join me on this creative journey!
👉 [patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ]