"You took advantage of Ran leaving the banquet hall to look for me, disguising yourself as her. Gotta say, that's impressive—I didn't notice a thing at first," Conan said, dropping all pretense and skipping the "sister" act.
"What's with making me sound like some glutton?" Tsuneo muttered, hands in pockets as he strolled into the engine room, glancing at the figure in the red gown with her head lowered.
Conan: Aren't you, though?
"Tsuneo, Conan's saying I'm Kid the Phantom Thief!" "Ran" protested, feigning indignation. "I don't even know where the real Night Star is!"
"If you really didn't know, you wouldn't have made a beeline for Tsuneo, would you?" Conan said with a chuckle.
"Sorry to disappoint, but that Night Star isn't the treasure you're after," Tsuneo said, looking down at his now-empty chest.
He'd returned the real Night Star to Mrs. Suzuki before coming here.
Conan wasn't sure what Tsuneo meant but pressed on. "No matter how valuable a pearl is, its luster fades over time. At most, a pearl's shine lasts a few decades."
"That alone rules out most of the less-refined fakes in the banquet hall."
Those glossy black pearls might fool an amateur, but not a pro.
The Suzuki family's Night Star, bought sixty years ago, would've lost its brilliance despite careful preservation.
Even the one displayed at the Beika Museum days ago was a fake.
"You've got that box, right?" Conan asked, turning to Tsuneo, who was spectating.
Tsuneo nodded, pulling the pink jewelry box from his pocket—the one he'd received upon boarding. He opened it, revealing a soft, delicate cloth.
"Exactly. While everyone else pinned their pearls barehanded, this guy wrapped his in cloth, carefully placing it on his chest," Conan said.
"Coupled with Mrs. Suzuki's look and how she stuck by him during the chaos, figuring out where the real Night Star was isn't rocket science."
"Looks like outsmarting this blockhead detective will take more practice," Tsuneo said, ruffling Conan's hair.
"Since you're so sure I'm Kid, why not call the police?" "Ran" said, stepping toward the engine room's phone and picking up the receiver with a smile.
Bang!
Before she could act, a soccer ball rocketed past, smashing the phone to pieces.
"Ran" held the receiver, stunned, staring at Conan, whose electrified shoes were cranked to max power.
This is a real killer soccer ball!
The kind that could knock out a satellite…
"Sorry, I already told him about your little police impersonation," Tsuneo said, stepping back to distance himself from the fired-up detective.
With Kid's smarts, he'd probably figured it out when Tsuneo threatened him earlier. No point hiding it now.
"Tch. Is that all you've got? Tacky tricks?" Conan said, glaring. "I came here on high alert, ready to pay my respects to an artist bold enough to waltz into a crime scene alone. I prepared for a one-on-one showdown."
"But most artists only get famous after they're dead."
"I'll make you a legend, Kid the Phantom Thief."
"You're about to end up in the prison tomb!"
Conan stood over the soccer ball that had rolled back to his feet, his gaze burning.
"One-on-one?" Kid said, finally dropping the act, speaking in his own voice despite Ran's face. "So the Dark Knight's sitting this one out?"
"I just came to see how you pull off your disguises," Tsuneo said, pulling a bag of snacks from his pocket and munching away.
They were Miyano's snacks for Haibara, half of which he'd swiped. Not bad.
"Glad you're enjoying the show," Kid said with a grin.
"Definitely. If you can show me how you transform into a high school girl right here, I'd be happy to clap," Tsuneo said, nodding to show he wasn't just about food.
"You'll get your chance," Kid replied, surprised by the request but clearing his throat and agreeing.
This guy wouldn't clap for a superstar's dance, so this is kind of touching…
"I'll catch your next performance," Tsuneo said, leaning against the wall.
"Thanks. I'll put on a dazzling magic show," Kid replied.
Conan was losing it. Are you two treating me like air?!
???
"Of course, I'll keep your secret," Kid said to Tsuneo before turning to the fuming detective.
"Oh, right—I almost forgot. I borrowed this girl's clothes and left her alone in a lifeboat. Better find her before she catches a cold."
Kid tugged at the neckline of the red gown, peering inside.
Then, he reached in!
"And I'm a perfectionist, you know!"
With a mischievous grin, Kid pulled out a pink, very functional piece of fabric, leaving Conan dumbfounded.
"!!!"
"You jerk!"
Conan instantly pictured Ran, naked and curled up in a lifeboat.
Clap, clap, clap! Tsuneo, having finished his snacks, gave a timely round of applause.
Kid probably hadn't planned to use this trick to escape Conan, had he?
Either way, your average cross-dressing connoisseur couldn't pull this off.
A true perfectionist.
"You!" Conan shot Tsuneo a glare.
Clapping at a time like this?!
"See ya, detective!" Kid seized the moment, slipping on sunglasses and tossing two flash bombs to the floor.
As smoke swirled, he vanished once again.
The red gown and pink undergarment fluttered to the ground.
Conan moved to chase but, thinking of Ran's situation, dutifully gathered the scattered clothes.
Even with Tsuneo watching, he couldn't ask him to deliver underwear…
"Hold on—did he just run off naked?" Tsuneo asked, puzzled.
Those flash bombs are pretty handy!
Gotta get the doc to make me some.
Conan rubbed his aching forehead, baffled by whatever Tsuneo was thinking. Clutching the clothes, he shouted back as he bolted out, "You head back to the banquet hall and keep an eye out! I'm going to find Ran!"
(End of Chapter)
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