"Wow, this eel is delicious."
"The grilled sanma is great too."
"Uwah, this pork cutlet rice is so moving~"
In the 24-hour diner, Luo Shu sat reclining in his chair with one leg crossed, watching Shinichi Kudo wolf down food with an utterly speechless expression, wondering if he'd wandered onto the wrong set.
'This was Detective Conan, not One Piece, right?'
Suppressing his internal complaints, Luo Shu couldn't help but ask: "Are you really that hungry?"
"No idea why, but ever since reverting to my original form, I've been ridiculously starving."
Shinichi swallowed his mouthful of eel before glancing at the black-haired boy who now appeared 6 or 7 years younger than before, his lips quirking upwards: "You're way cuter like this, by the way."
Luo Shu arched an eyebrow at him, causing Shinichi to choke in alarm. Flustered, he thumped his chest and hastily grabbed the miso soup from the table, gulping it down.
"Phew... saved."
Having narrowly avoided death by choking, Shinichi became markedly more subdued. He studied Luo Shu curiously.
"So you're here to check the transfer progress of that... Calamity Jade Seal thing?"
"Someone already briefed you?" Luo Shu seemed mildly surprised.
"Heard it from whoever's been communicating with me through speakers."
Realisation dawned on Luo Shu. The person using speakers to talk to Shinichi would be Nia Honjo - of course, she'd be the chatty type.
In contrast to Luo Shu's calm demeanour, Shinichi Kudo was somewhat troubled.
He poked at his pork cutlet rice with chopsticks. Though still hungry, his expression was slightly strained:
"How long can I maintain this age?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu casually explained: "As long as I don't lift the misfortune affecting you, you can remain in your adult form indefinitely."
Shinichi Kudo visibly relaxed at this before asking:
"So you came to confirm whether distance affects the transfer of the Calamity Jade Seal?"
"It doesn't."
Luo Shu now looked somewhat vexed:
"Apparently, increasing the distance doesn't influence the Seal's transfer."
Unlike Luo Shu, Shinichi actually seemed pleased:
"No effect? That's good."
"Good how?" Luo Shu shot him a cold glance. "Before the transfer completes, do you really think I'd let you leave Copernicus and return to Tokyo?"
The faint smile vanished from Shinichi's face, only to reappear on Luo Shu's.
"You'll have to enjoy being my prisoner a while longer," Luo Shu remarked playfully.
Shinichi's eyelid twitched at this, his expression turning glum:
"How long will the Seal's transfer take?"
Luo Shu didn't conceal the truth:
"Estimates suggest 7-10 days."
"7-10 days? That's manageable."
Hearing it would only take about a week, Shinichi exhaled in relief, his mood lifting enough to tease Luo Shu again:
"So you'll have to maintain that 12-13-year-old form for over a week, too?"
"Not bad - a chance to relive your youth."
Compared to his previous experience as Conan, not knowing when - or if - he'd ever revert, Luo Shu's seven-day transformation seemed trivial.
Still, as someone who'd endured being trapped as a child, Shinichi understood the frustration perfectly. Seizing the chance to mock Luo Shu was payback for that terrifying encounter at the Sawamura residence.
However, Luo Shu merely said coolly:
"You seem to forget I can cancel your state at any time, reverting you to Conan."
Thud!
"Please forgive this humble one!!"
Luo Shu snorted at Shinichi's immediate prostration, hands clasped in supplication:
"Why bother with this act?"
Shinichi peeked up to gauge Luo Shu's expression before rising, grumbling:
"If possible, I never want to be a child again."
While appearing as a genius child detective had its appeal, reality had nearly driven Shinichi mad.
Unable to work cases properly, restricted to juvenile football matches, constantly hiding from the Distillery operatives who'd shrunk him, then getting targeted by the SDS and subjected to Luo Shu's psychological torment - truthfully, every day as Conan had been miserable.
Therefore, even knowing that merging with the Calamity Jade Seal could make him a significant figure on the mystic side, he chose to abandon it without hesitation.
After all, according to the owner of that voice, once he fully merged with the Calamity Jade Seal, he would forever remain an 8-year-old child.
In the end, how could an ordinary person forcibly contain a Demigod Rank Abyss Artefact without a price?
Of course, being permanently turned into a child was the least of it. The real trouble was that the Calamity Jade Seal on him would easily attract unwanted attention.
It wouldn't be so bad if the SDS targeted him. Thanks to the friendship between former leader Siegel Clyne and his father, Yusaku Kudo, they would likely be more lenient with him, prioritising his survival and health.
But if it were other organisations, they'd probably try to refine him into some human elixir the moment they got their hands on him.
Given this, Shinichi Kudo had no attachment to the Calamity Jade Seal. In fact, he couldn't wait to be rid of this cursed thing.
Now that things were coming to an end, Shinichi Kudo had to consider his future:
"After the Calamity Jade Seal is transferred, how will you deal with me?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu replied calmly:
"Sign a confidentiality agreement and become a Class D peripheral member under the jurisdiction of the Strategy Department."
At this point, Luo Shu paused and glanced at Shinichi Kudo:
"Your father, Yusaku Kudo, has been rehired. His post is also in the Strategy Department."
Hearing this, Shinichi Kudo suddenly understood—his father had come out of retirement to protect him? And his future direct superior would likely be his father or one of his father's friends?
The realisation left Shinichi Kudo with mixed feelings: "Can I... continue being a detective?"
Without even lifting his eyelids, Luo Shu said:
"Sure."
Before Shinichi Kudo could rejoice, Luo Shu added:
"As long as you don't mind corpses appearing wherever you go."
Shinichi Kudo's smile froze: "Didn't you take the Calamity Jade Seal away? Why would people still die wherever I go?"
"Didn't I mention this before?" Luo Shu looked at Shinichi Kudo as if he were a walking calamity: "It wasn't the Calamity Jade Seal that made you a disaster magnet. You, the disaster magnet, attracted the Calamity Jade Seal. Get the causality straight."
With a mocking smile, Luo Shu continued:
"Why do you think Yusaku Kudo came out of retirement? Logically, since you handed over the Calamity Jade Seal, as the beneficiary, I would naturally ensure your survival. But Yusaku Kudo still wasn't reassured. Why do you think that is?"
"..."
Shinichi Kudo wanted to curse, but didn't know whose mother to curse.
So whether he had the Calamity Jade Seal or not, he was still a walking disaster who brought death wherever he went?
He really didn't want to be a mobile grim reaper!!
Just as Shinichi Kudo was sinking into despair, the nearby restaurant door dinged open.
Hearing the sound, Luo Shu turned to look, and several figures resembling hungry wolves immediately came into view.
'Something feels off...'
Before Luo Shu could react, a girl's excited shout rang out:
"Target spotted!!"
"Wow!! Luo Shu really turned into a kid!!"
"Quick, block all exits! Don't let him escape!"
Instantly, cold sweat poured down Luo Shu's face.