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Chapter 219: The Aftermath
No hang glider, no rope, just jumping down like that?
Suicide?
But in the next second, Kaito's vision caught an incredible scene.
The falling figure didn't smash into the ground like a stone. Instead, he stagnated weirdly in mid-air for a moment. Immediately after, as if held up by an invisible gale, the figure traced an arc defying physics through the air, instantly blending into the distant night and vanishing without a trace.
Holy crap, what kind of technique is that?
Could that really be my Dad?
Only Kuroba Kaito, bound tightly, and the battered iron door remained on the rooftop.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Kaito wriggled frantically on the ground, forcing himself to calm down.
One minute at most!
If I don't untie the rope, I'm done for!
Kaito took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and blocked out all surrounding noise.
Calm down.
Kuroba Kaito, you are a genius magician.
That bastard was right; this is just an escape trick.
Wrists...
The knot was stuck at the joint; conventional dislocating techniques were useless.
But.
Kaito's fingers fumbled extremely dexterously inside his cuff. There lay an extremely thin razor blade. This was his last card, the insurance he hid in the most secret place for every operation.
"Open the door! Quick! Break it down!"
Inspector Nakamori's roar was close at hand. Sweat rolled down Kaito's forehead, dripping into his eyes, stinging painfully.
The tough hemp rope was cut halfway.
Boom!!!
The iron door was finally smashed open completely. Dozens of fully armed riot police rushed in with shields, powerful flashlights instantly illuminating the entire rooftop as bright as day.
"Don't move! Hands up!"
Inspector Nakamori took the lead, rushing to the front, face red, excited as a bull seeing a red cloth.
"Kid! You can't run this time!"
However.
When all the light beams converged on the center of the rooftop, it was empty.
Only a pile of cut hemp rope lay lonely on the ground. And a white card fluttering beside the rope.
Inspector Nakamori rushed over, picking up the card, his hands trembling. The card featured the iconic caricature, and below was a line of scrawled writing:
[The wind tonight is quite clamorous; I almost threw out my back. The gem is not what I sought, so I return it for now. PS: The night view here is nice, Inspector Nakamori, why not stay and admire the moon? — Kaitou Kid]
"Ahhhhhhh!!"
Inspector Nakamori slammed the card to the ground, letting out a roar of despair.
"Search! Search for me! He must still be nearby!!"
...
The next day.
Beika Town, Teitan High School.
Morning sunlight spilled onto the campus, but the classroom of Year 2 Class B was filled with a restless atmosphere.
"Did you hear? Lord Kid's operation last night!"
Suzuki Sonoko held her face in her hands, stars in her eyes, completely ignoring the English teacher lecturing on the podium. "Although he didn't take the gem in the end, that method of vanishing into thin air surrounded by hundreds of police was just too handsome!"
Mori Ran, sitting next to her, seemed a bit absent-minded. She rested her chin on one hand, her gaze falling on the textbook, but her focus had drifted who knows where.
Her mind was full of that man's figure. The mysterious man who claimed to know ancient Chinese medicine and said she had a unique bone structure just by holding her hand—Blake.
"Ran? Ran!"
Sonoko's call pulled her back to reality.
"Ah? What is it, Sonoko?" Ran snapped back, tidying the hair by her ear in a flurry.
"What are you thinking about? Your face is so red?" Sonoko leaned in suspiciously, a gossiping smile on her face. "Don't tell me you're thinking about that reasoning maniac Shinichi?"
"N-No way!"
Ran denied it immediately, but the look in Blake's eyes when he handed her the card downstairs at the apartment last night involuntarily surfaced in her mind. Deep, gentle, yet carrying an indescribable aggressiveness.
'Miss Mori, your physical constitution is a gift from heaven. It would be a pity not to develop it.'
'Remember to contact me. I'm looking forward to the first treatment.'
Thinking of this, Ran felt her cheeks burning even hotter. That kind of Chinese martial arts training method... really doing it in front of that man...
"Um... Sonoko."
Ran hesitated but couldn't help asking. "Have you heard of... ancient medical arts that can improve skin and even delay aging?"
"Huh?"
Sonoko paused, then waved her hand. "Most of that stuff is fake, right? Beauty salons nowadays dare to make up any gimmick to make money."
"But..." Sonoko changed the subject, rubbing her chin. "If it's really effective, I want to try it too! Who doesn't want to be eighteen forever?"
Ran pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the card in her pocket.
That man shouldn't be a liar, right?
After all, even Dad and Mom believe him so much.
And...
His temperament really doesn't seem like a swindling charlatan.
Teitan Elementary School, Year 1 Class B.
Before the morning bell rang, the classroom had already exploded.
"Hey, did you guys read the morning paper?"
Genta stepped on a chair, waving a crumpled extra edition in his hand. "Lord Kid is too amazing! Vanishing directly in front of hundreds of police, it's simply magic!"
Ayumi clasped her hands, eyes shining with worship.
"But Inspector Nakamori found a rope at the end. The paper says that was a challenge left by Kid." Mitsuhiko adjusted his glasses, analyzing seriously. "Although the gem was returned, Lord Kid was definitely mocking the police for failing to catch him."
The children discussed enthusiastically, but the back row seats seemed a bit deserted.
Conan sat in his seat, his right hand pressing firmly on his temple, dark circles under his eyes scary to behold. He hadn't slept almost all night. Whenever he closed his eyes, that man's voice would echo in his ears.
He turned his head to look at the empty seat beside him.
That was Haibara Ai's seat.
"Conan, why didn't Little Ai come today?" Ayumi leaned over, asking worriedly. "She rarely takes leave before; is she sick?"
Conan opened his mouth, his throat a bit dry.
"Ah... Dr. Agasa said she caught a cold and needs to rest for a few days."
This was, of course, a lie. The reality was that after hearing his recount last night, Haibara Ai was terrified. Lacking security, she had locked herself in her bedroom.
Just then, the classroom door was pushed open. Kobayashi-sensei walked onto the podium and clapped her hands to signal quiet.
"Students, return to your seats, get ready for class."
Conan mechanically took out his textbook, unable to read a single word.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. It was an email from Dr. Agasa.
[Shinichi, Little Ai's condition is still very bad.]
[Also, the Blake you asked me to investigate, the registry data shows he's a rich second generation just back from China.]
[His identity background is impossibly perfect; I can't find any loopholes at all.]
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