Above Osaka Bay, the white figure glided low, seeking a landing spot to vanish from this trouble.
Near the port, under moonlight, a trench-coated, beret-wearing figure aimed a gun at the airborne thief.
Kid glanced over, but had no time to react.
A silenced bullet shot toward his monocled right eye.
"Heh…"
The dark figure saw the wooden box fall, the thief plunging into the sea, smirked, and left.
…
The next day, August 23, morning.
Suzuki Art Museum, president's office.
"What?!"
"Besides Kid, that fiend was in Osaka last night too?!" Officer Chaki, shocked, questioned Nakamori.
"Yes. Per Osaka PD, the Dark Knight was unusually active, targeting yakuza and shady companies," Nakamori nodded.
Last night, he and his men slept in the warehouse, waking refreshed compared to others.
Thanks to Conan and Hattori recovering the Memory Egg near the port, or it'd be a mess!
"Why were both in Osaka?" Chaki mused, chin in hand.
Kid steals nationwide, but that guy sticks to Tokyo.
Was he chasing Kid?
Or are they connected?
"No clue. The guy's a ghost—no one knows him," Nakamori said, rubbing his forehead.
When the Dark Knight strikes, hospitals fill up.
And Kid, bombing the power station? Unforgivable!
"Think the shooter was the Dark Knight?" Chaki asked.
Bullet casings and a shattered monocle were found near the port. Kid might be dead in the sea.
"Unlikely. He's never used guns," Nakamori shook his head.
The officers excused themselves to Shiro Suzuki, leaving to join the salvage operation for clues.
Conan glanced at Tsuneo, sitting nonchalantly.
This guy's insane…
Sneaking out to cause that chaos!
"Mr. Mouri, luggage ready?" Shiro Suzuki signaled secretary Nishino to take the Memory Egg, asking the group.
Though the box protected it, the egg fell from Kid's hands, high up.
The exhibition was paused for inspection in Tokyo.
Suzuki's ship awaited at the port.
"All set," Mouri nodded.
He hadn't expected last night's fireworks and blackout were Kid's doing.
Recalling his "elegance" comment, he blushed.
"No worries, let's go," Shiro reassured, leading the group out.
"You saw him last night?" Conan tugged Tsuneo's pant leg, trailing behind.
"Yup," Tsuneo said, meaning Kid.
"Why didn't you stop him? You know the chaos from blowing the power station!" Conan accused.
He didn't care about Tsuneo's vigilante spree—those targets were guilty.
But the power station? Different story!
"Do I look that nice?" Tsuneo smirked.
He'd warned Kid out of decency, got no response.
Besides, a power station? Even if Fuji erupted, not my problem—no clients here.
"You!" Conan started.
Tsuneo cut in, "He got shot and fell into the sea. Dead? His atonement. Alive? Lucky him."
"…"
Conan fell silent.
He cradled Kid's injured dove, picked up at the port.
"This dove's worth a lot," Tsuneo eyed the bird.
Trained to fly solo missions—valuable.
Even for stew, pricier than regular doves!
"What's with your weird thoughts…" Conan muttered.
He'd never keep up with this guy's brain.
"Oh, good news," Tsuneo stopped, winking at the detective.
"What?" Conan stroked the dove, distracted, still pondering Kid's fate.
The police searched the bay all night, no results.
They'd keep looking.
The shattered monocle suggested grim odds, but no blood made it unclear.
Who shot at Kid?
"The antidote's progressing. First version's coming soon," Tsuneo tapped Conan's head.
Using Drug A from Pisco, tests on mice showed promise.
Safety and efficacy need more work.
Turning from kid to old man? That'd be a laugh.
"Really?!" Conan snapped alert, eyes wide.
If true, he'd be Shinichi again!
No more being short!
"The evil scientist told me herself," Tsuneo nodded, smiling.
Conan coined that nickname.
Being a lab rat too long breeds some rebellion.
"Great!" Conan's face lit up.
"But," Tsuneo glanced at Ran, walking with Sonoko.
"What?"
"If you change back, no more bathing together…"
"…"
(Chapter End)
------------------------------
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