Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

"This foie gras is a top-quality product that I had them prepare. It has a rich and smooth flavor and is a must-try."

Holding food tongs and wearing a Shinichi Kudo mask, Yuji Kudo picked up a piece of food from the plate beside him, turned around and placed it on Sayoko's plate. Looking at the girl's helpless expression, Yuji showed a smug look and asked the waiter for a cup of coffee to slowly savor.

"Uncle..." Sayoko called softly, her hand to her lips. She was about to ask about her father's whereabouts when she saw her uncle, who was also an elder, let out a relieved sigh. It turned out that he had finished his coffee in the blink of an eye.

"See this handsome face inherited from the Kudo family? Now you have to call me Dad."

"Oh, Dad, would you like some sugar to cleanse your palate? The coffee is awful."

Sayoko didn't understand why her uncle liked such bitter coffee. Even though Rize had told her that the "incredibly delicious coffee shop" in Ginza was a secret business her uncle ran, she only went there when she had study sessions with her friends. This was because her uncle would pretend not to know her and refuse to let her keep track of the bill.

"No, no, get me a drink. The drunken detective persona will fall apart without alcohol."

Yuji waved his hand. In the past, in order to go out and play and avoid being assassinated because of his identity as Prime Minister Kudo Yuji, it was common for him to pretend to be his older brother. So Sayoko was already used to his unreliable appearance.

"I just want to ask, why did you suddenly stop hiding?"

Even though Kudo Yuji can now act exactly like Shinichi, today he clearly deliberately exposed a flaw to Sayoko. Moreover, the girl is more concerned about where her real father is right now.

Sayoko chose a glass of Yuji's usual frozen premium sake and pulled him aside to avoid the people who seemed to be looking their way because of the Segawa brothers' deaths.

"You acted so convincingly this afternoon; I could still hear the bug I put on your clothes. You were grabbing your father by the collar and questioning him about changing history or something."

"Who would have thought your old man would actually say those things to scare him?" Yuuji sat on the sofa, watching the dancers dancing in the center of the banquet hall with great admiration. "He was so scared that he was afraid of changing the past, so he was hesitant and timid."

So, who started this habit of burying listening devices all over the Kudo family? Drag them out and give them a beating!
"What mischief are you up to now? Don't go too far, or your dad will come to your house again and have a huge fight with you."

"Don't worry, your uncle specifically instructed the gatekeeper that if he sees your dad storming in, he should beat him into the street with sticks." Yuuji teased Sayoko, "My dear niece, your uncle is feeling wronged. My secretary is always slacking off, and your sisters are either in a band or working as broadcasters; none of them are helping me. You have to help your uncle."

"No way! Kokoro-nee said you're practically treating Rize-nee like a slave, doing all the work for you all day long." Sayoko spread her hands, refusing to work for free.

"I remember my family has a villa in Izu," Yuuji said, counting on his fingers. "It would be great if your club training camp this year could be held there. I even bought a private little beach; we'd definitely have a blast." "The club president's family also has a villa. That won't sway me, hehe, Uncle. Do you have anything else?"

So greedy...

Yuuji glanced at Sayoko.

"Then...aren't you always looking for that kid from the Amuro family?"

"We have news about him!" Sayoko instantly became serious, finally showing some of the characteristics of a Kudo family child. She grabbed Yuuji's wrist, extremely nervous.

"Why does he only call me? I don't know where he's gone. Is he involved in some trouble?"

"After seeing Conan, you can probably figure it out now." Yuuji rested his hands on his chin: "Your childhood friend accidentally discovered a conspiracy of an evil organization one night, and ended up taking the same drug as Shinichi did back then. After shrinking, she moved into your house."

"It really is the Third Incarnation... But... But didn't Daddy turn back? If we give the Third Incarnation the medicine he took..."

“That’s impossible,” Yuuji said seriously. “Because what he ate was the Plus Pro Max version that your father used to take, and the people who developed the antidote will no longer be willing to work for us.”

"Why? Is it money? If it is money, then whether it's the Three Families or my family, they should pay it back..."

"It's not such a superficial reason."

Yuuji sighed and looked sadly at the dance floor, saying, "That pharmacologist, because one night I said she had crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, she ran away from home and went on a world tour in a fit of anger, and she still won't answer my calls."

The result was an even more speechless reason.

"Uncle...can I hit you?"

"I'll cry." (End of Chapter)