Ke Xue: The thief Cao is actually myself

Chapter 730 With enough strategy, even an iron rod can be ground into a needle! (Seeking monthly votes!)
Maruto Department Store
"Is this here?"

Bai Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the brightly lit department store in front of him with keen eyes.

Normally, at this time of day, department stores would have already closed for the day, and the place should be dark and quiet.

However, this Maruto Department Store stood out conspicuously, remaining brightly lit even outside of business hours, a situation that seemed strangely eerie.

Recalling the various situations his girlfriend Ran Mouri had described during their phone call, he immediately understood; it seemed his guess had indeed been correct.

The reason Conan and his friends haven't returned yet is because they've encountered the "department store hostage incident" that appeared in the original story.

Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder he's jokingly called the "incarnation of the Grim Reaper Elementary School Student" by everyone!
Even a simple outing with friends can lead to a dangerous incident like a robbery.

The connection between Conan and the cases is truly astonishing. It's as if wherever Conan goes, the cases follow.

However, this time, it was good that a certain elementary school student's "Death God Power" came out!

After all, if the other party hadn't encountered danger at this department store, how could he have gotten such a perfect opportunity to make a new "promise" to Yukiko Kudo, thereby further bringing the ambiguous and subtle relationship between the two closer!
Thinking this, Bai Ye, while mentally devising how to subtly demand "reward" from Kudo Yukiko after successfully rescuing Conan and the others, walked steadily toward the department store...

When Bai Ye arrived at the department store entrance, as he expected, the doors were tightly shut, like an impenetrable barrier.

However, beneath this seemingly calm surface, faint noises could be heard coming from behind the closed door. The sounds were like a group of people frantically chasing something, or like the muffled thud of a heavy object falling to the ground, making one feel that the situation inside was complex and fraught with danger.

"Those brats, Conan, haven't they been caught yet?" Bai Ye raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes instantly becoming unfathomable, like a bottomless pool of ice, making it impossible to fathom the thoughts contained within.

These robbers are really incompetent; they can't even subdue a bunch of children. They're just a bunch of useless good-for-nothings.

However, upon closer inspection, while Ayumi and the others might be relatively easy to deal with, Conan, who seems like an ordinary "little radish head," is by no means an ordinary character.

He is a famous high school detective with extraordinary reasoning abilities, and his reputation is widespread in the detective world.

Moreover, it possesses many amazing "magical skills." Not only can it perfectly catch bullets with its keen insight and agile movements, but it can also cleverly hide itself invisibly. It can even fly freely in the air like a bird and shuttle through the streets and alleys of the city with the help of a small skateboard.

What's even more astonishing is that, despite being only 102 centimeters tall and appearing to be just an innocent and carefree elementary school student, he can unleash tremendous, world-destroying energy at crucial moments. The force of a single kick is enough to shake the heavens and the earth, and he can even kick a satellite away, causing a shocking force like a nuclear explosion, which is truly astonishing.

It seems reasonable that a group of ordinary robbers couldn't defeat such an ordinary "elementary school student" who actually possessed extraordinary abilities.

Besides, if Conan and the others were easily defeated, wouldn't he have made a wasted trip and missed a great opportunity to further develop his relationship with Yukiko Kudo?

After a moment's hesitation, Bai Ye took out his phone, glanced at the time, and then decisively went around to the back of the department store to carefully search for a way in.

Although with his strength, he could easily have used violence to break down the gate and force his way in.

But such a commotion would inevitably alert the robbers in the department store.

Of course, this was not because he was worried that the bandits outnumbered him and he would be outnumbered.

With his extraordinary martial prowess, even if the number of bandits increased several times, they would still be nothing more than a rabble in his eyes, easily defeated and posing no real threat to him.

However, if the bandits see that things are not going well and become desperate, they might kill Conan and the others, which would have dire consequences.

You see, in his mind, the leader of this gang of robbers was armed with a gun, and that cold muzzle could spew out deadly flames at any moment.

His sole focus was rescuing his "good son" Conan safely, so he could then legitimately propose new conditions to Yukiko Kudo and further strengthen their relationship. But if Conan were to get injured or suffer any harm, how could he possibly justifiably demand extra compensation from Yukiko Kudo?

He quickly discovered a back door at the back of the department store.

That door, like the front door, was tightly locked, as if refusing any intrusion from the outside world.

But this small obstacle was no match for him, a member of the black-clad organization.

He calmly took a wire from his pocket, skillfully inserted it into the keyhole, and gently turned it with his fingers. Before long, with a soft "click," the lock opened.

Then, Bai Ye gently pushed open the door and quietly entered the department store...

Upon entering the department store, the scene inside was somewhat chaotic. Shelves were overturned, and merchandise was scattered all over the floor, as if a fierce battle had just taken place.

Bai Ye glanced around at his surroundings, frowned slightly, and then carefully moved forward, trying to avoid being seen by the surveillance cameras. He took each step with extreme caution, trying not to make a sound.

At the same time, his eyes, like cold stars twinkling in the night sky, vigilantly scanned his surroundings, not missing a single clue, trying to find Conan and the others amidst the chaos.

"Ta Tata..."

Just then, a soft, yet remarkably clear, sound of footsteps drifted from the passageway on the right.

Bai Ye's heart tightened suddenly. He nimbly and quickly hid behind a nearby shelf, then turned slightly to the side and stared intently into the direction of the aisle through the narrow gap between the shelves.

Two robbers emerged from the passage. They were both burly and imposing, like two small mountains, gripping clubs tightly in their hands, the clubs gleaming coldly in the lamplight. Their expressions were panicked, their eyes filled with anxiety and unease, as they frantically searched their surroundings like headless flies, their steps hurried and disordered.

One of the robbers moved cautiously, his eyes scanning every possible hiding place, muttering under his breath, "Where are these brats hiding? If the boss blames us, we're in big trouble!"

The voice was low and suppressed, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a hint of barely concealed fear.

The other robber looked anxious, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat that glistened under the light. He replied, "I don't know either. This department store isn't that big, and we've sealed off all the exits tightly. Logically, they shouldn't be able to escape even if they had wings. So, they must be hiding somewhere unknown. We need to search carefully again; we absolutely can't let them get away again!"

The robber nodded. "Yes, we need to be careful. If we're lucky, we might spot them in the next second!"

His tone carried a hint of self-consolation, an attempt to calm his flustered mind, but his trembling voice betrayed his inner tension.

Listening to the conversation between the two bandits, Bai Ye subconsciously touched his chin, a thoughtful glint flashing in his deep eyes. He thought to himself: It seems that Conan and the others are currently safe and sound, and have successfully evaded the bandits' pursuit thanks to their intelligence and wit.

After a brief deliberation, he decided to continue secretly following the two robbers to see if they could find Conan and the others by following the clues. At the same time, he patiently waited for the perfect opportunity to strike, so that he could subdue the robbers and successfully rescue Conan and his friends...

As for when the right time will be for him to make a move?
Naturally, this is when Conan, the high school detective whose body has shrunk, finds himself in an increasingly precarious situation!
For example, they might be about to be caught by bandits, or even face mortal danger.

After all, appearing like a divine intervention at such a critical moment would undoubtedly garner a high level of goodwill.

Similarly, the more dangerous Conan's situation is, the more benefits he can gain from Yukiko Kudo after he lends a helping hand and saves the other party.

Furthermore, if things go smoothly, he might not only get what Yukiko Kudo promised him when she left, but also unlock everything he wants.

As for whether doing this would be too cruel to Conan?

Haha, everyone looks out for themselves.

Moreover, Conan is not his real son, and in some ways, he can even be considered his rival in love.

Instead of kicking the robbers when they were down, he abandoned the beautiful and charming Yukiko Kudo and went to great lengths to rescue Conan from afar. He had already done more than enough, and Conan should be grateful to him for it.

Of course, considering that Conan is just a child, even if he wanted to repay the favor, he wouldn't have anything of value to offer. Therefore, the "reward" for saving the other party would have to be provided by Countess Yukiko Kudo herself!

Thinking of this, Bai Ye's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

He followed cautiously behind the two bandits, his steps as light as a ghost, making almost no sound, as if he were part of the darkness, perfectly blending into the surrounding environment.

As they ventured deeper into the department store, the air seemed to solidify with tension, so oppressive it was hard to breathe, as if an invisible, airtight net was slowly tightening, enveloping everyone within it…

As they walked, the bandit in front suddenly stopped as if frozen in place. His eyes widened, his face filled with tension and fear, and his finger trembled as he pointed to a corner piled high with goods. His voice trembled slightly with nervousness, as if something was stuck in his throat: "Look over there... there seems to be something? Should we... go take a look!" His voice sounded particularly abrupt in the silent environment, carrying an uncontrollable tremor.

"Hmm, let's go take a look. Maybe those brats are hiding there!"

The other robber looked in the direction he was pointing, a glint of expectation flashing in his eyes, and nodded hastily.

The two then slowed their pace, cautiously and slowly approaching the corner. Every step was filled with caution and tension, as if the slightest carelessness would scare away their hard-won target.

Seeing their actions, Bai Ye's eyes flickered slightly.

As a transmigrator with special abilities, he was fully aware of the entire situation and naturally knew that Conan and the others were not hiding there.

The reason these two robbers were so paranoid was simply because they were so eager to catch Conan and the others, which made them see danger everywhere.

However, coincidentally, that corner was a hidden spot that the cameras couldn't capture, making it perfect for dealing with enemies or hiding things.

For example, subdue the two robbers and then hide them!

As for the claim that he originally intended to continue following the two robbers to find Conan and the others?

Haha, there are more than just these two robbers in the department store. He could easily find other targets, follow other robbers, or even use his own abilities to find Conan and the others.

Moreover, the search for Conan can be carried out at any time. After all, this department store is only so big. As long as he searches patiently, he will eventually find Ayumi and the others.

But it would be such a pity to miss such a good opportunity to launch a sneak attack.

You should know that once such a golden opportunity is missed, it may never come again.

With that thought in mind, he kept his eyes fixed on the two robbers' every move, his right hand unconsciously clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, ready to strike at the most opportune moment and deliver a fatal blow to the two robbers.

At this moment, time seemed to slow down, and every second felt incredibly long.

When the two robbers were only a few steps away from that corner, the atmosphere in the entire space became extremely tense, as if the air itself had frozen. Everyone was enveloped by this invisible pressure, and a thrilling duel seemed about to break out...

(End of this chapter)