Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 186 Kido Magic Troupe

Zhi Park was busier than usual on the weekend.

Rimi wiped her sweat as she set up the stage. It was the same kind of chores she was doing, but she felt a sense of accomplishment that she hadn't experienced during her time with the Fantasy Magic Troupe.

After some twists and turns, I finally have my own business.

"Sakuraba, is the sound system set up?" Satomi called out to the fat man below the stage.

My former colleague, the spiritual medium Sakuraba.

After Sakonji died, she became a free agent and remained popular even after the disbandment of the Fantasy Magic Troupe. However, this time, she was avoided by other magic troupes, and they eventually found her again.

Besides that, there was only one teacher who was brought in with great difficulty to keep things in order.

The rest were a magic assistant hired for a fee, and two high school students who came to work part-time.

"Kaito," Nakamori Aoko, who looks remarkably like Ran, was handing out flyers at the intersection. She was puzzled because she had been pulled in to help out at the last minute. "Weren't we supposed to be going to see Hoshikawa Dogo? Why are you suddenly working here? This shouldn't be the Hoshikawa Magic Troupe, right?"

"Of course not, the Star River Magic Troupe's performance is still warming up," Kaito Kuroba said, glancing at the stage every now and then. "Strange, isn't that guy coming..."

Who are you talking about?

"a friend."

Curiosity gleamed in Kaito Kuroba's eyes.

Of all the newly formed magic troupes, only Gao Mo seemed to interest him.

I don't know why Gao Mo took in two third-rate magicians from the Fantasy Magic Troupe, making it seem like he's trying to break into the magic world.

Logically, they wouldn't act so ostentatiously...

Behind the stage.

A man in sunglasses with a cigar in his mouth approached Satomi Zanma. He was around 40 years old, with a scruffy beard and shoulder-length hair hanging down his back, looking like a famous director.

“Rimi, you didn’t say it was a street performance beforehand. My popularity has indeed dropped a lot. But I used to be a disciple of Master Zheng Ying. It’s just that I haven’t been very active in recent years.”

"Mr. Fan Tian," Satomi hurriedly apologized, "I also wanted to apply for a venue, but the magic troupe has just been established and needs to do promotional performances to build up its popularity..."

"Never mind," the man in sunglasses waved his hand. "Anyway, I'm just helping you out; I have no intention of joining your magic troupe. But this tutoring fee... do you think it's a bit too low?"

"But it's already been raised to 100 million."

"Is 100 million a lot? I make more than 100 million for a single performance. I think you should have your boss talk to me. It should be at least 200 million..."

"The Master of Shadows you mentioned, is that the legendary magician who disappeared 10 years ago?"

Gao Mo arrived at the scene with Hattori and the others, who were looking around anxiously. They immediately saw the remnant Satomi apologizing profusely.

This apprentice magician is still so easily bullied.

"Who are you?" The man in sunglasses looked Gao Mo up and down with suspicion, thinking he was just a passerby.

"I am Rimi's boss, Kido Takamori. I've been a fan of yours for a long time," Takamori greeted him warmly. "As a disciple of Master Sei-ei, Professor Fan Tian is also a first-class magician. It's really rare for you to come to our small magic troupe to give guidance. Have you retired now?"

The man in sunglasses looked stiff, and he almost dropped his cigar.

Retirement?
He certainly hasn't retired; it's just that his situation has been getting worse in recent years, to the point that he can't even put on a proper magic show.

With income plummeting and debt mounting, and recently suffering a major setback in the stock market, I wouldn't have come here for a little money.

Now, fans have caught them red-handed.

"It's a long story," the man in sunglasses said, coughing as he didn't mention the instruction fee again. "I just have a high opinion of Rimi. I happened to have some connections with Reiko Chikamiya when she was still alive, so I came to see this magic troupe that has inherited her legacy."

"I heard that Xinghe Tongwu is also a disciple of Master Zhengying. Teacher Fan Tian should know him, right?" Gao Mo asked with a smile.

“Of course I know him,” the man in sunglasses said, looking even more embarrassed. “We used to go to our teacher’s house together often, but it’s been like that for the past 10 years…”

"Are you that super popular magician, Hoshikawa Dogo?" Kazuha and Sonoko were taken aback.

“Xinghe is the eldest disciple.” Before Gao Mo could continue to provoke him, the man in sunglasses stammered and slunk away toward the stage.

"It's about time, let me warm you up first."

Compared to the young and incredibly popular Hoshikawa Tongwu, he, also a disciple of the Zhengying Sect, was utterly humiliating.

In the past 10 years, instead of making any progress, they have accumulated a huge debt.

"What's wrong with this guy?" Hattori Heiji asked疑惑地问道, "Is he really a top-notch magician?"

"Who knows?"

Gao Mo noticed the man in sunglasses' embarrassment.

Which top magician would haggle over a million dollars?
This guy is either an imposter or he's in big trouble.

The one who was approached by Satomi Canma as her mentor must be the latter.

He had also collected some information in advance.

Fan Tianli, 41 years old, is one of the three disciples of Zhengying. Five years ago, the year that Reiko Konmiya was murdered, he made a huge mistake during a magic performance and almost killed himself like Sakonji did this time.

Later, he became less and less active, and never performed any large-scale magic shows again.

This guy might actually have some connection with Reiko Chikamiya.

"Clap clap clap!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause rang out in front of the stage.

Seemingly provoked by Gao Mo's words, Fan Tianli, who had not originally planned to perform, quickly livened up the atmosphere with a small magic trick and a joke that made the audience burst into laughter.

They do have some skills.

His techniques are top-notch, his performance is top-notch, and his stage presence surpasses that of most magicians.

Gao Mo was so impressed that he wanted to recruit this guy into the magic troupe.

However, when the audience called for him to continue the performance, Fan Tianli's fingers trembled slightly, and his expression changed somewhat.

A look of understanding flashed in Gao Mo's eyes.

This person probably has psychological trauma.

It would be very difficult for a normal, top-tier magician to join his magic troupe.

The disabled version seems to have a chance?
Being short of money is a good thing. He has enough funds on hand, and keeping them in the firm would be a waste; he can take them out and invest them.

The magic troupe is indeed missing a top-tier magician—although his magic level has reached 4, he can't always follow the troupe around.

“Mr. Kido,” Satomi said, blaming herself for thinking Gao Mo was dissatisfied, “none of the magic teachers would come, only Mr. Fan Tian…”

"fine."

Gao Mo noticed Kuroba Kaito, who was working part-time, and his eye twitched slightly the moment their eyes met.

This guy isn't even pretending anymore; he just showed up with his real identity.

"This guy is...Shinichi Kudo?" Heiji Hattori stared wide-eyed, uncertain.

"Hello, nice to meet you," Kaito Kuroba grinned. "Are you here to work too?"

"Isn't that right?" Hattori Heiji stared for a while before realizing what he meant.

Although they have the same face, their temperaments are completely different, and he doesn't seem like a detective at all.

Well... why does it feel like I've met this guy somewhere before?
Where is it?

He couldn't possibly forget someone who looked so much like Shinichi Kudo.

(End of this chapter)