Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 217 The Real and Fake Kid
Aside from entertainment news, everything in Tokyo seemed quite ordinary over the weekend.

A surprise letter from Kaito Kid disrupted this rare peace, stirring up enthusiasm in many.

Although people often mention Kidd's cross-dressing tendencies, he is, after all, a master thief who has left the police helpless to this day, and has gradually gained a group of fans.

Ordinary people don't empathize with Nakamori Ginzo's thoughts; they just find a rare moment of excitement in their otherwise boring lives and are more interested in seeing the showdown between the phantom thief and the police.

Even before the scheduled time, the Suzuki Foundation's newly built museum had already attracted a large number of visitors. Suzuki Jirokichi took advantage of the hype to promote the museum, even hiring a large number of helicopters to hover over the streets and filming videos. After the videos were released, they caused quite a stir not only in Tokyo, but also throughout the country and even abroad.

"Buzz!"

The announcement was made that evening.

The streets near the Suzuki Museum were bustling with people, and from the air, they looked like a dense crowd.

The air was filled with helicopters filming, making it impossible for police helicopters to take off.

After failing to reach an agreement, Nakamori Ginzo, still furious, began to oversee the ground operations.

"Check again! Check every passageway in this museum. Don't let a single suspicious person through! Pinch his face hard, he'll definitely be disguised anyway! Pull hard!"

Holding the walkie-talkie, Nakamori Ginzo shouted repeatedly, then looked angrily at the helicopter hovering overhead.

"That arrogant, rich old man is really causing us trouble!"

After deciding to confront Kaito Kid, Jirokichi Suzuki launched his pre-prepared plan to bring "The Miracle of the Sea" to the still-unopened Suzuki Grand Museum. He then placed the statue on the museum's roof, mimicking a ship, with a fixed plate extending into the air, like a cruise ship setting sail.

The goddess statue and sapphire gained an air of sanctity under the moonlight.

“Haha,” Suzuki Jirokichi completely ignored Nakamori Ginzo and looked at the goddess statue with satisfaction. “Kido’s suggestion is really good. It can not only promote the film directly, but also correspond to the artistic value of ‘Miracle of the Sea’. I just don’t know what the meaning is of Kid’s trailer showing him walking on foot with moonlight as waves. It seems that the guy used to make his appearance with a hang glider.”

Gao Mo and Yuanzi stood at the back, feeling somewhat helpless at the ever-growing crowd around them.

His goal was to get it on the front page, but he didn't want to make a big fuss, since he was using Kidd's name and wasn't the real Kidd.

However, he overlooked Suzuki Jirokichi's reaction; the old man was eager for things to escalate.

“Uncle has always been very good at publicity,” Sonoko said proudly. “I think the front page being taken away was just an excuse. He was thinking about advertising from the beginning. He’s a real old fox.”

No, the front-page battle is definitely real.

Gao Mo glanced at the energetic old man.

It's true that using Kaito Kid to gain attention and promote the brand is a good thing, but the battle for the front page is also the core issue.

Thinking about his own purpose, Gao Mo could only apologize in his heart.

Being in a good position, he was able to get involved in the operation because of his good relationship with the Suzuki family and the appreciation he received from old man Jirokichi. The old man loved to show off, and Jirokichi knew almost everything about him.

Even the helicopter pilots he hired were now under his control.

Just in case, he even made a mask of an old man and turned one of the drivers into his assistant.

It should be fine for a one-night performance.

"call!"

The evening breeze was cool.

Gao Mo then looked up at the goddess statue under the moonlight.

He doesn't need to steal anything; he just needs to perform a magic trick to fool the police. In just a few minutes, even the real Kaito Kid, Kuroba, can't do anything about him.

All is ready except for the opportunity.

“Let’s go check out the live-streaming truck first,” Suzuki Jirokichi said with a snort, quite annoyed by the police grabbing faces everywhere. He turned to a nearby mobile truck. “It’s not just footage from the helicopter, but also from the museum’s internal surveillance cameras, over 100 cameras. Even if Kidd manages to break through the police cordon, he won’t be able to hide. Hmph, those useless cops are just there to make things worse. In the end, Kidd will definitely be subdued by me!”

The man with the mustache put his hands in his pockets and pursed his lips.

Because of his daughter Ran, and also because he was a famous detective, he was invited by Jirokichi Suzuki.

As a result, the old man completely treated him as a mascot, and only asked Gao Mo any questions he had.

He finally understood: this guy wouldn't allow anyone else to steal the spotlight, and he was extremely arrogant, not taking Kidd seriously at all.

"There's no one in the museum..."

“Of course! Doesn’t that guy like to disguise himself as other people? So all the mechanisms in the museum are remotely controlled. I want to see how he takes the treasure on foot,” Suzuki Jirokichi said aggressively. “Those policemen are too stupid. If it were me, I would have arrested that thief long ago!”

Conan stood on tiptoe to check the surveillance footage.

Although he didn't quite believe Suzuki Jirokichi's boasts, he was also very curious about how Kidd would steal the treasure on foot under these circumstances.

power failure?

The museum is already prepared, so this trick won't work; all the mechanisms have independent power supplies.

Disguise or disguise?

It was alright outside, but there was practically no one else inside the museum; even the police were kept outside.

Kidd even has trouble getting close to the statue of Goddess.

"I'll go out and check the situation." Gao Mo checked the time and left the monitoring vehicle ahead of schedule.

The weather is clear tonight, and the bright moon, like a jade plate, can be clearly seen.

There were more tourists than expected, but that made it easier for him to hide.

Unlike Kidd, he was a defender, making it incredibly easy for him to rig things.

"what?"

A young couple in the crowd caught Gao Mo's attention.

Kaito Kuroba with a sour face and Aoko Nakamori who came to join in the fun.

The person in question has arrived.

“Kid’s popularity is soaring,” Nakamori Aoko exclaimed. “This time there are so many spectators, it’s more exaggerated than ever before.”

"Isn't it all because of Suzuki's advertising?"

Kaito Kuroba strongly suspects that the Suzuki family is retaliating.

"That Kidd guy is definitely a fake!"

"Why is it a fake?" Nakamori Aoko asked, puzzled.

“Because… anyone with eyes can see that this is a promotion for the museum,” Kaito Kuroba stared at the goddess statue in the searchlight. “Mrs. Suzuki also asked the magician Kazumi Sanada to impersonate Kid before, so this time it’s definitely the same old trick.”

Why is it a counterfeit?
Because the person in question is right here.

He didn't think there were any other Phantom Thieves like himself.

My father started 8 years ago...

Kaito Kuroba's gaze darkened slightly.

If it wasn't a performance by the Suzuki Group, then someone was trying to lure him out.

To be honest, he hasn't taken any action for a long time. Since the Egg of Memories incident, he's been constantly visiting the Kido Detective Agency, and recently he's been spending a lot of time studying with the Kido Magic Troupe.

Whether it was Reiko Chikamiya's magic or Master Masakage's magic, they all gave him a lot of inspiration, and he also enjoyed his interactions with the members of the magic troupe, especially Haruto Toyama.

The other party is a magic genius no less than him...

"This is a live broadcast of Phantom Thief Kid," a reporter squeezed next to Kaito Kuroba. "The preview is about to start. How exactly will Kid make his appearance? Look, there are already a large number of police officers deployed here, as well as elite troops assembled by the Suzuki Foundation. How can he steal the jewels from the museum's roof with such security..."

Kaito Kuroba noticed the red marks on the reporter's face from being pulled and found it amusing.

Officer Nakamori is still as energetic as ever.

but……

Kaito Kuroba was puzzled and pondering.

He was also very curious about how the imposter Kidd would end up.
Whether it's the Suzuki Group or a secret enemy plotting against him, they couldn't possibly find another phantom thief to impersonate him, could they?
Of course, he is not the only phantom thief in this world, but there are few who combine the identities of magician and phantom thief, let alone those who can compare with him.

He didn't think such imposters could possibly retrieve the treasure "Miracle of the Sea" on foot.

It would be hilarious if he made a fool of himself in the end.

If it were him, he would try to incite emotions to attract more tourists, thus making it impossible for the police to conduct a thorough inspection.

But this time, "Phantom Thief Kid" did nothing. At the very least, he should have used the art of magic to set up some mental traps first.

An amateur is an amateur.

Kaito Kuroba is waiting to see what happens.

Whether he's being lured or not, he'll just watch and expose the imposter in his own way.

These tactics had no effect on him whatsoever.

"With less than half an hour until the scheduled time, let's interview the other protagonist of this event—Mr. Jirokichi Suzuki, the owner of 'Miracle of the Sea' and advisor to the Suzuki Foundation!"

The TV broadcast camera shifted.

Ai, who was staying at home, saw Gao Mo's figure flash by and her eyebrows twitched repeatedly.

She definitely wouldn't go into such a scene; if she accidentally appeared on camera, she'd be asking for trouble.

Although Gao Mo always said she wasn't afraid of the organization, she couldn't help but be careful.

After watching TV for a while, Ai turned to do laundry when she noticed that commercials were starting.

Because the child didn't have many clothes at home, he temporarily wore a Gao Mo short-sleeved shirt.

Surprisingly, it fits quite well.

And it gives you a great sense of security.

"What do you think he's trying to do?" Ai couldn't help but ask the black cat. "What's the point of impersonating Kaito Kid? He can't possibly actually steal the jewels back."

The black cat was sitting on the sofa watching TV, its cat eyes gazing intently at the screen, seemingly unable to answer Ai's question.

"This is the Suzuki Grand Museum, brimming with history and culture. Not only will the Suzuki family's treasures be moved here, but treasures from all over the world..."

The commercial break continued, with numerous overhead shots presented to the audience, including, of course, Jirokichi Suzuki's autobiography.

Their attempts to ride the wave of trending topics are astonishing.

Sonoko blushed slightly and quickly changed the subject, saying, "I'm going to find Kido-san."

"Hoohoo!"

Behind the Suzuki Museum.

Gao Mo stood on the rooftop of a tall building in the cold wind. Underneath the black cloak, he had changed into Kidd's signature white suit, only missing the top hat. The disguised character was also a long-haired beauty.

It wasn't that he wanted to emphasize Kidd's cross-dressing fetish; it's just that this appearance generated more buzz.

"Walking in the Air" is one of Kidd's rare magic previews. If he misses this opportunity, it will be much more difficult for him to complete the upgrade mission.

After all, he's not a phantom thief; his current abilities are only enough for him to perform some magic tricks.

"Crack!"

The steel cable is fixed and connected to the roof of the building on the other side, forming a special aerial rope for magicians.

To be honest, it felt so different from performing on stage that even he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Safety was not a problem; he had made sufficient preparations.

The performance environment is far more complex than the stage. There is no rehearsal, and even top magicians can hardly say that they are not prone to making mistakes. Moreover, once a mistake is made, it is not just a simple embarrassment.

Even if something goes wrong, Kaito Kid will be the one to take the blame, but it's not a good thing for him either.

"let's start."

Gao Mo confirmed the time one last time, glanced down at the crowd on the ground, and with a light step, he slid down to the middle of the two buildings, barely hanging in mid-air by the taut rope.

At the same time, a nearby helicopter also received the signal and inadvertently moved closer.

"receive."

The driver took a few deep breaths, his eyes showing both excitement and tension.

Only he knew that there was no Kid at all; it was all an arrangement by the consultant Suzuki from beginning to end. He needed to cooperate with a magician disguised as Kid to complete a magic show performance...

It's not entirely his fault. Suzuki Jirokichi did put a lot of effort into the publicity this time. The mission of these helicopters wasn't to guard against Kid, but to film a movie.

With Gao Mo's timely impersonation of Suzuki Jirokichi and the promised bonus, he easily acquired a temporary assistant.

The pilot didn't have much to do; he just needed to hover the helicopter above Gao Mo on time and do some simple coordination, leaving the rest of the performance to Gao Mo, the magician.

"call!"

Gao Mo made a final check, his eagle-eye vision taking in the entire situation on the ground.

It must be said that Kaito Kuroba is indeed a genius. Although the previous generation of Kaito Kid was famous, he did not have many fans and basically did not perform any magic tricks. It was Kaito Kuroba who fully integrated magic into his actions.

Even though he knew the principles behind "Walking in the Air," he was still amazed by it.

He truly deserves the title of "Magician Under the Moon."

"Ok?"

Kaito Kuroba felt like someone was watching him. He looked around but didn't see anyone. Suddenly, his eyelids twitched and he looked up into the air.

"Bam—!"

With a loud bang of smoke, Gao Mo threw off the black cloak that concealed his figure, and his white figure stood in mid-air under the full moon, his hands in his pockets as he greeted the gasps of surprise coming from the ground.

"what?"

Kaito Kuroba's gaze narrowed sharply as he stared intently at "Kidd," whose white cape was billowing above his head.

Looking at him!
Despite being surrounded by a crowd, Kaito Kuroba could still feel that gaze lingered on him without hesitation.

This guy……

Kaito Kuroba's forehead was covered in sweat as he stared intently at "Kid," who was floating in the air like an immortal.

Is this what hiking is all about?
So this guy was planning to steal... no, he was using a psychological trap!
This is definitely not a real operation; there must be a hidden plan...

But why?
Isn't it a counterfeit?

Moreover, can ordinary counterfeit products achieve this ability to stand upright in the air?

"How is this possible?" The surrounding tourists were all dumbfounded, and even Nakamori Ginzo stood there stunned.

"How did they manage to float in the air?"

"Don't fall for it!" Jirokichi Suzuki grabbed the walkie-talkie and shouted, "It's just a smokescreen! It must be hanging from something. Get the nearest helicopters over there and check immediately!"

"Unit 3, in order!"

The well-prepared pilot maneuvered the helicopter to fly overhead.

"No, there's nothing up there!"

"It's over there! There must be some kind of steel wire or something on the rooftops on both sides!"

Nakamori Ginzo snapped out of his daze and was about to order his men to check the buildings on both sides when suddenly his brow twitched.

The helicopter searchlight shone on "Kidd," and only then did everyone notice his flowing hair.

"A woman? What is Kidd up to now?" Nakamori Ginzo was shocked.

It has always been said that Kid has a cross-dressing fetish, simply because Kid is a man, and he himself, who is outwitting and outmaneuvering Kid, firmly believes this.

"That's impossible! So Kid is a woman?"

"It has never looked like this before..."

"Who cares if he's a man or a woman! Get him up there!"

"Damn imposter!"

Kaito Kuroba was furious at Ginzo Nakamori's shout, his composure completely gone, and he gritted his teeth in anger.

Don't let him find out who the fake Kid is!

(End of this chapter)