Conan: Death is Watching Me

Chapter 319 The Illusionist and Phantom Thief Kid
into the night.

Gao Mo went to a cocktail party with Jing Tian before going home to sleep.

I got to know some people in the circle, but my biggest takeaway was that he really didn't like this kind of interpersonal interaction.

This was how it was when the guy with the mustache was helping him expand his network. Even though he knew that meeting more people would be beneficial, he still preferred to be alone in a corner.

"Meow~"

The black cat drowsily jumped onto the bed, not even realizing it had gone to the wrong room. It licked its fur and then fell into a blissful sleep next to the pillow.

After a while, it felt something was wrong with its tail, so it opened one eye halfway.

The first thing I saw was a clear night sky, without a single cloud, but for some reason the light seemed much dimmer.

"call!"

A chubby, greenish face lingered in the moonlight, filled with misery and resentment, drifting past a drunken old man on the roadside. It tried to do something but passed right through the drunk man, its unvented malice surging even further, as if the whole world had turned into a twisted black line.

"I am the mystery novelist Moroguchi Masutaka! I am Moroguchi Masutaka!"

Fat Face was filled with impotent rage, clinging to the last shred of thought.

"Why did I have to die? Why me?"

Countless moments of glory during his lifetime flashed before Fatty's eyes, continuing until the death of his former editor.

That complex mix of fear, tension, and intense excitement is something you can never forget, even in death.

but……

Fat Face saw a beam of light in the darkness, a light so blinding it was nauseating.

he died.

He was murdered using such a ridiculous and utterly unartistic method, and then the despicable guy deduced and solved the case right next to his corpse.

A strong sense of humiliation and resentment welled up in Fatty's heart. His intuition told him that there was something nearby that he could possess.

"I can't die! How can I die? I still have to write mystery novels!"

"Meow?"

The black cat felt a chill and, as if startled awake, raised its head and stretched its neck, staring blankly out the window with a look of fear on its face. Its wide eyes were filled with twisted black lines.

"call--!"

A cold wind blew by, and an invisible layer of frost condensed on the windowpane. A huge shadow suddenly appeared, but before the black cat could arch its back and bristle, the surroundings returned to calm in the blink of an eye.

It was like a dream; outside the window, the moonlight was still clear and peaceful.

The black cat's jewel-like eyes widened as it looked around. Suddenly realizing something, it shrank its neck and turned to look at the sleeping Gao Mo.

Carefully moving its tail, it jumped off the bed, glanced back once more, then tiptoed quietly out of the room, finally closing the door behind it.

"call!"

The black cat, in a human-like manner, "wiped its sweat" with its paws, revealing a relieved expression, but then it bumped into Ai's bare feet.

"what are you doing?"

Ai bent down suspiciously and actually read a guilty and embarrassed expression on the black cat's face.

"By the way, are you really a cat?"

Seeing that the black cat was about to sneak away, Ai grabbed it by the scruff of its neck.

She has been studying the mystical side, trying to understand it scientifically and then find a way to deal with Death.

However, Gao Mo protected her too well, and since the undead couldn't be exposed to Gao Mo at all, the research hasn't made much progress so far; all that's left is a lot of useless knowledge accumulating in her mind.

"Meow~" The black cat was a little scared.

……

the next day.

Gao Mo got up and ate breakfast as usual, feeling that he had slept very well last night.

What could be more joyful than finishing a novel and waiting for the rewards?

Not having to type in front of a computer is one thing, but being on the verge of becoming a novelist is another great thing.

With so many exciting plot points prepared, and the novel itself being of high quality, it shouldn't flop, right?
Gao Mo's heart skipped a beat.

No way, no way, how could he possibly pounce?

His luck has always been...

Even if you're unlucky and don't win the Naoki Prize, your popularity will still be high.

Like Yamanouchi, who has never won an award, his popularity is not much less than that of Moroguchi Masataka.

"Is that novel going on sale today?" Xiao Ai asked curiously when she saw Gao Mo frequently checking his phone.

"It will be available at 10 a.m.

Gao Mo closed his eyes and took a short rest to quickly calm himself down.

The editorial department originally wanted him to hold a book signing event, but considering his peculiar physical condition, he declined the suggestion.

After all, if something happens at a book signing event, it won't be a good thing no matter what.

What's wrong with this cat today?

Suddenly, a ticklish sensation came from his feet. Gao Mo looked down and saw that the black cat was rubbing against his legs.

Are you in heat?

"I don't know." Ai took off her apron, grabbed the black cat, and carried it away.

As it approached 10 o'clock, Gao Mo finished his breakfast, turned on the TV in the living room, skipped the boring comedy programs, and frowned as he continued to browse the news on his phone.

The news of Moroguchi's death did not cause much of a stir, only generating some buzz among mystery fans.

The FBI and the brewery appear to have had a minor skirmish, in which one entrepreneur was shot and killed.

News anchor Rena Mizunashi fan club...

What and what?
Gao Mo scrolled through the list and finally found some information related to himself.

"Aoyama-sensei's masterpiece, 'The Devotion of Suspect X,' is released today!"

"A suspenseful mystery masterpiece! The University Hall plans to have Aoyama replace Professor Moroguchi..."

"The famous detective Kindaichi, as a new mystery novelist, bids farewell to Mr. Moroguchi."

A picture popped up showing "Kindaichi" taking away the corpse of Moroguchi, and Gao Mo almost stopped in Bengbu.

Who did this?
Even he, the person directly involved, didn't try to ride the wave of attention.

Gao Mo wanted to give a thumbs up, but found that the function didn't exist.

Trash Conan world.

At 10 o'clock sharp, Gao Mo was bored and started watching cartoons. He also took a nap. When he woke up, he saw a pitiful cat face.

At 10:30, the editorial department finally called.

"It's a success, Aoyama-sensei!" Ida exclaimed excitedly. "Many bookstores sold out in just half an hour, and I heard that many of them are your detective fans!"

"Uh……"

Gao Mo still underestimated the impact of "Kindaichi".

Putting everything else aside, the people saved in the Shibuya incident last time represent a hidden group of people who are paying for services.

“The Naoki Prize focuses on popularity and storytelling, and doesn’t consider famous authors. You have a great chance of winning this time,” Ida said, wishing he could fly to Kido Detective Agency. “I’ve read the works of the other mystery novelists, and they are utterly incompetent. Perhaps I should congratulate you in advance.”

"Don't say that."

Gao Mo was temporarily relieved.

It seems that Takato Yoichi's changes have put a lot of pressure on him; the last time he was this nervous was during the Twilight Mansion.

"Let's see how it goes. I specifically designed tricks and techniques, but the main body of the novel is still social realism, so I don't know if it will be well received."

"Teacher Aoyama, you have to believe in yourself. Our entire editorial department was moved. How could you not be popular? Just wait and see. If anything goes wrong, I'll pay with my head!" Ida assured him.

"..."

Is it really necessary to raise flags like this?

Gao Mo had a slight sweat on his forehead.

He didn't disbelieve in the novel "The Devotion of Suspect X," he just didn't believe in his own bizarre luck in this world.

"How about we celebrate tonight?" Ida asked in a low voice. "I can arrange everything..."

No, why does it suddenly seem like a shady deal?

Gao Mo noticed Ai's gaze behind him and interrupted her righteously, "Don't say things like that to me again. There can't be any mistakes at this time."

"I see!"

Ida was filled with awe; compared to Moroguchi, Aoyama-sensei was truly extraordinary.

"Don't worry about the Naoki Prize, teacher. I've been keeping an eye on it. The judge who replaced Professor Moroguchi happens to be one of our partners at Daigakukan. They also have a good impression of Professor Aoyama and seem to be a fan of his detective work."

Gao Mo really wanted to ask if it was a man or a woman, but in the end, he remained silent and ended the call. He had done his best as a novelist; the rest was up to time.

Next up are freelance journalists.

While both require reaching level 5, the requirements for a freelance journalist are much fewer than those for a novelist, or rather, writing at level 5 also meets the requirements for a freelance journalist.

After all, writing press releases doesn't require much skill.

Level 5 freelance journalists are primarily judged on the impact of their news stories, but a certain level of photography ability is also required.

At least a Level 4 photography skill is required, and he is currently one level short.

As for its news impact...

After reporting on Kogoro Mouri, Hajime Domoto, Yamanouchi, the Lucia Mansion incident, and the relationship between Kindaichi and Aoyama, the pseudonym "Shinji Hasegawa" has considerable influence, but it still feels like it's lacking something.

We need more big cases.

Gao Mo crossed his arms and pondered, when he suddenly noticed a huge cover photo of Phantom Thief Kid on an old newspaper.

Speaking of which, hasn't this guy been out of the public eye for a long time?

Is he busy dating?

"As for the Magic Troupe," Gao Mo turned to Ai, who was mopping the floor, "have Kaito and Aoko shown up recently?"

"Those two high school students?" Ai thought for a moment. "They helped out during the tour, but I don't know about them recently. Is there something wrong with them?"

"Kaito Kuroba is the current Phantom Thief Kid. I thought you already knew that." Gao Mo was slightly surprised.

"I don't know everything."

The little groan continued as she continued mopping the floor.

"There is no Grim Reaper in my world, and of course, there is no you. Sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming, and that you are just a fictional character I made up."

"Do I look like a character from a dream?"

Gao Mo's lips twitched.

"If we're really going to dream about this, it's going to be a very long dream."

"Anyway," Ai said, busy with her own things, "why did you suddenly ask about Kaito Kid?"

"Something came up."

Gao Mo looked thoughtful.

If he reveals the true identity of Phantom Thief Kid in the newspaper, will he instantly become a Level 5 reporter?

However, he seems unlikely to do something so tasteless unless absolutely necessary.

"The world-renowned illusionist Günter von Goldberg II's world tour has concluded perfectly in Japan. His magical illusions transported the audience to a new world, and his magnificent and elegant performance was like a miracle..."

Suddenly, a report about an illusion show popped up on the TV.

A gentlemanly blond young man with sharp eyes in front of the camera, his handsome appearance attracting a large following of female fans.

"An illusionist?" Ai raised an eyebrow in surprise. "This is the first time I've heard of this person. We're definitely not from the same world... Could it be the magician you were talking about?"

“No, there should only be one person in this world who knows magic, and that person is a witch.” Gao Mo’s gaze darkened slightly, as if he could see the powerful malice of the blond youth through the television screen.

A killer?

He was all too familiar with this feeling.

Not only is he comparable to a level 5 assassin, but he has also met several international assassins.

The difference is that this blond youth seemed completely unconcerned about hiding himself, almost blatantly revealing a provocative look in front of the camera for a moment.

They're either idiots or they have the confidence that comes from being strong enough.

But why is this malice directed at him?

Gao Mo crossed his fingers.

He has information on this illusionist.

His true identity is a top assassin of a certain organization. His illusion skills are superb. No, it's more accurate to call it hypnosis than illusion. He can use certain devices to set traps to induce lucid hypnosis.

Kaito Kuroba was hit by this guy's attack and almost died.

Logically, the other party infiltrated Japan to assassinate Kid.

……

into the night.

Ekota District.

After finishing the interview, the blond youth returned to his theater. With his dark skin and a spider tattoo covering his left eye, he looked incredibly sinister.

"Prumia died mysteriously in prison, but I have found out who led to her arrest: one is a policeman whose name has not been recorded, and the other is the recently famous detective and mystery novelist, Kindaichi Hajime."

"Detective?"

"That's right, isn't it interesting? Among detective fans, he and another famous detective are also known as the Grim Reaper."

"What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry, dealing with him now would have too much of an impact. I plan to make my move when he's happiest, which is next month's Naoki Prize. For now, let's deal with Kaito Kid first, although I don't think that guy is the real deal."

The blond youth took out a notice.

“I issued a notice in his name, and I think he will definitely show up tonight. The spider web of nightmares has been laid, and we are just waiting for him to walk into the trap.”

"call--!"

A cold wind howled across the rooftops of tall buildings on a moonlit night.

As always, Kaito Kuroba changed into a white suit, covering the city's night view as the Phantom Thief Kid.

The reason I haven't been doing anything lately is not only because I haven't found anything that interests me, but also because my mom has been having a lot of trouble. In addition, I heard that my dad might still be alive, so he went abroad for a trip.

"Who on earth is it that deliberately lured me out?"

Kaito Kuroba leaped down, transforming into a white streak as he soared through the air. He landed near the museum, which was surrounded by numerous police cars, and then retracted his hang glider.

If we disguise ourselves as police officers from here...

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, a strange buzzing sound came from behind him. Kaito Kuroba turned around sharply to be on guard, his pupils dilating uncontrollably.

A huge golden spider web had appeared in the night sky sometime during the night, with strange black figures standing on it, their three red spider eyes darting back and forth.

"who is it?"

"Hehehe," a smug laugh, as if catching its prey, echoed around. "Welcome, Phantom Thief Kid, welcome to your nightmare."

"what?"

Kaito Kuroba turned around in anguish and found that the whole world had changed.

Everywhere was a blood-red mess, and he himself seemed to have fallen into an abyss, finally bound in a starfish shape by a giant spider web.

How is this going?

This feeling...

"You're that illusionist? Damn it, it's just hypnosis, an illusion. How could I possibly fall for such a childish trick..."

"Human consciousness is fascinating. No matter how much you deny it, it's useless. This place is a real nightmare for you."

A spider-like, shadowy monster approached with a soft laugh.

"Resistance is futile, Kidd. I am the spider that dwells in your nightmares. Seeing me means death!"

"What a joke! Do you think you're the Grim Reaper?" Kaito Kuroba struggled desperately, but he couldn't change his situation at all.

There was no way to escape this strange illusion.

"call!"

Gao Mo walked up to the rooftop of the high-rise building. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Kuroba Kaito standing there like a wooden statue. Opposite him was a strange guy dressed in tight black clothes, floating in mid-air with a three-eye device on his head. He was laughing strangely as he walked towards Kuroba Kaito through the air.

"abnormal?"

"Who goes there?" Spider turned his head coldly, and almost instinctively flung out a steel needle, the tip of which shot straight into Gao Mo's right eye.

"So you're the killer called Spider."

Gao Mo raised his hand and lightly pinched the steel needle, then flicked it out with his other hand, hitting a hidden steel cable.

It's just using some special devices to pretend to be a ghost.

With his eyes taking in all the wire traps set up on site, Gao Mo felt completely relieved, even as he mentally complained.

He genuinely believed he had encountered extraordinary power again.

If it's hypnosis that requires the aid of a device, then he has nothing to be afraid of.

"Who exactly are you?" Spider asked in shock and anger, activating the illusion device. Its three spider eyes emitted a blood-red light, but it had no effect on Gao Mo whatsoever.

Hypnosis is no longer working!
(End of this chapter)