Reference to Big Adventure in the Eccentric Mansion, DetCo Movie 10, Four Masterpieces Case

Chapter 3

The Two King's Stone of the famous (or infamous depending on who you ask) doll maker of the Bakumatsu Era, Master of Traps, Kichiemon "Karakuri" Samizu.

Or at least the map of such treasure has been uncovered recently on the news and according to Jii-chan research, it was a promising Big Jewel fit to be Kaitou KID's next prey.

"Be careful," Jii had warned Kaito, "There'll be treasure hunters aiming for the same thing. Your father has accumulated a grudge against them during his time as KID and most aren't very polite regarding the lives of others. Don't follow his example."

Kaito followed his example.

To be fair, Teruhisa Tamai was an ass. He was a man Kaito coincidentally met during the search for Samizu's diamond. The clues broadcasted by the news said that Samizu left a carved stone in three different locations that were needed to find the Nio Stone.

Kaito just so happened to follow the same lead as Tamai and spotted him being a nuisance to the villagers from Samizu's hometown and destroying village properties until he found a magatama-carved shaped stone.

A rude and careless man that needs to drink his human respect juice.

So Kaito left a bunch of red herrings behind such as fake clues that led to his KID notes that said things like "Wrong guess", "Boo Boo!", "X", "Are you even trying?" He even threw out some smoke bombs and paint bombs into the mix just to spice things up.

Sadly, Kaito didn't watch him get frustrated every time he got tricked and just went on ahead.

Tamai might be itching to kill him by the end of this hunt.

'Oh well, it was worth it~'

When he came upon the aforementioned old, run-down mansion and searched through the ingenious maze of a house for the clues to the treasure, Kaito couldn't decide whether to love or hate the genius doll maker.

The mechanism is simple enough since it's basically a whole bunch of cogwheels working together, but the intricacy made the mansion into a giant lock that can and will kill you if you force yourself in. Truly the house itself is a masterpiece.

But did he have to go all out with the swinging blades?

And after all the trouble of creating a Karakuri Mansion and a slew of riddles, the old man not only had the gall to hide the diamond in a ko– koi– scally-varmint-infested lake but made a booby trap at the end so no one would be able to attain the prize even over his dead body.

Nevermind, Kaito decided to hate him after all.

'Who the hell says that Samizu Kichiemon is a prankster?! A greedy psychotic menace is what he is!'

Had he been born in the Bakumatsu Era, he would make a point to steal every treasure he kept hidden because Fuck Samizu.

It was a blow to his ego that Kaito didn't get the chance to check whether the Two Kings Diamond was Pandora or not before he put it back and prevented himself from getting swept away.

It was a good thing he solved the code when the water barely reached the front door. But him invoking the last trap meant weakening the already loose foundation of the ramshack mansion.

Kaito would feel bad if anyone after him got injured because of the aftermath of his actions. Plus, he needed to learn more about how the Diamond Booby Trap works so he can take it without swimming into a death trap.

That's how Kaito ended up sticking around the mansion, frustrated out of his mind and sleep-deprived from fixing loose traps and disabling the deathly ones. But the hidden contraptions seemed never-ending, and Kaito wasn't sure how many days since he's been in this mansion but he could kill for some mocha.

At times he would look out the window and took notes of who's been near the mansion; a big guy who has done his research and was quite quick-witted in discerning the mansion's traps, a strange sharp-eyed lady throwing the stone lanterns into the lake, and a bunch of chil… dren…

Wait, wait, wait just a minute…

Kaito knows them. He definitely knows them. But where does he know them—

The children came back with more familiar faces and Kaito's heart leaped at the sight. "Well, well, well, so the mystery has come pulling you in as usual, Meitantei."

On the other hand, Kaito had his nerves pulling him instead. His lips twitch into a feral grin at the excitement of matching wits with the detective once more but mixed with the growing concern of the mystery that shouldn't be solved. Not without risking their lives.

'With him entering the scene, it would only be a matter of time before he found the hiding place of the diamond, and those kids won't stay still for long before venturing into a death tra– holy shit, is that a dead body?!'

. . .

"...with this, I can finally outwit that conceited sneak-thief," Haibara recited what was written in his notebook.

'Conceited sneak-thief' those words were too specific to describe a simple burglar. In fact, it fit the description too well of a certain Moonlight Magician.

'Are you here with us?'

In their last battle, he managed to get a clue regarding the man behind the fake monocle. He said, "that's not the jewel I was aiming for." In other words, there's a specific gem he's seeking so he returns the ones that aren't his target. That may be the purpose of why he dons the white cape.

'But instead of sneaking away with the gem and returning it without anyone noticing, he makes a party out of his heist just for the heck of it. A guy I really have a hard time understanding.'

Even so, with the lack of data and the biased writings of a dead man, his deduction concerning KID is based more on gut feeling than evidence-based. The only way to prove his presence is if he decodes the inscription of what the treasure actually is.

'Two kings… Nio… kongou… kongouseki… diamond… stone that fills one's hand to the full… Big Jewel!'

Suspicion turned into conviction, Conan smiled at an impending mystery graciously served under his nose.

'There's no mistaking it… so you really are here… Interesting — what a fitting place for our meeting, in this Mansion of Traps.'

Conan couldn't wait to meet the thief again. Since KID might be watching them right now, it won't be weird for him to be in disguise too. But if not, then the treasure and he would be gone already.

'But strangely enough, I can feel it. That irrepressible gaze of his. Coyly challenging me to come and catch him if I can.'

There's also the problem with the death of Tamai-san. Rationally, since KID is also aiming for the Two Kings Diamond, that makes him one of the murder suspects. Irrationally, he believes KID is one of the last people to ever murder anyone.

'Don't be shaken. Don't make assumptions. Don't make the same mistake. Not again.' The image of Ray Curtis flashed through his mind followed by the tightened feeling in his chest. 'Gather the data and the evidence will point out the answer. Whether KID is innocent or guilty, don't look away from the truth.'

. . .

When Ai Haibara first found out that a stranger, a criminal, Kaitou KID of all people know about Kudō-kun's identity, she wanted to chew him out for his carelessness that could risk everyone's lives because one person outside their small circle found out.

Then he explained how KID helped hide his secret from Kudō-kun's girlfriend, and Ai had to admit the thief was a large help in that part. She can at least rest assured that the famous villain has no intention to spill the secret for the time being. Ai will have to be ready to clean up his mess once KID starts blackmailing Kudō.

Except, as she kept being updated to the never-ending battle between the "simple thief" and "simple detective" from the Professor, her suspicion never came true.

Instead, Kaitou KID managed to consecutively outwit the Heisei Holmes and escape the detective's grasp time and time again. Something that never happened with any other criminal as far as Ai knows.

'If I didn't know he has harmless attention… He would have been a frightening enemy… That Kaitou KID…'

But the most curious thing was the expression Kudō-kun wears at the thought of clashing wits against the magician. It was a familiar expression when his ignition key started turning at the thought of stripping away the veil called mystery. However, there was a tinge of difference she couldn't put a finger on when KID is involved.

The treasure hunt had been much more dangerous than even Ai had imagined it to be. The contraptions and booby traps set by the late Kichiemon Samizu were indeed the work of a genius that it would not have been weird if the mansion was set to become one of the National Treasures.

Though he indeed has a bad taste in jokes.

She was only grateful to Kudō-kun and the other treasure hunters that they managed to protect the children from all the hidden danger, even if they had ulterior motives.

It was almost funny when Kudō wore that cheeky look of his only to deny the answer from the others. Ai wondered if she was the only one who noticed his terrible itch to teach the children how to guide them to the truth.

Turns out it was one truth that was better off left as a mystery.

The moment Unzo-san lifted the Big Jewel, glittering mesmerizingly under the moonlight, triggered the last trap of the mansion that threatened to sweep everyone to the bottom of the valley.

Only after the diamond was returned did Kudō finally reveal who Kaitou KID among them was. Though it was not a hard guess for Ai once she eliminated the other two as suspects.

The young detective looked like he was having fun as he made it a point to drag out the hints that led to the unveiling of the thief.

Did Kudō-kun even notice that what led him to believe the old lady was KID was because the young man had been trying to protect them the whole time? Is that why he changed his mind to search the mansion with the children? Because he knew KID will be there to protect them together?

"My, aren't you a thief with a heart of gold?" Her rhetorical words were a compliment but her tone was mocking and sardonic.

Ai couldn't help it, in what world would a selfish thief who boldly commits crimes in front of others yet be so concerned about people's lives that he hides his good deeds behind his disguise? He shouldn't try to play criminal if he doesn't have the stomach for it.

But then again, it's the same for Kudō-kun. Despite being a detective, when anyone in front of him is in danger, his rationality gets thrown out the window and will recklessly disregard his own well-being to save them. No hesitation.

When more than anyone else, he's determined to be with the one he loves most.

'What an incomprehensible pair these two make.'

Yet, it was only after seeing them face-to-face on top of the roof, practically mirroring the other under the moonlight with matching smirks on their faces, did Ai understand just a little.

They were simply two stubborn children who don't know how to call it quits and back down from a challenge. From one diamond to another, cutting each other to refinement until they have nothing left to give.

. . .

"This time you saved my friends, so as thanks I'll let you go this time. But keep in mind that one of these days, I'll shed light on your identity… right before I rip off that conceited monocle of yours and reveal your true face."

"I suggest you don't do that. Pandora opened the box because she didn't know what was inside. If you open the box after knowing what's inside… isn't it boring?"

As KID flew away from the flooded residence, he glanced back at the unimpressed look of Tantei-kun. His distaste was palpable for having to let go of a criminal because he was too kind and polite to do otherwise.

'Really what a soft-hearted detective, people don't 'let me go' simply because I was there to help. But then again… Meitantei is the only detective who ever noticed.'

It was possibly for that reason that Kaito genuinely wouldn't mind having Meitantei open his Pandora box. However, if such a day were to come, Kaito would never let his identity known before then. If Conan is going to open the box, Kaito will make sure to keep the thrill of mystery to the very end.

To maintain his last pride as Kaitou KID to his most worthy rival.

"Not that I will let you open it in the first place," Kaito cackled wickedly until his visage was lost from a distance.

. . .

Shinichi swore he had never ridden a more heart-racing ride in his life than the one with a literal ticking time bomb at the back of the roller coaster.

By the time they were about to leave the amusement park, Conan made a vow never to go back to this place. He'd like to limit his traumatic rides to the one in Tropical Land, thank you very much.

Before they did, Conan excused himself to the bathroom with Hattori helping the poor limp boy. Together, he asked Hattori's help to find the receiver snuck on his person that was hidden behind his hoodie.

"What's this? A bug? Was it a leftover precaution by that narcissistic ass?"

Conan shook his head, "No, it's the one from KID."

"Wait, that kaitou? When would he–" Hattori stopped short as it finally dawned on him. "That Hakuba person was KID?!"

"Yeah, I checked with Chiba-keiji. Apparently, he mistook Sonoko's Pass for one of the bombs. It's likely that KID stole her pass in order to disguise himself as one of the detectives that were threatened to solve the case. As proof, there was yellow paint on her Pass, the same paint that had fallen on him when we were chased in the warehouse."

Conan wasn't sure what expression he was wearing but it must be suspicious since Hattori narrowed his eyes at the shrunken teen, "Kudō, don't tell me ya've known he was KID all along?"

"No way. I only started suspecting when he easily stole your phone from your pocket. A pickpocketing skill that both of us didn't see takes some skills more than the average person. Then at the Far East Office, it was strange that he was mostly observing us instead of the scene of the crime, probably because he's not used to investigating murder scenes.

"What convinced me was throughout our time together, he only ever shared established information gathered on the case yet not once did he make a deduction of his own."

"Ah," Hattori punched his palm in realization, "Now that ya mention, he never did share his deduction of how Nishio was murdered when it was supposed ta be the condition of getting teh 'bomb' off his hand. But Kudō… I can understand why he approached us, with teh robbers trying ta kill him and wanting ta know the reason, but when would he have time ta find out about our circumstances?"

Conan began explaining, "The first time we spotted each other from the hotel of the first clue. He must have thought it wasn't a coincidence that we were at the same place at the same time, so he then disguised as one of the officers in Kanagawa HQ before putting a tap on me. He would then be able to hear my circumstances when Itou called."

"I see, if that's teh case then it would be easy for him ta fly to the Red Castle with that hang glider of his, search for anyone with a VIP bracelet and coincidentally take one from that gaudy-neechan." Hattori followed his thought, "Most likely teh tap was equipped with a GPS, so he had no problem tracing us back ta Yokohama Ocean University... as a fellow high-school detective to join the investigation."

The two detectives had matching grins as the answer became apparent to them, "Since KID has a tap on me, he would hear the hint at the same time as me. So he would have known the hint YOU CRY and point out the Crime Research of Yokohama as well as the former member that was part of the armed burglary, Itou Suehiko."

"Then using us, he shared the information he gathered from his side concerning the murder case of Nishio Masaharu ta us in order ta figure out why knowing the face of the dead burglar members correlates ta President Miyama hiring assassins ta kill him."

"And in order for him to learn that truth, KID needed to know the information Ohtaki-san had given to us and he could only hear that from the tap he had on me. As proof, right around the same time we concluded our deduction…" Conan had fiddled with his phone and showed Hattori the breaking news of Kaitou KID arriving to steal stolen goods from Miyama Art Museum and the Miyama Corporation's involvement in illegally trading Government and Charter Arm ammunition. "...and this way, no one from the Second Division will get hurt from the crossfire any longer once KID dealt him."

"Afterward he return ta the Red Castle as one of the employees, return the pass, but before moonlighting his way out, heard your distress from the receiver and proceed to fly his way to the Super Snake, knowing exactly where the bomb was from the tap."

"Isn't that how it is, Kaitou KID-san?" Conan smugly asked to the tap in his hand.

. . .

"This arrogant brat." Kaito narrowed his eyes at the earpiece. One detective was enough, but listening to two of them sharing their deductions in synch from afar was stretching his patience, "Does he have to show-off every single time?"

. . .

"But Kudō," Heiji Hattori started to ask as he watched Kudō trash the tap after crushing it to bits from his perch on the teen's back, "I've been wanting to ask but what's with you and KID?"

Kudō blinked, not sure what Heiji was getting, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean what kind of relationship do you two have?"

"What kind of– he's a thief and I'm the detective trying to catch him–" Conan's words faltered at the shake of the Osakan's head.

"No, no. From what I understand in your deduction, the thief went straight to help you when it's completely by coincidence his case and ours were connected at all."

"Ah, that… Well, you could say it's not KID's style to stay on the sidelines and leave things be. You'll find he's that kind of ridiculous guy."

"He~ what a weird thief."

"He may be a thief, but he's not a bad person."

Heiji caught the smile on his best friend's face, mirrored from the glass. The smile was not the kind when he was faced with pieces of a puzzle that's waiting to be solved, though it's similar. But the one Heiji often spotted when he was excited to read the newest novel from his favorite series, the fond look when watching nee-chan from behind her back, or the same glee Heiji had of having someone of the same wavelength to share his idea with.

It clicked to Heiji at that moment, "Ya actually like KID."

"Wha—?!" Kudō squawked as if someone had just told him that he likes raisins. He almost fell off from Heiji's back from the shock. "In what world did my word mean that way?"

"There, there, no need ta be embarrassed, Kudō." Heiji patted his good leg, "Your secret's safe with me."

"Like I said, how did you even come to such a ridiculous conclusion? He's a thief."

"Pretty sure if being a thief was a downer, teh guy would have fewer fangirls."

"And I'm not a fan. I'm the antithesis of a fan. I'm the guy who wants nothing more than to capture and expose his identity."

Heiji sweatdropped, "Ya're pretty merciless, Kudō. If it were me, I don't think I would have teh heart to capture the guy to who I owed a life debt."

Heiji expected for his friend to strung out more excuses, but there was silence from behind as the Osakan paused his steps to glance at Kudō. His face was shadowed by his hair and his glasses glinted from the lights above, obscuring his eyes.

"It's exactly because I owe him that I can't stop, Hattori. Because he saved the life of a mystery maniac like me that I plan on chasing him to the ends of the earth. As long as I am a detective and he continues to be a thief, I won't let him be. Definitely."

'Kudō?' Heiji wasn't sure what expression his best friend was making but the Osakan can roughly imagine. Because Heiji has heard that voice before. The kind, determined undertone he often had when he watched a criminal walking a path they can still pull away… before their actions changed them into someone they can never turn back.

This time too, it must bother Kudō to hell that he can't offer better help for KID. He doesn't know the thief well but if the Detective of the East admits he's a good person, then KID must have a crazy reason to become a criminal.

Or he might be a crazy person. Either which is valid.

So Heiji did what Heiji does best and teased Kudō until he cheered up, "Ah, now I see. So Kaitou KID sees one detective brat that gets involved in too many cases that's over his head and decides you're helpless without the kaitou's help."

"Moron!" Kudō cried in his child-like voice, looking hilariously flustered, "It's nothing like that."

"I understand, I understand, you are teh damsel to his white knight."

"Hattori, I'll seriously send you flying if you don't shut up." He glared which only made Heiji laugh.

"You with what leg?" He jostled his limped friend to emphasize his point, which made his friend grumble with his arms crossed.

But inwardly Heiji is glad. Kudō gets so caught up in trouble more often than not that he forgets to ask for help in the heat of the moment. That's why the dark-skinned teen is only happy to know his best friend has more people watching his back. Even if he is an international wanted thief.

. . .

'KID Killer' is Conan Edogawa's known moniker aside from the Sleeping Detective's assistant. While he felt his ego soothed for having his skill recognized, to be associated with that irritable thief when Conan never managed to beat him really put a bad taste in his mouth.

That, and media attention on Conan Edogawa doesn't really bode well when he's trying to be inconspicuous. It really unnerves the boy that he couldn't help letting loose in a KID's heist. He can reason himself that the heist felt like a reprieve from all the murder mystery because, as nauseatingly it is to admit, KID gave him a mental thrill better than any other mystery while playing this childish game of his.

Haibara was not impressed with that reason, and he couldn't blame her. Frankly, there's no logical reason for it other than he likes facing KID. Whenever that troublesome guy is involved, unnecessary emotions get tangled up with his reasoning. But that's just one other truth that Shinichi will take to his grave.

KID's next heist involved a painting and already Conan knew there must be some ulterior motive. Paintings are outside his usual target after all.

But when murder got involved, he knew immediately that the heist notice was faked and KID's name was used as a cover-up. 'Oh boy, the thief is going to hate that.'

Setting aside the unwritten rule that KID never harms people and his (frankly false) reputation as a non-violent thief. The scene seeps with murderous intention.

If the magician was the thief, he wouldn't need to slice the victim's neck after knocking him out. There was a blackout so there was no fear of his face being exposed. And even if that was the case, as a master of disguise KID could easily disguise his real face as if it was someone else. 'Like he did with mine,' Conan grumbled inwardly at the memory of it.

And a young, acrobatic man against an old frail man in the dark? He wouldn't have needed to attack to steal the painting.

Obviously, the murderer knows nothing about Kaitou KID aside from his heist notes and magic tricks. Just who does he think he's fooling?

And the only suspect capable of executing the means is the painter, Takeyori Oikawa.

However, the possibility of it being an outsider isn't completely out, so Conan tested the water around him.

"I bet it's him!" Conan made a childish declaration, "KID is a bad guy after all!"

"Then for the sake of capturing the bad guy, please share your wisdom with us." Oikawa indulgently implored. He further pushed this idea by giving Conan a surprise notice KID had slipped into the older man since Oikawa must have figured Conan would be an excitable ordinary child.

And the person who would want to frame Kaitou KID more than anyone in this scenario is the culprit.

'So that's why he went out of his way to bring me here,' Conan let his mask slip and gave a firm gaze at the shaken painter, silently telling him he will not be deceived so easily by his tricks. 'Well, Oikawa-san did invite me to point out the thief. It would be a shame to disappoint him if I don't capture the one stealing the precious thing called 'life.'"

Convinced who the culprit was, there were only two mysteries that needed to be solved. How Oikawa killed his father-in-law and who KID was disguised as between the four officers that came to the scene.

'You've come to set things straight for us, haven't you? Okay, I'll be sure to point out the murderer for you. So sit back and watch before I rip off that conceited mask of yours, Kaitou KID.' A delighted smile came across his lips at the thought of matching wits with the thief once more. 'Here tonight, under the full moon.'

But still, what a curious case. The culprit didn't have to go out of the way to use KID's name, especially provoking Inspector Nakamori and his Task Force. The risk was too high. Anybody could have been his alibi without using the police force, and the murder-theft would have been more convincing if it was done by a simple burglar instead of a public figure like Kaitou KID.

So why KID? Why him? What did he want to hide? It's not enough that he wanted the painting stolen, it's as if he wanted the painting to disappear like it never… existed… at all…

'Aah, so that's why…' Conan figured it was strange that Oikawa was more concerned with having his painting seen rather than stolen. Either the painting wasn't finished or it was never painted at all. And after hearing the sad tragedy that befell Oikawa's wife and the background of the three other paintings, it's becoming more and more likely to be the latter.

Thanks to a certain "someone" for the hint, Conan has a much better picture of how the murder was executed as well as the trick needed for Oikawa's alibi. It was during collecting the evidence when Conan got a phone call from the TV Staff that they found a sleeping officer inside a broken zipped bag.

'I found you, KID.' Conan thought just as Officer "Takagi" arrived at perfect timing, telling him Ran was searching for him.

"Chiba-keiji in the house is actually Kaitou KID," Conan informed him lightly. "I heard they just found the real one."

"What?!" He exclaimed the way the real Takagi would, and Conan can never get enough of seeing his spot-on acting that left little room for error. "That's a problem!" The man turned to go in a hurry before Conan stopped him.

'Since you're here to clear your name anyway, be a good thief and make yourself useful.' After all, there's no one better who can find a phantom painting than a Phantom Thief.

"Can you search for something, Takagi-keiji?" Conan asked, "Somewhere in this villa… Seiran, that is."

. . .

Kaito has reached the point in his life where the first thought that came from a fake KID notice was an exasperated, 'Again?'

But being accused of murder? Well… that was new even for him.

Generally, Kaito had no problem with copy-cats. Being the great and famous thief meant people couldn't help wanting to be him. He's more annoyed by people doing a shoddy impersonation, but that can't be helped since there's no better kaitou than him.

But framed for murder? Kaito had never felt more insulted in his life.

Kaito had always made sure to keep his heist harmless just as his father did. Sure there was the occasional blunt force trauma, nonconsent drugging, heart-stopping surprise bombs, and the occasional stun… guns…

...okay, so not completely harmless. But Kaito made a point that there'd be no death. Not on his watch at least.

Life is too precious to be taken lightly. No jewel in the world can compare to its worth, not even a mythical one that provides immortality.

Kaito would have done worse than a simple warning notice had he not known that Meitantei was on the case. Plus, for the culprit himself to invite the detective to his house, the thief couldn't help but cackle maliciously underneath his poker face.

'You are so screweeeeeeed~'

Examining the murder scene was gut-churning as usual, but even from what he could tell, there are tens of tricks involving making an object disappear that amateurs are even capable of. Kaito couldn't seem to pinpoint 'the one' while gathering information in his Takagi Guise. He needed evidence for what trick was used in the scene.

Thinking he needed the wisdom from the group of detectives, Kaito showed them a magic trick that's the basics of sleight of hand and misdirection. Hoping it would get them to the truth.

And of course, because they're detectives, they all had to be harsh critics. (Kaito felt like crying having to do magic "poorly" to be in character).

But it was only after hearing the tragedy of Oikawa's wife and having Officer Chiba light up the glass shards to make "what's not seen to be seen" did it hit him that the trick wasn't making the painting disappear, but to pretend Seiran had been in the room from the beginning. Kaito wanted to hit himself for realizing that late in the game.

'Kaitou KID wasn't used for his murder, it was used to fake the painting's existence!'

Kaito was so sure of his deduction until the little detective threw a wrench on that idea when he asked Officer "Takagi" to search for that very painting.

"Didn't KID steal the painting?" he asked Conan. 'Shouldn't Seiran not exist?'

"I'm asking you because it was not stolen," Conan replied, which meant to his ear, 'I'm asking you because it does.'

"If it's Takagi-keiji, then you can definitely find it," Tantei-kun said with such confidence. The words that should have made Kaito preen with pride, gave him goosebumps instead.

'Don't tell me… did he figure out my trick?' Kaito wouldn't be surprised if he did, but it seems KID still has some uses for the detective so Kaito will see through to his plan. 'Now if I was a non-existent painting, where would I be?'

Such a precious painting would be protected in a special safe for art pieces or hidden within plain sights. Not everyone would overthink their hiding places so Kaito will have to check the boring choices first.

Kaito had a rough outline of the house so he checked the bedroom thoroughly but only found small safes for their personal effects.

Since the atelier was the murder scene, there has to be another painting studio for it to have been made. Perhaps one that has been unused if not even Oikawa knows about it. Maybe there'll at least be clues of where it was hidden there.

'So the other studio would have been Kanbara's, does that mean the one who made it… no way...' With the former painter having frail hands, it should be impossible for him to paint anything, but Kaito had worn his feral grin at the thought of the old man doing the impossible.

He does love it when people surprise him.

He was delighted to find the Kanbara's atelier to be dusted and messy like they were often occupied, the smell of oil paint lingered on the walls, and after examining further, Kaito's heart broke at the sight of the bite marks on the brushes.

'So that's how it is…' It didn't take long for him to find the safe and crack it open. There he finds it. The rough but emotionally packed painting of gentle leaves blowing through the summer breeze.

Kaito awaited his moment as he let Meitantei guide the audience in the room on how the murder occurred in his Deduction Show, driving the point by demonstrating the trick itself and presenting the evidence.

When Oikawa declared his motive, angry and frustrated, it was only with grief and pity that Kaito showed the culprit the completed painting of Seiran by Master Kanbara. Who had done it for him… copying his style… to the best of his abilities... using his mouth to hold the brush.

Oikawa shed regretful tears at the painting that was made in the memory of his beloved daughter and to help her dearest husband. The proof of his goodwill and love that never had the chance to see the light until today, until everything was too late.

'As promised, I've stolen the truth and rightfully given it to you.'

Once the case was over and done. Kaito had snuck out of everyone's line of sight and opened the window of the parlor, ready to fly out into the night sky.

"Takagi-keiji?" Kaito froze. "What are you doing?" Conan asked while closing the door behind them, isolating with just them two.

'I knew you'd come, you little gremlin,' But it's Kaito's style to fake it till he makes it. "I was just getting a little bit of fresh air." Kaito chuckled nervously as Takagi would do.

"Oh, okay," Conan replied innocuously before the smug grin of his was back. "I thought that you were about to fly out the window on your hang glider but I guess I was wrong."

'Busted~' Kaito loosened his expression into his usual devil-may-care attitude and asked how Conan had known.

Step by step, Tantei-kun closed the distance with those damnable shoes. Eyes that shone as if he had everything all figured out. Pinning his disguise down through the process of elimination. It was an ego boost for Kaito to know there were no flaws in his acting itself, though it's unfortunate his red herring became proof instead.

They were a couple of feet apart; Conan's powered shoe was on and KID's card gun on hand. Never taking their eyes off each other as they banter, waiting for their chance to make the first move.

Their favorite game was on once again.

Too bad for the detective, Kaito already made the first move when he had suggested to Mouri-chan to check the parlor if she lost sight of her charge again, which allow the opening he needed to distract and make his escape— 'Pain, pain, fuck, shit, pain!'

Kaito's thoughts turned unintelligible before deploying his emergency bluff doll. He watched the fake figure of Kaitou KID make his getaway while he was left in pain on the ground, out of breath from the now-deflated soccer ball and falling from a two stories height house.

'As usual, he doesn't show mercy,' "That bastard…"