"I know that even if you were arrested and taken to the Metropolitan Police Department, your assistant Jii Konosuke could perform a successful theft under the name of 'Kaitou Kid' to clear your suspicion." Chi Feichi glanced at Kuroba Kaito.
This was an international thief with a higher bounty than Numabuchi Kiichiro. Even if he hadn't killed anyone, his history of repeatedly provoking the police and his international fame were enough for some rich people to increase the bounty for his capture.
With someone so valuable, he naturally considered the possibility of capturing Kuroba Kaito and selling him for money...
Kuroba Kaito felt a little creeped out by Chi Feichi's glance. That look was like a merchant inspecting goods when restocking; it must be an illusion, right? "Ahem, since you know threats are useless..."
"However, even if you have a way to clear your suspicion, being suspected and investigated is always troublesome," Chi Feichi calmly explained the pros and cons. "As long as you cooperate with me, if you encounter trouble in the future, I can give you a hand as compensation."
Kuroba Kaito seriously considered it. On one side, another friend meant another path; on the other side was inviting trouble. The choice was obvious. "Alright, let's keep this a secret between us. By the way, why do you want to learn the art of disguise?"
"Because I need to use it," Chi Feichi said.
Kuroba Kaito froze.
Why want to learn? Because I need to use it...
This Q&A seems flawlessly logical.
If he didn't need it, he naturally wouldn't go to such lengths to find an opportunity to learn it...
Wait!
I meant to ask what you intend to do with the art of disguise after learning it, you bastard!
"You..." Kuroba Kaito stared at Chi Feichi for three seconds. "By the way, what's your name?"
Chi Feichi: "Chi Feichi."
Kuroba Kaito took a deep breath, feeling that all his previous emotions had been ground down to nothing. He weakly complained, "When meeting someone for the first time, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
Chi Feichi: "Sorry, I'll try my best in the future."
Kuroba Kaito: "..."
Try my best in the future?
Does that mean this guy didn't used to introduce himself before? And might not necessarily do so in the future?
What a weirdo!
Chi Feichi reflected on it; indeed, there weren't many times when he introduced himself.
In his past life, he spent most of his time at a martial arts school where everyone knew each other, and had known each other for years.
Later, when he became a bounty hunter, employers knew he was 'July', and he just had to complete the bounty and collect the money. As for targets, it wasn't necessary to say, 'I am July, I'm here to catch you and sell you for money' first. Wasn't it better to save time, catch them quickly, and sell them?
Self-introductions, or saying his real name... he really wasn't used to it.
After leaving the school, Chi Feichi had Mamiya Mitsuru drive them to Kuroba Kaito's house.
Kuroba Kaito went home alone and found that Chi Feichi had no intention of following him inside. The thought of using some small gadgets to fight back also faded.
Although the other party threatened him, it didn't seem like he was restricting his movements; he just wanted to learn the art of disguise.
Of course, gadgets still had to be brought along. Besides the things needed for disguise and some notes left by his dad, he also brought other gadgets just in case something happened and he couldn't protect himself.
Fighting back wasn't necessary, but being suppressed by that guy all the time felt very unpleasant. He had to find a way to regain some ground...
Jii Konosuke followed him around. "Young Master, is there an important operation? Why did you run back from school? Did you discover some difficult-to-handle gem that requires advance preparation?"
Kuroba Kaito snapped back from his thoughts. Thinking that he had already promised the other party not to reveal the matter of learning disguise, he decided to keep his promise. "Nothing, I just have something to do and need to go out for a while."
"Do you need my help?" Jii Konosuke asked.
"No need. If the teacher calls the house, just deal with it for me." Kuroba Kaito waved his hand and left with a double-shoulder backpack.
Bang!
The door closed.
"Hey..."
Jii Konosuke held back the rest of his words and sat back on the sofa in deep thought.
Young Master Kaito rushed back from school specifically and packed so many things; there must be something important.
Does Young Master Kaito think my skills aren't up to par, so he's not taking me along?
My abilities are clearly not weak; taking me along would be a help anyway, right?
Also, why did he specifically bring the notes left by Master Toichi?
Did Young Master Kaito find an important clue to Master Toichi's disappearance from the notes?
Not taking me along, does he really think I can't be of any help...?
While Jii Konosuke was doubting himself and his expression grew heavier, the phone rang.
It was Kuroba Kaito's teacher calling.
"Hello... What? Brother?" Jii Konosuke's prepared calm expression froze.
"Yes," the teacher on the other end was puzzled. "I asked the person on duty at the gate, and there really was a young man who came to the school looking for Kuroba-kun, claiming to be his brother. I told Kuroba-kun, and Kuroba-kun went over. Afterward, Koizumi Akako-san came back and said that Kuroba-kun was going out with his brother for a while and asked her to help him ask for leave for a period of time. I've never heard that Kuroba-kun had a brother, so I'm calling to ask..."
Jii Konosuke's brain spun rapidly.
Young Master Kaito's brother?
He had followed Master Toichi before and then taken care of Young Master Kaito for so many years. He could be sure that Master Toichi only had one son, but did he really know everything...?
Young Master Kaito seemed to have gone to see the other party voluntarily and left with him voluntarily. If he were coerced, he would have fought back long ago.
Does that mean Young Master Kaito acknowledged this relationship?
Added to the fact that he took away the notes left by Master Toichi and Young Master Kaito's concealment from him...
Hiss... I seem to have discovered something incredibly big.
Thinking about it carefully, as the first Kaitou Kid, Master Toichi wandered all over the place in his early years. If he wasn't careful... having an extra son isn't impossible!
Then, Young Master Kaito's mysterious departure this time makes sense.
It must be that Young Master Kaito found out about this matter and intended to take the things left by Master Toichi to show his brother. This is an important matter regarding inheritance...
"Hello, are you listening?"
The question from the other end of the phone pulled Jii Konosuke's drifting thoughts back. "Ah, I'm listening. They really do have important things to do."
"So, about Kuroba-kun's brother..."
"Well... Young Master Kaito doesn't have any brothers on the surface, but... anyway... this matter is complicated to talk about. I hope Sensei can help keep it a secret first."
"Uh... I probably understand. Don't worry, I just wanted to confirm if Kuroba-kun really had important things to do, um... it looks really important now. I won't say anything."
After hanging up the phone, Jii Konosuke's expression was complex.
If Madam heard about this, how sad she would be. Young Master Kaito probably considered this too, which is why he didn't say it explicitly...
Although it was a bit unfair to Madam, he had to stand on the side of Master Toichi and Young Master Kaito.
He had no clue how this matter should be resolved in the future.
Sigh, my life is too hard...
"Achoo!"
Sitting in the car, Kuroba Kaito sneezed. Why did he feel like something was wrong somewhere?
He immediately threw this inexplicable feeling aside and sized up the mountains and forests outside the car window.
"Do people really live in this kind of deep mountain?"
Silence inside the car.
Chi Feichi didn't feel there was anything good to add to that sentence.
Mamiya Mitsuru was thinking about other things. Chi Shinnosuke called and asked him to pick up a distant relative he had never met before. Originally, out of respect for the other party being a wealthy businessman, he agreed. Taking care of a person for a while wasn't troublesome.
Moreover, hearing that mental patients have unique trains of thought, maybe he could discover the key to the puzzles his father-in-law left in the castle from another aspect.
However, bringing an extra person back, he didn't know if it was good or bad...
Seeing no one respond, Kuroba Kaito was somewhat speechless. He glanced at the silent Chi Feichi and abandoned the idea of provoking Chi Feichi with a couple of sentences.
Forget it. I heard on the way that this guy seems to have just come out of a mental hospital, with a bunch of illnesses like split personality and impaired time perception. It's understandable to be a bit strange...
"Uncle Mamiya, are we going to live in some small log cabin next?"
"No..." Just as Mamiya Mitsuru wanted to explain, he saw the castle at the end of his vision. "We've arrived. It won't disappoint you!"
As the car drove closer, Kuroba Kaito also saw the castle building standing in the jungle. Although as Kaitou Kid, he had seen a lot, seeing this quaint castle, his eyes still lit up. "A castle..."
Chi Feichi looked through the hollow iron bars of the main gate and saw the lawn in the yard trimmed like a chessboard, and the huge chess pieces sculptures standing on the lawn. Instantly, he had no sense of anticipation.
Looking at Mamiya Mitsuru before, he hadn't realized that the other party was a character who appeared in the plot. Combining it with this castle, he remembered now. It seemed to be the Blue Castle Case that appeared in the Conan plot...
The gardener opened the gate, and the car drove in.
"What strange sculptures!" Kuroba Kaito also saw those strangely standing chess sculptures. After getting off the car, he walked straight over.
"Ah, that is..."
Before Mamiya Mitsuru finished speaking, Kuroba Kaito had already fallen headfirst to the ground: "..."
Chi Feichi was stunned for a moment, stepped forward, crouched down, and checked Kuroba Kaito's breath. He said calmly, "He's fine, still alive."
Mamiya Mitsuru: "..."
The gardener who rushed over: "..."
Kuroba Kaito, who just faintly opened his eyes: "..."
Do you have to say it so scarily? I just feel weak all over, that's all!
Given that Kuroba Kaito had difficulty moving on his own, the gardener and Mamiya Mitsuru carried him to a room.
"I'll go find a doctor. I should be there in about half an hour!" Mamiya Mitsuru looked righteous on the surface, but he was actually helpless inside. He had been driving all morning and wanted to rest...
But the location of the castle was too remote. To find a doctor, he could only drive to find one.
Kuroba Kaito lay on the bed, feeling that the future was full of hardships. "Half an hour... Living in such a remote place without preparing a doctor, how do people in your family usually get through illness?"
The gardener uncle scratched his head. "Sorry, we've never had any serious illness. Although the Great Madam is old, apart from dementia, her health is quite good. Usually, for colds, we just take some cold medicine kept in the castle."
Kuroba Kaito speechlessly looked at the ceiling. Does that mean my health is bad...?
"Are there a stethoscope and thermometer?" Chi Feichi turned to Mamiya Mitsuru, who was about to leave. "If there are, I can take a look for him."