Conan looked up at Fujino, completely dumbfounded. He never would've thought Fujino would team up with Kaitou Kid. Seriously, I was completely out of the loop on this one...
Hakuba Saguru's mouth twitched at Fujino's answer. He hadn't expected this guy to have actually planned this out beforehand. Damn it, why didn't he discuss it with me? I'm Kaitou Kid's sworn enemy too... A hint of jealousy lingered.
Everyone else present was also bewildered. You're a detective, so how did you team up with a phantom thief? And how did you even get in touch? There's definitely some unspeakable secret behind this.
"Fujino-senpai, if that's Kaitou Kid..." Ran noticed the key point, her eyes fixed on the white hang glider beneath the helicopter. She couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Then where's my dad right now?"
"Mouri-ossan is safe," Fujino replied, turning back. "He's currently tied up in the warehouse of that gas station we passed on the way here."
"Huh?" Ran paused, a little stunned. My own dad was impersonated all the way from the gas station? So all those times I called 'Dad' along the way... Ran's face turned beet red, and her fists clenched slightly.
"Ahem, remember to go rescue Mouri-ossan." Fujino saw Ran's expression and felt a little panicked. He was sure that if they weren't in a helicopter right now, Ran would definitely break something to vent her anger. Turning around, he leaped out of the helicopter, leaving only a shout echoing in the cabin: "I'm heading out first too!"
"Fujino-senpai?!"
"Fujino?!" Ran was startled by his sudden jump from the helicopter.
Conan quickly rushed to look. Then, with a flap just like Kaitou Kid, a hang glider slowly ascended from beneath the helicopter.
"This guy... why does everyone have a hang glider?" Conan's eyes narrowed into a deadpan stare as he watched Fujino's hang glider. He'd thought Fujino was so afraid of getting beaten up by Ran that he decided to kill himself as an apology.
"Kaitou Kid gave it to him?" Hakuba Saguru said in surprise, watching the hang glider soar towards the sunset. He even got a hang glider? Why do I feel even more jealous now?
"Little detective! Let's team up again sometime!" Ikumi Soda's lips curled into a slight smile as she shouted out of the cabin.
"..." Fujino glanced back, shivered, and then flew even faster.
"Huh?" Kaito looked back and saw Fujino piloting a hang glider that looked exactly like his... no, it seemed slightly modified, following him.
"That guy," Kaito said, a wry smile on his face. He hadn't expected Fujino to have a hang glider exactly like his, or perhaps even from the same creator.
Fujino, piloting his hang glider, caught up. "What, you're trying to make a run for it after your grand entrance?"
"What, great detective?" Kaito's eyelid twitched violently. "Are you trying to arrest me now?"
"Of course not," Fujino shook his head, his tone calm. "I remember you still owe me quite a few favors, don't you?"
"Ugh..." Kaito's face stiffened. The mention of favors brought back memories of all the trouble this guy had caused him, time and time again.
"This time counts as a favor too, you know."
"Hey, hey! What kind of favor is that?!" Kaito was speechless. All he did was help him disguise his identity. How did that count as another favor? What a swindler!
But then, he suddenly thought of something else and looked at Fujino seriously. "You went through all this trouble to catch up to me. You're not going to make me repay a favor, are you?"
"You're very clever." Fujino smiled, feeling how easy it was to talk to smart people. He continued, "In a while, I do have something I need your help with. It's related to a confrontation with an organization, I guess. Anyway, when you get back, please help me custom-make a hang glider and also infiltrate the upcoming Twin Towers of the Tokiwa Group."
"???" Kaito looked at the face that seemed to be casually chatting, completely bewildered. Is that how you ask for a favor? You just hit me with so many demands right off the bat?
However, he then thought about it seriously. An organization, the Tokiwa Group, and a custom-made hang glider. This guy seems to have some untold stories of his own, and it looks like he's planning something big... Thinking this, he couldn't help but ask Fujino, "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"You don't need to ask for the specifics," Fujino didn't want to elaborate. "Just show up when the time comes. Oh, and you can mail the hang glider to my house. You should know the address. And remember, shipping included."
Kaito: "..."
He took a deep breath, calming himself. He was always the one making demands, and yet today, he was being suppressed... After composing himself, he shook his head. "If you don't tell me what you're trying to do, I won't help."
"..." Fujino's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression growing serious. "If you don't repay the favor, I'm coming to your house. Got it?"
"...Got it!" Kaito swallowed hard. Clearly, he was afraid of Fujino. He truly didn't dare provoke this guy. If he really pushed a mad detective too far, Fujino might actually show up at his doorstep.
"Alright then, I'll see you in a while." Fujino smiled and flew off on his hang glider. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and looked back. "I'll call you when the time comes."
"...Damn it!" Kaito was already regretting it. Why did I ever give my phone number to a guy like this?!
Fujino rode the wind, paying no mind to Kaito's little tantrum. The reason he was asking Kaito for a favor was none other than the upcoming opening ceremony of the Tokiwa Group building. If he remembered correctly, the Organization would definitely make a move, and Gin and his loyal subordinate Vodka would also strike. With his so-called "precognition" ability, he naturally had to utilize it to the fullest, setting up an ambush beforehand to trip those two up.
However, there were still many things to handle with the layout, and Kaito was just one part of the plan... Having him would make things considerably smoother. Of course, not having him wouldn't be a huge loss either. At most, it would just be the icing on the cake.
"Before all that, there's still a lot waiting for me to take care of..." Fujino looked back at Twilight Mansion, a strange smile on his face.
---
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Fujino hadn't been idle. He created a virtual identity, took time off, and immediately went to acquire Twilight Mansion. After all, such matters could be quite complicated, and if he didn't handle it early, he risked prolonged issues.
"Mr. Ikehisa, while our bank strongly supports your willingness to take over Twilight Mansion, given the current situation, Mr. Ogami's asset audit hasn't been completed yet. I'm afraid the assets cannot be used to offset his debt for now..." A slender woman with a rather charming appearance sat in her office, looking at the young man with black hair and purple eyes before her. Her gaze was somewhat evasive, and her tone filled with apology.
The woman was the manager of the branch of Suzuki Bank responsible for Shuzen Ogami's account. Yes, Suzuki Bank, the Suzuki family's bank.
"For now... so the acquisition can proceed after some time?" Fujino's tone was calm, with a subtle hint of coldness in his voice.
Ikehisa, that was the identity he created using his virtual identity card. After all, he was still a minor and a famous detective. If this matter were to become known to outsiders, it would inevitably lead to many questions. But if he were a wealthy individual who had never appeared in public, things would be much simpler. All I can say is sorry, Senior Ikehisa. I'm borrowing your identity for a bit!
---