"He's an elusive, shape-shifting gentleman thief. No matter how tight the security or sturdy the vault, he cracks them miraculously fast, even mimicking appearances and voices."
"This time, we're up against a tough one!"
Hattori, perched on his motorcycle, removed his helmet. Kazuha hopped off behind him.
"This guy again?!" Mouri stuffed his hands in his pockets, grumbling.
Every time they hit Osaka, this guy shows up.
Even when they don't, he's often at their place…
"Kudo, Tsuneo-nii, how's it going?" Hattori grinned, greeting them energetically.
"Heh, I'm doing great." Tsuneo shot a glance at a certain someone.
Conan stood there, exasperated.
Kudo, Kudo, Kudo—when will you drop that habit?
If my identity gets exposed, you're taking the biggest fall!
"Kudo?"
"Where's that guy?" Sonoko looked around, puzzled.
"Seriously, he's Conan. Why do you keep calling him Kudo?" Ran stepped beside Conan, exasperated.
Hattori, realizing his slip, scratched his head with an awkward laugh. "My bad, my bad. His eyes just remind me of Kudo, so it slips out."
"What an idiot."
"Yelling since morning that Kudo's coming. You should get your head checked!" Kazuha, holding her helmet, scoffed.
The childhood friends launched into their usual bickering.
"They're just like Ran and them," Sonoko said, a tad envious.
"Yeah, equally troublesome, right?" Tsuneo nodded, asking.
Conan rolled his eyes.
If no one was around, I'd grab your pant leg and demand to know what's so troublesome!
…
Following Sonoko, the group entered the Suzuki Art Museum, taking the elevator to the president's office on the top floor.
They met the one and only perfectly safe company president in the Conan-verse.
Shiro Suzuki stood with a smile, welcoming the sleeping detective and Tsuneo.
"Thanks for coming all this way!"
As always, the president was down-to-earth.
"Sonoko, who are these two?" Shiro Suzuki glanced at Hattori and Kazuha.
Sonoko introduced with a smile, "This is Heiji Hattori and Kazuha Toyama. Dad, Hattori's a famous high school detective in Kansai!"
"Wonderful, we'll be counting on you too." The chubby Shiro Suzuki nodded, showing no disdain for their youth.
There's a reason he's lasted this long…
"Leave it to me, old man!" Hattori waved confidently.
"You punk, calling President Suzuki 'old man'!" Mouri couldn't believe this kid's nerve.
Do you even get what it means that an 800-million-yen egg was found in their vault?!
Even Tsuneo started questioning if Hattori's brain was wired wrong.
You know how much good food this old man's got at home?!
"No worries, Mouri-san," Shiro Suzuki calmed Mouri, then introduced the others in the room.
"This is Mr. Sergei Ovchinnikov, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy."
A tall, burly middle-aged man with short hair stood. "Pleased to meet you."
His appearance screamed "fighting nation," standing nearly two meters tall.
"Next to him is the art dealer I invited, Mr. Shoichi Inui."
A sharp-eyed older man in a red suit with a mustache stood, nodding to the group.
"And this is Ms. Seiran Urashi, a Romanov Dynasty scholar."
Dressed in a navy skirt suit, Seiran Urashi had short gray hair, a striking figure, and stunning looks.
Surprisingly, she spoke in Chinese, "Hello!"
Lastly, Ryū Hanakawa, holding a camera, had a carefree, laid-back vibe. He aimed his lens at the group, giving a casual greeting.
As introductions wrapped up, the businessman Shoichi Inui spoke first. "That Easter Egg—if President Suzuki is willing to sell, I can raise the price."
"President, it's a Russian treasure. Selling to a tasteless dealer like him? Better donate it to us for our museum to preserve," Ovchinnikov interrupted.
"Donate?"
"He means not paying a cent?" Tsuneo, munching snacks, asked Hattori curiously.
An egg worth 800 million, and someone's bold enough to want it for free?
Eight eggs!
"P-probably…" Hattori smiled awkwardly as all eyes turned to him.
Seriously, saying that to their faces…
"President Suzuki, why not donate it to me? Absolutely safe," Tsuneo nodded.
I'm serious.
If that thief dares steal from me, heh heh heh…
"…"
Everyone stared at the repairman, speechless.
Even Ovchinnikov, who was about to argue, shut up.
This guy and the kid calling Suzuki "old man" both seem a bit off.
"Of course," Shiro Suzuki, knowing Tsuneo was joking, played along with a nod.
"President!" The secretary and dealer, mid-argument, tried to protest.
"Nice, nice."
Ryū Hanakawa, camera in hand, nodded approvingly. "This is fun—filming people's way more interesting than that egg."
He tilted his head, eyeing Seiran Urashi. "You're acting all aloof, but as a Romanov scholar, you must want it more than anyone, right?"
Seiran frowned, reluctantly admitting, "True, but I can't afford 800 million."
"Fair. Even I could only scrape together 200 million," Ryū chuckled helplessly.
Conan, hearing their remarks, tilted his head.
Not just Kaitou Kid—these four are all eyeing that egg.
Where does President Suzuki find these people…
(End of Chapter)
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