LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 247: 243
As white smoke filled the air, a figure in white suddenly appeared on the stage.
"Kaitou Kid!"
Nakamori Ginzo shot to his feet, shouting the name.
"Kaitou Kid, huh?"
Fujino's eyes locked onto the figure on stage.
"Everything's going just like I thought. Looks like the Zoo's making their move…"
In his head, Fujino mused, "That Kaitou Kid up there? Probably a fake to throw everyone off."
As soon as Kaitou Kid appeared, the cops who'd been lying in wait sprang into action, chasing him out of the auditorium.
Fujino stood up and quickly followed.
But when he reached a corner, he slowed to a stop, quiet as a shadow.
He activated his eagle-eye vision, scanning the area.
No one around. Perfect.
He pulled an assassin's robe from his inventory space and slipped it on, then draped a black cloak over it.
With a flick of his hand, he grabbed a mask and put it on, topping it off by digging out a makeup kit he'd won earlier. Using it, he turned his hair blonde.
The kit could even alter someone's whole appearance with decent skills—Fujino wasn't a pro, but changing his hair color and style? Piece of cake.
"Flawless," he muttered, checking out his getup.
With this look, not even Conan would peg him as Fujino—or the Dark Knight prowling Mihama's streets. 😎
Once he was sure his disguise was solid, Fujino headed back toward the auditorium.
The place was now pitch-black.
The smoke from earlier still lingered in the air.
The fancy, well-dressed VIPs had scattered, leaving behind chaos—there was even a random high heel abandoned on the floor.
Sure, the assassin robe's Night Ranger skill was weaker under layers of clothing, but in a dark mess like this, it was more than enough for sneaking around.
"Ahh!"
A girl's scream suddenly pierced through from the backstage area.
Fujino boldly crept toward the sound.
Backstage was a total wreck.
The magic troupe members who'd just performed were sprawled out on the ground, knocked out.
A man codenamed Snake stood there, hands in his pockets, one foot grinding down on an old guy. Behind him loomed a posse of goons in brown coats, looking like a pack of Gestapo wannabes.
With his crew backing him up, Snake's vibe was way cockier than some loyal stooge with just one dimwit sidekick.
Fujino lingered behind them, quietly brushing his hand over the cheap retractable baton he'd snagged for 1,000 yen at a discount store, hanging from his waist.
"Miss, run!" the old man yelled at Judy Hopper, only to get cut off by Snake stomping him hard. "Relax, I'm not planning to hurt anyone…"
He pulled a revolver from his pocket and aimed it at Judy. "But if I count to three and you don't hand over that gem on your chest, things might get messy. Could leave some painful memories, ya know?"
"Miss, don't you dare give up that gem!" the old man roared hysterically.
"One…" Snake stomped his back again, shutting him up.
"Robert!" Judy started forward, but—
"Two…" Snake's countdown rolled on.
*Bang!*
"Ahh!"
Right as Snake was about to fire, a series of dull thuds erupted behind him, mixed with pained yelps.
"Who's there?!" He spun around, swinging his gun toward the noise.
But all he saw were his goons sprawled out on the ground, dead or alive—who knew?
*Where's the guy?!* Snake's mind raced.
Then, out of nowhere, a black figure loomed up behind him.
A baton swung down, cracking against his wrist.
*Snap!*
His wrist shattered, and the gun clattered to the floor.
"Ahh!" Snake let out an ear-splitting howl. He turned to see a masked figure in a black robe holding a baton, standing there like he'd just teleported in.
*Thwack!*
Fujino smashed the baton into Snake's face.
The guy stumbled back and crashed to the ground hard.
"Damn it…" Snake glared at the gun lying nearby.
He lunged for it, but Fujino stomped his hand flat.
Looking up, Snake saw the baton coming for his face again.
*Thwack!*
Another hit left him dizzy.
Fujino pinned Snake's hand underfoot, leaning down to snag the revolver.
Then he hauled Snake up by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"Tell your boss this: Pandora's ours. You guys back off—far as you can get."
His voice growled low and cold through the mask.
Snake blinked, dazed. "Pandora? Organization?!"
Fujino didn't flinch. He yanked Snake up again, slamming him onto the concrete floor, then aimed the revolver at his head, cocking the hammer. "This is your warning. Next time my group spots any of yours, we'll take you out—one by one."
He pulled the trigger.
*Bang!*
The shot rang out, bullet burying into the concrete next to Snake's head, leaving a crater.
Nearby, Kuroba Kaito heard the gunshot and stood there, dumbfounded.
He hadn't even caught how this guy showed up—just heard the screams, and then *poof*, there he was. Like he'd blinked into existence. 😵
Snapping out of it, Kaito shouted, "Who the hell are you?! Are you after Pandora too?!"
"Hmph, Kaitou Kid, huh?"
Fujino glanced back at Kaito, a smirk tugging at his lips under the mask. "Listen up. The name's Uzo—like the liquor."
He flicked a bat-shaped dart at Snake, pinning him, then stood and aimed the gun at Kaito. "These two magicians… Hmph. Hand over the Crimson Tear."
"So you *are* after Pandora!" Kaito's face darkened, exhaustion hitting him hard.
*Great. I've already got one animal-themed group on my back—now there's a booze-named one too? What's with these weird codenames?!* 😤
*(Chapter End)*
### Chapter 243: What's It to You?
Fujino's eyes flicked to the comms device in Snake's ear.
That thing was probably linked to the fake Kaitou Kid running around outside, distracting the cops.
Taking a deep breath, Fujino decided to go all-in with the act. He aimed the gun at Judy Hopper and growled, "Since you all know what's up, hand over Pandora. Now."
"So it's really about this gem?" Judy stared at the stone on her chest, ripped it off, and made like she was about to toss it to Fujino. "I don't even want this cursed thing—it's nothing but bad luck!"
"Miss, no!" Robert reached out to stop her. "You can't give a gem this precious to a guy like him!"
"Robert?" Judy shot him a confused look. "Wait… you're not Robert. Who are you—"
"Caught me, huh?" Robert grinned, peeling off his disguise to reveal a white suit and cape.
"Kid?" Judy hesitated. "But… didn't Kid just—"
Kuroba Kaito cut in. "That guy earlier? Just a decoy to lure the cops out of the venue."
"Oh, I see…" Judy clutched the Crimson Tear tighter, staring at Kaito in a daze. "Still, I never would've guessed the infamous Kaitou Kid would break his word and show up."
"Heh, actually, I'm not here to steal the gem this time," Kaito said with a sly smile, glancing back at her. "I'm here to protect you and—"
*Thwack!*
Before he could finish, Fujino snapped and sent a flying kick his way.
*This guy's flirting in the middle of a standoff?!* Fujino fumed. *Does he think this is some anime where the bad guy just lets him charm his way out?*
*Plus, he's got a childhood sweetheart like Aoko and still wants more? Nope, not on my watch!*
Time to take this heartbreaker down a peg! 😤
"…?"
Kuroba Kaito was totally thrown off by the black-robed figure's insane, logic-defying kick. He stumbled back, flipping a couple of somersaults just to shake off the massive force.
Normally, shouldn't they wait until he's done flirting before jumping him?
Why's today so off-script?! 😵
Kaito shook his head, tossing out the ridiculous thought.
He rubbed his stomach.
Even with the bulletproof vest cushioning it, that kick still hurt like hell…
How much strength does that take?!
As he pondered, a chilling figure of fear flashed in his mind, and his body gave a tiny shudder.
Instinctively, he yanked a smoke bomb from his pocket and chucked it at the ground.
*Boom!*
Smoke billowed everywhere.
By the time it cleared, Kaito and Judy Hopper were long gone.
"Another smoke bomb trick, huh… Using the explosion as cover to whip out a grappling hook and climb the pipes?"
Fujino glanced up, his Eagle Eye cutting through Kaito's vanishing act. He clicked his tongue and silently tagged both of them with Eagle Eye markers.
Then he shifted his gaze to Viper.
At this point, both the codename "Uzo" and the Winery's existence had been exposed to the Zoo organization.
His plan was halfway complete—nice! 😏
Next up: make sure these two escape smoothly.
As for the "Uzo" codename…
For someone like Fujino, who doesn't know much about liquor names, "Uzo" was the best he could come up with.
So, sorry, Ezaki-senpai—borrowing your codename for a bit!
…
Following the Eagle Eye markers, Fujino tailed Kaito and Judy all the way to the revolving rooftop restaurant of the hotel.
"You're *really* persistent, huh…"
Kaito stepped in front of Judy, shielding her as he eyed the masked black-robed figure. "But this time, you're out of luck. What she's got isn't the Pandora you're after."
Fujino didn't reply. He just flicked his Eagle Eye sidelong to the fake Kaitou Kid hovering outside the window.
Chasing these two wasn't about them, actually.
It was all about dealing with that impostor Kid out there.
He'd noticed it earlier—the fake Kid was buzzing around the hotel like a headless fly.
And mid-flight, he'd spotted Judy with the Crimson Tear.
If that clown kept circling, he'd draw the cops' attention for sure.
That'd lead them straight to Viper, still knocked out backstage, and get him nabbed.
Talk about a liability…
Snapping out of it, Fujino aimed the revolver he'd just snagged at the fake Kid outside.
*Bang!*
The shot rang out, and the bullet slammed into the impostor's body.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Kaito snapped, furious.
"Just cleaning up some unnecessary trouble," Fujino said, glancing at the fake Kid teetering toward the ground below.
The police would swarm to hunt that guy down soon.
That should wrap things up nicely.
With that, Fujino tucked the gun into his pocket.
Plan done—he had zero interest in tangling with Kaito any longer.
He turned and strolled toward the restaurant's exit. "If that Pandora's a fake, then you two can keep it."
"Huh?"
Kaito let out a surprised yelp.
He bought that *just* like that?
Snapping out of it, he shouted after him, "Hey! Uzo, what even *are* you—"
"My goal from the start was never Pandora," Fujino cut him off. "Oh, and by the way, my name's not Uzo."
"Then who *are* you?!"
Kaito's brows furrowed. "How do you know about Pandora? And that organization—what do you know about it?!"
"None of your business."
Fujino shot him a cold, sharp look over his shoulder, then vanished into the hallway by the exit.
"Wait!"
Kaito bolted after him, scanning the area, but the black-robed figure was gone—like he'd appeared out of nowhere and vanished the same way.
As if he'd never been there…
"Who *is* that guy?"
Kaito sank into thought.
That black-robed dude definitely knew something about Pandora—maybe even stuff about that organization Kaito didn't.
But if Pandora wasn't his goal, why'd he threaten them to hand over the Crimson Tear right in his face earlier…?
Kaito racked his brain but couldn't figure it out.
Even his flirting vibe was totally shot.
Ugh, he felt like he'd been played! 😤
At the hotel's backdoor parking lot:
While the cops were distracted chasing the fake Kid, Viper—who'd just woken up—was helped out of the hotel by a lackey, stumbling along.
"How're the others?"
The sedative hadn't fully worn off. Viper winced, rubbing his forehead with his right hand—until he saw it'd swollen into a pig's hoof and quietly switched to his left.
The lackey supporting him said in a low voice, "The others are fine for now. The guy didn't hit too hard—some woke up and got rescued by the pickup crew."
"Good, as long as the cops didn't nab them…"
Viper recalled the black-robed figure, and a headache throbbed.
As a key Zoo exec, he'd screwed up today…
Not his first flop, but definitely the most unforgettable, painful, and humiliating one.
That gold-haired guy in a black mask and robe kept haunting his mind.
Viper hadn't heard of "Uzo" before, but from what he'd said, it was clear his group was after Pandora too.
That organization had obviously clocked the Zoo's existence—and sent this "Uzo" to flex on them.
He'd even told Viper to pass a message to the boss: "Next time we see your people, one shows up, one dies."
Provocation!
Straight-up provocation!
The Zoo was facing a challenge from another mysterious, heavy-hitting group like never before!
Recalling the humiliating moments, Viper's face darkened. "Damn that Uzo…"
…
The next day—Wednesday.
Fujino went through his usual routine: morning workout, breakfast, dropping the kids off at school, then heading to his own.
Teitan High, Class 2-B.
Lunch break rolled around after Hiratsuka Shizuka finished a lecture.
Looking like a burnt-out wife, she dragged herself out of the classroom to the staff room for a cigarette to soothe her tired soul.
Meanwhile, the Teitan High trio huddled up in the classroom.
Sonoko started gushing about that time she got kidnapped and Fujino saved her, turning total fangirl mode.
Then she casually tossed out an invite. "Hey, Fujino-senpai, this weekend I'm hitting the ice rink with Ran. You free?"
"Ice skating, huh?"
Fujino rubbed his chin, thinking it over for a sec before nodding. "Sure, I'm in."
From past experience, when Sonoko invited him out, there was a solid chance they'd stumble into a murder case.
He couldn't quite recall which case this might be, but whatever—might as well go have some fun.
Even if no murder popped up, it'd be a chill break.
…
After school:
Fujino had just picked up Haibara Ai and gotten home when Mouri Kogoro dragged him to the izakaya.
Night fell.
"Fujino, my man… I might have an incurable disease."
Mouri Kogoro slumped in his chair at the izakaya, chugging a beer and muttering gloomily to Fujino beside him.
"Incurable disease?"
Fujino sipped his orange soda, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Mouri said, head drooping. "This afternoon, I got the results from yesterday's hospital checkup… The doctor told me to bring family with me tomorrow."
"Uh…"
Fujino paused mid-sip, then offered some comfort. "Don't worry, Uncle Mouri. Bringing family doesn't always mean it's incurable. Could just be some chronic thing they need to keep an eye on."
"Hey, Fujino…"
Mouri hesitated, looking sheepish. "When I go get the report tomorrow, could you come with me and Ran? I'm scared I might pass out if it's bad news…"
"Sure thing," Fujino agreed without a hitch.
At that moment, a new system task popped up on his interface:
**[Detective Career Mission: Blind Spot in the Dark]**
**Objective: Solve the Blind Spot in the Dark case]**
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