Phantom Thief of Heart!but conan

Chapter 1258 Forming a Band for Life
"I'm so sorry to have troubled you today."

Tang Ze, who was watching Akai Shuichi and the police pushing and pulling each other from afar, heard the voice beside him and turned around. He saw Mouri Ran smiling and holding down Suzuki Sonoko, who was eager to come closer.

From her unusually polite attitude, Tang Ze sensed a subtle probing intent, which piqued his interest.

The last time I encountered her face-to-face under this identity was not long after Shinichi Kudo disappeared, when she was in a state of confusion about everything. Now it is not the same as then. Will Ran Mouri notice the problem with "Ren Amamiya"?

"Really? I think it's quite interesting." Tang Ze put his hands in his pockets, turned around, and smiled back at her. "I heard that a famous writer and detective live next door. I was looking forward to it, but I haven't seen them much since I moved in. Dealing with detectives must make life anything but boring, right?"

He strictly adhered to his usual Joker persona, behaving much more humorously than his usual self, so unsurprisingly, he sensed that Ran Mouri's wariness had increased.

"It's not boring, it's more troublesome." Ran Mouri blinked, blocking Sonoko Suzuki from speaking again, and continued, "Amamiya-kun, I was in such a hurry when we met last time that I didn't even know what you did for a living. Are you a student too?"

This is a rather fundamental question, because the community where the Kudo residence is located is clearly not a place that ordinary families can afford to buy, and even renting is very difficult.

In Tokyo, many apartments in the city center with convenient transportation, even those only 50 or 60 square meters, can cost over 100,000 yen a month to rent. Even now, when the economy is no longer as prosperous as it was in its golden age, these are still not prices that are easy to afford.

It's not allowed if a murder occurred there and the place was damaged.

How long has it been since the Kudo family, who live in 2-chome, had any new neighbors? You can tell by looking at Professor Agasa, an empty-nest old man who lives alone all day, and how even Conan's classmates have to come over to play.

There is no inheritance relationship between them, nor are they from any prestigious family, so how did the Amamiya family come to be?
“Student? Of course not.” Tang Ze’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Unemployed, I guess I am now.”

"Huh?" Ran Mouri was taken aback by the candid response from the other party.

"Don't let my current appearance fool you; I'm a patient." Tang Ze pointed to his current hair and eye color, adding a touch of truth, "If you insist on giving me some kind of professional identity right now..."

Tang Ze dragged out the tone.

After quickly dealing with the police's questioning, Conan, who was walking closer, heard the latter half of his sentence, which was full of playful banter.

"...Probably someone who creates art."

Conan: "..."

You call your profession artistic creation? No wonder you're sitting at the same table as Kidd...

However, this answer is still better than telling Xiaolan that his profession is illegal and disorderly.

"Artistic creation?" Sonoko Suzuki, who hadn't expected this turn of events, rested her chin on her hand. "What kind of creation?"

In this industry, she can now be considered a semi-insider.

If someone truly has artistic aspirations but hasn't been able to gain publicity due to limited connections, then she might be able to lend a hand.

"It's rather complicated, well, if I had to define it..." Tang Ze started rambling as soon as he opened his mouth, "Would you like to come see our band perform next time you have the chance?"

Although it sounds like nonsense, if you think about it carefully, it's not entirely nonsense.

Their current team situation is definitely enough to support a band.

With keyboardist Narumi Asai, bassist Hiromitsu Morofushi, and female vocalist Akemi, Karasawa himself could fill in as a drummer or something.

If we include all the relevant personnel, then the guitarist, Amuro Tooru, and even Akai Shuichi, also know a bit of bass—a sniper who always carries a guitar case around would really give himself away if he didn't have some skills.

Not to mention all-around talents like Kyosuke Haga, who is already beyond the realm of pop bands.

In short, if they really wanted to perform, forming a band would be no problem. It's just that Tang Ze wasn't keen on taking his perfectly good group in the direction of being a band for life. He had a bad feeling that the group might accidentally fall apart...

"Eh, a band?!" Sonoko Suzuki exclaimed excitedly. "I knew it, Amamiya-kun, you look like you'd be perfect for music."

"Why? Is it because my image is particularly visual kei?"

"Not really, well, how should I put it, there is definitely an artist vibe to it?"

"Oh, right, I almost forgot, you're quite a famous figure in the art world now. Well, thank you for the compliment."

"Really? Haha, well, that's probably because Kitagawa is more famous. I really didn't help him much..."

"How could that be? He's a rising star painter, and your contribution was indispensable."

Watching them chat happily back and forth, Conan and Ran's expressions subtly converged.

Ran Mouri was inwardly lamenting that Sonoko's obsession with looks was incurable, while Conan sensed a strange atmosphere in their conversation.

Even though Yusuke Kitagawa is also a member of the Phantom Thieves, he and the Joker are probably closer. This sounds like a kindergarten teacher praising a child, which just doesn't make sense.

After briefly replaying the possible personnel configuration of the Phantom Thieves in his mind, Conan felt increasingly uneasy.

The Phantom Thieves have formed a band. Is this band really legitimate? Is it even listenable? It feels like a prison concert.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"If you say that..."

"Sure enough, you also felt that his behavior was as if he had sensed some kind of provocation, right?"

Hearing the hesitation in Hattori Heiji's voice on the other end of the phone, Conan immediately raised his voice.

Not long after he and Hattori had been secretly discussing the possibility of a deep connection between Tang Ze and Joker, Joker brazenly appeared in his everyday identity and made a brief appearance in front of Ran, Sonoko, and the others.

The other party even told Xiaolan that he was now an unemployed bum staying at home, that he had stopped going to school due to health reasons, and that he was a special patient, etc.

These words seemed to be an answer to Ran Mouri's question, yet also like a further clue being thrown at the two bewildered detectives from afar—ambiguous and elusive.

"No, it's not so much a provocation as it seems," Hattori Heiji said thoughtfully. "It feels more like he's expressing composure."

To put it bluntly, they were fearless. The Phantom Thieves, who always had a complete grasp of information and changes in people's hearts, seemed to have already noticed Kudo's wavering. They stood in front of him almost deliberately and used an ability very similar to Tang Ze's.

It's like asking him through actions: Are you sure about your judgment? Do you dare to speak out your judgment, detective who is good at reasoning?
Rather than provocation, this feeling is more like a game.

"Perhaps he really does believe, as he himself says, that detectives and phantom thieves are often inextricably linked." Heiji Hattori scratched his head, and could only conclude in this way. "Rather than trying to hide himself, he seems to prefer seeing you think things through and give an answer."

Just like when we first met.

One side poses a question, and the other provides an answer; perhaps this is the kind of relationship the phantom thief envisions with the detective.

"Hey……"

Conan, puzzled, sighed, said a few more words, hung up the phone, returned to his seat, and listlessly put the noodles on his fork into his mouth.

He was afraid things would develop this way. Given that the other party's cognitive abilities were completely unclear, finding evidence that could push them into a corner was no easy task.

"What are you sighing about?" Kogoro Mouri, who was sitting next to him waiting for his meal, glanced at him. "I just came down to eat because I didn't have time to cook. Don't act like Poirot's food is that bad."

Ever since Kogoro Mouri started cooking, the housework at the agency has been taken turns by Ran Mouri and Kogoro Mouri.

When the two children are at school, Kogoro Mouri, who works flexible hours, is usually in charge of their meals. However, there are occasional times when he wants to save time or doesn't have time to cook.

Just like today.

"Tang Ze's case is progressing quite well. Eri and I went to the prosecutor's office this afternoon, so we didn't have time to buy groceries," Kogoro Mouri said. "I just didn't have time to cook. I'm grateful to have something to eat. You, who's just freeloading, have a problem with that?"

“That’s not the point…” Conan pursed his lips and pointed to the page of the newspaper in Kogoro Mouri’s hand that was facing outwards.

Kogoro Mouri frowned, closed the newspaper and looked closely. He saw that the front page of the social section featured another new murder case.

"Securities firm employee murdered in his own home." After reading the headline, Kogoro Mouri lowered his eyebrows strangely. "What's wrong? What's the problem? Oh, the murder weapon is a hunting rifle, which is indeed a bit unusual."

"No, the victim's apartment is very close to here." Ran Mouri, who was also waiting for her food, put down her teacup and said seriously, "Don't you think it's pretty scary? The murderer might live nearby."

"Why think so much? With a detective like me here, would he dare to openly attack this place?" Kogoro Mouri waved his hand dismissively. "This won't affect your appetite. You're too cowardly. He's just a murderer..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Enomoto Azusa, who was carrying a tray and had walked nearby, stumbled and fell to the ground.

The porcelain plate holding the pasta slid down and was about to crash heavily to the ground when it was caught by someone who rushed forward.

Both people and pasta are included.

"Ms. Enomoto, are you alright?" Karasawa asked with concern, holding a plate in one hand and supporting Enomoto Azusa with the other. He then shook the slightly tilted plate of pasta and placed it on Kogoro Mouri's table.

— Enomoto Azusa was holding the very meal Kogoro Mouri had ordered; it would be a waste to let Amuro Tooru's cooking be used to feed the floor.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Enomoto Azusa quickly stood up straight and said apologetically, "I... I was a little distracted..."

"Miss Azusa, you look terrible. Are you really alright?" Ran Mouri asked with concern as she turned her gaze towards her.

Enomoto Azusa's usual gentle smile was barely maintained, and her face was visibly pale, making it clear that she was in very bad shape.

Enomoto Azusa raised her hand and touched her cheek, smiling awkwardly, "Really? I'm fine..."

Conan glanced at the newspaper lying to the side, then at Karasawa supporting Enomoto Azusa, and at the crowded Poirot Cafe, before speaking again: "Azusa-neechan, your brother is also a very good shooter, right?"

Almost instantly, Enomoto Azusa's expression became even more rigid.

Considering the news Conan just mentioned, the meaning of his words is self-evident.

"Hey, what nonsense are you spouting, you brat?" Kogoro Mori quickly interrupted. "What's the connection? Miss Azusa's brother is just playing with skeet shooting as a hobby, it's not like he's hunting. Playing with air guns for fun and shooting with live ammunition are two completely different things."

“I know,” Conan said, pursing his lips and glancing at the people at the next table. “But there are a lot of people who think they’re connected, and they’re sitting here with grim faces right now.”

The atmosphere at Café Polo today is so subtle.

With just one glance, Conan knew that the customers here were no ordinary diners, which made him have to find an excuse to call Heiji Hattori and go outside the restaurant.

Although, considering the topics they were discussing, it was indeed inappropriate to have a conversation right under someone's nose.

Conan's mention of it prompted Kogoro Mouri, who was so familiar with the coffee shop downstairs that he hadn't even looked up while ordering, to finally scrutinize the other people in the lobby.

The people in the room were either hiding their heads and eyes, sitting silently inside wearing sunglasses, or staring intently at the doorway with piercing eyes.

Moreover, if you look closely, although many people can't see the face clearly, the more you look, the more familiar it seems.

"Hmm, why does this feel like I've seen it somewhere before?" Kogoro Mouri squinted, pondering with a subtle expression.

"Yeah, yeah, like that guy at the bar. He looks exactly like someone we know!"

Without thinking, Conan raised his hand and pointed at the extremely suspicious man wearing sunglasses and a hat, who was huddled in a bar chair.

Ran Mouri turned her head to look at the other person for a while, then quickly showed a look of realization. She stepped forward and called out the other person's name directly.

"Officer Takagi, what are you doing here?"

"Cough cough!"

It was too late to pretend he didn't know her anymore. Takagi Wataru cleared his throat awkwardly and gave Conan a few resentful glances.

Honestly, we've already figured out what they're doing, why are we making such a fuss?
He seriously suspected that this brat was in a bad mood today and was taking it out on an innocent detective who was just trying to do his job properly...

(End of this chapter)