Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The night was as dark as ink, and the full moon hung high in the sky.

Kaito Kid leaped nimbly over the wall of an art museum, his tuxedo fluttering in the night wind.

Beneath the top hat, the corners of his mouth should have held that signature playful smile, but at this moment, the smile appeared somewhat stiff.

"Snapped!"

A sharp gunshot shattered the silence of the night, and a bullet grazed the brim of his hat.

Kidd's smile froze instantly, and his body instinctively leaned back, barely dodging the second fatal bullet.

The third time.

This is the third time this week.

He's being targeted by someone.

Unlike Inspector Nakamori's enthusiasm for catching criminals, this was pure murderous intent.

Whenever he appears, someone with a gun will try to end his life without considering the consequences.

"Want to run? Dreaming!"

Several men in black on heavy motorcycles flanked us from the side, their engines roaring deafeningly.

They were incredibly fast, not much slower than Kidd with his glider deployed.

Those men were not holding police sidearms, but rather menacing-looking pistols, and without hesitation, they pulled the trigger again.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The bullets grazed almost to the back of Kidd, leaving smoking bullet holes in the wall behind him.

"What a rude guest..."

Kidd gritted his teeth, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.

He suddenly stopped and turned around, simultaneously firing a smoke grenade.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Thick white smoke burst out from multiple directions in an instant, engulfing visibility and obscuring the entire street.

"Cough cough cough... Damn it! Don't let him get away!"

The sounds of pursuers coughing and cursing could be heard through the smoke.

Without pausing, Kidd used the smoke as cover to quickly activate his hang glider and flee the deadly zone in a sorry state.

……

Meanwhile, inside Zheng Yi's villa, a different, warm and leisurely scene unfolded.

Shoichi, Ai, and Momiji sat around the coffee table in the living room, playing a rather unfair game of poker.

Because Seiichi's cheating skills are extremely high, Ai and Momiji's front is already covered with notes that say "idiot".

"Come on, let's press our advantage and continue."

Zheng Yi seemed to be in a good mood, and he skillfully stuck two new slips of paper on the foreheads of Hongye and Xiao Ai.

He picked up the playing cards, and with a few quick flicks of his fingers, the deck rippled like flowing water.

"Wait a moment."

Hongye reached out expressionlessly and grabbed Zhengyi's wrist.

Miss Hongye had several notes stuck to her face, which looked quite comical.

Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow at her, feigning surprise, and asked:
"What's wrong? Miss Hongye, do you want to fold and admit defeat?"

“I’ll shuffle the cards,” Hongye said stubbornly, snatching the cards from Zhengyi’s hand.

"We absolutely cannot let Zheng Yi touch poker again. This guy keeps winning; he must be using some underhanded methods!"

"Whatever." Zheng Yi shrugged indifferently and leaned back on the sofa.

He acted as if he were completely innocent and that she could do whatever she wanted.

Hongye was shuffling the cards vigorously in a fit of pique, and she even turned her back to Zhengyi so he wouldn't see.

Suddenly, a figure dressed in all white, looking slightly disheveled, was brought in by a bodyguard.

Behind that figure, there was a pistol pressed against his waist.

"Mr. Zhengyi, we found a suspicious person at the back door," the bodyguard said respectfully.

"I'm not an intruder!" The newcomer took off his slightly deformed top hat. "I'm here to see Zheng Yi."

He patted the bodyguard's broad, sturdy shoulder and said in a familiar tone:

"Brother, we're colleagues. We're all working for Zheng Yi, so let's be family."

The bodyguard slapped his hand away without expression.

Zheng Yi leaned back on the sofa, a playful smile playing on his lips:

"Oh? Phantom Thief Kid? You know my nightlife is boring, so you've come to perform magic for me?"

"Of course not, Mr. Zhengyi, that's not very interesting."

Kidd shrugged, casually walked around the coffee table, and headed straight for Zheng Yi.

Another bodyguard tried to step forward to stop him, but Zheng Yi stopped him with a look.

Kidd plopped down on the carpet opposite Zheng Yi, unceremoniously picked up a glass of ice water from the coffee table and gulped it down before starting to check his upper body clothing.

The sleeves of the expensive dress were torn in several places by bullets, and a trace of blood seeped through the white shirt.

“I’m having a bit of bad luck,” Kidd complained. “I’m being chased. Those guys are like madmen; they’re not here to catch me, they’re here to kill me.”

He sighed, looking somewhat dejected.

“I’ve returned the stolen gems intact. But that guy is still relentlessly pursuing me.”

This was the most dangerous one yet.

He took advantage of the chaos to hide in Zheng Yi's villa, thus escaping from those people.

As Zheng Yi looked at Kidd's disheveled appearance, the smile on his face gradually faded.

He stood up, walked up to Kidd, and looked down at him.

He then reached out a hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Listen, Phantom Thief Kid. Now that you’re one of my men, I won’t let anything happen to you,” Zheng Yi said.

Kidd paused for a moment, then looked up into Zheng Yi's eyes.

Although he was an employee of Zhengyi, this was the first time he had felt such a strong sense of "protecting his own" within Zhengyi.

Because he was being hunted down, Zheng Yi seemed genuinely enraged, his eyes filled with a desire to avenge himself immediately.

Ai yawned, her eyes sweeping over Kid, and asked casually:

"You've set your sights on that artwork deep in the mountains again?"

Zheng Yi has been keeping an eye on the news these past two days.

The newspaper's social section reported that Kid had been being hunted by unidentified armed men ever since he visited President Fukayama's art museum.

Therefore, the mastermind behind the murder is most likely the president of the Fukuyama company.

"Nonsense!" Masakazu glared at Ai, trying to maintain his upright image.

He raised an eyebrow, looked at Kidd, and softened his tone:
"I have always treated my employees well."

As he spoke, Zheng Yi patted Kidd on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"Alright, you're safe now. I'll take care of that guy for you."

Zheng Yi continued, his tone reassuring: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

“Actually, you still…” Kidd opened his mouth, wanting to say, “I can handle it myself.”

"Don't reject me." Zheng Yi interrupted him, a hint of frank calculation flashing in his eyes:

"Also, the fee for my help on your behalf will be deducted from your 'performance fee'."

Kidd's lips twitched slightly as he looked at Zheng Yi's opportunistic behavior.

"What, you have a problem with that?" Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow, reverting to his lazy demeanor.

"How come I remember someone getting into all this trouble by insisting on stealing?"

"You were bullied while doing side jobs, and I helped you get revenge. It's not unreasonable for me to ask for a small amount of money, is it?"

"Not at all, not at all." Kidd helplessly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Mr. Zhengyi is indeed a great philanthropist."

The so-called revenge you're giving me is just an excuse, right?

At this moment, Ai, who had been quietly observing, raised her head, looked at Shoichi, and then at Kaito Kid.

She rummaged through her small backpack, took out a brand new Band-Aid, and handed it to Kidd.

"Um... Mr. Kid, your arm looks like it's bleeding. Here, take this." Ai's voice was soft.

Kid looked at the band-aid in Ai's hand, then looked down at the gunshot wound on his own face, and his lips twitched again.

Should I use a band-aid for a gunshot wound?
Does this really stop the bleeding?
But looking into Ai's innocent and concerned eyes, he just couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Thank you."

He took the small band-aid, but didn't put it on the wound.

Goodnight, everyone. Sweet dreams.

He carefully tucked the band-aid into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, then turned and left.

Zheng Yi yawned as he watched his retreating figure.

He picked up the playing cards and began shuffling them again, the cards tracing graceful arcs in the air:
"Okay, let's continue."

Hongye asked curiously, "Your employee is Kaito Kid?"

"Is it surprising?" Zheng Yi asked.

Hongye shook her head.

Since Shoichi is the biggest villain in Tokyo, it's quite normal that Kaito Kid, the thief, is one of Shoichi's employees.

Hongye asked curiously, "So, many of the things in your art museum were stolen by Phantom Thief Kid?"

“Of course not,” Zheng Yi denied. “The source of those artworks is completely compliant and legal.” Hong Ye shrugged, not really believing him.

Given your ruthless and unscrupulous nature...

With such a useful thief as Kaito Kid, how could you not let him steal things for you?

Zheng Yi bent his index finger and tapped Hong Ye's forehead, which was covered with paper strips, lightly but firmly.

"If you frame me again, I'll beat you up."

Hongye clutched her forehead in pain, about to retort, but Zhengyi's finger had already moved to the side.

"Boom."

With a soft tap, Zheng Yi knocked Ai's forehead again, as Ai was watching the show with her arms crossed.

"Ouch!"

Caught off guard, Ai covered the spot where she had been hit, looked up, and her beautiful eyes were filled with shock.

Why did you suddenly hit me?

Zheng Yi withdrew his hand and said slowly, "Your personality is really getting worse and worse."

"?" Ai was stunned.

Her eyes widened, wondering if she had misheard.

Did they really make up such an absurd reason to frame me just to hit me?
"Where did I go wrong?" Ai retorted defiantly.

"I didn't do anything, and I even gave him a band-aid. I was just doing a good deed!"

Zheng Yi leaned forward: "Does anyone use band-aids for gunshot wounds?"

He pointed in the direction where Ai had just taken out the band-aid: "That wasn't concern, that was just stirring up trouble and rubbing salt into the wound."

Ai showed no shame whatsoever.

She's just a child, it's normal that she doesn't know these things.

Zheng Yi was far worse than him.

……

Wow! That roller coaster looks so tall!

Hongye stood on tiptoe, pointed at the silver roller coaster spiraling upwards in the distance, and shouted excitedly, her eyes sparkling with eager anticipation.

Zheng Yi's hands were already stuffed with a huge pink plush rabbit doll by Hong Ye.

He shrugged helplessly and gestured ahead with his chin:
"Let's go, let's go store our luggage first, and then check into the hotel."

"Carrying all this stuff on a roller coaster would be too embarrassing."

Ai followed behind Shoichi, also holding a huge doll in her arms.

The doll's head completely covered Ai's eyes.

Not far ahead, the Red Castle Hotel stands at the forefront of the Fantasyland.

The entire building is painted a bright and striking red, with a pointed black roof and arched wooden window frames.

From a distance, it looks like a red castle straight out of a fairy tale.

"The environment here is very nice."

Hongye followed Zhengyi into the hotel lobby, looking around at the high, ornate ceilings and the spiral staircase covered with a red carpet.

Ai silently carried her suitcase and followed behind the two of them, like a quiet little cat.

She looked up at the crystal chandelier and said softly, "I heard that this place has a large number of visitors, and the total number of tourists received is about to exceed 100,000."

"There are so many rich people."

Zheng Yi glanced at the slightly crowded people at the front desk and casually switched the giant plush rabbit to his other hand.

The prices here are not low.

Gin should really come and take this restaurant hostage, then extort a huge sum of money from it. He'd definitely make a fortune.

Gin really doesn't know how to manage money.

Such a good path to wealth has not been found.

The three walked to the front desk, which was decorated with a towering black roof.

The receptionist, dressed in a neat uniform and wearing a professional smile, handed over three white ID watches with bright red ribbons attached.

"Welcome to the Red Castle Hotel. These are your ID watches." The receptionist pushed the three pure white boxes in front of them.

"Wearing this, you can freely enter and exit the adjacent fantasy park today and enjoy all the rides for free."

Zheng Yi picked up one of the ID watches and examined it from all angles.

“This thing…” Zheng Yi raised an eyebrow.

"It's so pretty." Hongye had already snatched one and put it on her wrist without noticing anything amiss.

"Oh, Zhengyi, don't be so picky." Hongye shook her wrist.

“I have no complaints.”

Seeing Hongye's enthusiastic expression, Zhengyi also picked one up and put it on his wrist.

He tried taking it off and putting it back on, repeating this several times, until he was sure it wouldn't suddenly explode, before handing the last one to Ai who was standing next to him.

Ai reached out her little hand, took the light ID watch, and obediently put it on her wrist.

Zheng Yi rubbed his stomach and coughed: "Alright, now, let's go eat."

"Okay!" Both Hongye and Xiao Ai nodded, clearly they were hungry too.

The three of them went to the restaurant, found a window seat, and ordered some simple steak and pasta.

At the dining table, Hongye cut her steak while asking in a low voice:

"By the way, since you promised to avenge that Phantom Thief Kid, why haven't you taken any action yet?"

She tilted her head:

"You actually had time to come to the amusement park with me and Ai? You didn't forget, did you?"

Zheng Yi stuffed a piece of cut steak into his mouth, chewed a few times, and then mumbled:
"Someone else has already done it."

"Others?" Hongye blinked, her curiosity instantly piqued.

"Who did it?"

She was actually very interested in Zhengyi's modus operandi.

This man always preferred to stay behind the scenes, manipulating everything like a chess player.

“Someone… who is very suitable to handle this kind of trouble.” Zheng Yi picked up his water glass and took a sip.

"Is he planning to kill someone again?" Hongye poked at the potatoes on her plate with her fork.

She leaned slightly forward, lowered her voice, and glanced back and forth between Shoichi and Ai, as if she were participating in some secret meeting.

"Will that president of the Fukayama company die unexpectedly soon, just like the last person who offended you?"

Zheng Yi was slowly and methodically cutting his steak when he heard this, and his hand paused slightly.

"Is your brain flooded?"

"What kind of person am I in your heart?" Zheng Yi asked in return.

"You keep talking about murder and arson. Do you think I'm the kind of brute who only knows how to solve problems with violence?"

He put down his knife and fork and leaned back in his chair.
"I am actually a law-abiding, and even a kind person."

After hearing this, Hongye's lips twitched slightly, and she rolled her eyes without any attempt to hide it.

See if your dead business rivals believe these words.

Whether those people's families believe it or not.

"That person already had problems, and now a detective is preparing to investigate him."

"He will soon be punished by law."

He emphasized the words "legal sanctions" to express his respect for the law.

“That’s right, it’s the punishment of the law, and also the punishment of justice,” Zheng Yi said.

"detective?"

Hongye didn't care about laws or justice.

Because that's just pure nonsense from Zheng Yi.

In any case, those who are punished by Zhengyi are always punished by law.

But Hongye keenly grasped the word "detective".

In her limited knowledge, it seemed that Zheng Yi only knew one detective.

She lowered her voice, leaned forward, and got closer to Masakazu: "Could it be Kogoro Mouri?"

"Is he the detective you've been rumored to have a complicated relationship with? Is he really the assassin you trained?"

"Eat more and think less about those messy things."

Zheng Yi pursed his lips, picked up a large piece of vegetable salad and put it into Hongye's plate, trying to shut her up.

Is their relationship ambiguous?
He didn't have much contact with Kogoro Mouri, okay?

Moreover, your choice of words was very inappropriate.

To have an ambiguous relationship with Kogoro would be utterly disgusting.

Zheng Yi neither admitted nor denied it.

After all, sometimes, misunderstandings can be a good form of camouflage.

"Anyway, I am pure and innocent, and I have nothing to fear."

Zheng Yi's calm and composed demeanor suggests that he is upright and has nothing to fear.

In Hongye's eyes, however, it turned into a picture of someone who was as stubborn as a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water.

Hongye glanced at Ai, who was quietly eating beside her, and nodded thoughtfully.

Not denying it means admitting it. (End of Chapter)