Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

The pain stemmed from the fact that he received orders from both the police and the Black Organization simultaneously, forcing him to work frantically overtime, mechanically producing the same inventions in order to submit the products before the clients cut back on funding.

The happiness also stemmed from this—compared to those impoverished prisoners, the Black Organization was far too generous.

The thought of earning millions of dollars in just a few days of work made Toru Tono hum a song even while working late into the night.

Please, just let me suffer like this!

......

Yokohama Port, Sallybeth.

Tohno adjusted his off-white suit and walked forward.

A perfectly pressed suit jacket, impeccably straight trousers, and leather shoes that gleamed softly under the direct light... all combined with his handsome appearance. Among a group of portly middle-aged men, he stood out like a crane among chickens, exuding the air of a dashing young man.

Ignoring the envious or ardent gazes he received from those around him, he slowly walked to a place that was also brimming with youthful energy.

"Tousang, you look so handsome today."

Sonoko Suzuki waved to him, welcoming Toru Tono.

"Since you're here to attend the Suzuki family's party, you're dressed a bit more formally," Toru Tono said, walking up to Sonoko and Conan and offering his usual compliment.

But when it reached Sonoko Suzuki's ears, it didn't mean that.

Her ears instantly turned red, her eyes lowered, and her voice became softer: "I...I see..."

"......?" Tohru Tohru didn't understand what she was thinking with this inexplicable behavior, so he simply turned his gaze to Conan on the other side: "Long time no see, Conan-kun."

He lowered his head and casually compared Conan's height to his own—Conan wasn't even taller than his thigh.

"You've grown taller again," Toru Tohno said with a grin as he squatted down and looked at Conan.

Conan Edogawa, who possesses the spirit of Shinichi Kudo, remained expressionless.

bad.

Beneath his seemingly sunny and handsome exterior lies a heart that enjoys mocking children... and it seems no one else has noticed.

As expected, only Conan Edogawa can break through the layers of mystery and see the truth!

Conan habitually glanced at Toru Tohno in front of him and noticed that Toru's dark circles, which he always had, seemed to have become even more pronounced.

Did you stay up too late?

Conan recalled what Professor Agasa had told him about Toru Tohno; the man did indeed often stay up all night.

Out of consideration for being neighbors, he reluctantly offered a reminder: "Brother Tou, I've heard that staying up late can lead to a variety of symptoms, including weakened immunity, hormonal imbalances, liver damage, skin aging, sensory deterioration, and hormonal imbalances."

"It can also increase the burden on the heart, causing a faster heart rate and higher blood pressure, increasing the risk of hypertension and heart disease. In severe cases, it may even lead to sudden death..."

"stop!"

Tohru Tono casually grabbed a handful of candy from the food-filled table and stuffed it into Conan's mouth, silencing the elementary school student's incessant chatter.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Conan spat the candy into his palm, his face full of black lines.

Why did you put it in his mouth without removing the packaging?! It's so dirty, hey!

"I'm still young, please don't talk about such heavy topics." Tohru Tohno clasped his hands together, looking like he was saying, "Please, please."

"Pfft."

Sonoko, who was standing nearby, laughed out loud when she saw their interaction.

They both turned to look at her at the same time.

"Sorry, sorry," Sonoko said, but there was no hint of apology in her voice. "But Toru-san, you and Conan seem to have a really good relationship."

Tohru Tono stood up: "I just think Conan is really smart—he's got the makings of a detective."

Chapter 53 The Cross-Dressing Master Comes to Steal Gems!

Conan turned his head and looked at Ran Mouri, who had been told by Sonoko Suzuki that she was going to find him, but they missed each other.

But what he was thinking about was his conversation with Hattori Heiji.

......

"I think Tohno Toru guessed your true identity a long time ago."

Hattori Heiji tilted his head, leaning back in his chair as he looked at him.

“Impossible,” Conan denied. “A detective can’t suppress his thirst for knowledge—if he found out, he would definitely come to me and ask me about it.”

"Hey, I think you're just fooling yourself." Hattori Heiji reached out and placed his hand on his head, chuckling. "Doesn't he always say that his main profession is actually an inventor? Even according to your theory, it's perfectly normal for him not to specifically ask you, right? Not to mention that even I noticed your strange behavior... but he didn't react at all. Aren't you surprised?"

Conan moved his hand away, tidied his hair, looked out the window, and said nothing more.

......

If we work backwards from the assumption that "Tohno Toru already knows that Edogawa Conan is Kudo Shinichi," then his frequent interactions with Conan do indeed seem a bit unusual.

Conan pondered to himself.

However, we cannot rule out the possibility that what he said was his true inner thought—but for now, let's treat it as if it has already been exposed.

If you are forced into a situation, seek help from Toru Tono first.

......

Conan sighed, realizing that his acting skills definitely needed improvement.

How come even a detective could spot that something was off about him?

What a failure!

Conan reflects.

But speaking of acting skills...

The image of a woman who liked to force others to call her "older sister" flashed through Conan's mind.

Why don't we wait until she returns to China and let her pursue further studies?

That's what Conan thought.

......

"Xiao Lan is really something, why is she so slow?"

Kogoro Mouri, also dressed in a white suit, walked over, greeted Toru Tono first, and then looked around, searching for his daughter.

"I think she must have gotten lost somewhere," said her best friend Sonoko, revealing Ran's hidden trait, "She's always been terrible with directions."

"Who are you calling a directionally challenged idiot?" A voice, three parts shy and seven parts helpless, came from beside me.

Xiao Lan, wearing an off-the-shoulder evening gown, appeared in everyone's sight.

"Ah, Ran, so you're here." Sonoko said in a tone as if nothing had happened.

Tohru Tono discreetly took out his phone where no one was looking and glanced at the red location dot on it.

The distance from the signal source is 1m.

Toru Tono looked up and glanced disdainfully at "Ran" in front of him.

The phantom thief's cross-dressing fetish has struck again.

......

On stage, Chaki Shintaro, the superintendent of the Second Investigation Division who was invited to arrest Kaito Kid, is seriously explaining to everyone that Kaito Kid can disguise himself. He suggests that everyone present form a group with the person next to them and set up a secret code that only the two of them know, in order to make it more difficult for Kaito Kid to disguise himself.

Tohru Tohno stroked his chin, 'Keeping the same secret with someone else'... This sounds like a flirting trick, doesn't it? Does it really have any effect on capturing Kid?

Tohru Tono was kept in the dark for the time being.

"Tousan, what code should we choose?" Sonoko asked excitedly as she approached.

"Hmm..." Toru Tohno pondered for a moment, "I told you it was Vito Frankstan, right?"

"Huh? Who is that?" Sonoko asked, puzzled.

“That’s not important,” Tohru Tono replied. “You should just accept Hououin Kyouma.”

“Okay…” Sonoko had never heard of these two people, but she still made sure to remember their names.

Ran and Conan, who were standing nearby, also huddled together and secretly used "Holmes" and "Lupin" to agree on a secret code.

Before Xiaolan could straighten up, the lights suddenly went out.

Kidd, dressed in a white tuxedo, suddenly appeared in the corner of the rooftop.

The spotlight shone on him, making him seem like the only protagonist in the entire event.

“Even if you use a code, it won’t work.” He held the black gem between his thumb and forefinger. “Because I already have the real ‘Black Star’.”

"Wow!" Sonoko exclaimed, her eyes filled with admiration.

Tono glanced sideways.

Your jewels have been stolen! Is that okay?

"Hmph." Suzuki Tomoko, standing next to her, snorted coldly, elegantly drawing the pistol from her waist with an air of "I really can't do anything with you."

"This thief is really a headache."

She pulled the safety, aimed at Kidd, and repeatedly pressed the trigger.

"bang bang bang"

The sound of the bullets being fired startled the audience.

Kidd, who was pressed against the wall, seemed to have been shot several times and fell onto the round table with a scream.

The lights came back on, and the guests saw Kidd's "corpse".

"Ah!!!" The guests present exclaimed in surprise.

Within seconds, the "corpse" miraculously sat up.

"This is the magician I invited to liven up the atmosphere—Mr. Sanada Ichizo."

Tomoko Suzuki introduces "Kaito Kid," a character who wears a monocle and a white tuxedo.

Sanada Ichizo took off his top hat to express his gratitude.