Conan and Gin are both my brothers, what's wrong with meeting them once?

That's why they say a mother understands her son best.

Under the gazes of Yukiko Kudo, Ran, Haruka Haibara, and Ai Haibara, Kazuma Kudo and Conan both sighed.

Since things have come to this, let's go back inside and change our disguises first.

Before the two of them could even go upstairs, Conan was stopped by Ran.

"Shinichi..." Ran came out of the open kitchen in a few steps, took Conan's hand, and said with a smile, "Wait a minute, let me take a picture."

Conan's eyes widened instantly, and the blush on his face was so intense that even the thin disguise mask couldn't hide it.

"……orchid?"

What's going on? How come Lan has also picked up that wicked sense of humor from her mother and came all this way just to see him make a fool of himself?

Ran seemed to guess what Conan was thinking and explained, "I didn't mean to make fun of you, it's just... Shinichi is so cute right now~ What an adorable little sister!"

Conan: "..."

He would be happier if you removed the last sentence.

But Xiaolan liked it, so he had no choice but to obediently pose in a few cute ways and let her take a few photos.

Seeing Ran so happy, Conan could only feel depressed.

Fortunately, he is Conan now. If he were Shinichi Kudo, he would never allow Ran to do such a thing.

"Come on, you can't even refuse your own mother, how could you possibly refuse Xiaolan?"

Kazuma Kudo saw through it all long ago.

After the two brothers spent ages upstairs fussing over their makeup and changing clothes, dinner was already laid out on the table when they came down. Meanwhile, Ran was telling the other three about the rumors of Teitan High School being haunted.

Ai Haibara dismissed the rumors that seemed both true and false, while Haruka Haibara was somewhat frightened. Only Yukiko Kudo listened attentively and offered timely comfort and evaluation.

When she saw Kazuma Kudo and Conan come downstairs, she immediately pulled Conan aside and said to Ran, "If you're really worried, let Shinichi go with you to check on them tomorrow."

Conan asked in confusion, "What are you looking at?"

"It's about the haunted Teitan High School, you know." Yukiko Kudo tapped Conan's forehead lightly. "I think it's probably just someone deliberately causing trouble to scare people. Why don't you go with Ran to check it out tomorrow?"

Kazuma Kudo leaned closer: "Haunted? You can include me in this interesting story too."

Yukiko Kudo glanced at him: "I can't take you... because those weird things usually happen in the morning when the students have just arrived at school. By the time you wake up, it'll be too late."

Kazuma Kudo pouted: "Never mind then, sleeping is more important."

He wouldn't do something so unprofitable as to have to get up early without a soul.

"But Mom, you're right. There was a ghost story this morning, but it stopped later. That's because everyone went to class later, and the person who was causing the ghost went to class too!"

He understands this kind of thing. It's just like that phantom thief who only does things at night, and usually only takes action on weekends if he needs to do something during the day.

Putting aside the fact that Pandora only reacts under the moonlight, Douzi only has time at night and on weekends.

Because they had agreed to go to Teitan High School with Ran the next morning, Conan went back to the agency with Ran after dinner.

Meanwhile, Kazuma Kudo and Yukiko Kudo sent the Haibara sisters back to Agasa's house.

After that, Kudo Kazuma returned to his real home and went to find Akai Shuichi.

"You mean, you want me to keep an eye on Kassasa for you, just in case?" Shuichi Akai asked reluctantly. "What, even if all the other snipers in the organization are useless, does my lover not even know how to handle a sniper rifle? Or is it that he... is unwilling to help you with this kind of thing?"

"If that's the case, you might as well join the FBI."

"Armored enemy, so what nonsense are you talking about?" Kudo Kazuma was speechless. "Gin has already helped enough. He's still a member of the organization. Asking him to keep an eye on Kassadar for me is a joke."

"Kashasa isn't a rat. If I fail and he gets away, you, as an FBI investigator, can just use your superhuman skills to snipe him and be done with it. But can Gin do that? If he really snipes Kashasa, and that old man, the boss, investigates, that would be a huge problem, okay?"

"So, you're asking me for help so that Gin won't get into trouble with the boss? Danpo, do you think I'd help you?" Shuichi Akai scoffed. "Of course, if you agree to join us, I'd be happy to help."

Kudo Kazuma didn't bother to respond, and simply nodded: "Fine, if you don't want to help, then forget it. I'll go find Bourbon and ask him to find me a helper from the police."

"Also, tell him that it's one thing for some FBI agents to smuggle people into the country, but to let guys like Kassasa run rampant in his favorite country... Tsk tsk, let Bourbon worry about this kind of thing."

Shuichi Akai was speechless for a moment.

Can this kid stop bringing up Bourbon?

He frowned and said irritably, "If you want my help, you have to show some sincerity, right? I heard... you even pay Bourbon for his work?"

Why is it that when it comes to him, all that's left is a bellyful of speechless frustration?

“Sure.” Kudo Kazuma was the type who was easy to talk to when asking for help. “Then I’ll waive your rent next month. It’s three million yen. Bourbon doesn’t even make three million yen a month. Compared to him, you’re getting a great deal, okay?”

Shuichi Akai: "...Are you kidding me?"

He shouldn't have been paying the rent in the first place, okay?

Even in legitimate rentals, I've never heard of 100,000 yen a day!

"No this, no that, why are you so difficult to please?" Kudo Kazuma shrugged. "Alright, alright, if you're willing to help, I can exchange a very useful top-secret piece of information with you."

Meeting Akai Shuichi's suspicious gaze, Kudo Kazuma said with a serious expression: "Really, I guarantee it's extremely useful and top secret, almost to the point that if I reveal the information to Kassa, you're finished."

Akai Shuichi: "..."

What kind of legitimate business involves veiled threats?

How did Yusaku Kudo give birth to such an outrageous son?

"Tell me, when will we take action? Where is the location? I'll disguise myself and scout the place first to prepare."

Kudo Kazuma immediately gave the address and emphasized that the operation would take place the day after tomorrow.

Akai Shuichi: "..."

Why are you only coming to find him now when we're supposed to act the day after tomorrow?

Is this kid deliberately trying to annoy people?

"Hey, don't be upset. My mom's here, I'll have her do a decent disguise for you. I guarantee you'll be able to walk around the street without anyone recognizing you."

Kazuma Kudo gave a thumbs up: "The effect is guaranteed. With the neck voice changer made by Professor Agasa, as long as I don't say anything, no one will know that you are Shuichi Akai!"

Akai Shuichi: "..."

Isn't that last sentence still a threat?