Chapter 29 How could someone set the suspension bridge on fire?

Chapter 29

"My most respected magician... would probably be Kuroba Toichi."

Several people in the living room gathered around the dining table, excitedly discussing their favorite magicians. Perhaps hearing footsteps, Araki turned around and said to Kurokawa Kaoru and the others with a smile, "Kuroba Toichi might not be that famous in your age group, but I do like him."

"Even at this age, there are people who like Kuroba Toichi."

Miyaji was the last to enter the living room. Upon hearing Arashi Yoshinori's voice, his eyebrows raised and he turned to look at him. "His magic is simply amazing. Anyone who's into magic has probably heard of him."

"That's right."

"So you all like Kuroba Toichi?"

Tanaka Kikue, who had short dark brown hair, put down her knife and fork, tilted her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Personally, I prefer Kinoshita Yoshiro, who has won all the titles at such a young age."

"Only superficial women would be attracted to a guy who pulls gimmicks like that."

Sitting a body length away from Tanaka Kikue, Hamano Toshiya shook his head and his gaze fell on Kurokawa Kaoru. "I wonder if our timeline checker's favorite magician is one of those we just mentioned?"

"Just call me Xiaolin."

"Ms. Kobayashi."

He chose to use his mother's given name simply to avoid being recognized by Suzuki Sonoko. After all, he had promised Kudo Shinichi that he would help him take care of Mori Ran. Rather than wasting time explaining why he was dressed as a girl, he might as well just pretend he didn't know her.

Anyway, Suzuki Sonoko had only seen herself in men's clothes. Although she had appeared as a girl on the Sally Beth before, only Suzuki Tomoko was there at the time. She probably wouldn't tell her daughter about such an insignificant thing.

Therefore, Kurokawa Kaoru can appear in front of the other party with confidence and ensure that he will not be discovered.

Hamano Toshi would also say that, purely to change the topic to himself. He glanced at him with a half-smile. Kurokawa Kaoru chuckled softly and said in a flat voice, "Actually, I don't have any favorite magicians."

To him, magic was simply a form of artistic expression. He admired the technique, not the magician himself. However, everyone here probably had a favorite magician, so considering fitting in, Kurokawa Kaoru lowered his eyes, hiding the smile.

"To be honest, I might like Phantom Thief more."

"Phantom Thief?"

Hamano Toshi was also a little confused: "Is it some unknown magician? I don't think I've ever heard of anyone being called a phantom thief."

"From a magician's perspective, the opponent is indeed not very qualified."

Magicians need to maintain a poker face at all times while also presenting spectacular performances to the audience. But one person, obsessed with looking cool and nothing more than finding gems, has nothing to do with magicians.

Thinking of this, Kurokawa Kaoru laughed and glanced at the man beside him: "But as a Phantom Thief, I can at least get a passing grade."

The fat boy, the fake Doi Takeki, the real Kuroba Kaito, scratched his head. If you didn't know better, you might think Kurokawa Kaoru was talking about someone else. "Personally, I also prefer Kuroba Touichi. After all, he's a veteran magician. His skills are completely unmatched by today's magicians."

"If you really say so, isn't Kujuku Motoyasu also a veteran magician?"

"I don't like men who are too fat."

Looking at Kuroba Kaito's current state expressionlessly, his eyes inadvertently swept across his bulging belly. Kurokawa Kaoru snorted coldly and sat down opposite him at Hamano Toshiya's invitation: "That's such a coincidence. I don't like overweight men either."

Kuroba Kaito realized belatedly that he was now the fat man: ...

This guy Kurokawa is always the fastest in being sarcastic.

【Kudo Shinichi: Is Xiaolan by your side? 】

The sudden vibration of his phone caught Kurokawa Kaoru's attention. He finally remembered to take out his phone from an angle where Ran Maoli and Suzuki Sonoko couldn't see it. After taking a look at the content in the dialog box, Kurokawa Kaoru frowned, instinctively realizing that something was going to happen that would make him headache.

[Kurokawa Kaoru: We are currently in the living room of the holiday cottage, and Ran Mouri and Sonoko Suzuki are sitting together.]

【Kudo Shinichi: Leave quickly! 】

【Kudo Shinichi: The uncle and I have already rushed back. 】

Leave? Kurokawa Kaoru was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned serious when he realized what was happening.

【Kurokawa Kaoru: What happened?】

Kudo Shinichi: Nishiyama Mu, whose forum pen name is Escape King, was reported in the news a while ago to have died at home. There's even a message from "Shadow Master" on his computer.

When Kurokawa Kaoru saw the words "Shadow Master," his eyes widened for a moment, and Miyaji didn't miss his reaction. Seeing the silence on his face, Miyaji's expression shifted slightly, and he leaned over to Kurokawa Kaoru's ear and whispered, "Did you run into something bothering you?"

"It cannot be confirmed yet."

After seeing Edogawa Conan's message, Kurokawa Kaoru's heart sank. After learning from Ara Yoshinori where the landline phone of the holiday cottage was placed, Kurokawa Kaoru stood up and walked straight towards the room where the landline phone was placed.

"Hey, Hei...Xiaolin."

Following behind the other person, Miyaji frowned and took two steps forward to block the other person.

"What do you want to do?"

"Didn't I say it can't be confirmed yet?"

Reaching out to push the person aside, looking at the landline in front of him, Kurokawa Kaoru took a deep breath, picked up the receiver and put it to his ear.

It's a busy tone.

As expected. Kurokawa Kaoru sighed and turned to look at the other people in the living room.

"No need to wait for the Escape King anymore. Unless something unexpected happens... No, he definitely won't come."

"Before this, has any of you contacted the Escape King?"

"Escape King?"

Hearing Kurokawa Kaoru's voice, Araki Yoshinori was surprised and asked, "When Ms. Sonoko and Ms. Ran came, I called him. Because it was on the voicemail mode, I thought he was on his way."

On the way?

Kurokawa Kaoru smiled, and the other party clearly heard what he said: "The escape king you mentioned has been found dead at home by the police. Even if you want to see him, I'm afraid there is no chance."

"How come?"

"The King of Escape?"

"Ms. Kobayashi, are you lying to us?"

"This is just the first time I've met you. Is it necessary to lie to me about something like this?"

He grabbed the phone and showed it to the user that the cable had been cut. Not surprisingly, seeing the surprise on Araki Yoshinobu's face, Kurokawa Kaoru lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Nishiyama Mu, 41. His mother found the body, and there was an incomprehensible message on the computer next to the body."

"One has been dealt with—the Shadow Mage."

As soon as Kurokawa Kaoru finished speaking, everyone's expression changed except Suzuki Sonoko and Mori Ran.

"As for Shadow Mage...I remember some people suspecting him to be the magician who died in an accident during a performance—Harui Fuden?"

Being a magic enthusiast after all, Miyaji had some knowledge of the Shadow Mage that Kurokawa Kaoru mentioned: "My father once saw his magic and told me before that if it weren't for that accident, Harui Fuden would be considered one of the top magicians now."

Hearing what Miyaji said, Araki nodded and sighed, "Harui Fuden's most famous magic is escaping from the water. Although it was an accident, everyone says that if he was a few years younger, he might have been able to hold on until he was discovered."

"No accident can be explained by speculative answers."

"Ms. Kobayashi?"

"Harui Fuden is indeed old, but his position in the magic world is unshakable. The accident you mentioned was clearly the result of negligence on the part of the staff. If I were Harui Fuden's relative, even if that staff member died to atone for his sin, it would be justified."

He gave Arakawa Yoshinori an expressionless look. Seeing him hesitantly lower his head, Kurokawa Kaoru narrowed his eyes and turned to look at Hamano Toshiya, whose face had been a little pale since a while ago. "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Hamano's pen name on the forum should be the disappeared Barney, right?"

"Didn't you and Escape King discuss Harui Fuden's death on the forum a while ago? If Shadow Mage and Harui Fuden are truly the same person, then judging by the messages on Escape King's computer, he likely read your discussion, hence the message 'one solved.'"

"Are you…are you kidding me?"

Hamano Toshiya raised his voice: "Aren't forums supposed to be a place for everyone to discuss things freely? Besides, I didn't say anything wrong. Don't try to scare me by saying weird things here."

At this point, he still refuses to admit that he was wrong? Without intending to say anything more, Kurokawa Kaoru lowered his eyes and let Hamano Toshiya yell over there without replying a single word.

"Hey, Kurokawa."

Standing behind Kurokawa Kaoru, Miyaji whispered, "What on earth were you talking about from just now?"

"People are really stubborn even when facing death."

Although he had decided to live as an ordinary high school student in this life, for someone like Kurokawa Kaoru who had been in contact with the dark world for many years, death was a common occurrence. So after he learned the cause of Nishiyama Mu's death, he immediately asked Hamano Toshi if he was the missing Barney.

Kurokawa Kaoru's idea was very simple - after all, Ran Mouri was the person Kudo Shinichi asked him to take care of. If someone died in front of her, it would more or less have a shock to Ran Mouri's heart.

But Hamano Toshiya refused to cooperate. Even if he had wanted to help him, he couldn't resist the other party's suicidal behavior. He mentally organized his words to explain to Kudo Shinichi, and seeing the confusion on Miyaji's face, Kurokawa Kaoru sighed and opened his mouth to explain... something was wrong.

His expression froze.

The criminals had even cut off the phone lines in order to prevent them from contacting the outside world. Thinking of what Edogawa Conan had just said on the phone, asking them to leave quickly, Kurokawa Kaoru's eyes widened and he suddenly ran out the door.

"Ms. Kobayashi, where are you going?"

Almost at the same time he turned around, Kuroba Kaito followed him and caught up with him in a few seconds: "Besides the telephone wire, what else did you find?"

"Since you've already caught up with me, do you still need to ask me?"

After glancing at the other person lightly, Kurokawa Kaoru quickened his pace and walked straight towards the suspension bridge not far away, which was the only way to the outside of this holiday cottage.

Getting closer.

Getting closer.

Less than ten meters.

That being said, Kurokawa Kaoru was certain that they wouldn't be able to leave today. Although it was getting dark, they could still see light, like a red cloud, winding its way upwards.

Without them noticing, someone had quietly come here and set the suspension bridge on fire.

TBC.