Chapter 284
With the case underway, the stage play was definitely going to have to stop. Someone called the police, and Inspector Megure, an old acquaintance, quickly arrived at the scene.
While Inspector Megure was still questioning about the incident, he saw a boy wearing a baseball cap running around the scene with great familiarity, talking to him and analyzing the cause of death.
His eloquent and carefree manner, as if he were at home in his hometown, aroused everyone's curiosity.
Kogoro Mouri went even further, asking directly, "How do you know so much? Were you right next to the deceased?"
"No, I was counting eight rows ahead, and the little boy with glasses can vouch for me."
Ai Haibara squinted at the baseball cap-wearing boy who was putting on such a show, and reluctantly admitted, "Yeah, it seems so..."
Kogoro Mouri was still wondering, "Speaking of which, you look familiar. Have we met before?"
The boy in the baseball cap had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He couldn't wait to say, "You've forgotten me after so long? It's me, it's Shinichi Kudo!"
As he spoke, he took off his baseball cap.
Ai Haibara looked at him speechlessly.
Although I don't know which makeup artist they hired, they applied some face cream or something to make my complexion a bit paler, and they also modified my face shape to look more like Shinichi Kudo, and tried to style my hair in that direction, but—
This looks exactly like Heiji Hattori!!!
Heiji Hattori didn't think he was likely to give himself away easily; he even thought he was acting very well.
He didn't do this to play a prank; it was for his friend Shinichi Kudo!
Two days ago, he heard that Conan Edogawa was hospitalized, so he quickly flew over to visit him. But then he heard Conan Edogawa say that he might be exposed in front of Ran Mouri.
The best way to make Ran Mouri believe that Conan Edogawa and Shinichi Kudo are two different people is to let Ran see Conan Edogawa and Shinichi Kudo appear in front of her at the same time.
Kudo is in trouble, so as his brother, I definitely have to help!
So Heiji Hattori went back and thought about it for a while, and came up with the idea of impersonating Shinichi Kudo.
His initial plan was simply for Ran Mouri to see him sitting next to Conan Edogawa on stage—even from that distance, he felt his appearance was still quite similar.
Who knew that a case would occur, and he couldn't ignore it, nor could Shinichi Kudo, so they had no choice but to step in and solve the case... Alas, man proposes, God disposes. I hope everyone can overlook that slight inconsistency and believe that he is Shinichi Kudo!
Unfortunately, after Hattori Heiji said he was Kudo Shinichi in his Osaka accent, there was an awkward silence for a few seconds before he was exposed.
"Heiji! What are you doing? You've put on makeup and changed your hairstyle..." His childhood friend, Kazuha Toyama, stepped forward in confusion.
Hattori Heiji tried to put up a fight, but he was quickly suppressed. He wiped off the powder on his face, revealing his true appearance.
Vermouth secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Good heavens! So many unexpected things have happened today! Why did this guy have to come and make things worse?
If they had found someone who could disguise themselves like her, that would be one thing, but with that mediocre skill, how could she dare to impersonate Shinichi Kudo!
He even publicly claimed to be Shinichi Kudo!
Thank goodness it was exposed! Otherwise, what if someone from the public posted online saying they saw Shinichi Kudo solving a crime scene?
Although Usaku Saiki didn't come, anyone here could cause just as much destruction as him!
After Hattori Heiji's identity was exposed, he felt a little regretful but then continued to immerse himself in solving the case and didn't cause any more trouble.
But Vermouth's heart was still in suspense.
Because she saw that Shinichi Kudo was still wearing his Black Knight outfit, observing the crime scene...
Vermouth silently prayed: Shinichi, you must remember your current situation, and don't jump out in front of so many people...!
The same goes for Ai Haibara.
She couldn't be sure that the member of the organization she sensed had left. What if the other person stayed, and Shinichi Kudo couldn't resist... then everything would be over!
So, while no one had yet noticed anything amiss and was still treating her like Conan Edogawa, coming to discuss the case with her, Ai Haibara simply ordered Heiji Hattori: "You pass on a message for me."
She doesn't want to stand out right now and just wants to keep a low profile, but Shinichi Kudo in his costume is too conspicuous, so she'd better ask someone to pass on her message.
The thought that she was being so cautious while Shinichi Kudo seemed to be missing a screw made Ai Haibara feel that her fear was suppressed by anger, and a lot of dissatisfaction rose in her heart.
Heiji Hattori hadn't yet noticed anything amiss; he was simply wondering why Shinichi Kudo wasn't helping him solve the case this time: "What message are you passing on?"
Ai Haibara: "Tell that Black Knight that I need to speak with him."
Hattori Heiji thought the Black Knight might be connected to the case, so he agreed without much hesitation and quickly ran over and called the Black Knight to this corner.
Shinichi Kudo asked, somewhat puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Ai Haibara gestured for him to lower his head.
Shinichi Kudo squatted down, about to say something, when a bolt from the blue struck him.
Ai Haibara: "There might be people from the organization here. Think carefully before you do anything!"
Shinichi Kudo: "...?!?!?!?!"
He immediately tensed up: "Where? Who? How did you know?"
Ai Haibara briefly explained, "Just now, I chatted with Hattori for a bit. I don't know what the organization's people are doing here, but if anyone might be the organization's target, it's probably you and me."
You can tell from the sound that there's not much information.
Shinichi Kudo promptly went to Heiji Hattori: "Hattori, who was that person you were talking to at your seat just now? Do you still recognize them?"
Upon hearing Shinichi Kudo speak, Heiji Hattori finally recognized him: "You! You...!"
Wow! Isn't that Shinichi Kudo?!
He hadn't actually met Shinichi Kudo in person much, so he couldn't recognize him by his chin, but they had at least spoken before. Although they weren't very familiar with each other's voices, he was very impressed by the tone of voice! After all, when Conan Edogawa stopped pretending and spoke to him in Shinichi Kudo's manner, that was exactly the tone he used!
But this is Shinichi Kudo, and who is Conan Edogawa next to him?!
Hattori Heiji was dumbfounded.
Shinichi Kudo waited a few seconds, then realized that Heiji Hattori still hadn't come to his senses. Helplessly, he waved his hand in front of Heiji's eyes: "Hattori? Hattori? Wake up! I'm in a hurry!"
Ran Mouri, who had been keeping an eye on Conan Edogawa—now Ai Haibara—quickly noticed Heiji Hattori's strange reaction.
She frowned in confusion, feeling that the Black Knight's demeanor didn't seem like that of Dr. Araide. Then she recalled the Black Knight's strange reaction on stage earlier, and Sonoko's inexplicable excitement...
Ran Mouri thought for a moment, then walked to the corner and asked, "Um, Hattori-kun, and Dr. Araide... what happened?"
Hattori Heiji came to his senses but didn't dare say anything, because he didn't know what was going on with Kudo Shinichi. Kudo Shinichi sighed and tried to smooth things over.
"It's nothing, we were discussing a case."
Even Heiji Hattori, who had hardly ever met Shinichi Kudo in person, recognized him. How could Ran Mouri, his childhood friend who grew up with him, not recognize Shinichi Kudo's voice?
Her eyes widened instantly, and she instinctively called out, "Shinichi..."
But then she remembered her suspicions—no, she was almost certain of them—and Ran quickly looked down to find Conan Edogawa there too!
Huh? Huh?! But, but isn't Conan Shinichi? They even have the same blood type, sometimes their tone of voice, and the way they look when solving cases...
Ran Mouri is confused.
Shinichi Kudo took a few steps back, retreating into the curtain, before removing the Black Knight's hood and revealing his face.
Sigh, he was almost about to show up and solve the case when Ai Haibara suddenly told him this big news. Now he's been scared out of his wits and doesn't dare to expose himself in front of everyone.
Now is the perfect opportunity. I should meet with Xiaolan as soon as possible to dispel her suspicions, and then keep a low profile.
After seeing Shinichi Kudo's face, Ran Mouri finally confirmed that it was a real person, and her mind went blank for a few seconds.
Then I quickly convinced myself.
—Well, that's true. For this era, it's a bit too advanced for technology to suddenly turn a high school student into an elementary school student.
It's all because Conan is too smart and looks so much like Shinichi that she started having all sorts of wild thoughts... Luckily, she didn't actually say anything to Conan, otherwise it would have been so awkward!
Shinichi Kudo quickly replied, "I'm currently investigating a case in secret, so it's not convenient for me to show my face. I'm also very busy, and it was only with great difficulty that I managed to find time to come back and see you..."
Just then, Hattori Heiji, who had tactfully made way for them earlier to check on the police's progress, returned.
"Kudo! Have you found any evidence? The police are going to close the case as a suicide! I've roughly figured it out, but I lack evidence..."
Shinichi Kudo's attention shifted instantly: "Ah, as for evidence, it's in the culprit's hoodie. The ice should have melted by now. You can use a ten-yen coin to test for an oxidation-reduction reaction."
"Oh! So I'll go to this case?" Hattori Heiji asked.
“…I’m counting on you,” Shinichi Kudo said with a hint of regret. “It’s not really appropriate for me to step in right now.”
Hattori Heiji gave an OK sign and immediately went back to solve the case.
It was only then that Shinichi Kudo realized that he had once again forgotten about Ran Mouri!
"Uh, sorry, Xiaolan, I just..."
Ran Mouri was a little speechless, but she couldn't help but laugh: "Never mind, you haven't changed at all."
When Heiji Hattori returned after solving the case, he saw Shinichi Kudo still chatting with Ran Mouri, but he was inexplicably hesitant, leaving Ran completely confused.
Heiji Hattori thought for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Excuse me, could I borrow Kudo for five minutes?"
He couldn't stand it anymore and asked Kudo what he wanted, hoping to give him a helping hand!
Ran Mouri, of course, would not refuse, and Shinichi Kudo also regained his senses upon seeing Heiji Hattori.
"Kudo, you..."
"Who was that person who was chatting with you in front of your seat earlier?" Shinichi Kudo interrupted Heiji Hattori.
Hattori Heiji was taken aback, realizing he hadn't answered the question yet, but he also felt a little confused.
"...It's Mr. Hanchuan, you saw him on stage? Don't you recognize him?"
Shinichi Kudo: "...?!?!?!?!"
Heiji Hattori was about to ask Shinichi Kudo why he was reacting so strongly when he saw Shinichi Kudo suddenly press his hand to his heart and collapse with a very pale face.
This time, it was Hattori Heiji's turn to be shocked: "Kudo?!"
—Mr. Hanchuan is scary, but he shouldn't be this frightening! Don't we all know him?! Are you a fake Kudo?!
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Bonus chapter! Requesting nutrient solution at the end of the month~
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Hattori: Mr. Kanakawa scared Kudo so much he had a heart attack (just kidding).
Shinichi has already clutched his heart and looked like he was having a heart attack twice in front of Hattori... He's so sickly (?).
When I was a child, I really liked the sickly Kudo from the diplomat case.
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In this part, I don't quite understand why Shinichi from the original work insisted on solving the case himself...
So this chapter is to make him less conspicuous!
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Vermouth should thank Thin Leaf! Otherwise, she really would have had a heart attack today.
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