4:50 pm, Central Exhibition Hall, Sumida Ward, Tokyo.
"Set up the blockade! No outsiders are allowed to approach!"
The security personnel wearing headphones and sunglasses gave loud instructions:
"Nothing can go wrong at today's art exhibition! Everyone, cheer up!"
Not far away, the Crown sedan carrying Sakaki Makoto and four others was also stopped outside the cordon. No matter what Mori Kogoro said, they refused to let them pass, completely disrespecting the great detective.
"Damn it, are these people crazy?"
There was really no other choice, so Kogoro Mori had to reverse the car and plan to find a place nearby to stop before contacting Suzuki Sonoko.
"It seems that this art exhibition is not open to the general public. Only well-known figures in society are eligible to participate..."
Conan leaned against the window, looking at the luxury cars arriving outside one after another and said:
"It seems we can only wait for Yuanzi to come out to pick us up."
After parking the car, Kogoro Mouri found a place to sit down with a depressed look on his face, tugging at his neatly-tied tie, feeling a little annoyed.
Anyone would be unhappy if they receive blows one after another in a day!
"What do you mean by outsiders? Am I, Maori Kogoro, an outsider?"
"Dad, don't complain. They are just following orders. After all, these people who came to participate are all big shots..."
Mao Lilan put down the phone and came over to persuade her.
At this moment, Sakaki Makoto and his companions saw a taxi being stopped at the place where they had just been. Then a dark-skinned young man got out of the car. He had a strong build, bright eyes, and a Band-Aid on his eyebrow, as if he could break a concrete pillar with one punch.
"Kyogoku Makoto!"
Conan was shocked:
"Why is he here?"
"It must be Sonoko who invited him!"
Mao Lilan waved to Kyogoku Makoto:
"He is Sonoko's boyfriend, unlike that person who disappears all day long..."
Conan's facial muscles stiffened, and he silently closed his mouth, keeping silent and beginning to reduce his presence.
He always felt that there was something else behind Mao Lilan's words, but it might be that he was overthinking it.
"Mr. Sakaki Makoto, Ms. Mori."
Kyogoku Makoto, who was also stopped, walked over and nodded as a greeting.
"When did you come back from the United States?"
"I came back a month ago."
"How strong are the U.S. opponents?"
“It’s pretty standard.”
"oh...."
What Kyogoku Makoto mentioned as being "well-behaved" certainly did not mean it literally. In his opinion, the American karate masters were not much different from his previous opponents. They were all a bunch of losers who were not worth a single blow.
"Meanwhile" is a euphemism, after all...
You have to respect your opponents.
"Kyogoku-san, why are you wearing a suit today?"
Conan suddenly noticed that Kyogoku Makoto was dressed differently today. He gave up his white Taoist robe and wore a white suit, and even wore a bow tie.
"....Sonoko requested it."
Kyogoku Makoto moved his shoulders in a strange manner, seeming to be in discomfort:
"She asked me to wear a suit today. I'm not sure why."
"Blind date! It must be a blind date!"
Conan slapped his thigh and said firmly:
"Sonoko's mother has been arranging blind dates for her. The people who came today are all from the upper class. If nothing unexpected happens, this is not an ordinary exhibition, but a blind date meeting of the Suzuki family!"
The corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly, and Kyogoku Makoto's expression looked a little unnatural and anxious.
"Speaking of which..."
Mao Lilan covered her mouth and said in surprise:
"It seems that Sonoko's mother has always disapproved of Kyogoku-kun and Sonoko dating. If Conan is right, then today..."
The atmosphere suddenly became extremely awkward. Kyogoku really didn't expect that today would be a Hongmen Banquet. The key point was that Sonoko didn't say anything to him and nothing was prepared in a hurry. What should he do?
"Really! Xiaolan!"
A voice called from afar, and Yuanzi, holding her dress in both hands, ran over without caring about other people's eyes, attracting the attention of the guests around her.
"You're finally here, I thought you were in some trouble!"
Sonoko's eyes were completely focused on Kyogoku Makoto, and she didn't notice Sakaki Makoto and Miss Miyano standing beside her. She just looked Kyogoku Makoto up and down, nodding frequently:
"You look handsome in a suit! I really have good taste! Come on, follow me in!"
Under her leadership, everyone successfully passed through the cordon and entered the exhibition hall through the back door.
The huge exhibition hall is magnificent and golden. It was built at a huge cost by the Suzuki Group. Even the paintings hanging in the corridors are from famous artists and are of great value.
When they arrived at the lounge, they saw a bald old man with a scruffy beard sitting in front of the fireplace reading a newspaper. On a chair next to him lay a brown Doberman wearing aviator glasses. The combination was extremely weird.
"Uncle Jikichiro, you are here..."
Seeing the old man, Suzuki Sonoko subconsciously took a step back and introduced helplessly:
"This is the consultant of our Suzuki Group, my uncle, Suzuki Jikichiro."
The old man sitting on the sofa looked back at Sonoko, and didn't react at first. But when his eyes swept over Sakaki Makoto, he suddenly became energetic, rushed forward, and said excitedly:
"You must be Sakaki Makoto who protected Dark Star from Kidd last time!"
Sakaki Makoto was startled by his sudden action:
"It's me. What can I do for you?"
"Great! If we work together today, we will definitely be able to catch Kidd!"
Suzuki Jikichiro did not answer Sakaki Makoto's question at all. He was immersed in his own world and talked freely:
"I, Suzuki Jikichiro, love traveling around the world, collecting famous paintings and gems, and have won many gold medals and trophies, but there is only one thing that bothers me..."
"ha...."
Sakaki Makoto still didn't know what he was going to do.
Suzuki Sonoko, who was standing by, saw this and said with a headache:
"Uncle Jijiro's current dream is to catch Mr. Kidd! He funded the construction of this exhibition hall, and it is filled with numerous traps. Even I have to be careful. Uncle Jijiro also said that if Mr. Kidd dares to come, he will definitely catch him!"
Suddenly someone in the room sneered. The voice was so soft that no one heard it except Sakaki Makoto and Conan.
"Didn't you protect the Dark Star Code from Master Kidd last time?"
Suzuki Sonoko said:
"After Uncle Jijiro found out about this, he thought you were a promising talent and planned to ask you to help him fight against Mr. Kidd!"
“That’s right!”
Suzuki Jikichiro held Sakaki Makoto's hands with a fiery gaze, and said in a trembling voice:
"I heard from Yuanzi that you are not only responsible and capable, but also require low pay! Talents like you are exactly what I need!"
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