Chapter 122 Sixteen Cats

Chijiang Nayue attended the birthday party tonight alone - if the puppy is not counted.

After tricking Conan away that day, he sent a message to Miss Azusa in advance to tell her that he would give her a day off, so today Akae Natsuki did not bring anyone in the family, big or small, to the store.

Even before leaving in the morning, he pretended to be unaware and gave the four cats at home a thorough reminder of the 'rules for being home alone'. He dragged the bags of cat food, frozen cat food and dried fish to the cat climbing frame and told them to remember to eat on time. Finally, under the speechless eyes of the cats and the indescribable gaze of Shirley in the backpack, he went out with peace of mind.

Of course, because Chijiang Nayue didn't want to reveal his identity so early, he didn't really take Shirley to the Karasuma Group to fall into their trap. Instead, he safely handed the clothes he was going to wear to the old man to prepare, and then took the dog Shirley out to play happily for the whole day. He even left his backpack in the car and put the dog directly into his pocket.

"Does this hotel allow pets?" As it was getting dark, the manager had no intention of sending her home, but took her directly into the hotel where the banquet was held. Shirley couldn't help but stick half of her head out of the manager's wide pockets and asked in a low voice.

No, even if the hotel allows it, the organizer of the banquet probably won't agree to it, for fear of accidents that might happen after bringing cats and dogs into the venue.

The store manager paused for a moment, with a thoughtful look on his face: "You're right."

Shirley sighed: This kind of common sense is unnecessary for the store manager to learn.

Forget it. It's still early now. I can wait for the manager to send her back before coming back. Or I can just leave her at the hotel for now...

"But, you don't need to worry about that today." Akae Natsuki deliberately teased Shirley, paused for a moment and then continued slowly, "Because the organizer of this banquet, Mr. Suzuki Jirokichi, also has a dog."

Jiro Suzuki has a dog named Lupin, and Lupin is always by his side when he and Kidd duel. Jiro Suzuki's social media accounts are mostly filled with photos of Lupin, so it's foreseeable that Lupin will be by his side this time as well.

Although the store manager did not know anything about Kidd at first, he was not stupid. He would know about Lupin's affairs by simply checking on the Internet... and since Lupin could enter the banquet hall, there was no reason why Shirley could not enter. Even if it was not obvious at other times, the store manager was also a guest who was invited with an invitation letter.

The puppy in the pocket was stunned. She blinked and figured it out, and quickly realized that the manager had done it on purpose!

Shirley couldn't help but grind her back teeth. She bit the manager's sleeve silently to vent her anger, then put her hand back into her pocket to refuse the manager's continued touching of her head.

She had discovered that the closer she was to the store manager, the more obvious his cat temper became. As a result, Shirley gradually began to feel that the gentle male mother who had initially shaken her and reminded her of her sister was an illusion.

Looking at it this way, the black cat that Kudo mentioned...

Shirley squinted her eyes in her pocket and thought: No, she still felt that the store manager was unlikely to be the cat. She would rather believe that what happened that night was a coincidence.

If the store manager is really the black cat, why does he keep a group of cats at home all day? Cats are not that territorial, right? Besides, it is too bad to think about it this way - if the store manager knows that the cats he raises are people like him, but still pretends not to know and raises them, what is he trying to do? He can't be hiding his beloved cats in a golden house?

When Shirley was complaining in her heart, she didn't notice Chijiang Nayue outside. She touched the tip of her nose and held back the urge to sneeze.

—

"Thank you for inviting us today, Sonoko." The black-haired girl smiled and chatted with her friend in an intimate tone, "Is Sister Ayako busy now? I need to say happy birthday to her in person later."

"Oh, no need. My sister already knew you would say that and she specifically told me." Sonoko smiled and bumped her shoulder against Ran, cleared her throat and imitated, "'Sonoko, if Ran-chan wants to say a blessing to me, just thank her for me! You two can just have fun today, no need to come to me specially~' - something like that."

Conan next to him muttered to himself, "Sonoko's sister is obviously not like this, it's a shame for Sonoko to come up with such a long story...ah, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!"

Yuanzi heard every word of his complaints. The eldest lady punched the brat on the head in anger and said sinisterly: "What did you say?"

The detective, who was now a primary school student who was being manipulated, immediately raised his hands in surrender: "I was just talking nonsense, Sonoko-sister!"

Yuan Zi behind him laughed twice with pride and blew his fist with a refreshed look: "You are a man who knows his place."

Xiaolan, who was standing beside the two of them, was watching their interaction with amusement, and was suddenly asked about herself - Sonoko seemed to remember something, turned to look at her, and her expression became serious.

"Lan, can you lend me this kid tonight?"

Conan and Xiaolan were both stunned: "W-what?"

"That's it. Didn't Mr. Kidd accept the challenge issued by Uncle Jiroyoshi? The warning letter this time was very simple. Uncle and his men quickly cracked it. Mr. Kidd will probably start the action at 10:30 tonight."

Sonoko became more and more excited as she spoke: "So I want to try to find him before Mr. Kidd takes action~ Conan and Mr. Kidd have fought so many times, if I bring him with me, the probability of seeing Mr. Kidd will definitely increase!"

It seems like they want to use him as a tool... Conan supported it, but didn't really resist the suggestion.

Indeed, if he follows Sonoko, he can get close to Kidd's target tonight, and it will also be easier for him to catch Kidd, the thief.

"What's the point of looking for this brat? I'm a famous detective!" Uncle Maori, who had been sipping wine nearby, interrupted unconvincedly, "The brat is just taking advantage of me."

Conan Half Moon Eyes: Hey uncle, in fact the real famous detective behind this is this little kid himself.

"Come to think of it, the newspaper seemed to say that Kidd wanted to steal a painting this time? Doesn't Kidd only steal gems?" Xiaolan asked curiously.

"Well, I'll show you around later and you'll know." Sonoko put her hands on her hips, "Before that, I have to wait for someone here."

"Waiting for someone?" Conan was confused.

"Well, it is said that he is the heir of a very powerful old family. My father and his family couldn't leave, and he didn't want to be too conspicuous, so in the end he asked me to pick him up."

"The other party said that he had a bad relationship with his family and didn't want others to know which family he came from. He even contacted us and changed the invitation letter to a normal one." At this point, Sonoko also felt a little strange, "Dad didn't even tell me which family that person was from."

A group of guests walked in from outside the banquet hall. Sonoko spotted the handsome long-haired man standing alone. After confirming that his features matched the information in the file, she breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily stopped talking to her friend, and waved over there: "Mr. Miyamoto, here, here!"

While waving her hand, she did not just stand there and wait, but raised her legs and ran in that direction.

"Good evening." After the two people got closer, Akajinazuki nodded and greeted Sonoko with a polite and gentle smile.

Sonoko quickly responded to him, then turned around to introduce her companions: "This is my good friend Mao Lilan, and..."

"Ah, it's you!" Uncle Maori blurted out in surprise before she introduced him, "The rich client with the dog!"

Conan, who was standing next to him, covered his face, unable to bear to look: Uncle, how many nicknames did you give the store manager behind his back? How could you blurt them all out in one breath?!

Sonoko was puzzled: "Do you two know each other?"

"I guess so. I have commissioned Mr. Maori before." Akajinazuki nodded and smiled, "So I also know this little detective over there. There's no need to introduce him."

Conan shuddered: He now breaks out in cold sweats whenever he hears the store manager call him "little detective". It was not until he was on his way home that day that he remembered that he had originally wanted to ask about the commission, but who knew that the store manager had unknowingly changed the subject!

Unlike Shirley, Conan is now more suspicious of the connection between the store manager and the black cat.

"So that's how it is." Yuanzi suddenly realized.

After Conan returned that day, he gave Uncle Maori the store manager's complete contact information. The two of them simply exchanged information on the progress of the investigation on the phone. As for the issue of the black cat, the store manager never gave a direct answer, so Uncle Maori did not continue to ask questions. Anyway, that had nothing to do with the investigation of Shirley's previous owner.

However, only Conan and Shirley know that no matter what, Uncle Maori will never be able to find out Shirley's so-called previous owner. After all, she actually escaped from the organization by turning into a prototype puppy. Uncle can't trace it back to the organization, right?

"By the way, I also said it on the phone before, let me confirm again, can I bring Shirley with me during the party?" Akae Nayue asked Sonoko with a gentle smile, "She has a very quiet personality and won't disturb others."

"Of course you can, but the puppy would probably feel uncomfortable staying in this place, right?" Sonoko said hesitantly.

"Hey, did the store manager bring Shirley here too?" Conan was surprised, "But I didn't see her..."

As soon as the words fell, a silver-white head popped out from the pocket of the black coat draped over the young man's shoulders, and the puppy stared quietly at Conan who was asking the question with its ice-blue eyes.

"So, so you're here." Conan felt the murderous intent in Shirley's eyes, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and laughed awkwardly.

He can attend the banquet in human form, but Shirley, who has not been exposed to the store manager, can only attend like this. I'm really sorry...

Akae Nazuki looked down at the two children and suddenly suggested in a cheerful tone: "By the way, I remember that Conan and Shirley have a good relationship, right? Can you help me take care of her tonight?"

Conan froze, almost thinking that the manager had discovered his identity. It took him half a second to react to what the manager said.

...Ah, then he can take this opportunity to talk to Shirley in private! He still has a lot to know about the organization!

Thinking of this, Conan firmly ignored Shirley's sharp gaze and nodded vigorously.

Conan didn't hear Shirley sneer in her heart: You're done, Kudo.

But Akae Nayue guessed that it was all intentional. He handed the silver fox dog to Conan reluctantly, and his expression gradually became pitiful.

Did the little detective forget that Shirley in puppy form has an excellent sense of smell?