Jiang Lai once again cleaned off his disguise in the public restroom cubicle and returned to his familiar appearance. He looked down at the tie in his hand.

——This is a blue polka dot silk tie that was taken out of Bermode’s bag. It is surrounded by a light but lasting scent of women’s perfume, and even her collar and neck still retain a little bit of the smell.

Jiang Lai let out a breath, thought for a moment, and then stuffed the tie into his disguise supplies box.

I don't know if Bermode would care about this kind of thing, but... I should keep it. Jiang Lai thought. If I just throw it away, it will be troublesome if someone holds me accountable, for example, he suddenly asks me to take it back.

After expertly clearing away the surrounding surveillance videos, Jiang Lai walked happily back to the hotel. As he walked towards the elevator, he happened to see a group of familiar people waiting there.

Suzuki Sonoko with a light brown hairpin, Mao Lilan with a long-haired dress, and Kudo Shinichi wearing a casual shirt? ?

Jiang Lai raised his eyebrows, and stopped in his tracks as he was about to make a detour.

On the other side, Suzuki Sonoko had already spotted Jiang Lai with her sharp eyes: "Hey, Teacher Jiang Lai!" The energetic girl waved her arms to greet him.

"Hello." Jiang Lai walked over there, and Xiaolan also said with a smile, "Hello, Teacher Jiang Lai."

Jiang Lai turned his gaze to Kudo Shinichi who was standing on the side. When he saw him, he was slightly stunned for a second, and then he naturally replied, "Hello, teacher."

"..." Jiang Lai touched his chin and smiled in an ambiguous way, "Oh, I never thought... you've grown up so much. You were still a little kid the last time we met."

Kudo Shinichi: “Hahaha… huh? Ah?” He looked dumbfounded.

Mao Lilan: “?” The girl also showed some doubts on her face.

Only Suzuki Sonoko was laughing: "Haha, Teacher Jiang Lai is joking again. You obviously haven't met Kudo. He was on leave before you came. After all, he is a very busy man." The girl deliberately dragged out her voice to show her sarcasm.

"What...!" A child's voice came from far away, and a boy wearing glasses ran over with a gritting his teeth. "Hey, why are you here?!" Conan fixed his eyes on the 'Kudo Shinichi' and spoke in a questioning tone.

——It is very obvious that the 'Kudo Shinichi' present here is the classmate Kuroba Kaito who has assumed the identity of a great detective.

At this time, Kuroba Kaito showed a half-sly smile, bent down and pressed Conan's head with his hand: "I say, little boy, you are really rude, shouldn't you call Shinichi brother?"

"You..." Conan noticed the gaze of Mao Lilan beside him, and held back the second half of the sentence. Facing the smiling expression of Kuroba Kaito, he could only stare at him with his blue eyes.

"Oh, so Conan is here too." Jiang Lai said with a smile, "I saw Kudo-kun here, and I thought Conan wouldn't be here."

Conan's mind skipped a beat.

Hei Yu's quick movements also paused.

Then Jiang Lai said in a joking tone: "Since Kudo-kun, the adult guardian knight, is already by Xiaolan's side, does Conan, the little knight, not have to be by her side all the time?"

"Wow - Ran-chan's guardian knight -" Suzuki Sonoko teased her friend, watching Ran Maori blushing and hesitating, and did not forget to look back at Kuroba Kaito, "Hey, great detective, you must protect Ran-chan this time, don't disappear suddenly."

Kuroba Kaito: “Ahahaha…hahaha.” How should he respond?

Conan's foot was already on the upper of Kuroba Kaito's shoe, and he would step hard on the other party if he said anything inappropriate.

"Please, Ran-chan has been waiting for a busy man like you." Suzuki Sonoko put her hands on her hips and said to Kuroba with a dead look in her eyes.

Kuroba Kaito: "Ah, this... Ahahaha... Sorry, sorry, Lan!" He said with his hands clasped together.

When Conan heard what Suzuki Sonoko said, his expression paused slightly. He curled up his hanging hands and clenched them into fists.

...When can it be changed back? Can it really be changed back?

Can they win?

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. The black-haired young man squatted in front of him, raised his hand to adjust his collar, and said loudly: "The collar is buttoned inward, Conan-kun." Then he added in a low voice, "...Everything will be fine, Detective."

His brown eyes met Conan's, with a gentle warmth that was not scorching, like the spring breeze blowing through the new buds on the corners of the wall, tolerant and calm.

"..." Conan looked at the other party.

He had never actually determined whether Jiang Lai knew his true identity, but he had an 80% guess. But now Conan thought that it didn't matter if the other party knew it.

Is the other party also the wolf that killed those guys? However, compared to the wolf whose appearance gives people a sense of danger at first glance, Jiang Lai is more like a creature in the deep sea, lurking and silent, but hiding unknown power.

Conan blinked and smiled: "Well, thank you, Brother Jiang Lai." He answered in a childish tone.

——Everything will be alright, the detective thought. Justice will prevail.

Jiang Lai helped Conan straighten his collar and stood up. Looking at Kuroba Kaito who was laughingly responding to Suzuki Sonoko's questions, a layer of sweat appeared on the corners of his forehead.

Jiang Lai: Is this the price of using an identity? (Cosmic Cat's Thoughts Sublimated.jpg)

Seeing Hei Yu Kaito struggling to cope, Jiang Lai curled his lips and changed the subject, asking, "Oh, by the way, are you here for tourism? Where is Mr. Maori?"

"Yes, I did! I came here for a trip!" Suzuki Sonoko replied with a smile, "To be precise, I came here to see the 'Russia Ruby' that is on special display at the Hakone Meishaku Museum!"

"My dad is still working, so this time it's Sonoko, Conan and I who are here to play, and we're accompanied by the Suzuki family's housekeeper." Mao Lilan said with a smile, and glanced at Kuroba Kaito beside her, "It's just... I didn't expect to run into Shinichi here."

Hei Yu Kaidou smiled and said, "To give you a surprise, Alan!"

Conan listened to the interaction between the two and pouted a little in dissatisfaction.

"Speaking of the Rossiya Ruby this time, I've been looking forward to it since the trailer. It's a particularly famous and beautiful ruby!" Suzuki Sonoko said, holding her heart with both hands, "It is said that it was transformed from the heart of a knight who had a crush on the queen. When he was alive, he always hoped that the great and beautiful queen would look at him more. This obsession made his heart turn into a gorgeous ruby ​​after his death and was inlaid on the scepter of the old queen."

"This ruby ​​is famous for another reason," Mao Lilan added. "It is said that it has a magical charm that can deeply attract people. When you look at it, the only thing in your mind is this ruby. You will just want to appreciate it quietly and don't want to leave at all."

"Huh? Is it so mysterious?" Jiang Lai showed a surprised expression.

But this attraction seems to be in line with the organization's previous strange research requirements. No wonder they were asked to collect data on this gem.

"It's a little exaggerated," Suzuki Sonoko said, "but it's really beautiful. You can feel the charm of the Russian ruby ​​from the photo."

"By the way, is Teacher Jiang Lai also here to appreciate the rubies? Do you want to join us?" Suzuki Sonoko invited enthusiastically.

"Ah... Actually, I'm here for teaching and study. I don't know what the school's specific arrangements are going to be." Jiang Lai smiled, "But maybe they will organize a trip to the exhibition hall. If the school doesn't have any collective arrangements, I'll take Xiao Zhao there if I'm free privately."

"Hey! Kurosawa-chan is here too." Ran Mouri's eyes curved into a crescent. "Want to play with your friends, Conan?"

Conan: "Haha...it depends on fate!" He probably won't have time to play this time, but he has to keep a close eye on the Phantom Thief Kid!

The young detective stared at the Kuroba Kaito who was impersonating him with his sapphire eyes, and received a provocative and playful smile from the other party.

"If we are lucky enough to meet each other, we can play together. Maybe we can be reunited again." Jiang Lai said naturally, looking towards the elevator, "The elevator has been on the first floor for a long time. Let's go up quickly."

Jiang Lai was not on the same floor as them, so they said goodbye in the elevator and agreed to contact each other by phone when they were free.

Jiang Lai went all the way back to his room. He didn't bring his room card, so he knocked on the door and waited for the silver-haired boy in the room.

Kurosawa Akira moved quickly. After hearing the knock on the door and Jiang Lai's familiar voice calling him, he ran over and opened the door: "Welcome back, Brother Jiang Lai!"

He looked up and smiled, like a little leaping note.

"I'm back." Jiang Lai also smiled and replied.

He looked at the TV that was on. A cartoon was playing. A mother picked up her young child and spun him around. The child was waving his arms in the air and giggling happily.

Kurosawa Akira stared at the TV screen with his dark green eyes, a hint of curiosity and envy passing across his face.

Jiang Lai turned his head to look at Kurosawa Akira, touched his chin and said, "Xiao Zhao, do you want to play this game? Pick me up and fly high or something!"

The silver-haired boy widened his eyes slightly, hesitating and hesitating: "I'm already a big boy..."

"Xiao Zhao is only in the first grade. And, I told you, if you have anything to say, just say it, and be brave to express your demands." Jiang Lai narrowed his warm brown eyes and bent his waist, "So... do you want to play with your brother?"

Kurosawa Akira scratched the corner of his clothes: "...I want to." He whispered, then raised his head and said it again loudly, "I want to play with my brother and fly high in his arms!" He blinked his dark green eyes.

"Okay! Come and fly high!" Jiang Lai picked up Kurosawa Akira with a smile and spun around in the open space in front of the room. His silver hair fluttered in the air and the little boy giggled, his face showing childish innocence and joy.

After turning around a few times, Jiang Lai stopped and hugged Kurosawa Akira to help both of them calm down: "Is it fun?"

"It's fun. I like it." The silver-haired boy replied with a smile. He put his arms around Jiang Lai's neck and buried his face naturally in his shoulders and neck.

But the boy's laughter soon stopped.

Jiang Lai looked sideways in confusion, and saw Kurosawa Aki slowly raise his head, lower his eyes and muffledly said: "...Brother Jiang Lai, what did you do just now?"