Chapter 153: Shinichi Kudo: Kaitou Kid, Surrender!
The full moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting an ancient and weathered glow upon the clock tower.
This landmark, built fifty years ago and scheduled for demolition today, was about to face its final fate.
Some, blinded by greed, planned to tear it down, while others refused to let their childhood memories vanish.
"This clock tower has stood for fifty years. It has witnessed Ekoda's transformation, and it witnessed my first meeting with Aoko.
Sorry, Kitano Tomoaki, but I won't let you succeed!"
A confident smile appeared on Kaito's face beneath his disguise. He fired his card gun at the top of the clock tower's spiral staircase, a thin wire shooting upward with a sharp whoosh.
Clang!
The playing card embedded itself at the tower's peak. Kaito pulled the trigger again, the gun's retraction mechanism lifting him upward like an elevator, reaching the control room door in less than ten seconds.
This room served as both the control center and clock maintenance room, with a window providing access to the clock face.
"Quick! Kaitou Kid is in the control room! Everyone, pursue him! Don't give him any chance to escape!"
Inspector Nakamori's eyes blazed with determination. This is the feeling—this exhilarating sensation!
It brought back so many memories! Eight years ago, after Kaitou Kid vanished, he'd felt like he'd lost his purpose and meaning in life. Now he'd finally found it again.
Yes, his ambition remained unchanged: to capture Kid.
In his lifetime, he would bring this jewel-stealing phantom thief to justice!
"Not everyone needs to go up! Leave some officers behind to block his escape route! Don't give Kid any chance to retreat! Seal off all ventilation ducts—we absolutely cannot let him slip through!" Shinichi Kudo's voice rang out clearly, and immediately Kaito felt the helicopter's roar intensify overhead.
"Using a helicopter to disrupt the airflow, preventing me from escaping with my hang glider? My friend, you're quite something. You've got a real talent for tactical planning, don't you?"
"Heh, thank you for the compliment, but I'm not interested in praise from a thief. If you really want to thank me, then put on the handcuffs and accept your trial."
Shinichi Kudo was supremely confident. Kaitou Kid? Heh, he can't escape my grasp.
With just a bit of strategic thinking, the phantom thief would have no options for resistance.
Right now, he was truly trapped!
"Thief? No, I'm a magician. Detective, have you ever seen a magic show? What do you think is the most amazing kind of magic trick?"
Shinichi Kudo frowned but offered no answer.
The most impressive magic was undoubtedly the escape act.
"I believe the detective already has his answer, so let's—"
"Wait!"
Natsukawa suddenly interrupted Kaito's impending performance.
"This magic trick you're talking about—it wouldn't involve the spray paint canisters installed on the scaffolding below and the painted canvas hidden atop the clock face, would it?
If so, you might be disappointed. This afternoon, before the Metropolitan Police Department even arrived, I had cleaning crews remove all of those props.
Speaking of which, could you reimburse me for the cleaning fee? After all, it was you, Kaitou Kid, who littered all over the place."
Kaito: Damn it, Natsukawa!
The spray system I painstakingly installed was cleaned up! And he still has the nerve to ask me for cleaning fees!
No sense of sportsmanship at all!
"Looks like you have no way out, Kaitou Kid. Just surrender." Shinichi Kudo smiled confidently and glanced at Inspector Megure beside him. See? This is the power of a famous detective.
Kaito was indeed in a somewhat passive position now. Having his setup discovered in advance was definitely a critical blow to any magician.
"That remains to be seen."
Kaito's voice remained calm and unwavering, unaffected by this setback.
Always maintain your poker face. This principle was deeply ingrained in his mind.
Furthermore, magicians always had backup plans. Although his alternative was somewhat risky to execute, it was far safer than attempting to use a hang glider in these conditions.
The control room was locked. Kaito ignored the unconscious police officer on the floor and went straight to open the clock tower's maintenance window, stepping out onto the ledge.
The moment the window opened, a powerful gust of wind and the deafening roar of helicopter rotors assaulted him. His white cape billowed dramatically, yet his signature top hat remained firmly secured without shifting even a millimeter.
"What do you think you're doing?! Jumping from here is at least a hundred meters! If you don't value your life, I won't stop you!" Kudo Shinichi frowned and shouted, "Life is precious!"
"Love is more precious, but freedom is the most precious of all!"
Kaito and Kudo Shinichi: ...
"Sorry, that just slipped out."
Natsukawa rubbed his nose sheepishly. His brain had automatically recalled some poetry from his previous life's education.
It had been an instinctive reaction.
Kaito composed himself, loosened his tie slightly, and couldn't help but smile. "Dear pilots, those helicopters have been circling for quite some time—do you still have enough fuel?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the control panels of the other three helicopters—excluding Shinichi's—suddenly began flashing red warning lights.
"This is bad, Inspector Nakamori! Our system is suddenly showing critically low fuel levels!"
"What?!"
Nakamori Ginzo, who had just reached the control room door, kicked it hard in frustration, only to recoil in pain. He'd thought everything was under control, but Kaitou Kid had pulled this trick at the last moment.
"Didn't we refuel in shifts half an hour ago?! How could we be low on fuel already?!"
"It's highly likely that the helicopters' systems have been tampered with! If we don't land immediately, the rotors might stop functioning!" The pilots were sweating profusely. If they waited any longer, all three helicopters would crash, and with so many people gathered below, a crash would mean certain death for everyone.
"Understood. Find locations for emergency landings immediately!"
Nakamori Ginzo's face turned ashen. That damned Kid outsmarted me again!
"Get lost! Even if three helicopters make emergency landings, I still have one helicopter positioned in front of the clock tower! You still can't escape by air!"
The remaining helicopter belonged to Division 1, and because it had been deployed at the last minute, Kaito hadn't had time to sabotage it.
Natsukawa, wearing his communications headset, stepped out of the surveillance van and turned to look in Koizumi Akako's direction.
Will the witch intervene at this moment?
The remaining helicopter was sufficient to prevent any hang glider escape, so would the witch lend a hand to her favorite magician?
Natsukawa suddenly found himself holding a camera. He planned to record this scene and study it later to understand the true principles behind magic.
Even if he couldn't figure it out himself, he could secretly send the footage to Professor Agasa. That genius of unconventional science might be able to provide a rational explanation.
Kaito, standing at the clock tower maintenance window, suddenly pulled several small spheres from his pocket. Just as Kudo Shinichi was wondering what they were, Kaito flung them outward.
The spheres seemed to have adhesive properties, evenly sticking to the clock face.
Because they were thrown so close together, one even adhered to the helicopter's undercarriage.
The next second, white smoke burst forth, covering the entire clock face in thick fog.
The helicopter fared slightly better—the propeller acted like a smoke extractor, dispersing the white mist more quickly—but it still took precious time for the fog to completely clear, which was critical.
"Damn it! Get the helicopter closer and blow away that smoke!"
Shinichi Kudo frowned thoughtfully. What is this guy planning? Even now, does he still intend to continue the theft?
The helicopter, its undercarriage also emitting smoke, approached the clock tower at a measured pace, rapidly dispersing the white mist.
However, when Shinichi Kudo could see the clock tower clearly again, he found that Kaitou Kid was already standing balanced on the clock's minute hand.
"What a shame—it's a fake gemstone. It seems Mr. Kitano Tomoaki switched out the genuine article beforehand. What's embedded here is just ordinary synthetic crystal. How disappointing."
Kaito shook his head with a regretful expression, waving cheerfully and smiling at Shinichi Kudo.
At such close range, he'd already recognized the person—Shinichi Kudo!
He hadn't expected it to be this particular detective. It seemed the title of "Savior of the Tokyo Police" wasn't just for show. This guy was genuinely skilled.
"The gemstone is another matter entirely. You're not escaping today!" A pistol had appeared in Shinichi Kudo's hand.
Inspector Megure hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. The pistol was his service weapon, but he ultimately didn't intervene. Knowing Shinichi's character, he was certain the young man wouldn't actually fire.
He remembered Shinichi saying that even criminals shouldn't die without cause—they should face legal judgment.
Therefore, he trusted that Shinichi wouldn't pull the trigger.
"What you're doing is going to cause Inspector Megure a mountain of paperwork!"
Kaito's heart raced as he carefully gauged the wind conditions.
Damn it!
Even with three fewer helicopters, he still couldn't escape—that remaining helicopter was positioned too close!
It seemed he had no choice but to use his last resort!
Below in the crowd, Koizumi Akako clasped her hands together before her chest, and wisps of red light appeared beneath her feet.
Soon, a crimson magic circle materialized.
The surrounding fans didn't notice anything unusual, only feeling a sudden cold breeze.
"Akako-sama, you cannot do this! There are far too many people here! Influencing this many individuals would consume an enormous amount of magical energy.
Last time when you established that magic circle at Tokyo Tower, it already depleted too much of your power. You need to rest now—you cannot use magic again so soon."
Koizumi Akako bit her lip, sighed deeply, and finally ceased her incantation.
Natsukawa frowned, secretly regretting that he'd anticipated a spectacular magical display, only for Koizumi Akako to abandon her spell at the last moment.
The camera in his hand felt rather useless now. He lowered it and returned to his vehicle, preparing to depart.
At that moment, Kaito's light laughter came through the earpiece.
"Since this isn't the jewel I seek, I'll take my leave now. I'm quite satisfied with tonight's performance, and my fans seem delighted as well. Thank you for your assistance, both detectives. We'll part ways here."
Kaito spread his arms wide and leaped from the clock tower. His white cape suddenly expanded several times its normal size in mid-air before descending to blanket the crowd below.
"Damn it!" Kudo Shinichi scrambled to the helicopter door and looked down, instantly understanding Kaitou Kid's escape plan.
He intended to blend into the crowd and disappear.
"Inspector Nakamori, seal off the crowd beneath the clock tower immediately! Kid is definitely among them!"
Inspector Nakamori, who had just burst through the control room door, barely had time to catch his breath before witnessing Kid's leap. He nearly collapsed in frustration.
Seriously?! I just arrived! At least let me see you before you escape!
"Understood!"
He began descending the stairs once more while radioing his officers.
"Seal off the crowd in the plaza! Everyone attempting to leave must have their identity verified! Kid is hiding among them!"
However, after issuing the order, he received no response over the radio.
Examining his walkie-talkie, he saw the channel indicator had turned red—the connection was severed.
He grabbed a subordinate's radio and found the same problem.
"Damn it! Kid cut off our radio signal!"
By the time Inspector Nakamori reached the plaza outside the clock tower, the crowd had significantly thinned, indicating many people had already departed.
A large group was making an enormous commotion. Upon closer inspection, they appeared to be fighting over something.
After a long moment of observation, Nakamori Ginzo finally confirmed that these Kid fans were actually brawling over which piece of white cloth had covered them during Kid's escape—absolutely ridiculous!
Kid has escaped again! Damn it!!!
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(End of Chapter)
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