Chapter 83: Ningguang Appears
The heavy silence of the apartment returned the moment Kaeya and Tartaglia slipped out the door. Shuichi Akai stood alone in the center of the wreckage, his breath coming in slow, measured intervals. Retrieving a first-aid kit from the bathroom, he methodically cleaned and bandaged the shallow, stinging cuts Tartaglia's twin blades had left across his skin. The sting was sharp, a lingering reminder of the sheer, terrifying speed behind those strikes.
Tying off the final bandage, Akai turned his attention to the chaotic state of his living room. Furniture was overturned, and the walls bore the fresh scars of their brief but intense skirmish. He crouched to inspect the floorboards where Tartaglia's arrows had embedded themselves with lethal force, only to find empty gouges. The projectiles had vanished entirely.
In their place, small, clear puddles of water reflected the dim overhead lighting. He touched the moisture, rubbing the cool liquid between his fingertips. 'Water arrows... What kind of weaponry is this?'Rising to his feet, he pulled out his phone and dialed a secure line. He gave his superior, James Black, a concise, clinical rundown of the sudden intrusion and the clash that followed. Before hanging up, Akai casually dropped a question, asking if the FBI database held any records of an organization operating under the name'Teyvat'.
The response was immediate and disappointing. James Black had never heard the name in his life.
Akai lowered the phone, his green eyes narrowing in thought. It made no logical sense. He refused to believe that an outfit capable of commanding operatives as highly skilled and uniquely armed as Kaeya and Tartaglia was just some insignificant, small-time group, despite Kaeya's dismissive claims. Such combat prowess did not grow in a vacuum. Still, with the water evaporating and no concrete leads to chase, he had to shelve the mystery for now. His primary crosshairs had to remain locked on the Black Organization.
His thoughts drifted to the surveillance photos scattered across his desk, specifically the ones capturing that group of elementary schoolers who called themselves the Detective Boys. One face stood out among the laughing children. A little girl with auburn hair and a cold, guarded gaze. Her features were a near-perfect match for Akemi's younger sister, Shiho Miyano, back when she was a child. The resemblance was too striking to be a mere coincidence. It was highly probable she was the actual target Vermouth was currently hunting in the shadows.
Then there was the boy in the glasses. Conan Edogawa.
Akai's brow furrowed slightly. The kid was far too sharp. His situational awareness, his logical deduction, and the way he commanded a crime scene were entirely unnatural for a first-grader. Just who exactly was hiding behind those oversized frames?
A few days later, the afternoon sun spilled through the windows of the Mouri Detective Agency, catching the dust motes dancing in the air.
"Ran, look at this! Isn't it just absolutely gorgeous?" Sonoko Suzuki slammed a glossy promotional brochure onto the desk, nearly knocking over a cup of tea. She shoved it under Ran Mouri's nose, her manicured finger tapping frantically at the centerfold image. "Honestly, the very first time I laid eyes on it, I felt like I was staring straight into a galaxy."
Ran leaned in, her eyes widening as she took in the high-resolution photograph. The gem was a brilliant, multi-faceted stone that seemed to trap light within its depths, scattering it into a dazzling spectrum of silver and blue. "Mhm, you're right," Ran agreed, a soft smile touching her lips. "It really does look like a cluster of stars captured in glass. It's stunning. No wonder they named it Starlight's Brilliance."
"See? I told you!" Sonoko sighed dramatically, her shoulders slumping as she traced the outline of the jewel on the glossy paper. "It captures a girl's heart the second she looks at it. It is just a massive tragedy that I can't buy it."
Ran blinked, looking up from the brochure in genuine surprise. The Suzuki financial empire practically owned half of Japan. "Is the gem really that expensive? Even you can't afford it, Sonoko?"
Sonoko waved a hand dismissively, as if swatting away a fly. "Oh, the price isn't the issue at all. It is only fifty million yen."
Ran stared at her best friend in deadpan silence. 'Only fifty million yen...' She forced a polite, strained smile. Well, for the Suzuki family's second daughter, that was probably just pocket change.
Sonoko let out another heavy sigh, collapsing forward until her cheek squished against the wooden tabletop. "The actual problem is that the owner absolutely refuses to sell it, no matter how much money is offered."
Suddenly, Sonoko bolted upright, her eyes sparkling with a familiar, feverish intensity. "Ah! It is so incredibly rare to find a gem this stunning, and to make things even better, it is the very treasure that Kaitou Kid has set his sights on! I wanted to buy Starlight's Brilliance so badly just so I could keep it on me at all times. That way, when my phantom thief finally swoops in through the moonlight, I could look deeply into his eyes and say, 'I simply cannot be separated from this gem. Please, you must steal both the jewel and me!'"
All traces of her previous gloom vanished instantly. She clasped her hands together, swaying in her chair. "Ah! Just imagining it makes my heart race!"
A few feet away, Conan paused his pretend reading. The moment that infamous phantom thief's name dropped, his ears perked up. He subtly shifted his position, tuning out the television to focus entirely on the girls' conversation.
It had been a while since he last heard any news about that flashy white-suited thief. Was he finally preparing to make another move? How unusual. This time, the target wasn't a priceless heirloom sitting in a Suzuki family vault. So, whose vault was he targeting?
"Sonoko..." Ran offered a dry, exasperated chuckle. She watched her friend spiral deeper into her romantic fantasy, briefly debating whether she should remind Sonoko that her actual boyfriend, Makoto Kyogoku, existed. Deciding it was safer to just pivot the conversation, Ran pointed back at the brochure. "So, if you can't buy it, who actually owns Starlight's Brilliance?"
The question acted like a bucket of cold water, snapping Sonoko right out of her daydream. However, as the image of the gem's true owner surfaced in her mind—a woman she had met just two days prior—a deep, entirely uncharacteristic blush crept up Sonoko's neck, tinting her cheeks a bright pink.
Conan lowered his comic book, staring at her in sheer bewilderment. Ran looked equally shocked.
Sonoko pressed a hand against her heated cheek, her voice dropping into a soft, reverent tone. "The owner is Miss Ningguang. She is... an incredibly beautiful, elegant older sister with an absolutely flawless figure. My uncle told me she is a highly successful businesswoman from China who traveled here to establish a new branch of her enterprise. This jewelry exhibition is just a promotional warm-up event to build hype for the new company's grand opening."
Conan adjusted his glasses, his curiosity fully piqued. It was incredibly rare for a boy-crazy flirt like Sonoko to show such genuine, starstruck admiration for someone of the same gender. Just who exactly was this Miss Ningguang?
"A new company?" Ran asked, tilting her head. "Is she opening a jewelry business?"
Sonoko shook her head, her bobbed hair swishing. "No, actually. From what I heard, even though Miss Ningguang built her initial fortune in the gem trade, the branch she is setting up here focuses entirely on high-end skincare products. My uncle and his business associates were so impressed they already poured a massive amount of investment capital into it. According to him, her company has terrifyingly advanced research and development capabilities. The products they formulate are supposed to be absolute miracles. She even gifted an exclusive set to me and my mother when we met."
Reaching across the table, Sonoko grabbed Ran's hands and squeezed them affectionately. "I will definitely sneak some over for you later, Ran! We girls have to start taking proper care of our skin early, you know."
Ran hesitated, looking a bit guilty. "Are you sure that is okay, Sonoko? Miss Ningguang gave those specifically to you as a gift..."
"Oh, it is totally fine!" Sonoko waved it off with a bright grin. "She gave them to me so they would get used, right? Besides, I am actually here to ask Uncle Kogoro and this little brat for a massive favor..."
Without warning, Sonoko reached out, grabbed the back of Conan's collar, and dragged him over to the table. Conan let out a squawk of protest as he was hauled into the conversation.
"I need this brat's help too," Sonoko declared, patting Conan's head a little too roughly. "So, just consider the skincare set an early thank-you gift for your family's services."
Hearing the logic, Ran finally relented, though she secretly made a mental note to buy Sonoko a nice return gift later. Still, the request itself was puzzling. "Help?" Ran asked, eyeing the disgruntled Conan. "What kind of help do you need from my dad and Conan?"
Sonoko leaned in, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper. "Didn't I just mention that Kaitou Kid sent a notice for this exact gem? Well, right after Miss Ningguang received his calling card, she made a shocking decision. She flat-out refused to let Inspector Nakamori and the police from Division Two handle the exhibition's security protocols. She is only allowing them to attend as regular guests."
"So," Sonoko continued, her grin widening, "I came over today to formally invite all of you to attend Miss Ningguang's jewelry exhibition! Not only will we get VIP access to admire her private collection of treasured gems, but we can also team up to create a few extra hurdles for Kid. I really, really want to watch my dashing thief overcome all sorts of impossible hardships just to make his grand appearance before me!"
Conan stared at her, utterly speechless. A bead of sweat practically formed on the back of his head. Sometimes, the inner workings of Sonoko Suzuki's mind were a complete and terrifying mystery to him. She claimed to be Kaitou Kid's biggest, most devoted fan, yet she actively took sadistic pleasure in setting traps and making his heists as difficult as humanly possible.
Setting aside Sonoko's bizarre romantic fantasies, Conan's mind began to turn. Banning Inspector Nakamori and the specialized Division Two task force from managing the security grid was a bold move. This Miss Ningguang had to be supremely confident in her own personnel and whatever private security measures her company employed.
Ran smiled brightly, immediately accepting the invitation on behalf of the agency. She promised that she, her father, and Conan would be dressed and ready on time for the big night.
The days passed quickly, and the highly anticipated evening of the jewelry exhibition finally arrived.
The venue was a sprawling, opulent gallery located in the heart of Tokyo's high-end commercial district. Ran, Kogoro Mouri, and Conan arrived well before the official start time, all dressed in their finest formal attire. Kogoro adjusted his crisp suit tie, looking uncharacteristically sharp, while Conan tugged slightly at the collar of his miniature tuxedo.
"Ran! Uncle Kogoro! Conan! You made it!"
Sonoko's cheerful voice echoed across the polished marble floors. She hurried over to greet them, wearing an elegant evening gown that sparkled under the crystal chandeliers. Without wasting a second, she ushered the trio past the velvet ropes.
"Come on, hurry," she urged, gesturing toward the main hall. "I want to take you all to see Starlight's Brilliance before the rest of the VIP guests start flooding in. Once the crowd arrives, it will be impossible to get a good look at it without getting elbowed in the ribs."
Following Sonoko's lead, Conan and the others handled through the maze of pristine glass display cases until they reached the centerpiece of the gallery.
However, before they could even lay eyes on the legendary gem, the sound of a heated dispute caught their attention. Standing right in front of the reinforced central pedestal was Inspector Nakamori of Division Two, his face flushed red with frustration. He was currently locked in a tense argument with an unfamiliar woman.
Conan paused, his gaze drifting from the fuming police inspector to the woman standing opposite him. She was breathtakingly elegant, radiating an aura of absolute authority and mature grace. Her posture was perfect, her expression calm and entirely unbothered by the inspector's shouting.
This had to be the mysterious Miss Ningguang.
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