Chapter 270: The Confession Under Big Ben
Two days after the incident at the Beika Central Mall, Natsume paid a visit to the Mouri Detective Agency, a small package in hand.
"What is this?" Ran Mouri asked, her expression a mask of pleasant curiosity. Natsume had just pressed a cool, watch-like object into her palm. She turned it over, examining the sleek, modern design before her gaze lifted back to Natsume.
"Ah, remember how we planned to watch the idol competition finals? That's in a little over a week," Natsume explained, gesturing toward the device in Ran's hand. "This is the admission pass. It has a voting function built in, so you can support your favorite contestant when the time comes."
She smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Ran, could you please give Sonoko hers? I made sure to grab a few extras. If there's anyone else you'd like to invite, feel free to bring them along. For example... a certain great detective, perhaps?"
Conan's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. 'Sorry,'he thought dryly,'I will be there, just not in the identity of Kudo Shinichi.'
Just as the boy was lost in his own world of silent retorts, Natsume suddenly crouched down, her face leaning in close. The abrupt movement startled him so badly he almost thought he had spoken his thoughts aloud.
"Conan, this is for you," Natsume said softly, handing him a small stack of five passes—one for each member of the Detective Boys. "Remember to share them with your friends at school."
Straightening up, she turned her attention back to Ran. "By the way, Ran, I heard you're going to London this weekend. Is that right?"
"Yes! Dad helped a foreign lady find her cat, and to show her gratitude, she invited us to visit England. She's covering all our travel, accommodation, and even our meals. We're so lucky," Ran replied, her smile radiant.
"Wow, Ran, that's incredible! A free trip to England?" Natsume's voice was laced with genuine envy. "That's amazing! Remember to take lots of photos!"
A flicker of recognition sparked in Natsume's mind. This had to be the trip—the one where Kudo Shinichi finally confesses in front of Big Ben. A pang of regret hit her; what she wouldn't give to witness that in person.
'Come to think of it,'she mused,'Lyney and Lynette happen to be performing in England right now. Should I ask them to... help me get some pictures?'
"I know, I feel very lucky too," Ran said, her excitement bubbling over. "Besides, the lady seems very kind, so I'm sure it will be a wonderful trip."
The weekend arrived in a flash. Ran and Kogoro Mouri settled into the plush seats of first class, bound for England.
Unbeknownst to them, Dr. Agasa had also tagged along, though he was seated further back in economy. Beside him, disguised in plain sight, was Kudo Shinichi, restored to his teenage form by a temporary antidote.
Upon landing in London, Shinichi made a beeline for the airport restroom. He waited there for over half an hour, leaning against the cool tile as the familiar, agonizing heat of the transformation wracked his body. Only when the effects of the antidote had completely worn off and he was once again the small, bespectacled Conan Edogawa did he emerge to rejoin the others.
Their first stop in the historic city was, fittingly, the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street.
Then, as if summoned by the very spirit of the place, a case fell right into Conan's lap. A young boy, clutching a piece of paper scrawled with a cryptic code, claimed that someone was planning to make people "disappear" right before his eyes.
Conan's attention was instantly snared. The world narrowed, his mind consumed by the singular challenge of cracking the code. In his fervent focus, he completely forgot about the dinner he was supposed to attend with their generous host.
At the evening gala, the lady—a refined woman named Diana—was introducing her friends to the Mouri father-daughter duo.
"...And these two are Mr. Neuvillette and Ms. Furina," Lady Diana said, gesturing to an impeccably dressed man and a woman with striking heterochromatic eyes. "They are currently on vacation. They hadn't planned on visiting England, but they graciously agreed to my invitation after hearing of your fame, Detective Mouri."
She concluded the introductions with a polite smile, opting for a tactful summary. She mentioned they were friends she had met while traveling in Fontaine, but she didn't elaborate on Neuvillette's true position as the nation's Chief Justice, nor on Furina's status as a world-renowned performer.
As the dinner party commenced, Ran kept glancing toward the entrance, but Dr. Agasa and Conan never appeared.
Her patience finally frayed. Seething with frustration, she excused herself and dialed Conan's number, demanding to know where they were. She was going to march right over there and drag them back herself.
This single, angry phone call set in motion a chain of events that led Ran to discover the impossible: Kudo Shinichi was also in London. It was the catalyst for the now-famous "Confession Under Big Ben."
Beneath the grand clock tower, bathed in the soft glow of the city lights, Shinichi grabbed Ran's wrist, stopping her from turning away. His voice, thick with an emotion he could no longer contain, spilled out in a heartfelt confession.
Ran stared at him, her mind reeling. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. As she stood there, utterly lost and unsure how to respond, the distinct click of a camera shutter cut through the evening air.
Both of their heads snapped toward the sound.
"Very good. Everyone is looking at the lens," a deadpan voice announced. It was Lynette, expressionlessly pressing the shutter button on her camera again.
"Ahem, little sister," Lyney began, waving awkwardly at the stunned couple. "I don't think they turned their heads just now to look at the lens."
"I know. I was just making a joke," Lynette replied, casting a disdainful look at her twin. "Brother, you really have no sense of humor."
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