The subordinate didn't finish, but the meaning was clear. They weren't afraid of risk, but they feared the unknown, absolute crushing power.
Suzuki Jirokichi scratched his hair in frustration. On one hand was his deep-seated hatred for Kanjuro and his desire to reclaim the family treasure; on the other was his extreme fear of Kanjuro's unfathomable strength. These two emotions warred fiercely in his heart, nearly tearing him apart.
He paced back and forth in his safe house like a trapped beast. His gaze was sometimes fierce, sometimes despondent. He stared at the Suzuki Family crest hanging on the wall, then looked out the window toward the grand Mansion that originally belonged to the Suzuki Family, now seemingly shrouded in an invisible shadow.
The plan to reclaim 'the heart of the ocean' was like a tempting trap leading to hell. Knowing the hope was slim and might even directly invite destruction, the sapphire's light and symbolic meaning, along with the spark of revenge that refused to die deep in his heart, constantly tempted him, driving him toward that dangerous edge.
He knew that once he made a move, there would be no turning back. Either he would succeed in the theft and find a glimmer of hope, or... he would completely enrage that demon and bring about the end of the Suzuki Family's last bloodline. This heavy choice left Suzuki Jirokichi sleepless and tormented.
Inside the bathroom area of the Suzuki main Mansion (now Kanjuro's palace), which was as luxurious as a palace, steam swirled. In the massive natural marble bathtub, the water temperature was just right, with fresh rose petals floating on the surface.
Kanjuro leaned lazily against the edge of the pool, eyes closed in rest. His bare upper body's muscular lines were smooth and powerful, with water droplets sliding down his skin. Beside him, the mother-daughter duo of Ran Mouri and Eri Kisaki were cautiously serving him. Ran's face was slightly flushed, her eyes filled with complex emotions, yet she didn't dare to be negligent, gently wiping his arms with a soft sponge. Eri Kisaki looked cold and detached, but deep within her sharp eyes lay an indescribable sense of submission and helplessness as she massaged his shoulders and neck. These two women, seen by the outside world as independent and strong, were now acting like the most obedient maids, showcasing Kanjuro's irresistible control.
In the lounge area outside the bath, there was a similarly erotic yet eerie scene. Akemi Miyano and Suzuki Sonoko were kneeling on the soft carpet, meticulously peeling crystal grapes to feed Kanjuro. Ai Haibara (Shiho) sat on a sofa a bit further away with her mother, Miyano Elena; both were silent. Elena's eyes held a lingering worry, while Haibara Ai maintained her usual coldness, though her tightly pursed lips betrayed her inner turmoil. Tomoko Suzuki and Suzuki Ayako stood quietly to the side like housekeepers, ready to follow any command; their faces had long since grown accustomed to this life, even showing a hint of twisted satisfaction.
Matsumoto Sayuri was also among them, sitting not far from the pool in a simple bathrobe, staring blankly at the rising steam as if her soul had been extracted, leaving only a beautiful empty shell. Everything she had just experienced gave her a sense of alienation that was out of place with her surroundings.
A massive built-in TV screen faced the pool, playing the evening news. Suddenly, an emergency news flash broke the room's silence. Suzuki Jirokichi's face, distorted by anger and determination, appeared on the screen!
"Warriors across the country! I am Suzuki Jirokichi!" He faced the camera, his voice loud but carrying a hint of desperate madness. "Many of you probably know that my Suzuki Family has met with a great disaster, our home usurped by a demon named Kanjuro! This scoundrel is cruel and heartless, having slaughtered my kin and disgraced my family name!"
His words spread across the nation via the television signal and clearly reached the ears of everyone in the bathroom.
Akemi and Sonoko stopped peeling grapes and looked at the screen in surprise. Tomoko and Ayako frowned slightly but showed no further reaction. Elena looked at Kanjuro with concern, then at her daughters. Haibara Ai's brow furrowed even deeper. Eri Kisaki's massaging movements paused briefly, and Ran lowered her head even further.
Only Matsumoto Sayuri still had empty eyes, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with her.
Suzuki Jirokichi's voice continued, full of provocation: "Now, I announce in the final name of the Suzuki Family! Whoever can kill Kanjuro! Whoever can seize the Suzuki Family's heirloom—'the heart of the ocean'—from that demon's hands! I, Suzuki Jirokichi, am willing to pay my entire fortune—twenty billion yen! As a reward!!"
"Twenty billion! Kill Kanjuro! Reclaim the heart of the ocean!!"
This news, like a heavy bomb, was played repeatedly on television, with the host commenting on this unprecedented, sky-high bounty in a shocked tone.
The atmosphere in the bathroom instantly became subtle and tense. Everyone's gaze, whether overt or covert, focused on the man in the pool who was still resting with his eyes closed.
However, Kanjuro's reaction took everyone by surprise.
He didn't even open his eyes; the corners of his mouth simply curled into an extremely mocking and disdainful arc. It was as if what he heard wasn't a massive bounty on his head, but merely a clumsy performance by a third-rate comedian.
He lazily raised his hand and gave a light wave.
Tomoko Suzuki, standing by, immediately understood. She picked up the remote and switched the channel without hesitation. The TV screen instantly changed to a boring variety show; noisy music and laughter filled the room, completely drowning out the news that was enough to shake the entire country.
Only then did Kanjuro slowly open his eyes. There was no anger in those deep pupils, only a high-and-mighty curiosity and amusement, like a god looking down at ants.
He opened his mouth and took the grape Akemi cautiously fed him, savoring the sweet juice before finally speaking in his unique, lazily magnetic voice. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:
"Twenty billion? Suzuki Jirokichi... that's all the vision he has."
He turned his head slightly to look at the women with various expressions by the pool, finally resting his gaze on the pale-faced Tomoko Suzuki and Ayako, his tone teasing:
"It seems your uncle still doesn't understand that since 'the heart of the ocean' is with me, it... already belongs to the Ye family."
He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes like a venomous snake's tongue:
"As for those flies attracted by the bounty... perfect, I've been a bit bored lately."
His tone was as relaxed as if he were planning a piece of entertainment.
These words, and his attitude of completely disregarding Suzuki Jirokichi and that staggering bounty, were more intimidating than any angry roar. The small ripples that had just formed in the women's hearts due to the news were instantly replaced by even greater fear and a strange sense of security.
Resistance was futile; provocation was laughable. In the face of this man's absolute power, all external storms seemed to be nothing more than interesting news he used to pass the time.
Kanjuro closed his eyes again, enjoying the soak in the warm water and the service of the beauties around him, as if everything just now had never happened. Only the tension in the air that hadn't fully dissipated proved that the bounty was like a stone thrown into the deep sea—though it failed to stir up huge waves, the tiny ripples heralded more overconfident moths about to throw themselves into this eternally burning dark flame called "Kanjuro." On the rooftop of the Kuroba Mansion in Ekoda-cho.
The night wind brushed past the youth's white top hat, his cape fluttering behind him. Kaito Kuroba, or rather, the Magician Under the Moonlight—Kaitou Kid, stood at the edge of the rooftop. He had just turned off the news on his phone screen that was spreading like wildfire—Suzuki Jirokichi's massive bounty on Kanjuro.
His face, which usually wore a cynical smile, was now clouded with an unprecedented solemnity. Thoughts surged in his jewel-like blue eyes.
"Kanjuro..." He whispered the name, his fingertips feeling slightly cold. Unlike the police who saw him as a thorn in their side, or the security personnel he toyed with, Kanjuro's existence was something from another dimension. Through his own channels, Kid had vaguely heard rumors about Kanjuro—the extermination of the Suzuki Family, his control over prominent women, and those various god-like powers that couldn't be explained by common logic. He was a true monster walking the earth, treating rules as nothing and human life as grass.
He was a phantom thief, pursuing the most magnificent magic performances under the moon, stealing treasures and challenging authority, but he had his own bottom line and principles. He stole, but never truly harmed others, and had even helped in secret many times. He enjoyed the game of wits with the great detective Conan (Shinichi Kudo); that was more like an intellectual game.
But Kanjuro was different. Kanjuro's very existence was a trampling of order and humanity.
"Twenty billion... the heart of the ocean..." Kid looked at the brilliant yet cold night view of Tokyo in the distance, his mouth habitually wanting to curl into that provocative smile belonging to a phantom thief, only to find it a bit forced. He knew the danger of going there; it would be no different from breaking into a dragon's den, with the possibility of survival being minuscule. Suzuki Jirokichi's bounty was less an opportunity and more a bait with a poison hook thrown by a desperate man.
But... fragments of information about Kanjuro's deeds flashed through his mind. He thought of the once-vibrant lives of the Suzuki Family (even if he had fought wits with Suzuki Jirokichi, it was more of a "gentleman's struggle"), and he thought of those women controlled by Kanjuro whose fates were uncertain... He clenched his fist, his white glove particularly striking under the moonlight.
"I may be a thief..." He spoke to the night sky as if making a vow to himself, his voice firm and clear, "but at least I still know what a 'bottom line' is. Letting such a monster exist would make this world truly too boring, and too... dark."
He couldn't tolerate it. He couldn't tolerate such a destructive force that stood above everything and acted willfully. This wasn't about the reward, or even "the heart of the ocean" itself (though that gem had a natural attraction for him); it was about his pride as a "phantom thief" and his conscience as a "human."
The moonlight fell, plating his white figure with a layer of cold brilliance. He took a deep breath, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes replaced by determination.
Snap! A snap of his fingers, and smoke suddenly rose.
When the smoke cleared, the rooftop was empty. Only the night wind continued to howl.
In the Tokyo night sky, a white figure, like a reverse meteor, rode a hang glider, flying precisely and swiftly towards Suzuki Jirokichi's secret hiding place. His white top hat was pulled down, hiding his current expression, leaving only his monocle reflecting a cold light under the moon.
The Phantom Thief Under the Moonlight—this time, his target was no longer a gem, but the... dragon perched upon it. Knowing the path ahead might lead to being shattered, he still chose to spread his wings and move forward. This was not just a theft, but an asymmetrical challenge concerning justice and order. The legend of Kaitou Kid was about to turn its most dangerous and unpredictable page. Outside Suzuki Jirokichi's temporary base, a meticulously prepared press conference was being held. A giant screen scrolled through blurred images of Kanjuro (hardly any clear photos could be found) and brilliant pictures of "the heart of the ocean," with the suffocating bounty amount—20 billion yen! The area below was packed with reporters, ambitious individuals, outlaws attracted by the massive bounty, and countless citizens following the event through live broadcasts. The atmosphere was frenetic and chaotic, the air thick with greed, fear, and a hint of unrealistic fantasy.
Suzuki Jirokichi stood on the stage, facing countless cameras, hoarsely denouncing Kanjuro's crimes, trying to ignite more people's anger and courage. However, though the crowd was noisy, very few actually dared to respond; Kanjuro's terror had long since loomed over everyone's hearts like a shadow.
At this climax where clamor and oppression coexisted—
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" A clear, elegant, and magnetic voice seemed to pierce through all the noise, reaching everyone's ears clearly.
Everyone subconsciously looked up!
In the night sky, beneath a bright moon, a pure white figure was suspended elegantly above the press conference site as if weightless! The white top hat and white cape flew wildly in the night wind, and the monocle reflected the moonlight and the ground lights, making it impossible to see his eyes, only the signature, confident, and mysterious arc curled at the corner of his mouth.
It was Kaitou Kid!
The crowd instantly erupted in even more enthusiastic exclamations and commotion than before! Camera flashes flickered frantically like crazed fireflies!
"It's Lord Kid!"
"Why is he here?!"
"Is he interested in the bounty too?"
Kaitou Kid ignored the commotion below. He lightly pulled the control ropes of his hang glider and, like an elf under the moon, slowly landed on top of a lamppost directly in front of the press conference stage, standing on one foot, his posture upright and composed, as if he were the true protagonist of this press conference.
He slightly pressed down the brim of his hat, his gaze seemingly piercing through the lens to look at all the people watching the live broadcast, finally fixing on Suzuki Jirokichi, who was stunned on the stage by his appearance.
"It seems tonight's moonlight is exceptionally suitable for a grand 'performance'." Kid's voice, through a miniature microphone he had donned at some point, spread clearly throughout the entire venue. "Advisor Suzuki, I have received your 'invitation'."
Suzuki Jirokichi snapped out of his initial shock. He looked at Kid with an extremely complex expression. This old rival, who had repeatedly made him lose face and whom he hated to the core, appeared now like a beam of light piercing through the darkness. He knew Kid's capabilities well and understood that although Kid was a thief, he had his own principles and bottom line, never truly harming the innocent.
"Kaitou Kid..." Suzuki Jirokichi's voice carried a hint of imperceptible hoarseness and... anticipation? "You... are here for the bounty?" He asked tentatively, but deep down, a voice was shouting, hoping it wasn't so.
Hearing this, Kid gave a light laugh, one that carried a bit of disdain and a bit of pride.
"A bounty? Twenty billion is indeed a staggering figure." He shifted his tone, his voice becoming serious and firm, like a drawn sword. "But to me, what's more important is that I will not allow a monster who tramples on life and toys with people's hearts to tarnish this stage under the moonlight."
He raised his hand and pointed at Kanjuro's image on the screen behind him, as if formally declaring war on that unknown demon:
"the heart of the ocean, I will retrieve it. But not for your bounty; rather, to prove that even in the darkness, there still exists a... 'thief' who dares to challenge the dragon."
These words rang out powerfully, spreading across the country via the live broadcast signal. Countless viewers were moved, as if seeing a warrior from a fairy tale challenging an evil dragon.
Suzuki Jirokichi stared blankly at the white figure on the lamppost, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Anger, humiliation, and a trace of inexplicable... gratitude? He took a deep breath as if he had made up his mind, and for the first time, spoke to Kid in an unprecedentedly solemn tone, almost as an equal:
"Fine! Kaitou Kid! I, Suzuki Jirokichi, may have viewed you as an enemy in the past, but this time... I admire your courage!" He straightened his back, his voice booming. "If there's any help you need, such as the structural blueprints of that Mansion, or any intelligence on Kanjuro... as long as I know it, I can tell you!"
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