ALL NOVEL Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Return to the Scene
Conan, Toru Amuro, and everyone at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center listened to the announcement from the venue.
The broadcast mentioned an explosion in the Scarlet Heart collection room and included a notice asking visitors to evacuate.
"Mr. Amuro, what are you doing?"
Conan waited until the broadcast ended, then turned to Toru Amuro and questioned him in disbelief.
With Toru Amuro's combat skills, how could it be possible for Kaitou Kid to snatch the gem so easily and then escape like that?
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"Kaitou Kid is much more powerful than I thought. He caught me off guard."
Toru Amuro smiled at Conan.
However, Conan did not believe Toru Amuro's words at all.
"Mr. Amuro, what's going on?
I can't shake the feeling that you deliberately allowed Kaitou Kid to steal the gem. Could it be that you're helping Kaitou Kid?"
Conan questioned him.
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Toru Amuro didn't answer. Instead, he directed his gaze to the floor.
Conan followed Amuro's line of sight and noticed several clear bloodstains on the gray ground.
It was obvious that this was blood dripping onto the floor after Kaitou Kid had been injured by the explosion.
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"Now that we have Kaitou Kid's blood, we can easily obtain his DNA.
Afterward, we can compare it with suspects thought to be Kaitou Kid, and we should be able to uncover his identity."
While Toru Amuro spoke, he raised his head and looked at Conan.
"As for your earlier question, Conan-kun.
How could I possibly help a thief? Kaitou Kid must be arrested."
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"Then we shouldn't have let him escape! How are we supposed to explain this to Mr. Tsukino?"
Conan asked.
"The highest priority is uncovering the cause of the explosion, isn't it?
Clearly, this is no longer an accident caused by a circuit malfunction or fire. It's obvious that someone deliberately caused the explosion at this time.
An explosion in a place with such a large crowd has seriously endangered the lives of the visitors."
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Toru Amuro forcibly shifted the topic, directing Conan's attention to a more pressing matter.
He speculated whether an organization had planted the bomb but quickly dismissed the idea.
The organization simply wouldn't have the means to plant a bomb.
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Judging by the location of the explosion, the bomb had been placed in the metallic base of the Scarlet Heart display case.
If the organization had the resources to dismantle the metal base and plant a bomb in the display case, why not just take the Scarlet Heart itself?
Furthermore, causing an explosion here wouldn't benefit the organization in any way.
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As Toru Amuro pondered, he noticed a police officer entering the Scarlet Heart collection room, part of the Second Search Division.
Toru Amuro glanced at the officer and said:
"Here's Kaitou Kid's blood. If you collect it, you'll be able to get Kaitou Kid's DNA."
"Understood."
The officer nodded, then pulled out white gloves and put them on.
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'Amuro thought to himself: The explosion this time is definitely different from what the officer outside just claimed. It couldn't have been caused by Kaitou Kid.
Now it seems most likely that the Tsukino Foundation, the exhibition's organizer, is responsible.
Or should I say Tsukino Takashi?'
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'Did he intend to kill Kaitou Kid when the latter tried to steal the gem?'
Conan frowned, considering who might have planted the bomb.
He also believed that Tsukino Takashi was the most likely suspect.
However, he found it somewhat difficult to understand Tsukino Takashi's motive in this reasoning.
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As Conan continued to think, he slightly raised his eyes to observe the officer following Toru Amuro's suggestion to collect Kaitou Kid's blood.
'Wait a moment. I remember this officer went to Area D with Miss Sera.
Why is he here now?'
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Conan only glanced briefly at the officer's appearance but couldn't look away.
In an instant, he realized something was wrong.
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It had been some time since the announcement about the explosion in the Scarlet Heart collection room, and everyone had been evacuated.
The police who went to Area D would likely return quickly to Area B because of the broadcast and communication with the officers here.
But.
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How could the response time and speed of an ordinary officer match those of an elite like Rei Furuya?
If Sera and Masumi hadn't returned yet, how had the officer who went to Area D with them shown up here?
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The officer also noticed Conan's gaze.
He immediately pulled a damp cloth from his pocket and began wiping the blood off the floor.
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"It's Kaitou Kid! He's back!
He's trying to clean the blood from the floor!"
Conan reacted immediately, shouting quickly.
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Toru Amuro and the surrounding officers, who heard Conan's voice, were equally astonished.
No one expected Kaitou Kid to dare to return to the scene, attempting to clean his own blood after surviving so many confrontations and successfully obtaining the Scarlet Shadow Heart.
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In all their years as officers, they had never encountered a thief so bold.
'No, what's going on with Kaitou Kid today?!
He clearly succeeded—why would he dare come back?!
Even if the police have his blood, that doesn't mean they could identify him among so many people!'
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All sorts of questions filled Conan's mind, making it increasingly difficult for him to comprehend Kaitou Kid's behavior.
While Conan pressed the button on his belt, releasing a soccer ball, he bent down to adjust the knob on his power-enhancing shoes.
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Behind him, Toru Amuro had already rushed toward Kaitou Kid.
Amuro had deliberately let him escape earlier, thinking that if Kaitou Kid took the Scarlet Heart, it would make sense for him to fail Rum's mission this time.
But that didn't mean Amuro could tolerate Kaitou Kid's repeated provocations of the police.
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Kuroba Kaito quickly wiped the blood off the floor with a damp cloth.
Then he rolled backward, narrowly evading a kick from Toru Amuro.
The bloodstains on the floor disappeared without a trace.
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Blood drops could still be seen scattered on various parts of the floor.
However, under Toru Amuro's relentless pressure, Kuroba Kaito found himself increasingly overwhelmed.
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(End of Chapter)