On April 19th, the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship was preparing to host the 60th-anniversary celebration of the Suzuki Foundation.
Invited by Sonoko, Rin and Ellen, along with Mouri Kogoro, Mouri Ran, and Conan, held their invitations and followed the crowd towards the boarding ramp, led by an excited Sonoko.
"Wow! What a huge ship!" Ran exclaimed, gazing up at the cruise ship.
"As expected of the Suzuki Foundation, the scale is truly impressive," Mouri Kogoro also sighed in admiration.
"Hehe, today is definitely going to be super lively!" Sonoko clasped her hands across her chest, her eyes sparkling, "I'm really looking forward to seeing how Kaitou Kid will make his appearance this time."
She teased Ran, "Kaito Kid is best at disguises, don't you think? I wonder if he'll disguise himself as someone we know this time? If Kaitou Kid disguises himself as you, Ran, I wonder if I'd even recognize him!"
Rin's eyes darted around, and he suggested, "How about we agree on a secret code? If any of us is suspected of being Kaitou Kid in disguise,"
"As soon as someone asks, 'Are you the real [name]?', we immediately reply, 'I'm fake, I'm Kaito Kid.' How about that?"
Conan thought agreeing on a secret code beforehand was a good idea and was the first to agree, the others had no objections either.
They arrived at the boarding gate.
Seeing that they were guests brought by Suzuki Sonoko, the staff didn't scrutinize their invitations much and smiled as they handed each person a beautifully packaged small box.
"Please hold onto these, esteemed guests," the staff member said politely, "These were specially prepared by Suzuki-sama. She instructed that you open them only after boarding the ship, when she announces it."
"Eh? A mysterious gift?" Sonoko curiously weighed the box, shook it close to her ear, "How come I didn't hear about this?"
"Aunt Tomoko always likes to create surprises," Ran said with a smile as she took the gift box.
"It feels like a wedding favor," Rin, who knew what was inside the gift box, casually brushed it off and slipped the box into his pocket.
Ellen, dressed in a maid outfit, took the gift box and then listlessly handed it over to Rin.
Ran saw this and asked with concern, "Ellen, you look a bit down today... uh... I mean, you look even more down than usual. Did something happen? Also, why are you wearing a maid outfit today?"
Conan tilted his head, he was also very curious about this and had wanted to ask for a while.
However, Ellen never really paid him much attention, and if he asked too many questions, she would give him a look of disdain, which always made him retreat.
Ellen took the lollipop out of her mouth and sighed, "Because work is very troublesome... wearing a maid outfit is a work dress code..."
"Huh?" Sonoko leaned in with a gossipy expression, "Ellen, didn't you say you usually work at Rin's Video rental store? How can a legitimate Video rental store require employees to wear maid outfits?"
Conan and Ran both looked over.
Rin, who had seen this episode before, quickly jumped in to answer, "I'm sorry that I don't run a legitimate Video rental store, but don't ask if my store has 'those kinds of movies'—it definitely doesn't!"
"We haven't even asked anything yet, Rin, your answer makes it even more suspicious," Sonoko squinted, nudging Rin's waist with her elbow, wearing an 'I know everything' expression.
"Eh?" Rin's prediction failed, and he awkwardly showed a bewildered expression.
Continuing forward, they arrived on the spacious deck.
A fierce argument immediately caught their attention.
In a prominent spot near the gangway, Inspector Nakamori was red-faced, confronting Superintendent Chaki.
"Superintendent Chaki, my plan has been thoroughly thought out!"
Inspector Nakamori waved his arms, his voice agitated,
"Kaito Kid's specialty is disguise. If we don't conduct a thorough facial contact inspection—pinching to confirm if there's a disguise mask—he can easily blend in with the guests and walk in brazenly! This is the most direct and effective method!"
"Inspector Nakamori!"
Superintendent Chaki suppressed his anger, his brows tightly furrowed,
"I understand your determination to catch the phantom thief, but please be realistic! Look around you! The people boarding for the Suzuki Foundation's 60th-anniversary celebration are all social elites.
In plain sight, to conduct a face-pinching inspection on every single guest? This is absolutely preposterous! I absolutely do not agree with your plan!"
As the two officers clashed, and the surrounding police officers held their breath in silence.
Not far away, Kaito Kid, disguised as Sonoko's father, Suzuki Shiro, was mingling among a group of businessmen chatting happily.
He perfectly mimicked Suzuki Shiro's demeanor and gestures, laughing and exchanging toasts while secretly eyeing the frustrated Inspector Nakamori.
Face-pinching inspection? Uncle Nakamori is still so naive and adorable.
Kaito Kid chuckled inwardly, 'I already snuck in a long time ago. With Chairman Suzuki's skin, who dares to stop me? Who can stop me? Hahaha.'
Just then, a slightly displeased female voice sounded behind him. "Shiro! What took you so long? The celebration is about to start!"
Kaito Kid slowly turned around and saw that the person who came was Chairman Suzuki's henpecked wife. "Ah, Tomoko, sorry, sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way."
Suzuki Tomoko was wearing a sleek black velvet gown with exquisite makeup. She frowned slightly.
"Traffic shouldn't delay important matters! The representative from Victoria Housekeeping whom I specially invited has been waiting for us in the VIP room for quite some time."
"Victoria Housekeeping?"
Kaito Kid had never heard of this name and didn't understand why Suzuki Tomoko was so invested in a housekeeping company, so he decided to play along.
"Tomoko, on an occasion like today, inviting people from Victoria Housekeeping... isn't that a bit..."
"What do you know!"
Suzuki Tomoko rolled her eyes at him,
"Whether we can outdo Kaito Kid and Mockingbird, those two groups of phantom thieves, depends on them."
With that, Suzuki Tomoko directly linked arms with her "husband" and walked towards the luxurious VIP room on the upper deck of the cruise ship, exclusive to the Suzuki family.
Kaito Kid was puzzled but could only play the role of Suzuki Shiro and follow Suzuki Tomoko.
Pushing open the heavy VIP room door, the interior decor was utterly luxurious.
However, the moment the door opened, Kaito Kid's gaze was drawn to the figure standing by the window.
He saw a werewolf standing there, with white fur covering half of his face, revealing only one red eye, and wearing a black leather mask.
He was dressed in a black butler's uniform, with a large white tail swaying casually behind him.
There's really a werewolf?! He won't bite people, will he?!
Kaitou Kid now completely believed Akako's words, suppressing his inner shock, trying to make his disguised Chairman Suzuki look normal.
What he couldn't understand, however, was why Suzuki Tomoko was so familiar with him.
She looked like she was having a pleasant conversation with that werewolf.
Could it be that in the top wealthy circles like the Suzuki Foundation, the existence of such supernatural beings is considered normal?