The midnight chimes echoed melodiously through the brightly lit ballroom of the Queen Elizabeth.
Dong—dong—dong—
Twelve resounding chimes announced the end of April 19th and the arrival of April 20th.
Suzuki Tomoko, standing in the spotlight, beamed with a triumphant smile. She elegantly raised her champagne glass, her voice amplified by the microphone, spreading throughout the hall:
"Distinguished guests! Please quiet down!"
The boisterous ballroom instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on the mistress of the Suzuki Foundation.
"At this moment, it is already the early hours of April 20th, past the time forewarned by Kaito Kid and Mockingbird."
Suzuki Tomoko voice was filled with the joy of victory,
"I am honored to announce here—we, the Suzuki Foundation, have successfully protected the black star! We have triumphed over the arrogant Kaito Kid! And we have defeated that self-proclaimed righteous Mockingbird!"
Her words were impactful, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers from the guests.
"Tonight's victory is inseparable from the joint efforts of all of us."
Suzuki Tomoko smiled, her gaze turning to Lycaon in the crowd.
"Especially, I want to thank our reliable ally, Lycaon-san, the representative of Victoria Housekeeping!"
Suzuki Tomoko nodded to Lycaon,
"Lycaon-san, with his exceptional abilities, perfectly fulfilled his duty of protecting the true black star. Now, our commission has been successfully completed, and the agreed-upon employment period has also passed."
She elegantly extended her hand, making an inviting gesture: "Lycaon-san, please return the true black star to me. Thank you again for your and Victoria Housekeeping's strong support!"
Lycaon nodded slightly, walking with steady steps towards the main stage.
He took out the small velvet box containing the black star from his pocket and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, solemnly handed it to Suzuki Tomoko.
"It's my duty, Madam," Lycaon's voice was low, his demeanor elegant.
Suzuki Tomoko took the box with a beaming smile, eagerly opening a crack to confirm.
The black star, the world's largest black pearl, lay safely within it.
She was completely relieved, her triumphant smile even brighter.
She carefully took out the magnificent brooch inlaid with the black star, preparing to pin it to her chest as the ultimate symbol of this victory.
It was at this glorious moment, under everyone's gaze, that the unexpected happened.
Beside Suzuki Tomoko, a waiter who had been quietly standing there, wearing a mask, erupted with astonishing speed like a long-dormant cheetah.
Her slender fingers were as fast as lightning, snatching the brooch Suzuki Tomoko had just received.
The moment her fingertips touched the brooch, the unremarkable waiter's uniform she wore seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force,
revealing the Gothic-style attire underneath, consisting of a white ruffled shirt and a black corset skirt. Her purple hair broke free, fluttering in the light.
It was Vivian, a member of Mockingbird!
"Nani?!" Tomoko Suzuki's smile froze on her face as she stared in shock at her empty fingers. Where was my big black star?
"Got it~"
Vivian chuckled softly, and the parasol in her hand, "Bird's Pilgrimage," instantly unfurled, its ribs spraying a faint blue light from miniature thrusters.
Using the buoyancy of the parasol, she gracefully leaped towards the ballroom exit.
"You won't!"
A low shout rang out!
Lycaon, closest to the main stage, reacted incredibly fast, leaping up and delivering a flying kick directly at Vivian's wrist, which held the gem.
Facing this thunderous strike, Vivian, in mid-air, flicked her wrist, and the black star she had just acquired transformed into a streak of light, which she accurately threw towards the back of the ballroom, in the direction of the crowd near the exit.
"Catch!"
Lycaon's pupils suddenly contracted, shifting his target from Vivian to the flying gem.
Using his powerful core strength, he forcibly twisted his body in mid-air, abruptly changing the direction of his flying kick, and charged like a cannonball towards the gem's landing spot.
Just as Lycaon was about to touch the gem, a figure in the crowd moved.
Hugo, who had been standing discreetly in a corner, holding a black metallic briefcase, elegantly stepped forward.
His casual clothes, like Vivian's earlier, instantly transformed into a well-tailored blue phantom thief's suit.
He slightly raised his wrist and, with a dashing motion, steadily caught the incoming black star brooch.
"Well done, Vivian," Hugo whispered into his earpiece, a faint smile playing on his lips.
At the same time, he flicked his wrist, tossing the briefcase into the air.
Click! Clatter!
A dazzling sound of mechanical transformation rang out.
The seemingly ordinary briefcase instantly disintegrated and reassembled in mid-air.
The case body unfolded, folded, and extended, metal components interlocking like living things, finally assembling into a sleek, giant scythe in Hugo's hand.
"Mockingbird, here to fulfill the promise," Hugo calmly announced his name, casually sidestepping Lycaon's flying kick.
Lycaon's strike missed, and the moment his toes touched the ground, he pushed off again, turning without hesitation, his whip-like leg sweeping towards Hugo's waist, targeting the hand holding the gem.
Hugo lightly flicked his wrist, and the giant scythe drew an arc in front of him.
He didn't use the blade, but rather the back of the scythe to meet Lycaon's leg.
Bang!
A dull thud echoed.
The back of the scythe firmly blocked Lycaon's leg kick.
The two separated as soon as they touched, then immediately engaged in combat again.
Lycaon's punches and kicks were fierce and swift, carrying the explosive power of a beast, Hugo's scythe was wide and sweeping, its back blocking or pushing, his movements fluid and artistic, as if performing a dangerous dance.
For a moment, the two fought inextricably, strong winds swirling around them, and the surrounding guests gasped, retreating repeatedly.
Conan also wanted to join in, raising his anesthetic watch, constantly adjusting his aim, trying to target Hugo for a shot.
But, by a strange coincidence, whenever he aimed at Hugo and hadn't fired yet, Lycaon and Hugo's positions would always change.
This left him scratching his head in frustration, completely helpless.
"Enough!"
Suzuki Tomoko authoritative voice rang out. She stood on the main stage, calmly watching the two entangled in battle.
"Lycaon-san, please stop."
Hearing this, Lycaon forcibly held back his upcoming punch, leaped back a step, creating distance, his red eyes still fixed on Hugo, maintaining a wary posture.
Hugo also stopped in time, his scythe pointing diagonally to the ground, his posture composed.
Suzuki Tomoko walked down the main stage, her high heels clicking on the ground.
She walked behind Lycaon, her gaze sweeping over Vivian, who was hovering at the exit with her parasol, finally settling on Hugo.
"Are you the famous Mockingbird phantom thief duo from Europe? You may leave," she said in a flat tone, "I don't care about this black star at all."
The guests gasped in incomprehension.
Suzuki Tomoko looked around at everyone, raising her voice. "What I care about is proving that I, Suzuki Tomoko, can outsmart these arrogant phantom thieves! Now the forewarned time has passed, and I have won, that is enough!
As for the black star, they can take it if they want."
Hugo chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Madam Suzuki, I'm afraid you're celebrating too early."
He elegantly raised his hand and pointed to the clock above, "Are you sure it's really April 20th now?"
(Additional note: Both Vivian and Hugo were disguised, just like when Vivian first appeared. Think of it like Kaito Kid's setting, where wearing a monocle makes him unrecognizable.)