"Uncle Yusaku, there's no point in pretending anymore!"
Ran's tone was firm. She took a file bag from the cabinet behind her and placed it on the table.
"This paternity test report is the evidence!"
Kudo Shinichi snatched the report, quickly flipping to the last page.
The report clearly stated: Based on DNA analysis results, a biological father-son relationship between the submitted samples is supported.
Kudo Shinichi was utterly shocked, his mouth agape, his hand holding the report trembling. He looked up at his father, his eyes incredibly complex: "Dad… you… you actually…"
Mouri Kogoro, who had been playing dead on the table, instantly revived. He squeezed over, took the report, glanced at it, and immediately put on an 'I understand everything' expression, patting Kudo Yusaku's shoulder.
"Oh my, Yusaku, I never would have thought! You've really hidden it well.
But, well, it's normal for men to make a mistake like this. Understandable, completely understandable! Hehe… um… is she pretty?" He asked, rubbing his hands lewdly.
"Dad!" Ran punched him again in exasperation, and Mouri Kogoro collapsed once more.
Kudo Yusaku, looking utterly bewildered, took the paternity report, quickly scanned it, his expression shifting from surprise to a wry smile.
"This… this is truly preposterous! Ran, where did this report come from? How could I possibly…"
"Uncle Yusaku, the evidence is irrefutable, just admit it."
Ran interrupted him, then turned her gaze to Haibara Ai, who was disguised as Conan, and said with certainty,
"Conan, you tell me, is Uncle Yusaku your dad? Don't be afraid, Big Sister Ran will back you up, I won't let you suffer any injustice!"
Whoosh—
In an instant, everyone's eyes fell upon the 'Edogawa Conan' wearing a mask and hat.
Haibara Ai, afraid of being exposed, pulled her hat brim lower, staring at her bowl and chopsticks, remaining silent, like a child overwhelmed and scared by adult arguments.
To Ran, this reaction was undoubtedly an admission! It was the grievance of a child afraid to identify her father!
"See! Uncle Yusaku!" Ran's tone carried a hint of heartache and reproach, "Conan is so scared he can't even speak! Are you still going to deny it?"
Kudo Shinichi's brain, after a brief shutdown, quickly rebooted.
So Ran wasn't suspicious of his identity at all, just suspected Conan was his dad's illegitimate child?
Well, in that case, let the old man worry about it. He'll surely come up with a reasonable explanation.
Mouri Kogoro was still processing the news, recalling the image of the plump woman who claimed to be Conan's mother, Fumiyo Edogawa, a twitch appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Then he secretly eyed Kudo Yusaku with an expression of immense admiration, internally ranting wildly.
'Yusaku, that old guy… his taste is too unique, isn't it?! He could actually stomach that kind of pork? Cheating on a beauty like Yukiko? He's truly not a decent person! Are all geniuses' preferences this unusual?'
Facing Ran's relentless pressure and the unspoken message in his son's eyes of "You better figure out how to smooth this over," Kudo Yusaku pushed up his glasses, a helpless expression on his face.
"Sigh… It seems there's no hiding it now."
He looked at Ran, a little embarrassed,
"Ran, you're very perceptive. This report is correct, Conan is indeed my child."
"Dad?!" Kudo Shinichi feigned a hurt expression, thinking his father was about to acknowledge Conan as an illegitimate child.
Kudo Yusaku raised a hand, signaling him to calm down, and said in a storytelling tone.
"However, things are not as you imagine. Conan, he is not an illegitimate child."
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully:
"He is Yukiko's and my… second child, born in Hawaii."
"Second child?!" Ran's eyes widened.
Kudo Shinichi and Mouri Kogoro were also stunned.
Even Haibara Ai, with her head bowed, her shoulders trembled slightly.
"Yes."
Kudo Yusaku's face showed a gentle smile.
"It was a beautiful accident. Yukiko and I felt it was a gift from heaven, so we decided to have him.
To pay tribute to the mystery novelists we admire, I combined the names 'Conan Doyle' and 'Rampo Edogawa' and named him — Edogawa Conan."
"But… Japanese law states that a child's surname can only follow a parent, or change after marriage, right?" Ran questioned.
"That's the problem."
Kudo Yusaku smoothed things over.
"Our situation was a bit special at the time, and Shinichi was already grown. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we fostered Conan with a distant relative who happened to be surnamed 'Edogawa'.
So, legally and officially, Conan is a child of the Edogawa family, but in reality, he is Yukiko's and my flesh and blood, Shinichi's younger brother."
Everyone was too shocked to speak.
But this explanation, compared to the motives of the murderers in Beika, was so reasonable.
Ran still felt something was off. "If that's the case, why didn't Shinichi know? His reaction just now…"
Kudo Shinichi immediately reacted, quickly interjecting.
"I… I knew Conan was my brother! I was so shocked just now because I saw the paternity report and thought Dad had a third child! It scared me to death!"
He patted his chest, looking genuinely frightened.
Haibara Ai, disguised as Conan, also nodded, confirming this with the voice changer.
Ran reluctantly believed him but remained somewhat suspicious.
Kudo Yusaku gave his son an approving look, then smoothly pulled out his phone. "I know this is hard to believe immediately. How about this, I'll call Yukiko directly and let her tell you herself."
The call connected, and Kudo Yusaku briefly explained the situation, then pressed the speakerphone button.
On the other end of the line, Yukiko Kudo's voice came through:
"Ran~! That's right! That mischievous Conan is my adorable second child! I got pregnant in Hawaii, and for some reasons, we never announced it, but you found out! You have to help us keep it a secret~!"
Her tone was very natural, not at all like she was lying.
Yukiko's acting completely convinced Ran.
Ran's face instantly flushed crimson, her eyes wide.
"Oh, so that's how it is… I'm sorry! Uncle Yusaku! Shinichi, and Aunt Yukiko! I, I was too rash! I'm truly very sorry!" She bowed deeply.
Kudo Yusaku smiled gently, stepping forward to help her up. "It's alright, Ran. You were just concerned about Conan, and it's true that we kept it a secret first. Your perceptiveness and investigative spirit are very detective-like."
The atmosphere gradually eased.
To completely change the subject, Kudo Yusaku took a few tickets from his pocket.
"Oh, by the way, Ran, I just happened to have some Astra Yao concert tickets a friend gave me. I heard Okino Yoko-san will also be attending as a special guest. I'll give them to you. I'm about to go abroad again, so keeping them would be a waste."
"Astra Yao?! And Okino Yoko-chan?!"
Mouri Kogoro's eyes turned into hearts, and he snatched the tickets, "Fantastic! Yusaku, you're truly too generous! I misunderstood you just now, I'll drink three cups as a penalty!"
Ran also gratefully accepted the tickets. "Thank you, Uncle Yusaku."
Then she punched Mouri Kogoro on the back of the head.
"Dad! Now, let's talk about you betting the case fees on horse racing, shall we?"