Chapter 52: Meeting of the Counterparts

When Kazawa, in his Joker persona, descended to the cruise ship's engine room, the showdown between Kaito Kid and Conan had reached a critical moment.

"If you really suspect I'm Kid, why not just call the police…" Kid picked up the maintenance phone that connected to the deck — but before he could make the call, Conan kicked it apart with a soccer ball. …Where did this kid even get a soccer ball from?

"Hmph, don't think you can pull the same trick again. That day, you called the cops on purpose to use the flash as cover to quickly change into a police uniform and slip away in the crowd… This time, you won't get the chance to call for backup." Conan stepped on the soccer ball that had bounced back, his face filled with confidence far beyond his age. "I came to this one-on-one battle to show my respect for the artist bold enough to infiltrate a heavily guarded place alone."

Kid looked at the confidence on Conan's young face and chuckled. He tossed the black pearl at Conan. "Alright, I surrender. I give up on the 'Black Star'. Still, the girl who lent me her clothes is still lying on a lifeboat outside. I wonder if she's caught a chill."

He gave a tug at his collar, revealing a bra strap. "What can I say, I'm a perfectionist."

Conan flinched. Realizing that Ran was likely lying out there stark naked, his expression twisted involuntarily.

Just as Kid was about to throw down a flash bomb to escape once again, a red blur dropped from above and snatched it from his hand midair.

Second time's the charm — just as he feared. With a tired sigh, Kid didn't even look back and leapt away. A black figure landed hard on the spot he had just vacated.

"Don't worry, little detective. Your lady has already been rescued by a kind soul. She's safe and appropriately dressed — nothing indecent at all." Kazawa casually wrapped his scarf, now limp and ribbon-like, back around his neck as he turned toward the crossdressing Kid. "Right, Lord Kid?"

Kid looked at the versatile scarf, then at the fully masked face of Kazawa's Joker, and said with some envy, "Your gear's really impressive, Joker. Can you actually see anything like that?"

"Thanks for your concern." Kazawa smiled and tapped his blindfold. "I can see just fine, crossdressing phantom thief."

Conan took a half step back and eyed Joker, once again appearing out of nowhere. But he wasn't too surprised. After all, this mysterious thief had previously left his mark on Kid's playing cards — even Kid had been caught off guard back then. Clearly, the trickster had been tricked himself.

"But your design is a little rude," Kid quipped. "Not being able to look your opponent in the eye during a conversation makes me uneasy." As he talked trash, his eyes darted around, searching for an escape route.

The stairway was blocked by Joker, and the kid's soccer ball was ready to launch again — running out would be tricky. Fortunately, he still had his climbing tools…

"Is that so?" Kazawa tilted his head, then raised a hand to his mask and mimed removing it — in reality, he silently summoned Twenty Faces, and the mask simply vanished.

Now facing Kid directly, he said, "How about now?"

Kazawa's face startled the other two in the room.

"That's my face! Damn, Joker knows who I really am!" both Kid and Conan thought in unison, sneaking a glance at each other.

"Hope he doesn't realize it…"

The two fell into synchronized silence, subtly avoiding any comment about Joker's current appearance.

"You can disguise yourself too." Kaito Kid, no stranger to makeup and masks, recovered quickly.

Wearing the face of either Shinichi Kudo or Kaito Kuroba — it was hard to tell which — Kazawa flashed a bright smile.

"If you're here to take down Kid, sorry to say I beat you to it." Conan quickly shifted the topic away from Joker's face and waved the 'Black Star' he had caught.

Kazawa shook his head gently. "I've never been one to punish. I only act to sever the cycle of sin before greater crimes can occur — using methods so small they hardly matter."

Then he turned to Kid, slipping into his riddler persona: "Tell me, what are you truly seeking?"

Conan watched that faint, mysterious smile on his borrowed face and felt thoroughly uncomfortable. Don't go making that kind of expression using someone else's face! It's out of character!

Kid, however, had deeper thoughts seeing the familiar face.

Everyone knew that in the world of Conan logic, most magic and disguise techniques traced back to one man: the genius magician Toichi Kuroba. Whether red, black, or gray factions — they were all his students in one way or another.

So… could it be that Joker knew his father? That he knew Toichi was the original Kaito Kid, who had been assassinated eight years ago? Could that be why he left that card, in response to Kid's own reappearance? Was Joker also searching for his father? Or was he investigating his father's death too?

"And what about you?" Kid countered. "What are you after? If you can get close to your targets without a trace, why send a notice? Are you craving fame? Or is it obsession?"

Because if I don't send a notice, the only option is to beat people to death — literally. That's just how our world works, okay? Kazawa grumbled internally, but aloud he spun another riddle: "A thief never takes without notice. It's about style and honor. Wouldn't you agree, Lord Kid?"

"So…" Conan suddenly cut in while the two thieves traded philosophies, "You do deliberately promote your acts. You want to warn the guilty, hoping they'll repent before it's too late?"

Kazawa: "…" Excuse me, can you not turn me into a wannabe Kira? I'm not trying to be Yagami Light, thank you very much.

"You really are an artist, Joker," Kid said, raising an eyebrow.

"Stop misinterpreting me, both of you," Kazawa sighed and snapped his fingers. "If the detective and the thief are hawk and dove… then perhaps I'm just the crow following behind."

He lowered his hand, palm flipping over. Two cards bearing his logo slipped between his fingers.

"Truth is, I don't like being flashy. But if I don't make enough noise, my prey won't take my challenge seriously. So… would the two of you like to take on my challenge?"

With a flick of his fingers, he tossed a card to each of them.

The paper fluttered toward them. Conan and Kid each reached out and caught the cards before they hit the ground. One glance — and they both reflexively took a step back, alert.

As the three stood in a triangle standoff, a mechanical click broke the silence — the sound of a gun being cocked.

"Don't move. Hands up." A man with blond hair pointed his gun steadily at Joker's back, voice cold and commanding.

Amuro Tooru, who had gone to help the unconscious high school girl earlier, had finally arrived.

Conan's eyes widened. Isn't that the waiter from the café downstairs? Mr. Amuro? Also… Kazawa's temporary guardian?

He has a gun?! Now, he looked nothing like a harmless barista. Conan recalled how he always wore gloves — no way to tell if he had calluses from handling a weapon.

Amuro looked over the three in the engine room. First he glanced at the still-disguised Kid with a knowing look. Then he turned to Joker, who obediently raised his hands.

Kid was one thing — his identity made it inconvenient to turn him over to the police. And aside from wasting police resources and playing games with them, Kid hadn't caused real harm. The stolen items always found their way back to their owners quickly.

But Joker… Amuro felt the need to try capturing him, even if it meant breaking cover — even if he had to shoot.

This man held secrets that might be tied to the Black Organization, and he was clearly a destabilizing factor that could ruin many of Amuro's plans.

He stepped down the metal stairs, pressing the barrel of his gun against Kazawa's back.

Kazawa sighed and shrugged. Without turning, he glanced at Kid, giving him a subtle look.

The parent's here. Time to dip. Can't let Amuro see Shinichi's face right now. Even if it was just a disguise, drawing Bourbon's attention to the missing teenage detective would be trouble for Conan.

Kid rolled his eyes.

They locked gazes, and Kazawa relaxed his fingers. Kid flicked his wrist — flashbangs, round two. Twin explosions of light flooded the engine room.

Kid ripped off the skirt of his disguise and tossed out smoke bombs.

Kazawa crouched low and dashed toward Kid, putting distance between them and Amuro on the stairs.

"Ran" and "Shinichi" running side by side — it almost looked wholesome… at a glance.

The room filled with light and smoke. Conan coughed, eyes watering, barely able to breathe.

Amuro winced but kept his gun raised, listening for movement and firing two shots into the chaos.

He's firing blind?! What's wrong with him?! Kid yelped inside and dove into a roll, ducking low and shielding his sunglasses.

Stay calm. Find a support beam. Climb. Breathe.

Then — something wrapped around his waist. A sharp yank. His midsection ached as he was lifted suddenly.

Kid reached down and felt soft, silk-like fabric.

Oh. Joker's scarf. He relaxed, letting himself be pulled away.

They were kind of… acquaintances. Probably one of his dad's students or protégés. Shouldn't hurt him… right?