Chapter 14: The Witch Who Delivers to Your Door

“Today?” Mamiya, fully aware of Chi Feichi’s condition, thought for a moment and asked, “Tuesday, right? What’s up?”

Chi Feichi had already given up trying to figure out why today, Friday, somehow felt like Tuesday. “I’ll need to trouble you to take me to see someone later.”

Mamiya got into the car, smiling. “Sure, let’s go to your place first so you can gather your things. Then I’ll drive you there. If we’re back before three in the afternoon, you can still make it home for dinner.”

Fukuyama Shimei frowned. Time perception disorder was troublesome. “Mr. Chi, I think you should reconsider staying—”

“No time to think. Goodbye.”

*Click.*

The car door slammed shut, and the vehicle quickly pulled away.

Fukuyama stood there stunned for a moment. “Am I really that scary?”

Inside the departing car, Chi Feichi let out a long breath of relief.

Finally, he was free.

Fukuyama Shimei was a responsible doctor who genuinely cared for him. Otherwise, he would have lost his temper long ago and stopped cooperating. But that didn’t change the fact that Fukuyama was a headache—people like him were the most troublesome.

After stopping by home to collect a pile of things and loading them into the trunk, the car headed to Ekoda High School.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?” Mamiya asked as he parked.

“No, I’ll be back quickly.” Chi Feichi got out and approached the gatekeeper, saying he was there to see second-year student Kaito Kuroba.

Class? The gatekeeper wasn’t sure.

Identity? His brother.

The elderly guard called Kaito’s teacher, who, surprisingly, agreed to the meeting despite not knowing what to make of the situation.

Chi Feichi successfully stepped into Ekoda High School.

In the world of Conan, being a bounty hunter meant mastering disguise skills was essential.

Currently, only three people had inherited the disguise techniques of the legendary Kaito Kid. Others, like Shimokura Kume from Mermaid Island, could only manage to make themselves look elderly with makeup—nowhere near as magical as Kaito Kid’s disciples.

One false move and it was a face-off. The question was, were you scared?

Among Kaito Kid’s three disciples, Yukiko Kudou’s disguise skills were a notch below, and she was abroad, unreachable for now.

Bellmorede was harder to contact; the distillery was a trap best avoided. Besides, Chi Feichi hadn’t found Bellmorede yet.

The real reason was practical: one NPC was too far, another unpredictable. To learn the skill, he had to seek out the NPC nearby who was accessible.

He didn’t know where Kaito’s home was, but since it was Tuesday, coming to school was a good way to find him.

The Mamiya residence seemed a bit far from central Tokyo; coming every day was troublesome. So, Chi Feichi decided... to kidnap this NPC.

Actually, Kaito wasn’t easy to deal with either—especially with Koizumi Akako, the cheat, by his side. But you had to try. If once failed, try twice, a hundred times; eventually, success would come.

Lost in thought, a red-haired girl and a boy with his hands behind his head approached.

“I told you not to come to school today,” Koizumi Akako said.

Kaito Kuroba scoffed, “So just because you said I’d have trouble, I’m supposed to skip school? Akako, I’m not like you girls who believe in fortune-telling. Trust science, not all that mystical nonsense. By the way, why are you following me?”

Mystical nonsense?

Akako silently made a mental note about Kaito. “I just wanted to confirm your thoughts. Why do you want to meet?”

“Obviously...” Kaito’s face lit up with a defiant grin. “I want to see who dares to impersonate my brother and what their purpose is!”

“Well, you’ve met him now,” Akako’s expression darkened. Taking Kaito forward, she pushed him toward Chi Feichi. “Take him away. I’m done here.”

Chi Feichi, considering whether he could handle two people and the witch, was speechless.

Kaito was utterly baffled.

Chi Feichi was the first to recover. “Delivery service? Why?”

“Not exactly delivery. He just wouldn’t listen to me,” Akako sized him up. “Last night’s divination revealed both my and Kaito’s identities were exposed. The prophecy pointed to the Child of Nature. I’m curious—what exactly is the Child of Nature?”

“I’m not clear either,” Chi Feichi answered naturally.

He could hold a conversation with hospital patients; Akako’s question wasn’t beyond him.

“No inheritance?” Akako glanced at Kaito, guessing Chi Feichi didn’t want to talk about this around ordinary people. She pulled out a business card. “Too bad I don’t know what the Child of Nature is. Here’s my contact info. We can talk more when you have time.”

“Hey, hey...” Kaito regained his senses, speechless.

Child of Nature? Prophecies? Two lunatics.

And delivery service? What do they take me for?!

Chi Feichi ignored Kaito, taking the crimson card. Its material was unknown, crystal-like, with golden lettering—very official. “I’ll contact you.”

Kaito: “Hey!”

Akako added, “Kuroba isn’t so easily subdued. You should have a plan...”

“Of course,” Chi Feichi thought for a moment. “I’ll ensure his safety during training.”

Akako nodded. “Afterward, please send him back to Tokyo. I’ll help him get an excuse for school.”

Kaito: “Hey, you two...”

Akako turned away indifferently. Since the divination showed no life-threatening danger, it wasn’t all bad. Let Kaito learn his lesson.

Chi Feichi’s expression was equally indifferent as he laid a hand on Kaito’s shoulder.

How to get Kaito to agree to teach him disguise?

Simple.

“Hey...” Kaito, unnerved by their strange interaction, was startled when Chi Feichi suddenly touched his shoulder. He turned to face him, “What do you want? I’m telling you—”

From Chi Feichi’s sleeve, a dark red snake poked out and bit Kaito’s neck.

Kaito stiffened, eyes shifting downward, fixating on the gray-black, unknown snake retreating back into the sleeve.

A cold-scaled, slippery creature...

Not his most hated fish, but he thought he might have to reconsider what he hated most.

The key was... he’d just been bitten by that snake!

And this was what Akako called no life-threatening danger?

He felt like exploding on the spot any second!

“It’s a mild chronic toxin. Work with me, and I’ll help you detox,” Chi Feichi coaxed. If the witch could deliver to his doorstep, and he couldn’t handle Kaito, he’d really be a disgrace to travelers.

As for whether the snake was venomous...

Ahem, he didn’t know. But since it had bitten someone in its youth without killing them, it should be fine.

If worse came to worst, they could always call Akako to save Kaito’s life.

Looking at Chi Feichi’s indifferent expression, Kaito believed him...

“What do you want?” Kaito calmed down but remained wary, feeling utterly helpless.

A special chronic toxin?

What kind of special toxin?

Could antivenom from another snake help?

“I want to learn disguise techniques. You teach me,” Chi Feichi stated his purpose.

Kaito was stunned. “Just that?”

Chi Feichi nodded.

Kaito took a deep breath and finally exploded. “You could have just said you wanted to learn disguise! Even if we weren’t close, you could have asked Akako to talk to me. Out of respect for her, I wouldn’t have refused! Why use this scary method?!”

Chi Feichi listened calmly to Kaito’s rant. “Believe it or not, this is my first time meeting Miss Koizumi Akako.”

“Do you think I’d believe that?” Kaito’s expression screamed, “You treat me like an idiot. You and Akako have known each other for ages. This was all planned—last night Akako warned me about trouble today, and before coming, she told me to think carefully. It was just a provocation, right?”

“Think whatever you want,” Chi Feichi said without explaining, turning away from school. “Follow me.”

Even if he’d known Akako before, Kaito probably would have hesitated to teach him. Blackmail was simpler.

But having Akako involved was a plus—it made Kaito easier to compromise.

Kaito followed, “I have to admit, you know me well. You figured I’d be curious and angry if someone pretended to be my brother, enough to want to see who it was...”

Chi Feichi was speechless.

How to put it... Kaito had quite an imagination.

He just lazily made up that excuse.

“Also, Akako came with me to keep me under control and cover for me with the teacher,” Kaito walked toward the school exit. Since Akako was his classmate, he didn’t think she was some villain. “Simple, direct, and effective. Your plan is well made, with a good grasp of human nature...”

Chi Feichi: “...”

If he weren’t involved, he might even believe Kaito’s version.

That level of self-imagination was impressive!

“Did you come up with this plan, or did Akako?” Kaito asked. Before Chi Feichi could answer, he went on, “Anyway, the psychological analysis was Akako’s work, right? I never expected her to have this ability...”

Chi Feichi: “...”

Kaito added, “I’ll agree to teach you disguise, but can you detox me first? Or tell me what poison it is so I can deal with it myself...”

“Probably not,” Chi Feichi snapped out of his silence. “The place we’re going is a bit far. Also, I hope you don’t tell anyone I’m learning disguise techniques. You wouldn’t want anyone to know you have incredible disguise skills and connect that to the Phantom Thief Kid, would you?”

Kaito shrugged. “Akako told you that, didn’t she? But if you think threatening me with ‘I’m the Phantom Thief Kid’ will work, you’re wrong...”