invisible signal

......"

"Hey, you won't..."

"Since they have all found this place," no matter how embarrassing the situation is, no matter how unfavorable the situation is, the strange thief is still the same strange thief.Despite experiencing both physical and mental exhaustion, the corners of his mouth gradually found a familiar angle.

"Just let me make good use of it."

"Don't do stupid things to me..." Probably knowing what the strange thief is doing, the detective realizes that his position is the same as losing contact with the strange thief, and he is completely powerless.

"Well, I have my own measure." Even if he hadn't regained his vitality, facing the challenge, the strange thief was still instinctively eager to try. "My analysis, do you want to listen?"

"……Tell me."

"If they come back to look for me, it's completely fine during the day." The strange thief recalled every day's experience, "but I didn't feel anyone's breath during the day."

"you sure?"

"Please don't question my professionalism," the strange thief raised his eyebrows slightly dissatisfied, "shall I continue?"

"Ah, all ears."

"They dare to come back here at night, or two nights in a row..." The strange thief continued to reason without looking away from the moving light in the distance, "It means that they are familiar enough with this place."

Kudo, who rarely listened to other people's reasoning, did not interrupt.He gradually gained a new understanding of this strange thief.

If they were detectives instead of phantom thieves, they would probably be rivals among their peers.

"You mean?" Echoing the phantom thief's point of view, the detective said that he was listening carefully.

"It's not without reason to choose at night."

Kudo, who instantly understood what was going on, frowned.He believed that the Kaitou had come to the same conclusion as himself.

"Animals that move at night must be doing something else besides hunting."

"One of the most fundamental behaviors of being a living thing."

"--Homing."

While giving reasoning answers, the sound of chewing came from the other end of the communication.

"Hey, are you...?" The detective vaguely remembered that there was only half a plate of chocolate left.

"Eat, eat." Phantom Thief chewed earnestly, "Ah, what a disrespect to chocolate..."

"You've exhausted your reserves now?" Kudo was a little anxious, "What about tomorrow?"

"Detective," the phantom thief stopped chewing, "Now my priority is to survive."

"Tomorrow or something, whatever."

"At least tonight, I want to be alive."

"……what are you planning to do?"

Even though he already knew what the answer would be, Kudo still didn't give up.

"Slightly curious about what their nest will look like."

Even though he was weak, the voice of the Kaitou couldn't hide his cunning.

"If you want to explore, you must ensure enough physical strength~"

[call seventeen]

"...Have you finished eating yet?"

"It's over." The strange thief licked the chocolate shavings on his fingertips, "...Do you think I'm going to die?"

Fortunately, this guy still has a little self-knowledge... After thinking about it again and again, Kudo still didn't say what he thought of.

"No, no, no, you did the right thing." There was resentment between the words, "Very accurate judgment."

"Hey, detective," the phantom thief subconsciously moved the badge farther away, "The murderous aura is coming here."

"..." Kudo opened his mouth, dumbfounded, "You..."

"I know what you're going to say," the strange thief interrupted immediately, "Actually, you don't agree with my plan at all, detective?"

Kudo remained silent.

He is a detective, he enjoys the process of finding the truth, and he enjoys the ease of having everything in hand.He likes to see everything unfold according to his own reasoning, and he is used to risking himself instead of watching others die.

He hates it, it's so damn uncertain.

And now, that strange thief is gradually breaking all this.This is not a game where the player controls a character.

They are all players.

The signal range is limited, and no matter what the strange thief chooses, he can only sit in the warm room and wait patiently for development.No matter how worried and entangled they are, once the communication is cut off, they will no longer be related.

Powerless.

The stillness in the air was like some sort of mockery.

Clenching the badge silently, Kudo bit his lip anxiously.

He really hated the powerlessness.

"I know what you want to say." After a moment of rest before the action, the strange thief looked at the bleak but not completely dark night sky, "Heroism, self-centered, disregarding other people's feelings, a guy who insists on going his own way..." The list without ups and downs is quite impressive. Jokingly, "You mean to say that?"

Kudo just crossed his hands to his forehead.The badge, still speaking, lay on the table.

The monster thief let out a long sigh. "If you really think so..." His voice became serious.

"You are the least qualified to say that, detective."

"I'm not qualified?" Kudo sneered, "You're the one doing the wrong thing."

"Ahem...do you think so?" The Phantom Thief didn't deny it, "But in my opinion, following them is the most correct and efficient choice."

"Yes, I have no right to interfere with your choice." Kudo couldn't control the sullen tone in his tone, "Just ensure your own safety..."

The famous detective... is angry?

The strange thief controlled himself not to laugh out loud.

Why is this person like a child...

Kaitou-kun, you are the one who is least qualified to say that.

"Detective, you have done more things than me..." The strange thief suppressed a smile, "Do you want me to help you settle the score?"

"..." The strange thief heard the detective hammer down the table with a "boom".

"Your achievement is short of saving the world..."

"What do you want to say?" Kudo's forehead faintly danced at the crossroads.

"The world is big, detective."

"You're not the only protagonist."

"According to you..." The detective forced himself to keep his voice steady, "Is my choice insignificant?"

"How come?" The tone of the strange thief was tinged with surprise, "Without your help, I might have been reincarnated by now."

"But most of the time it's your own initiative..."

"What am I doing without authorization?"

"I didn't give you much advice," Kudo recalled, "Most of the time you make decisions by yourself..."

"Without me, you can..."

"That's different."

"What?"

"That's different, detective." The phantom thief hugged his knees and watched the convoy that was still moving slowly but couldn't find the target. "It doesn't matter if I'm making the decision alone or not."

"..." Kudo waited for the strange thief to continue.

"But you connected to the communication."

"At least since then ... I know I'm not alone in making decisions."

"Someone knows my decision, that's enough. This... is enough to support me to go on."

"If your choice is wrong," Kudo felt his throat dry, "then I am the only one who knows your ending...?"

"It seems like this is the case..."

"I don't want to bear that inexplicable sense of guilt..." is more memorable than failing to stop the murderer from committing the crime.

"No, detective," the strange thief shook his head, "you don't have to... be responsible for my decision."

"It doesn't matter what happens in the end, I don't care."

"...I care." Kudo's voice was so hoarse that he could hardly speak.

The strange thief was stunned for a long time.

"You don't have a fever, detective?"

"how?"

"No, I'm just a little... flattered," Phantom Thief's tone sounded like a punch to Kudo, "I'm grateful for the detective's concern."

"I'm just worried."

"...Hey, it's hard for me to be so honest all of a sudden." The strange thief looked at the sky.

"Since you care so much, let's make an agreement."

"Huh? About...promise?" Kudo only felt that the word sounded bad.

"Well, what should we agree on... ah." A short prompt.

The strange thief cut off the communication again.

After nearly 2 minutes, the communication was connected again.

"Sorry, Detective, the chat time is over." The strange thief's voice was hurried, and it sounded like he was running.

"They started moving."

"high speed."

"I... don't want to get lost."

【Call Eighteen】

In unfamiliar and complex terrain, the movement speed of the human body is much slower than that of the machine.

Moreover, it is still in a dark environment where vision is greatly restricted.

"Can you catch up?"

"Ah, I'll try my best," the strange thief's voice panted, "It's impossible to keep in sync..."

"No, no matter how you think about it, it's impossible to synchronize..." Kudo lost his voice.

"possible."

"...I'm really curious what kind of explanation you will give."

"It's fine in the air. If you're not careful, you might overtake him..."

"I said," Kudo turned his head away funny, "where are you hang gliding?"

"...was broken."

"So this combat pass."

"Well," the strange thief replied faster than his feet, "I just mentioned the possibility."

"The possibility of a plan that cannot be implemented at this stage is zero." Kudo turned back to the topic, "How is your foot?"

"It is properly bandaged and will not affect the operation for the time being."

In fact, the pain is constant.However, in the process of rapid movement of the body, the damage of a single body part will be ignored under the drive of the whole.Although this is a dangerous move for secondary harm, prioritization of pain does not interfere with movement until the brain is aware of it.

This is why we say that pain is the body's protective mechanism.Pain can limit the flexibility of the body, and the limitation of movement is just an opportunity for the body to rest and repair the damage.

Although it is good news that it does not affect the action... Kudo Saku