Accomplice__ Kudo Shinichi x Kaitou Kid, Kaito Kid x Kudo Shinichi

Part 28 Honey Trap

The music played softly and briskly, resonating through the grand hall. Among the crowd, plainclothes officers disguised as waiters remained vigilant, while guests continued to check in. At the reception, a waiter graciously accepted the invitation card from Kudo Shinichi, then glanced at Kuroba beside him. "Is this young lady your companion, Kudo-kun? May I ask for her name?"

"Ueto Aya." Kuroba Kaito effortlessly changed his voice as usual. To the outside world, Kudo and Kuroba appeared as a young couple, chatting intimately with smiles on their faces. Kuroba took the initiative to link arms with Kudo as they headed toward the champagne area.

"Ten o'clock, the patriarch of the Hirano family. Eleven o'clock, someone I've seen before—probably one of the heads of the chemical plant." Kuroba smiled as he discreetly thanked a waiter who handed him a drink, whispering as he spoke. Kudo lightly touched Kuroba's hand to signal his understanding.

"Don't forget, the law forbids drinking before the age of twenty," Kudo reminded, snatching the glass from Kuroba just as it was about to reach his lips. "Besides, you're not even of legal age yet."

"Metantei... Everyone's watching us. You'd better take my drink and finish it, and act like we are a real couple, not just some clumsy undercover agents." Kuroba warned.

Kudo wasn't naïve. He understood what Kuroba was implying. They were surrounded by adults, and if they didn't look like a couple—a "man and woman" duo—in this setting, they would draw unwanted attention. But unlike Kuroba, Kudo wasn't skilled at such subtleties.

Thankfully, the beautiful "teacher" beside him was willing to give him some pointers.

"Alright, what do you suggest?" Kudo asked.

"It's simple. I'll ask you a question, you look into my eyes and answer, then drink it all. Don't worry, it's just champagne soda, with very low alcohol content," Kuroba whispered in Kudo Shinichi's ear. Then, he wrapped his arm around Kudo's shoulder, his voice sweet as candies as he softly said, "Meitantei, what would you do if I tried to escape halfway?"

Kudo tightened his grip on the glass, a sliver of aggression flickering in his eyes. With his other hand, he gently grabbed Kuroba's chin, issuing a mild but firm warning: "It's simple. No matter where you run, even to the ends of the world, I'll find you."

With that, Kudo downed the drink, satisfying the curious gazes around them. Perhaps it was the rush of the champagne, but Kudo unconsciously tightened his fist. Kuroba took a deep breath, smiled sweetly, and reclaimed the glass. "Compared to your father-in-law,Metantei, your drinking skills really need improvement."

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Suzuki Sonoko couldn't believe what she was witnessing. She nearly spit out her sparkling drink, and beside her, Mouri Ran noticed her friend's reaction, ready to turn around. "Sonoko, are you okay?"

"Ha... Haha, Ran! I-I'm fine... Look... over there... cough, cough."

Clearly trying to hide her distress.

Ran, suspicious, maneuvered around the body blocking her view, and in that instant, she felt all the blood in her body rush backward, leaving her cold.

"Ran... That... That might not be Kudo..."

Impossible... It couldn't be Shinichi! Ran's mind went blank as she saw the teenager's face come into clearer focus—it was Kudo Shinichi, dressed in a tuxedo she had seen before, tilting his head as he appeared to be laughing and chatting with someone.

"That bastard , he lied about having a case at the police station, but he's actually here on a date!" Sonoko was so furious. She put down her glass, ready to march over and confront him, but Ran held her back.