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

Part 70: Rescue

Click! Click! Click!

The rapid flashes of camera lights captured the tense scene, each moment frozen in time. Kuroba Kaito swallowed hard, exhaling deeply, trying to steady his breathing, afraid that if he inhaled too deeply, he might just throw up. He stepped over the scattered debris on the floor as Kudo put on gloves, carefully opening the overturned handbag.

Though the evidence inside provided few clues—the cause of death was painfully obvious. Bloodstains and security footage told the whole story. The silver needles on the floor, the ink-like splatters of blood—it was enough to leave Inspector Megure dumbfounded.

Never would he have imagined a crime scene like this, especially in the interrogation room of the police headquarters.

As for the culprit?
There was never any attempt to hide it.

Before the three bodyguards were brought into another interrogation room, each had already been questioned separately, and all gave the same answer. They had received orders from the young lady to kill, but claimed to know nothing more.

Hirano and Ishikawa entered the other interrogation room with tense faces, but just as they did, one of the bodyguards suddenly lifted his head. His featureless face slowly tilted towards the camera, and the next moment, the other two bodyguards collapsed, dead.

"What is happening?"
Inspector Megure stared at the footage. It was the first time he had ever seen such a method of murder.

"Silver needles," Kudo answered as the group continued watching.

The killer appeared to be wearing a mask, their face hidden, but a chilling laugh could be heard, like the wind, like a ghost.Then, with slow deliberation, they opened the door and walked into the other interrogation room.

The couple inside looked confused as the killer removed their mask—only to reveal another mask beneath. This one was half-covered like a mechanical spider, with a triangular pattern of three red lights glowing ominously from the top.

SPIDER.

Kuroba Kaito gasped. So, this had all been a setup from the start. First, SPIDER had lulled Kudo and Kuroba into a false sense of security, making them believe the bodyguards were ordinary thugs obeying their master's orders. The police had, unwittingly, brought the real target directly into the hands of the predator.

SPIDER watched coldly as the two victims, wearing grotesque smiles, plunged the silver needles into their necks, again and again, each strike hitting their muscle and tissue, as the last strike finally hit the carotid artery, blood sprayed up like a fountain, and within seconds, the victims collapsed like broken puppets.

There was no pain, no struggle—only a dead-eyed stare and a manic grin, as if they had enjoyed the whole ordeal. SPIDER, too, seemed to revel in it.

"This...this is..." Officer Sato stammered, trying to find words. "Is this...hypnosis?"

In the final frame, SPIDER grinned, the three red lights glowing menacingly at the camera.
"Enjoy your death illusion."

"Good lord... This is beyond chilling. Who could be so cold-blooded?" Inspector Megure turned to Officer Takagi. "Any leads yet?"

"Not so far." Officer Takagi wiped the sweat from his brow. "This level of professionalism might take a lot more time to track down. Kudo, Kuroba, have you two ever heard of this person?"

"Never. Who is he?"
"Sorry, I've never heard the name before either."

Both answered in unison, each hiding their own thoughts.