BONUS CHAPTER#7
After figuring out how to effectively nip his self-destructive urges in the bud, Jiangxia returned to the hall, smoothly found a sofa to plop down on, and sent his shikigami and ghosts passing through the wall like clay, molding them into a puppet in the woods.
This time, he chose the Tengu.
Though he'd decided to cut the bridge, this time it was over a gully, so better safe than sorry — he needed something that could fly.
Night was already deep, and the puppet took shape in the shadows beneath the tree branches, gliding low and silent toward the bridge, leaving no footprints in the snow.
...
Meanwhile, Kaito Kid was admiring the snowy scenery outside the window.
Well, to be precise, he was actually just using the window's reflection to keep an eye on Jiangxia.
According to his late father's 'last words,' a magician never performs without preparation. Jiangxia was an unexpected variable in his plans — with enough skill to mess things up — so Kid had to watch closely.
But Jiangxia did nothing; after coming back from his room, he just leaned silently on the sofa.
Suddenly, a figure flashed through the woods outside the window.
Kid startled, snapping his attention from the window's reflection to the forest.
At first, nothing seemed out of place.
Still, Kid mulled it over, his expression growing serious: from what he'd seen, that fleeting shadow had been flying. Given its size and the pair of flapping, wing-like things on its back...
A Tengu?!
Kid's head throbbed. The last time that Tengu swiped his billiard cue, it clearly said it wasn't here to steal anything from the mountain this time. Was it paranoid the phantom thief might trick it again, so it wanted to check things out personally?
Ha! An insult to the phantom thief's honor — he was a model phantom thief who never lied... at least not in his Notice... Well, okay, sometimes plans couldn't keep up with changes...
His thoughts tangled, Kid still couldn't relax.
That low flight pattern looked like hunting near the ground. And some people at the gathering hadn't arrived yet. What if one unlucky soul ran into the Tengu on the way and got casually snatched by a demon who hadn't even meant to do it?
Thinking this, Kid found an excuse to retreat to his room, quickly suited up with his glider, and headed into the woods to find the Tengu and ask why it was near the villa.
But after circling the place, no sign of it.
Kid puzzled — had the Tengu just left? Was it on patrol?
Well, that made sense. His research showed Mount Sannai Temple was on the other side of this mountain.
In other words, this was Tengu's home turf. It was natural to want to check out a sudden influx of visitors...
Wrapped in his glider, Kid hesitated against the howling forest wind, then decided to check the trail leading to the suspension bridge.
If nothing was there, that meant the Tengu probably finished its patrol and left.
Then he could return to the villa, calm and focused on his own business...
...
Jiangxia, controlling the puppet, leapt down from a tree, quickly oriented himself in the woods, found the right path, and flew toward the suspension bridge.
He stayed low, hiding behind trees to avoid anyone bored enough to peer out and see something weird in the moonlight.
The bridge was already burning.
Jiangxia landed beside it, swiftly severed the suspension cables, and the flaming bridge collapsed.
Below was nothing but a bare cliff face and a river dotted with thin ice — no risk of a forest fire.
Looking down at his handiwork, Jiangxia planned to discreetly dismiss the puppet and return to his body, his work done and uncredited.
But then, he heard a roaring engine — a car speeding along the mountain road on the opposite side.
Conan and Kogoro Mouri must be coming back... Jiangxia hesitated, didn't return immediately, and instead hid behind a tree to check his handiwork one last time.
Seconds later, a sedan screeched to a stop across the broken bridge, kicking up snow and dirt.
Both driver and passenger doors flew open; two figures — one large, one small — jumped out and rushed to the cliff's edge.
Their eyes landed on the destroyed bridge.
The same thought flashed through Conan and Kogoro's minds — something serious had happened! Judging by the direction of the collapse, the culprit must be in the villa across the bank, planning a series of murders!
Kogoro frowned at the ten-meter-wide chasm and dialed his phone.
Then he sighed and lowered it — no signal here. He'd have to walk further out to make the call.
He waved Conan, "Back to the car!" and hurried off.
Conan's eyes left the cliff, glanced back at Kogoro's car.
...Looks like they're planning to retreat.
Jiangxia watched silently from behind the tree, relieved his efforts had paid off.
He pulled his head back and was about to return to his main body, relax by the villa's fire.
But then, he heard a strange noise — like something being stretched, reaching its limit.
Startled, Jiangxia stopped and poked his head out.
Across the bridge, Conan — with Kogoro's back turned — had tied the amazing elastic suspenders the Professor gave him to two trees.
He leaned in the middle, then pushed backward against the suspenders using his power-enhancing shoes — like a slingshot projectile.
Jiangxia: "..."
Jiangxia: "..."
Incredible.
...
Conan took a few steps back to the limit.
Just as Kogoro noticed and asked, "What are you doing?!" Conan suddenly released his feet and shot forward with a whoosh.
Immediately, he judged from his launch angle and speed that this would work!
A steady smile crept onto his lips.
The next second, the smile froze — flying to the opposite bank was no problem, even clearing the gully and going a few meters more — but the problem was...
There was a tree right in his path!
Conan flapped his arms, trying to change direction and brace with his foot against the trunk, but he couldn't turn.
He grit his teeth, bracing to protect his head.
Just before the crash and injury, a black shadow flashed in front of him.
Someone pressed on his shoulder, cushioning the fall, and before he hit the tree, lifted him to a complete stop.
Even so, the cold blow left Conan dizzy. He shook his head, opened his eyes, ready to thank the rescuer and bring up the murder case, guessing the person might be part of the gathering.
But as soon as his vision cleared, he was startled by a pair of golden eyes glowing eerily in the dark forest.
*Goal #1: Top 200 fanfics published within the last 31 - 90 days by POWER STONES.
Progress: 13/60(approx) for 10 BONUS CHAPTERS
Goal #2: One BONUS CHAPTER per review for the first 10 REVIEWS.
Progress:2/10*