NOVEL NEXT Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Misunderstanding
"Why would the man in the broadcasting room know that the gem was fake?"
"Was this an instruction given to him by Mr. Tsukino?"
"That shouldn't be the case. It wouldn't benefit him at all if the gem were fake."
Conan was shocked by this broadcast.
It was clear that Toru Amuro was still far from being able to expose the people in the organization, but this broadcast had destroyed Toru Amuro's plan.
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"No, no matter how you think about it, it can't be Mr. Tsukino."
"In that case, the person in the broadcasting room right now can only be Kaitou Kid!"
Aside from Conan himself, Masumi Sera, Toru Amuro, and Takashi Tsukino, the only person who knew the gem was fake was Kaitou Kid, who had disappeared in a puff of smoke after being hit by a sniper's bullet.
By sheer coincidence, Kaitou Kid had the ability to change his voice, so impersonating a staff member's voice wasn't difficult for him.
After thinking it over briefly, Conan concluded that the person sending the broadcast from the broadcasting room was Kaitou Kid.
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Conan approached Toru Amuro, who looked grim.
He noticed Toru Amuro's cell phone still in his hand and his trembling palm reflecting the anger brewing in him.
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"Mr. Amuro."
Conan called out softly, then heard Toru Amuro reply in a deep voice:
"The plan has failed. Now everyone knows the gem is fake, so there's no way to pass it off as genuine."
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"What will Mr. Amuro do next?"
Conan asked.
"I was told to acquire the real one."
"But I don't even know where it actually is now. How am I supposed to get it?"
Toru Amuro recalled Vodka's ridiculous remark over the phone moments earlier, feeling his frustration grow.
Since the gem returned during the afternoon search in Class 1 was fake, it meant that the gem Masayuki Tsukino handed over to the police from the start was likely also fake.
The real gem must now be in Masayuki Tsukino's possession.
In that case, how was he supposed to retrieve the gem?
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Just as Toru Amuro was considering informing Gin about the situation at the scene—admitting there was no way to complete the mission this time and asking him to call Vodka—Conan spoke up from the side:
"Mr. Amuro, maybe you should give the fake gem to the organization."
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Hearing this, Toru Amuro looked at Conan in surprise, waiting for an explanation.
"The broadcast just now was undoubtedly sent by Kaitou Kid."
"In other words, as long as everyone knows it was a broadcast sent by Kaitou Kid, his statement won't hold any credibility."
"Mr. Tsukino used a fake gem to replace the real one, but he definitely didn't want this matter exposed."
"So I believe that once Mr. Tsukino hears the broadcast, he'll definitely step forward to deny it."
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"In comparison to a thief, Mr. Tsukino's words would undoubtedly be more credible."
"So, Mr. Amuro, if you still hand over this gem as if it were real, I don't think there will be any problem."
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Toru Amuro started to think after hearing Conan's plan.
As Conan said, even Kaitou Kid—a gem expert—had to examine the gem closely to discover it was fake.
It would be difficult for the organization to determine the gem's authenticity in a short time.
By then, as long as Takashi Tsukino insisted that the gems previously placed in the collection room were genuine, Toru could still claim he had been deceived by Takashi Tsukino and deliver the fake gem.
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Meanwhile, Sera Masumi also determined that the broadcast was sent by Kaitou Kid.
"Kaitou Kid is obviously being targeted by Takashi Tsukino and the organization, yet he still dares to stay here."
"Should we say he's brave, or simply too reckless?"
Sera Masumi thought to herself.
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Multiple parties were involved in this exhibition: Phantom Thieves, Detectives, the Black Organization, the Investigation Section 2, and the Tsukino Consortium.
But Kaitou Kid was the only one hated by everyone else.
Logically, Kaitou Kid should have realized that his situation was dire and staying would only make him the target of public criticism.
Therefore, this broadcast puzzled Sera Masumi slightly.
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However, if it weren't for the fact that the person who had just broadcasted had used a feminine voice, Sera Masumi might even have thought the broadcast was sent by Akikawa Kyousuke.
After all, the only reason they discovered the Scarlet Shadow's Heart in their hands was fake was thanks to Akikawa Kyousuke's analysis.
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"Kaitou Kid didn't know about Toru Amuro's deal with the organization, so revealing the gem was fake seemed like he was targeting Takashi Tsukino."
"The act of Takashi Tsukino detonating the display case angered Kaitou Kid, so he wasn't about to let Takashi Tsukino's plan go smoothly."
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Sera Masumi believed the broadcast was Kaitou Kid's act of revenge against Takashi Tsukino.
Having realized Takashi Tsukino's plan to confuse the fake with the real, Kaitou Kid disrupted his plan through the broadcast.
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As Sera Masumi was thinking, she saw Nakamori Ginzo approaching her.
"Ms. Sera, how credible do you think that broadcast was?"
"I'd say it's highly credible," Sera Masumi replied.
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"This is a bit strange," Nakamori Ginzo muttered, seemingly to himself.
"What's bothering you, Mr. Nakamori?"
Sera Masumi asked, puzzled.
"After the morning's search class located Mr. Masayuki Tsukino and the gems, we had someone appraise them as well."
"After confirming the gems were genuine, they were sent back."
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"What?!"
Sera Masumi was shocked.
"The Metropolitan Police confirmed the gem's authenticity?"
"Yes." Nakamori Ginzo nodded.
"After all, it's a valuable item. The Metropolitan Police had to ensure its authenticity."
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"Could it be that the gem Masayuki Tsukino handed over to the Metropolitan Police was genuine?"
Sera Masumi was struck by this incredible information.
Originally, she thought the gem Masayuki Tsukino handed over when arrested was fake.
Now it seemed the gems remained genuine until the Metropolitan Police returned them earlier today.
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If Nakamori Ginzo was correct, the Metropolitan Police had appraised the gems that morning and confirmed they were real.
This meant it wasn't Masayuki Tsukino who swapped the gem, but rather someone from the First Investigative Section who handled the gem's return.
Although the end result was the same, if the First Investigative Section police were the ones who swapped the gem, it would mean they had a separate private deal with Takashi Tsukino, returning the real gem to him.
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(End of Chapter)