Chapter 114: Is Fujiko Mine going to offer herself?

Akaso Kaze finally returned to Tokyo.

The reason he returned was that the Suzuki family helped him find an internationally famous gemstone appraisal expert.

"Master Akaso, I am Suzuki Jirokichi, an advisor to the Suzuki Foundation. I apologize for the presumptuous visit today."

A bald man bowed and greeted him.

This guy is Suzuki Shiro's cousin. Hearing that Akaso Kaze had a batch of gemstones here, he insisted on coming over to take a look.

After a few simple pleasantries and introductions, Akaso Kaze had everyone sit down.

Then he entered the study, took out the iron box containing the jewelry from his space, opened it on the table, and let everyone appraise and admire it.

The jewelry appraisal master appraised and estimated the value while giving his evaluation.

Suzuki Jirokichi's eyes were shining with excitement.

His biggest hobby is collecting famous paintings and gemstones.

Seeing so many high-quality gemstones at once, he was naturally very excited.

In the blink of an eye, it was near noon. The jewelry appraisal master had looked at all the gemstones and finally reluctantly picked up the largest ruby.

This ruby was the size of a fist, crystal clear, and very alluring.

"This is a treasure, a beautiful elf created by the Creator! This ruby is a rare treasure in the world, worth at least five billion yen."

"Five billion yen?"

Akaso Kaze smacked his lips.

The black gemstone in his space is more than twice as big as this one.

It's just that water-army ghosts keep popping out of it, so it can't be taken out for appraisal casually.

By the way, the gold he got from Fushijima seemed to have sold for a little over one billion yen, right?

Now this one gemstone is five times the price.

Sure enough, in this world, gemstones are the most valuable.

No wonder those phantom thieves like to steal gemstones.

Suzuki Jirokichi also took the gemstone and looked at it intoxicatedly for a long time before putting it down.

He said respectfully, "Master Akaso, this ruby of yours is an absolute treasure. I have a presumptuous request: a month from now, our Suzuki family will hold a jewelry exhibition at the museum, and I hope to borrow this gemstone of yours for the exhibition."

"Borrow for the exhibition?" Akaso Kaze thought for a moment and agreed. "It's a small matter, no problem."

The Suzuki family just gave him a villa worth one billion; borrowing a gemstone for an exhibition is no big deal.

What's more, these gemstones will be sold sooner or later.

Using the Suzuki family's exhibition to build a reputation might even help sell them for a higher price.

"The Suzuki family's exhibition? The gemstone of the strongest Onmyoji in Tokyo, Master Akaso Kaze!"

Tokitsu Junya, who had just arrived in Tokyo, looked at the newspaper in his hand and revealed a creepy smile.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Ms. Vermouth, I heard that to become an peripheral member of the organization, one must complete the organization's test."

"Yes."

"I also heard that Akaso Kaze is the test target selected by the organization."

"That's right."

"Then, I have a plan..."

Vermouth on the other end listened to his plan and was silent for a few seconds.

Then she shrugged and said, "Your plan is very dangerous! We have always kept to ourselves with those phantom thieves. If we annoy them, it won't do our organization any good at all."

"However, if you do this in your own name, it will be fine."

"If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences."

"Of course," Tokitsu Junya said, gritting his teeth. "My plan will definitely not fail."

"Heh, then let's wait and see."

Vermouth hung up the phone.

A few days later, in America.

Lupin III received a call, and Fujiko Mine's voice came through:

"Lupin, I'm in Tokyo now. I've taken a fancy to a very beautiful ruby, and I want it!"

"If you can't steal it for me, then I'll have to use my body to exchange it with its owner. You know, its owner is very handsome..."

Ishikawa Goemon, holding his sword, leaned beside Lupin. "Lupin, if I were you, I would absolutely not believe her."

In the past, Fujiko Mine had used this method to trick Lupin into stealing gemstones more than once or twice!

Lupin nodded seriously. "You're right, her words are absolutely untrustworthy!"

"Huh?" Daisuke Jigen and Ishikawa Goemon turned their heads to look at Lupin together, full of astonishment.

Didn't Lupin's IQ automatically drop to a negative number whenever he encountered something related to Fujiko Mine in the past, and he would fall for even the trashiest traps?

What's going on today?

Lupin actually doesn't believe Fujiko Mine?

The two were wondering when Lupin had already angrily slammed the table.

"Fujiko Mine actually said she's going to find that Onmyoji?! What's so good about that charlatan? Can he be more handsome than me? She must be lying to me!"

"Uh~"

Daisuke Jigen and Ishikawa Goemon both had black lines on their foreheads, speechless to the extreme.

Don't you big monkey ever look in the mirror?

Lupin howled twice, then quieted down, stood up, and said, "Partners, I'm sorry to trouble you, but we have to go to Japan."

"Hmm." Daisuke Jigen and Ishikawa frowned, not objecting.

In this kind of matter, it was useless for them to object.

Lupin laughed and said, "I've heard of that strongest Onmyoji in Tokyo long ago."

"Even Kaitou Kid has suffered losses at his hands."

"Coincidentally, we can take this opportunity to meet that Master Akaso Kaze!"

"Let's see how powerful he really is."

Ekoda, Blue Parrot Billiards Bar.

In the staff lounge, Kuroba Kaito sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, supporting his chin with one hand, watching TV.

The TV channel was Nippon TV, and a beautiful female host was walking inside the Beika Museum, introducing the situation of the Suzuki Foundation's jewelry exhibition hall.

"According to the staff, after the jewelry exhibition begins, the most anticipated top-quality ruby of this exhibition will be placed on this display stand."

"This ruby is owned by the famous Onmyoji, Mr. Akaso Kaze, and is temporarily borrowed by the Suzuki Foundation for the exhibition. According to expert appraisal, the market price of this gemstone is at least over five billion yen."

"Damn it! Damn guy, this ruby must have been obtained from Fushijima. This gemstone should have been mine!"

On the sofa, Kuroba Kaito watched the program content and couldn't help but recall the things that happened on Fushijima, feeling more depressed the more he thought about it.

If it weren't for that hateful Onmyoji during that Fushijima trip, this ruby would definitely have been his!

As a result, because of that guy, not only was the treasure from hundreds of years ago dug away by him, but the dignified Kaitou Kid was actually framed for stealing the one billion yen in gold from the Dragon God.

Am I the kind of person who steals gold?

I'm really wronged!

And most importantly, Kuroba Kaito still can't be sure if that ruby is the Pandora he's looking for.

If it is, he must get his hands on it.

Kuroba Kaito was feeling depressed in his heart.

Jii Konosuke walked over from the side and handed Kaito a glass of water.

Kuroba Kaito continued to stare at the TV, his eyes rolling twice.

"Mr. Jii, do you think we can steal this ruby?"

"Uh, this..."

A bead of sweat hung on Jii Konosuke's forehead.

He knew all about the times Kuroba Kaito had been thwarted by Akaso Kaze.

That Onmyoji is not an ordinary person.

"With Young Master's ability, wanting to steal a gemstone is naturally easy."

Jii Konosuke tried hard to weigh his words to avoid hurting Kuroba Kaito's self-esteem.

"However, Young Master, that ruby belongs to that Onmyoji, right? I always feel that he is a bit weird. If you go to steal his ruby, you might encounter some unfortunate things."

"Why don't you spend some money and ask him to appraise the gemstone for you? I think that should be easier."

After Jii Konosuke finished speaking, Kuroba Kaito's face looked very bad.

Fine! Every time he met Akaso Kaze before, he seemed to have been pitted very miserably.

However, what does it mean to ask him to spend money to beg Akaso Kaze to show it to him?

"Mr. Jii, do you mean to ask me to bow my head and admit defeat to that guy?"

Kuroba Kaito roared unhappily. "Do you think that if I don't beg him, I can't get that ruby?!"

"I didn't mean that."

Jii Konosuke waved his hand with a dry laugh. "I just think it's simpler that way. If you go to steal it, what if you run into that Onmyoji again..."

Kuroba Kaito recalled the various events of the past, and his mouth twitched twice.

Indeed, thinking about potentially clashing head-on with Akaso Kaze made him feel a bit empty inside.

Or maybe, forget it?

Anyway, no notice was issued.

Just pretend I didn't see that news...

That guy doesn't look like the type to collect gemstones.