Shinichi was right. When Kaito got the newspapers the next morning before he went to school, as always when the Kaito Kid was performing, they were full of The Thieving Magpie. And there were many posts that were about their performances 20 years ago. The day before, he and Hibarue had gone through the old newspapers Shinichi's father had left behind. She had told short episodes about individual cases. Kaito had always respected his mother as a good sorceress, even if he had been the only one who had known about it, because she usually didn't show what she could do, but now his respect for her had increased enormously. That she had also been a well-known masked thief in her past made him immensely proud of her. There were probably few parents whose children could muster such extremely positive feelings for the actions of their parents as he. And it was not the same with her as it was with his father. People like to glorify the dead.But she was still alive and had given up everything for him.
When he stormed into the classroom, everyone looked at him questioningly. After all, it was common knowledge here how much he adored the Kaito Kid and now a second masked person had appeared who was arguably competing with him. At least the question had been raised as to whether they had traded with each other or against each other. He sat down in his seat and this time not only had a single newspaper in hand, but suddenly a whole pack full of it on the desk.
One of his classmates looked at him with a smile, with a sideways glance at Aoko Nakamori, who seemed to be boiling with anger again. "What do you think about Diebische Magpie? Is it really as good as it is ..." he pointed to the newspapers "... is written?"
Kaito nodded vigorously. Shinichi Kudo was in the Golden Dove that evening. He told me that he had never seen such a wizarding duel. If she hadn't been up to the Kaito Kid, it could never have lasted so long!"Inwardly he had to grin. In reality he had to work hard to keep up with his mother. She just had the longer experience and as he now knew, such fights with his father used to be the order of the day, or rather nightly "She must just be an extraordinary sorceress too!"
Aoko came up to him and hissed angrily at him. "Sorceress? Pah! She's a thief. And nothing else. She's even worse than the Kaito Kid, because if she really is the one from 20 years ago, she has never returned her prey, as this masked lacquer monkey does! "
Kaito grinned. "Yes! Yes! But as Shinichi explained to me, her deeds from then have long since become statute-barred. And whether she stole the pearl the night before last has not been proven. After all, besides me, Kaito Kid was also present."
"Then she should show up again soon!" hissed Aoko. "Dad is pissed off anyway. Kid drives him crazy and then this chick shows up too.And if what the newspapers write is true, he's almost an orphan to them. "
"Anyway, I think it's great. That's real competition for Kaito Kid and can only enhance his performances. I hope she shows up more often and that wasn't a one-shot. As Shinichi told me, they probably knew each other!"
The classmate looked at him strangely. "What I don't understand is why Kudo didn't try to arrest her. Usually he tries to catch the Kaito Kid every time!"
At that moment, Hakuba was behind them. "Yes! That would interest me too. Unfortunately, I had the order to convict a murderer, which I managed, but if Kudo was present, why didn't he do anything?"
Kaito smiled. Shinichi had foreseen that this question would come up and also gave him an answer to use. "Yes! I asked him that too. But he said he owed the master thief just as much as you did and as long as he couldn't repay his debt, he would only mess with him if he got an order to do so in his detective agency got.In addition, Inspector Nakamori threatened to arrest him if he interfered in his investigation without commission! "
"Ha!" laughed Hakuba. "He's threatened me with that before. But that never stopped me from doing what I just had to do!"
The other person grinned. "Neither does Shinichi. But that way he was able to protect his reputation from the public. He didn't even want to go, but his father Yusaku was there and really wanted to see it. He recognized the Thieving Magpie immediately and probably didn't want that his son is also put to sleep like Nakamori and his people! "
“The well-known detective writer?” Hakuba looked up in amazement. He hadn't even known that he'd been there.
"Yes!" laughed Kaito. "When we went to Shinichi's mansion last week because he wanted to give me the videotapes about Arsene Lupine, he suddenly stood behind us. He wanted to make sure his son was healthy after hearing the news of the narrow escape from the mansion had read over the cliffs! "He blinked at the detective. He thought it better to end this topic now and was glad that the time was there to help him. "But tell me, don't you have to go to your class gradually? If you don't hurry, you'll be late!"
Hakuba looked at his watch and cursed. "Oh damn!" he growled. “You're right!” He quickly stormed out of the classroom. Just in time before the teacher showed up.
Kaito had to grin. If Hakuba's teacher was just as punctual, he would probably get a reprimand for being late again, because his classroom was on a different floor.

***

After school, Kaito accompanied Aoko Nakamori to her father's at the police station. He was curious to see how Inspector Nakamori was feeling. He was prepared for a lot, he knew the policeman's moods only too well.
"Hello father!" Aoko spoke to him after they entered his office.
He looked grim, but his expression brightened a little when he saw Kaito.He didn't know why, but somehow he liked the boy who was always polite to him and to whom he had shared his worries many times.
"Aoko and Kaito! Are you coming to visit me?"
His daughter held out a box to him. "You forgot to eat again this morning!"
"Oh yes!" he waved it off. “Just put it on the desk!” Then he turned to Kaito. "Your popular magician has had competition!" he said in a suffering tone! "
Kaito nodded. "Yes! I read about it. The Thieving Magpie! Is she really the criminal from 20 years ago, as the newspapers write?"
Inspector Nakamori shrugged. "We don't know that one hundred percent for sure either. It would be possible, but it could also be an imitator!"
His young friend smiled. "That would of course be possible. But to be honest, I didn't even know it existed back then and no one else seemed to have thought of it either. So why should someone bring such a long-forgotten person to life?It's a shame I didn't see them. I could at least tell you whether she was experienced or a beginner! "
The policeman gave him a big look. "You can tell when you watch it?"
He nodded. "Yes! Of course! Someone who has been doing magic for years somehow exudes a greater sense of security and routine than someone who has only recently started. You can notice that almost every time you move!"
Inspector Nakamori beamed. "That might help me, because you know, a guest had a film camera with them and recorded the entire performance. Would you like to see it?"
Kaito nodded enthusiastically. "Ouch! That's great! That's how I see it!"
The inspector had to smile a little at the enthusiasm of his young visitor and pushed a video cassette into the slot of a recorder and switched on the small television that he had in the office for such purposes. The film started the moment the Thieving Magpie approached Kaito Kid.Kaito looked carefully at the recording. Now! Since he was able to enjoy the scenes as a spectator, it struck him even more that his mother was actually still superior to him despite her long rest. Her movements were incredibly safe and harmonious and her magic tricks radiated a perfection in his connoisseur eyes that he was not yet able to perform with all his practice. But that didn't really surprise him. That was just normal.
When the video ended, he beamed at Nakamori. "Thank you very much for showing me that. It was absolutely fantastic. I've never seen anything like it myself in the paid admission magic shows!"
The inspector nodded. He had heard that from another side as well. He handed the film to Kaito. "There! You can keep it. I still have a copy of it."
“Great! Thank you very much!” He didn't have to play the enthusiasm.
"So?" the inspector returned to the original subject."What do you think? How experienced is she?"
Kaito decided to give him an honest answer. "She is way ahead of him! Not really when it comes to the tricks. They are almost at the same level. But their security is even greater than his!" He nodded to the inspector. "Yes! I think she is the magician from 20 years ago. Everything speaks for it in my eyes!"
"Well!" the inspector nodded. "Then I know what to research! So we're looking for a magician who has been working on the stage since then. She probably didn't find a job at first. That wasn't so easy for women back then either. And that's why she stole, but then she will have found a job and has therefore become honest. I would love to know why she turned up the night before yesterday of all places! "
His guest had to grin inwardly. The reason for the thieving career of the Thieving Magpie was correct, but the rest of the conclusion was a blatant misinterpretation.But of course Kaito didn't say anything against it. Should he continue researching in this direction. He would never think of his mother, Hibarue Kuroba, because she had never given a public performance and, since then, has kept from everyone what she could do. But secretly, as he knew, he trained hard every day. So he confirmed Inspector Nakamori in his belief.
"That's a good idea. I'm sure you'll find it this way soon!"
"Yes / Yes!" he nodded. "Nobody can fool me for long!" he said with great certainty and neither Aoko nor Kaito dared to remind