When Darren was being searched, Tim turned back and watched him with concern.
Knowing Darren, the guy loved to hide all kinds of small magic props on his person.
Cards tucked into sleeves. Coins concealed between fingers. Miniature smoke pellets. Trick lighters. Invisible threads.
Darren was a magician by trade, so this habit was normal, even expected.
But in this situation, with the police on high alert and security checks this strict, finding various gadgets on Darren could easily lead to a misunderstanding.
Tim was already mentally preparing what he would say if something was discovered.
He would explain that Darren was a performer.
He would claim the items were harmless stage tools. He would insist it was all part of harmless magic practice.
Eh..?
Unexpectedly, a few minutes later, security cleared Darren without hesitation.
They had not found a single suspicious item on him.
Darren stepped forward casually, adjusting his sleeves.
"Didn't see that coming, did you? I didn't bring a thing today."
He grinned at Tim, whose eyes still showed surprise.
It was true.
Darren was not carrying any of Kaitou Kid's gear at the moment.
No concealed gadgets. No phantom thief outfit. Not even hidden cards.
"It's just as I thought. There was bound to be an extremely strict inspection process before boarding."
Darren had anticipated this situation ever since the day he first sneaked onto the cruise ship to scout the location and deliver his notice.
The reason was simple.
Once the cruise ship set sail, it would essentially become a floating island, cut off from the outside world. As long as the sky and the surrounding waters were tightly controlled, no one could board midway.
Therefore, if everyone's identity was strictly verified at the outset, Kaitou Kid could truly be prevented from boarding.
That was why Darren had deliberately avoided carrying anything with him today.
Did that mean he planned to steal the Hope Star empty-handed this time?
Of course not.
To deal with the current situation, Darren had already hidden all the equipment he would need in various locations around the ship during his initial scouting trip.
The hiding places he chose were extremely clever and nearly impossible to discover unless someone dismantled entire panels or examined maintenance shafts inch by inch.
Of course, accidents could happen at any time.
A cleaning worker could move something.
A random inspection could reveal a compartment.
But a plan with absolutely zero risk never truly existed, right?
I'll need to find a chance later to check whether my hidden gear is still there...
Darren thought to himself as he followed Jack and Tim onto the deck.
By now, a large crowd had gathered onboard.
This included the hundred non-professional extras, the entire film crew, special guest participants like Darren's group, the ship's staff, and dozens of security guards.
There were nearly a thousand people in total.
Yet despite so many people being on the ship, it did not feel crowded at all.
At a glance, it even seemed somewhat empty.
The deck stretched wide and open. Multiple levels rose upward in elegant tiers. Glass railings reflected the evening light. The polished surface gleamed under the fading sun.
It was clear that this new luxury cruise ship from Withers was exceptionally large.
What caught Darren's attention, however, was something else.
He did not see a single police officer onboard.
Not one.
Neither uniformed nor plainclothes.
"It doesn't look like they've blended in with the extras."
He scanned faces carefully.
No familiar posture.
No concealed earpieces.
No subtle tactical stance.
"Does the GCPD really have that much confidence in their security checks?"
Woooooo—!!
Just as Darren was thinking this, a loud siren suddenly wailed.
The sound echoed across the harbor, deep and resonant.
He watched as the boarding ramp retracted automatically.
Heavy mechanical parts shifted into place.
The cruise ship began to move.
Slowly at first. Then steadily.
It pulled away from the shore and headed out toward open water.
Immediately afterward, more than a dozen speedboats appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
They surged across the waves with precision and discipline, rapidly catching up to the cruise ship and forming a protective perimeter around it, matching its speed perfectly.
The speedboats were black and white.
The letters "GCPD" were clearly printed on their hulls.
"Police speedboats. I see."
Darren narrowed his eyes slightly.
"No wonder I couldn't find any officers on the ship. They were waiting out here."
From above, the cruise ship might have looked like the centerpiece of a grand spectacle.
From below, it now resembled the center of a guarded convoy.
"It looks like I'm at a bit of a disadvantage this time."
Darren folded his arms casually.
I've fallen into the net before I've even made a move. The GCPD did a good job. This is going to be tricky.
"Hey, stop staring. We need to head to the restaurant on the sixth-deck level for the banquet."
Tim walked over and patted Darren on the shoulder.
"Tim, I just thought of a problem."
Darren turned around, looking thoughtful.
Tim immediately became wary.
"What did you think of now?"
"How many days will this cruise last, and when does filming end?"
Tim froze.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at Darren.
"No way. You don't know either?"
Darren looked incredulous.
"Did you never even think about this?"
"..."
Tim opened his mouth, then closed it again.
"Filming a movie takes months. Sometimes a year or more. Judging by the size of this ship, it could probably stay at sea for a long time."
Darren gestured at the surrounding structure.
"Are we going to be stuck onboard for months?"
Tim's expression stiffened.
That possibility had never crossed his mind.
He had been so focused on Kaitou Kid and the heist notice that he had not paid attention to the logistics of the production itself.
"...Have you seen where my dad went?"
Tim asked after a brief silence.
If anyone would know the schedule, it would be Jack.
Since they were here through Jack's connections, asking him directly was the fastest way to clarify things.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him."
Darren spread his hands.
"Forget it. Let's just go to the restaurant. Everyone will be there anyway."
Tim exhaled and nodded.
The two of them began walking toward the interior entrance that led to the upper decks.
The sound of conversation and distant music floated through the air.
The banquet was already beginning.
"Oh My! Isn't this The Darren Greer?"
Just then, a surprised voice called out from behind them.
A boy about their age ran over with visible excitement.
"And Tim, you're here too!"