Inside the Library Pavilion, one of the thirteen main halls of the Gotham Natural History Museum, more than two hundred and fifty thousand books on natural history from across the world were preserved.
The pavilion stood on the western side of the Cultural Relics Pavilion. The distance between them was short, connected by an aerial walkway on the third floor.
Just like the Gotham City Library, this place was usually quiet.
There were very few visitors, and only an occasional patrol officer walked across the aerial bridge.
---
Above the walkway's ceiling, a shadow moved.
Dean crawled forward, body pressed flat against the surface, his movements light, precise, and silent.
He wore a pure black bodysuit, blending seamlessly with the darkness overhead.
In the sky—
Tatata!
Two police helicopters circled slowly above the thirteen museum pavilions. Their searchlights swept methodically, cutting through the rain-darkened night.
Dean paused, calculating their rhythm.
Then he moved.
Each time the beams passed, he advanced. Each time they turned away, he froze.
Fortunately, there were only two helicopters, and their searchlight coverage was limited.
Dean had room to maneuver.
Soon, he reached the end of the aerial walkway.
At this moment, clinging to the ceiling, he was positioned between the third and fourth floors of the Cultural Relics Pavilion.
The reason he risked exposure by crawling above the bridge was simple.
There was a ventilation duct embedded in the wall at this exact height—one that led directly into the exhibition hall housing the Dragon Egg Ruby Necklace.
And its entrance was located precisely above the walkway.
Dean opened the duct silently and slipped inside.
The metal closed behind him.
---
Cultural Relics Pavilion – Smoking Room
Inside a dim smoking room, a gloomy man stood alone.
A cigarette rested between his lips.
Yet he never lit it.
Instead, he struck a match.
Whoosh.
The flame flickered.
He stared at it.
When it burned out, he struck another.
Again and again.
Around him, more than a dozen other people smoked nervously. They clustered together, keeping their distance, whispering while stealing uneasy glances at the man.
"What's wrong with him?"
"He's gone through almost a whole box of matches."
"Maybe he's sick… or worse."
"Shh—don't talk about him. People like that are dangerous."
Just then—
The door opened.
"Oh? I didn't expect this many people to be here."
A short, stout man in a tuxedo stepped inside, his pointed nose and umbrella unmistakable.
The room froze.
Fear spread instantly.
In Gotham, no ordinary citizen could remain calm upon seeing him.
He was Oswald Cobblepot.
No one dared move.
"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your smoking," Penguin said pleasantly, smiling.
"But I need to discuss something important with this gentleman."
"Would you mind giving us a moment?"
The smokers didn't hesitate for a second.
"Of course, Mr. Cobblepot!"
"We're leaving right away!"
They rushed out as if fleeing a fire.
Soon, only Penguin and the gloomy man remained.
---
"It's not time yet."
The gloomy man spoke without emotion.
Penguin immediately understood.
"Almost," Penguin replied.
"I came to tell you that you can begin preparing. You may put on your uniform."
The man was Garfield Lynn.
Codename: Firefly.
A supervillain who once fought Batgirl in her debut battle—
and who had recently escaped Blackgate Penitentiary.
Since his escape, the GCPD and Batgirl had searched endlessly.
They found nothing.
Because Firefly hadn't vanished.
He had simply chosen a new partner.
"I want confirmation," Firefly said flatly.
"As long as Kaito Kid is eliminated, I receive five hundred thousand dollars."
"I want your personal guarantee."
Penguin chuckled softly.
"In Gotham, contracts are broken as easily as breathing," he said.
"But you are right to ask."
"I am an honest businessman."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I promise you—five hundred thousand dollars in clean cash, once the job is done."
Firefly remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"One last question."
Penguin didn't wait.
"I know," he said smoothly.
"My people have prepared everything."
"You may unleash your abilities without restraint."
Firefly smiled.
A strange, twisted smile.
"Happy hunting," Penguin said.
---
Above – Ventilation Room
Dean removed the iron grate above him and climbed out of the ventilation duct.
He entered a narrow, unused maintenance room.
Red pipes ran across the ceiling.
Water valves lined the walls.
No guards.
No cameras.
At least… none visible.
Dean paused.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Something's wrong."
The pipe layout felt strange.
Too deliberate.
---
Outside – Museum Square
Boom!
Thunder roared across the sky.
The storm finally broke.
Rain poured down heavily, forcing umbrellas open across the plaza.
People cursed.
People laughed.
People ran for shelter.
Those without umbrellas either squeezed under someone else's—or rushed into the nearest pavilion.
---
Cultural Relics Pavilion – Top Floor
Dick stood near the window, rain streaking down the glass.
His expression was tense.
"Less than five minutes to midnight."
"How is Kaito Kid going to do it?"
Around him, the SWAT officers tightened their formation, weapons ready, eyes locked on the Dragon Egg Ruby Necklace.
Every second felt stretched.
Then—
Five minutes passed.
The clock struck—
---
Midnight.
And in that exact instant—
The real game began.
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