"Are you really thinking that?"
Dick looked at Dean carefully, his eyes sharper than usual.
Dean blinked, then answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Of course. Anyone who truly loves magic would praise Kaito Kid after watching a performance like that."
Dick raised one eyebrow.
"That's strange. I clearly remember you saying something different before. You said 'colleagues are enemies.' You also said Kaito Kid's tricks were just simple parlor tricks—even beginners could do them."
Dean scratched the back of his head awkwardly and let out a dry laugh.
"Ah… that? I only said that to save face at the time. You don't seriously believe a beginner magician could reach Kaito Kid's level, right?"
Dick shrugged.
"I know ordinary magicians can't match him. It's just that your sudden admiration caught me off guard."
Dean waved his hand dismissively.
"Forget that. You asked me here to help catch Kaito Kid, didn't you? We'd better move. The East Exhibition Hall will be packed soon. If we wait any longer, we won't even be able to squeeze in."
He spoke with urgency, almost too much urgency.
Then he paused and casually asked, "By the way… where's Barbara today?"
Dick answered calmly.
"She had urgent matters. She couldn't make it."
"I see… what a pity," Dean replied.
For just a fraction of a second, something flickered across his eyes.
Surprise.
It was gone immediately.
If Dick hadn't been watching carefully, he would have missed it.
"What are you staring at me for?" Dean asked with a smile. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Oh, nothing," Dick replied smoothly. "Just wondering when Kaito Kid will appear."
Dean nodded and started walking toward the East Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall.
Dick remained a step behind, his thoughts turning darker.
---
Because Kaito Kid had intentionally revealed his disguise as a repairman in the previous hall, the police had discovered the hidden mechanisms inside the independent exhibition space. That discovery had completely destroyed Catwoman's original plan.
Most people believed those traps were Kaito Kid's work.
Only a handful knew they were actually Catwoman's.
Either way, the independent hall could no longer be used. Security had been compromised. Public confidence shaken.
So the Hope Blue Diamond had been moved.
Now it sat inside the East Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall on the fifth floor—an edge location with two sides facing reinforced windows and only a single entrance and exit.
The windows appeared to be glass, but in reality, they were made of high-strength composite material—fireproof, explosion-resistant, and nearly impossible to break without heavy artillery.
At the center of the hall stood the diamond's display platform, equipped with a high-precision gravity sensor.
If even a few grams of external force were applied, the alarm would instantly activate.
A bulletproof glass dome covered the diamond.
But Director Ofe had insisted on placing the Hope Blue Diamond inside his own custom container.
"If we don't use this box," he had said repeatedly, "misfortune will fall upon us."
No one could convince him otherwise.
So the old container remained.
---
In the corridor outside the East Hall, Commissioner Gordon stood speaking with Biska, a representative from the museum.
"Commissioner… are you serious about what you just told me?" Biska asked in disbelief.
Gordon nodded gravely.
"After we discovered the secret passage and gas masks in the independent hall, Kailina vanished. No one has seen her. Surveillance shows nothing useful. Only scattered fragments."
He paused.
"Miss Biska, I need you to answer honestly. Does the Smithsonian Museum truly employ someone named Kailina?"
Biska shook her head slowly.
"She was hired overseas when we announced the Gotham exhibition. I don't know her background any better than you do."
Gordon's expression darkened.
"Then 'Kailina' is likely a false identity. I suspect she disguised herself as you to approach Director Ofe. Her real identity may be Selina Kyle—known in Gotham as Catwoman."
Biska inhaled sharply.
"That's horrifying. She was so professional. If she had stolen the Hope Blue Diamond…"
"The irony," Dean's voice suddenly interrupted, "is that the best thieves often make the best security experts. After all, no one understands how to steal better than a thief."
Gordon turned sharply.
Dean and Dick had approached without anyone noticing.
"That may be true," Gordon said coldly. "But this is an active investigation area. Visitors are not permitted here."
Dean lifted his hands in surrender.
"Understood, Commissioner."
As they turned away, Dean muttered under his breath.
"When Barbara was here, you didn't seem so strict."
Dick lightly elbowed him.
"Keep your voice down."
Dean smirked.
"Relax. He can't hear."
Dick's gaze hardened.
You're very confident, he thought.
Too confident.
---
Ahead, near the entrance of the East Exhibition Hall, stood Detective Harvey Bullock and a team of officers.
Harvey Bullock was overseeing entry checks.
Officers stood on both sides of the doorway, carefully inspecting each visitor.
They were checking for disguise masks.
No one was exempt.
"Look," Dick said casually. "Bullock's leading security."
The moment Dean saw the inspection process clearly, his pupils contracted.
It was brief.
But unmistakable.
Dick saw it.
"Something wrong, Dean?" Dick asked lightly. "Afraid they'll pinch your face?"
Dean snorted.
"Why would I be afraid? I'm not a kid."
He stepped forward into the line.
Dick followed directly behind him.
As Dean approached the inspection point, Dick's senses sharpened.
Bullock grabbed each visitor's face firmly, checking for latex edges, adhesives, false skin.
The officer in front of Dean passed inspection.
Then it was Dean's turn.
Bullock stepped forward.
"Hold still."
He gripped Dean's cheeks and jaw, pressing firmly.
Dean did not flinch.
Bullock tugged slightly near his hairline.
Nothing peeled.
He checked behind the ears.
Nothing.
Bullock released him.
"You're good. Move along."
Dean gave a small nod and walked inside.
Dick stepped forward next.
As Bullock inspected him, Dick kept watching Dean's back.
Steady steps.
No hesitation.
No relief.
No sign of fear.
Too calm.
When Dick entered the hall moments later, he saw Dean already studying the display case.
The Hope Blue Diamond sparkled beneath the lights.
People murmured around them.
Police presence was heavy.
Everything looked secure.
Too secure.
Dick stood beside Dean.
"You seem very interested in the diamond," Dick said casually.
"It's beautiful," Dean replied. "Hard to believe something so small can cause so much chaos."
Dick leaned closer.
"Chaos attracts certain types of people."
Dean turned and smiled.
"And which type are you?"
Dick didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Dean's reflection in the bulletproof glass dome.
And something about it felt wrong.
Not his face.
Not his posture.
But the timing.
Barbara's absence had surprised him.
He had been overly eager to enter.
He had reacted to Bullock's inspection.
And now—
He was too relaxed.
As if he already knew something no one else did.
Dick's mind moved quickly.
Could Dean be connected?
No.
It sounded ridiculous.
And yet…
Every instinct Dick had learned under Batman's training whispered the same warning.
Dean is not right.
Dick forced a smile.
"So, Dean," he said casually, "if you were Kaito Kid, how would you steal the Hope Blue Diamond from here?"
Dean's eyes flickered briefly toward the windows.
Then to the ceiling.
Then back to the diamond.
"If I were Kaito Kid," he said softly, "I wouldn't fight security head-on."
He paused.
"I'd let them believe they were safe first."
A chill ran down Dick's spine.
Outside, evening shadows stretched across Gotham.
Inside the East Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall, tension built invisibly.
Dick kept his expression calm.
But his mind had already shifted gears.
From spectator—
To hunter.
-------------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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