As Kaito Kid's white figure disappeared into the night sky, the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall exploded with noise.
"The Hope Diamond has been stolen!"
"But the doors were sealed! The windows weren't broken!"
"How did he get outside?"
"I just saw feathers falling everywhere, rubbed my eyes for one second, and then it was gone! That was too fast!"
Some people were shocked. Some were excited. Some were confused.
"It's magic! It has to be magic!"
"There's no other explanation. That was spatial transfer!"
The crowd buzzed like a shaken beehive.
But among all the disbelief and excitement, one person reacted differently.
Director Ofe stood directly in front of the display stand.
The glass dome was intact.
The transparent container was still inside.
The diamond, however, was gone.
Yet instead of collapsing in despair, Director Ofe slowly let out a breath of relief.
Finally.
He looked at the empty box with something close to satisfaction.
"Kaito Kid has taken the stone of misfortune," he muttered to himself. "And he even left the box behind… foolish."
Inside his mind, calculations raced.
The real Hope Diamond was not here.
It was locked safely inside the secure safe in his office.
The one displayed tonight had only been placed here under pressure.
And even though he had told Batman about the situation earlier, he was certain the vigilante would not steal it.
He had personally checked the safe last night.
The real diamond was still there.
Later, he would pretend to chase Kaito Kid.
Then dramatically "recover" the real diamond from his office safe.
Everyone would believe he had retrieved it from the thief.
His reputation would rise.
His exhibition would be remembered forever.
The future seemed bright.
What Director Ofe did not realize—
Dick was watching him.
And Dick did not like what he saw.
Why does he look… relieved?
Just days ago, Ofe had practically begged for help, saying his entire fortune depended on this exhibition.
Now the diamond is gone, and he looks calm?
No panic.
No anger.
Almost… satisfaction.
Dick narrowed his eyes.
Unless—
Could he be Kaito Kid in disguise?
The thought struck hard.
Dick slowly turned his head toward Dean.
If Kaito Kid is Director Ofe…
Then who is Dean?
Both had behaved strangely tonight.
Both had been close to the display stand during the chaos.
Both had the opportunity.
But neither wore a mask.
Harvey had personally checked their faces.
Kaito Kid couldn't split into two.
Unless—
He had an accomplice.
Dick's thoughts twisted in knots.
He looked at Ofe.
Then at Dean.
Then back again.
Something didn't add up.
Frustrated, Dick glanced upward.
And when he saw the ceiling—
His eyes suddenly lit up.
That's it.
There's another possibility.
---
Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon lifted his walkie-talkie.
"Harvey! Did anyone enter or leave the hall just now?"
At the entrance, Harvey Bullock answered immediately.
"Jim, I swear on my grandmother's grave, no one went in or out. Not a single person."
He paused.
"What happened in there? I heard shouting. Did Kaito Kid show up?"
Gordon's voice turned heavy.
"He showed up. The Hope Diamond is gone."
Bullock fell silent for a second.
But Gordon's mind was racing.
How?
The gravity sensor should have triggered.
The glass dome was intact.
The container remained untouched.
And yet—
The diamond vanished.
Then, somehow, within less than a minute, Kaito Kid was already outside the museum.
That wasn't just bold.
It was impossible.
Unless—
The diamond had never left the hall.
"Commissioner Gordon!"
Biska rushed over, panic written across her face.
"You must send officers after him immediately! We cannot let him escape with the Hope Diamond!"
Gordon looked at her carefully.
"Miss Biska… are you absolutely certain the diamond in his hand was real?"
She stared at him, shocked.
"Of course it was real."
"I mean no offense," Gordon continued calmly, "but the speed of this theft defies logic. It's possible the figure outside was a diversion. The real diamond—and the real Kid—might still be inside."
Biska shook her head firmly.
"I've worked at the Smithsonian Museum for over ten years. I've seen that diamond almost every day."
Her voice was unwavering.
"I know its color. Its cut. Its brilliance."
"When he passed the window, I saw it clearly under the moonlight. That was the Hope Diamond."
Gordon's expression hardened.
He switched his walkie-talkie to the public channel.
"All units, this is Jim Gordon. Kaito Kid has stolen the Hope Diamond and is fleeing toward Knight Stadium. Action Team A, B, and all available officers—pursue immediately."
"Repeat—pursue immediately!"
He lowered the device.
Half the officers rushed out at once.
The rest remained inside to control the situation.
Gordon turned to the crowd.
"To prevent the possibility of Kaito Kid hiding among civilians, everyone will undergo inspection before leaving."
Groans and murmurs rose instantly.
"Body searches are required. Please cooperate."
"We will inspect everyone one by one at the entrance. After inspection, you may leave."
The once-celebratory crowd grew tense.
Some were nervous.
Some angry.
Some afraid.
---
Dick stood still, watching everything unfold.
Dean stood beside him, calm as ever.
Too calm.
Dick's suspicion deepened.
If the diamond was truly outside, then Dean was innocent.
But if this was misdirection—
Then either Director Ofe or Dean—or both—were involved.
And there was still one detail bothering him.
The gravity sensor never triggered.
That meant—
Either the diamond was never removed in the normal way…
Or something replaced its weight perfectly.
Dick's eyes flickered back to the display stand.
The transparent container remained untouched.
What if—
The real diamond had been swapped before the feathers fell?
What if tonight's chaos was only the final step of a much longer plan?
And what if—
The real target wasn't the diamond inside the hall at all?
A cold realization formed in Dick's mind.
Suspicion layered over suspicion.
Kaito Kid had not only stolen a jewel—
He had stolen certainty.
Nothing could be trusted.
Not the security.
Not the witnesses.
Not even the people standing beside him.
Dick slowly turned his head.
Dean was watching the officers prepare for inspections.
Their eyes met.
Dean smiled lightly.
"Looks like no one's leaving early tonight."
Dick forced a faint smile in return.
"No… no one is."
But inside, his thoughts were clear.
The game isn't over.
It's just entering the next stage.
And whether it's Director Ofe…
Or Dean…
Or someone else entirely—
I will find the truth.
Because if there's one thing Dick Grayson hated more than a stolen diamond—
It was being played.
------------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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