"Uncle Eishi, what exactly is the background of that guy?"
Having just experienced failure, the Kisugi sisters approached Eishi Uncle. They had thought they might fail in the end, but at most, they imagined failing against Kaito Kid and Lupin III.
As equally famous thieves, their strength would certainly not be weaker than Cats Eye.
But to be crushed by an unknown guy, used as a stepping stone, it was impossible for them to not have other thoughts.
"Nothing. It's as if he suddenly appeared. There's no information about that guy on the dark web either."
Eishi Uncle shook his head. He was the Kisugi family's butler, helping the three sisters manage their assets while also assisting Cats Eye in obtaining information.
Most of the information was self-provided, and this time, it was his mistake. He had anticipated the other two, but he hadn't accounted for someone suddenly appearing.
"Ah!!! So annoying!! We were used as a stepping stone by that guy!"
Ai Kisugi ruffled her hair, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face.
"Sigh, the thieving business is really getting harder and harder to get by!"
Kisugi Rui quipped. They became thieves only due to some unavoidable reasons.
"Big Sister, this is Father's collection, and it might be related to Father's death. Since that guy took it, I'm afraid we'll have to get it back, won't we?"
Kisugi Hitomi glanced at the still optimistic Kisugi Rui and reminded her. This was not the time for jokes. Father's collection must be retrieved. Now that the queens tears had been taken by the Masked Man, it would be difficult to get it back later.
"First, we need to find information on that guy."
Kisugi Rui shook her head. How could she not want to? But given the current situation, they had no information on the Masked Man at all. Without even getting information, how were they supposed to find him and retrieve the queens tears?
"However, from the previous situation, that guy will definitely continue to commit crimes later, so we still have a chance!"
The reason Kisugi Rui was optimistic was actually because the Masked Man would continue to steal later.
As long as he continued to act, they would definitely be able to find his weakness.
"That's right, that guy seems very eager to be noticed. His starting point seems to be a bit like an artist's?"
"Ah, a crazy artist?"
Kisugi Hitomi and Ai Kisugi echoed. They had heard everything Bai Ye said earlier.
This kind of person wouldn't just commit one crime and disappear; they would definitely continue to commit crimes.
"So, we'll do a good investigation later. After one failure, we must let him know how formidable we Cats Eye are next time."
Kisugi Rui nodded, looking at her two sisters, who had already cheered up. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Losing isn't scary. What's scary is to be utterly demoralized after a loss.
Next time, Cats Eye wouldn't lose again.
"Lupin, you scoundrel, you wasted the information I got for you!"
Inside a dilapidated building, Fujiko Mine looked at Lupin with an expression of anger and disappointment. She had given him the information, and he still failed. She had already planned what she would do after getting this gem.
"No, it's just that there was no information on that guy!"
Lupin III argued. It was clearly because there was no information on Bai Ye that he failed. If he had information on Bai Ye, it would have been impossible to fail.
"He doesn't play by the rules. We all sent invitations, but he didn't. We were in the dark, he was in the light. Failure is normal!"
Fujiko Mine stared at Lupin. His excuse was fresh and unconventional, but she really couldn't find a reason to refute Lupin.
Because it was indeed her fault for not providing Lupin with information this time, which led to this incident.
"Forget it, you failed anyway, I'm leaving!"
Fujiko Mine glanced at Lupin, then put on her sunglasses and turned to leave.
She knew that this couldn't be entirely Lupin's fault, but she had placed high hopes on him. As a result, Lupin failed, and the one he failed against was an unknown person.
But it didn't matter. Although she failed this time, tomorrow's headlines would be about Lupin, not her.
At the same time, Kaito Kuroba, in another location, was summarizing why he failed today.
The more he thought about it, the more troubled he became. He ruffled his hair; this was the first failure in history!
Damn it!
"Hello, it's me. Was today's incident your doing?"
On the other end of the phone, Gin's unique hoarse voice also held a hint of disbelief.
Gin had taken the time to watch today's live broadcast. He originally wanted to see if this guy was suitable for cooperation, operating on the principle that if he didn't even dare to go there, he would definitely kill him next time he saw him.
After watching today's live broadcast, he kept wondering one thing: how did Bai Ye leave that place?
"It was me. I've already got the queens tears."
Saying that, Bai Ye took the phone away from his ear, then took a picture of the queens tears, and sent it as an MMS to Gin.
Seeing the queens tears in the photo, Gin fell silent.
It was really him?
"Very good, the mission is complete!"
"Money!"
Bai Ye was simple and direct. Two million American dollars, shouldn't it be settled?
"Account."
After giving an anonymous account, Bai Ye quickly received the money.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
After receiving the money, Bai Ye was about to hang up. He had no intention of talking to the big shots late at night.
"Where's the item?"
"Aren't you the boss? You only told me to steal this item and gave me two million. You didn't say I had to give you this item and then get two million. Accepting the mission doesn't mean I have to give it to you, does it? Do you understand inequalities?"
"Are you trying to double-cross me?"
Gin's face instantly darkened. Was this guy playing with him?
"Please! Are you sick or am I sick? This thing is worth over ten million. You offered two million for me to take it. Why wouldn't I just sell it on the black market? You're acting like a middleman earning a price difference here! You didn't provide me with any information, nor did you provide any other help. Are you just going to give me ten million for free? Do you take me for a fool?!"
Bai Ye felt that Gin must be crazy, otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a request.
So, an item worth over ten million American dollars is only two million to you?
"Boss, I request to challenge him to a duel!"
Too arrogant!
Vodka, seeing his boss's already darkened face, immediately had the idea of showing his loyalty.
"I need to appraise this gem. If it's what we need, I can buy it from you at the original price. If not, then you can keep it. These two million will be the reward for this mission!"
Gin was silent for a moment, then, under Vodka's shocked gaze, said something he himself never dared to imagine.
It seemed he had indeed thought too simply before. The value of this gem was indeed more than two million.
The other party was not wrong either.
"Okay, but it'll cost a hundred thousand to look!"
Are you more ruthless than me?!
Gin's face grew even darker. The next second, Gin directly hung up the phone.
It costs a hundred thousand just to look at it, why don't you just die!
"You really look bad, Gin."
The bar door was pushed open, and Vermouth walked in from outside, casually placing her motorcycle helmet on the bar counter. She looked at the gloomy Gin and couldn't help but tease him. It was truly rare to see him like this.
"Vermouth, I need you to do me a favor. Help me steal a gem!"
Gin turned to look at Vermouth. He didn't want to fall out with Bai Ye for now. The other party had some ability, so he would let Vermouth act first and see if she could get this gem.
"What? Did you, Gin, watch that grand thief showdown today and decide to switch careers and become a grand thief?"
Vermouth had just returned from the scene. She was originally going to go back after finishing her business, but when she passed the plaza, she was attracted by the showdown on the big screen.
So she stopped and watched for a while. She had to admit that the Masked Man's performance was quite unexpected.
"No, Boss wants the queens tears. Haven't we been looking for that gem recently? Maybe the queens tears is it."
Vodka explained from the side.
"That guy traded with me to steal it, but he asked for ten million. I don't want to fall out with him right now, so if you can, try to steal it for me."
Gin explained faintly.
"Oh, I see. You want the goods, but you don't want to pay, right?"
A hint of understanding flashed across Vermouth's face. If you say it like that, then I understand!
"Do you have any information?"
"Not at the moment."
"Then how am I supposed to steal it for you?"
Vermouth was speechless.
So you don't know anything, and you just want me to steal it?
Does he think she's God?
"I'll give you information later. Aren't you going to America anymore?"
"No, I'm not."
Vermouth shook her head. She had already returned this time and would not be going back. Others would be responsible for America.
"Alright, let's go."
Gin nodded, then stood up to leave. He didn't want to stay with Vermouth for a long time.
And there were still things he needed to oversee at the laboratory.
Back in the laboratory, seeing Gin's expression, Miyano Shiho muttered, 'Anyone who didn't know would think someone owed him money.'
"How are the drugs coming along?"
The research on APTX4869 had not been completely finished. All current stages still resulted in death, which was not what the organization wanted.
"Not yet."
"What about the last investigation? Has Kudo Shinichi died?"
Kudo Shinichi, who had been fed APTX4869 in the park, was still in an unconfirmed death state until now.
"He's dead."
Miyano Shiho's lowered gaze also flashed with a hint of something unusual.
"Continue the experiment, Miyano Shiho!"
Gin nodded, then turned and left.
"The experiment... I'm about to escape this hell..."
Miyano Shiho looked up at Gin. Perhaps Gin still thought she knew nothing.
Her sister was dead, and she would no longer do any experiments for the organization. She wanted to leave this place. If she couldn't leave, then she would rather die. Anyway, her sister was already dead, and there was no one left in this world for her to care about.
The next day.
The front page of the entertainment section was filled with news of yesterday's grand thief battle, especially how the police had watched helplessly as several grand thieves safely escaped, which was greatly exaggerated by the newspapers.
"I knew it. That guy is actually called the most artistic grand thief of the new era! A thief is a thief! He actually got famous by stepping on us!"
Officer Sato Miwako picked up the newspaper, looking at all the praise for the Masked Man and the statements promoting artistic thieves. She almost couldn't hold back.
"There's nothing we can do. If you look online, it's even more infuriating. Now many people are saying our Metropolitan Police Department is incompetent, and that guy, like Kid, gained a lot of fans from this incident. Some people are even asking for his same style of clothes!"
Ninzaburo Shiratori rubbed his forehead. He had predicted this situation yesterday, and now it seemed he had thought too simply.
Because he took the gem from under the noses of three grand thieves and even played tricks on the police, the Masked Man's popularity soared incredibly fast.
And also because of the Masked Man's mystery and the words he left behind at the end, all these factors complemented each other.
"But this is a slap in our face! I must personally catch that bastard!"
Officer Sato Miwako swore that she would bring the Masked Man to justice.
So what if he's a grand thief?! Does that mean he can trample on their justice?
Besides, he's just a thief, and he's actually being praised. Has this era really become like this?
Officer Sato Miwako would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen. She didn't catch him yesterday, but next time, she definitely could. She must personally catch Bai Ye!
"But we're not in charge of this..."
Takagi, standing to the side, weakly raised his hand and reminded her. They were in charge of criminal cases. Catching thieves didn't seem to have much to do with them, did it?!
"I'll go apply to Inspector Megure right now. From now on, I want to prioritize catching that guy!"
Everything for justice!
"As expected of Officer Sato!"
Ninzaburo Shiratori looked at Officer Sato Miwako's decisive manner, and instantly felt his affection increase a few points. He decided that he too would apply to Inspector Megure!
"The front page headlines are all about me. It seems the first performance was very successful."
Bai Ye was very satisfied with today's front page headlines. It was worth all the time he spent thinking about what he should say.
He was already eager to start the next performance!
But before that, he also needed to prepare things for the Office.
Now that he had money, he just needed to make a name for himself and let people know about this Office.
"Let's call it 'The All-Purpose Office,' and then spend money on promotion. I hope some interesting things will happen next!"
He uploaded the All-Purpose Office APP, found a few streaming companies, and spent money on online advertisements for his All-Purpose Office.
At the same time, a certain girl in a school looked at this advertisement and fell into deep thought.