The two employees who had just been scolded by Director Orff stood in the corner with their heads lowered. Their faces were pale, and neither dared to say another word.
Barbara stepped forward calmly.
"Director Orff," she said in a steady tone, "right now the most urgent matter is confirming whether the diamond is safe. We all know how skilled Kaito Kid is at disguise. If he impersonated a repairman, it's understandable your employees couldn't recognize him."
Dick nodded in agreement.
"Miss Gordon is right. Blaming people won't solve anything. First, we need to confirm whether the Hope Diamond is still here."
At first, Director Orff looked ready to snap at them.
But when he saw who was speaking—Commissioner Gordon's daughter and the adopted son of the Wayne family—his anger cooled instantly.
His expression turned serious.
"Mr. Grayson, Miss Gordon… I already checked earlier. The Hope Diamond is still sealed in the ice. It hasn't been stolen."
Dick and Barbara exchanged a glance.
Both were puzzled.
If Kaito Kid had entered the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall yesterday disguised as a maintenance worker… why hadn't he stolen the diamond?
Dick rubbed his chin.
"Director Orff, are you absolutely certain the diamond in the ice is genuine? It's inside a bluish transparent case. You can't confirm authenticity just by looking at it from the outside, can you?"
"I'm certain," Director Orff replied without hesitation.
One of the real maintenance workers also spoke up nervously.
"When we finished our work yesterday, the ice around the diamond hadn't fully melted. There wasn't enough time for anyone to steal it. After that, other staff placed it back and refroze it under full surveillance. The box was never opened."
Dick frowned deeply.
If that was true, then Kaito Kid really hadn't stolen the diamond.
Why?
Was he simply scouting the location because he had promised to strike on Easter?
Or did he realize the security was too tight and decide to wait for a better opportunity?
Barbara crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"No matter what, we should thaw the ice and conduct a proper appraisal."
The moment she said that, Director Orff reacted strongly.
"No!"
His response was immediate and sharp.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Barbara narrowed her eyes. "Why not?"
Director Orff forced himself to remain calm.
"The exhibition is about to begin. If we suddenly melt the ice, how will we explain it to visitors? How will we explain it to the Smithsonian Museum?"
Smithsonian Institution
"If the media finds out and exaggerates the situation, they might claim the diamond was stolen. That would destroy the reputation of the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall. I've invested nearly all my savings into this exhibition. I can't afford that risk."
He even put on a sorrowful expression.
"And even if Kaito Kid did steal it, he has a habit of returning items afterward, doesn't he?"
Barbara's eyes widened.
"How can you say something like that?!"
Dick's tone hardened as well.
Director Orff sighed heavily.
"I don't want to think that way either. But I have hundreds of employees who rely on this exhibition. I must protect this hall's reputation."
His acting was almost convincing—even to himself.
Dick wanted to say something harsh.
He wanted to tell him that if he wasn't prepared to face the risk, he shouldn't have accepted such a high-profile exhibition in the first place.
But looking at Orff's distressed face, Dick swallowed the words.
Just then, new footsteps approached.
Biska and Kailina from the Smithsonian Museum walked in, accompanied by Commissioner Gordon and Brock.
Barbara quickly explained the situation.
"Even if we delay the appraisal, I strongly recommend we conduct a full search of the exhibition hall," she said firmly.
"Kaito Kid may not steal the diamond before Easter, but he's likely already planted mechanisms to assist in his theft."
A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes.
"In past operations, we failed to catch him largely because we never discovered when he set up his mechanisms. This time, he may have made a mistake."
Commissioner Gordon listened carefully.
James Gordon
From his perspective, the safest choice would be to immediately verify the diamond and, if real, cancel the exhibition entirely.
But legally, the police were only responsible for security. He couldn't force the exhibition organizers to change their plans.
Director Orff's stance was firm.
So Gordon remained silent.
As for the search proposal, everyone agreed.
Even Director Orff had no reason to object.
Only Kailina's expression changed slightly when she heard the words "thorough search."
Her pupils contracted for a brief moment.
No one noticed.
---
The Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall was not large. The search began immediately.
At first, nothing seemed unusual.
But soon—
They found something.
In the far corner of the hall, beneath a decorative carpet, a loose floorboard was discovered.
When lifted, it revealed a hidden passage leading downward into darkness.
Everyone froze.
"A secret tunnel?" Brock muttered.
The passage clearly wasn't part of the official building layout.
Further inspection uncovered more.
Inside a wardrobe meant for storing winter coats, there was a hidden compartment.
Inside the compartment?
Gas masks.
Several of them.
Barbara's eyes sharpened.
"If the alarm triggers and gas is released, whoever planted these masks could move freely while others are incapacitated."
The implications were chilling.
And that wasn't all.
As technicians examined the electronic systems and mechanical equipment in the hall, they discovered something even more unsettling.
Inside various devices—ventilation systems, display mechanisms, lighting panels—there were additional components that didn't belong.
They were subtle.
Small.
Carefully integrated.
They didn't interfere with normal operation, making them nearly impossible to detect during routine maintenance.
But they were deliberate.
Planted.
Engineered.
Dick's expression grew serious.
"These weren't installed overnight," he said quietly. "This required preparation."
Barbara nodded.
"And planning."
Director Orff felt his legs weaken.
He had hoped everything was fine.
He had hoped Kaito Kid merely came to observe.
But now—
The evidence was undeniable.
Someone had carefully turned the exhibition hall into a stage.
Commissioner Gordon folded his arms.
"This isn't just reconnaissance. This is construction."
Dick looked toward the sealed display where the Hope Diamond rested inside frozen ice.
The diamond glowed faintly under the lights.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Silent.
But now it felt like the eye of a storm.
"Kaito Kid…" Dick murmured.
"If this is your work, then you've already begun."
Barbara clenched her fists.
"We finally discovered the hidden mechanisms before Easter."
For the first time, it felt like they might be ahead.
But somewhere, hidden behind a mask and a confident smile, a Phantom Thief might already be anticipating this discovery.
And if that was true—
Then perhaps the discovery itself was part of the plan.
The tension inside the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall grew heavier.
Because now everyone understood one thing clearly:
The real battle had already started.
----------------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
Want more?
Daily updates. No waiting.
Patreon.com/Dragonscribe31