The exhibition hall was quiet, but the air inside it felt heavy with tension. Bright lights illuminated the priceless display at the center of the room—the legendary Hope Diamond, protected by multiple layers of security. Yet despite all those safeguards, everyone present knew that a single man could still steal it.
And that man stood only a few steps away.
Robin clenched his fists and stared directly at the white-clad thief standing before him.
"Kaito Kid! There's only one entrance and exit in this exhibition hall, and it's right behind me. Your situation now can only be described in one way—you have no escape."
Robin shifted into a combat stance. His body was tense, ready to strike at any moment.
Inside his mind, excitement surged.
For months he had chased this infamous thief across rooftops, museums, and exhibitions all over the world. Each time, Kaito Kid had escaped with ease, leaving behind nothing but mocking laughter and mysterious calling cards.
But tonight felt different.
Tonight, Robin believed victory was finally on his side.
The wind of triumph seemed to be blowing directly at his back.
"Before, I could only chase after him," Robin thought. "But this time, the hunter has become the hunted."
His eyes burned with determination.
"I'm definitely going to give him a good beating this time."
Across from him, Kaito Kid stood calmly.
The moonlight streaming through the glass ceiling illuminated his iconic outfit—the white cape, the tall top hat, and the confident smile that always made law enforcement furious.
Despite Robin's threatening posture, the gentleman thief appeared completely relaxed.
"Robin," Kaito Kid said calmly, "you've already figured out why I was able to pass the identity verification system. You also discovered the secret behind the mysterious feathers that appeared earlier."
He paused slightly and raised one finger.
"But there is still one mystery you haven't solved."
Robin frowned.
Kaito Kid slowly turned his head and looked toward the display stand.
At the center of the hall stood the glass case containing the Hope Diamond. Beneath the outer glass cover sat a bluish transparent box where the diamond should have been displayed.
But now the box was empty.
The legendary jewel had vanished.
Looking at the empty display stand, Kaito Kid spoke slowly.
"The Hope Diamond display stand has a gravity-sensing device installed underneath it. Even the slightest movement will trigger an alarm."
He continued calmly.
"As long as that alarm sounds…"
"Save your breath," Robin interrupted coldly.
He crossed his arms with obvious irritation.
"Only tell me something I don't already know."
Robin's voice carried clear disdain.
"And why should I waste time solving your riddles? I'm not the Riddler."
Kaito Kid chuckled softly but showed no anger.
"You and I both know the truth," he said calmly. "The real Hope Diamond is still on this display stand."
Robin didn't reply.
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
"Aren't you curious," Kaito Kid continued, "how I made the Hope Diamond disappear without triggering the gravity sensor—even though it was sealed inside two layers of containers?"
"The outer glass cover… and the inner diamond box."
Robin snorted.
"Hmph. What's so difficult about that?"
He pointed toward the display stand with confidence.
"Don't think that just because you pretended to be Dean Thurston earlier and acted clueless that I'd fall for it."
Robin smirked.
"If the real Dean Thurston were here, he would have seen through your trick immediately."
Kaito Kid raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You're that confident in him?"
His tone carried faint amusement.
"If Dean Thurston is really as brilliant as you say, then why did he leave the stage?"
Robin's eyes narrowed.
"I advise you to be careful with your words," he said coldly.
"Don't underestimate my friend."
Then he pointed toward the display stand again.
"With tricks like yours, I don't even need Dean Thurston here."
Robin began explaining confidently.
"It's true that the display stand has a gravity-sensing device."
"But the sensing range only surrounds a small circular area around the diamond box inside the glass cover."
He continued.
"As long as nothing touches that small circle—or the diamond box itself—the alarm won't trigger."
Robin looked directly at Kaito Kid.
"Which means manipulating the outer glass cover doesn't activate the alarm either."
Kaito Kid remained silent.
Seeing this, Robin's confidence grew even stronger.
"So the trick is simple," he said.
"You didn't place a light-reflection tool on the diamond box itself."
"You attached it inside the outer glass cover."
Robin pointed toward the ceiling.
"The tool was suspended above the diamond box without touching the display stand."
"That device altered the reflection of light, creating the illusion that the diamond had vanished."
Robin crossed his arms.
"In reality, the diamond never moved at all."
He glared at Kaito Kid.
"Just like your disguise trick earlier."
"The moment I saw those feathers left on the ceiling, I figured everything out."
Robin finished speaking with obvious satisfaction.
But Kaito Kid simply smiled.
Then he asked quietly.
"Robin… have you ever wondered why I've been standing here chatting with you for so long?"
Robin blinked.
"Huh?"
The question caught him off guard.
"What do you mean?"
Kaito Kid tilted his head slightly.
"I bet you thought you were the one who set the trap."
"And that I walked straight into it."
His smile widened.
"But here's a secret."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I knew all along that you were waiting here to ambush me."
Robin's heart sank instantly.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Then—
Click.
Kaito Kid raised his hand and snapped his fingers in front of Robin.
Robin's pupils shrank.
He had fought this thief many times before.
Every time Kaito Kid snapped his fingers—
Something bad happened.
Without hesitation, Robin lunged forward.
But then…
Nothing happened.
The hall remained quiet.
No explosions.
No smoke bombs.
No traps.
At that exact moment, Kaito Kid simply lifted the glass cover from the display stand.
Inside it was another slightly smaller transparent cover attached above the diamond box.
Once both covers were removed, the stone inside the box became visible again.
However—
It wasn't the Hope Diamond.
It was another gemstone known as the Stone of Misfortune, which looked nearly identical.
Kaito Kid blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
Nothing had happened after his finger snap.
Before he could react—
Click!
A strangely shaped handcuff suddenly locked around his wrist.
Robin grinned triumphantly.
"You almost fooled me, Kaito Kid!"
He quickly attached the other end of the handcuff to his own wrist.
Robin laughed.
"Even Batman needs three minutes to unlock these cuffs."
He leaned closer.
"So tell me… where exactly do you think you're running now?"
Kaito Kid sighed helplessly.
Then he raised his free hand and checked his watch.
"Oh… looks like I miscalculated."
He muttered quietly.
"Ten seconds too early."
Then suddenly—
Kaito Kid stepped backward.
He raised both hands and made a playful face at Robin.
"You're about twenty years too early to catch me, little Robin~"
Robin froze.
"What?"
Then he looked down.
The handcuffs were still attached…
But instead of Kaito Kid's wrist—
They were locked around a fake arm.
Robin's face darkened instantly.
"Kaito Kid!!!"
His roar echoed through the hall.
Just as Robin prepared to leap forward—
BOOM!
Everything went dark.
The entire exhibition hall suddenly lost power.
All lights went out instantly.
The security systems stopped functioning as well.
Although the building had a backup power supply, the automatic system required several seconds to activate.
Robin cursed under his breath.
He hadn't expected Kaito Kid to sabotage the electricity system.
Why hadn't he used the blackout earlier?
Did Kaito Kid predict that Robin would uncover his disguise?
No.
This wasn't the time to think about that.
Robin forced himself to focus.
"Kaito Kid's target must still be the diamond."
"Because he stepped back earlier, he's farther from the display stand than I am."
Robin moved quickly.
The display stand was only two steps away.
Even without activating the night-vision function in his mask, he managed to reach it.
His hand touched the box.
The diamond was still there.
Robin sighed in relief.
But suddenly—
PFFFFT!
A strange sound came from his wrist.
Robin froze.
"Oh no…"
His mind immediately flashed back to the fake arm Kaito Kid had left behind.
The blackout had happened too suddenly.
He hadn't had time to activate his night vision.
And he certainly hadn't had time to unlock the handcuffs.
At that exact moment—
The fake hand attached to the cuffs began releasing a cloud of highly irritating gas.
Robin coughed violently.
His eyes burned.
His movements slowed dramatically.
Only one thought flashed through his mind.
Tear gas.
And somewhere in the darkness—
The gentleman thief's quiet laughter echoed through the silent exhibition hall.
The wind of victory… had changed direction.
----------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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