As Diana was engrossed in checking her emails, an unfamiliar phone call came through. Diana answered, "Hello?"
"It's me, Mistress Prince. We've met before. We know you're having some trouble right now. We can help you solve it. Really, won't you come see us?"
Though Diana was inclined to meet them, she knew she needed to play coy a few more times to expose their true intentions. So she coldly replied, "Is this all you do? Use framing to create trouble for others, then falsely claim you can help solve the trouble. I don't need you!"
After hanging up, Diana pondered deeply. While she felt this group was using old tricks to threaten her, she also sensed something was amiss—what could possibly require her involvement so urgently now?
Moreover, if it's truly to ask her to do something risky, this threat seems somewhat impotent. Although she was unwilling to give up her position at the museum, if she indeed got fired, it wouldn't result in death. Worst case, she could work at a fast-food restaurant frying potatoes, Hal would be more than happy to be her colleague.
Thinking for a long time, Diana couldn't figure it out. She continued scrutinizing the surveillance footage, tracing the path of the dark car to the west side of Metropolis. Bruce's surveillance density was indeed impressive, and it didn't take long for Diana to find the car in an abandoned parking lot.
Of course, the robbers and the mural had already disappeared, but finding the car was a significant breakthrough. She first checked the car and found no clues left behind, so she called the police and proceeded to review more surveillance footage.
At this point, there was no need to worry about leaving traces. Sure enough, soon they spotted a crane and other professional equipment passing through the parking lot on surveillance footage, followed by a white van. Diana began tracking this vehicle further.
The vehicle drove from the west side to the east side. And in a park here, Diana found the background of the video where the robbers shattered the mural. She found the location and saw no fragments, but the soil had evidently been disturbed, so she called the police over again.
Then the robbers began transporting the shattered mural. Despite realizing it was a counterfeit, rendering it worthless, surely they couldn't just leave it behind, even if only to make a smooth getaway. So they switched vehicles to continue the transport.
Originally thinking this would lead to the grand conclusion, Diana found that the robbers split the cargo into six vehicles, each carrying a portion of the fragments. Watching their chaotic zigzagging paths through Metropolis, Diana's head buzzed.
She kept feeling something was off. Their behavioral pattern did not resemble robbers; this was definitely a professional team. Why were they using division tactics?
Nevertheless, Diana had to admit it effectively stalled for time. She checked each path, switching vehicles and personnel as if Metropolis's roads were their playground. After tracing two lines, Diana felt dizzy.
The crucial point is, the three-day deadline had arrived. Despite all the investigation, she hadn't gleaned any insights, and Diana was about to be dismissed.
She sat on the couch in her apartment, staring intently at the texts, yet she wasn't waiting for the dismissal email. She knew the group would call again.
Diana had already discerned that the entire robbery and escape sequence was a meticulously crafted trap. The robbery was executed to frame her, while the escape was meant to delay her investigation time. Clearly suggesting that no matter the surveillance footage, they intended to create a heap of misleading routes to pollute the data pool. No one could launder such complexity in such a short time.
They did this, clearly not for the sake of the artifacts themselves, but precisely targeting her. Now she was at a dead end, the behind-the-scenes manipulator would inevitably reveal their true face.
Just as she expected, the phone rang again a few minutes later. This time the caller's tone was far from friendly, saying, "Madam, we aren't seeking to trouble you; rather, this matter is genuinely crucial. If you choose not to come, you may remain in the dark perpetually. This certainly isn't what a righteous person would desire. Join us, not only can we resolve your issues, but also help you discern the truth. We'll send the car to pick you up now, alright?"
Diana struck a helpless pose, merely sighed and hung up the phone, which was equivalent to a tacit agreement. It wasn't long before the vehicle appeared downstairs at her building. Diana got into the car, wearing a puzzled expression.
"Solving my troubles is one thing; what truth are you talking about? You can't be some heresy group, right?"
"You'll soon find out who the real heresy is." The man in the passenger seat replied.
Soon they arrived at a riverside mansion. Diana knew buildings in this area usually belonged to big family assets, properties of the wealthy landed gentry of Metropolis, mostly used for hosting banquets. Despite the cold exterior, the interior decoration was exceptionally lavish. And seemingly, someone had been waiting for quite some time.
"Welcome, madam." A person stepped forward to shake her hand. Diana was somewhat shocked because it turned out to be Metropolis's mayor—or to be precise, the former mayor, as the current mayor had just taken office last Christmas.
"Hello, Mr. Mayor, why are you here?"
The mayor smiled at her and then said, "To be honest, it was us who orchestrated the theft of the Frenes Snake."