Zhang Yang's response left Shōda Kazuo in a difficult position.
Not only had he failed to draw Kaitō Kid out, but he had also been ridiculed and mocked.
What's worse, he still hadn't been able to capture Kaitō Kid, and he had no way to explain this failure to the Emperor.
"Damn it, if I bring out the Sunrise Ruby and this operation fails, I'll be in deep trouble!"
At this moment, Shōda Kazuo made a decision.
He was going all in.
He brought out his most prized gemstone, a rare pigeon-blood red Sunrise Ruby weighing 25.59 carats.
This gem had been purchased at an auction for more than 30 million dollars.
While the True Manuscript of Lantingxu, which was stolen last time, was worth far more than this ruby, Shōda Kazuo wasn't really bothered by that loss, since it had been a gift from the Emperor. It wasn't a loss that affected him personally.
But if he lost this time and Kaitō Kid managed to steal his Sunrise Ruby, according to the auction price, he would incur a loss of more than 30 million dollars.
"Kaitō Kid, I will catch you!"
Shōda Kazuo's eyes hardened as he quickly went downstairs, retrieved his precious ruby, and brought it back.
An hour later, Shōda Kazuo returned, replacing the fake Yongle Encyclopedia with the real Sunrise Ruby.
He then quickly posted a new challenge.
"The Sunrise Ruby, worth 30 million dollars! Kaitō Kid, if you have the guts, come and take it!"
This time, the bait was something Shōda Kazuo had purchased with real money, so the post included images of the item, the auction certification, and payment details.
When Zhang Yang saw Shōda Kazuo's new post, the corner of his mouth curved into a smirk, a mocking expression.
In the comment section, many netizens voiced their support for Zhang Yang.
"What's he trying to say? Is he doubting Kaitō Kid's authentication skills?"
"So what if the gem is real? You treat it like a treasure, but Kaitō Kid might not even look twice at it!"
"Shōda Kazuo's confidence is truly bizarre. The artifacts Kaitō Kid steals are always worth at least ten times this ruby!"
"Hahaha, this is the kind of thing the Yamaguchi-gumi should be showing off! The True Manuscript of Lantingxu wasn't even Shōda Kazuo's! It was probably just bait given to him by the Island Nation!"
For Shōda Kazuo, this was the most valuable item he could offer.
But for the netizens, it was nothing short of an insult to a master thief.
Kaitō Kid had never stolen anything so cheap. Compared to the world-class treasures Zhang Yang had stolen, this ruby seemed incredibly dull.
"This gem is probably so insignificant that even the Kaitō Sisters wouldn't spare it a second glance!"
"Hahaha, I wonder if Shōda Kazuo is going to be so furious he'll puke. He spent 30 million dollars on this!"
"Oh my god! Shōda Kazuo really underestimates Kaitō Kid! How could a 30 million dollar gem possibly tempt a world-class thief?"
"If I were Kaitō Kid, I'd just grab the ruby and let him cry about it alone tonight!"
"If Shōda Kazuo wants to ride on Kaitō Kid's fame, he should at least show some sincerity!"
The comment section was mostly filled with mockery and laughter, with very few responses from the Island Nation's netizens.
The Yamaguchi-gumi still held significant power in the Island Nation, so they were hesitant to speak out for fear of retaliation.
However, outside the Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters, crowds had already started gathering.
They looked at the heavily guarded Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters and whispered to each other.
"Ah, Shōda Kazuo is really making a fool of himself!"
"It seems like more people have shown up this time. I wonder if Nakajima Misaki is involved in the operation?"
"Shōda Kazuo's Sunrise Ruby is on the line. I bet Nakajima Misaki isn't involved. If he were, the item would be much more valuable than that ruby!"
They dared not speak too openly on the internet, mocking Shōda Kazuo, but muttering a few words in the crowd was still fine.
Inside the headquarters, Shōda Kazuo had over a hundred people stationed, all on full alert from top to bottom.
Though they weren't professional agents, and were all Yamaguchi-gumi members, each was equipped with a handgun and full magazines.
Shōda Kazuo knew that the chances of capturing Kaitō Kid were slim, so he didn't plan on actually trying to capture him. Instead, he had instructed everyone to shoot on sight.
His exact words were: "If Kaitō Kid shows up, clear the magazines! It's better to waste ammo than to miss the opportunity!"
Zhang Yang didn't want to waste time with Shōda Kazuo. Around 2 PM, the system notification for a new mission popped up.
[Ding]
[Received Challenge Task: Steal the Yongle Encyclopedia Original Manuscript from Eagle Nation's private collector Landon, consisting of three volumes!]
[Task Reward: 50,000 points!]
Shōda Kazuo had been waiting for over an hour after posting his Sunrise Ruby challenge, but there was still no sign of Kaitō Kid's response. Frustrated, he posted another provocation.
"Kaitō Kid, if you don't come, you don't deserve to be called the world's greatest master thief!"
The title of "super thief" was something bestowed upon Kaitō Kid by global media and billions of netizens.
Shōda Kazuo's statement was just a show, a self-made spectacle that only made him look ridiculous.
[Hahaha, this guy is getting desperate! He's lost his cool!]
[Shit! Shōda Kazuo thinks too highly of himself. Does he really think he can define whether Kaitō Kid is the greatest thief?]
[Shōda Kazuo is truly laughable. He brought out a fake, and Kaitō Kid doesn't waste time on him. What's wrong with that?]
[He doesn't even realize that the Sunrise Ruby is so cheap, that's why Kaitō Kid is ignoring him!]
Zhang Yang couldn't care less about the Sunrise Ruby, worth 30 million dollars.
And he certainly didn't take Shōda Kazuo's provocation seriously.
But a poll had been launched online to guess whether Kaitō Kid would accept Shōda Kazuo's challenge.
Over 80% of netizens voted no.
But in the comment section, everyone still hoped that Kaitō Kid would show up and teach Shōda Kazuo a lesson.
[This 30 million dollar ruby would devalue Kaitō Kid, but if he can teach Shōda Kazuo a lesson, that would be perfect!]
[I voted no, but I still want to see Kaitō Kid steal that ruby and shut Shōda Kazuo up!]
[Kaitō Kid has never stolen anything this cheap!]
[Shōda Kazuo is just a clown. I voted no, but if Kaitō Kid steals his ruby, he'll probably cry himself to sleep tonight!]
[Hahaha, the voting results are serious, but the comments are pure gold!]
So, Zhang Yang decided to indulge his fans and accept Shōda Kazuo's challenge.
Not for the 30 million dollar ruby, but just to create an opportunity for fans to make fun of Shōda Kazuo.