The sudden shift in the bullet comments' attitude was easily explained:
Viewers had finally recognized the "suspicious individual" Teacher Wang Lei had pointed out in the footage.
It turned out to be none other than Night Shadow, the legendary "Grandchild of the Phantom Thief," whom they had previously imagined as the mastermind behind the entire operation.
The live stream's camera cut was nothing short of brilliant, radiating a dark, absurd sense of humor.
When the scene first switched, the director pulled off a "stroke of genius," immediately applying a black-and-white filter and muting the audio.
The composition framed only Night Shadow's upper body against the backdrop of his surroundings.
In the monochrome silence, Night Shadow leaned forward, his hands clasped beneath his chin, his gaze so profound it seemed to pierce the mysteries of the universe. He stared intently ahead, as if pondering the ultimate meaning of life.
Paired with his handsome features and the lavish black tuxedo he wore, his domineering CEO aura practically surged off the screen.
Just a short distance behind him, two figures slowly approached: Liu Shanhe and Wang Lei.
Up until this point, the audience couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Night Shadow.
After all, he was Cifera's scapegoat, and now he was walking straight into the line of fire. They feared he might be mistaken for a threat and killed.
But in the very next second, the entire scene abruptly shifted by 180 degrees!
The camera zoomed out instantly, normal colors returned, and the sound came back on.
Only then did the audience realize that Night Shadow was sitting on a rocking horse meant for young children!
On either side of him, two little boys, around three or four years old, were gleefully rocking back and forth, their mouths erupting in strings of crisp, playful laughter.
In that instant, the high-status image Night Shadow had cultivated shattered completely.
He transformed from a domineering CEO into a comically absurd figure, like a "lunatic"—the contrast was absolutely maximized!
This was why the audience hailed the Director as the MVP. This single shot contained the entire narrative arc: setup, development, climax, and resolution. The comedic effect was perfectly executed, showcasing a masterful grasp of comedic timing!
Just then, a little girl walked into the frame, sobbing. Behind her trailed a middle-aged woman, presumably her mother.
"Mommy, it's that man! He's hogging the rocking horse but not even playing with it! He's been sitting there forever and won't leave!" the little girl sobbed, tugging at her mother's skirt.
Hearing her daughter's complaint, the mother cast Night Shadow a complex, hesitant glance. "Sir," she said, "if you're not using it, could you please let my daughter have a turn? She's been waiting a long time."
Only then did Night Shadow slowly drag his thoughts back from the distant skies. He turned to face them and spoke with deliberate slowness:
"Hmph, woman, you're playing with fire.
"I'll say this only once: there are no time limits on the park equipment. First come, first served. How long I choose to play is my business, and you have no right to interfere. I have no obligation to yield to your daughter.
"Press the matter further, and you'll regret your persistence."
With that, Night Shadow turned his gaze back to the sky, as if the conversation had never happened, completely dismissing any further interaction.
"Niu Niu, let's go..."
Hearing Night Shadow's response, the mother didn't hesitate. She grabbed her daughter's hand and left without another word.
What a joke! This guy looks human enough, but the moment he opens his mouth, he sounds like a total nutcase. Best to steer clear.
Nearby, Liu Shanhe and Wang Lei, who had been secretly observing the situation, wore expressions of disbelief.
"This young man is definitely suspicious... but not in the way we thought. If he were the type we're looking for, with his... ahem, uniquely flamboyant style, we would have spotted him long ago." Liu Shanhe shook his head as he spoke.
Wang Lei immediately nodded in agreement. "Exactly! I was wrong. Someone this flamboyant is completely unsuited for covert work—he couldn't blend in to save his life."
"No harm done. This was a valuable trial run. Let's go." Liu Shanhe patted Wang Lei's shoulder, and the two turned to leave, leaving Night Shadow still rocking on the rocking horse, "pondering the meaning of life."
By this point, the bullet comments had exploded with laughter:
[Haha! I knew it! Little Grandchild is a comedic genius! Forget being a thief—he should be making movies! He's the next big shot for sure!]
[Honestly, this Little Grandchild really has the charm of a big shot.]
[But I don't think he's even acting! His comedic timing is completely natural. I'm just curious—what kind of childhood experiences could have nurtured such an innately hilarious personality?]
[Did you guys see the look on that mom's face when she realized she'd met a living legend? That was pure despair.]
[Old Liu's line—"This person is indeed suspicious, but not in the way we think"—had me bursting out laughing! Now that's what I call the art of speaking!]
[I'm dying to know how Old Liu and the others will react when they find out Little Grandchild is actually the grandson of the legendary Phantom Thief they've been hunting.]
[That revelation will be as explosive as discovering Cifera was the mole all along!]
Night Shadow had no idea he'd nearly crossed paths with the Pursuit Team's leaders ahead of schedule.
Even if he had known, he wouldn't have been too concerned.
Since he hadn't committed any thefts yet, the Pursuit Team had no grounds to arrest him.
The reason Night Shadow hadn't made his move was simple:
He knew Cifera was playing the other contestants and the Pursuit Team against each other in a strategic game of cat and mouse.
If he rashly intervened now, he would only complicate her plans, potentially disrupt her focus, and even cause her to make a mistake that would lead to her elimination by the Pursuit Team.
But Night Shadow had no desire to defeat Cifera through such means.
He wanted to triumph over his opponent with dignity and honor on the path of theft—this was the true "Way of the Thief"!
Besides, the show's rules granted each contestant a 24-hour Rookie Protection Period. By casually stealing a few items off the street before the protection expired, he could avoid triggering any inactivity penalties.
By then, most of the other contestants would likely have been eliminated, leaving him and Cifera to face off in a true showdown.
Thus, he remained patient, instead pondering how Cifera had managed to steal the playing cards from him during the opening ceremony.
Yet after pondering for most of the day, he still hadn't come up with any clues.
Night Shadow pulled out the golden "Cifera" coin she had left him, gently pinched it between his fingers, and held it up to block the dazzling sun.
The blinding light vanished instantly, replaced by a shadow that fell across his face.
He stared at the coin, his gaze hardening with resolve.
"Big Sister Cifera, I admit you're ahead of me on the path of theft. But one day, I'll catch up to you, defeat you myself, and reclaim the glory that is rightfully mine!"
Meanwhile, Night Shadow's target—the Big Sister he yearned to defeat—was working diligently at the Pursuit Team's headquarters.
As Cifera earnestly reviewed surveillance footage around the Pursuit Team's headquarters, appearing genuinely determined to identify the leak, the Bullet Comments grew puzzled:
[Wait... I thought Cifera was just giving Old Liu the runaround, but now it seems she's genuinely trying to find the leaker.]
[But... isn't she the leaker herself?]
[So she must be working hard to pretend to work hard.]
[But here's the thing: Nie Bing and all of us viewers know her true identity. There's no point in her putting on this act.]
[Exactly! This whole performance is utterly pointless.]
[Everyone, don't rush to question Cifera. She never wastes her efforts. She must have a reason for doing this. Let's just wait and see what happens.]
[You're right, bro! Trusting Cifera is always the right move!]
Just then, Cifera suddenly selected two frames from the vast array of surveillance footage.
Simultaneously, her fingers flew across the keyboard, sending their exact locations and relevant information to the two Pursuit Team squads.
With a grave expression, she opened the voice channel, her voice unusually serious and earnest:
"Attention, everyone! Two anomalies have been detected!
"Immediately cease all attempts to capture the contestants. Prioritize addressing the anomalies nearest to your current positions!
"Starting now, I will dedicate all resources to tracking these anomalies and providing you with real-time intelligence.
"Remember, this is not a simulation—these are genuine criminal acts!"
Hearing Cifera's words, every member of the Pursuit Team felt a chill run down their spines, instantly understanding the gravity of the situation.
The program's rules explicitly stated that any genuine criminal activity encountered during the program must be addressed with utmost priority.
Besides Wang Lei, Lin Zhiyuan, Feng Chiyu, and Cifera, all other members of the Pursuit Team were from the police force.
When a real crime occurred, they were obligated to respond immediately.
But none of them had anticipated that sending Cifera to investigate suspected leakers nearby would lead her directly to the real culprit!
How long had it been? Her efficiency was astonishing!
But then again...
"Nice work, Cifera!" Liu Shanhe couldn't help but praise.
As law enforcement officers, they naturally preferred apprehending real criminals over chasing simulated ones.
This was the sworn duty of every police officer!
The live stream audience finally grasped the situation, understanding exactly what Cifera had been striving for earlier.
So the kitty wasn't pretending—she was genuinely trying to find the real criminal!
This completely changed the game.
Earlier, Wang Lei had suspected Night Shadow of fabricating drama for entertainment, but that now seemed utterly trivial in comparison.
In the viewers' eyes, Cifera had transcended the confines of the show. She was no longer just a "mole" but a genuine police officer serving the people!
Go get 'em, Officer Catgirl!