Chapter 112: Nakamori Ginzo's Confidence
The Kuroba Mansion.
The sprawling estate naturally had surveillance systems throughout. Someone like Kuroba Toichi had installed a sophisticated security network years ago, resulting in cameras positioned at every angle.
Kaito immediately headed to the home's surveillance room to review the footage.
He'd spent time in the secret room before leaving for school that morning, and he was absolutely certain the card hadn't been in the hat then.
Therefore, the card must have appeared sometime between his departure for school and his return home.
Twenty monitors simultaneously played back the recordings.
Each monitor represented a different camera, and together the twenty devices formed the Kuroba security matrix.
The footage played at sixteen times speed, with all the images flashing rapidly before his eyes.
At a certain moment—
Click!
Kaito hit pause, and a man's figure appeared on screen.
Is that you?
The intruder in the surveillance footage vaulted over the wall in two swift movements—that kind of athleticism definitely wasn't something an ordinary burglar possessed.
Kaito resumed playback and noticed the man didn't seem to have any intention of hiding himself.
Aside from choosing a relatively concealed corner to initially climb over the wall, he acted quite brazenly afterward, even looking directly at the surveillance cameras several times.
Instead of showing nervousness or fear, this guy actually smiled and waved at the camera.
Damn it! This guy is completely mocking me!
This was definitely a provocation.
Kaito saved the intruder's face to a local file, deciding to investigate this person after tonight's heist was over.
However, he didn't have high hopes of learning much.
As the sole true inheritor of Kuroba Toichi's disguise techniques, he could tell that face wasn't the man's real one.
Still, the intruder's disguise was remarkably skillful—Kaito couldn't find any obvious flaws. Only his intuition warned him something was off.
"Eternal Bloom... What secret does this gem hold?"
Kaito flipped the card between his fingers.
That other Kid wanted Eternal Bloom, and the person who sent this warning was probably also after the gem.
But why had the sender chosen to warn him?
That Kid wasn't him after all.
And even if the sender wanted to issue a warning, the target should have been his father.
Yet the message was clearly addressed to Kaito himself. Why?
He'd only decided yesterday to use the Phantom Thief Kid identity to confront that impostor.
No one knew about this decision—not even his closest confidants, Jii-chan and his mother.
Was this guy monitoring me the whole time?
"Fine then. If that's how it is, I'm definitely going tonight."
Kuroba Kaito's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Let's begin this interesting phantom thief's debut, shall we?"
He slowly walked out of the surveillance room, gently closing the door behind him.
More than nervous, Kaito felt excited. The unknown always thrilled him.
Meanwhile, Natsukawa naturally hadn't expected a mere warning card to make Kuroba Kaito back down. He knew the kid's personality too well.
The more he acted this way, the more likely Kaito Kid would show up.
Kuroba Kaito had an IQ of 400 and complete confidence in his magical abilities—he would never back down at a time like this.
Natsukawa had simply acted on a mischievous impulse.
Since they didn't know the exact time Phantom Thief Kid would strike, Inspector Nakamori could only begin setting up his forces after six o'clock in the evening.
Compared to Inspector Megure's usual small team, Inspector Nakamori's deployment was considerably more impressive.
Two hundred officers entered the Greenland Exhibition Center one after another, lined up in neat rows, serious expressions fixed on their faces.
This time, they were facing the legendary Phantom Thief Kid, who had vanished eight years ago.
Many officers had only heard of him by reputation, never witnessed him in action.
Most of their knowledge about Phantom Thief Kid came from case files.
Of course, Inspector Nakamori would occasionally mention him, and whenever he did, he'd grit his teeth in frustration—an expression that only piqued the officers' curiosity further.
Tonight, they would finally see him in person.
The legendary jewel thief who operated across the globe—Phantom Thief Kid!
"Listen up, everyone! Keep your eyes sharp and pay attention to every single person you encounter.
Kaito Kid is unlike any thief you've faced before. He possesses exceptional disguise skills, so you cannot let your guard down around anyone.
Even if it looks like me, you must verify my identity multiple times with suspicion. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Two hundred officers stood at attention and shouted in unison.
The sound echoed throughout the exhibition center.
"'Tomorrow, under the witness of Artemis, I will make the brilliance vanish from the world.' Artemis represents the moon goddess in Greek mythology.
Therefore! Kaito Kid's message means he'll make his move tonight. Everyone stay sharp! I'll treat you all to drinks after we successfully protect the gem!"
"Yeah!"
This time the cheers were even louder than before.
Outside the entrance, reporters and fans had gathered in droves.
Even after disappearing for eight years, Phantom Thief Kid remained a beloved figure in the hearts of many admirers.
Natsukawa stood off to the side, watching Nakamori Ginzo give his instructions. After the inspector finished, Natsukawa asked thoughtfully, "Inspector Nakamori, if we're supposed to doubt even you, how will the officers know which orders to follow?"
Nakamori Ginzo, brimming with confidence, placed his hands on his hips. "Our communication is via radio. Everyone just needs to pay attention to the commands transmitted through their earpieces."
"Haven't you considered the possibility of someone hacking your radio frequency? Or stealing an officer's earpiece and then eavesdropping or impersonating you to give false orders?" Natsukawa countered.
"I remember Kid has an incredible ability to mimic voices, and his disguise skills are also top-notch. With so many officers present, doesn't that just increase the chances of Kid infiltrating your ranks?"
This guy!
Nakamori Ginzo shot Natsukawa a flat look. If Natsukawa weren't the owner of the gem, he would have kicked him out long ago.
To actually contradict him in public like this!
Contradicting him was one thing, but saying it so loudly—what if Kid overheard those potential weaknesses?
"Hmph! Each of us has a locked transceiver secured to our arm. Even if Kid disguises himself as a police officer, he won't be able to use the transceiver without unlocking it. Any officer found without a properly secured transceiver will be immediately subdued!
Most importantly, I need to provide a command authentication code when issuing orders! Kid definitely doesn't know the code I've set."
"I see..."
One of the officers adjusted his cap, a smug smile playing across his lips.
You underestimate me, Inspector Nakamori.
He raised his arm. The transceiver attached to it flashed green rhythmically, fully unlocked and operational.
For a magician, lock-picking is the most basic skill!
Kaito glanced around at the assembled force.
So where's that other Phantom Thief Kid?
Is he, like me, now impersonating a police officer and blending in among these two hundred men?
"Hey, Inspector Nakamori, why don't you have the officers give each other a little push or shove? If it's Kaito Kid in disguise, he'll easily slip up with his reactions."
Natsukawa walked up to Inspector Nakamori and whispered, "Kaito Kid is a master magician—lock-picking is one of his most basic skills. He might already be among the two hundred officers currently on scene."
End of Chapter 112