Ll
Easter arrived in Gotham with heavy clouds hanging low over the city skyline. The air felt tense, almost electric, as if something far bigger than a simple holiday was about to unfold.
"What did you just say?"
Dick Grayson stared at Barbara in disbelief.
"You were the one who insisted on getting involved in Kaito Kid's affairs. I finally agreed to let you help, and now you're saying you can't come?"
Barbara Gordon's face was serious, far more serious than it had been during their usual debates.
"A few hours ago, I received a report. Several strange murders happened in my jurisdiction last night. Every victim died from excessive blood loss. And on each of their necks… there were two small holes. They looked like bite marks."
Dick's expression shifted from frustration to confusion.
"Sounds like something out of a vampire myth," he said carefully.
"Almost," Barbara replied. "There were also witnesses. Some claimed they saw a bat larger than a human flying across rooftops. No photos. No video. Just shaken people and a lot of fear."
Dick let out a short laugh, though it carried no humor.
"A bat larger than a human? In Gotham? That's impossible. The only giant bat in this city is Batman."
Barbara didn't smile.
"Either way, I'm taking this case. A killer comes first. A showy jewel thief does not."
Her tone made it clear the discussion was over.
"I hope you catch whoever did this," Dick said quietly.
"And I hope you finally figure out who Kaito Kid really is," Barbara replied.
She stepped to the edge of the rooftop, fired her grappling gun toward a taller building, and in one smooth motion disappeared into the night.
Dick watched her go. The wind pulled at his jacket as he stood there thinking.
"Without Barbara there tomorrow," he muttered to himself, "I won't be able to give security advice as easily. I'll just have to adapt."
He wasn't just Dick Grayson. And tomorrow, that double life would become complicated.
---
Far below, inside a quiet corner of the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall, Dean stood alone.
He removed the tiny earpiece from his ear and smiled faintly.
"Catwoman wants to meet me," he whispered. "Probably to settle the score. But Kaito Kid doesn't fear challenges."
Dean slipped the earpiece into his pocket and picked up the mop beside him.
Yes—his disguise for the day was a simple cleaner.
The uniform was plain. The posture was dull. The expression was invisible.
But beneath the uniform was a mind already moving three steps ahead.
He dipped the mop into the bucket and began cleaning the polished marble floor.
The tools he had obtained recently were worth every effort. Catwoman had found Dick's wiretaps and transmitters. She had not found his.
When Dick suggested placing a bug on Kailina, Dean had already expected the possibility of discovery. He knew Catwoman was too experienced to miss something obvious.
If the wrong device were found, suspicion would spread. Tension would rise. It could ruin everything.
But Dean had prepared.
The listening device he used was microscopic—far beyond what ordinary eyes could detect. It could not be reused, and its power lasted only seventy-two hours before it silently destroyed itself. No explosion. No trace.
Expensive, yes.
But perfect.
Dean understood something important: Catwoman was skilled, but she wasn't superhuman. She might sense something was off—but she wouldn't find the truth.
"Hey! You there!"
Director Ofe's sharp voice echoed through the hall.
Dean looked up immediately, switching to the tired expression of an underpaid worker.
"Why are you mopping like you haven't eaten? Put some strength into it!"
Dean quickly began moving the mop with exaggerated energy.
"That's better," Ofe said with a nod. "And don't forget to brush the ceiling later."
"The ceiling too?" Dean asked carefully.
"Every inch must shine. Kaito Kid won't embarrass me in my own exhibition hall."
Director Ofe walked away, inspecting other areas.
Dean's lips curved slightly.
"Don't worry," he murmured. "It'll shine in a way you'll never forget."
---
April 3rd. Easter.
The day Kaito Kid had promised to steal the Hope Blue Diamond.
If he failed to appear, his reputation would shatter.
And reputation was everything.
From early morning, the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall was overwhelmed.
Crowds gathered outside before sunrise. Fans held posters and cameras. Some wore white suits in tribute. Others wore half-masks, imitating their idol.
There were also critics—those who hoped Kaito Kid would fail. They waited eagerly, ready to declare him a fraud.
Inside, security was tighter than ever.
Commissioner Gordon stood near the central security station, issuing orders to officers from the Gotham City Police Department.
Every entrance was guarded. Metal detectors beeped constantly. Surveillance screens covered every angle.
The Hope Blue Diamond sat in the center of the hall inside a reinforced glass display case. Motion sensors, pressure sensors, and laser grids surrounded it.
Dick stood near the main exhibit, arms folded.
Dean approached him casually.
"Wow," Dean said, looking at the sea of people. "That's a lot of attention."
Dick shrugged.
"You've performed magic at the Gotham Grand Theater. This shouldn't surprise you."
Dean smiled faintly.
"That theater is large. Space makes crowds feel smaller. Here, the walls press in. It feels… intense."
Dick glanced around.
"Kaito Kid usually appears at night. I don't understand why everyone rushed here so early."
"They believe," Dean replied softly. "Kaito Kid is more than a thief to them. He's a magician."
---
As the day progressed, tension rose.
Reporters broadcast live updates. Cameras flashed constantly.
By late afternoon, whispers spread through the crowd.
"Do you think he'll come?"
"He always keeps his word."
"What if he's afraid?"
Security teams rotated shifts. Gordon wiped sweat from his brow. Even experienced officers felt uneasy.
As evening approached, lights inside the hall dimmed slightly, casting long shadows.
The Hope Blue Diamond sparkled under its focused spotlight.
Dean glanced at his watch.
Almost time.
Suddenly—
The lights flickered.
A low murmur spread through the crowd.
Then—
The entire hall went dark.
Gasps. Shouts. Footsteps.
Emergency lights flickered on, bathing the hall in red.
Sirens began to wail.
Gordon shouted orders.
"Seal every exit!"
Laser grids activated around the diamond case.
Then, from above—
A single white feather drifted downward.
And a voice echoed through the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen… Happy Easter."
A spotlight snapped on, revealing a figure standing atop the central chandelier.
White suit.
White cape.
Top hat.
Monocle glinting.
Kaito Kid.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Some cheered.
Some screamed.
Gordon pointed upward.
"Get him!"
Officers rushed forward—but smoke bombs burst midair.
The hall filled with thick white smoke.
Shapes moved within it.
Gunshots rang out—but only hit shadows.
When the smoke began to clear, the chandelier was empty.
The glass case remained sealed.
The diamond still inside.
Gordon exhaled sharply.
"Search every corner!"
Then—
A loud cracking sound echoed.
Everyone froze.
A spiderweb fracture appeared across the reinforced glass.
Then it shattered.
The Hope Blue Diamond was gone.
In its place sat a single Easter egg.
Painted blue.
A small note attached.
Gordon snatched it up and read aloud.
"'Miracles happen when you believe.'"
Dick clenched his jaw.
He scanned the room.
And then he saw him.
At ground level. Walking calmly toward the exit in the uniform of a police officer.
Dean.
Their eyes met for the briefest second.
A faint smile.
Then chaos surged again as alarms intensified.
By the time officers reached the doors—
The officer was gone.
Outside, fireworks burst into the night sky in the shape of a bat.
But this was no symbol of fear.
This was a message.
Kaito Kid had kept his promise.
And somewhere above Gotham, beneath the moonlight, a white cape disappeared into the darkness.
Easter would never be remembered the same way again.
-------------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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