Gotham City never truly slept.
Even in the heart of the night, when the streets should have been quiet, the Diamond District remained alive with shadows, whispers, and danger. And at its center stood one of Gotham's most infamous landmarks—the Iceberg Lounge.
Inside, beneath the soft glow of golden lights and the hum of quiet music, a storm was brewing.
Oswald Cobblepot—better known as the Penguin—sat in his private office, a glass of expensive liquor resting untouched in his hand. His sharp eyes were fixed on the television screen ahead, where a news broadcast replayed the events of the previous night.
Beside him stood Ogilvy, his trusted lieutenant.
The room felt colder than usual.
"Are you absolutely certain…" Penguin began slowly, his voice calm but heavy, "that the Stone of Misfortune ended up in Kaito Kid's hands?"
Ogilvy didn't hesitate.
"Yes, boss. Our people confirmed it personally. There's no doubt."
The certainty in his voice was strong, but even he could feel the tension thickening the air.
Penguin's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
"Then tell me something…" he continued, his eyes narrowing slightly, "does that mean Kaito Kid is already dead?"
The question wasn't emotional.
It was calculated.
Ogilvy swallowed before answering.
"According to Calculator and Faust, anyone who directly touches the Stone of Misfortune will inevitably meet a terrible end. There are no exceptions… unless—"
"Unless what?" Penguin's tone sharpened instantly.
"Unless he avoids direct contact… or possesses knowledge of magic strong enough to resist its effects."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Ogilvy added carefully, "But based on everything we know about Kaito Kid—his methods, his habits—that possibility is extremely low. Almost impossible."
Penguin gave a low hum.
But his eyes didn't soften.
Instead, they grew colder.
"Ogilvy… there's something that doesn't add up."
Ogilvy straightened immediately.
Penguin leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing.
"Let's review the situation," he said calmly. "Kaito Kid used a glider dummy carrying the Hope Diamond to distract everyone… then returned later to steal the Stone of Misfortune."
He paused.
"And the diamond on that dummy… was the real one."
Ogilvy's expression stiffened.
Penguin continued.
"The truth about the Stone of Misfortune was known only to a handful of people. The public believed the exhibit displayed the Hope Diamond… but in reality, the display itself was the cursed stone."
His voice lowered.
"And the real diamond was hidden by Director Auffe."
The room grew silent again.
Penguin's eyes locked onto Ogilvy.
"So tell me…" he said slowly, "how did Kaito Kid get the real Hope Diamond?"
Ogilvy's heart skipped.
Penguin didn't stop.
"If he already had the real diamond… if he knew the display was fake… why would he return to steal the cursed stone?"
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Ogilvy opened his mouth—
But no words came out.
Because deep down…
He had already thought about the same thing.
And the answer terrified him.
Only a few people knew the truth behind the Stone of Misfortune.
Penguin.
Ogilvy.
A handful of inner circle members.
And Director Auffe.
No one else.
Not even the police.
Yet somehow…
Kaito Kid had not only uncovered the truth—but acted on it.
And worse—
He had taken both.
The real diamond…
And the cursed stone.
Cold sweat formed on Ogilvy's forehead.
"If…" he began weakly, "if Kaito Kid somehow discovered the truth beforehand… then maybe—"
Penguin suddenly let out a sharp, cold laugh.
"Maybe?"
Then his expression darkened.
"No, Ogilvy. Let me explain it for you."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Kaito Kid didn't make a mistake. He saw through everything."
Ogilvy froze.
Penguin's voice dropped into something far more dangerous.
"He took the stone on purpose."
A chill ran down Ogilvy's spine.
"He knew about our plan," Penguin continued, his lips curling slightly. "And by taking that stone… he's telling us something."
"He's telling us… that he knows."
The room felt suffocating.
"Which means…" Penguin added coldly, "your plan has completely failed."
Ogilvy lowered his head instantly.
"I'm sorry, boss. I—"
"Sorry?" Penguin cut him off sharply.
His grip tightened around the glass in his hand.
"Do you realize what you've done?"
Ogilvy didn't respond.
He didn't dare to.
Penguin leaned forward again, his eyes blazing.
"What if Kaito Kid decides to return that cursed stone here?"
The words hit like a hammer.
"Have you thought about that?"
Ogilvy's eyes widened in horror.
Penguin's voice rose.
"If that stone ends up back in this lounge… everyone here could die without even realizing why!"
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Ogilvy's breathing became shallow.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
Was this it?
Was Penguin going to kill him?
Suddenly—
Penguin's tone changed.
"Are you afraid I'll kill you?"
Ogilvy looked up.
His expression hardened.
"I made a mistake, boss. A serious one. If punishment is necessary… I accept it."
He spoke firmly.
Like someone ready to face death.
Penguin stared at him for a moment.
Then…
He laughed.
Not loudly.
But with clear disdain.
"If this were Gotham ten years ago… when Carmine Falcone still ruled the city… I might have believed that."
He shook his head slightly.
"But now?"
Ogilvy understood.
This wasn't the old Gotham.
And loyalty like that…
Was rare.
Penguin sighed lightly.
"You're useful, Ogilvy."
Ogilvy blinked.
"I see something of my younger self in you," Penguin added.
Then his tone turned sharp again.
"So I'll overlook this failure."
Relief flooded Ogilvy's body—
But it didn't last long.
"But there will not be a second time."
The warning was absolute.
"Yes, boss!" Ogilvy responded immediately.
Penguin stood up slowly.
"Now listen carefully."
His gaze became serious again.
"Kaito Kid has the Stone of Misfortune. That makes him unpredictable… and extremely dangerous."
He adjusted his coat.
"I'm going to speak with Calculator."
Then he turned back slightly.
"While I'm gone… you will think of a solution."
Ogilvy stiffened.
"Understood."
Penguin's eyes narrowed one last time.
"When I return… I expect an answer."
---
Meanwhile…
At Gotham High School, a completely different kind of storm was brewing.
Dick Grayson sat at his desk.
But his mind was nowhere near the classroom.
The teacher's voice faded into background noise.
His thoughts kept replaying one thing.
Kaito Kid.
Again and again.
What happened last night…
Didn't make sense.
At all.
"Dick!"
A voice snapped him out of it.
He looked up.
Too late.
"Stand up," the teacher said sternly.
Dick blinked.
He hadn't even realized he was being called.
From the front row, Dean turned around and gave him a subtle look—
A reminder.
Dick sighed inwardly and stood up.
This had already happened multiple times today.
Every class.
Every teacher.
He couldn't focus.
Because his mind was stuck on one terrifying realization.
Kaito Kid could perfectly disguise himself as anyone.
Not just visually.
But behaviorally.
He had fooled Dean.
Then fooled Dick himself.
Without leaving a trace.
That meant…
In the future…
Kaito Kid could be anyone.
A teacher.
A student.
Even someone he trusted.
The thought made Dick uneasy.
No…
More than uneasy.
It made him nervous.
Because if that was true—
How could he ever verify someone's identity again?
The school day dragged on.
But for Dick…
It felt like torture.
By the time the final bell rang, he was mentally exhausted.
He packed his bag slowly.
And left without saying much.
---
Wayne Manor stood quietly as always.
A place of calm.
A place of order.
Dick stepped inside, expecting the usual silence.
But something felt… different.
He paused.
His instincts kicked in.
Then he walked further inside—
And stopped.
In the living room…
Alfred stood as usual.
Calm.
Composed.
But beside him—
There was someone else.
Dick's eyes narrowed slightly.
An unfamiliar figure… standing inside Wayne Manor.
And instantly—
Every thought about Kaito Kid came rushing back.
His heart tensed.
Because now…
He couldn't even be sure… if what he was seeing was real.
---------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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