April 22nd, Morning.
Darren, disguised as an ordinary tourist, wandered through the Gotham Art Museum.
The advance notice from Phantom Thief Kid hadn't made the atmosphere inside the museum particularly tense. It was open as usual, and there were no extra searches for tourists. However, the museum's standard entry checks were already strict, so the lack of increased intensity wasn't unusual.
On the surface, Darren walked and stopped like everyone else, admiring the exquisite collection. Secretly, however, he was observing the museum's layout.
In reality, he had been visiting daily for some time, wearing different faces to scout the location. He had long since memorized the connecting routes between exhibition halls and the arrangement of surveillance cameras. But to minimize variables, he needed a final confirmation just hours before the operation.
And this confirmation revealed some subtle changes.
Security near the East Gate has been significantly strengthened compared to usual. Looks like they deciphered my notice. I wonder if the GCPD has talented people, or if they brought in outside help...
That the notice would be solved was part of Darren's plan. In fact, he designed the first letter specifically to be solvable. If it were too obscure, it might have been dismissed as a prank and ignored. After all, Phantom Thief Kid was currently a nobody. Without a track record, expecting attention was wishful thinking. If it hadn't reminded Curator Zack of the Riddler, he might not have cared at all.
Meanwhile, in the curator's office, Gordon sat opposite Zack.
"Commissioner Gordon, are you sure today is the day?" Zack asked worriedly.
"I'm not Phantom Thief Kid, so I can't know exactly what he's thinking, but there is no more reasonable interpretation," Gordon replied.
"What about the Riddler?"
Although Gordon considered it unlikely that Kid was the Riddler, Zack hadn't let go of his concerns.
"Please rest assured. I have people watching Arkham Asylum. If there is any unusual activity, I will be notified immediately."
Gordon wasn't bluffing. He genuinely had subordinates watching Nygma. You could never have too many insurance policies against Arkham inmates.
Hearing this, Zack relaxed noticeably.
"By the way, Curator Zack, how is that matter coming along?" Gordon suddenly asked with a serious expression, remembering something important.
"It's been handled according to your plan. Phantom Thief Kid absolutely cannot steal the Goddess's Tear today."
Speaking of this, Zack's face filled with confidence, a stark contrast to his earlier anxiety.
"Good. Regardless of who Phantom Thief Kid really is, if he appears, I will bring him to justice," Gordon promised.
The two then began to double-check the museum's security measures. At that very moment, in a hidden corner of the office unnoticed by their eyes, a microscopic dot was transmitting a signal.
"Phantom Thief Kid absolutely cannot steal the Goddess's Tear..."
In the museum corridor, Darren listened to the voice in his earpiece, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. Days ago, when he first delivered the notice, he had installed micro-bugs in key rooms like the curator's office. As long as he was within range of the museum, he could receive the signal.
He hadn't expected to overhear critical information; it was just a contingency. He couldn't spend twenty-four hours a day listening in.
Absolutely cannot steal it? Interesting. I'd like to see what preparations you've made.
Darren walked through the corridor toward his final scouting destination: the Gem Craft Exhibition Hall, where the Goddess's Tear was housed.
Contrary to his imagination, the hall didn't seem to have changed much. The number of guards was the same as before, unlike the heavy reinforcements in the eastern sector.
This was incredibly strange.
Although the notice said Kid would appear from the East, they shouldn't just strengthen the East and neglect the core target. Did they have confidence they could take Kid down at the entrance 100% of the time? What if Kid didn't come from that direction? What if the notice was a diversion?
Since nobody knew Kid's habits yet, assuming he wouldn't follow the notice would be the normal reaction.
If the guards in the hall haven't increased, then they must have tampered with the Goddess's Tear itself...
Entering the Gem Craft Exhibition Hall, Darren didn't go straight to the Goddess's Tear. instead, he admired the dazzling luxury jewelry with the other tourists. The cheapest item here was worth over a million, protected by sturdy bulletproof glass.
After watching for a while, Darren drifted with the crowd to the display case of the Goddess's Tear.
Hmm?
At first glance, Darren noticed this display case was different from the others. The shape of the stand, the thickness of the glass, and even the wear and tear were distinct. It had clearly been installed recently.
He also discovered that the glass case and the display stand were a seamless unit. To get the gem out, one would have to cut through with special tools; prying it open was impossible.
Furthermore, inside the case, tiny red lasers shot from both sides of the small pedestal holding the gem, illuminating the Goddess's Tear. If the gem's position shifted even slightly, the alarm would trigger instantly.
These two lines of defense were enough to deter ninety-nine percent of thieves worldwide. And even if someone broke through them, they might not necessarily secure the gem.
I see. There's an invisible third line of defense hidden inside. No wonder Curator Zack and Gordon are sure no one can steal it...
Darren stared at the Goddess's Tear for a moment, a gleam of understanding flashing in his eyes.
A perfect method against an ordinary thief. Unfortunately, it's useless against me.
He took out his phone and checked the time. Over an hour remained until the eclipse predicted by the weather bureau.
With this, all the backstage work is complete. It's time to prepare for the main stage.
On the other side, Gordon and Curator Zack walked out of the office to a huge floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor of the museum's east side. The view was excellent, covering the entire eastern scene. As long as any suspicious person appeared, they would spot them immediately.
Soon, an hour passed.
The originally bright sky suddenly dimmed. Looking up, the sun was being eaten away bit by bit by a black shadow.
The solar eclipse had begun!