When he arrived home with Fiona and Iris, who were still pouting because their school trip was only half a day, even though both were eating the ice cream Dylan had bought them as consolation, they walked straight into the living room. Inside, only Amy and Lena were sitting, looking at their smartphones.
Fiona and Iris immediately ran and sat next to them, starting to tell them what happened during their whole trip. Dylan glanced around, then asked,
"Where are Ellie and Maya?" Dylan asked Lena.
"They went to Ellie's house. The police came and were waiting there. Apparently, the thugs you caught confessed everything, and the police are investigating Ellie's dad. They want to get a statement from Ellie, and Maya is with her," Lena replied.
"Hmm... okay, got it," Dylan said.
"Babe, check the school group chat. There's news about Mr. Brandon. He's officially been arrested on charges of extortion, exploitation of a minor, and sexual abuse of a minor," Amy said, showing him her smartphone screen.
Dylan checked his own smartphone. He looked at the message from the school group chat, which he had muted. The school openly explained everything but not explicitly and did not write who the victims were. However, they mentioned that from his smartphone and laptop, it was found that Brandon was a predator. The school also urged students to be careful in the future so as not to be taken advantage of by other people like Brandon.
"So that's what happened, huh?" Dylan asked, pretending to be surprised.
"That's right. I can't believe a person like that infiltrated our school," Amy replied.
"Well... on the bright side, the school staff will be more careful now, so that's something," Lena added.
"Okay, I'm going to my room first to change," Dylan replied.
"Okay," Amy and Lena replied.
Then, Lena and Amy happily went back to chatting with Fiona and Iris. Dylan went into his room and opened his closet. He closed the closet door, then stepped into the elevator to go down to the basement. As the elevator opened, Dylan walked to the rack and placed the black gem, which the museum called the 'Ancient Obsidian Onyx,' into a glass box full of gems. He placed it in one of the empty stands inside the glass box.
"Well, it's safe to keep it here," Dylan said, closing the glass box door. [That's right, sir. It's much safer here than at the museum.]
"Come on, let's go back up," Dylan replied.
He walked toward the elevator and went back up. After that, he stepped out of the closet and changed his clothes, then he went out to the living room to join Lena and Amy. After sitting down, he grabbed the TV remote on the coffee table and turned on the television. He put it on a local news channel.
"Breaking news: Police and medical personnel have evacuated five people carrying bombs in their bodies from the museum. The attempted bomber arrested on the rooftop immediately committed suicide by swallowing a poison he was carrying in his teeth. Police are launching an official investigation to determine the perpetrator's origin."
Dylan smiled as he listened to the news. The breaking news segment ended after interviewing several museum staff and security officers, but then there was follow-up news:
"The Ancient Obsidian Onyx gem, which was recently imported from overseas, was stolen by a thief formerly known as Phantom Cat in an impossible and brazen manner in front of a crowd. Police are investigating who this 'Phantom Cat' really is and what their connection is to the bombing event that did not happen today at the museum."
"See, Big Sis Amy, Big Sis Lena, that's what I was talking about! That's why we had to come home," Fiona pointed at the television.
"Yeah, we just got to the ancient humans room... I still wanted to look around, hic," Iris added.
"Thank goodness you two are okay," Lena said, putting her arm around Iris next to her.
"Yeah, I can't believe something like that just happened—a bomb at the museum? That's terrifying," Amy added, hugging Fiona.
"But Big Brother Dylan bought us ice cream, so it's okay," Fiona added, licking her ice cream.
"Yeah, it's good," Iris added.
"Phantom Cat, huh?" Lena muttered, thinking.
"You've heard of him, Lena?" Amy asked.
"No... but remember when Clara told us that the burglar who broke into her apartment left a card with 'Phantom Cat' written on it?" Lena asked.
"Oh... that's right, she did mention that," Amy replied.
"Do you think they might be the same person?" Lena muttered.
"Could be," Amy replied.
"Oh, that's right. The one who caught that creepy teacher was also Phantom Cat, right? That's what Ms. Nora said?" Lena asked.
"Yes, you're right. What a coincidence, huh?" Amy asked.
"Hmm... so Phantom Cat was at our school then," Lena muttered.
"Yeah, Phantom Cat is probably a high school student, staff, or even a teacher at our school," Amy added.
"I know someone who can disappear, disguise themselves, and do magic tricks right in front of your eyes without getting caught," Lena said.
"I happen to know who that is, too," Amy added.
Suddenly, Lena and Amy simultaneously turned to look at Dylan, who was sitting back comfortably on the sofa, watching television completely unbothered. They stared intently at Dylan, but he remained nonchalant and looked even more relaxed than before. Then both shook their heads.
"No way," Amy whispered.
"Yeah, right... there's no way he's Phantom Cat," Lena added, whispering.
"Even though he did that magic trick at Ellie's house that time, and Maya's story, I just don't think it's him," Amy added, whispering.
"Yep, there's no way our husband is Phantom Cat," Lena added, whispering.
However, even though they tried to convince themselves that Dylan couldn't possibly be Phantom Cat, they kept glancing at Dylan secretly and sporadically. Of course, Dylan, who was pretending to be calm, felt it, but he tried not to be affected and continued to stare at the television in front of him. He even switched to a streaming service to watch a movie he liked that happened to be airing.
[Sir, they are watching you.]
"Let them. I'm doing my best to ignore them, so just concentrate on the movie," Dylan replied in his head.
[One day they will know that you are Phantom Cat and will be proud of it.]
"No, I will not reveal who I am, ever," Dylan said in his head.
"Dling," Dylan checked his messages. He saw a lot of students sending messages to the group chat about Phantom Cat after hearing the news. There were also people sharing social media links with content about Phantom Cat, including recordings from the moment smoke started filling the exhibition room from sidelines point of view.
Dylan smiled faintly as he played the recording. He glanced over and saw that Lena and Amy were also busy looking at the school group chat.
"Why does this feel kind of good and make me proud," Dylan said in his head.
[Because we are not wrong, sir. We did this for the greater good.]
"You're right, C.A.T.S., but I'm still not telling Lena, Amy, Ellie, or Maya that I am Phantom Cat," Dylan replied.
[We'll see about that, because fate has other plans.]