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Chapter 21: The Necklace Secured & The Boy Wonder
Gordon was the first to rush toward the Phantom Thief, and he was the first to realize the absurdity of the situation.
They weren't human. They were merely lifelike inflatable dummies.
The only reason they moved was the motorized roller skates attached to their feet. No wonder their movements had seemed so uncannily stiff.
These inflatable decoys were incredibly fragile; a mere brush from Gordon's hand caused one to rupture. The moment it burst, the dummy released a cloud of acrid smoke, sending him into a coughing fit.
Realizing the danger, Gordon shouted immediately, trying to order the GCPD officers to hold their fire. Unfortunately, he was a fraction of a second too late.
Before his first syllable could fully leave his throat, gunfire erupted across the hall. By the time he finished his command, the shooting had stopped, replaced by the popping sound of exploding balloons.
Thick smoke engulfed the hall in an instant.
"Cough... what is this stuff? It chokes! Cough, cough—"
"Dammit! Those idiots at the GCPD must have triggered a trap. They always know how to screw things up!"
"I can't breathe! Make way, I need to get out of here!"
The guests, unable to tolerate the suffocating environment, began to shove and panic, rushing for the exits. In the blink of an eye, the banquet hall descended into chaos.
The turmoil quickly reached Samantha, who was standing behind the guest seating area.
William covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve, scanning his surroundings with high alert, though it was futile. Previously, even with the lights out, the candlelight and moonlight offered some visibility. Now, the smoke had plunged the hall into absolute, pitch-black darkness.
It was no exaggeration to say you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. William was forced to rely entirely on his hearing.
Hmph? Someone is approaching.
He heard rapid footsteps drawing near. He held his breath, locking his focus on the sound.
Whoosh!
A white figure burst through the smoke.
Phantom Thief Kid!
William instinctively reached for his gun to fire. But the moment he raised his weapon, a second Kid materialized from the smoke to his right, delivering a sharp kick to William's wrist.
Caught off guard, the gun flew from his hand, lost somewhere in the darkness.
The Kid in front was a dummy; the one on the right was the real deal.
Enraged, William swung a heavy fist at the thief. Kid, however, had no intention of engaging in a brawl. Having disarmed the bodyguard, he immediately retreated back into the shroud of smoke.
William chased him for a short distance, but the thief had vanished. Even his footsteps were gone.
"Cough! This smoke... I can't see anything. William! Where are you?"
Samantha's voice called out from nearby, sounding distressed.
"I am here, Miss. Please do not move! I am coming to you!"
William immediately turned toward her voice. Just then, he vaguely saw a white silhouette flash through the fog in the direction he was heading.
Then came Samantha's scream.
"Ah! William!"
No!
Anxious, William accelerated, charging into the smoke. He found Samantha lying on the floor, unconscious, her dress slightly disheveled.
"Miss!"
William rushed over, kneeling to check on her.
Pfft!
In that split second, "Samantha" suddenly raised her hand, pressed a canister toward William's face, and unleashed a burst of spray.
Caught completely defenseless, William inhaled the mist and collapsed instantly.
"My special Hypnotic Spray. Works like a charm, doesn't it?"
Samantha looked down at William and offered a bizarre smile. She stood up, dusted herself off, and reached for her neck. Like peeling off a facial mask, she tore away her entire face and hair.
Beneath the disguise was the handsome, monocled face of the Phantom Thief.
Having discarded the mask, Kid grabbed the lapels of the evening gown. With a quick spin of his body, the dress tore away, instantly replaced by his signature white suit and cape.
Kid turned, removed his top hat, and bowed elegantly to the figure approaching him.
"A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Samantha."
The real Samantha had arrived, unnoticed. She looked at the thief with a calm expression.
"Every time I see that trick—spinning around to change your entire outfit—I can't help but wonder how you do it."
"It is merely a trivial little trick," Kid replied with a smile.
"I didn't realize Phantom Thief Kid was so humble."
Samantha unclasped the necklace from her neck and held it out. "This is what you want, isn't it?"
"Oh? Is this not a precious treasure of the Vanaver family? You are handing it over so generously?" Kid asked, genuinely surprised.
"What choice do I have?" Samantha countered. "My bodyguard is unconscious, the GCPD is busy containing the riot in the hall, and there is no one left to protect me. Even if I didn't give it to you, you could easily knock me out and take it, couldn't you?"
She paused, her gaze hardening. "However, I must warn you, Phantom Thief Kid. That necklace is cursed. Taking it will only bring you misfortune."
Samantha's expression was composed; she didn't sound like she was making a threat. She sounded like she was stating a fact.
Whether the curse was real or not, Kid didn't know. But rumors did say that few who wore the Emerald Necklace died of old age—most met violent ends in fits of madness.
"If it is truly that dangerous, why do you keep it so close to your body?"
Kid dismissed the warning about the curse and calmly took the necklace from her hand.
Whoosh!
The moment Kid's fingers touched the jewels, a sharp sound cut through the air behind him.
Kid's reflexes were lightning-fast. He ducked, and a dark shadow swept over his head. The shadow landed, blocking his path.
"Nowhere to run, Kid!"
Standing before him was a boy wielding a long staff. He wore a costume of red, green, and black, a yellow-and-black cape, and a green domino mask. On his left breast, a bold, yellow 'R' was emblazoned.
It was Robin.
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