Chapter 18
'Why is Mr. Hopeless over there?'
He was dressed up as if he were going to a wedding, so I thought he might have gone out somewhere. But a green marker was blinking on his chest, where a pocket square was stylishly tucked.
'So there's a diamond in Mr. Hopeless's jacket pocket.'
Still, it's surprising that someone who wants to be robbed is waiting for me while carrying it himself. I couldn't think of a reason, even after handing over the tray and leaving.
'Is it because of insurance?'
Perhaps insurance only pays out if you try your best not to get robbed. Anyway, I'll find out naturally later.
'For now, finding a hiding spot is the priority.'
I pretended to head for the stairs, but when no one was looking, I opened a random door and slipped inside. The room, which appeared to be a storage area, was filled with junk.
They would have already searched this room, so they wouldn't come in, but just in case, I hid behind the clutter. Then, I checked the system clock.
'5:50 PM.'
It's still too early to commit a theft.
But the sun was already setting outside. By the time I got out of here and opened my umbrella, the sky would be dark enough to hide one person hanging from an umbrella. Besides...
'Now that Hunt and Chase are both outside, this is the perfect timing.'
After a moment of calculation, I made up my mind and shouted inwardly.
'Facial Recognition Disorder, activate! Master of Disguise skill, activate!'
At that moment, my reflection in the mirror standing against the wall changed.
"Ah, mic test."
My voice had also become much deeper.
The Master of Disguise skill randomly changes one's appearance, from looks to voice. The problem is that while the appearance changes, the clothes do not. A thief no one knows wearing Claire Kent's clothes? That's practically self-incrimination.
'Inventory.'
I changed into clothes I had brought from home and put on my Spring Boots. Usually, that's all the preparation needed, but today I equipped one more item. A bulletproof vest.
'That guy Chase, he might actually shoot if things get serious.'
Alright, I'm ready now. Shall we begin the operation?
I stood with my hand on the doorknob and said inwardly.
'Where on earth were you? Effect.'
The "Where on earth were you?" effect.
Investigators, excluding the main pursuer, forget their duties and wander aimlessly until the effect wears off. In detective shows, extra police officers only rush in after everything is over. Then a main or supporting investigator shouts in frustration, 'Where on earth were you all?' It's an effect that recreates that cliché.
It seems like an incredibly good effect, but it's not entirely so. Even if they forget their duties, they remember once they encounter me. That's why, even after activating the effect, I didn't go out but listened to the sounds from behind the door, waiting for the police officers to leave their posts.
"Damn, did I drink too much coffee... My bladder's going to burst."
Finally, I heard one of the guards protecting the basement leave. Soon, the voices of other guards followed one by one.
"Was the coffee decaf? I'm so sleepy! I need to take a nap."
"Ah, my head. I forgot to call home to say I'd be late today! I'll be right back to make a quick call."
'Just hurry up and leave already.' I glanced at the countdown clock displayed in the corner of the system window.
Only 9 minutes and 23 seconds left.
A 10-minute duration might seem long, but since it takes time for the police officers to leave the crime scene, the actual time I benefit from the effect is quite short. However, this isn't the only drawback of this skill. There's an even more fatal flaw.
'What is everyone doing here?' The reverse effect.
Because the police officers are leaving their posts all at once, it alerts the sharp-eyed main pursuer that I've arrived. I got caught properly by Hunt once because of this reverse effect. The name of this reverse effect, 'What is everyone doing here?', was what Hunt said back then.
'Hunt, with his uncanny intuition, will probably notice this time too.'
That's why Hunt being outside the scene right now is the perfect timing. Let's hurry and steal it, then get out.
When I no longer heard any sounds of movement from outside, I opened the door and stepped out. The quiet corridor was filled only with the rhythmic sound of someone snoring.
There might be someone patrolling. I pressed myself against the wall, peeking around every corner as I cautiously approached the room where the jewels were hidden.
Snore!
'Was that coffee really decaf?' But why would he sleep right here? It's annoying.
I sat on a chair placed next to the door and tiptoed towards the door, trying not to wake the snoring officer.
Click.
The door wasn't locked. Peeking through the small gap, I saw that the officers were gone. Hearing the noise from inside, I quickly entered and closed the door, not wanting to wake the officer outside.
As I turned around, my eyes met directly with a man sitting in the middle of the room.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Hopeless."
The officers were all gone. In other words, Mr. Hopeless remained.
"Y-You are..."
The "Where on earth were you?" effect only works on investigators. It has no effect on ordinary people.
"Thieving Crow?"
Mr. Hopeless exclaimed in surprise and shot up from his seat. As his mouth began to open wide, I gestured towards the closed door and placed a finger on my lips.
"Shh."
The man immediately closed his mouth. Just as I expected. I entered knowing Mr. Hopeless would be here because I expected him to cooperate.
'He'll hand over those cursed jewels willingly. If not, I'll persuade him.'
I leisurely approached the stiff young man and reached out my hand. Of course, I wasn't going to use my fist, but persuasion.
"I'm sorry, but I have to steal the diamond you have. Is that alright?"
As expected. The man reached into his tuxedo jacket and pulled out a blue velvet box. Then, with a determined expression, he said,
"Yes. Please steal it."
At those words, my lips, which had been curving upwards, stiffened in surprise. It was because of what Mr. Hopeless said as he suddenly knelt before me.
"Oh, cruel one..."
...Why am I 'your' cruel one?
"You already stole my heart long ago, and now you come to steal this ring."
A ring? What ring? The words "stole my heart" registered in my mind a beat later than the mention of a ring. That's because the man had opened the box wide.
Huh? I thought the Hoplis Diamond was a loose stone, but the red diamond set in the box was mounted on a platinum ring.
'Is that... could it be... an engagement ring?'
Only then did the words "stole my heart" sink in.
'Is he proposing to me right now?'
Startled, I momentarily forgot that I had to steal it and instinctively took a step back. Then, the man grabbed my leg and clung to it.
"What are you doing, you crazy bastard? Let go!"
I shook my leg like trying to peel off a piece of tissue stuck to the sole of my shoe, but he didn't let go; instead, he wrapped both arms tightly around my legs. To make matters worse, he started crying and throwing a tantrum like a child.
"I waited so long! Why are you only coming now? Naughty thief! I'm going to punish you! Marry me!"
"Do you want bread? Or death! Bread!"
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
I'm level 8 in unarmed combat skills, you know! With one punch from my nuclear fist, the man was sent flying far away. As I punched him in the face, the ring I snatched glittered in my hand. Seeing that, the man, still sprawled on the floor, bit his fist and burst into tears.
"Thieving Crow accepted my proposal, sob..."
"No, I didn't."
"She accepted my proposal..."
If delusion can reach this level, it's a disease.
