SWNOVELXO Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Take Action
Location B, Tsukino Takashi's personal lounge.
Tsukino Takashi sat on the sofa, looking grim.
A computer was positioned in front of him.
The computer screen displayed the surveillance footage.
Tsukino Takashi's grim expression was naturally due to the inexplicable broadcast from earlier.
After receiving Kaitou Kid's invitation letter, Tsukino Takashi had devised today's plan.
He intended to use Kaitou Kid to claim the Scarlet Shadow Heart as his own.
He also planned to kill Kaitou Kid with the bomb inside the showcase.
But both plans failed.
---
Kaitou Kid didn't die from the bomb, even at such close range.
At the same time, Kaitou Kid noticed that the gem he had stolen was fake and announced this to everyone via the broadcast system.
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"Damn it. How did he figure out the gem was fake?"
"I hired the best craftsmen to create an almost identical replica of the Scarlet Shadow Heart using rubies."
"Kaitou Kid has never seen the real thing. So how did he figure it out?"
---
Several questions swirled in Tsukino Takashi's mind.
This entire situation had completely deviated from his expectations.
Next to the computer, in front of Tsukino Takashi, was a simple small box.
Inside that small box was the real Scarlet Shadow Heart.
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When Tsukino Takashi's younger brother, Tsukino Masayuki, was captured by the Metropolitan Police Department, what he had in his possession was the real Scarlet Shadow Heart.
Tsukino Takashi knew that once the Heart of Scarlet Shadow arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department, it would certainly undergo authentication.
If the gem were identified as fake during the authentication process, all subsequent plans would fall apart.
Therefore, Tsukino Takashi instructed Tsukino Masayuki not to hand over the fake gem.
---
Later, he contacted a detective from the Investigations Division who had personal dealings with him and had the fake Scarlet Shadow Heart delivered in advance.
The detective completed the appraisal and placed the gem in the showcase under the watchful eyes of Sera Masumi and Nakamori Ginzo.
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The real Scarlet Shadow Heart currently before Tsukino Takashi was something he had retrieved privately from the detective after faking anger and storming off the talk show stage earlier in the day.
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Tsukino Takashi originally planned to wait here silently for Kaitou Kid to steal the gem and leave.
Unexpectedly, Kaitou Kid discovered the authenticity of the gem and informed everyone via broadcast.
Now, for his plan to proceed smoothly, he had to discredit Kaitou Kid's claims.
Fortunately, this wasn't difficult.
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As the organizer of the exhibition, he could easily dismiss the statements of a thief.
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"I can't let Kaitou Kid continue spouting nonsense."
Tsukino Takashi thought to himself as he stood up.
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He could view the surveillance of the entire building from his lounge, but to send a broadcast, he would need to go to the main monitoring room.
Tsukino Takashi approached the wall and removed a painting.
Behind it was a wall-mounted safe.
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He entered the password and placed the real Scarlet Shadow Heart inside.
Then, he hung the painting back on the wall.
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Confident that Kaitou Kid would leave the monitoring room after broadcasting the message, Tsukino Takashi prepared himself.
Just in case, he placed a stun device in his pocket.
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After readying himself, Tsukino Takashi opened the door, preparing to head to the monitoring room.
However, when he opened the door, a figure appeared in the doorway.
It was Professor Matsumoto Kenichi, an honored guest invited to the exhibition.
---
At that moment, Matsumoto Kenichi raised his fist, as if about to knock on the door.
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"Oh, Mr. Matsumoto, why are you here?"
Tsukino Takashi's face showed genuine surprise as he loudly asked.
To anyone, Matsumoto Kenichi's appearance here would seem suspicious.
For this reason, Tsukino Takashi didn't dismiss the possibility that this was Kaitou Kid in disguise.
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"I came to see you, Mr. Tsukino. I heard over the broadcast that the Scarlet Heart on display is fake. What is going on?"
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"That broadcast was from Kaitou Kid. Don't believe it, Mr. Matsumoto."
As soon as Tsukino Takashi finished speaking, Matsumoto Kenichi's eyes suddenly widened.
He pointed behind Tsukino with apparent shock.
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"Fire! Mr. Tsukino, your room is on fire!"
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The abrupt exclamation stunned Tsukino Takashi for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
The Matsumoto Kenichi before him was likely Kaitou Kid in disguise.
He had come now, probably to uncover the whereabouts of the real Scarlet Shadow Heart.
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Realizing this, Tsukino Takashi reached into his pocket, grabbing the stun device.
But as soon as he pulled it out and pressed the button, aiming it at Matsumoto Kenichi's stomach, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded.
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It was the smoke detectors installed in every room.
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"Is there really a fire?"
Tsukino Takashi instinctively turned to look at the painting on the wall.
Behind it lay the most important thing, something that couldn't be destroyed by fire.
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But when Tsukino Takashi saw his untouched lounge, his heart sank.
He immediately realized he had been tricked.
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"How does that smoke detector sound exactly like a real one?"
Before he could figure it out, someone covered his mouth and nose.
Tsukino Takashi's consciousness quickly faded.
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Before everything went dark, Tsukino Takashi's final thought was:
"Good thing I hid the Scarlet Shadow Heart beforehand."
"Kaitou Kid doesn't know where it's hidden, so he won't hurt me if he wants to find it."
This was Tsukino Takashi's ultimate gamble.
---
——
Kuroba Kaito looked at the unconscious Tsukino Takashi before him.
He placed him aside and walked directly to the back wall, where the painting was hung.
Removing the painting, he revealed the safe behind it.
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"In moments of crisis, people always unconsciously glance toward where they've hidden important things."
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"The sound of the smoke detector earlier made you, Mr. Tsukino, believe there was a fire in the room."
"Worried that the painting might burn and expose the safe behind it, you unconsciously looked at the wall."
"As expected, the gem is hidden here."
---
Kuroba Kaito thought to himself as he retrieved the fluorescent dye he had used to reveal fingerprints.
Meanwhile, the sound of the fake smoke alarm continued to echo in the room.
---
This wasn't a real smoke detector alarm.
Instead, it was another trick, using the same method he had employed to fool Nakamori Ginzo earlier.
He transmitted the sound to Tsukino Takashi's personal lounge via the monitoring room.
(End of Chapter)