บท 82: Chapter 82: Negotiation
"It's not the future you are afraid of. It's the fear of the past repeating itself that haunts you."
- T.M.W.
...
In the conference room of the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Center...
Commissioner Gordon, Harvey, Henry, and a representative from the Smithsonian Museum named Kim Beckett are present.
"I want to explain again. The 'Hope Diamond' is likely to be targeted by multiple thieves during the exhibition. Any slight mistake could lead to the diamond being stolen. Ms. Beckett, are you really not considering canceling the exhibition in Gotham?"
Commissioner Gordon took it seriously.
"I understand Commissioner Gordon's concerns, and we appreciate the efforts of the GCPD. However, when we decided to exhibit the 'Hope Diamond,' we had already expected the current situation. Therefore, we will not cancel the exhibition and will continue as planned."
Ms. Beckett answered quietly and showed no sign of giving up.
"Moreover, we have full trust in the abilities of the Gotham police. We believe you can protect the 'Hope Diamond' from being easily stolen."
For some reason, this response sounded funny to the people in Gotham. Even Jim wasn't sure he hadn't heard something wrong.
But in any case, whether the abilities of the Gotham police were worthy of trust or not, the other side liked what they were doing.
This made it difficult for them to persuade them to cancel the exhibition. They couldn't say that they couldn't protect it or that they weren't reliable, right?
Anyone could doubt the police, except for the police themselves, at least not on the surface.
"The GCPD will do everything in their power to protect the 'Hope Diamond'."
Jim could only promise Kim helplessly.
After that, they discussed several specific details and bid farewell to each other.
Jim and Harvey had to return to the police station to arrange their work, while Kim had to return to the Smithsonian Museum to report back.
At the same time, another staff member in the exhibition center quietly left.
He walked several streets away from the exhibition center and arrived at an empty location.
The staff member takes off the mask on his face, revealing his true identity.
'Besides me, there is another person who is good at disguise and is interested in 'Hope Diamond.' Is he or she also a thief?'
Dean thought to himself while changing out of the employee's clothes.
'Who could that person be? It looks like I have another competitor this time.'
'It's becoming more and more troublesome.'
'Besides the usual involvement of the GCPD, Robin will definitely try to stop me, Batgirl might also interfere because of what happened last time, and now there's another rival thief lurking in the shadows.'
'And this unusual exhibition might be hiding some secrets.'
Dean rubbed his chin and realized that his tasks were getting harder.
'This operation will need more time and effort to plan.'
Dean pondered over different measurements as he returned home.
...
Night
Arkham Asylum.
Under the gaze of two prison guards, Ignatius enters the visitor's room.
The person he's visiting this time is the Riddler, Edward Nygma.
"Who are you?"
Riddler asks as soon as he sees Ignatius.
"Ignatius Ogilvy,"
Ignatius respectfully answers.
"Of course, you probably haven't heard of this name, so to put it in a more simple way, I am Mr. Cobblepot's secretary."
As soon as Ignatius finishes speaking, Riddler's expression turns incredibly cold.
"What does Oswald mean by this? Only sending a subordinate to see me?"
"You misunderstand, Mr. Nygma. The boss definitely doesn't avoid you."
Ignatius's tone remains respectful but indifferent.
"Recently, the boss has been in charge of a large-scale gang war, so he's very busy and couldn't make it himself. Otherwise, he would have come to see you in person."
"Furthermore, he still holds a grudge against you for your last mistake."
Upon hearing this, Riddler immediately becomes intrigued.
"Mistake? What mistake?"
"Do you remember when the boss asked you to decipher the Phantom Thief's letter?"
Ignatius asks.
"Are you saying that I made a mistake in deciphering that letter?"
Riddler frowns.
Ignatius nodded and then told Riddler his only mistake.
"What a joke!"
When Riddler learned that "Caesar's guidance" directed him to the quotes broadcasted by Phantom Thief, he immediately showed an angry expression that he couldn't control.
"He used a broadcast to add an additional subject, which replaced the original's objective. It is impossible for people who are not on the scene to possibly solve it. That's cheating! Riddles are not meant to be designed this way! Damn Phantom Thief, he's ruining riddles!"
Riddler cursed loudly.
"I must have been out of my mind to think that guy's riddles were interesting!"
"I'm going to kill Phantom Thief; I absolutely will!"
Right now, he's acting like a child whose favorite toy broke. He was behaving very emotionally and not thinking clearly.
This was a big difference from what people had heard about Riddler.
"Mr. Nygma, I came here today because Phantom Thief sent another notice letter. The boss asked me to come and ask for your help in solving it."
Ignatius stifled a laugh inside and remained calm on the surface.
"In the boss's judgment, he still believes in your intelligence."
At this moment, Ignatius suddenly lowered his voice and whispered, "He also said that if your answer this time is correct, he can help you escape from here."
Just as he said, Ignatius took out a paper with the Phantom Thief's notice letter written on it and showed it to Riddler.
"On the first day of the Emperor holding his scepter,
The wheels of fate will turn for two cycles,
The silver-winged magician will answer the High Priestess's call,
And descend upon the peak,
To appreciate that beautiful blue hope,
Yours truly, Phantom Thief."
To his surprise, Riddler only glanced at it once and immediately showed a look of insult.
"This simple thing is called a riddle?"
Even though Phantom Thief cheated in the last notice letter, this made it impossible for Riddler to understand it correctly.
The whole idea was still good. Even though the challenge was easy for Riddler, it was still a good one.
The notice letter in front of Riddler is too easy, like a child's riddle.
It seems like he deliberately made it easier to give everyone a chance to solve it after making the last one too difficult.
For Riddler, this feels like Phantom Thief is insulting people's intelligence!
To be precise, he's insulting the Riddler's intelligence!
Now, Riddler was completely filled with hatred towards the Phantom Thief.
Although most people would not understand this kind of hatred.
"Is Oswald really not understanding something this simple? It seems that many years of ruling Gotham have made his brain rust!"
The Riddler even felt ashamed of Penguin, who asked him to decipher the notice letter.
On the other side, Ignatius is still waiting in anticipation.
'Hmph! What a bunch of idiots! Oswald's brain is rusting more and more every day from promoting such idiots as his secretary.'
Riddler thought with disdain in his heart.
Oh well, for the sake of his past relationship with Penguin, he decides to explain it to this idiot.
...
A/N: If we reach 600 power stones today, I will release an additional chapter tomorrow.
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