No need for an introduction.
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Chapter 13: Investigations and Heists:
Now that Conan had forced Shinichi into coming to the heist that might not even be a heist, he had to notify Inspector Nakamori about the advance notice as well. When he did so, Nakamori was skeptical at it, as Conan had been. How many years of chasing after Kid taught him about the kaitou's personality and style. But Conan managed to convince him and he replied, "Well, I suppose we could set up a guard. You know, just in case. We'll have some officers posted, and maybe a trap set up as well. And then if it turns out to be real, we'll call backup to the rest who would be waiting nearby." Conan nodded.
Of course, after calling Nakamori-keibu, he had to call Heiji, who had returned to Osaka yesterday. Heiji was rather excited that Conan and Shinichi were coming, but when Conan told him how easy the code had been, he grew suspicious as well. However, he decided to come anyway.
It was 2:00 am, an hour to the heist, and both Conan and Shinichi were going over what the advance notice had revealed. The "new green egg that, when hatched, will produce something both beautiful and terrifying" referred to the Ryuu no Tamago or "Dragon's Egg", an emerald sculpture that had recently come to the art museum in the advance notice. "The circular exhibit of 'L'" translated to 3 o'clock, where the hands on an analogue clock would look like the aforementioned English letter.
Conan was still a bit skeptical, but he had gotten himself into this and now he just had to hope that the infamous phantom thief would appear.
He and Heiji walked into the room where the Ryuu no Tamago was kept. It was a normal, rectangular room on the second floor, with four long windows - one on each shorter side of the room that looked into other rooms and two on the longer wall opposite the entrance. There were four exhibits in a line close to - but not touching - the back wall. The emerald egg was on the far left. A security camera was watching it on the corner above. Actually, now that Conan looked at it, there were four security cameras: one in each corner.
Surrounding the Ryuu no Tamago was a glass case that could only be opened by a password. There was device hidden in the pedestal of the artwork that transmitted electromagnetic waves that would sense someone trying to steal the egg. Above the Ryuu no Tamago's enclosure, there were four square panels of the ceiling that would quickly slide to the side once something interrupted those sensors. And as soon as the panels were out of the way, a cage would drop down, both enclosing the artwork and capturing the thief. And, just in case Kid created a blackout like he usually did, everything was connected to batteries hidden in the flooring and ceiling that would turn on as soon as the power went off. Also, there were four guards in the room, gathered around the Ryuu no Tamago.
Of course, if Kid actually came, he would probably disable everything anyway.
Conan looked up as he heard Shinichi walk into the room, probably doing the same thing that he and Heiji had just done. Then all three left to get the feel for the museum so they would know where to go if they had to chase Kid.
Somehow, word had gotten out around the Kaitou Kid fans and they were cheering all around the museum, though most of them had gathered in the back, where the exhibit room with the emerald egg was visible. The owner of the museum, Yamazaki Tadashi, didn't want anyone to go inside. He was convinced that there would be loads of trash left behind by the fans if he did let them in, and he didn't want to deal with that. But there was no way of stopping the fans from coming in general.
The Phantom Thief in White was camped out on an island in the lake behind the museum, dressed in black. He had gotten there by a path not unlike huge stepping stones, and now he was looking over the heads of spectators through binoculars into the exhibit room where the Ryuu no Tamago was kept. He had overheard Nakamori-keibu's plans for tonight while dressed up in a janitor's outfit. Nakamori-keibu's being a little lax on security, he thought, not for the first time that day. Besides the cage, there are four guards around the Ryuu no Tamago, and only twenty others nearby, including the pilot and co-pilot of a single helicopter. Not that I'd blame him, of course. The notice I sent wasn't one of my best, but hey, I was in a hurry. Besides, it'll make my job easier. As long as Tantei-kun doesn't get too much in my way. Well, Tantei-kun and . . . and Tantei-san? and that Osakan detective, anyway. Maybe it won't be so easy, with three detectives on my trail. Not to mention I still have to ask Tantei-kun that question. Let's just hope they'll all hold off on me until that question is answered.
Kid looked at his watch. 30 minutes to the given time. Time to get moving.
The three detectives gathered in the exhibit room along with Nakamori-keibu. With just them, the room seemed strangely empty. But not quiet. The cheers from the fans outside bled through the walls and windows, though slightly muffled.
Suddenly having doubts, Nakamori-keibu called in a few more people to be posted in various places around the museum. Anywhere where Kid might go. He added another two to those guarding the Ryuu no Tamago as well. Finally satisfied, he listened to the countdown of Kid's fans.
Twenty!
Nineteen!
Eighteen!
Seventeen!
Sixteen!
Conan closed his eyes so he would be able to see when the blackout came.
Fifteen!
Fourteen!
Thirteen!
Twelve!
Eleven!
Everybody tensed up.
TEN!
NINE!
EIGHT!
SEVEN!
SIX!
FIVE!
FOUR!
THREE!
TWO!
ONE!
Saa, Kid thought. Sho no hajimari da!*
ZERO!
And darkness spread throughout the museum.
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*Kid's catchphrase at the beginning of every Magic Kaito episode.
I hope you like these three chapters (though I guess this one ends in a kind of a cliffhanger)! Ja ne!
P.S. I don't own Detective Conan (or Magic Kaito, I guess?)