It was Sunday night, and I was inside a thirty-floor building—in my Red outfit, obviously.
Kei had found information that there was a stolen diamond here—the Blue Star. It was a large sapphire gemstone that’d been stolen from a museum two weeks ago.
We had information that the owner of this building had ordered the theft so that he could sell it abroad.
Which meant it was time for us to intervene!
We were going to take the Blue Star back and find some evidence to get the owner of the building caught.
That’s what we do, after all—Phantom Thief Red.
Just because there was a phony running around didn’t mean we needed to stop doing our thing.
Nope! If anything, we needed to do Red work now more than ever.
“Everything seems fine so far.”
I heard Kei’s voice in my earpiece. He was in a different place where he had a good view of the building.
He had a blueprint of the building that he’d acquired beforehand, and he was actively hacking the security CCTV monitor to see what they saw and help navigate for me without getting caught.
I looked around to make sure there were no security guards present. The lights were all off, so the hallway was pitch-black, but I could see thanks to my night vision scope.
Though it wasn’t that late, there weren’t many people in the building that day because it was a Sunday.
Yup, all clear.
“The area thirty feet ahead of you is a blind spot for the security cameras.”
“Got it.”
I confirmed where the security cameras were and moved forward, slinking against the wall.
The gemstone we were after this time was on the twentieth floor, so I still had three floors to go.
I reached some stairs at the end of the hallway, but they were closed off.
“You’ll need to go to the opposite end of the hallway; there are more stairs there.”
Okay.
Carefully, I stepped back into the hallway, making sure to stay aware of my surroundings.
That’s when it happened.
Huh?!
I almost blurted this out loud when I looked down the hall but managed to stay quiet.
There were people down the hall. Two of them.
But they weren’t security… There was no way Kei would let any guards slip by him.
I could tell that they weren’t wearing patrol uniforms, either. They were dressed in all black—very suspicious.
“Kei! There’s people here! Two of them, and I don’t think they’re security. Do you see anything?” I said quietly so that they couldn’t hear me.
“……!” Kei gasped under his breath. “Okay, I’ll look into it now.”
Of the pair, one was taller and one was shorter. They both looked like men.
“The indoor security team consists of ten members. Right now, there are two patrolling the tenth floor and two on the second. Aside from the cameras I hacked and blocked, the rest are functioning normally. There’s no way a regular person could have made it to this floor.”
“Then who are these two in front of me…?”
“My guess is they came to steal the Blue Star.”
“So we’re not the only ones here to do that?!”
“I didn’t expect them to show up at the same time as us, but it is an incredibly valuable gemstone. The real question is, how did they know the Blue Star would be in this building…?”
That’s true…
“The only reason we were able to figure it out is because you worked your magic. I doubt some random burglar would be able to find out…”
“We should assume they aren’t just ordinary burglars. This building is heavily guarded, with only two viable routes of entry. The first is the one you went through, but there was no sign anyone else used it before you. The other route would require at least two people to pull off. I didn’t consider it, since you were infiltrating solo, but it’s possible they went with that route to slip past security unnoticed.”
“But wouldn’t that mean they were able to figure out one of the two routes you came up with? Just who are these guys?”
“Y’all gonna sit there yappin’ all day, or come on out and play? We know you’re there. Or are you just stalkin’ us, huh?”
Huh…?!
When I realized it, the pair was already looking this way.
They found me! And they sound like they’re from Kansai?!
I leaped out from behind the wall into the middle of the hallway. We were in a spot that couldn’t be seen on the security camera.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Be careful.”
“I know that.” I stood my ground, facing the duo.
“Who are you?!” I shouted, pointing at the pair.
“Oh, silly me. Pardon me, that was rude. Here’s our business card, you can find us at— C’mon, use yer head! I ain’t about to tell ya who we are! Ain’t that right, partner?”
The little one shrugged before looking over to the taller one.
“But we ain’t got a business card…,” the taller one said. He sounded kinda dopey.
“Ya dang fool! That’s called sarcasm. And even if we had a business card, we sure as heck wouldn’t give it over.”
“Really? But ain’t they for givin’?” the taller one drawled.
“Would ya use that thick skull o’ yours??!!” the little one said, face-palming in frustration.
Uh…?
I watched blankly as the pair went back and forth with one another.
What’s wrong with these two? It’s like watching a comedy movie.
When I was finally able to see them better, the tall one was bulging with muscles, and the shorter one was thin, almost scrawny. When he stood behind the big guy, you could barely even see him.
The two continued their banter, and it almost made me forget that we were in a heavily guarded building.
“Asuka…!”
Huh?
Hearing Kei’s voice snapped me back into the moment.
The shorter of the two men came darting forward with a punch.
Shoot! I stopped paying attention!
He planted his fist right into my belly.
“Ouch…” I lurched forward, falling to my knees in pain.
“Y’all messed up.” He jumped back.
“Wh-who are you two…?” I said, trying to catch my breath.
“Us? We’re Phantom Thief Red, ya hear?” the little guy answered.
…………!!!
What the—?!
“It’s your lucky day, I reckon, meetin’ a celebrity. But if y’all want an autograph, you’ll hafta talk to my manager.”
The two looked at each other and snickered.
“All right, sweetie pie, you sit tight and rest your little behind right here. We’re gonna go fetch that Blue Star. Shall we, partner?”
“All righty!”
The pair skipped together, side by side, down the hall.
They think they can make a joke outta me?!
I tried to get up to give chase, but I still couldn’t move.
“Either way, those two just claimed they were Phantom Thief Red, which can only mean…”
“That they are the fake Red.”
“Yup! So we can’t let them get away with this. If they’re after the Blue Star, then we’ll stop them, and maybe I can kick their butts while I’m at it!” I readied my sleeping-gas pellets.
They won’t see this coming!
I launched multiple pellets at the smaller man down the hall. They went flying straight toward the fake Reds.
That’s gotta hit!
“Hup!”
The little man let the tension out of his shoulders, turning to the side to stretch them, and somehow dodged the first pellet.
“Ruh-roh!”
For the rest, he bent his upper body over backward, avoiding them all at once.
Seriously?! What’s with this guy?! He looks like he’s just messing around, but he dodged all my pellets…
“Ya ain’t gonna hit me with those.” Still bent over backward, he stuck out his tongue at me, then he turned the corner down the hall.
Not so fast!
I got up and chased them. When I turned the corner, they were already a good distance away, but I could still see them.
They’re far, but I can catch them!
I followed them, running up some stairs, which led to a large, open floor.
Huh?
The fake Red duo was nowhere to be seen. I looked around, and there was nobody on the entire floor. Squinting my eyes, I could make out an open door at the other side of the room.
There!
“Asuka, wait!” Kei tried to stop me, but I didn’t have time to listen. There was a placard on the door that said COMPANY PRESIDENT’S OFFICE, and it was half-open.
I carefully peered through the door to find a giant room with a thick carpet flooring. Near the window was a giant, expensive-looking desk, and the walls were lined with bookshelves. I slowly entered the room.
“No…” I whispered to myself.
The bookshelf on the other side of the window behind the desk was about six feet tall, with a safe built into it, and the door to the safe was already open.
I looked inside the safe to find it empty.
Is this where the Blue Star was…? But where’s the fake Red duo…?
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.
Before I could find time to think, an earsplitting beeping sound rang off throughout the building.
Is that the alarm?! Did those two trap me?!
“Get out of there, Asuka!”
I snapped out of my shock when I heard Kei’s voice.
Biting down on my lip, I sprinted away as the alarm blared all around me.