The Lost Live Stream

Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

No one knew who started it, but suddenly, applause erupted, followed by thunderous clapping across the rooftop.

Though the crowd knew it might not be the most appropriate moment, Chen Feng’s mesmerizing sleight of hand had left them in awe.

The roaring applause only darkened the expressions of the pursuit team on the scene.

Especially their captain, Lin Chuanxiong—his already dark face turned as black as a burnt pot.

With over twenty years as a detective, he had captured at least eighty criminals, if not a hundred. Yet this was the first time someone had dared to mock him so openly.

And worst of all—it was all being broadcast live!

Xixi, the show’s host, quickly picked up on the tense atmosphere. Smoothly adjusting her expression, she turned toward the camera.

"It seems our pursuit team’s first operation didn’t go as smoothly as expected. But this doesn’t mean anything—the chase is still on! Let’s wait and see what happens next."

With a playful wink to the live audience, she exchanged a glance with Lin Chuanxiong before leading the cameraman away.

With Chen Feng gone, there was no reason for the pursuit team to stay. Under Lin Chuanxiong’s orders, most of them withdrew, leaving only two behind to handle the aftermath.

Once the crowd dispersed, the lively rooftop party lost its spark. One by one, the guests left, until only Zhou Wanning remained, standing frozen in place.

She lifted her left hand, clutching a small square card. On it were the words Chen Feng had left for her:

"I hope this beautiful night hasn’t left you with unpleasant memories.

—Kaito Kid."

"Kaito Kid? Chen Feng?"

Zhou Wanning murmured to herself before slowly raising her gaze toward the direction Chen Feng had vanished, lost in thought.

……

"What do you mean Chen Feng is missing?!"

At the headquarters of Thief Game’s production team in China’s District 3, Director Wu was in a rage.

"There are only ten contestants, and the show hasn’t even been on for two hours! Are you telling me one of them just disappeared into thin air? Or are you all just useless?! With all the surveillance, you can’t even keep track of one man?!"

"He… might actually know how to disappear into thin air…"

A staff member muttered weakly, but one glare from Director Wu shut him up immediately.

Click-clack!

The sound of high heels echoed as the door to the control room swung open. Xixi walked in.

Taking in Director Wu’s furious expression and the cowering staff, she paused. Then, noticing the live feed of Chen Feng’s channel—still stuck on the rooftop with no sign of him—she understood.

With a smile, she approached. "Director Wu, why so angry? It’s just one missing contestant—no big deal."

Director Wu shot her a look. "Easy for you to say! How do we explain this to the audience?"

Xixi chuckled. "Director, you’re overthinking it. Our show is about crime awareness—real-life criminals don’t exactly announce their moves, do they? Chen Feng’s sudden disappearance just adds to the realism! I say we announce it publicly. It’ll make the show more exciting."

Director Wu stared at her in silence before finally sighing. "Fine… I guess we have no choice."

Once the announcement went out, the already buzzworthy Thief Game became an instant media sensation.

Opportunistic netizens quickly clipped Chen Feng’s vanishing act and uploaded it to platforms like Douyin, Kuaishou, and Bilibili, where it exploded in popularity.

[Shocking! Contestant from District 3 of the globally produced Thief Game disappears on the first day of filming!]

[Chen Feng vanishes in plain sight—magic or sorcery? Stay tuned for updates!]

[Unbelievable! Contestant from District 3 pulls off the impossible on Day 1!]

The internet spread the news at lightning speed, fueling public curiosity.

"Disappearing in a flurry of white doves—is this magic? When did humans evolve like this? Why wasn’t I informed?"

"A real-life vanishing act! How come no one in the magic world has heard of this guy before?"

"Am I the only one noticing his outfit? White suit, white pants, and a white top hat—this dude’s got style!"

"Chen Feng, you’re so hot! I want to have your babies!!!"

……

At a café in City H, a slightly disguised Chen Feng sipped his coffee leisurely.

Unaware of the online frenzy he’d caused—not that he’d care much even if he knew—he simply enjoyed the moment.

[Ding! Mission 1: Escape pursuit under public scrutiny—completed.

System calculating rewards…]

[Rating: Excellent!

Rewards: Kaito Kid card fusion +5%, System Points x500]

[Kaito Kid card fusion reaches 20%: Reward unlocked—Voice Mimicry (Beginner)!]

[Mission 2: Increase live stream viewership to 100,000—in progress.

Current viewership: 80,000+

Reward: Ability Upgrade Card x1]

Every 10% increase in card fusion unlocked a new skill. At 10%, he’d received Beginner Disguise. Now, it was Voice Mimicry—two of Kaito Kid’s most essential abilities.

Chen Feng was more than satisfied.

But the viewership for Mission 2…

Already over 80,000, even with fluctuations. And this was after he’d ditched the live stream.

If he reappeared soon, hitting 100,000 would be a breeze.

As for why he’d shaken off the live feed?

Kaito Kid was a phantom—always appearing and disappearing at will.

No one, not even a live stream, could keep up with him.

Nearby, two young waitresses at the café counter giggled, their cheeks slightly flushed as they stole glances at him.

Noticing his empty cup, the younger one mustered her courage and approached.

"U-um, sir… would you like a refill? O-on the house…"

Chen Feng smiled warmly. "That would be lovely. Thank you."

"N-no problem!"

Blushing harder, she hurried off with his cup.

Unfazed, Chen Feng turned his attention to the café’s TV, where the news played.

"Recently, Lorqing Country in Western Europe announced that, in celebration of its 100th anniversary and the world’s hard-won peace, it will host a global cultural exhibition—the first in ten years."

"This exhibition is funded by the royal family of Lorqing Country, with its first stop being our very own City H."

"Among the dazzling array of exhibits, the most eye-catching is the necklace known as the 'Heart of the Ocean,' famed as the world's largest blue sapphire. Crafted by over a dozen master artisans, it was once worn by..."

"An antique exhibition?" Chen Feng's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Gems and phantom thieves—always a perfect match, don't you think?"

...