Chapter 5: The First Heist Notice
The next day.
The scorching heat of early summer was already making itself known, especially in the southern-leaning City H, where the temperature was particularly unbearable.
Even the stray dogs on the streets had no choice but to seek shade, panting heavily for a sliver of relief.
Pedestrians were few and far between, except for the bustling crowd gathered in the middle section of Central Road.
Dozens of reporters braved the blazing sun, waiting eagerly on the roadside, their faces dripping with sweat—yet not a single one showed any intention of leaving.
Finally! The roar of car engines echoed from the distance, instantly reinvigorating the weary journalists.
“She’s here!”
Someone shouted.
A line of luxury cars soon appeared at the end of the street, slowly making their way toward the crowd.
At the sight, the reporters grew restless, rubbing their hands in anticipation, ready to charge forward for the first scoop.
Before long, the motorcade arrived and came to a smooth stop.
The doors of the leading Audis opened first, and seven or eight burly men in black suits stepped out, swiftly moving to flank the Lincoln at the center.
They formed two orderly rows, standing like knights guarding a princess, waiting in silence.
One of them stepped forward and opened the Lincoln’s door. A figure emerged, stepping gracefully onto the red carpet that had been laid out in advance.
Her striking, well-defined features, almond-shaped eyes brimming with charm, and a tailored white women’s suit accentuated her curvaceous figure.
The moment they saw her, the reporters could no longer contain themselves. Like a pack of wolves, they surged forward, only to be held back by the wall of bodyguards two meters away.
“Princess Amiya, we’ve heard you’ve brought your country’s most precious treasure this time. Is that true?”
“Miss Amiya, rumors say your father hopes you’ll find your ideal partner during this global artifact exhibition. Can you confirm?”
“Your Highness, what are your thoughts on hosting this exhibition in China?”
“Miss Amiya…”
…
Facing the barrage of questions, Amiya maintained a poised smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this global artifact exhibition is in celebration of our nation’s centennial. Naturally, we’ve brought our most treasured cultural relics.
As for the matter of seeking a life partner during the exhibition… I believe such rumors should be dismissed by the wise.”
Amiya spoke in Chinese—surprisingly, her fluency was impeccable.
However, she didn’t address every reporter’s question, only briefly responding to a select few before falling silent again.
“The exhibition will commence tomorrow evening at six and last for two weeks. If you have further questions, there will be plenty of opportunities.”
With that, she signaled to her bodyguards.
They immediately understood. Two burly men stepped forward, parting the crowd of reporters to clear a path for Amiya.
Just then, a fluttering sound filled the air—followed by a flock of white doves soaring toward them in unison.
“Doves? Where did all these doves come from?”
The question flashed through everyone’s minds.
Before they could react, the doves gracefully dispersed, forming a perfect white ring around a single dove at the center.
“What’s that dove carrying in its beak?” someone exclaimed.
“It looks like… a flower? With a piece of paper attached!”
As they spoke, the dove flew closer to Amiya.
Her bodyguards moved to shoo it away, but Amiya stopped them.
She extended her hand, and as if understanding her gesture, the dove gently landed on her palm, tilting its head upward to present its offering.
Only then did Amiya see it clearly—a blue rose, with a small white note attached to it.
“To the beautiful Miss Amiya:
When the moon crosses the dome of the sky,
Where northern starlight meets the lunar glow,
Pandora’s box shall open wide,
And the Heart of the Ocean I shall bestow.
—Kaito Kid.”
Given her proficiency in Chinese, Amiya had no trouble deciphering the message.
And that was precisely why her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
“Is this… a challenge?”
She hadn’t expected her very first stop to attract such attention—let alone from someone bold enough to announce their theft in advance.
What else could this be but sheer provocation?
Noticing the shift in her expression, the reporters grew even more curious about the note in her hand.
After all, anything that could unsettle Amiya was bound to make for sensational headlines.
“Miss Amiya, could you share the contents of the note?”
“Your Highness, has someone sent you a threatening message?”
“Princess, could you—”
…
Amiya made no effort to conceal it.
She openly displayed the heist notice, allowing every reporter present to read it clearly.
Steal the Heart of the Ocean?
A theft—announced beforehand?!
The reporters were stunned. In all their years, they’d never heard of a thief who warned their target in advance.
This… was downright audacious!!!
Realizing the magnitude of the scoop, the journalists immediately signaled their photographers to capture the moment.
“Princess of Lorqing Country Receives Taunt from Thief—Priceless Gem ‘Heart of the Ocean’ in Peril?”
This was explosive news. Their trip had been worth it!
The reporters buzzed with excitement.
“Miss Amiya, what are your thoughts on this self-proclaimed ‘Kaito Kid’ attempting to steal the Heart of the Ocean?”
The moment the question was asked, the crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on Amiya, awaiting her response.
“Heh…”
Amiya adjusted her expression, her smile returning as she spoke firmly:
“Lorqing Country would not host this exhibition if we were not prepared to welcome the world.
We welcome all who come to admire our cultural treasures—but we will not tolerate anyone taking so much as a single item away.
To this ‘Kaito Kid,’ I say this: If you come as a guest, you will be welcomed with open arms.
But if you come as a thief…
Then once you arrive, you will not be leaving.”
Her youthful yet resolute demeanor left no room for doubt—a clear rebuke to Kaito Kid’s brazenness.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The crowd erupted in applause, admiration for the princess’s unwavering stance evident in every face.
Meanwhile, in a corner unnoticed by all, a young man observed the scene quietly.
The corners of his lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.
“A declaration of war, Miss Amiya?
How delightfully intriguing…”
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
