It was Christmas Eve, and snow was falling.
The brave citizens and the gangsters stood together, slowly moving toward the stadium. Their numbers swelled into the tens of thousands.
TV station helicopters and Bane's surveillance helicopters buzzed overhead, searchlights sweeping over a sea of heads—a massive, heaving crowd.
"Let them in.
Let them witness the destruction of their hope," Bane said, pulling his right hand from the strap across his chest and waving it once.
The gates to the stadium opened, and the people surged inside.
In just a few minutes, the stadium was packed to capacity, and more people stood outside, unable to enter.
Those who stayed home watched on TV.
Director Howard personally called back all staff to broadcast it live.
Thomas led a crew into the stadium to operate the broadcast equipment, and Bane, full of confidence, allowed it.
The nuclear bomb still sat on the field, surrounded by twelve death squad soldiers.
They had clearly not been resting well—dark circles under their eyes—and among them, only Bane seemed in peak condition.
Everyone stared at the entrance, desperately hoping the legendary Kaitou Kid would arrive as promised.
Batman had been defeated.
Now they needed a new hero.
Bane waited too, ready to kill the phantom thief the moment he appeared and then detonate the nuke to send Gotham into despair.
The best Christmas gift ever.
Come on, Kaitou Kid.
Everyone is waiting for you.
The crowd fell into a deep silence.
No one had expected tens of thousands of people to be so deathly quiet, standing still, barely even breathing.
Tonight, they gave up time with their families just to witness if there was any hope left for them.
They waited under the cold night, snow falling around them.
Not just Gotham—everywhere that could receive Gotham's signal was watching.
Millions of eyes focused on this moment.
How would Kaitou Kid make his entrance?
On this snowy, silent Christmas Eve—
Boom—
A burst of smoke exploded in the sky.
The phantom thief made his stunning entrance.
Everyone was stunned.
There he was, standing in the sky, seemingly floating like Superman.
Was Kaitou Kid a superhuman too?
Obviously not.
If he were, why would he ever need a glider?
But how could a man stand suspended like that?
What was happening?
The crowd stared, dumbfounded, as the impossible unfolded before their eyes.
This magical entrance instantly boosted everyone's confidence in the thief.
Even Bane raised an eyebrow in surprise at Kid's dazzling appearance.
The audience shifted their gaze from the entrance to the sky.
They saw Kid lift a leg and take a step.
Just one step, but it seemed utterly miraculous.
A simple step on the ground meant nothing, but now it happened midair.
Kaitou Kid was walking across the sky!
Walking on snowflakes!
Even Superman had never seemed this light and effortless.
In the hazy night, under drifting snow, the Moonlight Magician walked slowly and gracefully across the air.
Hands in his pockets, wearing a calm smile, Kaitou Kid strode steadily toward the center of the stadium.
The audience was completely stunned.
Viewers watching through TV screens were equally speechless, jaws dropped.
Everyone was asking:
How was he doing this?
The death squad, without Bane's order, remained motionless.
If they fired now, they could shoot down the thief, but they would lose the chance to utterly crush Gotham's spirit.
So Bane waited—for Kid to descend.
Inside, Liu A'dou remained calm.
He had expected Bane not to act immediately.
Good.
It gave him time to finish his performance.
Step after steady step, he continued forward.
The helicopter's searchlights shone down like stage lighting—this was truly the ultimate stage.
As he passed by the stands, Liu A'dou suddenly pulled one hand from his pocket, scattering a shower of confetti like flower petals.
He spoke into the stadium's sound system:
"Merry Christmas—"
His voice echoed into every ear.
It was perfect stagecraft.
Then he stamped down with one foot, as if stepping on an invisible stair, and continued walking downward, passing right over the heads of the spectators.
Some curious people reached out to touch—
but grasped nothing.
Kaitou Kid truly walked across thin air.
Too cool.
Way too cool.
Among the confetti fluttering down, people saw Kid's signature cards falling.
Each card bore the words:
"Call my name."
"Kaitou Kid!"
Someone shouted after picking up a card.
The shout spread, rippling through the crowd like wildfire.
"Kaitou Kid! Kaitou Kid! Kaitou Kid! Kaitou Kid! Kaitou Kid—"
The cheers erupted, shaking the entire stadium.
Even those outside took up the chant.
Bruce watched from his hospital bed on TV, emotions surging inside him.
Tonight, it seemed the phantom thief might become a new symbol of Gotham.
Thinking that the defender of justice, Batman, would now be remembered alongside a thief left Bruce feeling very complicated.
But he truly believed Kid could steal the nuke.
He didn't know how, but through their encounters, he knew Kid was no empty showman—he had real skill.
Whether he could beat Bane, though—that was another story.
Elsewhere, Iselin watched the broadcast too.
Ever since seeing the announcement of the heist, she hadn't turned off her TV once, afraid of missing any news.
Now, she finally understood what Kid meant that day:
"I can do it."
How simple those words had sounded.
But it birthed a Batman who fought for the oppressed, a Catwoman who stole from the rich to aid the poor, and now a Kaitou Kid who captured the hearts of the entire city.
Only Kaitou Kid was far more complicated than either Catwoman or Batman.
When he said "I can do it," he included not only his magic tricks, but also his combat skills, sense of justice, and a touch of humor.
In Iselin's heart, Kid had suddenly become a blend of Catwoman and Batman.
On normal days, he was a phantom thief, but in times of crisis, he was a true hero.
"A'dou, be careful," Iselin whispered tightly clutching her clothes, anxiously rooting for Kid.
Selina, Catwoman, was also watching the broadcast.
She felt that a thief really didn't need to go this far.
But she also felt a little jealous of Kid—not every thief could be as brave as him, unafraid of any gaze, just being himself.
To elevate thievery to this level... Kaitou Kid, you're the first.
Even Catwoman had to admire that.
On the screen, Kid stood directly above the nuclear bomb, looking like an angel descending with the falling snow.
"Ahhh—"
Finally, some young women in the crowd couldn't hold it in anymore.
Dazzled by Kid's magnificent entrance, they screamed without restraint, because Kid was literally stepping on snowflakes, landing gracefully atop the nuclear bomb.
Bane stood outside the nuclear bomb's perimeter, raising his head to look at Kaitou Kid.
He had to admit that even upon their second meeting, he still couldn't see through Kid.
Kid, standing casually there like a top-tier dancer, radiated a calm and peaceful aura, showing no fear of the guns aimed at him.
"I am Kaitou Kid, and as promised, I've come to retrieve the nuke," Kid's voice echoed through the stadium's speakers, quieting the cheering crowd.
Everyone strained to see how Kid would steal the nuclear bomb under so many watching eyes.
With his dazzling "walk in the air," Kid had finally stepped atop the bomb, giving everyone an unforgettable spectacle.
Now that the phantom thief had appeared, everyone held their breath, wondering how exactly he would pull off the theft.
Kid stood amid the falling snow, atop the nuclear bomb, and atop everyone's hopes.
From this night on, that dashing white figure would surely become a new symbol of Gotham City.
"Kaitou Kid," Bane called out.
He had to admit Kid knew how to put on a show.
But he believed the nuke could never be stolen.
Even if it was, he still held the remote detonator.
But even Bane wasn't sure anymore—because Kid was never one to play by the rules.
"Bane," Kid answered in turn.
It sounded like a friendly greeting between old acquaintances, but in truth, they had only met once—and it was hardly a pleasant encounter.
The two locked eyes.
Then suddenly, Kid raised both hands toward the sky, his cape billowing like a prayer to the heavens.
"Witness a miracle!"
Everyone widened their eyes instinctively, waiting to see what kind of miracle Kid would create.
Silence—
The wind stopped.
Only the snow continued to fall.
A faint "pssh" sound broke the silence, then—
"Whoosh—"
It exploded into action.
Jet-propelled smoke bombs!
Unlike regular smoke grenades, these could quickly fill the area with thick smoke, even overcoming the wind.
Bane realized too late—the smoke bombs were disguised as blades of grass.
They had been tricked completely.
But how had Kid planted them without anyone noticing?
Simple.
Yesterday, Liu A'dou had disguised himself as Bane and swaggered into the field.
No one had suspected a thing.
Bane could never have imagined that Kid's acting and disguise skills were this flawless.
Nor could he have known that his attention had already been drawn elsewhere by the gang's distractions, giving Kid the perfect opening.
Everything had been carefully planned in advance.
In theft, the groundwork is always the most important step.
Now it was showtime—
"Three, two..."
Only Kid's voice echoed through the smoke.
Bane slowly pulled out the detonator.
If the nuke vanished, he would immediately detonate it.
Everyone stretched their necks, anxiously listening to Kid's countdown.
"One!"
It was as if the very wind obeyed Kid's command.
At the final number, a sudden gust rose and scattered all the smoke, like a fairy dancing across the field in pure white robes, brushing across the grass, caressing the spectators' faces, then vanishing into the sky.
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
An uproar broke out.
No one could believe their eyes—
The nuke was gone.
Kid was gone.
It was like everything had been a dream, vanishing without a trace.
Even Bruce Wayne, watching on TV, froze for a moment.
Kaitou Kid had actually stolen the nuke?!
But then he saw Bane pulling out the remote detonator—and Bruce tensed again.
Bane pressed the button.
That moment was broadcast live to every home in Gotham.
Many of those who had once believed in Bane's so-called "liberation" finally woke up.
They saw the truth—Bane wasn't here to save them.
He was here to destroy them.
He was a demon, ready to kill millions without a second thought.
The gang leaders watching also let out a breath of relief.
Kid had been right.
If they hadn't acted, Bane would have blown up Gotham sooner or later.
And now, furious at Bane for almost wiping out their home turf, they swore—if they ever got the chance, they would take Bane down themselves.
Meanwhile, Iselin and Catwoman were left in stunned awe.
They had no idea how Kid had pulled it off.
It really was like magic.
Bruce smiled.
The doctor beside him asked why he was smiling.
Bruce didn't answer.
He was smiling at Kaitou Kid's genius, his showmanship, the way he turned theft into an art form.
Only Kid could make stealing a nuclear bomb look like a miracle.
Bruce could see through Kid's methods—but the more he thought about it, the more he admired the boldness, the creativity, and the sheer audacity of it all.
The remote detonator didn't set off the nuke.
Furious, Bane shoved aside the death squad members and grabbed a card from the spot where the bomb had been.
It read: "The nuke is under my protection — Kaitou Kid."
In an instant, the stadium erupted again.
"Kid! Kid! Kid—"
Tens of thousands of voices shouted for the miracle worker.
After tonight, they were all Kaitou Kid's fans.
Next time there was a notice letter, they would definitely show up in droves.
"Kid, Kid—"
The cheers surged like roaring waves.
It felt as if they had just watched the most thrilling performance of their lives on Christmas Eve.
The excitement was overwhelming, and the crowd had no better way to express their joy than to keep cheering.
A truck carrying a giant metal box rumbled away from the stadium.
Inside the cab sat two people.
"Aren't you afraid Bane would have shot you?" Ada sat in the passenger seat, still tense after the night's action-packed performance.
"Of course I was scared! But I knew he wouldn't," Liu A'dou answered calmly.
"If Bane were that type, Batman would've already been riddled with bullets.
Bane believes too much in brute force.
He thinks strength can solve everything, so he wouldn't resort to guns."
"I think you're just fearless," Ada said, her heart still pounding.
"You dared to use a simple lead box to contain a nuclear bomb.
You were one hundred percent sure that the lead would block the remote signal?"
Liu A'dou stayed calm.
"The thickness was enough. I tested it.
I'm not stupid — I wouldn't gamble with my life."
Now, the next step was to load the nuke onto a boat, send it out to sea, and detonate it.
Then everything would be over.
It was December 25th, Christmas Day, but the people of Gotham were still excited.
Though the crowd at the stadium started to thin out, many people stayed behind to talk about Kid.
That night, Bane had been reduced to a sideshow.
Without the nuke, no matter how strong he was, he couldn't match the firepower of Gotham's gangs.
Facing their organized siege, Bane's group quickly went into hiding.
The nuke was gone, the remote detonator failed, and relief forces from outside entered Gotham.
They rescued the trapped police officers and security personnel from the tunnels.
Commissioner Gordon personally led the first wave back to the surface, looking battered but determined.
When Gordon learned the whole story, he was speechless.
The plot twists were just too unbelievable.
Batman had fallen.
Kaitou Kid had stepped up, rallied the gangs, and fought against Bane to protect the city.
A thief and a bunch of gangsters had done the police and Batman's job — and they'd done it well.
It was a blow even bigger than being beaten by Bane.
But Gordon quickly noticed something else — after this incident, the gangs toned down their behavior.
Illegal deals still happened, but they were far more restrained.
It took Gordon a long time to realize why:
The gangs had finally understood that Gotham was their home too.
Chaos could exist, but total collapse could not.
Without order, even the gangsters would be washed away like silt in a flood, losing everything.
That Christmas noon, far out on the Gotham harbor, a giant "Christmas tree" lit up.
The light was so bright it looked like a second sun.
The military forces searching for the nuke finally let out a sigh of relief.
The bomb had exploded harmlessly over the ocean.
The crisis was officially over.
All of it, thanks to Kaitou Kid — that mysterious phantom thief.
But everyone still wondered:
How had Kid managed to steal the nuke right under everyone's noses?
As the police resumed their work, investigations began.
And slowly, the secrets started to unravel.
"From now on, we need to focus entirely on reporting Kaitou Kid's heist methods!"
Howard shouted excitedly.
This was the Independent News Channel's first meeting after Christmas, and the station chief was already issuing new orders.
The reporters buzzed with excitement.
Gotham finally had a new public figure — one who wasn't afraid of the spotlight.
Sure, he was a thief, but he had protected Gotham when it mattered most.
Even if he was a criminal, he was a just criminal.
Compared to Batman, who remained a shadowy figure, Kid's dazzling performance had been captured in full, with every graceful move and stylish gesture broadcast to the world.
The public adored him now.
"Control the news about Kaitou Kid and we'll be unstoppable!
Iselin, now you understand why I transferred you back to Current Affairs?"
Howard beamed.
"You were the first to report on Kid — don't let us down!"
Iselin could only force a bitter smile.
She really wanted to yell, "Kid is sitting right here in the office!"
But of course she couldn't say that.
Instead, she gave Liu A'dou a long, complicated look —
which everyone else misread as the kind of look shared between complicated lovers.
"Entertainment News: find out what brands Kid wears.
Documentary News: investigate whether 'Kaitou Kid' is based on any historical figures.
Interview News: reopen investigations into every case Kid's been involved with, re-interview the cops and the victims.
International News: trace the origins of every gemstone Kid's stolen — don't miss any legend or rumor.
Food News: go interview the victims — find out what kind of food they like."
Howard barked assignments at each department without even pausing for breath.
"Current Affairs News: figure out exactly how Kid stole the nuke.
Move it, people — GO!!"
Thomas leaned over to Iselin and whispered,
"I couldn't stand that junk car anymore.
So I'm giving Liu and that broken car back to you."
Iselin and Liu A'dou locked eyes again — both silent.
They got into the car together without a word, and Liu A'dou started the engine, driving away from the TV station.
"So how exactly did you steal the nuke?"
Iselin finally couldn't hold it in and asked the question that had been gnawing at her since Christmas.
No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn't figure out Kaitou Kid's method.
Liu A'dou grinned mischievously.
It seemed like Iselin wasn't angry anymore.
"That's all you want to know?"
Iselin looked at Liu A'dou's handsome profile and felt an urge to bite him.
"Fine, also tell me how you were able to walk in the sky!"
Actually, ever since the live broadcast, Iselin wasn't angry anymore — only curious.
Curious about how Kaitou Kid accomplished such "impossible" feats, curious whether Liu A'dou possessed some supernatural power.
"It's all just magic tricks.
The police should've already figured it out by now," Liu A'dou said, still keeping her guessing.
Although the stadium was still under lockdown, the investigation was nearly done.
"We're reporters," they declared.
After showing their credentials, the police didn't stop them, since the investigation was basically finished.
As they entered the field, they immediately saw a section roped off with police tape.
"A hole?"
Iselin spotted it right away.
"Yep, a hole.
Clearly, the thief used some kind of equipment to dig it, and that's how the nuke disappeared," Liu A'dou explained as if he had absolutely nothing to do with it, almost making Iselin suspect he had split personalities.
"But... didn't the ground feel perfectly solid?
Bane was standing right there."
"Isn't there a fake grass-covered lid right over there?"
Sure enough, next to the hole was a wooden cover, camouflaged perfectly.
Iselin hadn't noticed it at all earlier.
"So Kid just dug a hole and stole the nuke?
The bomb's huge — how did he move it?"
"I'm guessing there was a vehicle parked underground that night.
Once Kid stole the nuke, he immediately drove off," Liu A'dou said casually.
"Using smoke as cover to pull off the theft and seal the hole — just like a magician.
The performance looks incredible, but once you know the trick, it's not so mystical.
As for why the remote control failed?
Maybe Kid put the bomb inside a lead-lined box to block the signal, or maybe he used electromagnetic interference.
Either way, that's all there is to it."
"Even if the tricks aren't too complicated once explained, it still took real guts for Kid to pull it off right in front of Bane,"
Iselin suddenly realized she was praising the very person standing next to her.
Sure enough, Liu A'dou was already grinning smugly, making her stomp her foot in frustration.
"Get to work, we need footage!"
"Alright, alright," Liu A'dou laughed, preparing the camera.
Following Liu A'dou's "analysis," Iselin re-explained everything on camera, recording the hole, the disguised lid, and later the possible escape route through the stadium's underground facilities.
Of course, Liu A'dou didn't mention the finer details, and Iselin remained unaware.
The digging equipment had been a customized particle disintegration gun originally stolen from Penguin — that's how Liu A'dou managed to create such a huge hole silently.
As for setting the fake lid, that had taken only two seconds during a very tense moment.
No outsider could imagine how much effort Kid had poured into pulling off this heist.
When they finished shooting, Iselin glanced at Liu A'dou.
"You still haven't told me how you walked in the sky.
Was it a superpower, or another magic trick?"
"Of course it was a magic trick.
I'm just an ordinary person."
Liu A'dou shrugged.
"There were a lot of helicopters that night, right?
I was actually suspended from one by wire.
Add a little showmanship, and it looked like I was walking in the air."
He didn't mention that the helicopter had been piloted by Ada Wong.
"…"
Iselin didn't buy it for a second.
Just dangling from a helicopter couldn't create that illusion — not so perfectly.
But even if she didn't believe it, technically speaking, the explanation worked.
"Hope we're not interrupting,"
a familiar voice said.
District Attorney Harvey Dent stepped out of the elevator.
This time, he had come specifically to find Liu A'dou.
"DA, what brings you here?"
Liu A'dou asked.
Harvey glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then rushed forward and grabbed Liu A'dou's hand.
"I have to thank you.
Thank you for saving Gotham."
On Christmas Eve, Harvey had been in the hospital with Rachel, watching Kid's live broadcast from beginning to end.
It had been thrilling, cathartic — especially seeing Bane's shocked face when the bomb disappeared.
Besides gratitude, Harvey also had inside information to share:
"Because of Kid's heroic actions, if you ever get caught in the future, you might not even go to prison."
Liu A'dou blinked.
"Wait, is this like one of those secret government agency recruitments?
If I get caught, I join some black ops team instead of going to jail?"
Harvey laughed.
"No, not quite.
The legislative council is drafting something called the 'Kaitou Kid Act.'
Basically, it would mean if you ever get arrested, you won't have to go to prison."
"You're kidding.
Someone's actually proposing that?"
"They are.
And honestly, I think it'll pass."
Harvey was so confident that he had come to give Liu A'dou the heads-up personally.
Liu A'dou didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This was something even Batman didn't have.
What did that say?
That if you worked quietly in the shadows, no one would remember you.
But if you made a splash, people noticed.
"Of course, don't get too cocky.
The law only applies inside Gotham," Harvey added.
"I'm not cocky," Liu A'dou said, the smugness practically oozing from him.
"Because no one will ever catch Kaitou Kid.
They'll need a hundred more years to even come close."
He was already impossibly full of himself.