While they were flying, Diana took in the goals of the Justice League, but she still had one question. "Why aren't we going to Metropolis to find Superman? Why head to the Arctic?"
Kid smiled. "You really wouldn't like flying to Metropolis. Planes going there have a ninety percent chance of crashing, and then Superman shows up to save them. You know, there are some pilots who even steer off course just for a chance to meet Superman, risking their lives and their passengers' lives just for that. I'm not flying into that cursed airspace."
Well, that kind of made sense, but she still didn't get why they'd find Superman in the Arctic.
"Because Superman's base is at the North Pole," Kid said right away. "That's where we'll find him."
The Fortress of Solitude stood tall among the snowy cliffs, completely cut off from the world, so quiet and peaceful it made people feel calm and free of desire. The crystals sparkled in the sunlight—this was where Superman came to think. Whenever he had a big problem, he'd come here to clear his head.
"Incredible. I never imagined Superman had such an amazing castle in the Arctic." Diana had never seen a scene like this in Themyscira. There was never any snow there. She actually regretted not coming north to see the snow earlier, so she walked through the snow with her arms and legs bare, looking out of place.
But when she saw the big doors closed, Diana thought maybe Superman wasn't home. Then she watched as Kid went right up to the welcome mat and lifted it, revealing a key with the Superman logo on it.
"Superman hides his key just like my neighbors do," Diana said. "But you sure seem to know your way around here."
"Uh, I've been here before," Kid said, sounding a little awkward. Then he used the Force to lift the key slowly. The last time he'd visited was about a month ago, and Kid had been practicing his Force skills ever since. Now, he could pick up this fifty-ton key, though he still couldn't do it effortlessly.
He had to focus—if he lost concentration, he'd drop the key. Diana watched closely and noticed that the key was definitely not ordinary. Otherwise, Kid wouldn't need to be so careful. It took him a whole minute just to open the door.
"Is that key really that heavy?" After the door opened, Diana bent down, curious, and tried to pick it up herself. She couldn't do it. Even using all her strength, the key just wobbled a little but wouldn't lift. 'So there's another man stronger than me… no, two—this Kid and Superman. Superman must be even stronger.' After leaving Themyscira, Diana realized there was always someone better out there. Now she understood what her mother meant when she said that failure isn't scary, but refusing to admit failure is.
"Are we being rude, just showing up like this? Maybe we should have rung the doorbell first," Diana said, glancing at the open door. "It's not very polite to just let ourselves in."
"No need. Superman won't leave his guests waiting in the snow." As he spoke, Kid pulled out a long sausage, like he was doing a magic trick, slowly pulling it from his sleeve like a magician with a string of handkerchiefs. Diana stared at him suspiciously as Kid tossed the sausage outside.
Woof woof woof!
A dog barked from inside the fortress. It was the super dog, but at the end of the day, it was still a dog. Kid had definitely come prepared today.
Diana was even more confused. Something about this Kid just felt off.
"Come in, make yourselves at home," Liu A'dou said, acting like this was his own place. "I think Superman will be back very soon." He knew that after his last visit, Superman hadn't come looking for him, but had definitely beefed up security. No way would he let anyone mess with the dangerous stuff in the Fortress.
And that was true—Superman in Metropolis got the alert and raced back at top speed, arriving almost at the same time as Kid and Wonder Woman.
Superman could move at the speed of light, so circling the globe was nothing to him.
At last, Kid came face to face with Earth's greatest hero—Superman. Just thinking about how he'd once stolen from Superman made Kid feel excited.
"Maybe next time you visit my home, you could call ahead," Superman's voice came from the entryway.
Kid thought, 'So fast! The time it took Diana and me to open the door and walk in was only a moment. Even factoring in signal delay, Superman basically arrived instantly.'
"You brought someone else with you?" Superman heard two heartbeats and thought, 'This Kid is bold. I didn't even go after him last time, and he still dares to come back.'
"Nice to meet you, great Superman." Kid didn't show any fear. Superman was someone who listened to reason. "I'm Kid, and this is Wonder Woman, Miss Diana."
"Aren't you Kaitou Kid?" Superman hovered above them, looking down from above.
Dark blue armor, a huge red S on his chest, a soft red cape, slicked-back hair with a single curl on his forehead—handsome with a strong jawline, broad shoulders, solid muscles, a perfect V-shaped torso. He looked powerful and dignified, making people feel like bowing down just by looking at him. This was the perfect existence, humanity's ultimate ideal—Superman. And by the way, Superman's voice sounded great, too.
"Kaitou? That sounds like a lowlife thief," Diana said. "Superman, are you saying this Kid is a thief?"
"Beautiful lady, it looks like you don't know this man's real identity. He's the famous Kaitou Kid, police's number one wanted criminal."
Suddenly, Diana felt tricked. "So you're a thief? Is the Justice League all a lie?"
"No, no," Liu A'dou hurried to explain. "I am a thief, but I've never lied to you. Everything's real. The Justice League is real, I really am Kid, and inviting you was real, too."
He was telling the truth—Superman could hear from Liu A'dou's heartbeat that he wasn't lying. But Superman had another question. "I saw your real identity. I was shocked—it's you? Your influence in society just keeps growing. Why steal? Is it because you want everyone to recognize your skills?"
So Superman had figured it out. Actually, it had taken Superman a few seconds to sift through the huge amount of info in his mind to remember that Kaitou Kid was Liu A'dou, the famous filmmaker. Even though he'd only made one movie, he'd won over fans worldwide and always worked for peace between mutants and humans. But who would've guessed someone like that would also be an infamous thief? If Jimmy found out, he'd go crazy.
"What are you trying to steal this time? A crystal, or something else?" Superman slowly landed in front of them, every bit as majestic as a god.
Kid felt the pressure—Wonder Woman's questioning look, and Superman's powerful gaze. Yeah, being a thief meant everyone would always chase you, no matter how elegant you were. That would never change.
"Will you listen if I explain?" Kaitou Kid thought even if he explained, it wouldn't change the fact he was a thief. And honestly, he didn't want to change. He was the legendary Kaitou Kid, the one who came and went without a trace, drove fans wild, and kept the police working overtime. So A'dou put on a look of noble sacrifice. "No, I don't need to explain. My conscience is clear."