Just looking at the heated discussions surrounding Kaito Kid was enough to understand the immeasurable value of an exclusive report in Gotham's media industry.
Those reporters who had casually dismissed the Notice Letters earlier were almost certainly regretting it now.
And the person who benefited the most from all of this was Vicki Vale.
Thanks to the Kaito Kid incident, her standing at the Gotham Gazette had risen rapidly. Her editor-in-chief had even doubled her bonus for the month—a rare and clear sign of recognition.
"Just paste this photo here… perfect."
Vicki clicked her mouse a few more times. The article she had been polishing late into the night was finally nearing completion.
"Heh," she thought confidently. "This will definitely be tomorrow's front page."
Just then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound broke the silence.
"Come in."
The office door opened, and a somewhat thin man stepped inside. A professional camera hung around his neck, instantly marking him as a photographer.
"Is there something you need, North?" Vicki asked, a hint of surprise crossing her face.
The man hesitated slightly before raising his right hand.
"Uh… Miss Vale, you've been working nonstop for a long time," he said nervously. "I thought you might need… some coffee."
Only then did Vicki notice the freshly brewed coffee pot he was holding.
"I ground the beans myself," North added quickly. "It should taste better than the stuff downstairs."
North had joined the Gotham Gazette three years earlier. Vicki had been the one who guided him when he first started, and they often worked together on assignments.
However, outside of work, they rarely interacted. North was shy—almost painfully so.
That made this gesture… unusual.
Vicki's eyes flickered with curiosity.
Could it be…?
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
"North," she said calmly, "you do know I already have a date, right?"
North froze.
It took him a full second to process what she meant.
Then his face turned bright red.
"No—no, Miss Vale! You misunderstood!" he blurted out, waving his hands frantically. "That's not what I meant at all!"
He took a deep breath, clearly flustered.
"I just thought you looked exhausted. I made the coffee purely as a junior colleague. You've helped me a lot since I joined—I'm really grateful. That's all."
He straightened, speaking with sincerity.
"I don't have any improper thoughts. I swear."
Vicki couldn't help it.
She laughed.
"Relax, North," she said with amusement. "You're taking this too seriously."
She softened her tone.
"Even if you did have feelings, it wouldn't be a crime. I just wanted to make one thing clear—I'm not someone who dates two people at once."
North nodded repeatedly, relief washing over his face.
"Then… the coffee?"
"Put it on the table," Vicki replied with a faint smile. "I'll enjoy your craftsmanship. Thank you."
North moved quickly, retrieving a clean glass from the cabinet in the corner. He poured a cup and placed it carefully on the table alongside the pot.
As he leaned down, his eyes accidentally caught the glow of Vicki's computer screen.
The first thing he saw was a stunning pink diamond, smooth and pebble-shaped, nearly the size of a pigeon's egg.
Then he noticed the title at the top of the draft:
"The World's Most Precious Pink Diamond to Be Auctioned in Gotham — Is Penguin the Real Power Behind It?"
As a journalist, North's curiosity was immediately triggered.
"This is what you've been working on all night?" he asked cautiously. "May I take a look?"
Vicki considered it briefly, then nodded.
"If it's you, I don't mind. Read it—and tell me what you think. I need some reader feedback."
She turned the screen toward him.
---
The article focused on an upcoming elite auction hosted by Gotham's upper class.
At its center was a seventy-carat pink diamond, carved from a rough stone exceeding two hundred carats—the largest pink diamond ever discovered.
Pink diamonds were already exceptionally rare.
One of this size was practically a once-in-several-centuries miracle.
By itself, the gem was priceless.
Yet oddly enough, that wasn't what made the story explosive.
Ordinary citizens rarely cared about rare treasures. Such things only truly interested the rich and powerful.
What made this auction dangerous was a rumor.
According to multiple sources, the true owner of the diamond was none other than Oswald Cobblepot.
On paper, the auction's seller was a legitimate Gotham-based multinational shipping company. Its records were clean, transparent, and legally flawless.
But rumors claimed that the company was merely a front, its ownership concealed through bribery and falsified documentation.
Some even whispered that the so-called "world's rarest pink diamond" was a modern technological forgery.
There was no proof.
No evidence.
No traceable origin of the rumor.
But this was Gotham.
And in Gotham, truth rarely needed evidence.
Vicki had carefully woven these rumors into her article, clearly marking them as speculation rather than fact—maintaining her professional integrity while still igniting public curiosity.
When North finished reading, he let out a breath.
"Brilliant," he said sincerely. "Miss Vale, this is incredible. If this doesn't make the front page, then the boss has completely lost his mind."
Vicki chuckled.
"You flatter me."
North checked the time.
"It's late. I still have work to finish. I'll head out first."
They exchanged a few more words before North left the office.
---
The room grew quiet again.
Vicki suddenly realized she felt thirsty.
That was expected—she'd been working for hours, barely drinking water, and had talked for quite some time.
She reached for the cup of coffee North had poured earlier.
The temperature was perfect.
Just as she lifted it—
"Hmm?"
A small white paper ball slipped out from beneath the cup and rolled onto the desk.
Vicki frowned.
She set the cup down and unfolded the paper.
The moment she read its contents—
Her pupils contracted sharply.
---
"Dear Miss Vale,
I have read your report about me. It is beautifully written. I am deeply grateful that you attended my debut performance yesterday—and even more grateful that you captured that perfect close-up photograph.
To express my thanks, I have prepared a small surprise. You will see it after you finish your coffee. Please be sure to drink every last drop.
Sincerely,
Kaito Kid."
---
Bold highlights summary:
Vicki Vale's rise after the Kaito Kid incident
The world's largest pink diamond introduced
Rumors linking the auction to Penguin
Kaito Kid directly contacting Vicki Vale
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