"I have to fight the Phantom Thief?!" Furina's expression shifted abruptly.
Is this for real?
That was the first thing she'd said upon receiving the invitation.
And now, she stood in the final of the three challenge arenas.
She really was going to fight the Phantom Thief.
This isn't funny.
How am I supposed to do this...? Furina desperately wanted to refuse, but she couldn't. A considerable "audience" was eagerly anticipating the moment she would actually defeat the Phantom Thief.
She could, of course, make up an excuse and withdraw, but the consequences of doing so were obvious.
Doubt, doubt, and more doubt!
How could an Archon who had once defeated the Phantom Thief White Cat possibly fear a Phantom Thief?
What else could she say? One lie had to be covered with another.
Now she had no choice but to brace herself and bluff her way through. She could always find some excuse later to have Clorinde fight the Phantom Thief first...
Just like that classic trope in stories!
"If you wish to challenge me, first defeat my Four Heavenly Kings. And to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings, you must first defeat their Eight Shoguns!"
True Archons never deign to intervene directly.
By exploiting this common knowledge, Furina hoped to turn the situation to her advantage. She pursed her lips, her plan solidifying, but she worried the Phantom Thief White Cat wouldn't play along.
What if the thief kidnapped her again, whisking her away to some secluded cabin?
If that happened again, her entire performance would be ruined.
So, just this once, she hoped the Phantom Thief White Cat would be on her side.
Swish! Swish! The sharp sound of a blade slicing through the air echoed as Clorinde warmed up.
"Clorinde, you seem quite energized," Furina remarked curiously.
Clorinde wasn't just wiping her sword with a potion-soaked cloth; she was also polishing her gun to a gleaming shine.
Though Clorinde's expression remained impassive, years of companionship allowed Furina to decipher her mood.
Clorinde sheathed her sword and murmured, "I faltered in our previous battle, allowing Lady Furina to be taken. That won't happen again."
Furina's eyes lit up. "Excellent! I'm counting on you, Clorinde."
"Of course. When you're in danger, I'll swiftly subdue the Heart-Stealing Phantom Thief White Cat, pinning the defeated thief to the ground. Standing atop the loser's body, we'll declare our dominance as the undisputed champions of this stage!"
"...Right. Though I'd prefer if you didn't have to intervene."
Clorinde tugged her hat lower.
"That would be rather embarrassing."
Navia silently stared at the calling card in her hand.
"Upon the crowd's resounding cheer,
This stage is mine to commandeer.
Twelve feline gazes, with knowing gleam,
Mark the start of this daring dream.
The lights shall lead me through the night,
To dazzle all in full delight.
And at the peak of this charade,
The Trinity Key shall then be swayed—
The Dawnstone Cone will find its mark…Along with every beating heart."
Signed: The Heart-Stealing Phantom Thief White Cat.
Something about this felt distinctly off.
Silver pushed up his sunglasses. "Young Miss, still reading that calling card?"
"Yeah, I just have a feeling this time the Phantom Thief White Cat is acting strange."
Her intuition told her the Phantom Thief was planning something completely different from her usual style. Navia felt a faint unease.
Claiming our beating hearts? That sounded like a direct threat.
Of course, no one cared about that now. All they wanted was to see the Phantom Thief.
Twelve feline gazes? That had to be the time and location. The starting point was likely the first district—the one where Spina di Rosula was located.
The location was clear, but what about the time?
Twelve pairs of feline eyes...?
Navia scanned the area, but saw no cat eyes. Instead, a large crowd had gathered outside.
Just as Luna had predicted.
"Has the Phantom Thief appeared yet?"
"Not yet, it seems."
"Everyone, let's shout together! Maybe if we call out to her, the Phantom Thief White Cat will appear! One, two, three—!"
"Phantom Thief!" "White Cat!" "Phantom Thief!" "White Cat!" The rhythmic chant echoed into the night.
Navia bit her lip. "This is giving me the creeps," she muttered.
Melus sighed deeply. "It almost makes you feel sorry for the Phantom Thief White Cat."
"Sorry? Why?" Navia asked.
"Look at them, Young Miss. They only see the phantom thief others want them to see. They neither know nor care about the real person beneath the mask."
"They treat her like a character on a stage, expecting her to perform endlessly for their amusement," Melus said, shaking his head.
Hearing his words, Navia finally understood the source of her lingering irritation.
"Melus, you mentioned that when Father died, many people kicked him when he was down, right?"
"Yes, Young Miss."
Navia crossed her arms and averted her gaze. "...White Cat has done both good and bad. I still hate her, but I hope she receives a fair and just evaluation."
Instead of being treated like a joke, as she was now.
Wait a minute.
A sudden realization flashed through Navia's mind.
The Phantom Thief White Cat was incredibly perceptive; she couldn't possibly be unaware of the true purpose behind this operation. It was highly unlikely she would act according to the mastermind's will.
In fact, the opposite might be true.
Could it be...?
"Young Miss."
"What is it?" Navia's thoughts were pulled back to reality.
"There's a cat."
A cat?
Navia looked up. Through the window, she saw a black cat walking stiffly along the roof's edge, standing there and silently staring at them.
"There's another one over there."
Another one?
Navia turned her head and saw a brown cat perched on a pipe.
"...And another one there. What's going on?" Melus frowned.
One, two, three... eleven cats in total were peering in through the windows.
Eleven cats, eleven pairs of eyes. Navia suddenly understood: she was coming!
But where was the twelfth pair?
Navia frantically searched around, but couldn't find the final pair of cat eyes anywhere.
Until she noticed the charm dangling from Silver's waist—a small cat-shaped trinket.
"Silver, that charm..."
"Young Miss, how did you know I won this prize in last week's raffle?"
Silver ostentatiously picked up the charm, its cat's-eye bead staring intently at Navia.
The twelfth one!
"Everyone, get ready! She's coming!"
"Huh?"
A distant rumble grew louder, the sound of wheels approaching.
The crowd turned toward the end of the street. A faint blue flame flickered as it sped closer, gradually revealing its form beneath the lamplight.
It was a carriage!
Navia rushed to the window and peered out. A carriage adorned with eerie blue lanterns had stopped before the building. Everyone held their breath, anticipating the next moment.
They knew the one who would open the door was none other than that elusive white figure.
Click. The carriage door creaked open softly. A tall, polished boot slowly descended, its heel tapping against the cobblestones.
Luna emerged from the carriage, her face hidden behind a mask.
"It's the Phantom Thief White Cat!"
"She's finally here!"
"Phantom Thief White Cat, we're your fans! Look over here!"
The Phantom Thief White Cat never responded to her so-called "fans."
At least, that's how it should have been.
Luna turned toward the Kamera, smiled at the lens, and declared loudly, "I've heard your praise and cheers! Never forget what happened tonight!"
The Phantom Thief White Cat actually acknowledged us!
The self-proclaimed fans went wild, frantically snapping photos one after another.
Charlotte, hidden among them, did the same. Though she felt no joy, she couldn't pass up the chance to capture the scene.
Just because she couldn't investigate the truth behind this frenzy didn't mean she couldn't continue gathering material.
Click-click-click—the sound of flashes and shutters filled the air.
Some even showered the Phantom Thief's elegant figure with flowers and petals, bathing her in a vibrant, colorful shower.
Cheers and applause mingled with dazzling lights and falling blossoms, making it seem as if a beloved celebrity, rather than a criminal, had arrived.
"This feels so surreal," Charlotte murmured, "like something out of a dream."
Click. Still, she pressed the shutter, immortalizing the Phantom Thief's pose in the photograph.
"Focus your gaze upon me," the Phantom Thief declared. "Remember every moment of this performance. Let my image linger even in your dreams. And understand this—"
Click. Charlotte continued snapping photos.
Until Luna's gaze met her lens.
"—Tonight, The Phantom Thief White Cat will claim your hearts and souls."
Charlotte wordlessly lowered her Kamera, stunned into silence.
Is this... the Phantom Thief White Cat? As far as Navia knew, the Phantom Thief never acknowledged her "fans," let alone made such a statement.
Navia grew increasingly certain that the Phantom Thief's motives extended far beyond mere treasure.
Luna's words left some bewildered, while others responded with fervent enthusiasm.
"Kyaa! The Phantom Thief White Cat is amazing!"
"My heart has already been stolen by the Phantom Thief. My life is now devoid of joy or sorrow..."
"I want to be the Phantom Thief White Cat's dog!"
Charlotte pressed her forehead with a sigh, muttering, "I don't understand... I don't understand any of this."
She couldn't fathom the crowd's behavior, nor could she decipher the Phantom Thief White Cat's true intentions.
She was simply stunned.