Through her monocular telescope, Chevreuse faintly observed the distant commotion.
"The Phantom Thief has appeared," she whispered, lowering the telescope.
Turenna, clutching her new rifle, fidgeted nervously. "Um, Captain... I know it's probably too late to ask, but don't you think this plan feels a little... odd?"
Chevreuse stared at her in genuine surprise.
"Captain, why is your mouth hanging open like a fish?"
"I didn't expect you to notice something was off."
"Wait, Captain!" Turenna protested. "I can't just let that remark slide!"
Chevreuse smiled faintly, lowered her binoculars, and picked up her specially modified rifle. "This operation is riddled with problems."
The Franglet Family's funding sources, the Court of Justice's attitude... She was certain there was still a mole within their ranks, waiting for the situation to descend into chaos.
"This isn't a mission to capture a Phantom Thief," Chevreuse continued, her voice taut. "It's a spectacle designed to let her put on a show. You and I, Spina di Rosula, even Lady Furina and Clorinde—we're all just supporting actors in her performance."
Chevreuse clenched her fist, then slowly relaxed it. She hated this feeling.
Justice wasn't a performance; it was a declaration of truth to the world—that evil and sin would inevitably face punishment and Judgment, never meant to be manipulated for entertainment or amusement.
But now that the Phantom Thief had appeared, they had no choice but to move in for the arrest.
Chevreuse excelled at bending the rules, but sometimes circumstances left her no room for discretion. This was one of those times.
Moreover, she had a chilling premonition.
"Phantom Thief White Cat will destroy everything," she murmured.
"Huh?"
"...Nothing. Just a feeling."
If this stage didn't meet her standards, Chevreuse knew from past experience that the Phantom Thief White Cat might very well tear it down.
After all, she was a cat.
Chevreuse chambered a round in her new rifle.
This latest model, recently issued to the Special Task Force, was unlike previous ones. It could fire continuously, boasting greater firepower and accuracy.
Would it work against the Phantom Thief White Cat? Chevreuse was certain—absolutely not.
But the higher-ups had ordered them to test it, so they had no choice but to use it.
"Let's head back. We just need to wait for her to arrive."
No matter what the Phantom Thief White Cat intended, their objective remained unchanged: to capture her at all costs. That was their sole mission for now.
"Right..."
Turenna desperately wanted to ask, "Captain, how do you know so much about White Cat?!"
But this wasn't a question she could easily voice. She decided to chalk it up to the captain's uncanny intuition—even though she could only see through one eye due to her eyepatch.
Still, a one-eyed visionary was a force to be reckoned with!
"Phantom Thief White Cat has been sighted!"
"That means she'll be here soon?!"
"Quick, prepare everything! Let's hope she can protect us from the Prophecy..."
Chevreuse: "..."
Hearing voices outside, Chevreuse paused.
To think they're begging a criminal for protection... The Court of Justice's reputation must be hanging by a thread. She lowered her hat and silently descended the stairs.
"Miss Chevreuse, you're back! We heard the Phantom Thief has appeared. Is it true?"
Paimon and Lumine were already there.
Mr. and Mrs. Franglet had hired them, but Chevreuse had learned that they harbored no ill will toward the Phantom Thief White Cat. In fact, Paimon even admired her.
They had only accepted the quest to earn food money for their little flying companion.
Is her appetite really that extravagant? Chevreuse wondered in surprise.
She could understand their attitude toward the Phantom Thief. After all, White Cat possessed a quality few others did:
Integrity.
An honest criminal... Chevreuse sighed softly.
"Yes, she'll likely be here soon. You two prepare yourselves. We need to weaken her as much as possible before Lady Furina and Miss Clorinde take over."
This was a relay battle—an ironman competition designed specifically for the Phantom Thief.
Paimon's eyes darted nervously. "I... I'm pretty sure the Phantom Thief would turn me into..."
Lumine finished: "...pie."
Paimon: "..."
Lumine smiled faintly. "That was just a joke."
Paimon sighed exasperatedly. "Have you been hanging around the wrong people?"
-
Meanwhile, Luna stepped through the doorway into the room. The members of Spina di Rosula stood fully armed, showing no trace of fear as they awaited Navia's command.
"Long time no see, Miss White Cat. We are deeply grateful for everything you've done for the Young Miss," Melus said with a slight bow.
"Oh my, did I really do anything special?" Luna asked innocently.
"Didn't you become a target for the Young Miss's sake?" Melus pressed.
Luna smiled. "Monsieur, you seem to have misunderstood. While I admit Miss Navia is as beautiful as a treasure and utterly captivating, I don't act on anyone's behalf."
She glided over to Navia with light steps and leaned in slightly. "But Miss Navia can thank me too, if she wants. I wouldn't mind," Luna added with a playful wink.
Navia frowned, but before she could speak, Silver shouted, "No way! The Young Miss already has Miss Luna!"
"Exactly!" the members of Spina di Rosula chorused in agreement.
"Wait a minute, you guys..." Navia's cheeks flushed. What on earth are they talking about?!
"The 'Luna Caspar Support Association' will never tolerate the actions of a Phantom Thief!" Silver declared.
"What 'Luna Caspar' nonsense?!" Navia blurted out, her face burning.
Luna chuckled. "Your Spina di Rosula is truly something else."
"Thank you for the compliment. If you're interested, you're welcome to join. My offer still stands, under the same conditions as before."
Navia pointed the tip of her umbrella—which doubled as a concealed umbrella gun—at Luna. Behind her loomed a mountain of shattered debris. Hidden within was a portion of the Dawnstone Cone. For an ordinary person to find the genuine artifact, they would need not only immense patience and time but also keen eyesight and unwavering focus. And that was before considering the Spina di Rosula's attacks.
"We'll wait until you emerge from the Fortress of Meropide!" Silver declared, drawing his sword alongside Melus.
"My apologies, Miss White Cat," Melus said politely.
"But you won't secure the treasure under our combined assault!" Silver adjusted his sunglasses.
"Care to bet on that? I wager I can find the real piece in three seconds."
Navia racked the umbrella gun, muttering, "No bet! I just want to capture you!"
She darted across the ground, closing the distance to Luna in an instant. Swinging the umbrella, she slashed the air with a dull whoosh, but her strike missed.
Taking advantage of the opening, several Ice Threads coiled around the umbrella's handle.
Cryo Elemental Power?!
This was already her sixth Elemental Power. How was it possible? Navia, still reeling from the shock, suddenly heard Luna speak softly:
"That won't do."
"I've already promised myself to a lovely young lady. Only she can capture me—no one else will do."
Promised herself to someone else? What does that mean?
Never mind. If I can't swing the umbrella, I'll just shoot!
"Surprise attack time!"
Navia immediately pulled the trigger, and a burst of glittering shrapnel erupted from the umbrella's canopy. Instantly, a wall of surging flames blocked every single piece.
Luna raised her Greatsword of Passion, its blade gleaming. "Three."
"What...?"
"Two."
What's she counting down to? Unable to predict Luna's actions, Navia nodded to her subordinates.
"Charge!" Silver shouted without hesitation.
The members of Spina di Rosula surged forward.
Luna sheathed her Greatsword of Passion, leaped into the air, and vaulted over the converging attackers while simultaneously flicking out Ice Threads that snagged onto a chandelier.
The chandelier swayed, sending her arcing gracefully toward a pile of debris.
"One."
A burst of Anemo! With a light step, Luna unleashed a gust of air that sent the debris scattering skyward before it rained down.
Luna turned to Navia, a playful smile on her face.
"Zero."
Click. She pressed the button on her pocket watch.
The countless fragments scattering downward suddenly slowed to a crawl. With a delicate grasp, she plucked one from the air and closed it in her palm.
"One-third of the treasure acquired."
What...?
Silver's Sunglasses slipped down his nose. "How did she find the only genuine piece among hundreds of fragments?"
No one doubted Phantom Thief White Cat's words. She wouldn't lie at a time like this, nor would she bluff to save face. If she declared it authentic, it undoubtedly was.
Navia was equally stunned. This wasn't mere eyesight—no human eye could penetrate layers of obstacles to pinpoint the sole authentic piece.
It was X-ray vision!
But there was no time for marveling. "Melus!" Navia barked.
Melus immediately pressed the button.
Mr. and Mrs. Franglet had sworn confidently, "She'll never suspect we hired the renowned Magician Lyney! His traps will surely ensnare that pesky cat!"
Navia harbored doubts. Would a trap truly work against White Cat? Still, since it was already in place, there was no reason not to use it.
The magical trap sprang to life.
-
Several days prior...
"Brother, do we really have to set a trap for her?" Lynette asked, her cat ears drooping slightly, clearly reluctant.
Lyney replied nonchalantly, "Don't worry. You know she's always watching our magic shows and is well aware of all the preparations we make behind the scenes. Nothing we do could possibly deceive her."
Lynette's expression brightened considerably.
"Hmm..."
"I still remember that time Lynette stayed up all night talking about magic with her."
Lynette averted her gaze. "I was just asking for her opinion." But as she recalled the memory, her tail began to wag happily.
"Haha, relax. She'll definitely crack our magic trap in no time. But since we're her family, we can't exactly cheat her..." Lyney adjusted the mechanism. "We'll just make the trigger a little simpler."
Anyone unfamiliar with magic wouldn't notice his subtle adjustments. Even if they did, he could always use the perfect excuse: "It must have been the Phantom Thief White Cat!"
"Brother."
"What?"
"Isn't this exactly what cheating her looks like?"
Lyney scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Well, just in case. Besides, I said the Phantom Thief, not Luna..."
"I'm telling Father."
"No, wait!"
-
The magic trap activated!
A dozen iron bars shot up from the floor and down from the ceiling, their ends snapping together with a sharp clack. In an instant, they formed a cage imprisoning the Phantom Thief.
"Got her!" Navia's eyes lit up.
No, wait...
The next moment, Navia saw Luna draw her twin pistols.
Bang! Bang! Two shots rang out. The bullets ricocheted between the slowly falling debris, almost floating in mid-air, then bounced off the iron bars at impossible angles, striking hidden buttons on opposite walls.
The bars retracted instantly, and the debris crashed to the floor.
This Phantom Thief's marksmanship might be even better than the Special Task Force's... every member of Spina di Rosula thought in unison.
Luna curtsied gracefully. "Alas, the only thing that can truly confine me is the heart and lips of my beloved." Her smile softened. "And Miss Navia, you are among them, of course."
"Sorry, I don't like you," Navia huffed.
"What a pity. But where I'm headed next, there's another treasure just as dazzling and beautiful."
And a lovely treasure, too.
She's escaping! Navia snatched up her axe, leaped forward, and swung it down with all her might.
Luna easily dodged the axe, raised her leg, and stepped onto the handle. Bending down, she whispered in Navia's ear, "Don't worry, my Young Miss. The treasure I'm after isn't just the Dawnstone Cone, you know."
"Are you going to pull another Miss Sally stunt?" Navia muttered.
"Heh, not necessarily."
Navia threw a punch, but Luna evaded it while manipulating her silken threads to wrap around Navia's wrist. With a sharp tug, Navia stumbled forward and fell into Luna's arms.
"Come chase me, Young Miss," Luna purred. "If you catch me, you can toy with me as you please."
"Even if you can't catch me, you can still treat me however you want. Isn't that wonderful?"
"You... you wouldn't be thinking of—"
Before Navia could finish, Luna flicked her wrist, sending Navia spinning away. Regaining her balance, Navia looked up to find the Phantom Thief White Cat already leaping into the moonlight.
Luna bent down, beckoned with a gloved hand, her eyes full of a gentle smile. "Come chase me. I'll show you the true aesthetics of the Phantom Thief White Cat."
Navia pressed her lips into a firm line. "I don't need you to tell me! I'll catch you anyway!"
She charged after Luna, both figures disappearing into the moonlit night.
Left behind, the members of Spina di Rosula exchanged bewildered glances.
"Let's just wait for the Young Miss," Melus instructed.
"Understood."
Silver picked up his sunglasses and put them back on. "Aren't we going after her?"
"Do you think we could even catch her?"
"...Probably not."
They exchanged wry smiles and shrugged.
"Ah, it feels like we're back to square one..." Melus gazed out the window. "That night, the Young Miss was also chasing the Phantom Thief White Cat, but..."
The crowd had already dispersed, following the Phantom Thief's trail.
"It seems everything has changed."
Not hearing Silver's response, Melus turned around. He found Silver holding one of the cats that had been staring at them earlier.
"This... it looks like a toy. That explains why they moved so stiffly."
Silver showed Melus the cat, revealing a small wind-up key on its back. They hadn't noticed it earlier due to the height difference and the poor lighting.
"Melus."
"Hmm?"
"Where do you think they sell these? I want one too."