"Urgent! Captain, the First District has launched a signal flare!"
This could only mean one thing.
Chevreuse wasn't surprised. "Did she succeed..."
"Has it really been that long?" Paimon exclaimed in surprise.
It seemed the Phantom Thief White Cat was even more formidable than they had imagined.
As Lumine pondered this, a commotion erupted outside.
"Hey, look! Isn't that the Phantom Thief?"
"She's here!"
Chevreuse nodded to her subordinates. The Special Task Force members silently chambered their rifles, acknowledging the inherent risks of using firearms in such a confined space. But their main battleground lay elsewhere, as would soon become clear.
Paimon shrank behind Lumine. "She wouldn't try to steal me, would she?"
"I don't think you're quite her type," Lumine murmured, conjuring a one-handed sword.
"Why not?"
"You'd eat all the Phantom Thief's rice."
"Hey!"
Before Lumine could finish, a white figure swooped down and landed at the doorway.
"It's the Phantom Thief!"
"She doesn't look as dangerous as they said. The newspapers are always exaggerating."
"Miss Phantom Thief, we offer you the treasure. Please save us from the Prophecy..."
Luna smiled faintly, bowed to the crowd, then lifted the hem of her dress and stepped inside as the door clicked shut behind her.
In the next instant, a dozen pitch-black gun barrels swiveled to aim at her.
"White Cat," Chevreuse murmured.
"Miss Captain," Luna replied with a polite nod, as if exchanging pleasantries.
"Don't do anything foolish."
So Chevreuse had sensed something after all.
But this was exactly what Luna wanted.
A proper drama couldn't rely solely on her lead performance; it needed supporting players to elevate the scene.
"If maintaining the world's order is also foolish, then isn't Miss Chevreuse equally foolish?" Luna retorted.
"I don't deny it," Chevreuse replied, her conviction growing stronger. "But that's not your place."
Paimon whispered to Lumine, "Are they speaking in some kind of code?"
Lumine shook her head.
Officer Chevreuse seemed to have caught on to something, but only she and the Phantom Thief White Cat knew the full truth.
Come to think of it, could Officer Chevreuse actually understand the Phantom Thief's motives?
Was this the "your enemy knows you best" phenomenon in action?
Luna slid her sword across her palm and murmured, "Whether I act this way is not for you to decide, Miss Chevreuse. If you disapprove—"
She raised the sword's tip.
"—then come and make me submit."
Just as expected.
Chevreuse never believed that words alone could deter the Phantom Thief White Cat. In the end, the conflict would have to be resolved through the simplest and most direct means.
"As you wish," she said, pressing a switch. The floor beneath them transformed and began to descend.
The mechanism whirred into action, guiding Luna into an underground chamber.
Countless mirrors lined the walls, reflecting her image. Dim lights illuminated only the mirrors at ground level, leaving the rest of the space shrouded in impenetrable darkness.
This was another of Lyney and Lynette's magical traps.
"Intriguing," Luna remarked.
The children of the House of the Hearth were born of darkness and often vanished into it. They harbored no fear of shadows.
Luna was no exception.
Gun barrels emerged from between the mirrors.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! A rapid volley of gunfire briefly lit up the gloom.
Their firepower has increased? Luna mused with interest. It seems the Special Task Force has upgraded their equipment and drastically altered their tactics against me.
Excellent. My opponents can't afford to stagnate.
A searing blade of wind roared forth, the flames of Luna's surging passion instantly intercepting and dissipating the barrage of dark bullets from all directions.
"Not enough light!" Luna snapped her fingers.
The lighting installation of the Golden Stage cast a brilliant glow, illuminating the entire underground space and bathing it in a radiant light.
The light also revealed Lumine, who charged forward with purpose.
"We never expected to defeat you with our initial ambush, Phantom Thief White Cat!" Lumine declared, leaping into a swift slash.
Clang! Their single-handed swords clashed, sparks flying.
Luna feigned surprise. "Golden-haired... Traveler? I didn't expect you to interfere. Could it be you harbor a grudge against me?"
The swords continued to clash, their dazzling dance creating afterimages that seemed to slice through the very light.
Lumine focused, thinking, This swordsmanship... it's extraordinary.
Though seemingly flamboyant, every movement was precise and purposeful. Had Luna wished, each strike could have been a lethal thrust. There was no doubt this skill had been honed through countless battles.
"I don't hate you, nor do I dislike you. In fact, I admire your audacity in declaring your intentions before so many witnesses."
"Then why do you draw your blade against me?"
Lumine sighed. "Someone emptied my purse. I had to take this quest."
"That's truly unfortunate. Why not join me as a Phantom Thief?" Luna pirouetted, deflecting Lumine's blade with a flourish. She leaned close, her breath sweet and fragrant against Lumine's cheek. "Perhaps you'd find it quite... amusing."
"No thanks. I'd rather not be wanted all the time..."
Luna and the Traveler focused Anemo energy into their feet and kicked simultaneously!
Boom! The colliding wind elements erupted into an unstoppable tempest, shattering everything around them and forcing both combatants to retreat.
Bang! Bang! The Special Task Force seized the opportunity, opening fire on Luna.
Ahead, the Traveler was engaged in close combat, while members of the Special Task Force moved with precision, launching surprise attacks from all directions.
The Luna of old would have been overwhelmed, barely able to defend herself.
But she was no longer that person.
With a flick of her fingers, she manipulated the Ice Threads connected to the mirror. The mirror, equipped with a revolving mechanism, spun rapidly at her command.
Bullets shattered against its surface, the fragments reflecting a fleeting glimpse of a luminous white figure. None of the shots hit the Phantom Thief.
"Where did she go?!"
"Above!"
They looked up to see Luna gracefully flip over their heads, landing before a crate piled with shards of the Dawnstone Cone.
"The Special Task Force has improved considerably—a commendable effort. But you still lack refinement."
"If it were me, I would have ignited this entire area, suffocating or incinerating my enemies."
That's terrifying! Paimon thought.
Luna turned around. "Alright, time to retrieve the second fragment..."
She reached out her hand.
Just as her fingertips brushed the fragment, a hand suddenly shot out from within the pile, seizing her wrist with surprising force!
Chevreuse rose from the pile of debris.
"Got you, White Cat!"
At that moment, every rifle of the Special Task Force was trained on Luna's back.
Luna showed no surprise. Instead, she smiled. "Miss Chevreuse, you certainly have patience."
Of course, she had sensed Chevreuse hiding nearby. After all, who would be more eager to capture her than Chevreuse? Given any opportunity, Chevreuse would have rushed in to arrest her immediately, driven by a truly "devoted" obsession. The fact that she hadn't shown herself earlier was enough to confirm that the Captain was lurking somewhere.
"Every criminal the Special Task Force apprehends is vicious and utterly depraved, but..." Chevreuse tightened her grip, and Luna felt a dull ache in her wrist.
"But?"
"...you're different, White Cat. Stop this."
Luna's smile faded, and she murmured, "Does the Captain of the Special Task Force see me as justice, just like the 'audience' outside?"
"Hmph, if you're justice, then what are those of us who enforce it?" Chevreuse scoffed.
Luna whispered, "That's precisely what I admire about Miss Chevreuse."
"But allow me to decline," she declared loudly. "My decision is made, and not even you can change it."
Chevreuse frowned deeply and sighed.
She produced a pair of silver handcuffs and murmured, "It seems I have no choice but to stop you by any means necessary."
With a flick of her wrist, the handcuffs flashed silver.
"That won't work," Luna said softly, tugging a silken thread that snared Chevreuse's other wrist.
She lowered her voice, her tone sweet and gentle. "If you want to handcuff me, save it for our private rendezvous. I promise I won't resist."
"And one more thing..." Luna smiled faintly, whispering, "Make sure your next shot hits my right shoulder."
Chevreuse stared at her in silence.
"For the sake of order and justice in Fontaine, promise me, Miss Chevreuse. Gently squeeze the trigger and restore the balance between right and wrong. If it's your bullet..." Luna leaned in, whispering into Chevreuse's ear, "I'll gladly accept it."
She always does this.
Just like last time, and now again.
Chevreuse clenched her fist, glaring at Luna. With a violent jerk, she tore free of the silken restraints and swung her long spear.
But it struck only air.
"My time is up. Allow me to proceed to the next district. I'll be waiting for you there, Miss Captain."
Click. The mechanism reactivated, and the ceiling of the underground chamber slowly slid open.
How could she decipher the Magician's trap so quickly?
"Tonight, you're my leading lady. Don't miss the climax of the show," Luna teased, twirling a fragment of the stone cone in her hand.
Lumine's eyes widened slightly, while Paimon exclaimed in disbelief, "H-how could she find the real one among all those fakes in such a short time?!"
"That's my little secret," Luna said, placing a finger to her lips and winking.
Then, she vanished through the opening in the ceiling. Despite the Special Task Force's rapid gunfire, none of their shots hit her agile figure.
"Captain, what's the plan?" Turenna asked urgently.
"...Chase her!"
Paimon turned to Lumine. "We have to follow them too!"
But as they emerged back onto the surface, a series of thunderous explosions echoed from nearby.
"Whoa!? What was that?!" Paimon jumped in fright.
Chevreuse recognized the sound instantly.
"Explosions!"
"Explosions? Who could be behind this..."
Chevreuse remained silent for a few seconds before saying, "It must be the Phantom Thief White Cat."
"What?!"
The sudden explosion had clearly unnerved the officers outside. Chevreuse immediately ordered the Special Task Force to split into smaller teams and investigate the source of the blast.
"The rest of you, continue the pursuit with me!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
As Chevreuse headed toward the Third District, Luna's earlier words echoed in her mind.
She understood perfectly what Luna was trying to do.
Just like before, Luna intended to use Chevreuse's actions to thrust herself onto the Golden Stage, bask in the public's gaze, and once again make a decision capable of overturning the entire situation.
-
Shortly after, Turenna and the rest of the Special Task Force arrived at the source of the explosion.
The Maison Gardiennage had already established a perimeter and secured the area.
But there was a problem.
Turenna looked around, puzzled. "Where's the damage? Where's... anything?"
There was no sign of fire, no walls or ground shattered by the blast. Not even a trace—it was as if the explosion had never happened.
"The Special Task Force is here," a Melusine approached. "We have a strange situation."
"Strange?"
"Yes, indeed! Everyone here claims the explosion occurred right here, but there's absolutely no evidence. It's as if it was just a loud bang... It's so weird..."
Turenna glanced at the crowd, who were gesturing wildly as they recounted the event to the Maison Gardiennage officers.
"I heard it—a tremendous boom came from this spot!"
"It must have been... an invisible bomb! What? You're asking why there's no damage? That's because it's a mental bomb! That's why I can't sleep!"
An invisible bomb... Turenna's lips twitched.
Still, with so many witnesses to the sound, it had to be true—there had been an explosion here.
Captain Chevreuse suggested that the Phantom Thief White Cat might be responsible.
Though hard to believe, if it was the Phantom Thief, it would explain the massive explosion without any apparent damage. After all, she seemed capable of using Elemental Power to conjure various devices.
"I'm certain it was the Phantom Thief!" someone exclaimed.
Turenna's attention was drawn to the sudden shift in the conversation.
"We've always suspected that woman was trouble, but lately everyone's been praising her... Well, she's finally shown her true colors. In the end, she's nothing but a common criminal!"
Turenna sighed, utterly confused by the turn of events.
"Maybe it's another group," her teammate murmured.
"Another group?"
"You know, like how adding a little salt makes something sweet taste even better? To improve the Phantom Thief's reputation, someone needs to play the villain... Of course, that's just a wild guess."
Her teammate shook their head. "Whether that's true or not, it's none of the Special Task Force's concern."
"Or maybe they just dislike the Phantom Thief, or even make a living by slandering her," the teammate added.
Turenna fell silent for a moment.
"...Ugh, I just don't get it," she finally said with a frustrated sigh.
Whether it was the Phantom Thief White Cat or the current state of Fontaine, the duel between the Champion Duelist and Archon Furina was the talk of the town.