"Extra! Extra!" the newsboy shouted, drawing the attention of the crowd.
Lumine and Paimon joined the onlookers.
"Oh, the newspaper's out!" Paimon exclaimed. "What does it say about the Phantom Thief White Cat's bizarre actions the other day? Let's go see!"
After the Phantom Thief escaped the previous night, the Court of Justice swiftly sealed off the crime scene and imposed a news blackout. Yet rumors spread like wildfire, filling the streets.
Some said the Phantom Thief White Cat had been corrupted by Sinthe, driving her to such madness.
Others claimed the mischievous little cat was just playing around, not understanding the implications of her actions.
Still others insisted the Phantom Thief was actually choosing her future wife, forcibly restraining everyone to test their worth!
Each rumor was more outlandish than the last.
It was true that the Phantom Thief White Cat enjoyed teasing girls, but would she ever settle down with another woman for life?
Impossible!
Paimon declared, "Someone who flirts so brazenly is actually less likely to act on it! That's what I've heard from others."
Lumine, however, couldn't care less about the rumors.
But if these rumors continued to spread unchecked, who knew what kinds of demons and monsters might crawl out of the woodwork?
The Court of Justice certainly couldn't defend the Phantom Thief, but they had to avoid being swept up in the hysteria themselves.
"A newspaper, please!"
"Here you go, little cutie! How old are you this year?"
Paimon turned her back, muttering, "...Why are all these news vendors so clueless?"
"She's eight," Lumine stated matter-of-factly.
"Hey!"
With the newspaper in hand, the two settled onto a bench, spreading it across their laps. Paimon floated behind Lumine's head, peering down at the headlines.
Lumine read aloud:
"The Heinous Phantom Thief? — What's the Truth Behind These Malicious Phantom Thief Activities?"
Lumine glanced down at the newspaper and began to read.
The night before, at 8:30 PM, Phantom Thief White Cat reappeared, accepting Mr. and Mrs. Franglet's challenge to steal the Dawnstone Cone. However, the events that unfolded defied all expectations.
The Phantom Thief kidnapped approximately forty civilians, holding them at gunpoint and threatening their lives. Many witnesses reported being deeply traumatized by the ordeal.
"She clearly intended to kill us!"
"This is outrageous! We thought she had a kind and righteous heart."
Just as disaster loomed, Captain Chevreuse of the Special Task Force, Navia, President of the Spina di Rosula, the Golden Traveler Lumine, Paimon, and a squad of Special Task Force members arrived on the scene.
Captain Chevreuse's precise shot struck the Phantom Thief directly, and Lady Furina swiftly subdued her. However, Phantom Thief White Cat ultimately managed to escape.
Public opinion on the Phantom Thief's actions was deeply divided.
Some called it an act of terrorism, suspecting Phantom Thief White Cat of planting "mental bombs" throughout the city.
"I haven't been able to sleep properly since that day," one person claimed. "The energy waves she unleashed must have invaded my brain!"
Indeed, a significant number of people reported hearing an explosion, attributing it to Phantom Thief White Cat, though her motive remained unclear. However, these claims lacked any concrete evidence.
Others denounced it as an utterly depraved act of mental derangement, crossing all boundaries.
"Phantom Thief White Cat belongs in a mental asylum!"
The Court of Justice declared, "Phantom Thief White Cat has crossed an unforgivable line by harming innocent civilians. We will spare no effort in apprehending her and restoring justice and order to their rightful course!"
The public responded with enthusiastic cheers and support.
The Court of Justice hinted that the recent Phantom Thief Mania might be secretly orchestrated by hidden forces...
Mr. and Mrs. Franglet have been detained by the Maison Gardiennage for questioning on suspicion of colluding with the shadowy organization behind the incident. The Marechaussee Phantom is continuing its investigation into the source of their funding.
-
Miss Clorinde, the undefeated Champion Duelist renowned as the strongest in the land, suffered a defeat in her duel against the Phantom Thief.
In response, Miss Clorinde stated:
"A loss is a loss, and a win is a win. That's the nature of duels. I won't argue with the outcome, but let me remind everyone: if you underestimate Champion Duelists because of this, my blade will soon teach you the true difference between strength and weakness."
"Please abide by the law."
Five-star crime expert Mr. Mike concurred:
"It's not that we were too weak—it's that the enemy was too strong. We didn't stand a chance."
No one truly knows the thoughts and motives of the Phantom Thief White Cat. This author believes her actions may stem from ulterior motives.
Regardless, she has gravely violated the laws and justice of Fontaine.
However, the Fontaine opera house prides itself on fairness and impartiality. Every crime committed by the Phantom Thief White Cat will be meticulously scrutinized and judged according to Fontaine's standards of justice.
Framing the Phantom Thief White Cat with baseless accusations would be an equally unforgivable act of savagery. I urge everyone to refrain from spreading or believing rumors until the Court of Justice releases its official findings.
Rumors spread with a single word, but debunking them requires tireless effort—and could even result in arrest by the Special Task Force.
Miss Chevreuse has issued a stern warning: "Be careful—we might just pay you a visit tomorrow."
-
After finishing the newspaper, Lumine fell into deep thought.
Does the Phantom Thief have other motives? Even if she did, Lumine couldn't imagine what they might be. What other goals could a criminal who opposes order and justice possibly have?
Paimon sighed. "Ugh, I'm starting to understand that Phantom Thief less and less."
"But it seems Captain Chevreuse understands her," Lumine remarked.
"I'm amazed she can figure it out. I can't make heads or tails of it. Anyway, what should we do next? Should we go find Miss Luna?"
Lumine shook her head. "Not yet. Even if we meet Furina, I just want to ask about my brother's traces in Fontaine... to see what he did here."
"We'll meet him again eventually. For now, I just need to keep traveling and reach the end of the journey he mentioned."
They had plenty of time.
"Then let's just wander around aimlessly! Who knows what kind of adventure might be waiting for us!" Paimon rubbed her tiny hands together excitedly.
"Hmm, and I'm still a little worried about that prophecy concerning Fontaine..."
-
After finishing the newspaper, Luna speared the last piece of blueberry cake with her fork and popped it into her mouth.
Sweet, refreshing, and melting on her tongue, it was most importantly sweet without being cloying. She had to admit, the blueberry cake was truly delicious.
"That reporter is remarkably perceptive," she thought. "She immediately saw through my ulterior motives."
But this kind of reporting would likely be retracted later.
"While investigating the truth is commendable, sometimes truth and rationality are the least important things."
She'd have to have a chat with Miss Charlotte later.
For now, she had another matter to attend to.
[Operation Successful]
[Security Level: High]
[Treasure Rarity: B-Tier]
[Operation Notoriety: Universally Known]
[Flamboyance: Breathtaking]
[Reward Points: 250 (B-Tier Treasure) x 3 (Security Level) x 4 (Operation Notoriety) x 3 (Flamboyance) = 9,000]
Adding this to her previous balance, she now had a total of 31,100 points.
She was one step closer to maxing out her Steal Skill—a cause for celebration.
[Dawnstone Cone]
[Description: Entirely black and unassuming in appearance, this cone is actually crafted from special materials. It can only be fully assembled once all three fragments are collected. The intricate, uneven base serves as the key to unlocking the legendary secret treasury—though its exact location remains unknown.]
[The Prinzessin der Verurteilung once coveted this treasure, seeking to uncover its secrets, but her loyal retainers warned, "Young Miss, we can't afford it. It's staggeringly expensive." "What?!"]
If Luna hadn't ultimately had to return the treasure to earn a precious kiss from Miss Captain, she would have genuinely considered gifting it to the Prinzessin der Verurteilung.
As for upgrading her skills, Luna had already made up her mind.
She was just one Elemental Power away from completing her collection of the Seven Elemental Forces. Of course, this didn't mean she had reached the end of her journey. She could still choose higher-tier skills for the Elemental Powers she already possessed.
But for now?
"I'll just max out the Electro Attribute skill."
She would save the remaining points for emergencies.
After much deliberation, Luna finally chose this skill:
[Sanctified Dual Pistols (LV1/2): Transforms your firearms into miniature submachine guns that continuously fire Electro-charged bullets, which ricochet off surfaces.]
-1000
Time for another upgrade.
Sanctified Dual Pistols (LV2/2): Transforms your firearms into miniature submachine guns that continuously fire Electro-charged bullets, which ricochet off surfaces. The firing rate is significantly increased, and each bullet now detonates with a tiny Electro explosion upon impact. (Note: Mastering the Electro Attribute won't make your lame jokes any funnier.)
-1500
Luna had 28,600 left. She nodded in satisfaction.
Now, she was a woman who wielded all Seven Elemental Forces.
"...Could I beat her now?" she wondered.
Could she defeat Arlecchino?
It would be difficult, but if Arlecchino didn't mark her for execution, she wouldn't have to worry about fighting her.
Luna exhaled softly and leaned back in her chair.
She glanced at the empty plate where her Blueberry Cake had been.
Speaking of which, how is Furina doing now?
Luna recalled Furina's earlier reaction. Even without careful observation, it was clear that Furina's smile had been painfully forced, stretched across her face like strained skin.
Nothing but practiced technique.
Maybe I should apologize to her tonight, Luna thought.
As for Chevreuse, she preferred to wait a few more days before approaching her again.
After all, wouldn't she be a little kinder to me then?
Though that seemed unlikely.
-
Meanwhile, far away at the House of the Hearth, Arlecchino listened to her informant's report in silence.
"Dismissed."
"Understood."
Once the room fell silent again, Arlecchino rubbed her palm. "Archon Furina's condition seems to have deteriorated recently. This is the perfect opportunity."
As one of the Seven Archons of Teyvat, she should rightfully possess a Gnosis.
Arlecchino resolved to investigate whether Furina carried the Gnosis and then decide on her next move. If fortune favored her, she might even attempt to seize it.
Collecting Gnosis was a mission entrusted to her by the Tsaritsa, and as a Fatui Harbinger, she was duty-bound to carry it out.
However, the Tsaritsa had promised that if necessary, the Gnosis could be prioritized for saving Fontaine and averting the threat mentioned in the Prophecy.
Arlecchino gazed at the sky.
Night hadn't yet fallen, and the moon remained hidden.
But she had a premonition that tonight, she would encounter the child she knew best.