Impossible.
How could the Phantom Thief White Cat approach Furina so silently? Unless...
Could Luna be the Phantom Thief White Cat? Chevreuse's mind flashed with the suspicion.
No, it could be the opposite too.
The Phantom Thief White Cat has transformed into Luna! Navia's eyes sharpened, piercing through others effortlessly as uncontrollable anger surged within her.
"What have you done to my Lulu?"
Your Lulu? Chiori shot her a glance.
The accusation fell flat, met only with a soft chuckle.
"Why are you laughing?" Navia's irritation deepened.
Luna maintained her embrace around Furina, showing no intention of letting her escape.
Too close, far too close! Furina's face burned hotter as she was pressed against Luna's body, the blush refusing to fade.
Never had she imagined the person she'd been acting with from the beginning was the Phantom Thief White Cat!
The Phantom's acting was truly flawless, having deceived even her.
Wait, does this mean she'll take me next?
Furina's heart skipped a beat. If no one intervened, she'd be publicly kidnapped by the Phantom Thief before everyone's eyes...
Then taken to a place no one can find? To be stored with the Phantom Thief's other treasures?
Would the so-called "Sinner's End" become "Furina's End"?
No, no, no! That's too terrible, too frightening.
Clorinde, save me! She immediately blinked at Clorinde in silent plea.
Clorinde gave a slight nod, but the hostage... the Archon was in the Phantom Thief's hands. Even she couldn't act recklessly.
Heaven only knew what the thief might do.
Luna smiled. "I was just thinking how... intimate your relationship with Miss Luna seems to be. Normally, wouldn't you suspect that the real Miss Luna is actually me?"
"Because Lulu isn't like you, you thief," Navia declared.
She immediately loaded her umbrella gun, noticing Clorinde subtly maneuvering into a blind spot.
Years of accumulated coordination let her instantly grasp Clorinde's plan.
The Archon intended to strike from the shadows, delivering a decisive blow.
Then I'll draw the attention!
Navia had plenty of things she wanted to say to the Phantom Thief White Cat.
"Lulu is full of justice! She would never forgive any criminal. Someone like her could never become a thief who steals treasures for fun."
Clorinde raised her pistol.
Navia continued, "I'm truly grateful to you, and I believe everyone here shares that sentiment. You were the one who saved the audience at the Opera House, weren't you?"
Furina softly confirmed, "Was it you?"
The one who spared so many from being dissolved.
"Does that really matter?" Luna smiled.
"...I still can't figure out what you're thinking."
She saved people yet stole treasures; helped others while striking down evildoers, yet was herself an unrepentant sinner. A chaotic existence embodying all contradictions.
But Navia didn't believe she acted purely on whim, without purpose.
Before, she'd deliberately taken all the credit, becoming Vacher and the others' thorn in the side.
Earlier still, she'd guided the nearly wayward musician Sally back to the right path, showing contempt for the trophy.
There were countless things she could have done but didn't. It was impossible to discern the line she'd drawn in her heart.
But none of that mattered now.
"Give Lulu back to me!"
At this command, Clorinde immediately pulled the trigger.
The bullet carved a purple arc through the air, shooting toward Luna at an incredibly sharp angle! But Luna had already sensed it coming. With a snap of her fingers, a grappling hook materialized in her hand.
She pushed Furina away, taking gentle steps backward while still holding her hand. The bullet whizzed past harmlessly.
With a slight tug, Luna pulled Furina back into her embrace.
"Let's dance again, Miss Archon," she murmured, her palm gently stroking Furina's hair.
"You... I..."
The tender touch, soothing voice, and the floral scent invading her senses left Furina utterly disoriented, her face burning like fire.
In the next instant, she realized everything in her field of vision was descending.
Looking down, she saw Luna standing on a grappling hook, ascending rapidly.
"Oh no, she's escaping!" Navia shouted.
Furina yelled, "Don't just stand there!"
The Special Task Force raised their guns, but fearing to hit Furina, they could only maintain their aim, sweating profusely as they waited for the perfect moment.
"Seal the exits!"
The Maison Gardiennage immediately secured all doors, forming an impenetrable barrier with their weapons.
Clorinde wiped her sword, narrowing her eyes. "Don't even think about escaping!"
Clorinde was widely known as the strongest Champion Duelist, but in truth, she held another identity - the inheritor of the Marechaussee Hunter's martial arts and techniques.
The Marechaussee Hunter was a legendary monster hunter, and now she would use this martial art to "hunt" the White Cat.
Her Vision began to shine.
Clorinde's figure moved like lightning and thunder, shooting from the ground to the wall, then from the wall onward. Her sword glinted so sharply that a single glance could leave you wounded.
In the space of a breath, she closed the distance to Luna.
Then she swung a sword strike too fast for the human eye to follow!
But there was no sensation of impact.
Here! Clorinde fired three shots upward in quick succession. Her specially modified pistol required no reloading between shots, unlike ordinary firearms.
Click.
But the bullets shot into the air... no, they slowed to a crawl.
"So it was her then..." Luna murmured.
The theory had been proven.
But this was no cause for celebration.
Luna, cradling Furina, leaped downward while holding her gun in one hand.
Bang! The spinning bullet grazed the first shot, altering its trajectory.
Time returned to normal, but the bullet collided with another bullet, changing its course.
Three bullets now flew in three different directions, shattering the chains of the stage apparatus.
The ropes lost control, and a box fell from the ceiling.
"What's that?" Navia exclaimed in surprise.
"We probably didn't prepare for this," Chevreuse murmured.
The box crashed to the ground, its lid flying open.
Inside lay a figure that made everyone pause in shock.
"...Lulu?"
The unconscious "Luna" lay within the box!
Chevreuse's gaze snapped to the Phantom Thief standing before them.
The Phantom Thief White Cat... wasn't Luna.
Everyone present reached the same conclusion, and the answer to why the Phantom Thief White Cat had appeared on stage became obvious.
From the very beginning of the performance, the Phantom Thief had been here.
Every scene they'd witnessed, every note of song they'd heard, had been her.
She'd deceived everyone, even the archon herself.
Navia rushed to the box and embraced the "Luna" inside, her face full of concern. "Lulu? Are you okay, Lulu?"
The figure in her arms didn't answer.
Couldn't answer.
Because it was a doll that looked almost exactly like a living person.
[Doll of Deception (LV 1/2): You can create a doll that looks exactly like a living person but has no consciousness and can't be controlled. You can choose its appearance, but don't do strange things to it—people shouldn't do that.]
Before taking action, Luna had made full preparations.
Points should be used when needed; there's no reason to cling to them desperately.
Now, "Luna" and the Phantom Thief White Cat appeared simultaneously on the same stage.
From this moment on, no one would doubt that she was the Phantom Thief White Cat.
Unless she chose to reveal herself.
"Truth" could be fabricated or stolen. Luna smiled faintly, instantly sensing countless hostile glances directed at her.
"How dare you hurt Miss Luna!"
"How despicable!"
Furina's expression turned complex. "Why would you do this?"
"Do I need a reason?" Luna replied with her usual answer.
Indeed, she didn't need a reason.
She had always been like this, Chevreuse thought. Anyone blocking her path would be crushed.
Perhaps even a God standing in her way would meet the same fate.
Clorinde frowned deeply. "How is Luna?"
Only then did Navia come back to her senses.
She had lost her most crucial clarity and composure at this critical moment... She should have checked Luna's condition first. After self-reproach, she immediately examined her.
Pulse: normal.
Breathing: normal.
No external injuries. Navia relaxed. "She's just unconscious."
Clorinde's frown also eased. "That's a relief."
Luna couldn't come to harm; she didn't want to see Navia's heartbreak and tears again.
Of course, Luna was her friend too. If anything happened, she couldn't guarantee her own composure.
In truth, a spark of anger had already kindled within her.
"Phantom Thief White Cat."
Clorinde raised her single-handed sword, its tip aimed at Luna.
Navia handed the doll Luna to the Special Task Force members, who immediately moved to protect it. She steadied her breathing, readying herself for battle.
Chevreuse needed no prompting; she'd been itching to catch this White Cat from the moment she saw it.
"This stage serves both as a theater and a court of justice. Though the Chief Justice isn't present, your crimes won't escape the law and justice."
"Champion Duelist, Clorinde." Clorinde positioned her sword before her.
"President of the Spina di Rosula, Navia!" Navia pulled her hat brim down, her voice solemn.
"...Captain of the Special Task Force, Chevreuse." Chevreuse's face remained impassive.
Luna turned to Chiori, who still sat in her seat.
"Miss Chiori, will you not join us?"
Chiori's eyebrow twitched. She hadn't wanted to get involved; after all, she was just a costume designer. Her work was done once the clothes were made.
But now that the Phantom Thief had mentioned it, she found herself unable to stay seated.
You're the one who asked for this.
Chiori glared at the Phantom Thief standing on the stage, then drew her twin blades with a sigh. "Chiori, let's dance."
"Perfect timing. Your Phantom Thief outfit is truly tasteless. I'll help you trim it."
Whether it was her imagination or not, Luna sensed a hint of...
Amusement.
Had Chiori been planning this all along?
"Cutting someone's clothes? Miss Chiori, your interests are quite peculiar."
"When something grates on my eyes, I can't resist snipping."
"How... excessive."
Life was full of such dramatic twists. The very person she'd been conversing with yesterday now faced her with drawn weapons. Yet Luna felt no distaste.
If they'd instead taken a liking to the Phantom Thief, she'd find it utterly boring.
This was how it should be.
"You ladies are truly spirited and beautiful. Were my heart not already claimed by Miss Furina today, I'd gladly take you both."
"Alas—please excuse me, for I still have a date to keep with Miss Furina."
Luna snapped her fingers. A curtain suddenly materialized, sweeping across to conceal her and Furina.
Clorinde and Chevreuse swung their sword and spear simultaneously.
The blades sliced through the fabric, but the pair had vanished.
They escaped?
Just as the crowd thought so, a triumphant melody erupted. The orchestra had clearly stopped playing—so where did this music come from?
A device?
The stage lights blossomed outward like a flower, fireworks exploding into view. Within the dazzling firelight, familiar outlines materialized.
Then the spotlight focused on a single figure.
The Phantom Thief stood at the center of the stage, hand pressed to her chest as she raised her arm. "But celebrate! The unfinished drama, the unfulfilled story, the stage not yet completely burned out—I shall complete it!"
Furina! Where was she?!
Why was the Phantom Thief alone?