"Perhaps you're wondering—where is Lady Furina?"
"Let me keep that answer secret. If you wish to know, then defeat me completely. Crush me, make me your cage-dwelling trophy."
"Of course, after two minutes, this opportunity will vanish."
Beneath the cheerful tone lay unmistakable provocation.
No one underestimated this sweet-smiling Phantom Thief. Memories of past humiliating defeats flashed before their eyes, tightening their grips on weapons.
Furina gone = no hostage.
No hostage meant they could execute the arrest without restraint.
But why two minutes?
Why hadn't she fled immediately after stealing the treasure? Why linger to continue this confrontation?
Chevreuse's mind raced. Unless—her ability had a cooldown period.
"Her power might need two minutes to recharge!" Chevreuse immediately informed the others.
Luna smiled without denying it.
She did indeed need to wait for her watch to cool down, but it only took 30 seconds. Moreover, it had already cooled down long ago.
She remained here because leaving now would be too dull. With such a rare opportunity, of course she wanted to perform on this stage for as long as possible.
Why say two minutes...? After all, she had no reason to reveal her ability's limitations.
"I see!" Navia suddenly understood.
No wonder she wanted to stay.
During her brief clash with Clorinde earlier, she had already used her power to manipulate time flow once!
To escape Opera Epiclese with Furina under the pursuit of so many combatants, including the strongest Champion Duelist, it would have been nearly impossible without that time-manipulating ability.
But why reveal her ability's weakness?
No one would ask such a question.
After all, she was the Phantom Thief.
From the moment she began sending out pre-theft announcement letters, no one questioned her bizarre ritualistic behaviors.
Misdirection? Possible.
But swift and decisive action was key! Navia and Clorinde exchanged glances.
You front, I'll flank? Clorinde signaled with her eyes.
Overwhelm her with pincer attacks! Navia nodded in agreement.
"This time you won't escape, Phantom Thief!" Navia swung her umbrella in a fierce arc, forcing the heavy weapon to carve a graceful curve through the air.
The weight of her strike struck Luna's sword, sending a wind gust that lifted the Phantom Thief's bangs.
"Miss Navia remains as ever - simple yet mesmerizingly elegant attacks," Luna remarked.
"Your words mean nothing now! I'm seething with anger! No matter your intentions, you shouldn't have targeted Lulu!" Navia snapped.
What a heavy woman.
What's happening? Has Navia ever radiated this oppressive gravity before?
A flicker of surprise crossed Clorinde's eyes, but her hands and feet didn't pause.
Electro elements danced around her body, gun shadows blurring as a barrage of lightning bullets struck Luna...
No.
Before the lightning could reach her, layers of "carriages" whistled through the air, intercepting the attack. These were part of the stage's set design!
"Let me refresh your memories, dear audience, now that your attention has shifted to me."
"Long ago, there lived two sisters named Schnail and Freya in a family fallen from grace."
Clorinde glanced at Chevreuse, who nodded in response.
Conventional firearms proved ineffective against the Phantom Thief White Cat, even when enhanced with elemental power. Close-quarters combat remained their only viable strategy.
Time remaining... 100 seconds.
"Lady Furina must still be within the Opera House. Find her immediately!" Chevreuse ordered.
"Yes, ma'am!"
The Special Task Force squads split up, combing every corner of the opera house.
Chevreuse tightened her grip on the spear, ignited its tip, and transformed into a streak of flame that shot toward Luna.
"Give up and surrender, White Cat!"
"Miss Chevreuse, you do care for me after all. Wherever I go, you follow."
"You're dreaming too much."
Luna deflected Navia's further pursuit, gathering Anemo elements at her feet and leaping upward. Chevreuse didn't pause, instead aiming at Clorinde's raised sword and forcefully kicking off it.
The Pyro-infused spear followed her counter-kick, arcing toward Luna!
Time remaining: 90 seconds.
Luna's sword glimmered with Hydro light as the weapons clashed.
Their eyes met beyond the clashing blades. Luna offered her a faint smile.
Still that infuriating expression. Chevreuse drew a soft breath, suppressing her irritation.
Spear and sword crossed again, collided, and sprang apart.
Both landed simultaneously.
Luna's footfall sent several scenery panels springing up from the floor, obscuring her figure.
"Her younger sister Schnail lost the strength in both legs during an accident, unable to stand again. The two sisters, now dependent on each other, were destined to be given to other nobles."
Pfft— The stage apparatus erupted in smoke, enveloping the entire space in a thin mist. The Maison Gardiennage instinctively covered their mouths and noses, but quickly realized this was merely a diversionary tactic.
The smoke was harmless—neither toxic nor scented.
Chevreuse narrowed her eyes.
Eighty seconds remaining.
They couldn't let her stall any longer.
Clorinde, Chevreuse, and Navia steeled themselves, preparing to strike simultaneously.
This Phantom Thief White Cat is truly a thorn in our side... Clorinde resolved to hold nothing back. This next move would decide their fate.
But in the next instant, Chiori's twin blades sliced through the haze, cleaving through the scenery panels as she lunged at Luna.
The dancing blades wove an impenetrable web of glinting steel.
Swift, precise, lethal—her movements flowed as naturally as cutting fabric. To her, this so-called enemy was no different from a bolt of cloth awaiting her scissors.
Yet either through misfortune or Luna's precise strike, one of Chiori's blades flew from her hand with a metallic clang, embedding itself in the floor.
"Chiori?!" Navia gasped.
"Tsk..." Chiori clicked her tongue.
Those familiar with Chiori knew that sound meant she was profoundly displeased.
But Chiori's displeasure brought Luna immense satisfaction.
She pulled Chiori's hand into her embrace. "Miss Chiori, such behavior isn't becoming of a lady."
"At least I'm better than you."
Chiori's foot shot out in a vicious kick. Luna's toes shifted aside, leaving the strike to land on empty air.
"Why are you hiding?"
"I don't think I have any reason not to hide, do I?"
There were 55 seconds left.
"Do you need me to return the favor after this?" Luna murmured with a smile.
"No, that's disgusting."
Why was everyone so blunt? Chevreuse is like this, and Chiori too.
Luna released her grip and stomped hard on the floor. The resulting storm dispersed the mist completely, restoring visibility once more, though time was running out.
She took out her pocket watch. The second hand was ticking jerkily.
"But Schnail and Freya refused to submit to such a fate. They resolved to pave their future with their 'adoptive father's' blood."
"They never imagined they'd end up like this, nor did they think they'd have to dirty their hands to claim what was rightfully theirs."
"And now that they've become lawbreakers, their fate is sealed."
She removed her mask.
Her face had changed! The Maison Gardiennage and Special Task Force, witnessing this transformation firsthand, couldn't believe their eyes.
Luna raised her sword and made a swift motion. The sound device she'd created emitted a sorrowful yet beautiful melody, and her expression suddenly shifted.
"Sister, we just wanted to find a way for us to stay together forever. Why did it have to end like this?"
Her eyes, movements, and tone were all performed with terrifying perfection.
They had thought Luna and Furina represented the pinnacle of acting, but now there was another.
"...It's alright. We'll be together. I won't let you face this alone, and you mustn't leave me to exist in this world by myself."
Though everyone knew she was the Phantom Thief, some were still moved by her performance.
This story stirred some memories in Chevreuse.
She then felt Luna's gaze. "Miss Chevreuse, what makes someone a criminal?"
"...What do you think?"
Luna responded with a smile.
Instead of answering, she put her mask back on and bowed slightly. "Thank you for watching Miss Furina and my performance. Please take care of Miss Luna."
"She's a beautiful, clever, and brave person."
Chiori's expression turned peculiar.
"Then, we'll meet again—"
"We won't."
There were 25 seconds left.
Clorinde moved.
Her strikes were so fast they couldn't be seen; the trajectory of her bullets was so strange they couldn't be predicted.
Pure speed and power were displayed to the fullest in the ultimate technique she unleashed. Almost any enemy would find it impossible to completely escape from her move.
This was a technique created by Marechaussee Hunters for hunting monsters—a skill overkill when used against ordinary people.
But the Phantom Thief was no ordinary person.
Luna snapped her fingers, and the lights dimmed completely. In the darkness, only that mesmerizing purple glow remained, yet... there was still no sense of having struck her target.
"I'll wait for you to come find Miss Furina, dear Champion Duelist," came a voice by Clorinde's ear, accompanied by a warm, sweet breath.
"!"
The lights came back on, but the Phantom Thief had vanished from the stage.
Her presence had completely disappeared from the area, with no signs of disturbance at the door.
The Maison Gardiennage members looked around in confusion, completely unsure where she had escaped to.
She had escaped again—just like before.
After a moment of silence, Chevreuse noticed Clorinde holding her forehead.
"Upset that the prey got away?" she asked.
"No."
Clorinde rubbed her ears. "I just..."
Don't feel comfortable.
The Phantom Thief White Cat truly did enjoy teasing women. Clorinde shook her head and chased after her.
Regardless of everything, she had to find Furina.
"Letting the Phantom Thief escape again..."
"What happened to the Radiant Crown?"
"It's gone..."
"Looks like our plan failed completely."
"Lady Furina was kidnapped too..."
What a humiliating disaster!
If this became public, the Court of Justice would become a complete laughingstock.
But then again, what could they do? They'd been under pressure all along.
What else could they say?
"Where's Lulu? Get her to the hospital immediately!" Navia was more concerned about her partner's condition.
Chiori sighed, sheathed her blade, and followed them.
With this, the Phantom Thief Capture Plan had utterly failed.
Meanwhile, "Luna" was rushed to Fontaine's hospital. Though she showed no physical injuries or issues, she was still placed in a single-patient ward for observation.
"We failed to catch the Phantom Thief again," Turenna sighed.
"...First, let's regroup. We need to find Lady Furina."
"Yes!"
The Special Task Force began reassembling when a female member from the Maison Gardiennage hurried over to Chevreuse.
"Captain Chevreuse, emergency!"
"Report."
"Please lean in. This is Miss Clorinde's request..."
Chevreuse didn't suspect anything, but she only leaned her head slightly closer. The female member of the Maison Gardiennage whispered in her ear:
"Enjoyed my performance, Captain?"
"...You..."
Could it be that she never left at all, but had been hiding among the security team?
Luna pulled her hat lower and smiled faintly. "See you next time. Remember to bring fewer people—ideally just those I favor. More witnesses only strengthen my position."
"I'll return Lady Furina to you, but—" She paused, circling behind Chevreuse. "—only after our date is complete."
When Chevreuse turned around, Luna had vanished again.
Something was caught in her collar. Chevreuse retrieved it—a card.
Do you get jealous? it read.
Chevreuse drew a deep breath and burned the card.
"No."
Because she'd never liked this White Cat anyway.