"What should we do?"
Marcel silently listened to the question from the person behind him.
"That White Cat has become a sword hanging over everyone's head. Wherever she goes, the Special Task Force will follow. And that cat seems to enjoy preying on fellow criminals."
"When that happens, no one will be able to maintain their 'innocence' like before!"
Not to mention the mysterious person who assassinated Alkien.
"You mean you want to withdraw?"
"I'm asking you what you're going to do!"
That damned Phantom Thief.
He had initially thought she was just some careless pickpocket, but she proved far more troublesome than expected.
He could only proceed this way.
Marcel sighed softly. "Leave it to me. You all just keep sitting in your seats. Don't worry about anything."
"...Furina's spies might be investigating us."
"I said not to worry."
He took a deep breath.
When things have come to this point...
If water can't wash away the sins, then let fire resolve them.
-
Days later, at The Steam Bird.
Charlotte stretched lazily.
As Teyvat's renowned newspaper, The Steam Bird was usually bustling with activity. Yet those covering Fontaine had found themselves unusually idle these past few days.
The reason was simple: nothing worth reporting had occurred.
The Phantom Thief hadn't made any appearances, there were no updates on Furina and Luna's next performance... and the Opera House had no noteworthy trials to report.
While treating this as a rare holiday might have been tempting, Charlotte still wished to stay busy.
"Don't you agree, Monsieur Verite?" Charlotte muttered to her camera.
Perhaps I should visit Chiori and have her make some Monsieur Verite decorations.
"Charlotte! Something major happened!" a colleague suddenly rushed over.
"Hm? Did the Phantom Thief strike again?"
"Why do you always think of the Phantom Thief? Of course not. Actually—"
After hearing the news, Charlotte stared at her colleague in astonishment.
"Really?"
"Really."
[Confrerie of Cabriere Sacked by fire, Chairman Marcel Left Scarred]
At 3 A.M. last night, an unknown arsonist set fire to the Confrerie of Cabriere's warehouse. Countless goods were engulfed in fire, resulting in catastrophic losses for the organization.
Chairman Marcel suffered severe facial burns during the incident. After emergency treatment, he has stabilized, though the Court of Justice vows to investigate thoroughly.
Resident head nurse Sigewinne, who happened upon the scene to administer aid, remarked, "Though Mr. Marcel has escaped immediate danger, he requires extended convalescence. Burns are never trivial injuries."
Chairman Marcel scrawled, "I saw it! The Phantom Thief White Cat did this!"
Mr. Mike, renowned 5-star criminal expert, countered, "Cats don't play with fire. Moreover, she'd never commit such crude acts. Any ignition would be executed with theatrical flair."
Resident head nurse Sigewinne added, "We can't rule out the possibility of delusional states."
Luna stirred sugar into her milk absentmindedly.
"Arson at this critical juncture?"
She caught a whiff of something suspicious.
Carrying her cup, she approached the information board, her mind churning.
Marcel was likely Vacher - only lacking evidence to confirm it.
Her public declaration had probably made many involved in criminal enterprises squirm in their seats.
They'd be like ants on a hot pan, scurrying about in panic.
What did they fear? That this cat hadn't come alone - worse yet, she'd brought Chevreuse and the entire Special Task Force in tow.
What they truly feared was being targeted by Alkien's mysterious assassin - Arlecchino herself.
"They'll do everything to evade investigation and maintain their innocence."
Marcel would be no different.
Disfigurement... Ah, so that's how it works.
Luna understood now. It was a simple trick, yet remarkably effective. Someone outside the profession might not necessarily think of it.
But coincidentally, she was an expert in facial transformation.
However, she didn't need to do it herself, nor could she be allowed to.
Luna pondered for a moment, then took out a card and wrote a few simple words on it. The rest was just a matter of delivering it to her dear Captain.
Knock, knock. The front door suddenly sounded.
Navia and Chiori had keys, so it couldn't be them.
Then who could it be?
Luna opened the door, and as she looked up, a flash of purple caught her eye.
"Are you free? Lady Furina wishes to invite you to the Opera House."
It was Clorinde.
Furina is inviting me? Luna was quite curious, but she asked first, "May I deliver a message first?"
"Yes."
Not long after, when Chevreuse returned to her bedroom, she found a card had appeared on her bed.
"...."
With a soft breath, Chevreuse knew without looking who had sent it.
But she still checked for perhaps existing "cat hair".
...No hair.
This wasn't strange; the Phantom Thief White Cat couldn't possibly make such a basic mistake.
Better to see what this mischief-maker was up to now.
Please don't be another warning letter, she thought. I have no patience for cat-and-mouse games right now.
All she wanted was to swiftly resolve the decades-old "Serial Disappearance Case" and the case of "Callas the Unfaithful," allowing justice to finally take its seat.
Picking up the card, Chevreuse gave it a cursory glance.
[Have you read the newspaper?]
The newspaper? She hadn't looked at today's edition yet.
[I guessed you might not have, so I left a copy on your desk.]
Chevreuse silently picked up the newspaper from her desk. After skimming through it briefly, her brow furrowed.
Severe facial burns?
At first glance, it appeared to be a simple accident. But with this happening at such a critical juncture... Her mind already formed suspicions.
Returning her attention to the card, she saw another line written on it: [If you can manage it, I'll reward you with a White Cat.( •◡-)-♡]
"...I don't need that."
Chevreuse activated Pyro elements, reducing the card to ashes.
Inside the Opera Epiclese.
Lumine and Paimon arrived at the invitation to find the audience already seated.
The only one missing was the Archon said to always sit above the stage during every performance in the past five hundred years.
Furina.
Paimon glanced around and whispered, "So many people! I didn't realize Lyney and Lynette were this popular."
"They must be good enough to perform at the Opera House," Lumine murmured.
She checked her ticket against the seating chart and took a seat in the front row.
"Does Furina always arrive last?" Paimon asked in surprise.
Lumine shook her head. How would she know? But given the common saying "the main character always enters last," it wouldn't be strange for Furina to do this.
These past few days, they'd heard plenty about Furina's exaggerated and flamboyant nature.
Though Luna's personality seemed no less dominant.
"Look! Lady Furina has arrived."
Someone announced.
Lumine and Paimon looked up just in time to see Furina and Clorinde appear in the audience seats above the stage.
"Huh? Isn't that Miss Luna?"
...Along with them appeared Luna herself, dressed in a dashing men's-style tuxedo and wearing a bowler hat.
It wasn't just Lumine and Paimon who were surprised. The other audience members were equally astonished.
After exchanging a few words, Luna and Furina took their seats. Only then did they notice an additional temporary seat had been placed next to Furina's usual spot.
To think someone could sit right beside a god!
What an honor this is!
"It seems Lady Furina truly favors Miss Luna..."
"Could it be because of that joint performance last time?"
The audience below buzzed with speculation.
Luna glanced down and paused slightly upon seeing Lumine and Paimon.
The Traveler is here... Perhaps something significant will happen next...
The next act featured Lyney and Lynette's magic performance.
After a moment's silence, Luna casually looked away.
"Is it truly appropriate for Lady Furina to have me sit here?"
"If you're unwilling, you may leave," Furina replied nonchalantly.
"I'm perfectly willing. It's just that I recall you stated I'm not your friend."
Nor did Furina show any intention of befriending her.
Thus Luna wondered why Furina had made this decision - first inviting her to watch the performance, then seating her next to her.
Furina had already fulfilled basic etiquette by handing over front-row tickets.
Clorinde inquired curiously, "Is that so?"
"Yes."
"That's very blunt," Clorinde nodded.
"Exactly," Luna said with a smile.
Furina's face flushed slightly. These two...
"Clorinde," she called out nonchalantly.
"Yes?"
"You're my subordinate."
"Right. Should I produce the contract?"
"What do I want that for?!" Furina blurted out.
She blinked rapidly, her eyes conveying a clear message: I'm reminding you who you work for—you should be praising me, not her!
Clorinde pondered this. "Do you... need eye drops?"
She completely missed the point!
A sudden headache struck Furina. Never mind, she thought, let's drop this topic.
In response to Luna's question, Furina kept her answer curt: "I let you sit here because your last performance was so exceptional. Consider it a one-time privilege."
"Next time, you'll have to earn it properly!"
She said this, but her true thoughts were simpler: Since I said some unkind things to her earlier, this is just compensation!
If someone had told Furina herself, "I don't want to be friends with you," she would have been furious.
Luna's lack of temper didn't mean she could pretend nothing happened.
Now we're even! Furina nodded to herself.
From now on, they would remain exactly as they were before.
"I see. Thank you very much."
Luna didn't suspect anything.
She knew the truth was different, but she had no reason to reject Furina's kindness. So the actual facts didn't matter.
"But Miss Clorinde, you don't have a seat?"
Furina looked at Clorinde. "Would you like one? Though I've already asked you many times."
"No need. Standing is good for health. You shouldn't sit too much either, Lady Furina," Clorinde said expressionlessly.
"Hah, the Archon's body isn't as fragile as mortals'!" Furina said proudly.
At least she never got sick or had cavities.
Her body had remained unchanged since hundreds of years ago.
Luna patted her leg. "But standing all the time can be tiring. Miss Clorinde, would you like to sit on my lap?"
She'll definitely refuse, Furina thought.
"Hmm... That's acceptable."
"Huh?" Furina stared in confusion.
Luna was equally surprised; she had only asked casually, never expecting an actual agreement.
"Well then, please," Luna gestured.
Wait, wait—there are so many spectators down there!
Unbelievable!
"You're just saying that, right? Clorinde?" Furina couldn't help but ask.
Clorinde nodded. "Mm-hmm. No matter what, I'd still feel embarrassed."
"Really?"
From the look of it, she didn't seem even slightly embarrassed.
Still, Furina sighed in relief. Having Clorinde sit on Luna's lap in front of such a crowd... That would undoubtedly cause problems.
Luna, however, didn't seem disappointed at all. Instead, she continued, "If Lady Furina wishes it, you may join us too."
"Absolutely not!—I mean, don't be so impudent!"
-
Made a discord if anyone is interested
https://discord.gg/BFW77h7XyS