Clorinde, Navia, Furina, and Focalors sat together.
Click. The office door opened, and Chevreuse emerged. She gave them a slight nod before quickly walking away.
"What did the Captain of the Special Task Force want with Luna? An interrogation?" Furina mused.
"Maybe it was about the Phan—" Navia began.
Clorinde glanced at her. "Phan?"
Right, Clorinde still doesn't know Lulu's true identity!
Navia quickly changed the subject. "—Phantom! A phantom has appeared in Fontaine, and they need Lulu's help with the investigation!"
"Is Chevreuse a Magical Girl now or something?" Furina chuckled.
"Haha, that actually suits her! It'd be even better if she had a claymore!"
Clorinde silently sipped her tea.
I have a feeling Navia is hiding something from me.
"..."
Clorinde's gaze drifted toward the office. She felt an inexplicable urge to talk to Luna, but before she could move, Luna sat down next to Furina, sandwiched between her and Focalors.
So Clorinde could only keep watching Luna.
Kept watching.
Watching until Luna looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Why is Clorinde staring at me?
Why is Clorinde staring at Lulu? Navia sipped her tea nonchalantly.
Why is Clorinde always staring at Luna? Furina was utterly bewildered.
"Luna, it looks like Clorinde wants to have a staring contest with you," Focalors said with a mischievous grin.
"That doesn't seem right at all," Furina countered.
Clorinde hesitated. "No, it's just... I'm very concerned about Luna."
Navia choked on her tea.
Concerned?!
Furina gasped. "Just 'concerned'?!"
"D-Don't tell me, Clorinde, you—" Navia stammered in confusion.
My best friend turning into a love rival? This isn't funny at all!
"Me?" Clorinde asked, puzzled.
"Don't tell me you like Luna?" Focalors chimed in with a grin, clearly enjoying the drama.
"Yes, I do."
Furina sucked in a sharp breath. Am I surrounded by love rivals? Why do they pop up everywhere I go?
"Luna would make a great friend."
Furina let out a sigh of relief.
Oh, just as a friend!
Navia's gaze flickered. She remembered how she and Luna had started out talking about friendship, only for things to slowly... change. Clorinde wouldn't end up the same way, would she?
No... that's impossible. Absolutely impossible.
-
Night fell.
Inside the Hector Talent Agency, a short man sat in a chair, gazing out the window at the massive billboard.
It was the lighthouse symbolizing their business, now nearly completed. Tomorrow, they would replace it with promotional photos of their agency's most famous artist.
This was none other than Hector, the "Mr. Long Legs" himself.
"That Ronat's murder scared me to death," he muttered, puffing on his cigarette. "I was on edge every day, terrified that Phantom Thief White Cat would come after me. But look at me now, still alive and kicking."
"Sure, it's mostly luck, but luck is a part of skill too."
"That Phantom Thief White Cat, forever infamous, probably wouldn't bother with ordinary treasures anymore. No need to worry about her showing up here."
Hector took a deep drag, exhaling a plume of smoke.
Phantom Thief Mania—recalling the phenomenon, he couldn't help but scoff.
They actually see a criminal as the scourge of criminals.
The thought was utterly absurd.
But if the Fontainians weren't so gullible, how else would I make my money?
A simple snap of his fingers—a sweet whisper from one of his artists in the ear of a newspaper boss—and tomorrow's headlines would fill the city.
Even if it was just a third-rate rag, no match for The Steam Bird, volume speaks louder than prestige! Enough buzz, and people will be fooled... Even if it doesn't drain their wallets, it's always satisfying to stick it to the competition.
"Mr. Hector, what you requested is ready."
He swiveled his chair and took the sample copy.
[ Celebrity's Fall: Luna and Her Ten Secret Lovers ]
Luna was a terrifying force. Her talent was unparalleled in Fontaine's art history, reaching the pinnacle of achievement. Only Furina could rival her on stage.
Together, she and Furina had founded a theater troupe:
The Blubberbeast Troupe. It sounded ridiculous, yet it became a massive sensation, generating immense hype!
The news agency sought to exploit their value to the fullest, while he aimed to bring Luna crashing down.
The reason? Simple.
He couldn't stand it. If more people could rise to prominence through sheer talent alone, what would become of people like him? He was fighting to protect his own position, and the positions of many others like him.
"Well written. Have them publish it tomorrow."
"Understood. But... will people actually believe this?"
"Believe it? Why wouldn't they? How else can they prove how clever they are?"
Hector chuckled contemptuously.
He propped his leg up on the desk.
"What kind of people are easiest to manipulate? The truly stupid and those who think they're smart."
"In Inazuma, they have a term: 'intelligence powerhouse.' But the 'intelligence' they gather is just fodder we can twist as we please."
"We'll distort what was beautiful, crush it, and feed them the remains. They'll truly believe it was always this ugly."
"Give them a little money, and they'll work even harder. Little do they know they've already picked the wrong side. We can skip town and wash our hands of it anytime, but they can't... It's quite amusing, isn't it?"
Hector tapped his cigarette, flicking off the ash.
"A bucket of gold for a splash of dirty water. This kind of profit is just too sweet," he said with satisfaction.
His agent shrugged. "By the way, Mr. Hector, the kids from Class 13 aren't performing well, and those nobles..."
"Fine. Have them keep the nobles company. And train the new kids properly; they cost me a pretty penny..."
"Understood... Huh?"
Just as the agent turned to leave, a strange flash of light caught his eye.
"What is it?" Hector asked.
"Nothing, I just thought I saw a light flash outside..."
"A light? What light?"
Hector swiveled his chair to face the window.
A light flickered to life.
He frowned and walked closer to the window.
The large billboard outside had lit up at some point!
A chilling premonition shot through Hector, making him shudder. He feared neither the Maison Gardiennage nor the Special Task Force—only one person.
A sinner whose crimes surpassed all others.
Giant billboards lit up one by one, their glow stark against the night sky, drawing the attention of passersby who stopped to gaze and murmur in speculation.
"What's that?"
"Looks like there's text..."
"Let me see..."
The words gradually coalesced into a message: "Those who fancy themselves masters of others are merely insects controlled by my whims. In the face of absolute power, all is vanity. When time's upper and lower bounds are confirmed by 'X,' I shall seize the glass slippers—'Lolita's Crystal Shoes'—from the star-destroying Hector Talent Agency."
Signed: Phantom Thief White Cat.
Hector's eyes widened, every hair on his body standing on end as he collapsed to the ground in terror.
Indeed, Phantom Thief White Cat was his greatest fear.
Unbound by rules, defying all moral norms—she was the most heinous of sinners. Her very existence inspired greater dread than legal sanctions or the Fortress of Meropide itself.
The moment Phantom Thief White Cat issued an Announcement Letter meant...
"Open up! Special Task Force!"
The Special Task Force had arrived.