Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

Thank You for all the stones! We broke 100 powerstones! Ill post 3 chaps today!

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Phantom Thief White Cat

Chevreuse repeated the name in her mind while her hands never rested.

Every day, the Special Task Force's firearms required meticulous maintenance. Otherwise, they might fail during actual combat.

Misfires were one thing, but explosions or other issues could be downright dangerous.

Fortunately, with her vision, she didn't need to worry about major malfunctions in her firearm.

But even without the risk of breakdowns, neglecting maintenance was unacceptable.

Treat your weapon poorly, and it won't treat its user any better.

Chevreuse detached the Vision from her body, holding it in her palm.

"..."

The Vision was indeed a rare and powerful tool—there was no denying that.

Every time she gazed upon it, Chevreuse found herself transported back to that tempestuous day. She would recall the former vice-captain lying motionless on the ground, his breath extinguished all too soon, and the accused criminal, hands clutching his wound as he howled in anguish.

If she had pulled the trigger that day, she would never have become the Special Task Force Captain she was today.

"The Special Task Force is the voice of justice," the former vice-captain had once told her.

Justice meant punishing evil and promoting the good.

The Phantom Thief White Cat had disrupted order, sown chaos, and stolen precious items and treasures from their rightful owners. Such a villain must not be tolerated.

They had to catch her, no matter the cost.

Chevreuse closed her eyes, exhaling softly.

"Captain! It's terrible!" A Young officer suddenly burst into the room, stumbling and disoriented.

Despite having participated in several official operations, the young officer still appeared so flustered and impetuous. Yet, this novice-like demeanor reminded Chevreuse of her own past.

"What happened?"

"The Phantom Thief White Cat has sent us a challenge letter!"

Chevreuse's brow furrowed deeply. "What?"

"Please see this!"

The officeer handed the card in her possession to Chevreuse.

Chevreuse squinted at the message:

Dear Special Task Force,

Join me at 9 PM sharp for a grand performance. Let us dance together under the moonlight.

Yours truly, Phantom Thief White Cat

The Officer spoke with palpable anxiety, "Is this a crime announcement?"

"Right, but..."

Something wasn't right.

Chevreuse had a keen sense of unease. There were no targets.

Whether it was Phantom Thief White Cat or Phantom Weasel, they would always write down the name of the treasures they wanted to steal in the warning letter. But not this time.

Was it an imitator?

Or just some kind of prank?

Or perhaps a red herring?

Chevreuse mulled over the various possibilities for a long while. Either way, this was a provocation of the Court of Justice. They couldn't let it slide.

"Get everyone ready. Tonight will be a sleepless one."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Chevreuse continued to scrutinize the warning letter in her hand.

"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?" she muttered.

-

A grand performance always requires meticulous preparation.

Having stepped onto the stage, Luna understood this even more profoundly. Every expression, each line, every gesture, each note—splendor demanded its price.

Standing before the information board, Luna's gaze focused on a single point on the map.

Sinthe.

It sounded like a beverage, but it was actually a highly addictive elixir.

Downing a bottle would leave you bursting with energy, but it would also plunge you into a subsequent state of debility, your mind consumed by the thought of "just one more bottle." Countless families had been torn apart and ruined by this substance.

It also possessed hallucinogenic properties.

Initially touted as a "miracle potion" in Fleuve Cendre, it later garnered a complete ban. Yet evidently, Sinthe was still circulating throughout Fontaine.

Luna's eyes shifted to a corner of the map, indicating Fontaine.

"That's one of the spots right there."

Due to the unplanned nature of the situation, coupled with the fact that these Sinthe trafficking gangs always fought a guerrilla war—moving on to the next location after selling in one place—they never lingered long in any specific area.

Thus, there was no feasible way to scout ahead.

"But we don't need to," Luna observed. Generally, they'd be equipped with dedicated henchmen and illegal security forces.

However, Luna was well-versed in dealing with both people and security forces.

She took out her pocket watch: it was now three in the afternoon.

The operation was set to begin at eight in the evening.

"Waiting always feels so long," Luna muttered as she sat on the sofa.

Fortunately, after this operation, she would face another trial.

Fontaine would never be boring - someone had once said that, and Luna wholeheartedly agreed.

Time passed minute by minute, second by second, until finally, nightfall arrived.

Sure enough, the streets now showed the presence of the Special Task Force. To ordinary thieves, these forces were the embodiment of death; encountering them meant certain arrest.

But for the Phantom Thief, no audience was more loyal than they.

One announcement letter, and they'd all rush over.

More punctual than fans, even!

Luna turned, donned her Phantom Thief outfit, and equipped herself with a pistol, a single-handed sword, along with an assortment of other small items like flying knives and stun grenades.

Last came the mask.

"It's eight o'clock... Right on time."

Showtime.

Luna shut her pocket watch and put on the mask.

Hopping onto the roof, she gathered wind beneath her feet, building up energy... then released it, transforming into a nimble white shadow that flashed past the bright moon.

-

"Boss, you really think the Phantom Thief won't come after us?"

The man with the scar on his face looked at the warning letter in his hand.

Countless families lost to your vile crimes,

Your future and hopes now pay their fines.

The cost is steep, but the trade is moot,

All I demand is the Scarlet Fruit.

Signed: Phantom Thief White Cat.

What's with this guy? How does she know our movements?!

The man tightened his grip on the warning letter, his voice dark and murderous. "Even if he's onto us, all that awaits him is a dead end. Since when has Gueret ever feared anyone?!"

"But once the Maison Gardiennage investigates, won't we've all run far away?"

"Shut up—this is for your own good!" Gueret tossed the crumpled letter aside.

"Hmph, we know all Fontaine's secret passages. And we have our people within the Court of Justice too. She'll never find us!"

"Heh-heh-heh... That's true... Money really does wonders, doesn't it? Even officials in the Court of Justice have to listen to money's sweet tune," one subordinate chuckled quietly, wiping his hands.

Gueret pulled out a bottle of Sinthe from the box and took a hearty swig from its neck.

"Even if they don't listen to money, their children will ensure they do. Sinthe's ventures have many entanglements, don't you see? To root us out entirely? Ha! What can the Phantom Thief even do? Isn't she just another criminal himself?"

"Who knows? If we toss her some cash, she might just switch to our side!"

"Phantom thief? Sure, if you want to put it politely. She's nothing more than a common thief...."

Bang!

The sudden crack of a gunshot shattered the night's silence. The Sinthe in Gueret's hands erupted, sending fragments and water splattering in all directions. The loud noise startled everyone at the scene.

"Who's there?!"

Turning back, a pure white figure stood illuminated by the moonlight. A wisp of white smoke rose from the gun muzzle, obscuring the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Luna holstered her pistol and bowed with even greater flourish and apparent ease than before. "I'm Phantom Thief White Cat, here as promised. Allow me to give you all a little welcome gift."

She snapped her fingers.

Boom—!

A massive explosion shook the heavens, flames erupting in a blaze of light.

"B-boss, our entire stock... it's all been... blown up by that damned girl!"

Gueret's face turned sinister. "What?!"

"Are you aware of how much those Sinthes were worth?!" he roared furiously.

"Oh, I'm fully aware," Luna replied coolly, her expression as frigid as ice. "They were worth... precisely nothing."

In the next instant, her expression shifted as she offered a smile. "But putting on a fireworks display isn't bad, is it?"

Meanwhile, elsewhere:

"Hey, what's with that massive noise over there?"

"Was it an explosion?"

"Quick, call the security force!"

Chevreuse blinked, casting an uneasy glance at the composed face of Chevreuse beside her.

"Captain, could this be..."

"...The special task force must deploy immediately. I suspect the Phantom Thief is in that area."