Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

Unfortunately, the system's beginner reward only included skill points that could be used once per each skill tree.

In other words, Luna would have to prepare her own outfits, weapons, masks, and more.

"The thief's attire..."

Luna's mind immediately conjured images of a certain "average" high school boy who could summon multiple personality masks.

However, this system had a "grandeur" mechanism.

Thinking logically, the thief's attire would certainly factor into grandeur checks.

While that high school boy's thief outfit was undoubtedly stylish, in terms of grandeur... Luna shook her head slightly. It would be best to have an outfit featuring both white and gold.

But she wasn't particularly skilled in designing or crafting clothing.

Luna sighed. At least send me some clothes, really...

Should she perhaps commission her friends? If it were her old friends, they'd surely meet all her needs.

But this was a thief's outfit. If they designed it, anyone who saw it would instantly recognize the jumping thief as Luna herself.

It's probably better to make it myself, she decided.

Let's take inspiration from the security forces' design, with white and gold... And add a cape or some other decorations; that should do the trick...

Mulling over these thoughts, Luna began sketching rough ideas on paper.

"For weapons, we'll use these." She drew her own sword.

Though technically a "sword," it was actually just an ordinary one-handed model.

The kind you could find in any blacksmith shop—perfect for avoiding suspicion.

The other weapon was a pistol.

Or rather, a miniature version of the distinctive Fontaine flintlock gun. While not many in Fontaine used such firearms yet, she had procured this one through some special channels.

These small flintlocks lacked accuracy and had somewhat sluggish ballistics, but as a secondary weapon, they were more than sufficient.

Who wouldn't love to fire a rifle round before charging in for a kidney strike?

Of course, besides these, a master thief also needed various miscellaneous gadgets. But all her years as an adventurer hadn't been for nothing.

They had one week.

Luna muttered, "I still need to scope out the place."

She had to understand the layout of the exhibition site to maximize their chances of escape.

"Right, I should add the skills first."

Since they were essentially being given skill points, there was no reason not to use them.

The skill tree was divided into the following categories:

Path of Elegance: A series of showy attack skills, mostly elemental abilities like "Flame Cloak" and "Lightning Snap."

Path of the Shadows: A series of auxiliary skills related to theft, such as "Steal" and "Thief's Eyes."

Path of the Hunt: A series of attack skills related to martial arts, such as "Mastery of All Weapons."

Path of Knowledge: A series of auxiliary skills related to various professions, formulas, and treasure appraisal, such as "Acting" and "Pistol Forging."

The gifted skill points could only be used to upgrade each skill to level 1.

Luna started with the Path of Elegance.

Elemental abilities, huh... Luna pondered for a moment. She had experience using the Elemental Vision from the game and figured manipulating elemental forces directly would feel similar.

The element most suited to her, she decided, was wind. It offered versatility—both offensive and escape capabilities.

"You're it!"

Next, she tackled the Shadow Path.

This one didn't require much deliberation; starting with the basics seemed like the best approach.

[You have learned "Steal."]

[Steal (LV:1/5): Allows you to pilfer an item from a target located within 1 meter.]

Finally, Luna approached the Path of the Hunt.

Luna wasn't particularly enamored with martial arts skills. Her swordsmanship, spear techniques, and physical combat were already quite impressive. The low-level martial arts skill tree could only offer minor enhancements rather than a fundamental transformation.

Considering the emphasis on splendor, perhaps the more showy and extravagant options would be the best choice after all.

[Sword Dance]

[LV: 1/3:This skill is more dance than martial art! A sword technique as graceful as a dance, yet containing a deadly finishing move, capable of beautifully beheading an enemy.]

[Such is the essence of this extraordinary art.]

Choosing the path of Knowledge was no easy task.

If the skills above catered to her "Master Thief" persona, then Knowledge served the aspects of her character beyond that role.

Cooking, singing, appraisal, and more...

To be frank, she hadn't decided what to select. After much deliberation, Luna chose to let the matter rest for now.

There was no rush, as skill points wouldn't vanish into thin air.

It wouldn't be too late to address this after her first operation.

"Phew... With this settled, it's time to focus on creating the costume," Luna said to herself. "Apart from that, I must prepare the mask."

The next day, Luna dove into these preparations with gusto...

As the sun set on the sixth day, Luna gazed upon her work with satisfaction. Before her lay the floor plan for the exhibit, meticulously pinned to a board. Beside it stood a mannequin, adorned in the finished Master Thief costume.

If only her friend could see it now, Luna mused. The ever-critical eye would undoubtedly find a litany of flaws, no doubt leading to a barrage of advice that would last at least half an hour.

But she wasn't Spider-Man, blessed with a genius for designing battle suits. Achieving "not bad" was already commendable.

Sighing, Luna mused, "Creating costumes is no easy feat."

It's enough to exhaust one's brain, she thought.

"Now, just one last step remains."

That was the all-important warning letter!

Unfortunately, she lacked experience in crafting such missives, but she figured getting the main message across would suffice.

Luna picked up her pen and began to write:

Dear Confrerie of Cabriere,

Allow me to inform you that I have taken possession of your beautiful gem—the Tears of a Maiden.

Sincerely, Phantom Thief

She held up the card, feeling it still lacked something, but decided it was good enough.

During her reconnaissance, she had already devised a plan for delivering the warning letter directly to the guild master's hands.

As for why she mentioned only one treasure, "Tears of a Maiden," it was because she had something she wanted to test.

"Let's see now," Luna muttered with interest, "if my target is A, but I also steal B, how will the settlement look... I wonder."

A short while later, within the Confrerie of Cabriere.

"It's truly been ages since we last met. Navia, you're growing more and more like your mother each day."

Marcel, the current president of the Confrerie of Cabriere, wore a warm smile. As his age advanced, his legs seemed less steady, his movements slightly slowed.

Across from him sat Navia Caspar, the current president of the Spina di Rosula.

Her soft blonde hair cascaded in elegantly curled locks, clearly well-maintained. Her blue eyes sparkled with clarity, and her attire, a blend of elegance and sophistication, made her stand out like a radiant sun, drawing attention wherever she went.

If Fontaine were to crown an ideal lady, she would undoubtedly be the choice.

Navia smiled. "It's been a while, but saying it feels somewhat odd; it hasn't been truly long."

"Ha ha ha, perhaps my old mind is playing tricks on me... How is the Spina di Rosula faring these days?"

Navia shook her head slightly.

"I see," Marcel sighed, nodding in understanding.

"Ever since your father, Mr. Callas, was accused of murder, the reputation of the Spina di Rosula has never been the same..."

Naviya interrupted, "I'm sure we'll find a way. Besides, that's not why I came to see you today, Uncle."

Marcel smiled, "I know, I know. It's for the exhibition, isn't it?"

"Exactly! You did invite me, after all, so I had to show up. But tomorrow, with so many people around, it'll be hard to properly appreciate these works."

"'Tears of a Maiden' is truly the highlight of the show, after all," Naviya remarked.

Marcel was about to respond when he noticed someone rushing towards them out of the corner of his eye, and he stopped speaking.

"President! It's terrible!"

"What is it? Don't be so hasty..."

"Take a look at this!"

He handed over a card, which Marcel examined closely.

Naviya walked over to look at it as well and murmured, "'Allow me to inform you that I have taken possession of your beautiful gem—the Tears of a Maiden.' 

Sincerely,

"The Phantom Thief White Cat... The Phantom Thief!?"