Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart!

Chevreuse... Luna murmured the name.

As an adventurer, she occasionally worked with the security force on cases that required a bit of rough and tumble. That's when she'd sometimes bump into Chevreuse, who was carrying out her duties.

Their relationship wasn't nonexistent—just barely acquainted, like two people who'd crossed paths a couple of times.

But even so, seeing someone so familiar pointing a gun at her, Luna couldn't help but marvel at life's unpredictable twists and turns.

But what did any of this have to do with the Phantom Thief White Cat?

And as Chevreuse's gaze bore down on her, Luna felt a sudden surge of excitement.

Not the kind with air quotes.

It was just that, all of a sudden, she thought to herself:

"It seems even a phantom thief must have someone to chase them, no?"

Whether it's detectives or police officers, the tale of the Phantom Thief continues because of their existence. Luna believed this wholeheartedly as she put away her pistol and looked back.

Navia was still chasing her.

Though their speeds differed greatly, the young master of the Spina di Rosula's stamina was truly astonishing. But Luna had no intention of sitting idly by either.

Glancing at Chevreuse, Luna moved her lips slightly.

Come get me.

Chevreuse read her lips, her frown deepening further.

What a blatant provocation.

But once she apprehended this phantom thief, that smile would surely find its way onto her face instead.

Criminals were always like this—smiling cheekily before being locked up, only to start crying pathetically afterward.

Luna leaped, landing on the roof below.

Chevreuse immediately gave her orders: "Surround her!"

The Special Task Force shifted from defense to offense, rushing to various intersections in an attempt to intercept the escaping Luna. However, whether it was swords or guns, all their efforts proved futile.

It's about time to end this.

Luna had initially hoped to make a grand debut, but she couldn't possibly overcome the endless influx of police forces.

Knowing when to quit was key; this allowed one to survive longer in the long run.

"Now that I've achieved enough notoriety and spectacle, it's time to withdraw..." Luna murmured to herself.

Her words had barely echoed when two figures appeared simultaneously from the front and rear, launching a pincer attack.

Upon closer inspection, it was Chevreuse in front and Navia at the back.

Both possessed Visions, so if anyone could apprehend her in this crowd, it would undoubtedly be them.

Navia charged towards her, axe raised high.

Luna's feet exploded with energy as she leaped to dodge. Just then, a searing bullet whistled past from an unexpected angle.

Although the Spina di Rosula, which Navia led, was a civilian organization, it previously enjoyed a high reputation. Since she took over, the Society had maintained connections with Fontaine's law enforcement agencies, often collaborating closely.

This familiarity extended to Chevreuse as well, allowing them to work in harmony during operations.

However, the Core Pursuit Team's primary objective was to apprehend criminals. Unless faced with extreme circumstances, their protocol was to aim for non-vital areas, crippling their target's mobility, then swiftly deliver them to medical treatment followed by trial and incarceration.

Thus, predicting the trajectory of their shots was remarkably straightforward.

"Still, it's quite a hassle," Luna said, flicking the bullet away with her sword and landing gracefully on the ground.

Navia panted slightly, heaving her axe over her shoulder. "That's right, you've certainly caused no small amount of trouble. Now, hand over the stolen Tears of a Maiden and surrender quietly. That way, you might serve a few years less in prison."

Man, she sure can run!

If Luna continued to elude her for much longer, Navia feared that when it came time to face off, she'd be too fatigued to fight effectively.

Chevreuse had reloaded her musket at some point and now leveled it at Luna.

"The Special Task Force is here! Don't move!"

Luna sighed dramatically. "To think I'd end up crossing paths with Miss Chevreuse. Seems like I'll be making my grand exit right after my entrance. All right, I give up." She raised her hands slowly.

Navia nodded appreciatively. "A prodigiously talented prodigal returned to the fold—one such transformation is priceless. The sooner you recognize your errors and make amends, the better. You're clearly so gifted—why choose to be a Phantom Thief? Could it be that you're the disciple of the Phantom Weasel or something like that?"

As she spoke, Navia sent a meaningful look at Chevreuse.

Chevreuse understood the unspoken message.

Navia was attempting to distract Luna with her chatter, creating an opportunity for one final strike.

How could such a brazen and skilled Phantom Thief obediently follow orders and surrender voluntarily? There must be some trick involved.

"Phantom Weasel? Please don't lump me together with that kind of tasteless character," Luna said, clearly affronted.

Navia, puzzled, asked, "Tasteless? But aren't you two in the same line of work?"

"Does being in the same line of work mean I can't find another's actions distasteful?"

For a moment, Navia was at a loss for words, realizing there was some truth in that.

"I'm not just out for everything, mind you," Luna continued. "I wouldn't even steal a child's birthday present. Seriously, if someone paints me as their peer after retrieving something like that, they'd be pushing my buttons."

Navia smacked her hand to her forehead. "You're right! That certainly sounds revolting."

"Exactly, don't you see?" Luna's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I wouldn't stoop to those levels. A thief who steals anything and everything is nothing more than a despicable, shameless pickpocket."

"You think you have such exquisite taste?" Chevreuse snapped coldly.

"Oh, I certainly do, in fact."

"I don't pilfer children's belongings and have no intention of ever doing so, unless the child happens to be an old man enjoying a second lease on life."

"I refrain from swiping items meant for lovers; stealing such things invites divine retribution, unless the lover in question turns out to be another old man having a grand time."

"I stay clear of elderly people's possessions as well, unless the individual in question is a legendary old man relishing his final days."

It's crucial to emphasize these points three times—clearly and concisely—to avoid getting hit with a boomerang of ridicule.

"Catch my drift? A Phantom Thief without principles is nothing more than a masked pickpocket," Luna said with a smile, which only deepened the frown on Chevreuse's face.

These criminals were the most troublesome.

They knew very well what they were doing and had set for themselves an unbreakable bottom line.

But precisely because of this, they often became very stubborn, and it was incredibly difficult to make them submit.

Naviya was rather surprised. "Then why did you bother stealing the Maiden's Tears?"

"Your question sounds like asking 'Tell me, what kind of work do you do?' Because it was beautiful and very valuable to me, I wanted to get my hands on it. Do you have a problem with that?"

Embarrassed, Naviya said, "No. Wait, yes, I do have a problem!"

Chaotic and hurried footsteps were approaching from all directions.

Reinforcements were arriving.

Luna put on a show of surrendering. "It seems I'll fall into your hands today."

"That's okay, we'll treat you gently," Naviya said earnestly. "Change your ways, and you'll be part of our Spina di Rosula!"

Surprised, Luna asked, "You won't hold it against me?"

"No, why would I? You have principles and ability. Besides, you look very young, so perhaps we'll have many things in common."

Unlike before, Naviya offered her hand. Her smile held not a trace of cloudiness, looking quite sincere. It was obvious she wasn't saying it casually but meant it wholeheartedly.

Once Luna changed her ways, she would be brought into the Spina di Rosula.

In that split second, Luna felt that this smile, this genuine beauty, far surpassed the treasures she had just acquired. It was enough to make her heart leap, wanting to reach out and touch that face...

So she extended her hand.

Chevreuse's index finger tightened on the trigger ever so slightly.

Navia was also ready to produce her silver handcuffs. Her words had been spoken without a hint of falsehood, but they hung on the condition that Luna would reform.

But in the next instant, a small sphere slid out from Luna's sleeve.

"Huh?"

"It's dangerous!"

Bang! The sphere suddenly burst, filling their senses with an ear-piercing noise and blinding light.

Navia jumped in fright, while Chevreuse immediately squeezed the trigger.

The flying bullet seemed to have struck something, but the sound that echoed was muffled yet hard.

It missed, Chevreuse's mind informed her.

Sure enough, when sight and sound returned to normal, Luna had already retreated to the rooftop, bathed in moonlight.

Luna's voice was clear and bright: "Miss Navia, you're so unfair! You asked for a handshake, yet you were ready with a pair of silver handcuffs?"

"Because the whole point is that you must take responsibility for your actions!" Navia said sternly, hands on her hips.

"Miss Navia thinks I'm wrong?"

"You are wrong."

Luna placed a hand on her chest and extended the other. "I thought so too, but so what?"

Luna's footsteps whirled as she executed a circle with steady, graceful precision.

"I'm a phantom thief. I'll stop at nothing to obtain what I desire, and I'll ignore everything else."

"Of course I understand right and wrong, but why should I care? From now on, I'll continue to collect even more beautiful treasures. I'll never stop because I want to keep going."

Luna smiled. "If you want to stop me, catch me first."

"But alas, currently, none of you can manage it. Wait until the dust settles and take a look back at your collections. Besides the Tears of a Maiden, you might find you're missing something crucial."

Chevreuse narrowed her eyes. "You... could it be that you stole something else?"

"Maybe."

Chevreuse raised her hand, and the Special Task Force, who had arrived just in time, instantly raised their guns.

"Take her down."

"Well then, goodbye."

Luna bowed in farewell, only to be met with a volley of gunfire.

Yet the bullets didn't touch her; they didn't even come close. Luna vanished into the moonlight as if she had never been there at all.

Silence enveloped the scene.

"Captain," Chevreuse asked anxiously, "she... the Phantom Thief, she..."

"...Begin a grid search immediately."

Though she gave the order, Chevreuse knew the truth:

She's already gone.