"Lulu, if there's a Phantom Thief White Cat, does that mean there's also a Phantom Thief Black Cat?"
Luna, who had been resting on set, snapped back to attention.
A Phantom Thief Black Cat?
"You mean a copycat? That's certainly possible."
Maybe there's even a Phantom Thief Rainbow Cat or a Phantom Thief Blue Cat.
But ultimately, Fontaine can only have one Phantom Thief, and that must be her. Otherwise, orchestrating these events would become far more troublesome.
"But I doubt the Phantom Thief White Cat would approve of this," Luna said, leaning back in her chair.
"Why?" Clorinde asked from across the table.
Luna smiled faintly. "Because she wouldn't want anyone's attention to shift away from her."
Navia and Clorinde exchanged knowing glances. The Phantom Thief White Cat was notoriously flamboyant and craved the spotlight; she would never tolerate such a situation.
"And she certainly wouldn't want those chasing her to lose interest," Luna added.
The Captain of the Special Task Force hunting other phantom thieves? No way! Luna mused.
"Break time's over! Let's shoot the next scene. Everyone, places!" Furina clapped her hands and called out.
Luna stood up, but her gaze remained fixed on Furina.
"What's wrong? Are you mesmerized by my form?" Furina asked in surprise.
"Yes," Luna replied.
She actually admitted it!
Furina quickly averted her eyes. "I concede that my beauty is unparalleled in the world. As an Archon, my power and allure are absolute!"
"But don't let it distract you from your professionalism! I am first and foremost the director now, and only secondarily the God of Justice!"
Having rattled off the entire sentence in a rush, Furina turned away again.
For a fleeting moment, Luna's eyes seemed to pierce through her completely, much like Neuvillette's recent intense gazes.
Perhaps it was just her imagination... she'd been overly sensitive lately.
Furina sighed inwardly, avoiding Luna's gaze as she retreated behind the filming equipment.
"Next, let's shoot the first scene!" she announced.
It was an essential prelude to the story's main plot. Every captivating, moving, and heart-stirring tale needed a proper beginning.
"Lights! Cue!"
The lighting technician switched on the lamps and adjusted their angles.
"Actors!"
Luna stepped into the spotlight.
"Slate, ready."
Navia volunteered to take the clapperboard and snapped it open.
"Three, two, one... action!"
Clack. The clapperboard closed with a crisp, resonant sound.
-
"Phantom Thief Black Cat?" Charlotte blinked.
"Yes, I thought you might be interested, so I kept an eye out," Chief Editor Euphrasie said, pulling several slips of paper from her bag, each listing a different address.
Phantom Thief Black Cat.
This rumor had only recently surfaced.
Someone claimed to have received a pre-theft notice, but instead of being signed "Phantom Thief White Cat," it bore the name "Phantom Thief Black Cat."
By the time the Special Task Force could implement Forced Protection measures, the victim's valuables had already been stolen.
No one had ever seen Phantom Thief Black Cat's true face, and no traces were left at the scenes.
If White Cat was the epitome of "light"—dazzlingly brilliant, inspiring awe with every flamboyant and dramatic gesture...
Then Black Cat was "shadow"—elusive and undetectable, lurking in the darkness and striking with cunning precision.
Moreover, Phantom Thief Black Cat's targets... or rather, the loot, consisted almost entirely of valuable items.
There was none of White Cat's flashy theatrics or unpredictable flair.
Instead, this Phantom Thief Black Cat seemed more like a common thief operating under a glamorous alias.
"Any news on Phantom Thief White Cat?" Charlotte asked.
"I'm the chief editor," Euphrasie replied, leaning back in her chair and taking a sip of wine. "I don't run around collecting stories. How would I know?"
Charlotte chuckled. "That explains why Miss Euphrasie said she's been gaining weight recently."
Euphrasie snorted softly. If Charlotte weren't her prized journalist, she would have silenced her with a glare long ago.
"If anyone in this newsroom is likely to get a lead on Phantom Thief White Cat, it's you," Euphrasie said. "After all, you've been pursuing her as relentlessly as the Captain of the Special Task Force."
With that, Euphrasie handed Charlotte a draft of her article:
[The Enigma of Phantom Thief White Cat: Unveiling the Truth Beneath the Spectacle]
This exclusive report focused on Phantom Thief White Cat's latest operation—the shocking kidnapping that had shaken all of Fontaine.
Ever since Charlotte had theorized that Phantom Thief White Cat's true target was the Court of Justice, she had been tirelessly gathering intelligence, enduring considerable hardship.
"This won't pass censorship," Euphrasie said.
Charlotte's face twisted in disbelief, and she slammed her hand on the table. "Wait, why won't it pass? Did I write something wrong? I've proofread it at least ten times!"
"Your writing is flawless," Euphrasie replied.
"Then—"
"But it's too perfect, which is why it won't pass."
If everything was merely a performance orchestrated by Phantom Thief White Cat, what would become of the Court of Justice's reputation?
"Right now, Phantom Thief White Cat is the absolute villain, the criminal," Euphrasie stated bluntly. "And she can only be a villain and a criminal."
At that, Charlotte finally understood.
But understanding was one thing; accepting it was another. She slumped limply onto the table, groaning, "I spent an entire day and night writing this! I had to chug so much coffee I thought I'd burst!"
Charlotte blinked at Euphrasie. "Can't even the all-powerful Miss Euphrasie do anything about this?"
"No."
"Such a swift, decisive, and heartless answer!"
Personal connections aren't omnipotent, especially when fundamental interests are at stake.
"Let's wait until this whole mess blows over," Euphrasie said with a sigh. "Once the Court of Justice is no longer shaken by this kind of news, it'll be safe to publish."
"And when will that be?" Charlotte lamented.
"Who knows... Just hold onto your manuscript for now."
Charlotte stood up wearily and carefully sealed her manuscript.
There was nothing else she could do. Her only consolation was that she had uncovered the truth.
At least Fontaine now had one more person who understood Phantom Thief White Cat's true motives. Perhaps she wasn't as dangerous as people thought.
Still, it was best to avoid meeting her again. Charlotte couldn't forget her last embarrassing encounter with the Phantom Thief.
"Phantom Thief Black Cat, huh?" she muttered.
Her intuition told her this was a cheap imitation.
Yet her journalist's instincts detected explosive news potential! Clutching her notes, Charlotte began interviewing the victims, her mind buzzing with possibilities.
"It's true! That guy stole all our valuables without leaving a trace!"
"He's not as impressive as Phantom Thief White Cat."
"Oh dear, if it were Phantom Thief White Cat, she wouldn't be after our family's gold and jewels—she'd be after the Dragon Vein beneath our estate!"
"What? You don't know what a Dragon Vein is? That's a whole world of secrets! Ten thousand Mora for an hour-long lecture on the art of geomancy..."
Though Phantom Thief White Cat's reputation had taken a serious hit recently, everyone still placed unwavering trust in her aesthetic sense and treasure-hunting expertise.
In other words, Phantom Thief White Cat would never stoop to such tactics.
"Absolutely!" Charlotte nodded in emphatic agreement. "Phantom Thief White Cat would never do something like that. After all, I've been the Managing Editor covering her exploits since her debut." Some even joked that she was White Cat's second-biggest fan, after Captain Chevreuse of the Special Task Force.
But the fact that this impostor had deliberately named himself Phantom Thief Black Cat clearly indicated ulterior motives. Was he trying to ride White Cat's coattails? Or perhaps he intended to oppose her? Charlotte couldn't figure it out. She scratched her head with her pen and sighed.
"Why the sigh, Miss Charlotte?"
"It's because of this so-called Phantom Thief—"
Huh?
A sudden, faintly familiar voice startled Charlotte into complete silence. She stiffly turned her head.
Sure enough, a flash of golden hair caught her eye. Luna sat by the window, her blonde locks swaying in the breeze. Beneath her mask, her lips curved into a slight smile, her tone as gentle as if she were addressing an old friend she hadn't seen in ages.
"Good evening, Miss Charlotte. It's been a while. Did you miss me?"
Not at all!
Why is she here? This is my house!
Wait a minute...
If a Phantom Thief doesn't break into people's homes, they wouldn't really be a Phantom Thief, would they? No, no, that's not the point! Charlotte panicked.