[The Star of Order and Justice - The Special Task Force and the Marechaussee Phantom]
[Recent collaboration between the Special Task Force and the Marechaussee Phantom has led to the arrest of yet another Court of Justice official involved in Sinthe Industries corruption. This marks the sixth such arrest by the Special Task Force this month alone.]
["She's absolutely unstoppable!" praised the unnamed President of the Spina di Rosula.]
[Despite the accolades, Captain Chevreuse remained remarkably calm. "Just doing my duty. No need for praise."]
[What has made Captain Chevreuse more formidable than ever, striking terror into the hearts of countless criminals?]
["The competition," she replied simply.]
Turenna folded her newspaper, nodding repeatedly.
"Heh heh, everyone's praising us and the Captain. It feels pretty good to be trusted like this, don't you think, Captain?"
Chevreuse flipped through a case file, replying casually, "I don't care. Apprehending criminals is our job. We simply did what we were supposed to do."
"You always say that, Captain," Turenna sighed.
"Because it's the truth."
That's not it either.
Chevreuse closed the file and rubbed her temples.
"Captain, you've been poring over old cases and archives for days now. Is there a major case you're investigating?" Turenna asked, concerned.
A major case? Probably.
But it was already closed. Chevreuse propped her chin on her hand, the image of the masked woman resurfacing in her mind.
"I'm investigating cases that might be related to Phantom Thief White Cat's past."
"Eh? White Cat's?"
Chevreuse nodded without elaborating.
Phantom Thief White Cat's past cases... If she could find them, she might be able to confirm her true identity.
But with the limited leads she had, trying to pinpoint White Cat's real identity among all abduction and child trafficking cases from the past ten or even twenty years would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"This is too difficult."
Couldn't that White Cat have given us more to go on? Chevreuse sighed deeply.
"The Captain seems awfully focused on the Phantom Thief lately," Turenna remarked.
"Because she's my rival," Chevreuse replied casually, picking up her coffee and taking a sip.
"Could it be... that the Captain has fallen for Phantom Thief White Cat?" Turenna blurted out suddenly.
"Pfft—cough, cough, cough..."
Chevreuse choked on her coffee, spitting it out. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and snapped, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I just..."
"Just?"
"...Nothing."
Phantom Thief White Cat might expect her to continue pursuing justice, but Chevreuse refused to be bound by such expectations.
Capturing criminals wasn't about personal glory; it was about upholding Fontaine's order and justice.
Thankfully, none of the case files or archives had gotten wet. Chevreuse carefully stowed them away.
"Captain!"
A member of the Special Task Force hurried over, looking flustered.
"What is it? Why are you in such a panic?"
"Th-there's an announcement card..." He held out a card.
Turenna gasped. "Did the Phantom Thief finally wake up from her nap?"
What treasure is she after this time?
"That's not right," Chevreuse said, recognizing it instantly.
This wasn't the kind of card Phantom Thief White Cat typically used. The handwriting was different, and most importantly, the message itself was unlike anything she'd ever written:
"Charlotte, I will claim your trophy when night falls—Phantom Thief Black Cat."
"How utterly ordinary!" Turenna scoffed.
"Phantom Thief Black Cat? Who's that?"
Turenna theorized, "Could it be Phantom Thief White Cat after a tan? Maybe she decided to change her name?"
Chevreuse raised an eyebrow, giving Turenna a "Are you serious?" look that made her scratch her head in embarrassment.
"I was just joking... This can't be a genuine calling card from the Phantom Thief White Cat, right?"
It was simply too bland. Even White Cat's earliest announcements had been far more flamboyant and ornate. Now that she'd even started incorporating riddles, it was clear she'd become highly skilled and confident in her craft.
Chevreuse shook her head. "I can say with certainty that it's not her."
It lacked that infuriating flair, and the card didn't carry White Cat's signature subtle fragrance.
"It's likely an imitator," Chevreuse concluded. "I'm surprised it took this long for one to surface."
"So, what should we do?"
"Same as always," Chevreuse replied. "We'll provide forced protection to anyone who received a warning letter."
Wait a minute. Chevreuse finally noticed something.
Charlotte? The name sounded awfully familiar. Could she be the Managing Editor of The Steam Bird?
"Captain! Another warning letter!"
"We've already seen it," Chevreuse said without looking up.
"No, this one's different."
Chevreuse raised her head, her brow furrowing. "...From White Cat?"
Both phantom thieves are planning to act?
Then I'll chase... Well, actually, there was no need to overthink it.
We'll capture the one who isn't White Cat first.
A member of the Special Task Force nodded and handed her a card that was intimately familiar.
The style, the handwriting, the feel, the scent—it was undoubtedly the real deal. And the contents brought unanimous nods of approval.
The card read:
Two phantoms walk the midnight stage,Each cloaked in mystery, each hiding their face.Both steal, yet only one with grace—A title earned, or just a borrowed place?
When silence breaks with thunder's cheer,And violet eyes begin to clear,One truth shall shine, the rest undone—Whose mask shall vanish with the sun?
I seek the Lavelle Trophy, sign of justice true.Will it reflect me… or you?
Signed: Phantom Thief White Cat.
Perfect! Exactly the kind of declaration we were expecting! The Special Task Force members nodded in unison.
"Two phantom thieves are targeting Miss Charlotte's trophy?" Turenna asked, her expression odd.
Phantom thieves fighting each other?
Poor Miss Charlotte. She's really having a bad day...
Of all people to choose, why her?
"Usually, reporters chase the news," Chevreuse remarked with a sigh. "But this time, the news is chasing the reporter."
Shortly after, the Special Task Force arrived at Charlotte's doorstep. They obtained permission from Charlotte and her family to enter, though even without it, they would have proceeded with their routine of forced protection.
In any case, they entered Charlotte's home.
"You secure that side," Chevreuse directed. "You take that position, and the rest of you search the house."
If their only concern were Phantom Thief White Cat, there wouldn't be much to worry about. That flamboyant thief would simply make a grand entrance, seizing treasures with exaggerated flair, relying solely on skill and bravado.
But their primary target now was the self-proclaimed Phantom Thief Black Cat. If Chevreuse were planning such an operation, she would have meticulously prepared contingencies during her reconnaissance. It was possible that Charlotte's home had already been infiltrated.
"Can I take pictures?" Charlotte asked, raising her Kamera.
"...You really aren't worried at all," Chevreuse sighed.
Click. The Kamera clicked, capturing the Special Task Force in action. The flash illuminated the anxious faces of Charlotte's parents.
"It's no wonder Managing Editors get targeted by criminals," her mother lamented.
Turenna asked curiously, "I heard Miss Charlotte received threatening letters and had mud smeared on the newspaper office's entrance after writing that exposé. Is that true?"
Charlotte sighed. "It's true. To avoid the spotlight, my editor-in-chief even sent me to Mondstadt to cover the GI TCG tournament. I wasn't back for ages."
"Don't worry, we've already apprehended those thugs," Chevreuse assured her.
"One of them even tried to attack us with a weapon. The Captain rewarded his knee with a bullet," Turenna added with a nod.
Hearing about Miss Captain's exploits, Charlotte's parents' expressions softened slightly.
Chevreuse offered to have the three of them wait at Special Task Force headquarters until the situation was resolved, but Charlotte immediately refused.
"Phantom thieves fighting each other? How could I miss such an explosive story!"
Considering Charlotte's Vision and her ability to defend herself—as long as she avoided confronting Phantom Thief White Cat—Chevreuse reluctantly agreed to let her stay on the scene.
"Be careful, Charlotte."
"I know, I know. White Cat wouldn't hurt me anyway. She has her own code and principles."
Chevreuse gave her a skeptical glance. "...I strongly advise against trusting Phantom Thief White Cat in any way," she warned.
"I don't trust her, but I do trust her aesthetic sense."
Isn't that the same thing?
Charlotte pulled out a roll of film. "If the Special Task Force needs to reload their guns, I need to feed my Monsieur Verite with film too."
I have to capture every single moment!
Chevreuse tugged at her hat and sighed. "Fine. Where's your trophy?"
"I don't know where I put it," Charlotte replied absently.
"Honestly, I wouldn't mind if Phantom Thief White Cat took my trophy. But Phantom Thief Black Cat might be after more than just that..."
After reloading the Kamera, Charlotte raised it and aimed the lens at the Special Task Force.
Click! Another shutter sound.
But when Charlotte looked closer, she saw a hand covering the lens.
Chevreuse withdrew her hand, her expression unchanging. "All photos taken from now on must be submitted to me for review afterward. Understood?"
"Understood."