Chapter 59: Chose between 'dad' and my girlfriend...

In that moment, both Luna and Lynette instantly realized who the person before them truly was.

The Phantom Thief White Cat was Luna.

This figure in black was Lynette.

And the other one must be Lyney—they were all once her "family."

And their presence here could only mean one thing.

Father had set his sights on this place, on Alkien.

And what was in his hands was undoubtedly the intelligence Father so desperately sought.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Luna's eyes.

She swung her sword again, forcing Lynette back before coming to a halt. Through the mask, their gazes locked.

Luna and Lynette remained silent, their expressions unreadable.

Something's off here, Lyney thought, noticing the tension.

The brief silence was suddenly broken by the arrival of reinforcements.

"Captain, my deepest apologies. We were delayed by the Phantom—"

Chevreuse raised her hand, cutting off their explanations.

What's with the Phantom Thief White Cat? Lyney wondered. She had abruptly halted her attack—could it be that she knew them? Chevreuse's scrutinizing gaze swept over the two figures, but she couldn't be bothered with such details.

"Arrest them!"

She was determined to seize the valuable evidence and had even ordered an attack against them. These two points alone were enough to warrant her orders for the arrest of Lynette and Lyney.

"Yes, ma'am!"

The Special Task Force and security guards surrounded them in layers, armed with both pikes and rifles, along with several clockwork meka-dogs that had regained mobility.

Suddenly, bright lights shone down on the trio.

Luna looked up. It was the inspection lamp the Special task force had hastily installed on the mansion's roof. The scorching beams of light felt far hotter than the stage lighting equipment, directly hitting their bodies.

"You're surrounded! Surrender immediately!"

Lynette and Lyney stood together, searching for a way out.

Luna remained motionless, feeling Chevreuse's gaze upon her.

This evidence was crucial for both the Special Task Force and the House of the Hearth. The former needed it to uphold the order of the City, while the latter wanted it to eradicate evil.

"White Cat, hand over the evidence. You know what it represents," Chevreuse said.

A complex expression crossed Lynette's face.

Who to choose? The Special Task Force or the House of the Hearth?

"...I'm afraid I can't comply," Luna chuckled softly, tucking away the notebook.

Chevreuse fell silent for a moment. "You don't plan on giving it to me, do you?"

"That's correct."

"You know them, don't you?"

At this point, Lyney belatedly realized what was going on. Lynette's unusual behavior combined with the faintly familiar air about them—could it be that the Phantom Thief White Cat was actually Luna?

Otherwise, Lynette wouldn't have acted so strangely.

Under their gazes, Luna smiled faintly.

"I don't. I just think this young lady is very adorable."

She's even more beautiful than before.

"That kind of thing—"

Who would believe her? Before Chevreuse could finish, Luna had already turned to face her.

"I've changed my mind. I'll be the one to take this treasure."

Chevreuse's expression remained the same, but inwardly she was confused: What exactly is she trying to do?

"... You think this is also a treasure?"

Luna pressed her hand to her chest. "Why not? Each stroke of the pen outlines the sin, every word weaves a string of truth's ugliness. Decaying text, dirty ink, corrupted souls... doesn't this all make up a different kind of 'beauty'?"

Chevreuse didn't believe a single word.

But belief was irrelevant. The evidence she sought was in Luna's possession, and Luna wasn't willing to hand it over—being a criminal herself.

The result was inevitable.

Chevreuse closed her eyes. "What an incomprehensible one... enough."

Although she had never truly expected anything from Luna, now she felt something close to disappointment.

"I'll extract the evidence from your body myself," she declared firmly.

Luna's smile widened. "This is what I expected. I trust you to be exactly like this, Captain Chevreuse. But I can't simply surrender without a fight either."

She gestured towards the spotlight. "Lights!"

Then at the crowd surrounding her. "Audience!"

"And the stage!" Luna pressed her hands to her chest—the stage being the platform she was about to perform on.

With her customary enthusiasm, she announced, "With all set, it's time for me to take the stage."

The air suddenly grew scalding.

The flow of elemental energy... "Let me heat things up a bit."

Luna snapped her fingers and whispered, "Ignite."

In an instant, flames erupted, coalescing into a massive, flowing sword of fire in Luna's hands! This was the Radiant Sword, forged from her very passion.

Luna raised the Greatsword of Passion, its bursting flames briefly painting the night sky crimson.

"Pyro... Pyro element?! But Miss Navia said she only had Anemo and Hydro powers!"

"By the Hydro Archon..."

Even Chevreuse couldn't help but be astonished.

As another user of the pyro element power, Lyney could understand Luna's control over the flames. More than that, he could vaguely read the color of the fire within the sword.

Exultant, fervent, resolute—pure to an astonishing degree.

Lyney mumbled, "Elemental power? She has the Vision? Or maybe..."

Could it be the delusion?

Nope. This power didn't feel like a delusion—so it was the Vision? Lynette stared at Luna, who was still standing at the center of the glow.

Luna stabbed her sword down into the ground.

"Everyone, back away!" Chevreuse shouted the order.

Suddenly, blinding firelight filled their vision, accompanied by an ear-splitting roar. Chevreuse instinctively closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the ground at Luna's feet had been reduced to cinders. Members of the special task force and maintenance crew lay scattered on the ground, apparently blown away by the blast. But curiously, they were unharmed—save for being coated in soot and dust.

Had they blown the situation out of proportion? Talked big but delivered little?

No, it's something else... Chevreuse murmured, her senses immersed in the flow of elemental energy. "Is it about precision control of power?"

...What an extraordinary mastermind! To manipulate elemental energy with such finesse.

She glanced at the spot where Lynette and Lyney should have been standing.

Empty, she noted. They've fled.

"You deceitful cat, your mouth spews nothing but lies," Chevreuse whispered.

"I'm afraid I don't quite follow your meaning."

"...Never mind. In the end, capturing you is still the answer." Chevreuse addressed her fellow hunters. "Can everyone continue the fight?"

Turenna clambered to her feet. "Yes, we can..."

"My rear's awfully sore from that fall, though..."

"No problem, Captain!"

Chevreuse's lips curved into a smile. "Excellent."

Her expression turned serious as she faced Luna.

"As you suggested, let's see if I can apprehend you while you're wearing that mask, Phantom Thief White Cat."

Chevreuse tightened her gloves, gripped her pike firmly, and barked, "All hands, prepare for battle! We're executing a mandatory arrest, now!"

"Aye, Captain!"

Luna unsheathed the Greatsword of Passion, holding her rapier in one hand and the mighty blade in the other.

With a smile, she lifted her rapier high. "My heart has always belonged to you, Miss Chevreuse. As for my body... if you can catch me, I'll leave it up to you what to do with me—I'll be yours to command, whatever your desire."

Was this... mockery of their leader?

The others couldn't help but glance at Chevreuse.

Her face remained impassive. "I don't believe you. You're just a criminal."

"My heart hurts."

"Then hurt until you lose consciousness. Let me take you away."

Luna's sword began to gleam with a liquid sheen.

Fire, water, and wind—the forces of three elements converging within one body.

A criminal wielding such power? How truly laughable.