Chapter 75: The Aesthetics of Flirting

This abandoned house was once home to a family of fishermen, Chevreuse explained.

"However, since the water levels keep rising and show no signs of stopping, this place would eventually be submerged. That's why it was abandoned," she added.

She placed a portable lamp on the table and turned it on. With a soft hum, the room filled with a cool glow.

"Sit down."

"Not going to your home? Had to come to this sort of place?"

Chevreuse didn't respond. She casually pulled over a chair and sat down.

Luna, on the other hand, immediately perched herself on the table facing Chevreuse.

"You really enjoy being up high, don't you?" Chevreuse said in surprise.

No matter the situation, this girl always insisted on standing or sitting in elevated positions.

"If Miss Chevreuse wishes, I could move a bit lower," Luna suggested without shifting her position. She propped her arms on the table, legs swaying casually as she smiled.

"If you utter such words again, I'll fire. I have no interest in wordplay with you..." Chevreuse replied impatiently, then produced the familiar gem from within her robes.

The Tears of a Maiden.

"Monsieur Neuvillette said it indeed contains human consciousness and voices—and not just one," Chevreuse recalled.

Neuvillette? Luna pondered. Come to think of it, he must have been around for quite some time... What exactly is his background?

Luna's knowledge of Neuvillette was limited. While her "father" surely knew more, she had never mentioned these details to her. What she did know was:

1. Furina brought him here.

2. He highly values and cherishes the Melusines.

3. And, he is a judge so fair that he could be mistaken for cold-blooded.

Setting aside this mystery for now, if Neuvillette said this gem was significant, then it must be true.

Like Chevreuse, Luna trusted the impartiality of this judge.

"Did you know this truth from the start, which is why you attempted to steal it?" Chevreuse asked.

"No, I just wanted to take it."

Chevreuse didn't find this surprising.

Moreover, Chevreuse couldn't discern if Luna's words held any truth.

Luna took the Tears of a Maiden and scrutinized it closely. "So our deduction seems correct. Someone has the ability to transform a human body into a substance suitable for crafting gems."

"The question lies in whether it's liquid or solid," Chevreuse murmured. "Once we can differentiate between the two, it may open new avenues and perspectives for the previously unsolved cases."

"... I believe it must be liquid."

Chevreuse remained deep in thought without looking at her. "Your reasoning?"

"The rain."

"Rain?"

"If I were the culprit, I would choose liquid. Transforming a person into powder and dispersing it with wind or burying it in the ground always carries a risk of detection."

Chevreuse narrowed her eyes, taking up the thread. "And Fontaine certainly doesn't lack for water."

Luna bent down and tugged at Chevreuse's bangs.

"A single rainstorm is enough to wash away all traces of sin. Quite efficient, isn't it?"

"But that also means there won't be any evidence left behind," Chevreuse said.

"Exactly. Obtaining direct evidence would indeed be challenging. However, you've known all along who to suspect, haven't you?"

Confrerie of Cabriere

Chevreuse murmured, "So we've come full circle, back to where we started."

Many things had become clear now; the truth was slowly emerging.

It was a significant breakthrough.

And much of it could be attributed to the phantom thief standing before her... although this certainly complicated matters. Chevreuse lifted her eyes and grasped Luna's wrist.

"Let me say this first."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

A hint of surprise crossed Luna's face before she tried to pull back her hand.

But it was held firmly.

"Saying thank you while holding on so tightly? Too much enthusiasm might scare people away, you know." She gave up on withdrawing her hand, instead sliding off the table to stand face-to-face with Chevreuse.

"Because you don't seem to have any intention of returning the Tears of Maiden."

Luna twirled the jewel in her fingers before casually tossing it into her sleeve.

"You know there's a deceased girl's soul in there."

"I do. But I don't know what you intend to do with it." Chevreuse's tone remained cold as she scrutinized Luna, showing no signs of letting go.

"What do you think I want to do?"

"I don't know. I don't understand you."

Every word Chevreuse spoke today seemed to catch Luna off guard.

Luna studied her for a moment before teasing, "Does that mean Miss Chevreuse wants to understand me?"

"If necessary."

"To capture me?"

"Yes."

No wonder.

Luna found Chevreuse's response satisfying—this crisp, straightforward attitude was exactly what she expected from her. Simple and pure.

"I want to destroy it."

Chevreuse fell silent for a moment. "As of now, it still belongs to the Cabrier Chamber of Commerce."

"Do you think I care?"

Of course not.

If Luna wanted to steal a treasure, she would steal it. If she wanted to destroy something, she would destroy it. That was nothing surprising.

But Chevreuse chose not to comment on it.

"Why do you want to destroy it?"

That was what she truly wanted to know.

"Be honest." She added.

Even though she couldn't tell whether Luna was telling the truth or lying, she had a feeling that the phantom thief, eager to be understood, might just grant her wish.

Yes, this was a gamble. She didn't like gambling, but sometimes, preferences didn't matter.

"Understanding me is fine, but why should I grant the Captain's request?"

"..."

"Let's make a deal. Let me wipe your sweat, and I'll tell you. If I'm in a good mood, I might even tell you more—especially about what you need to be careful of next."

Chevreuse saw through her immediately. "You just want to use the Special Patrol Unit."

"Then why not use me in return?"

"You have no credibility."

"We're not partners, so why should I care about credibility?"

Luna wagged her finger, feigning disappointment. "People should take responsibility for their words, you know. Captain, you rejected my proposal and now you're accusing me? How unfair."

Even without pointing guns at each other, the tension between them was palpable.

If they weren't fighting with weapons, they were at least sparring with words.

Chevreuse found it exhausting. She would much rather interrogate a criminal than keep playing this tug-of-war with the phantom thief.

"Tell me—what is it about me that makes you so eager to toy with me?"

That was blunt.

Luna saw no need to hide her intentions and answered directly. "Your heart, of course."

"I see. So you enjoy breaking people's spirits?"

"Absolutely not. On the contrary, when I encounter a beautiful soul, I only want to cherish and protect it. Please don't doubt a phantom thief's aesthetic."

Luna paused for a moment before leaning in slightly, her thumb gently brushing against the beauty mark at the corner of Chevreuse's lips.

"But I do find your beauty mark rather charming, Miss Chevreuse." A faint blush tinged her face.

"…The towel."

"Hm?"

"If you use your hand instead of the towel, I'll shoot you full of holes."

Luna was briefly stunned before bursting into laughter. "Wow, you actually knew what I was thinking. Looks like you really are starting to understand me."

Sigh… Chevreuse could only feel a headache coming on.

"Let go."

"No."

"Then I'll have to use something else to help wipe you down, you know?"

Hearing that, Chevreuse hesitated for a second before finally letting go.

A threat only works if the other party is actually likely to follow through.

And with Luna, that probability was definitely over 50%.

"Good. That's more like it."

Luna picked up the towel and gently lifted Chevreuse's chin. The slightly rough fabric brushed against her neck, and as it passed her throat, she instinctively swallowed—Luna could feel the movement through her fingertips.

Luna: "...….."

Chevreuse: "..."

Chevreuse could feel Luna's thumb softly massaging her neck through the towel.

The motion was delicate, gentle, devoid of malice—yet it made her tense. Perhaps she shouldn't have agreed to this.

She didn't believe Luna had any ill intentions, but she still wasn't accustomed to such close proximity.

"Even in death,"

Luna's voice pulled Chevreuse back to reality.

"I wouldn't want to become something for others to admire. I imagine the souls trapped in that gem feel the same. Don't you think so, Miss Chevreuse?"

Chevreuse couldn't deny it. "…Yes. But it's still someone else's property."

"You could just pretend you didn't see it."

"No."

Chevreuse caught Luna's wrist—not forcefully, but firmly.

"It's evidence."

"…That's true." Luna easily withdrew her hand and pressed it lightly against her chest.

"The thing you want is right here. Care to reach for it?"

Chevreuse took a deep breath and pulled out a small utility knife.

"I'll use a knife."

"Don't ruin my clothes."

Luna sighed, seemingly losing interest. With a flick of her wrist, Tears of a Maiden slid out of her sleeve. She tossed it back to Chevreuse effortlessly.

Chevreuse caught it midair—only to hear Luna's parting words:

"You owe me another kiss now."

"That doesn't count."

Since when did stealing a treasure, returning it, and then demanding a kiss become a legitimate trade?

Chevreuse was firmly against exploiting loopholes in the rules, though this was indeed a gray area.

Luna, however, wasn't particularly concerned. What she truly cared about was Chevreuse's reaction.

"So, what you're saying is—the previous one did count?"

Chevreuse gazed at her quietly.

"Yes."