Chapter 91: What about me?

Phantom Thief White Cat. Furina murmured the name.

Ever since their first formal meeting, she'd felt an inexplicable connection, as if their minds resonated in perfect harmony.

"I don't want to stand on the stage anymore, I don't want to be seen by others—don't look at me!"

Those words had captured her true feelings.

But if she didn't act, who else would?

Abandonment meant countless Fontaine deaths. Failure meant destruction.

Being a Phantom Thief sure is carefree.

A mask allowed one to act freely.

Putting on a mask is actually taking off the real one, isn't it?

And she was the exact opposite.

It didn't matter. Once her plan succeeded and the performance of "Hydro Archon Focalors" concluded, she would regain the freedom to express herself. She could shed this mask and return to her true self...

Or so she hoped.

"After all, I can't even remember what my original self was like anymore."

Furina sighed. At that moment, Sedna's voice called from outside the door.

"Lady Furina, there's urgent correspondence for you!"

Urgent correspondence? Could it be results already? Furina's eyes lit up. She hurried to open the door, accepted the document, and carefully examined its contents.

"Hmm, I see..."

She flung the paper onto the table.

"Everyone, look at this!"

The next day at noon, inside Chioriya Boutique:

Chiori, Navia, Luna, and Chevreuse had gathered together.

The conspicuous document caught Chevreuse's attention, but Chiori was more focused on a different question.

"Why must we discuss this here in my shop?"

Furina crossed her arms, her tone smug. "Does it need explanation? This place never gets any customers anyway!"

"Haah?💢"

"I-I meant Chioriya is a suitable location," Furina stammered, her gaze avoiding direct contact.

Inazuma women are truly terrifying.

Chiori sighed. "This is a clothing store. I really can't understand why you keep coming here to do things that have nothing to do with clothes."

"Isn't it quite nice?" Luna smiled.

"Not at all. Guests can't come over anymore."

"Then I'll buy you."

Chiori responded mildly, "Take her away, Chevreuse. She wants to engage in human trafficking."

Luna moved behind Navia. "Then I'll buy Nana instead."

"You'd have to buy the entire Spina di Rosula too, then?" Navia said with a smile.

Chevreuse glanced at Luna but didn't join their banter.

"I never expected you to come in person, Lady Furina. I'm deeply grateful. What is this?" She bowed and asked.

"No need for questions. You'll understand after seeing it!"

Chevreuse picked up the document and quickly skimmed through it.

"Is this a research report from the Academy of Sciences?"

Furina puffed out her chest. "Exactly! I gave the Tears of a Maiden and Sinthe to the Academy for analysis. As I suspected, they contain an identical component."

"If my reasoning is correct, this component is what transforms people into non-human entities!"

"As for why those who drank Sinthe didn't change, it's likely because - the quantity wasn't sufficient."

In other words: it wasn't a lethal dose.

Furina raised her head in triumph and laughed heartily. "Ha ha ha ha! How about that? Praise my wisdom, my dear subjects! This is undoubtedly decisive evidence."

"Keep your voice down," Chiori said.

"Ah, yes... um..." Furina immediately lowered her voice. "Anyway, that's the gist of it."

"Many thanks, Lady Furina. Please accept this humble offering." Luna decisively presented Furina with a box of pastries, treating it as a sacrificial tribute.

"Truly worthy of being my stage partner. You possess keen discernment," Furina remarked, accepting the pastries. She promptly sat down and began eating with a fork.

Though she had merely handed over items for analysis, she acted as if she'd made tremendous sacrifices.

Yet this behavior didn't clash with Furina's established persona, so no one took notice.

"...Has Lady Furina not slept well?" Luna suddenly asked.

Furina had been about to put a pastry in her mouth, but froze at the question.

How could Luna tell?

"Y-you're overthinking! Don't presume to interpret every Archon's gesture or word. Baseless speculation is a detective's greatest pitfall, isn't it?" Luna smiled. "You're right, I misread the signs."

"Good that you understand."

Neither the Phantom Thief nor this girl could be taken lightly. Furina secretly exhaled in relief.

Fortunately, everyone else remained focused on the clues.

"Once this component increases," Navia said solemnly, "it can cause people to..."

Chevreuse murmured, "Yes, turn them into liquid."

"I've never heard of such a thing," Luna interjected. "Normally, if something dissolves a person, shouldn't they become blood and water?"

"Moreover," Navia added, "this almost seems like Fontaine's prophecy."

The three women turned their gazes toward Furina.

The dessert in Furina's mouth suddenly lost its flavor.

"Lady Furina, do you know anything about this?"

"Eh? Well, you see..."

Of course I don't know anything!

Furina racked her brain for ways to change the subject when Luna placed a cup of tea in front of her.

"Prophecies don't always come true," Luna said. "What's more important now is the case itself."

"Indeed..." Chevreuse agreed. "Let's share what we've found. I investigated the Callas case, focusing on the Confrerie of Cabriere's estate."

Seeing the conversation return to familiar ground, Furina relaxed.

If only the mirror version of me could tell me more.

But sometimes knowing more isn't necessarily a good thing.

Especially when it comes to my role.

Furina absentmindedly sipped her tea... Too hot!

"What did you discover?" Navia asked earnestly.

Chevreuse raised a finger. "To dissolve the target at the perfect moment, we must observe Callas, Jacques, and the third party simultaneously without drawing attention."

"The only vantage point that allows this is the second-floor window."

Chevreuse raised a second finger. "Only three people were on the second floor at the time: Marcel, a man called Mungoth, and another... whose identity and name remain unknown."

Normally, one would immediately suspect this mysterious third party.

But that would play right into the culprit's hands.

"It's practically telling us to investigate the third party," Luna said.

"Exactly. It's likely a decoy," Chevreuse agreed.

At this point, Navia raised her hand. "I have intelligence that can further narrow down the possibilities. Or rather, eliminate incorrect answers."

Navia smiled. "Don't underestimate the Spina di Rosula's intelligence network. While we've been enduring and waiting, I've had people investigate numerous leads—especially regarding the creator of the Tears of a Maiden."

"His name is the 'Phantasmal Jeweler'."

"And his name is Mungoth!"

Chiori exclaimed in surprise, "I thought that was just a children's story."

The Phantasmal Jeweler was a relatively obscure legend.

If children ventured out after nine o'clock at night, they would be captured by the Phantasmal Jeweler and transformed into beautiful gems.

The Court of Justice had once investigated this in connection with the Serial Disappearance Case.

After all, rumors don't arise without reason.

But naturally, they found nothing. After all, the missing persons were all young women in their prime, not children, and there were no gems to be found.

"It's not uncommon for criminals to use urban legends as their modus operandi," Luna mused.

Navia nodded. "I also noticed because of the word 'gem.' Moreover, we've found what appears to be the Phantasmal Jeweler's base."

"Really?" Furina exclaimed, startled.

"Yes. Now that we have everyone's information, everything can be pieced together."

The Tears of a Maiden was merely another product in Sinthe's dominant criminal industry.

They dissolved people using Sinthe's raw materials, then crafted them into gems and sold them for astronomical prices.

Perhaps even more "gems" have already flooded the market.

"Not only that, but the Phantasmal Jeweler seems to have acquired a substantial amount of jewelry, metals, and minerals—like the Celestial Star..."

[Treasure Information Discovered: Celestial Star]

"...Whirlwind Conch..."

[Treasure Information Discovered: Whirlwind Conch]

"...Ten Rings Coin, and so on."

[Treasure Information Discovered: Ten Rings Coin]

Does this guy really have that many treasures?

Now we have no choice but to pay him a proper visit.

"I imagine it's meant for crafting new gems or other ornamental pieces," Navia said.

Chevreuse nodded. "Tell me the address."

"You're mobilizing the Special Task Force?" Chiori asked.

"Partially. But not entirely."

If they were facing something capable of melting people, deploying too many would only increase casualties.

In such cases, Chevreuse explained, a small elite team should make the direct assault.

"I'll have the rest of the team maintain perimeter security outside. We'll breach the interior ourselves."

Navia nodded vigorously. "Exactly! That's precisely what I was thinking!"

She suddenly took Luna's hands. "Wait for me, Lulu. Without a Vision, even your combat skills won't protect you. Let us handle this!"

"What about me?" Chiori asked casually.

"Heh, you can wait too, Chiori! I know you have a Vision, but the situation's different this time."

Chiori pondered briefly. "No, I'm coming too."

"Huh?"

"Wouldn't that put your mind at ease?" Chiori looked at Luna.

Luna nodded confidently. "Right. Chiori's punches are brutal. Don't worry." 

ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

Chiori snorted softly. "That remark was unnecessary."

What's with this atmosphere?

It's like I'm the only one being left out... Furina sipped her tea, feeling restless. But forget about the Vision—her own combat abilities were already tragic enough.

Still, no need to worry. She'd anticipated this situation.

"Don't fret. You still have another ally!"

Luna asked curiously, "Is Lady Furina going to join us?"

"Huh?! Th-this... Archon power should only be used when necessary. A mere Phantasmal Jeweler can be handled by my loyal subordinate." Furina forced composure.

Loyal subordinate?

Could it be...?

As if summoned by Furina's words, the door pushed open and she walked in.

Clorinde placed a hand on her hip. "I'll take Lady Furina's place in this endeavor."

Navia pressed her lips together.

So it was her after all—the strongest Champion Duelist, Clorinde.

Chevreuse casually flipped through documents, thinking:

"That white cat will probably come sniffing around too."