Chapter 93: Wives' Combined Assault

This Phantom Thief White Cat truly moved like a shadow.

She'd infiltrated the facility before they even arrived, maintaining her usual aggressive tactics.

But this worked to their advantage.

Chevreuse thought: Play it tougher, Phantom Thief White Cat. Let me see your true capabilities.

The more she understood the Phantom Thief's true strength, the greater her chances of apprehending her. Chevreuse would never abandon this conviction or her plan.

Even in this emergency situation...

The Phantasmal Jeweler's base facilities were located underground, and the deeper they advanced, the further down they went.

A speaker on the wall suddenly blared: "Damn Phantom Thief! Stop! Or I'll dissolve you into water and turn you into a gem! I said stop!"

Boom! Another explosion seemed to have occurred somewhere, its muffled sound reverberating.

Chiori looked at Chevreuse. "Is she trying to destroy the whole place?"

"Perhaps."

Earlier, Luna had wanted to destroy the Tears of a Maiden.

...But one couldn't expect anything from her. She might have just been acting on a whim.

A just Phantom Thief? That was far from the truth.

"It's likely just something caught her eye, and she couldn't resist giving it a slap to make it fall," Chevreuse said with an impassive expression.

Navia remarked with subtle amusement, "That's a real cat, isn't it?"

"More or less."

"Wait, enemies approaching." Clorinde drew her sword and gun.

Chaotic footsteps came from all directions.

"Over here!"

"The Special Task Force and Spina di Rosula...? And there's a Champion Duelist too!?"

"Why's there a tailor here?"

Every enemy blocking their path was fully armed, wielding firearms and sharp blades.

Mercenaries? Or private guards?

Chiori raised a smile that didn't reach her eyes and drew her twin blades. "Look down on tailors? Very well. Though I've never made a shroud before, sewing it together shouldn't be too difficult."

Navia cycled the bolt of her umbrella gun, chambering a round. She lunged forward to the enemy's face, then pressed the barrel against their chest.

Bang! One foe went flying.

Gripping the umbrella handle, she swung it upward.

"Guh!" The brute-force strike knocked her opponent to the ground with a pained cry.

"Full speed ahead!" Navia shouted. "No one's stopping us now! Anyone who tries gets a bullet!"

"There's a wild young lady here who rivals the Phantom Thief," Chiori remarked with a sigh.

"Strictly necessary force. No mercy required—just don't kill them."

"Alright."

Though well-trained, the enemies were still overwhelmed in moments by the Four Virtuous Ones' combined assault, left sprawled and immobile.

The horn screeched again: "More intruders? Identify yourselves!"

Chevreuse fired without hesitation, a Pyro element bullet shattering the horn into fragments.

"You don't need to know. Keep advancing!"

"Right!"

A shrill alarm suddenly wailed.

Thick iron doors crashed down, sealing every exit in the room.

Another voice blared through the speakers: "Heh-heh-heh! Did you really think I'd come unprepared?"

"That guy warned me about fools like you showing up recently. He even sent me a batch of Primordial Sea-Water specifically to dissolve your overconfident asses!"

Primordial Sea-Water? Navia muttered. "So Sinthe's raw material is this... Primordial Sea-Water?"

Click. The sound of machinery activating drew her attention back.

Several pipes extended from the upper walls.

"This can't be..." Navia's expression turned grave.

"Exactly! This batch of Primordial Sea-Water will flow in through here, and as Fontaine people, you'll all be dissolved right here!"

Another crucial piece of information.

As Fontaine people?

Does that mean only Fontaine people will be dissolved? Chevreuse pondered while reloading her grenade launcher. She exchanged glances with Clorinde.

"Overload the door and blow it open."

"Roger."

The speaker's volume suddenly surged: "Nice try! Dissolve now! Primordial Sea-Water, spray!"

The pipes spurted out Primordial Sea-Water!

...That's how it should have been.

A single drop of vibrant liquid slid down from the pipe's mouth.

-

Nothing happened!

Speaker: "....."

Chevreuse: "....."

Clorinde held her gun, electro elements dancing across its surface. She tilted her head slightly. "Shall we continue?"

"Good question," Chevreuse replied, her face impassive.

The Speaker's tone turned frantic. "Fire! Why aren't you firing?!"

"Wait, why isn't the pipe connected to the tank? Could it be—"

The iron door swung open in response.

A window slid up in the wall, revealing a white figure behind the glass who raised her skirt in mid-air.

Luna continued disengaging the mechanism, smiling as she said, "How regrettable. Compared to drinking tasteless liquid, I'd rather sample these four lovely young ladies."

Doors in multiple areas opened simultaneously.

"Damn monster—"

Luna pressed a button, cutting off the speaker's connection.

"Praise only needs to be offered once," she chuckled.

Through the glass window, their eyes met.

"Thanks," Chevreuse's lips moved slightly.

"Thank you, Phantom Thief White Cat," Navia said, with Chiori and Clorinde nodding in agreement.

This feeling is truly strange, Luna thought. I bet today's thanks amount to a month's worth. She tapped her cheek.

"Hm? Cheek?" Navia asked, puzzled.

Chevreuse deliberately ignored the gesture.

She knew exactly what it meant, but there was no need to acknowledge it.

Seeing this, the smile on Luna's face grew even wider.

She pointed ahead, then flipped into the ceiling slot, vanishing behind the glass window.

"Let's go. We should be near the end," Chevreuse said.

"Mm..."

Though they were enemies, the thought of the Phantom Thief White Cat nearby, ready to help at any moment, made Navia feel secure instead.

If only she would use her power for good...

Chiori remained silent for a moment.

"What's wrong, Chiori?" Navia asked.

"...Nothing."

She just thought the Phantom Thief looked very similar to a certain fat cat.

Shaking her head to clear the thought, Chiori followed the others.

Their final destination was a massive space that resembled a factory.

"A factory?"

"Assembly lines... The things on them are..."

The machines were still operational.

Upon closer inspection, the crystalline objects lying on the conveyor belts were indeed "Tears of a Maiden"... or rather, low-quality imitations of the Tears of a Maiden.

Countless gems fell from the conveyor belts into boxes, forming small mountains.

Navia picked up one of the gems and examined it carefully.

She couldn't discern anything specific, but she could tell these were inferior to genuine Tears of a Maiden.

A hand took the gem from her grasp.

"These are mass-produced items."

"Phantom Thief White Cat..."

Luna smiled faintly at her, holding the gem and squinting. "The quality is subpar, and the consciousness within is barely perceptible."

"It's as if a single person's spirit has been divided into hundreds of parts, and this... is just one of those fragments."

"Undoubtedly, it's a repulsive counterfeit."

Clapping echoed through the space.

Through the gem, a blurred figure approached.

When the gem was set down, the stranger's features became clearly visible.

A man dressed as a gentleman clapped his hands lightly. "As expected of the Phantom Thief. You can identify the essence of these mass-produced items with just a glance."

"You're Mungoth?" Clorinde asked.

"Correct! I am Mungoth of the Phantasmal Jeweler. Welcome to my workshop, uninvited guests!" Mungoth spread his arms wide.

"Is this where you turn people into gems?" Navia asked in a low voice.

"To be precise, I refine them."

Despite facing formidable opponents, Mungoth maintained his confident demeanor. He rubbed his palms together. "I wasn't the one who discovered dissolution or utilized it, you know? I simply received these—these continuous supplies—from that person."

He pressed a button on the remote.

Cylindrical tanks rose one after another, their contents clearly not seawater.

"What are these?" Chevreuse's voice remained calm.

"Girls. Or rather, what were once girls. They've been dissolved into this liquid, but their intense consciousness still lingers within, like echoes."

Mungoth reached out. "Beautiful, aren't they?"

Just as his hand neared the tanks, a bullet whistled past his fingers.

Chevreuse's gaze could have pierced through steel, yet her voice remained steady. "Don't touch them."

"Tsk... What a violent creature."

Mungoth touched his bleeding palm.

"These people are already dead. I'm just recycling their bodies, Captain of the Special Task Force. Though I understand your anger, I'm willing to..."

He raised both hands.

"Surrender."

It can't be that simple, Chevreuse thought.

As expected, Mungoth suddenly reached into his coat. "You think I'd say that?! I'll dissolve you all and turn you into my gems..."

Fumbling. Fumbling.

...Where's it gone?

"Are you looking for this?"

Luna tossed a small jar. Inside was the precious Primordial Sea Water he'd meticulously prepared.

Impossible! How did she steal it?!

Navia couldn't help but praise, "Well done, Phantom Thief White Cat!"

Chevreuse glanced at Luna, her face never showing a trace of unease.

She knew this Phantom Thief would never come empty-handed.

"Phantom Thief White Cat..."

Mungoth took a breath, forcing a smile. "Shall we make a deal?"

"A deal?" Luna asked with interest.

"Exactly. You love treasures, don't you?"

Mungoth patted the small pouch at his waist. "See, I've prepared the treasure you want. All you need to do is throw that jar at them."

Four pairs of eyes focused on Luna.

Mungoth raised his chin. "And after this, whatever treasure you desire, we can obtain it for you!"

Can we make peace, Phantom Thief?

Chevreuse stared wordlessly.

Luna smiled faintly. "What an enticing proposal."

Chiori and Clorinde frowned. What did this mean?

"Heh."

Chevreuse suddenly laughed.

"...What's so funny?" Mungoth felt a sudden unease.

"Doesn't it seem like your bag is quite empty?"

"What—"

Mungoth hastily opened his small pouch.

It was completely empty!

How did she steal it?!

Luna licked her lips. "Thank you for the hospitality. I'm very satisfied with these three treasures. As for your proposal, I must decline."

"Because the treasure I desire most is right here beside me."

Luna smiled. "Captain, your shot earlier was truly beautiful. It practically pierced my heart."

"There's no need for such words," Chevreuse said coldly.

Mungoth, enraged, shouted, "The Special Task Force Captain is actually colluding with the Phantom Thief!"

"So what if I am?" Chevreuse aimed her gun at Mungoth.

Luna slowly raised her pistol. "Heroes and villains fight side by side for the same goal."

The gun barrel aimed at Mungoth.

"These kinds of plots never get old, do they?"

So you know you're the villain? Navia thought.

Clorinde glanced at Luna.

The Phantom Thief White Cat is nothing like she imagined... Still, having another trustworthy companion is always good.

Even if it's only for this one time.

Chiori sighed. "Enough chatter. Just cut him down."

"Tsk! With no other choice, I must resort to my ultimate measure!"

Rumble... The floor began to shake. Chevreuse, Luna, and Clorinde immediately pulled their triggers, but the bullets were blocked by a rapidly rising platform.

A massive Clockwork Meka ascended through the opening hatch.

Not this again?

"Why does Fontaine have so many Clockwork Mekas being exploited?" Luna sighed.

Navia groaned, "I was just about to ask the same thing."

"Just consider it the fate of weapons," Clorinde murmured.

Mungoth climbed into the cockpit of the massive Clockwork Meka, his voice booming through speakers:

"Even you Vision wielders will never defeat this Clockwork Monster!"

Chevreuse ignored him. "White Cat, what time is it?"

"7:00."

"We'll finish this in five minutes."

Luna closed her pocket watch with a smile. "Fifty seconds will suffice."

"Thirty seconds," Clorinde countered.

Luna nodded. "Then I'll take twenty."

"Fifteen," Clorinde whispered.

"What's there to argue about?" Navia couldn't help but interject.

"Ah..." Chiori sighed.

After a moment's silence, Mungoth shouted, "You fools... Don't underestimate my invincible Ironclad Troll!"

What a pathetic name, Navia thought.

"Pathetic," Luna said aloud.

She actually said it.

"...Phantom Thief! I'm not done with you yet!"