Chapter 199: If our identities are exposed, we'll be...

"Freminet, are you really feeling better?" Lyney asked with concern.

Freminet nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine now. That awful feeling is gone."

"Good to hear."

Lyney visibly relaxed. Soon, they would be returning to the surface.

Their method for entering the Fortress of Meropide had been simple: put on a dazzling magic show and then make all the audience's wallets disappear!

This had landed them in jail quickly.

The missing valuables were hidden in a drawer next to the Court of Justice's archives. Once the enforcers found them, they could break out.

Even if the Court of Justice was utterly incompetent, they should still be able to find us... right?

In any case, Lyney's intuition told him they were close to escaping. Once they returned to the surface, Arlecchino would undoubtedly assign them a new mission.

The situation had become dire.

According to Lumine and Paimon, the secret of the Fortress of Meropide lay beneath the Gate: the Primordial Sea itself.

Duke Wriothesley, upon discovering this truth, had already begun preparing countermeasures against the Prophecy—a colossal ship designed to carry everyone and all their hopes.

Their mission was complete; all that remained was to relay this information to Arlecchino.

"The tremors we felt earlier in the Fortress of Meropide were caused by Primordial Sea water breaching the Gate. We don't have much time left," Lyney said gravely, lowering his head.

Freminet fidgeted, rubbing his arm uneasily.

Lynette whispered, "Brother, are you afraid of being dissolved?"

"Me? Well... I think anyone would be. What about you?"

Lynette lowered her cat ears slightly and nodded. "I don't want to turn into cat water," she said.

"What even is cat water?"

Lyney patted his sister's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll find a solution. Luna promised to join us for a long-overdue family dinner at the House of the Hearth, right?"

Lynette's expression softened. Yes, Lulu would return to the House of the Hearth.

Even though it was just a meal, and even though she hadn't yet forgiven Luna, Lynette couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.

If she truly didn't care about Luna, her heart wouldn't react so strongly to every little thing Luna did. Nor would she find herself fondly reminiscing about warm, cherished memories.

"Lyney, Lynette, Freminet, there's been a new update regarding your sentences," a staff member from the Fortress of Meropide announced, approaching with a file. "You'll be able to—"

Rumble... The entire space shook violently once more. Lynette's ears immediately drooped as she cowered uneasily. Lyney tensed, while Freminet stared around in confusion.

What's happening?

Is the Primordial Sea erupting again?

"Lulu..." Lynette murmured involuntarily.

Fortunately, the tremor subsided as quickly as it had begun. Within moments, it ceased completely. No strange-colored water surged in to engulf and dissolve them.

"I think... it's over?" Freminet whispered.

"Hard to say. Either way, we're clear to leave the Fortress of Meropide now, right? Then please expedite our release!" Lyney said, his voice tense.

Something was definitely amiss.

-

Meanwhile, in Poisson...

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from somewhere nearby, and everyone in the town felt the ground tremble beneath their feet.

"An earthquake?"

"No, look! The water—it's rising!"

"The color is different! This isn't ordinary water!"

Thanks to the Spina di Rosula's recent disaster drills, the residents of Poisson, now acutely aware of the danger, began fleeing to higher ground or seeking refuge in disaster shelters.

But the tremors and rising waters struck suddenly, with devastating force.

The sea's surface shimmered with an unnatural color, rising at an alarming speed visible to the naked eye.

"Mom?"

"Run..."

Before she could finish speaking, the woman, still frozen in the act of pushing her child away, dissolved into the Primordial Sea, leaving only her clothes floating on the surface.

Without reason, without end.

The encroaching sea relentlessly devoured everything the residents knew, including themselves.

Alerted by the commotion, Navia rushed out of headquarters.

Her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight: garments floated on the rising water, tangling together before sinking one by one.

The water silently melted person after person into nothingness.

It was a surreal, fleeting nightmare, like a phantom dream.

"Young Miss... what is this...?" Melus and Silver, who had followed her, looked grim.

But they quickly regained their composure.

"Young Miss, give the order!"

Navia snapped out of her daze and nodded. "Let's hurry and save everyone!"

"Understood."

The Spina di Rosula immediately launched their rescue operation.

"This way!"

"Stay calm!"

"Grab this rope!"

Progress was smoother than expected, but the water continued to rise...

At this rate, the entire town of Poisson would be submerged!

Navia pressed her lips into a tight line. Just then, she spotted two figures sprinting toward the water's edge.

It was Melus and Silver.

"Huh?"

Ahead of them, a woman carrying a baby on her back lay on the ground, struggling to crawl up the stairs. Her injured leg made it nearly impossible for her to move.

Navia glanced at the water, now lapping at the woman's toes. This is bad.

"Don't go! I'll handle it!" she shouted, darting forward.

With her Vision, she could rescue the woman and retreat swiftly—a feat impossible for those without such a power.

Melus and Silver seemed to hear her, but they didn't stop. Navia was still too far away; they couldn't risk waiting.

"Take the baby," Melus said, hoisting the woman onto his shoulder.

"Right."

The water had risen to their ankles, threatening to engulf their shoes.

"Run!"

Their only option was to sprint upward with every ounce of strength they could muster.

The surging Primordial Sea relentlessly pursued them, its silent, relentless tide closing in with alarming speed.

Navia, ahead of them, was getting closer.

She remembered every detail of Poisson, every face in the town. Several familiar figures had already been swallowed by the waters, now existing only in her memory and the memories of others.

I can't lose anyone else! Navia focused her Elemental Power, ready to surge forward and assist.

But then, with a sharp crack, the wooden plank beneath Silver's feet snapped.

"Silver! Melus!" Navia's pupils dilated wildly as she cried out.

Melus looked up in confusion, just in time to see Silver plunge into the water. That split-second hesitation was all it took for the tide to overtake him...

Click.

Suddenly, a crisp, mechanical click echoed through the air.

Huh? That sound... Navia felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she'd heard it before.

Several streaks of azure Ice Threads flashed across her vision, precisely ensnaring Silver's torso.

"Whoa—?!"

Silver let out a startled yelp as he was yanked into the air, soaring alongside the wailing infant.

Navia swiftly leaped forward and caught the baby.

Silver landed squarely on the awning, the taut fabric and cushioned support absorbing the impact with a cloud of dust.

Melus noticed that the Primordial Sea behind him had slowed to a crawl, as if time itself had been altered. Only one person could accomplish such a feat.

Sure enough, a golden figure materialized into everyone's view.

Silken threads coiled around the woman's body, lifting her effortlessly into Luna's arms.

"Please, have a seat," Luna said.

The woman stared blankly at the masked Phantom Thief before her.

"And, Monsieur, Miss Navia's lackey," Luna added, glancing at her pocket watch, "if you keep dawdling, you'll be swallowed by the sea!"

Melus snapped out of his trance and scrambled to safety.

Looking back, he saw the other residents who should have been consumed by the Primordial Sea lying sprawled on the ground. They looked uncomfortable, but they were alive.

Navia noticed this as well.

Could it be that the one who saved them was...

"Phantom Thief... White Cat..." she murmured.

Luna crossed her legs with a slight bow and smiled faintly. "Long time no see, Miss Navia."

Navia glanced at the Primordial Sea. The rising tide had halted and was now receding.

"The crisis seems to be temporarily averted," Luna murmured. "Now I can finally introduce myself properly."

A gentle smile graced her lips. "Yes, I'm your Miss White Cat. Did you miss me?"