Spy-nah he'd Lose
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Night had fallen, the hour hand pointing to ten.
This was the hour the fireplace at the House of the Hearth would go out, and the time specified in the Announcement Letter for the Phantom Thief's strike.
"Who would have thought we'd be infiltrated by the Phantom Thief White Cat?"
"What exactly has Luna been learning out there?"
"Shh!"
Lyney raised a finger to his lips. "Stay quiet. If we don't hide properly, Luna will find us easily."
The House was pitch black, all lights extinguished.
The children lurked in the shadows, awaiting the arrival of their "uninvited guest."
This was the welcome ceremony Luna had requested, and their chance to showcase their growth and skills under their "Father's" watchful eye!
Though some grumbled—this is utterly pointless—as members of the House of the Hearth, they knew they must advance together as a family.
Refusal wouldn't be seen as betrayal, but it would undoubtedly disappoint Madam Arlecchino.
Lynette had already concealed herself, poised to strike at any moment.
But their trump card remained the meticulously prepared "Magic Trap Mechanism." Knowing Luna's personality, she wouldn't rush straight to the finish line. Instead, she would boldly accept their attacks head-on and then dismantle them.
The other children held their breath.
The older generation, well aware of Luna's capabilities, wore tense expressions, while the younger ones buzzed with eager anticipation.
"I heard Sister Luna isn't afraid of anything. Do you think she could withstand my poison too?"
"I don't know... Just don't underestimate her."
In the office, Arlecchino sat with her legs crossed, eyes closed in meditation. She could sense a familiar presence approaching, accompanied by a flood of moonlight.
"She's here," Arlecchino murmured.
Bang!
The door burst open, and a radiant figure bathed in moonlight materialized before everyone's eyes.
A crown adorned with shimmering jewels, a vibrant red single-shoulder cape draped dramatically, and that flawless mask—seemingly etched into the very genes of Fontainians—left no doubt: it was her!
The Phantom Thief White Cat, who was also their family member, Luna Snezhevna.
She had actually walked right through the front door!
Lyney had imagined Luna might leap in through a window, drop from the ceiling... but she had simply barged in through the main entrance.
It was a pity they hadn't alerted the authorities. Captain Chevreuse, Fontaine's most ardent Phantom Thief enthusiast, was absent.
Lyney swiftly signaled with his eyes: Stop her!
Ideally, they should seize her treasure to prove their strength.
That's right—this time, the Phantom Thief's mission wasn't to steal treasure, but to defend the one she already held!
Luna clearly understood this. With a faint smile, she casually produced a delicate little cloth pouch and shook it slightly.
"It seems quite a few of you missed seeing me on stage. What a pity."
Luna hung the cloth pouch at her waist. "But you should feel honored. Even without the spotlight, in this pitch-black theater, you can still fully appreciate my performance—as a defeated opponent, of course."
Attack! Lyney signaled with a raised hand.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Nearly invisible crossbow bolts flew from the shadows.
Luna flicked her cloak, the crimson blur deflecting every bolt with a swift, sweeping motion. The spinning bolts instantly exploded into a cloud of mist.
Poison!
Inhaling it would paralyze the entire body!
"Seal the doors!"
Walls and the ceiling suddenly unfolded, wooden panels slamming down to completely seal the room.
This was a tactic the children of the House of the Hearth often used when turning the tables on their pursuers.
Make the enemy believe they're the hunters, lure them deeper, and then strike at the optimal killing spot!
Though the Special Task Force carried firearms, they were ultimately under the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice and the Law, bound by restrictive methods and forbidden from using lethal force.
But the children were different.
Without fighting, they couldn't survive—they would consider any means, no matter how brutal.
"How do you like it, Luna? This is just the first trial we've prepared for you!" Lyney said anxiously. He knew this simple trap wouldn't hold her.
But this was only the first step.
"Truly classic."
"She's talking?!"
Some of the children exclaimed in surprise.
"Then she must have inhaled the poison! Victory is ours now—"
"Truly classic."
Hmm?
This voice... something's off!
Lyney immediately drew his bow, Pyro Element gathering at the arrowhead. The arrow pierced through the wooden wall—the second step.
Then he channeled Pyro Element throughout the entire wooden wall—the third step!
Boom— The sound of burning gas filled the air.
The burning wooden walls collapsed in all directions, revealing at the heart of the crackling flames...
"A phonograph?"
Where's Luna?
A slender wooden rod descended from above, picking up a wisp of flame with a gentle tap. A section of the chandelier flickered to life, illuminating Luna's figure.
She was perched on the chandelier itself!
Whoosh...
She gently blew out the flame on the wooden rod, a smile playing on her lips.
"When did she—?" Lyney's expression turned grim.
Luna raised the rod and tapped the ceiling.
Pfft... The sprinkler system activated, drenching the room in a curtain of water that extinguished the flames before they could spread.
In the stifling air, only Luna's cheerful voice echoed.
"Flammable gaseous poison ignited with Pyro Element—a truly excellent choice.
"But alas, the fog concealed the prey's silhouette. I thought 'Father' would have taught you better—never let your prey vanish from sight."
Freminet murmured, "She saw through our trap..."
The moment the crossbow bolts burst with gas, she had already vanished into the mist!
So, had they just been containing air and poison?
Oh, and a phonograph.
But this was merely a trap to create the illusion of success, lulling them into complacency.
In a real firefight, that momentary lapse in focus could have cost them several lives.
This was an operation that could be executed even without a Vision.
"I strongly advise against thinking, 'If we can just take one move from her.'"
A smile crept across her lips beneath the mask.
"Because with such a meager ambition, you won't even touch a single strand of my hair. I'm not someone who can satisfy such trivial desires."
Luna drew her sword.
"My turn now."
Lyney immediately called out, "Now!"
A gentle breeze swept through the room as Lynette materialized behind Luna. Her sword flashed, aiming to sever both the chandelier chain and Luna's pouch in a single strike!
This was the second trial—Lynette's ambush!
But as if she had eyes in the back of her head, Luna parried the strike with her blade.
Clang!
Not only did she protect the chandelier chain, but she also shielded her back perfectly.
Luna tilted her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips. "A decent sneak attack. Good evening, my lovely little kitten."
"...How frivolous."
She wasn't like this before.
Is Chiori the one who made you like this? Lynette thought, a hint of resentment in her gaze.
Luna slid down the chandelier, grasping it and using the momentum to kick out a leg. Lynette parried with her sword, but the force sent her flying against the wall.
No matter! Lynette landed nimbly on the wall, pushed off with a powerful spring, and leaped to another chandelier.
Hooking her tail around the fixture, she used it as a pivot, her body spinning around the axis.
Harnessing the momentum, she unleashed a burst of Anemo Element!
Cloaked in her cape, Lynette transformed into a swirling vortex, thrusting her sword forward with blinding speed!
"Since you've used your abilities, allow me to showcase mine as well."
Luna conjured Ice Threads, weaving them into a shimmering net.
She's trying to restrict my movements!
Undeterred, Lynette pressed on. The enhanced physical capabilities granted by her cat ears and tail far surpassed those of ordinary humans.
She weaved flawlessly through the web of Ice Threads, closing the distance to Luna in an instant—
Then she thrust her sword!
The tip of her sword pierced the rope securing the pouch at Luna's waist...
There was no blood, no sensation of impact—it felt as if she had struck empty air.
"You fell right into my trap," Luna said.
"Ugh?!"
The voice came from beside her.
When did she...?!
Luna snapped her fingers, and the figure of "Luna" dissolved like a dream bubble.
It was a phantom!
Realizing this, Lynette caught a glimpse of fluttering Ice Threads out of the corner of her eye. In an instant, they bound her hands and feet, sending her plummeting downward.
Luna reached out and caught Lynette, cradling her in her arms.
"You look so lovely, Lynette," Luna murmured with a smile.
Lynette blushed slightly and averted her gaze. "...When did you start talking like this?"
"Forgive me," Luna replied. "Being a Phantom Thief requires a bit of theatrical flair."
"That's called being frivolous."
Luna gently laid the bound Lynette on the sofa, then turned to face the darkness before her. She could, of course, discern the figures and expressions of the other children:
Some were shocked and uncertain, others were full of admiration, while others were crestfallen...
"Did everyone enjoy the free show? But I believe there's one final performance left, isn't that right, Mr. Lyney?"
Lyney replied earnestly, "That's right. We haven't lost yet."
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