Two days later.
The Opera Epiclese was packed to the rafters long before the proceedings began. The reason needed no explanation.
"The Captain of the Special Task Force colluding with the Phantom Thief White Cat? If that's true, it's major news!"
"Now this is going to be entertaining."
"I always thought something was fishy. Maybe the Phantom Thief White Cat even put her in the Captain's position..."
"Oh, listen to you! Even the wildest unofficial histories aren't that creative."
"If you're going to spread rumors, can you at least wait until you're in the Fortress of Meropide?"
The voices rose and fell, creating a deafening clamor.
Focalors' brow furrowed in displeasure. She stood up and declared in a loud, clear voice:
"Everyone, please remain quiet!"
At her words, the entire hall fell silent.
Clorinde secretly shook her head. What a farce, she thought. The main players haven't even taken the stage yet.
In the audience sat Furina and the others, along with the members of the Special Task Force.
Turenna muttered, "What is all this nonsense? The Captain is obsessed with chasing the White Cat, but that's because she wants to catch her!"
"Exactly! We're out on the front lines risking our lives to apprehend criminals, and this is the crap they pull behind our backs."
"Probably some vested interests at play again... So annoying. They do nothing but pull these petty tricks."
The aura of resentment radiating from the Special Task Force members was palpable enough to make nearby spectators break out in a cold sweat.
Chiori crossed her arms. "How does that saying go again?"
Navia replied, "If I can't get the Phantom Thief, I'll get you instead?"
"Right, that's the one."
Furina crossed her legs and huffed. "They're just asking for trouble, reaping what they've sown. They'll soon realize they've made a terrible mistake."
But Luna said she and Chevreuse have a plan...
What is their plan? To fight this case head-on?
Before long, Neuvillette appeared.
He stood at his familiar position, looking down at the audience, and tapped his cane lightly.
"The trial is about to begin. Please maintain order."
Then, the accuser and their defense attorney entered.
A woman with glasses and a formidable demeanor appeared, accompanied by a plainly dressed old man—the accuser.
Accuser: Hawk. Stand-in Defense Attorney: Gina.
Appearing on the other side were Chevreuse... and Luna.
"I never thought Captain Chevreuse, who's been sued countless times yet remains as defiant as ever, would actually hire a defense attorney."
Gina adjusted her glasses.
Luna smiled faintly. "And I never thought someone would bother to press charges, knowing they're doomed to fail."
"Tsk..."
Gina clicked her tongue. She disliked Luna. Detective, celebrity, defense attorney... Could anyone truly excel at so many jobs? She highly doubted it.
Chevreuse whispered, "I'm counting on you."
Luna smiled back. "Of course. Trust me."
Neuvillette tapped his cane. "Both parties are present. The accuser is Mr. Hawk, and the accused is Ms. Chevreuse."
"Mr. Hawk accuses Ms. Chevreuse of colluding with the Phantom Thief. I will ask once more—Mr. Hawk, do you wish to proceed with this accusation?"
"This charge concerns a matter of reputation. If the accusation fails, you will be required to pay corresponding compensation and face the consequences."
"According to court procedure, if you fabricate facts and intentionally make a false accusation... you will be charged with perjury and sentenced based on the severity of the offense."
Who was the Phantom Thief?
She was Fontaine's most notorious criminal, bar none! If this accusation were proven false, the punishment awaiting Hawk would be far worse than a few months or years of exile.
Chevreuse murmured, "No wonder they sent an old man."
He probably doesn't have many years left anyway.
Luna simply smiled without a word.
"Yes, I wish to proceed with the accusation."
Hawk nodded firmly.
"...Then let the trial begin. Both parties may present their statements."
Gina adjusted her glasses. "My side will speak first. Mr. Hawk suspects that Captain Chevreuse is colluding with the Phantom Thief. While they appear to be adversaries, they are secretly cooperating."
"The Phantom Thief issues an Announcement Letter, and Captain Chevreuse, under the guise of 'Forced Protection,' leads her team to the victim's residence."
"Ostensibly, they are preparing to confront the Phantom Thief. In reality, they are laying the groundwork for the thief's infiltration, creating vulnerabilities. The evidence is this: once the Special Task Force enters a victim's home, they immediately begin ransacking the place."
"The defense calls a witness to the stand."
Neuvillette nodded in approval.
A former star from the Hector Talent Agency took the stand, speaking with a slight tremor in his voice. "I saw it. Captain Chevreuse and her team were rummaging through everything in our agency."
Gina pressed, "What exactly did they search?"
"Uh… boxes, cabinets…"
Luna slammed her hand on the table. "Objection! The Special Task Force has two reasons for searching a victim's home."
She raised one finger.
"First, due to the unique risks of their profession, the Special Task Force has repeatedly faced surprise attacks like 'box bombs,' 'cushion bombs,' and 'hidden compartment firearms.'"
"Ensuring the safety of the scene is a protocol explicitly stated in the Special Task Force manual."
Chevreuse added, "I can show you exactly how many people the Special Task Force has lost…"
"Their hats are kept at our headquarters. Each hat represents a life—a tragedy caused by a single moment of carelessness. No matter what, we must ensure the safety of the scene."
At these words, the audience couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh.
"Indeed, the casualty rate for the Special Task Force is the highest I've ever seen..."
"My cousin wanted to join the Special Task Force, but after hearing how dangerous it was, he had to settle for the Maison Gardiennage instead."
"If they don't take responsibility for their own safety, who will?"
Furina nodded vigorously. "Exactly!"
Luna raised a second finger.
"Second, among those who received the Phantom Thief's announcement letters were known criminals. No one can guarantee that every recipient is an innocent, law-abiding citizen."
She produced a document and tapped its surface.
"This contains all the announcement letters issued by the Phantom Thief and information on their recipients. Some challenged the Phantom Thief directly, while others were secretly engaged in criminal activities."
"That is precisely why the Special Task Force must ensure absolute safety at the scene."
Luna said coldly, "The Special Task Force was created to ensure everyone's safety, yet now they are being doubted. Isn't that just heartbreaking?"
Chevreuse glanced at Luna.
She could feel the anger in Luna's words—a rare sight, as very few things could truly provoke her.
One was the truth about her biological parents.
The other was this very accusation.
Chevreuse smiled faintly. A phantom thief getting angry over the Special Task Force's plight... Anyone else would find it incomprehensible, but she understood perfectly.
This wasn't about their deal. It was fury at seeing justice slandered.
Luna had seen the hats preserved at the Special Task Force Headquarters.
"Miss Luna..."
Turenna was deeply moved.
"Looking at it this way, Miss Luna and the Captain would make a good match..."
"What are you saying? I don't think the Captain swings that way... right?"
Neuvillette tapped his cane. "Silence."
Chevreuse ignored her subordinates' gossip. What's done is done. Did it even matter if she "swung that way" or not?
Luna sneered. "It is now our turn. Based on the witness's testimony and Miss Gina's statements, am I to understand that you are suggesting the Special Task Force would leak information about the treasure to the Phantom Thief in some way during their investigation?"
Gina thought frantically, No, I can't answer that directly!
That would be slander!
Just as she was about to speak, the witness nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! That's exactly what I mean!"
Gina: "..."
Hawk slowly nodded. "That makes sense..."
Has the old man gone senile? Gina stared in disbelief.
"Very well. I have no further questions."
Luna smiled contemptuously.
"Miss Gina, it seems you've taken on a rather troublesome case."
Gina rubbed her temples, her head throbbing. "...It certainly seems that way."
This case is cursed!
But she had come this far; she couldn't abandon the defense now. To do so would be career suicide. Who would ever trust her to defend them again?
Gina wiped the cold sweat from her brow and took a deep breath.
"I believe Captain Chevreuse and the Phantom Thief are working together."
Hawk spoke slowly, as if in a daze.
"Where's the proof?"
Chevreuse asked.
"The proof... The proof is... let me see—the Phantom Thief has consistently left the treasures she steals at the entrance of the Special Task Force Headquarters."
Hawk picked up a slip of paper and read aloud.
Gina pressed her hands on the table and stated firmly, "Not only that, but the Phantom Thief has repeatedly made flirtatious remarks to Captain Chevreuse."
Pfft— Someone in the gallery burst out laughing.
Who was that? Gina glanced over but couldn't spot the culprit.
"So you're suggesting the Phantom Thief is Captain Chevreuse's lover?"
Luna asked with a sly smile.
"It's a possibility."
Chevreuse took a sharp breath. "That woman... The Phantom Thief's flirtatious remarks are just part of her nature. If you don't believe me, ask anyone here if she's ever flirted with them. Are they all her lovers?"
Chiori raised her hand. "She's flirted with me."
Furina huffed. "Me too."
Navia puffed out her cheeks. "Same here!"
Clorinde adjusted her hat. "To be honest, me as well."
"Me too!"
"The Phantom Thief flirted with me too, hehe!"
The audience, eager for drama, began shouting their own claims.
Neuvillette felt a sharp pain throbbing in his temples.
He banged his staff. "Silence! Maintain solemnity in the Court of Judgement!"
Luna smiled faintly. "As for why the Phantom Thief White Cat would leave her stolen treasures at the Special Task Force Headquarters, no one knows. Perhaps I should ask a question in return."
She raised her hand, gesturing for the audience below to respond.
"To all of you, what kind of person is the Phantom Thief White Cat?"
"Cruel!"
"Vicious!"
"Terrifying..."
Each person shouted a different answer, yet their varied responses wove together into a single, undeniable truth: she was incomprehensible.
"No one can understand the Phantom Thief White Cat," Luna continued. "No one knows what she's thinking. Perhaps she simply finds it amusing."
"At the very least, the 'evidence' presented by the prosecution is insufficient to prove any collusion between the Phantom Thief and Captain Chevreuse. If this is your final card, then victory already belongs to us."
The corner of Luna's mouth curled into a smirk.
"Or do you have more evidence you'd like to try and present?"
At this point, she and Chevreuse had essentially won.
But unfortunately for them, she had no intention of letting them off the hook. Now that she was once again serving as defense counsel, she was determined to crush them so thoroughly they couldn't fight back!
Hawk slowly reached into his pocket. Gina saw this and her heart leaped in alarm.
I told him that thing couldn't be used as evidence!
"Wait, Mr. Hawk."
Gina grabbed his hand.
"I have evidence..." Hawk mumbled, still dazed.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Gina's voice sharpened. "I request a recess! Mr. Hawk is not in a fit state."
Neuvillette observed Hawk for a few moments, then nodded.
"Have the medical staff come and examine him..."
Before he could finish, Hawk suddenly wrenched his hand free from Gina's grasp. He pulled a photograph from his pocket and declared triumphantly:
"This is it! I have a picture of them!"
The photograph showed two figures from behind, their faces obscured. All that was visible was them—or perhaps "them"—exchanging a document.
One figure had purple hair and wore a Special Task Force uniform. The other had blonde hair and wore a Phantom Thief outfit.
Chevreuse raised an eyebrow. "Hoh..."
Luna said, "So, new evidence has appeared. However, Mr. Hawk doesn't seem to be in a very good state. Monsieur Neuvillette, Lady Focalors, what do you think should be done?"
Every time Luna acts as defense counsel, something unexpected happens, Neuvillette thought.
Focalors, on the other hand, was all smiles. "If Mr. Hawk is not of sound mind, this trial would have to conclude. But since new evidence has emerged, why not examine it first?"
At that, medical staff rushed over, pulled Hawk aside, and began examining him on the spot.
The photograph fell into Luna's hands, and she studied it closely.
"Interesting. The outfits are quite detailed. A pity, though—"
Luna's tone turned serious. "—a pity that it doesn't match the photographs published in The Steam Bird! A simple comparison reveals the discrepancies."
Gina struggled desperately. "The Phantom Thief has changed her outfit before! This could be one of her spare sets..."
"The hat."
"What?"
Chevreuse took a sharp breath. "The details on the Special Task Force hat in the photograph are wrong. Our hats are all identical."
She removed her own hat.
"Feel free to compare them. But once the truth is revealed, I will not tolerate this kind of forgery."
"The Special Task Force hat symbolizes the heavy responsibility that constantly weighs upon us. For members who inherit their hats from their predecessors, it represents the passing of a sacred belief—"
Chevreuse's voice turned sharp. "It must not be faked!"
Clearly, she was seething with anger.
Neuvillette nodded, signaling for an expert to come forward and conduct a detailed comparison. Indeed, discrepancies in the details were found.
The materials and dyes used for the Special Task Force hats are extremely specific; it's impossible to replicate the color without the precise formula.
Of course, one could argue that the lighting in the photograph made the color appear different.
But the intricate patterns on the hat were another matter entirely.
The Special Task Force never cuts corners in the crafting of their hats. Wearing a hat imbued with such painstaking effort serves as a constant, tangible reminder to the members that they carry the hopes and expectations of others.
"The one in the photograph... it does indeed appear to be a forgery," the expert stated.
Looks like a forgery—those words alone were enough to seal the verdict.
The evidence's credibility had hit rock bottom.
Gina sighed. "Is it over...?"
Although Hawk was still being examined, Neuvillette and Focalors now had enough to render their judgment.
Focalors rose to her feet. "False evidence is a fatal weakness. The lie has completely unraveled. Therefore, I hereby declare the verdict of this trial—"
"Captain Chevreuse is... not guilty."
The stage lights instantly dimmed.
"Wh-What's happening?"
"Was that voice just now...?"
With a snap of fingers, a dazzling light erupted, flooding the entire space.
Bang! Confetti cannons exploded, showering the air with colorful paper and revealing the figure behind them.
Luna—the real Luna. The person beside Chevreuse had merely been a Masked Puppet controlled by her consciousness. She pressed a hand to her chest, bowing deeply in a theatrical, operatic gesture.
Then, she raised her head, her eyes beneath the mask glinting with amusement.
"Forgive my uninvited intrusion. I was simply too curious to see how this trial would unfold—and to discover who could possibly believe I would ever be an accomplice to my own rival."
"It's the Phantom Thief!"
"Sh-She's been here the whole time?" The audience's faces drained of color as they screamed and scrambled to escape, but the doors were sealed, and no one outside responded.
They were trapped, forced to remain.
All to witness the next, and true, act of the play.
"So, it was nothing more than a puppet," Luna sneered, drawing her one-handed sword. "Consciousness fading, life fleeting—hence its fearlessness. Seemingly brave, yet utterly foolish. A dulled conscience still spouting self-righteous nonsense."
"I had intended to depart gracefully after enjoying this little drama, but how could such an interesting stage fail to captivate me?"
"Allow me to add a touch of fantastical color to the proceedings—writing with blood, painting with tears, to declare to the world: Do not touch the cat's claws."
"I am Fontaine's one and only Phantom Thief. I alone steal its treasures. If you dare to steal my spotlight, then I will make you understand—"
She raised her lips and the tip of her sword in a smirk.
"Aaaargh!" Hawk screamed in agony as a searing pain, as if his shoulder were being torn from its socket, shot through him.
"—what true dazzle and delirium feel like."
The next instant, a spearpoint wreathed in flames shot toward her!
Luna parried with her sword, her gaze locking with Chevreuse's sharp, piercing stare.
Enough, Chevreuse's eyes seemed to say.
This wasn't part of their agreed-upon "performance."
Luna simply smiled and winked, as if to say: Improvisation.
Chevreuse: "..."
I can't stand her, Chevreuse thought.