Funinna, please let me steal your heart!

Click. The sound of the device suddenly starting rang out, followed by the sound of the rope rapidly descending.

"What, what's going on?"

"Why did the stage equipment suddenly start up?!"

The lights spread outwards, and several decorative panels descended from the sky, blocking the security team that wanted to rush onto the stage. They had to stop there.

Linni whispered, "She's altered the stage setup..."

Fimini asked in confusion, "When was it done?"

The lights suddenly intensified, circulating inwards from the stage.

"Please enjoy, 'The Disappearance of the Phantom Thief White Cat'!"

disappear?

Oh no, she's trying to escape!

The guards bypassed the decorative panels blocking their way and rushed towards Luna.

But the next second, the blinding lights stung their eyes, and the horizontally moving scenery panels disrupted their sense of direction, making it impossible for them to move forward.

The audience below the stage couldn't help but sit up and crane their necks.

That is......

A piece of cloth gently fell and covered Luna's body. A dark shadow slowly appeared from the ceiling; it was an enormous solid box.

Its weight seemed to make the ropes groan.

It's going to fall!

Luna, covered by the cloth, remained standing in the same spot. Was she trying to commit suicide?

Navia stood up and was about to rush over, but the rope snapped the moment she took her first step, and the box crashed down with a whoosh.

With a thud, it pressed the outline of the fabric beneath it.

The stage equipment stopped at that moment, and the lights went out.

The guards rubbed their eyes, staring incredulously at the scene before them.

Where is the phantom thief?

"died?"

Funina clung to the railing and looked down.

No, the phantom thief White Cat wouldn't do something so stupid. She thought to herself.

The guards slowly approached, and the box suddenly opened, revealing that it wasn't solid at all!

Lynette said thoughtfully, "So it really was a matter of using vision?"

"Hmm...a very exquisite magic trick." Linni nodded.

The lights suddenly came back on, startling the guards. They carefully picked up the piece of cloth in the center.

There was no phantom thief, only a small card.

"If the trophy is still mine, then please pass it on to the lovely Miss Funina—Phantom Thief White Cat."

The guards looked at each other in bewilderment.

What... should we do?

"They must be using a secret passage under the stage! Quick, after them!"

"Yes Yes!"

"But the card says..."

"That's not our responsibility! Wait, why can't I open it?"

"It...it seems to be stuck."

The guards were silent for a moment, then couldn't help but think: That wretched phantom thief, White Cat!

"Everyone, please leave this place immediately!" The Melusens waved and organized the evacuation.

I never expected things to turn out this way. Lynette thought casually, she had only come to see the show, but ended up seeing Luna again.

Did the "father" already know that Luna would impersonate him?

Lynette stared at Arecino's face.

Arecino said softly, "Let's go, the show is over."

"Where's Luna?" Fimini asked.

“If she wants to come back, she will come back on her own. As her father, I will respect her choice. If you want, you can go find her.”

That is, if you can find it.

Arecino gently got up, and Linnie patted Linette's head.

"...Let's go, Lynette. We'll see her again someday."

Because she is already someone who shines brightly wherever she goes.

Lynette nodded silently and followed her family. Before leaving, she looked back at the now-dim stage.

The golden sun cannot understand the shadows of night.

She hadn't thought that sun was Luna.

But now it seems...

"Perhaps," Lynette murmured, her ears drooping as she disappeared into the doorway with the crowd.

Furina and Claurind have also left.

All that remained, besides the security team that had begun their investigation and surveillance, were Sally, who remained sitting blankly in her seat, and Navia, who seemed lost in thought.

“Miss Sally…”

Sally looked at her hands: "Miss Navia, I'd like to try."

Her eyes were filled with excitement.

"I want to be like the Phantom Thief Girl, standing there, shining, winning fair and square, and then giving the middle finger to everyone who looks down on me and thinks I can't do it!"

It's true that I might not be able to play it as well as I used to.

But she wanted to shine like the phantom thief, White Cat. Anyway, she was already at the lowest point in her life, and she wouldn't fall any lower.

"Whatever you do, don't stand it upright!"

Despite her complaints, Navia was actually quite pleased.

Sally is now full of life.

Although we may have taken a different path, it's still much better than my previous half-dead mental state.

"At 6 PM four days from now, I will accept your hopes and your future as a pianist at the Keyboard Grand Ceremony"—this is what the Phantom Thief White Cat's announcement letter reads.

And she actually did it.

However, Navia still couldn't understand why the phantom thief White Cat would do such a thing.

I need to go find her and get to the bottom of this.

Deeply concerned, Navia got up. Her intuition told her that the phantom thief, White Cat, was definitely not back yet, but somewhere in Fontainebleau.

88: Ms. Arecino, who only treated her as a daughter (3rd update)

Navia sprinted through Fontainebleau, and she could see a white figure leaping and bounding in her peripheral vision.

After climbing the stairs, she noticed Luna sitting on the edge, seemingly waiting for her.

"The Kaito White Cat...."

“Miss Navia is really enthusiastic, going to great lengths to catch me, even traversing the entire Fontainebleau.” Luna turned her head and smiled slightly at her.

Navia didn't want to waste her breath on her. She took a few steps closer and was about to ask a question when she suddenly seemed to get stuck and couldn't speak.

How to ask?

"If you're not going to say something, then our private meeting tonight is over, okay?" Luna turned her face back.

"and many more!"

Navia said, "Was this your plan from the beginning?"

What do you mean?

"About Miss Sally. You intended to cheer her up from the beginning, didn't you?" Navia said firmly.

Luna didn't answer, but instead patted the person next to her.

"Would you like to sit with me, Miss Navia? The night view of Fontaine is quite beautiful."

Navia shook her head: "I refuse."

"Does Miss Navia still dislike me?"

"....certainly."

"It's so sad."

Despite saying that, Luna's expression remained unchanged.

The night breeze ruffled her blonde hair, and Luna casually remarked, "You're still so trusting. What if I told you I have another treasure of Miss Sally's now?"

Navia crossed her arms, looking on with suspicion.

"I don't believe you, I only believe what I've seen myself."

"I will not have any further expectations of you just because you did one good deed. I know you are a sinner who does whatever you want."