I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"100%, 100%... Hehehe... Finally... Dad... Is it finished...?"

Hearing this voice, which sounded as if the soul had been released, leaving it empty and weary, Amamiya's eyelids twitched.

As we all know, it's easy for the progress bar to get stuck at 99.99%, and it can even lead to the frustrating situation of getting stuck there for a long time before suddenly crashing and freezing.

The progress change from 99.99% to 100%... don't underestimate the small difference; sometimes, taking that one step can feel like crossing an insurmountable chasm.

It seems the decryption of the intelligence files that Rabbit Team stole from the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau... was quite successful?

After relaxing a little, Amamiya pushed open the door and immediately saw four 'little rabbits' gathered in the living room.

Meng Hui stretched, then lay down and curled up on the sofa, looking disheveled and exhausted, as if she had burned out.

Meanwhile, the other three little rabbits, who had been anxiously waiting for the result behind the sofa, breathed a sigh of relief.

Miyako, who was about to immediately grab Moe's personal computer to check the screening and analysis results, noticed the small movement when the door was opened and turned her gaze over with a keen eye.

Formal wear...

A formal suit in the Sharle style, worn only on official visits or trips...

Hmm... I feel like Sensei looks quite charming in a white suit...?

Unlike Sensei in his phantom thief outfit, Sensei in formal attire seems to have an exceptionally gentle and approachable aura...

"Sensei..."

The girl, who seemed to have had a feast for the eyes, smiled and greeted, "Good evening... Also, thank you for your hard work on the trip to the Red Winter Federation Academy."

Under Moe's slightly unfocused gaze, Miyako picked up Moe's personal computer and ran to Amamiya to 'show off': "'Operation Clover', all the intelligence stolen from the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau has been integrated... Please take a look."

Moe called out weakly, "Hey..."

Using documents you painstakingly created through all-nighters and non-stop cramming to 'please' Sensei is something you shouldn't do...

How come this inexplicably matches the plot of "Muri" doujinshi - "The Incompetent Seminar Accountant"?!

Exhausted and powerless, she could only watch helplessly as her beloved Sensei and another 'despicable white-haired student' (Noah in the story) got intimate...

No, I don't want that kind of thing!

Amamiya, who hadn't activated the "mind-reading" bond, didn't understand why Moe was radiating such excessive resentment at this moment, but still gave her a comforting look as if she were making amends afterward.

He then took the personal computer from Miyako and quickly browsed through the various files, which had been decrypted, categorized, and organized quite well, making them readily accessible.

it is as expected.

"Cold-blooded Calculation" + "Emotional Factorization" (Yuka's Bond) + "Rational Calculation" (Rion's Bond) + "Starry Memory" (Noah's Bond) + "Eyes of Destiny" (Koyuki's Bond)...

In an instant, the synergy and skills of the millennium-old seminar system were fully activated.

Even while maintaining a reading speed of ten lines at a glance, Amamiya could use a high-speed and ruthless method to spot all the anomalies in the data at a glance and quickly record them.

There are too many discrepancies between the electronically recorded and paper-based materials that were photographed and archived by the Rabbit team.

But it is precisely because of the many discrepancies that the evidence of the Valkyrie police department accepting bribes from the Caesar Group has become irrefutable.

After all, the 'bribes' received from the Kaiser Group certainly couldn't go through the usual channels and be properly registered and deposited.

Firearms, equipment, ammunition... these essential supplies must have gone through channels under various names such as "daily necessities," which don't match up with "warehousing and logistics." However, the relevant personnel in Valkyrie knew that such cases were being put into storage.

Seeing that Amamiya had entered analysis mode, Miyako, as well as Miyu and Saki who had come over later, did not disturb her and waited quietly to the side.

Amamiya, however, continued to ponder.

What can be confirmed now is that there were definitely problems with the logistical exchanges between Valkyrie and Caesar.

Since there's a problem, we need to find something to hold accountable.

— That is, 'inspecting the goods'.

By tracing Caesar's logistics chain, we identified discrepancies between the 'goods manifest' and the 'goods themselves,' and then collected samples as evidence.

So, what's next...? Does the Rabbit team still need to be deployed?

Regarding the subsequent inspection of the goods, besides Arios's team using false identities and going through Yuriko's 'legitimate channel,' there was actually another method—

Rabbit Squad continued their 'infiltration'.

However, compared to the first type of legitimate online verification system that allows for easy and transparent account checks, the second type of system is much more dangerous and troublesome.

Using gaming terminology as an analogy...

Arius's team's plan to use false identities to investigate the goods was to 'openly infiltrate using false identities,' and the target would assume that you were 'friendly forces,' so there was no need to worry about being discovered.

Of course, even if it aroused some suspicion... Ye Zhu could immediately use his identity as the director of the Public Security Bureau to provide cover.

The second strategy for Rabbit Squad infiltration...

That would be much more troublesome.

To steal keys and authentications, one must search the world for containers, repeatedly verify the stolen keys and authentications against the corresponding locations, and finally, after quietly completing the investigation and obtaining evidence, put the items back in their original places.

—It can be said that this is a great test of the individual skills and team qualities of the Rabbit team.

That's not all; once exposed, Ye Zhu wouldn't have a chance to cover for him.

Moreover, once exposed, it could easily alert either Faye or Caesar.

The ultimate goal was to confirm that Caesar bribed Valkyrie... rather than "the four little rabbits causing havoc in heaven."

That's too much of a "dancing on the edge of a knife".

It was even more dangerous than his own plan to fake his death in the interrogation room and escape...

There were safer and more feasible plans to choose from. Faced with the crisis at the time, Amamiya would not have chosen to obediently allow himself to be interrogated by Niijima Sae and then persuade Niijima Sae in a delirious state after being given a truth serum... such a mistake would have led to utter ruin.

After finishing her thoughts, Amamiya placed the computer back on the MoeE table and slowly shook her head, meeting the gazes of four pairs of eyes.

"For reasons of 'position'... the Rabbit team will remain on hold for the time being."

Amamiya's conclusion left the other three bunnies, besides Moe, somewhat disappointed.

However, they also understood...

Given their current stance as 'SRT remnants' and 'close to Xia Lai,' it's indeed inappropriate for them to engage in such blatant public activities, as it would easily arouse suspicion.

Moe, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief.

The Rabbit team has paused its 'non-stop' work...

This means...

I have plenty of time to learn the essence of 'occult hacking' from Sensei.

Although she only stayed in Xia Lai for a few days, Moe was the one who felt the most at home there.

Now, she is practically a "Xia Lai student".

Hmm... Xia Lai will definitely fully absorb the Rabbit team and the senior Fox team in the future.

So, in order to enhance your competitiveness and uniqueness... why not start developing your own "personal characteristics" now?

"Alright, now that Rabbit Team has completed this phase of the mission... let's get some rest."

"Although the Rabbit team will remain inactive for the next phase, there will be opportunities for them to make a big splash later on."

After a pause, under the slightly more alert gazes of the girls, Amamiya said meaningfully, "There might even be a chance to spar with the seniors."

【~???~】(Miyako, Saki)

【~??~】(Cute illustrations, beautiful writing)

'Sparring with the seniors...?'

The little rabbits immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.

In other words... if there is enough 'evidence,' when Sensei began questioning the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau, it's highly likely that the head of the defense department deployed the Fox Squad to have his seniors obstruct the operation...

Currently, the members of Rabbit Team are unaware that Fox Team is outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant towards Huaye, and is actually on Xia Lai's side.

The reason they still obey Huaye is that they are waiting for the opportunity to deliver a fatal backstab to Huaye.

The young rabbits, who were not yet fully certain of their seniors' stance, felt a sense of opportunity to 'show their talents,' but at the same time, they also felt a sense of oppression as if facing a formidable enemy.

"The Rabbit team can't let their training slack off for the upcoming mission."

After sending the little rabbits to rest, Amamiya began to think of a suitable reason.

There needs to be a plausible reason for sending Arius's team to 'check the accounts'.

The academy with the closest ties to Valkyrie is Millennium—therefore, the key source for creating a false identity to 'investigate the accounts' is Millennium.

To be more precise...

The most crucial 'link' between Valkyrie and its millennia-long history lies in... the Engineering Department.

Before receiving a large amount of military equipment from the Kaiser Group—ostensibly as aid but actually as a bribe—Valkyrie had attempted to reach a cooperation agreement with the engineering department of the Millennium Technology Academy regarding equipment supply.

And this collaboration... was indeed "partially" achieved.

Why is it described as a part?

Because Valkyrie's budget was squeezed so much by the Huaye, it was extremely tight... making it virtually impossible to procure weapons and ammunition supplies from the engineering department through regular channels and at standard prices.

And among them... the one who has clear trade dealings with Valkyrie in a personal capacity is Yuriko from the Engineering Department.

Previously, Valkyrie had ordered a batch of the Thenesto-25S, which she personally manufactured, as well as other common weapons from Yuriko.

Initiating an inquiry is very simple.

I'll let Yuriko know in advance so she can contact her "good buddy," Ranma, who's now a leader of the Helmet Gang and is practically a reformed woman. I'll have her lead the Helmet Gang members to show off their "standard equipment" in certain areas...

Then, Yuriko can use the reason that she suspects her equipment has been circulated on the black market to initiate an inquiry and confirmation.

This opportunity allowed Arius's team to intervene 'regularly'.

This behavior is actually almost no different from the behavior in "Cyberpunk 2077" that Amamiya played before coming to Giwatos, where "big companies hire thugs to wear the equipment of rival companies and wreak havoc, and then they go in to investigate and make accusations."

Is this considered just?

It can be considered a necessary evil.

Amamiya felt no psychological burden or pressure regarding this.

—Because the Phantom Thieves are, in essence, a manifestation of 'necessary evil'.

Under the guise of "repenting twisted souls," they roam the gray edges of another world in a glamorous manner, using non-legal means to punish the hearts of twisted villains, making them weep, feel guilty, and break down in repentance.

From a practical point of view, isn't this a kind of 'evil'?

But this kind of 'evil' is necessary to exist and necessary to practice.

Even though it is a necessary evil, we must always remember...

My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror, and everything I do is "just".

Director Ye Zhu has already given prior notice, so he must be prepared for the impending storm.

Everything is ready; all that's needed is to take action.

'Before bed, let me contact the seminar and engineering departments one last time…'

Chapter 42 Waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump... Is that how it's used?

Time flies, and before we know it, more than half of July, which has been a tumultuous month, has passed.

Unfortunately, this July isn't the scorching July of yesteryear...

The thought of an even hotter month to come, a month that could be described as the "endless August" of Haruhi Suzumiya, filled Amamiya with a vague sense of unease about the weather.

'But it's alright, once we get through August, the weather will start to cool down in September...'

'There should be opportunities for organized autumn outings... or participation in school events like Trinity's school festival, right?'

Following the daily routine, Amamiya first took care of all the paperwork sent by the Federal Student Association. She opened the window slightly, felt the hot wind blowing in her face, and then quickly closed the window again.

The sun outside and the clear blue sky... judging from the weather alone, it was frighteningly good.

But it was also frighteningly hot.

Amamiya is a phantom thief... and phantom thieves generally have the trait of being 'not good at operating during the day when the weather is so nice'.

Compared to the daytime, the phantom thief prefers to roam at night.

In the past, when there was no need to go to school during this time, Amamiya would choose to stay at home all day, wait until the afternoon when the weather started to cool down before starting her activities.