I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

Chapter 80 Tonight, Arius's Squad Joins the Hunt

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Meanwhile, the members of Arius's squad, disguised as students of the Millennium Project, had disarmed themselves, passed identity verification, and entered the Valkyrie Police Department's armory openly.

It's less of an 'armory' and more of a super-large warehouse.

The Valkyrie Police Department's equipment needs are "terrifying"—to simultaneously supply weapons and equipment for numerous Valkyrie students on patrol requires a stable and efficient logistics and transportation channel, and the equipment cannot simply be stored in a limited but highly secure armory.

Upon entering the storage area, Saori first saw containers piled up everywhere, almost forming a 'maze'.

These containers look almost identical except for their color.

However, in Saori's "view", a few containers were highlighted with a red box around their edges.

Static electricity precautions, spark precautions, goods retrieval and inventory...

Quickly reviewing this knowledge, Saori turned her attention to the nominal "purpose" of this 'inspection'.

A warehouse that had been previously opened and was specifically used to store chemical grenades.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, Saori could see many safety boxes protected by anti-collision pads and cushioning polymers.

One of the Valkyrie students accompanying them pointed inside the warehouse: "This is the warehouse you're checking. You can open it and take inventory, but you must put everything back safely afterwards... Understand?"

Holding the "fixed asset scanner," and mimicking the reserved and awkward demeanor of a student from a thousand years ago, Saori nodded repeatedly to indicate that she understood.

The Valkyrie students said no more, retreating to the warehouse entrance but not leaving; their meaning was clear.

To prevent Saori and her group from causing any strange accidents, or to search for areas outside the search area, she will be 'supervising' Saori and her group throughout the day.

Saori was aware of the Valkyrie students' wariness, but she didn't care.

Because their real "stage" hasn't even started to be built yet.

The actual operation takes place at night.

For now... let's just honestly follow the standard procedures to "check the goods" and kill some time.

Squeezing the "Temperance" tarot card hanging between her identity cards and feeling the peace it conveyed, Saori turned and waved to the other three members of Arios's team. Then, following the ammunition depot inspection procedures, she began checking the nearest safes.

Unpacking, scanning, counting... Under the watchful eyes of the Valkyrie students, Arios's team showed no abnormalities.

However, with only four of them... it was truly "beyond their capabilities" to be responsible for taking inventory of the entire secure warehouse.

Around noon, Saori, who was clearly "out of energy," came to the warehouse entrance and asked the Valkyrie students if she could go to the cafeteria for lunch.

It's just a very ordinary request.

The Valkyrie Police Department can't possibly fail to provide even basic meals, can it?

"It's noon, time to take a break..."

The Valkyrie student didn't notice anything amiss. He turned around, opened the warehouse door, and after Saori and her group left, he went out himself and closed the door.

"Valkyrie's pork chop rice and donuts are both quite delicious, I recommend you try them."

Saori lowered her head, and Akiko smiled expectantly: "Yes, I'll look forward to it."

Misaki, walking at the back of the line, squeezed the "Death" card in her pocket, ready to strike.

Under the influence of the "Death" card's spirit form, they used the lunch break to scout the Valkyrie Police Department's kitchen and surveillance room, and then used the pre-prepared surveillance footage to cover up their nighttime activities before dinner...

Furthermore, by doing a little something extra in the kitchen, they ensured that the Valkyrie students eating today could all enjoy a "peaceful sleep."

Although it may be an unjust act, it is also a "necessary evil".

The members of Arius's squad, who were used to this, did not feel any remorse for joining Xia Lai.

After entering the cafeteria, Saori led her team of four to a secluded corner where no one would notice them, and then she went to the food serving window to get her food.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Misaki crushed the "Death" card in her pocket.

Her 'body' was still sitting in the same spot, but her perspective had been freed, allowing her to drift freely like a ghost.

Most of her feelings vanished in that instant.

'Is this... a feeling of death...?'

After floating in the air for a while, taking advantage of her ability to pass through walls at will in her spirit form, Misaki confirmed the location of Valkyrie's kitchen without any hindrance, and quickly followed the experience of the Rabbit Squad to find the main monitoring office of Valkyrie's Public Security Bureau.

After memorizing the location, Misaki did not immediately return to her 'body', but instead floated towards the storage area.

Misaki pulled out the filming equipment provided by Beritas and the engineering department, which had accompanied her in her 'spiritual transformation', from her pocket and walked directly through some previously marked containers.

Containers may look very similar, but there are differences.

such as……

Containers that don't want to be inspected should be stored in a well-monitored, inaccessible area.

such as……

Some urgently needed goods will be stored in a centralized logistics area that is easy to load, unload, and access.

such as……

Some goods requiring special storage conditions need to be treated with anti-static agents in advance.

Misaki had a clear goal and headed straight for the container marked "uniform," walking through it.

Sure enough... these containers labeled "uniforms" didn't contain uniforms at all, but rather a large quantity of newly arrived weapons and equipment provided by the Kaiser Group.

Misaki drifted towards the "food storage" area in the distance and randomly entered several containers labeled "food" to take a look.

...full of tactical equipment such as chest armor and bulletproof plates.

Finally... Misaki entered the container that had been deliberately raised and marked "baton" and looked inside.

...It was all kinds of shells.

Ok……

Using the deterrent power of the police station's "uniforms" to subdue troublemakers is a reasonable approach.

Tactical chest armor, bulletproof plates... It must taste really good as a staple food for Valkyrie students, considering the large quantities they're buying, it's bound to be very popular.

Furthermore, Valkyrie's baton can be inserted into a mortar barrel and explode...

Wow, what amazing and advanced equipment!

After being freed from 'spirit form', Misaki suddenly opened her eyes in the cafeteria.

After glancing down at the half-burnt "Death" tarot card in her hand, Misaki exchanged glances with her companions who were waiting for her to "take a break," and then began to enjoy the Valkyrie pork cutlet rice bowl.

'The targets for tonight's inspection have been preliminarily identified, and some evidence has been collected.'

Saori was not surprised at all, as she had known this all along.

'Okay, then we can reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble when we actually collect evidence at night...'

'Now, all we have to do is wait for nightfall.'

……

"Next, all Kirino needs to do is 'reconcile' with me and sign a contract with me to obtain her Persona and become a 'Persona User'."

After explaining the specific process of obtaining a Persona through the mask, Amamiya looked again at Kirino, who had a blank expression with her beady eyes.

"Kirino... do you have any further questions?"

Kirino blinked, feeling her mind in complete chaos.

She crouched down in the corner of the wall, then peeked out and glanced at another "self" moving in the distance, and hesitated for a moment.

After retracting, Kirino looked up at Amamiya with a slightly bewildered expression.

"Sensei... how exactly do I communicate with myself?"

Amamiya slowly shook his head, offering no reply.

Such special events as communicating with "oneself"... are meaningless even if there is "experience to share".

The shadow corresponds to one's personality in the real world... In other words, "one knows oneself best."

"Kirino...do your best."

Looking at the somewhat bewildered Kirino with a hint of 'pity,' Amamiya said earnestly, 'To become a 'Masked Wielder,' first... try to pass your own tests and confront the 'justice' in your heart.'

Chapter 81: The Great Wilderness... Kirino?

What would it be like to look into the eyes of "yourself"?

If Kirino were to answer this now, her answer would probably be: "A very... strange, indescribable... unusual feeling."

The 'cowgirl', holding her cowboy hat and with her hand on her waist, ready to draw her gun at any moment, stopped on the street, flicked the hat off her head, and glanced at the midday sun overhead.

One foot crushed it, and it just happened to float to the abandoned e

"I never imagined... that I would one day encounter my 'self' in the real world."

"'Nakamatsu Kirino'...What brings you here?"

Let's get straight to the point...

Kirino shuddered, momentarily feeling a sense of tension as if she were being swept under the stern gaze of the bureau chief.

After the initial shock, Kirino immediately straightened up and raised her voice slightly to make it sound more energetic: "I want to... become a 'phantom thief'!"

During her time at the Bureau of Life Safety, Kirino spent a long time being looked at with such threatening and oppressive eyes by many 'superiors,' including the director of Valkyrie, Ye Zhu. She eventually developed her own set of coping strategies.

—If you make yourself look a little more energetic, the criticism you receive may be greatly reduced.

After quickly stating her purpose, Kirino added, "...After becoming a phantom thief, I want to use my abilities to punish the evil I was previously powerless against, and to uphold my 'justice' more thoroughly and fairly!"

Kirino, now in shadow, took off her cowboy hat and leaned against the wooden railing without any guard.

With a sidelong glance and a subtle expression, He said, "You know... that you are now finding it difficult to maintain, difficult to realize, the 'justice' in your heart..."

"To accomplish what no one has done before, to uphold one's own 'justice'... one speaks of ultimate and lofty ideals."

"but……"

"It's not bad."

"Having ideals is a good thing... but having the courage to take that step already puts you ahead of the masses."

"Successfully achieving the goal, failing and gaining experience, or even being crippled and learning a lesson... well, whatever the outcome, it's acceptable."

After muttering to herself for a while, Kirino shook her hand and took out a silk glove from her denim jacket.

She seemed to have intended to throw the glove, but after holding the pose for a moment and thinking about it, she ultimately gave up.

"I had intended to have an 'ideal duel'... but I think I'll pass on that idea."

"As a sheriff... while acting in the name of 'justice,' one must not forget to protect oneself."

After stuffing the handkerchief back into her shirt pocket, Kirino crossed her arms and looked at her 'real-world self'.

"You...you want me to become your power, don't you?"

Kirino's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded vigorously: "Yes... that's roughly what it means!"

"My own strength to 'help the weak and punish the strong' is still insufficient..."

"Therefore, I hope you can become my strength!"

She looks exactly like herself and uses almost the same weapon... but the difference in 'personality' makes it hard for Kirino to believe that it is herself.

Is the 'self' in my heart really like this?

As she extended her hand in invitation, Kirino's mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts.

Kirino's thoughts were immediately clear to anyone, and the shadowy Kirino chuckled softly and shook her head.

"hehe……"

"I am your dark side, and naturally I am you... or rather, all the negative thoughts in your heart."

"Weak in strength, though wanting to uphold justice, they have made many mistakes... To outsiders, they are always reckless and unlikely to grow."

"With no progress in either thought or ability, I wander in this remote land, becoming a small flame that could be extinguished at any moment, waiting to shine, waiting to rise into the sky and become a star."