I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

This tiny drone is modularly customizable, mass-produced, and equipped with anti-reconnaissance features, including optical camouflage and anti-radar coatings... It even has a special 'use-and-destroy' self-destruct module...

How did they manage to cramm so many unscientific things into a tiny drone in a 'scientific' way?

"Thank you for your consideration, Chihiro..."

Amamiya really didn't know what to say, so she could only accept the drone and thank him repeatedly.

【~???~】

Chihiro smiled kindly again: "This is what we should do."

“If Sensei needs to express her gratitude…” She paused slightly, and under the increasingly curious gazes of her team members, she calmly began, “Sensei, I may have some personal matters to discuss with you later… If you don’t mind, we can talk about some insights into network attack and defense.”

"in addition……"

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she added, "Minister Riju asked me to pass on a message to you. She hopes to establish some contact with you as soon as possible..."

Even without Chihiro's reminder, Amamiya already had plans to establish some contact with that 'celebrity Himari'.

You can learn a lot by building a good relationship with someone like that.

Such a helper should also have very useful assistance skills.

After discussing some more details about the 'announcement letter release' with the girls of Beritas, Amamiya finally finalized the method for releasing the announcement letter.

In the near future, Beritas will be paying attention to the signals sent by the special drone "Legless Bird One" produced by the Engineering Department in Amemiya's possession.

Once the drone is detected to be running, Beritas will simultaneously launch a pre-prepared hacking virus, seize control of all display devices on the black market, and begin looping the content, in conjunction with Amamiya's release of the announcement.

"So……"

After carefully storing away the high-tech "Legless Bird No. 1", Amamiya once again expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the girls.

"Thank you again in advance to everyone in Beritas for their help..."

After glancing around at the girls' expressions, Amamiya finally focused her gaze on Tama, who seemed to want to say something but didn't know what to say.

"Next, I need to continue preparing... After this event, I should have a lot of free time, and then..."

"I will do my best to make amends to everyone in Beritas for their efforts."

The girls of Beritas smiled, some joyfully, some reservedly, and some full of anticipation.

"Sensei, just go for it!"

“Sensei…we will do our best to cooperate.”

"Sensei, please show us where your 'limits' really lie."

"Go for it...Sensei."

Amidst the girls' anticipation, Amamiya, carrying a briefcase containing the drone, pushed open the door to Beritas's 'office' and tilted her head slightly to look at the cloudless blue sky outside the corridor window.

well.

With Chihiro and Beritas's support, the 'release' and 'dissemination' of the teaser letter should not be a problem.

Next, we need to consider holding a grand "grand entrance ceremony".

'...SHOW TIME.'

Chapter Five: Life Will Change!

Today is yet another 'peaceful' yet 'chaotic' day in the black market.

This should be the case unless there are any 'special circumstances'.

The chairman of the Caesar Group looked at the "man in the black suit" standing beside him, while the "man in the black suit" silently looked out the floor-to-ceiling window at the scene that was 'calm' yet 'chaotic'.

After hesitating for a moment, the chairman of the Caesars Group finally decided to say something.

Before he could even speak, the piercing alarm of the air defense system and the buzzing of communication interference blended together like a symphony, temporarily creating a melody that could bewitch anyone.

After a brief silence, the Kaiser Group's "Chairman's Computer," equipped with the highest level of security, suddenly turned on by itself with a 'zzzt', emitting a black and red warning light and starting to play a video.

[BGM: Life Will Change]

"Hey—hello, you filthy rats living in the gray area!"

The black and red ripples, at an astonishing speed, simultaneously occupied all the display screens in the black market and began playing the same image.

Students, robots, and Kiwatos natives operating in the black market all temporarily stopped what they were doing and watched in surprise as the information played on the occupied video equipment.

The lights came on, and a group of people, backlit and wearing masks, appeared in the image.

Among them, the twin-tailed girl wearing a 'cat mask' stepped forward first, pointed at the camera, and made a 'self-introduction' as if making a declaration.

"Nice to meet you all. Let me introduce myself first... We are the 'Phantom Thieves'! We are here to uncover the truth, punish the wicked, and uphold justice and fairness!"

The group from the convenience store, 68, who were investigating information in the black market, stopped in their tracks and stared blankly at the scene playing on the building's screen.

After a brief moment of surprise, Aru's expression was quickly replaced by an indescribable longing and envy: "The Phantom Thieves...?"

Kayoko's gaze fell on the young man in the middle of the group who was wearing a black and white mask; he seemed vaguely familiar.

"This is……"

Immediately afterward, another girl with an exceptionally voluptuous figure, also wearing a strange mask, stepped forward from beside the 'Black Cat Girl'.

"The Caesar Group, which murders students, seeks profit by any means necessary, harms others, and uses illegal means such as usury as shackles to trap students..."

“We will not forgive your crimes and are determined to make you repent for your mistakes.”

Mutsuki's thoughtful gaze lingered on a figure carrying a book and wearing glasses.

'Oh my...it seems like this isn't a joke...are they going to declare war on the Caesars Group directly? How interesting...'

Immediately afterwards, a girl wearing a mask that looked somewhat like a bandit's hood stepped forward.

“We will make you pay for your mistakes and return everything that has been taken from you.”

'...'

The 'phantom thief girl' in the coffee shop watched the images playing on the television, and gradually curled the corners of her lips into a meaningful smile.

“A ‘phantom thief’... How interesting…”

She stopped mixing the drinks and started watching the next scene.

In the scene, the figure who had his back to the screen turned around, the lenses of his glasses reflecting a cold light.

"Now... we, the 'Phantom Thieves,' are about to issue a 'Heart-Stealing Warning' to the greedy Caesar Group... We will seize your desires and cause your tower to crumble!"

'A teaser for "Stolen Silk Silk Heart" by Mio Qi Er Temple Dam... Will it be about seizing desire...?'

Jing turned her gaze to the shadow of the magician in the trench coat standing in the middle of the group, lost in thought.

"It seems... we need to bring forward the 'contact plan'."

The pink-haired girl, who was using a card to cover her face, stepped forward.

"The Caesar Group, active in the black market... prepare for your 'final catastrophe.'"

'...The Phantom Thieves.'

Pulling her hat down and looking at the screen in the distance, Saori couldn't help but think of Sensei, whom she had met briefly not long ago.

Was this...his doing?

Next... should he use his so-called 'fairytale-like methods' to truly steal hearts?

Whatever the outcome, I will keep a close eye on it.

"besides……"

A blonde girl, as beautiful as an idol and also wearing a mask, stepped forward and declared with great confidence: "We... will definitely stop your evil plot!"

The spotlights all went out and then instantly focused on Amamiya, who was standing in the very center.

"The Caesar Group on the black market..."

As Amamiya spoke, he reached into his collar pocket and pulled out a small, stylish black and red card.

"We'll take your twisted desires!"

After saying that, he threw the 'announcement letter' in his hand towards the camera.

The camera then shifts to a frame filled with the announcement letter, and at the same time, Amamiya's powerful and determined voice, filled with conviction, as he reads the letter, is heard.

"The Caesar Group, which has committed the grave sins of greed and arrogance, we are aware of your wicked deeds..."

"Their ambitions to seize the future are far-reaching..."

“We will never forgive you who are blinded by greed.”

"The future you seized through illegitimate means will be reclaimed by our own hands."

"...The Phantom Thieves of Hearts, respectfully yours."

'This voice...it can't be wrong, it can't be wrong!'

While Wakazama was disciplining a member of the Helmet Gang, she grabbed one of them by the collar and was about to hit him when she heard the sound. She instinctively let go of him.

Ignoring the helmeted group who were fleeing in panic, not even having time to utter any threats, Ruozao just stared blankly at the scene on the screen.

Amamiya threw out a teaser letter, which seemed to pierce through the screen, across more than one dimension, and with a 'whoosh' like a dart, struck Wakasa's heart.

'Hehe...darling...'

'I can't just keep waiting for my darling to come to me...'

'I should take the initiative...'

……

"What the hell is this?!"

The chairman of the Caesar Group, who had been watching the entire 'announcement letter sending process' in a daze, was so angry that he smashed an ornament on his desk with a punch.

"A heart thief...? Ha... Don't be ridiculous!"

"It's just some insignificant trick pulled by those kids on the countermeasures committee... Ha, laughable..."

The man in the black suit crossed one arm over his chest and stroked his chin with the other, silently watching the chairman of the Caesar Group, who had suddenly broken down and started cursing for some unknown reason.

'Heh... a heart thief... a phantom thief...?'

'Sharai's Sensei... So, you weren't entirely useless after all...'

Is it just that "these eyes" can't see?

He glanced calmly at the chairman of the Caesar Group, who was in a state of disarray, and the "lips" representing a 'smile' on his dark face gradually cracked.

'Interesting...really interesting...absolutely hilarious!'

'Infiltrate the inner world of others, steal their desires!'

'What a novel argument! What entirely new and uncharted territory!'

Is this related to the "persona" that Sensei has shown on several occasions before...?

The man in the black suit took out a stack of photos from his pocket and looked through them thoughtfully.

The first photo shows the scene during the 'Attack on the Xia Lai Building,' where the majestic, imposing 'heretical archangel' behind Amamiya, exuding an aura of punishing all evil, releases some kind of power that descends upon the students present.

The second photo shows a giant beast, resembling both a wolf and a dog, with a body several meters long and exuding an aura of 'auspiciousness,' landing at the Helmet Regiment's headquarters in Abydos. A simple breath created a 'zero-degree zone' hundreds of meters long.

The third photo shows him riding a unicorn, carrying Serika, "soaring into the sky" and then stomping heavily on the ground, using war to trample the "punishment" helmeted group.

The fourth photo is a drone shot from a very distant direction during the helmeted group's feint attack on Abydos.

The great thief Raul spread his 'Wings of Rebellion' and carried Amamiya as they flew between skyscrapers.

Then the Monkey King descended and burned the drone with his fiery eyes.

'How interesting...'

'A "persona"...'

'Sensei…you really are…amazing, exciting!'

'Have they lost their usefulness...?'

Putting the photo back in his pocket, the man in the black suit calmly glanced at the chairman of the Caesar Group, who had been identified as a 'sacrificial pawn' but was completely unaware of it and was still in a state of impotent rage.

'Very good...Sensei, let me see...'