Chevreuse sat alone in a chair, gripping her pistol. Her fingertip traced the barrel as she murmured, "So that's why White Cat chose to side with Furina during the Judgment of God... Why she stole the God's power... It was all because..."
...because she wanted to conceal the truth for Furina. And to save Focalors.
This revelation shocked Chevreuse deeply, yet it didn't feel entirely unexpected or illogical.
At first, she couldn't understand the Phantom Thief White Cat, misled by her words and actions, convinced she was merely a criminal.
But the more she learned, the clearer things became.
Chevreuse now saw the heart beneath the mask: righteous, pure, and dazzlingly brilliant.
Nowadays, everyone reviles and fears Phantom Thief White Cat, because they don't know the truth.
"But we must never let them learn the truth," Chevreuse murmured.
Focalors had warned her similarly.
"You must keep this secret at all costs, unless you wish to betray Luna's sacrifice," Focalors had said with grave solemnity.
Chevreuse would never betray Luna's sacrifice by revealing the truth.
Now that she knew everything—the heart and past of Phantom Thief White Cat, and her true identity—she had to consider what to do and how to act.
Chevreuse wordlessly wiped the barrel of her gun, her thoughts drifting back to their kiss that night.
Show me, Chevreuse of Justice, what choice you'll make for a sinner like me.
I hope Miss Chevreuse's 'Justice' is strong enough to crush even the most vicious Phantom Thief.
To me, Miss Chevreuse is the one closest to 'Perfect Justice.'
A sinner who clung to an almost idealistic vision of justice.
Chevreuse pursed her lips and said, "You've truly given me a dilemma."
According to the Law, she still had to arrest Luna.
Regardless, Luna had violated the Law, even trampled it underfoot.
As Captain of the Special Task Force, Chevreuse had no choice but to act.
Chevreuse gazed at the full-length mirror, her reflection showing a complex expression.
"I must arrest the Phantom Thief White Cat," she murmured.
Even though the thief represented another form of justice.
"...But you're not just a rigid machine, blindly following the Law without thought," Chevreuse said to her reflection.
Her father had once told her:
"A law enforcer must believe in the 'justice' within their heart and embody it in their actions."
Perhaps between pure black and white, there existed a shade of gray.
And within that gray lay the answers she sought—about her relationship with the Phantom Thief White Cat, about the thief's future, and about her own...
But anyone tainted by that gray could never wash away the stain.
"Regrettably, I'll never chase after this so-called 'Perfect Justice'," Chevreuse declared, rising to her feet.
"I'll only follow my heart and the Law."
She had already decided how to judge the Phantom Thief White Cat.
Picking up the card from the table, the Announcement Letter recently discovered by the Marechaussee Phantom, she read aloud:
"Black and white, starkly contrasting yet irreconcilable.
But whether good or evil, justice or injustice, has never concerned me—why not offer me your final applause at the moment tomorrow's waltz concludes?
At that time, I will claim the creator's organ, the 'Puppet Heart', and present you with a spectacular performance.
Do not avert your eyes.
Signed: Phantom Thief White Cat."
-
The next evening.
If a Traveler were here, they would find this place instantly familiar: it was the testing grounds for the Icewind Suite, a perfect stage.
However, neither of the Icewind Suite's Clockwork Mekas was present. In their place stood a different pair.
"Lady Focalors, these are the Clockwork Mekas independently developed by our Geppetto Merchant Guild," Geppetto proudly announced. "Pinocchio and the Blue Fairy!"
Focalors observed the Clockwork Mekas on the stage with keen interest.
Both figures were tall and slender, exquisitely crafted with robust materials. Regardless of their actual performance, their mere appearance was a feast for the eyes.
This is practically scamming the client...
No, they're masterpieces of art.
As for their combat capabilities, Focalors remained skeptical.
"They're certainly exquisite, but I heard you intend to use these to confront the Phantom Thief White Cat?"
Geppetto cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem... I suppose it's more accurate to say they could serve as an option for dealing with the Phantom Thief in extreme circumstances."
"But those unscrupulous news outlets have been promoting them as if they were ultimate weapons."
In other words: They said it, not me.
Those unscrupulous news agencies, Focalors thought, nodding meaningfully.
She was intimately familiar with such tactics: propaganda, hype, and scapegoating—a full-spectrum strategy to divert attention and emerge unscathed.
But she didn't mind.
Her accomplice, Miss Luna, wouldn't be defeated so easily.
Besides, with such a spectacular drama about to unfold, how could she resist watching from the audience?
After all, she considered herself a fan of the Phantom Thief White Cat.
"Very well, let's proceed on that basis. But for safety's sake, the Special Task Force must still maintain control of the scene. No objections?"
Focalors smiled.
"None whatsoever!"
"Excellent. Then I'll leave it to you, Captain Chevreuse," Focalors said, turning her head.
Chevreuse glanced up, her gaze sweeping between Focalors and Clorinde, who stood beside her.
After Furina stepped down, Clorinde had been reassigned to Focalors' command, continuing her duties as a bodyguard.
Did Focalors truly need a bodyguard? Of course not.
Though she no longer wielded the Hydro Archon's authority and had become human like the other Fontainians, her original power remained intact.
She feared no one.
Since she couldn't handle every task personally, Clorinde became her subordinate, occasionally acting as her proxy.
"Rest assured, leave it to us," Clorinde said.
Chevreuse lowered her hat. "I'll take care of her."
Will she use force, or...? Focalors was deeply curious but refrained from pressing further.
"Now, let the performance begin! Show me the power of the Clockwork Mekas you've meticulously crafted," she said with a radiant smile.
"Alright! Their core is our unique 'Puppet Heart,' capable of maximizing energy output. They're easily ten times more powerful than current Clockwork Mekas!" Geppetto explained, nodding to signal for the control device.
Taking the device, he raised his hand.
"Clockwork Mekas, activate!"
Instantly, the statue-like Clockwork Mekas, Pinocchio and the Blue Fairy, lifted their heads, their limbs twitching into motion.
As their "Puppet Hearts" pulsed, energy surged through their bodies like blood. Their movements grew increasingly fluid and natural, culminating in a complex dance sequence performed hand-in-hand.
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!"
"Their movements are so smooth!"
"Just a bit slow to start up..."
Besides Focalors, Clorinde, and the Special Task Force, numerous reporters and industry insiders were also present at the scene.
The click-clack of camera shutters filled the air.
"Ahem, the slow start is a feature, not a flaw, of our product!" the presenter declared.
This isn't a flaw—it's a feature!
"But don't be impatient. Even a punch requires building momentum."
"Let these Clockwork Mekas warm up with a sparring match first. You'll soon understand the advantages of our creations."
"Controllable, efficient, and powerfully robust—these are the hallmarks of the Clockwork Mekas developed independently by our Confrerie."
Focalors crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.
"What do you think?" she whispered to Clorinde.
"They're undeniably more powerful than ordinary Clockwork Mekas. I can sense it," Clorinde replied. "But their construction costs must be exorbitant, and maintenance would be a significant challenge."
When it comes to dismantling Clockwork Mekas, I'm the expert, Clorinde thought.
"Too expensive, then?" Focalors nodded.
Speaking of which, why hasn't Phantom Thief White Cat appeared yet?
The same question had dawned on everyone present.
Where's the Cat?
Suddenly, a burst of music drew their attention.
It was the Geppetto Merchant Guild's gramophone, playing an elegant yet rousing melody.
As the music swelled, the two Clockwork Mekas on stage drew their swords in unison.
Slash, thrust, parry—their swift and powerful movements collided, intertwined, and alternated at a dizzying pace, eliciting gasps and applause from the audience.
"It doesn't matter if the cat doesn't show up. These clockwork meka cockfights are pretty entertaining too!"
"Yeah! They could totally use these for arena battles!"
"Exactly! That would be so cool!"
"This is the way to fight—no, it's the only way to fight!"
Chevreuse alone frowned.
"Strange..."
Why did the Blue Fairy's fighting style feel so familiar?
Not sure... Let's watch a bit longer.
"Those clockwork meka's sword techniques..." Clorinde murmured, her brow furrowing.
"What about them?" Focalors asked, her curiosity piqued.
"They're so much like her."
Elegant yet lethal—though that lethality was never directed at them.
Geppetto beamed with satisfaction. The demonstration had been a resounding success! Now the future investments were secured.
He owed it all to the Phantom Thief White Cat's reputation.
Anyone who rode the coattails of the notorious Phantom Thief White Cat would instantly become the center of attention.
Only the weak hesitated.
The strong boldly seized the opportunity! They rode the wave relentlessly, leaving no room for doubt!
Converting every scrap of attention into profit—that was the true path to power.
"Heh heh heh... Very well, the demonstration concludes here. I trust you've all witnessed the remarkable capabilities of our products."
Geppetto pressed the control device.
Clockwork Meka: Shut Down!
...But nothing happened.
"Hm?"
Clockwork Meka: Shut Down!
...Still nothing.
What's going on?
Why won't they stop?
Hurry, stop them!
Geppetto frowned and frantically pressed the buttons, but the two Clockwork Mekas on stage remained unresponsive.
Sweat streamed down his face, a cold sweat that wouldn't stop.
"What's wrong? Could it be a malfunction?" Focalors asked deliberately.
"That's impossible!" He frantically waved for the technicians to come over.
"What's happening?"
"I... I don't know! We thoroughly inspected everything before the show. It was working perfectly!"
The longer Chevreuse watched, the more uneasy she felt. "Monsieur Geppetto, I believe there's a problem with your product. Please allow us to manage the situation—"
"There's no problem!" Geppetto interrupted anxiously.
"No, it clearly looks like a malfunction," Turenna retorted.
"This is just part of the performance, everyone. Please remain calm."
If the demonstration were revealed to be malfunctioning, it would be disastrous!
Chevreuse ignored him and raised her hand.
"Special Task Force, prepare! First, evacuate the audience—"
Before the words had even left her lips, the scene on the stage shifted.
Crack...
Piece by piece, the Blue Fairy's armor fell to the ground, its outer shell gradually crumbling.
"Whoa, it's exploding!"
"What kind of shoddy construction is this...?"
Clorinde narrowed her eyes.
No, this isn't shoddy construction. It's...
Ding! A lighting mechanism activated suddenly, bathing the Clockwork Meka in beams of light that refracted into countless shimmering trails.
With each clash of blades, the Blue Fairy's outer shell shattered, the flying fragments slowing dramatically as they drifted through the illuminated air.
Here it comes! Chevreuse gripped her gun tightly.
Step by step, the Blue Fairy forced the Pinocchio Model Clockwork Meka backward, its body, hands, and feet shedding armor in bursts that trailed slowly through the light.
Finally, the figure emerging from the shattered shell was unmistakably familiar: that familiar combination of gold and white.
And a fleeting glimpse of a red cloak draped over its shoulders.
The blade pierced the Clockwork Meka's torso, lifting out a pulsating mechanical heart.
Luna smiled faintly, lifted her cloak, and bowed stiffly like a marionette, her movements jerky and mechanical.
The music had just ended, leaving only her voice echoing across the silent stage.
"Thank you all for enjoying my performance of Puppet Show. Your astonishment suggests you were completely captivated by my acting."
From the very beginning, she had replaced the "Blue Fairy."
A human was playing a puppet!
"The Phantom Thief White Cat has arrived as promised."
Luna raised her head, her gaze sweeping past the crowd to settle on Chevreuse's face.
"Did you miss me?" she purred softly.