As expected, the System had arrived!
Cifera had barely formed the thought, not even getting a chance to ask, when a swirling vortex of kaleidoscopic black energy erupted from the void before her, instantly engulfing her.
[Template fusion in progress...]
[Template fusion complete.]
Roughly a minute passed. The black energy cocooning Cifera gradually dissipated, revealing a figure utterly transformed from her former self.
"What the hell was that? I almost thought I was transmigrating again... Wait, my voice has changed! Isn't this Cipher's voice from the game?"
Her original voice had been rather coarse, nothing like the melodious tones she now possessed.
"Hold on, 'Template Fusion Complete'... Does that mean I've completely become Cipher?!"
Recalling the appearance of the Kitty Phantom Thief from the game, Cifera felt an overwhelming urge to rush to a mirror.
Whoosh!
The moment the thought crossed her mind, she sprang from the ground, darting to the mirror with the speed and agility of a true cat.
"This is amazing! My body feels so much lighter, yet brimming with power!"
Savoring the sensation of her newfound agility, Cifera gazed at her reflection.
The first thing that caught her eye was her pair of full, snow-white breasts, marked by a small black mole just above them.
"This incredible cleavage and that little black mole—my authenticity mark! I've definitely become Cipher..."
Cifera measured her proportions with her hands, letting out a sigh of admiration.
The reflection in the mirror was undeniably Cipher from the game: short, silver-gray hair; blue eyes; a low-cut, hooded bodysuit in black, accented with gold, blue, and white; and two powder-blue silk ribbons trailing from the back.
Around her neck hung a spinning coin shaped like a grinning, one-eyed cat, while a small bell, a crescent moon, and a blue pouch dangled from either side of her waist.
Her lower body was adorned with ankle bracelets and golden, open-toed, thigh-high heeled boots, revealing strips of snow-white skin.
Most striking of all were the adorable, furry cat ears atop her head and the tricolor cat tail that curved jauntily behind her.
In short, from her attire to her appearance and physique, she looked as if she had stepped straight out of a 2D world.
Normally, even the most dedicated Cosplayers can't perfectly recreate 2D characters in reality. But Cifera was an exact, one-to-one replica.
She even felt that the real-world Cipher was even more stunning than her in-game counterpart. None of the female celebrities she'd seen on TV in her previous life could compare to her current self.
I have to admit, being a girl takes some getting used to. But if it's Cipher, it's totally fine!
Cifera couldn't help it; Cipher was the Honkai: Star Rail character who hit all her sweet spots. When Cipher first came out, Cifera immediately splurged a fortune to max out her character to "E6S5".
"And as the Titan of Trickery-certified First Phantom Thief of Amphoreus, becoming Cipher means I'll thrive on this reality show. Making big money will be a piece of cake!"
At that moment, Cifera not only felt her physical abilities changing but also found a wealth of theft-related knowledge and skills flooding her mind. There was also a strange sensation—it was as if her brain had suddenly grown smarter.
She felt her IQ and EQ had skyrocketed, her mind clearer than ever before.
To the current Cifera, the hand speed demonstrated by the Grandchild of the Phantom Thief just now seemed utterly ordinary, mere child's play.
"I wonder if I can use Cipher's extraordinary abilities, especially the Authority of Trickery..."
The moment this thought crossed her mind, information appeared in her mind:
[Host: Cifera]
[Fusion Template: Cipher the Fleet-Footed]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 24]
[Race: Golden-Blooded Catgirl—possessing lifespans and physical prowess far exceeding those of ordinary humans, wisdom certified by the Trickery Titan, and charm unforgettable to the Demigod of Romance.]
[Talents:]
[Kitty Phantom Thief Encyclopedia—A vast repository of thieving techniques. (Meow~ Is there anything in this world a cat can't steal?)]
[Cat Sniffer Nose—Can discern the value of nearby treasures with a mere sniff. (The air... it's saturated with the scent of treasure!)]
[Abilities:]
[Authority of Trickery: "Lies Become Reality"—Lies, when universally believed, manifest as truth.]
[The more people believe the lie, the stronger its "reality" becomes.]
[Lies Become Reality (acquired): 0]
[Important Notes:]
[1. The host must maintain character role-play to sustain template fusion. The System reserves the right to retract the template if the host acts in severe contradiction to the character.]
[2. This template fusion is intended for the host's full participation in the reality show "Global Manhunt: The Final Heist." The host must not withdraw from the show prematurely or engage in half-hearted participation. Failure to comply will result in template retraction.]
[3. If the host is eliminated from the show after template fusion, the System will immediately retract the template. You're not worthy of being the Kitty Phantom Thief!]
[4. Upon completing the show as the global champion, the character template will permanently merge with the host.]
[System Message: Young man~ Ah, no... young woman~ "Thievery rewards diligence." Time to go all out!]
"...Hmm, I see now."
After reading the information, Cifera finally understood how the System worked and what she needed to do next.
Clearly, this wasn't like the typical Character Template Systems she'd seen in novels.
Her System didn't require her to gradually increase fusion by roleplaying; it was already maxed out from the start.
All she had to do was perfectly embody her character and win the global championship on the reality show she was participating in to permanently fuse with the Cipher Template.
The reason she lacked the original Cipher's various abilities was because Cipher had obtained them through the Authority of Trickery by deceiving others.
In this world, no one had been deceived by her yet, so naturally, she didn't possess those stolen abilities.
The panel displaying "Lies Become Reality: 0" served as irrefutable proof of this hypothesis.
The System hadn't lied. From the start, it had stated that the Cipher template was the most suitable for this show.
Why was the Cipher template the most suitable? Because the show was being broadcast live worldwide!
Live broadcasting meant that if Cifera performed well enough and garnered sufficient popularity, millions, tens of millions, or even over a hundred million viewers could be watching her, perhaps even becoming her loyal fans.
The activation condition for Lies Become Reality was simple: others had to believe her. And the more people who believed her lies, the stronger the effect became!
If Cifera could manipulate the audience into believing her falsehoods, those lies would transform into real abilities she truly possessed.
In other words, the greater her popularity on the show, the more abilities she would acquire, and the stronger they would become...
Ultimately, what if she could deceive the entire world?
Could that mean—becoming a god?!
"Ascending to godhood through deception? Intriguing..."
A satisfied smile spread across Cifera's face.
When she had first transmigrated, she had been deeply conflicted, struggling to believe in the reality of this world.
But now, the world seemed to burst with vibrant colors, and she finally felt a tangible sense of belonging again.
This realization underscored the vital importance of having a goal in life.
With her objective now clear, she resolved to follow the System's advice and "charge forward!"
As a dedicated Cipher fan, Cifera was confident in her ability to portray the character well. Though her imitation might not be flawless, she doubted it would be deemed severely Out of Character by the System.
The only remaining obstacle was—becoming the global champion of the show.
But was that truly so difficult?
After all, she was now Cifera the Fleet-Footed!
Just then, the production crew sent a notification that it was almost Cifera's turn to take the stage.
"Hmph, Final Heist?
"Sorry, but from this moment on, this show is my playground.
"No one can stop me on my path to godhood.
"And my schemes will begin to blossom today~"