Funinna, please let me steal your heart!

I absolutely do not want to see any more estrangement, not even for a second.

"Miss Clorind, please cheer up. Even if you are just a temporary assistant, I hope you can do your job well."

Claude smiled faintly: "Alright."

After inspecting the scene, most of the clues had been gathered, and the outline of the truth was beginning to emerge. However, Luna needed to verify one thing.

She turned her gaze to Linnie and Lynette, who were far away from the scene.

Claudia asked, "Should we go ask them?"

"Okay, you wait here."

"it is good."

Clarind didn't ask why, but watched Luna walk towards the two of them.

Just then, Ying and Paimon were talking to Linnie and Lynette.

If Luna hadn't stepped in to help, they would have been the ones to act as her defense attorneys.

There's no other reason than that we can't just sit idly by.

In situations requiring conversation, Linnie usually answers the questions, while Linette simply provides support.

Therefore, she was the first to notice Luna approaching.

“…Brother.” She tugged at Linni’s sleeve.

"Huh? Ah... Luna! You're here. Thank you for defending us. We knew you were on our side."

Luna asked softly, "What did she say?"

"She" refers to only one person—Aregino.

“She’s very supportive of our performance, but we never expected something like this to happen,” Linni said, exasperated.

It seems their performance was actually part of some kind of operation.

"for what?"

"Linette." Linnie nudged Linette's back.

This time, Luna finally spoke to them.

Such a rare opportunity probably won't come again, so he hopes his younger sister can tell Luna her innermost thoughts as soon as possible and resolve the conflict between them.

Lynette said in a low voice, annoyed, "Don't push me."

She held Luna's hat in her arms, her gaze lowered.

What's the best way to address her?

Luna or... Lynette hesitated.

“Let’s go over there and continue talking. These two friends haven’t spoken in a long time.” Linnie blinked, and Ying and Paimon suddenly realized.

It must be because we haven't seen each other for so long!

They didn't think of it as a phantom thief, since Linni had said that the phantom thief, White Cat, used to be their family, but they no longer had any contact with each other.

Moreover, the phantom thief, White Cat, can change her appearance. Unless you catch her in the act and pin her to the ground, it's probably impossible to identify her true identity.

The three of them walked away.

“...What should I call you?” Lynette finally spoke again.

She wants to give the choice to Luna.

Is it Luna? Or Lulu?

"....have no idea."

Lynette hugged her hat tightly and took a soft breath: "Thank you."

"No need."

"I want you to manage."

Luna looked away and touched her arm: "...What is your purpose?"

“That one.” Lynette pointed with her tail at the Prophet.

"Imperial proclamation device?"

"To be precise, it is the core beneath the oracle. My brother's swap magic can utilize the space beneath the stage and also take this opportunity to get closer to the core."

Luna pondered: "A prophecy?"

"Correct."

So that's how it is. Does the "Father" want to find out the true nature of the prophetic machine and find a way to resolve the crisis mentioned in the prophecy?

"The sea will rise and wash away the sins of the Fontainebleau people—you should be well aware of this prophecy."

Luna nodded briefly in response: "Indeed. So, what was the result?"

Lynette leaned against the wall, seemingly not intending to return the hat she was holding to Luna.

She tried to act as nonchalantly as possible to avoid any strange reactions from her ears and tail.

"My brother said he heard strange noises when he got close to the core."

"what sound?"

"...A human voice. That's what he said."

The voice of a person...?

Luna turned to look at the Prophecy Machine, but the trial had not begun and it remained unresponsive.

The massive scales were perfectly balanced, without the slightest misalignment.

Does it contain a human voice at its core?

Could it be that Frynn's true form resides within? The gods have entrusted their power to the oracle, thereby activating and transforming the power of faith during judgment into a hybrid of legal and compensatory energy...

Such a reasoning is reasonable, but with too little information, continuing to think about it is just a meaningless waste of brainpower.

"anything else?"

"The other person tried to talk to him, but my brother sensed something was wrong and decided to leave as a precaution. When he returned through the tunnel under the stage, he saw the broken vase and clothes on the ground."

Clothes on the ground.

"Just as I suspected." Luna smiled and said, "This is the key evidence."

"what?"

"It's nothing. I've finished asking, thank you." Luna turned around and headed back.

Just like back then.

Lynette couldn't resist reaching out and grabbing her wrist.

"Wait a minute." The words just came out.

"...Is there anything else?"

Don't go? No. She didn't want to say that.

Luna was clearly in the wrong; she broke the agreement they made.

They promised to be family and partners for life, but he left home on his own.

Why did she do that? Of course she wanted to know.

But even if you asked, Luna definitely wouldn't answer.

"Father" knows why she left and understands her, but "Father" also won't explain to Lynette what exactly happened.

Will she come home again? She didn't want to ask that question either, and couldn't bring herself to ask it.

But I have to say something.

This is the most I've spoken in years.

"The hat. Can I assume you gave it to me?"

"temporary."

Luna said, "I'll get it back after this trial. If I lose it, the person who made this hat for me will definitely lock me out for three days and three nights."

"Chiori?"

"Ah."

What if I said I wanted this hat?

After saying that, Lynette added casually, "Just kidding."

No answer is needed.

She didn't want to hear a "no".

“You don’t need to wait for the trial to end, I’ll give it back to you now.” Lynette gripped the brim of the hat and held it high with both hands.

Then he forcefully slammed it onto Luna's head!

It hurts, but this was just too violent.

Luna whispered, "That was too forceful."

"I do not care."

Luna straightened her hat and hair: "...I should be alright now, right?"

"...'Father' wants to know when you're coming back."

Would she really say that?

Arecino would indeed ask such questions, but it's more likely she would ask them herself when she meets them face-to-face, rather than specifically having a child relay the message.

Luna couldn't answer that question.