Funinna, please let me steal your heart!

Why say two minutes...? After all, she had no reason to expose the limitations of her abilities.

"I see!" Navia exclaimed in sudden realization.

No wonder she wanted to stay here.

She had already used her ability to alter the flow of time once during her brief exchange with Claurind!

To escape the Opicra Opera House with so many combatants and the pursuit of the strongest duelist, it would be difficult without the ability to alter the flow of time.

But why did she expose her own shortcomings?

Nobody would ask that question.

After all, she's a phantom thief.

From the moment she began issuing a notice before each theft, no one questioned her strange, ritualistic behavior.

Misleading? Possibly.

But a swift victory is indeed key! Navia and Clorind exchanged a glance.

"You in front, me behind?" Claude gestured with her eyes.

Overwhelm her with a pincer attack! Navia nodded.

"This time I won't let you escape, you phantom thief!" Navia grabbed the umbrella and started hacking away, using brute force to pull the umbrella into a beautiful arc.

The heavy force landed on the sword, and the resulting gust of wind blew Luna's bangs aside.

"Miss Navia is still the same as ever, her attacks are simple and direct yet possess a captivating elegance."

"No matter what you say, it's no use. I'm furious right now! Whatever you're going to do, you shouldn't lay a hand on Lulu!" Navia said sternly.

What a heavy woman.

What's going on? Has Navia ever emitted this kind of gravity aura before?

A hint of surprise flashed in Clarinde's eyes, but her hands and feet did not stop.

Lightning element surged around her, and a series of lightning bolts, bursting forth, struck Luna directly...

wrong.

Before the lightning bolt could strike, layers of "carriages" hurtled past and stopped it. That was also part of the stage construction!

"Let me now give a brief recap of the story from the play that just took place, for those of you whose attention has now turned to me."

"Long ago, there were two sisters named Schelnair and Freya, who lived in a now-impoverished home."

Claurind looked at Chavoret, who nodded.

Gunlances are useless against the phantom thief White Cat; even bullets imbued with elemental power have little effect. Ultimately, the only thing he can rely on is close-quarters combat.

There are 100 seconds left on the time limit.

"Lady Furina should still be in this opera house. Go find her immediately!" Chavorei ordered.

"Yes!"

The special patrol team split up and began inspecting the opera house inside and out.

Xia Worei gripped her spear tightly, ignited the tip, and transformed into a streak of flame as she thrust towards Luna.

"Surrender, White Cat!"

"So Miss Xia Wore really likes me, doesn't she? Wherever I am, you're there too."

"You're really dreaming."

Luna dodged Navia's further pursuit, gathered wind element in her feet, and leaped into the air. Xia Wore didn't stop, but instead powerfully kicked off Clorind's raised longsword.

The flame-splattered gun barrel slashed towards Luna as she leaped up!

Time limit: 90 seconds.

Luna's sword gleamed with water as the spear and sword clashed.

Their gazes met as they looked past the weapons. Luna and Xia Worei's eyes met. Luna smiled gently at her.

She still had that infuriating expression. Xia Worei took a deep breath, suppressing her displeasure.

The spear and sword clashed again, collided, and bounced off.

The two landed.

Luna lightly stepped on the ground, and several decorative panels sprang up, obscuring her figure.

"My sister, Scherner, lost the strength in both legs in an accident and could no longer stand up. The two of them, who depended on each other for survival, were slated to be given to other nobles."

With a whoosh, smoke billowed from the constructed stage equipment, enveloping the entire space in a thin mist. The security guards instinctively covered their mouths and noses, but quickly realized that it was just a smokescreen.

Non-toxic and odorless.

Xia Worei squinted.

80 seconds left.

We can't let her drag this out any longer.

Clarinde, Shavorei, and Navia made up their minds and prepared to launch an attack together.

The phantom thief, White Cat, is such a troublesome fellow... Clarin thought to herself that she could no longer hold back any of her strength; she had to decide the outcome before the next attack.

But the next second, Chiori's twin swords cleaved through the mist, sliced ​​through the scenery, and attacked Luna.

The wildly swirling twin blades wove together an impenetrable barrage of slashing light.

Fast, precise, and deadly—just like cutting fabric in her daily life, so-called enemies are no different from fabric that needs to be cut in her eyes.

But perhaps it was a misfire, or perhaps Luna struck her weapon precisely.

In short, with a crisp sound, the knife in her hand flew out and pierced the floor.

"Chiori!?" Navia exclaimed in surprise.

“Tsk….” Chiori clicked her tongue.

Those who know Chiori well know that when Chiori clicks her tongue like that, it means she's quite unhappy.

While Chizuru was unhappy, Luna felt pleasure.

She took Chiori's hand and pulled her into her arms: "Miss Chiori, you don't look like a lady at all."

"It's still better than you."

Chiori lifted her foot and stomped, but Luna moved her toes away, and she missed her target.

"Why hide?"

"I don't think I have a reason not to hide, do I?"

There are 55 seconds left on the time limit.

"Do you need me to give you a return gift later?" Luna asked softly with a smile.

"No, disgusting."

Why are they all so blunt? Xia Worei is, and so is Qianzhi.

Luna released her grip and stomped hard on the floor. The resulting storm dispersed the fog, clearing her vision again, but time was running out.

She took out her pocket watch, and the second hand was ticking away.

"But Scherner and Freya did not want to succumb to this fate, so they decided to pave the way for their future with the blood of their 'adoptive father'."

“They never imagined they would end up like this, nor did they expect to get their hands dirty in order to get what they deserved.”

"Having already become sinners who have broken the law, there is only one final outcome for them."

She took off her mask.

Their expressions changed! The security team and special patrol team who witnessed this scene directly could not believe their eyes.

Luna raised her sword and made a light stroke. The phonograph device she had created played a sad and melodious tune, and her expression suddenly changed.

"Sister, we were just trying our best to be together forever, why did it turn out like this?"

The eyes, movements, and tone of voice were all performed perfectly, even to the point of being terrifying.

I thought Luna and Funina were the pinnacle of acting, but now there's another phantom thief, White Cat.

"...It's okay, we'll be together. I won't leave you alone, and you shouldn't leave me to exist alone in this world."

Even though people knew she was a phantom thief, some were still moved by her performance.

This story stirred up some memories for Xia Wore.

She then felt Luna's gaze: "Miss Chavore, what exactly constitutes a sinner?"

What do you think?

Luna smiled back.

She did not answer the question, but instead put her mask back on and bowed slightly: "Thank you all for coming to watch my performance with Miss Funina. Please take good care of Miss Luna."

"She is a beautiful, intelligent, and brave person."

Chiori had a subtle expression on her face.

"Well then, I hope we meet again someday—"

"We'll never meet again."

There are 25 seconds left on the time limit.

Clarinde moved.

Its strikes are so fast they cannot be caught; the trajectories of its bullets are so unpredictable that they cannot be caught.

Pure speed and power are displayed to the fullest in her explosive technique, and almost no enemy can completely escape from her move.

This is a technique created by Shadow Hunters to hunt monsters; it's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut for ordinary people.

But the phantom thief is no ordinary person.

Luna snapped her fingers, and the lights went completely dark. In the dimness, only the dazzling, captivating purple light flickered, but... she still couldn't land a hit.

"I'll be waiting for you to come find Miss Frinna, my lovely dueling agent." And a warm, sweet breath brushed against Clarinde's ear.