Anime, but the Phantom Thieves of Heart

Seeing that Shirou Emiya was still calm, Lan Ke quickly struck while the iron was hot.

"I didn't think much of it, but Shirou, you suddenly mentioned it today, and I was a little unsure, so I just went to confirm it..."

Lan Ke didn't say much, because he had already told the other party the answer when they met.

What was beyond Lan Ke's expectation was that Shirou Emiya seemed calmer than he had imagined?

"So, Leader, you rejected Illya?"

"Of course, I don't deny that I like cute girls, but I'm not interested in children..."

Lan Ke reiterated his XP, but Shirou Emiya's reaction was somewhat beyond Lan Ke's expectations.

"Isn't Illya adorable?"

"???"

Looking at Lan Ke's confused expression, Emiya Shirou turned off the safety of his gun and let out a breath.

"Leader, do you think I'm an irrational person?"

Lan Ke really wanted to say that other things were hard to say, but anything related to his sister was definitely not rational. However, considering that he had already teased Shirou Emiya enough today, he shook his head.

Seeing this, Emiya Shirou spoke again.

"Just because I'm against Illya's relationship doesn't mean I'm against her finding a boyfriend. As a brother, I sincerely hope that Illya can find a partner worthy of her, because I know I can't be with her for her whole life..."

Speaking of this, Shirou Emiya seemed a little depressed. It was obvious that although Lan Ke complained that he was a sister-con, perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe Shirou Emiya as a "good brother".

"So I think it would be more appropriate in a few years. Leader, you're only six years older than Illya. It might be a little early now, but in a few years, I think it's not impossible."

If a high school student is in love with an elementary school student, normal people would want to call the police, but if a junior high school student is in love with a high school student, everyone will be much more tolerant, at least from Shirou Emiya's perspective.

What's more, letting his sister be with a gangster who came out of nowhere, maybe Lan Ke, the man he approves of, would be more suitable.

After hearing what Shirou Emiya said, Lan Ke just stood there in a daze.

He considered many possibilities, such as Emiya Shirou directly turning against him, and then they would do a 'friendly fistfight', and then talk to each other, maybe their favorability would increase.

After all, there is no fundamental conflict between the two, and Lan Ke really would not attack an elementary school student.

But he never expected that Emiya Shirou seemed... not to object?

"Shirou, you mean you won't object once Illya starts middle school?"

"That's right. After all, even though I'm the older brother, I can't always protect my sister."

Looking at Shirou Emiya, who looked helpless but extremely mature, for some reason, Lan Ke suddenly blurted out something.

"What if I said my dream was to start a harem?"

"Click~"

Almost at the moment Lan Ke opened his mouth, a familiar voice was heard.

Looking at Emiya Shirou's 'brilliant smile', Lan Ke stopped being naughty and spoke quickly!

"I was half joking!"

In the end, Shirou Emiya did not really open fire on Lan Ke. However, although they were high school students, the two of them who had been chasing each other in the impression space for half a day looked too childish, especially when the two of them huddled together and gasped for breath, it was enough to show how exaggeratedly they had just run. After all, the physical fitness of the two people who were now using the "Personality Mask" was far beyond that of ordinary people.

"So... Leader... which half... of you... is... joking?"

Facing the panting Shirou Emiya, Lan Ke, who actually still had the strength and was simply breathing with him, sighed helplessly.

"Of course it's the first sentence. I've already said it, I wouldn't attack an elementary school student."

Faced with Lan Ke's righteous words, Shirou Emiya didn't know how to complain for a moment.

No matter how you look at it, 'harem talk' isn't much better than 'liking elementary school students', right?

However, Shirou Emiya believed what Lan Ke said. After all, the opposite sex with whom Lan Ke had the best relationship was 'Bukujima Saeko', who was obviously a 'mature big sister' type, and it was obvious that this type was more in line with Lan Ke's XP.

"I believe in you, Leader."

Almost at the same time as Shirou Emiya finished speaking, a voice sounded again in Lan Ke's ears.

RANK UP!

Compared to before, this time Emiya Shirou did not provide Lan Ke with new skills, but only increased the experience points when synthesizing the Tower's personality mask.

But for Lan Ke at this moment, Shirou Emiya's attitude is more important than these.

The increase in RANK represents that the relationship between Lan Ke and the person Tarot wants to represent has taken a step forward, and at this time the increase in RANK also represents that his relationship with Emiya Shirou has also taken a step forward. Naturally, it also means that what Emiya Shirou just said was serious, and not just said to fool him.

What also surprised Lan Keqing was that Shirou Emiya seemed to trust him more than he had imagined. At least the other party did not show any signs of "losing control" just now.

With this thought in mind, Lan Ke handed the cookies made by Illya to the panting Shirou Emiya.

"Anyway, try it first. This is a gift your sister made for the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as a thank you for helping her save her sister. Shirou, as a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, why don't you try some too?"

Looking at the cookies handed over by Lan Ke, Shirou Emiya felt extremely complicated.

I don’t know whether I should be happy that I can eat the snacks made by my sister, or I should be happy that I have to have a different identity to eat the snacks made by my sister.

Compared to Shirou Emiya who was in a complicated mood, Lan Ke was just eating cookies while talking about business with him.

"I went to Arasaka to investigate this afternoon, and that door that can't be opened seems to be more troublesome than we thought..."

Chapter 50: Restless Heart

After Lan Ke finished explaining the situation with "that door", Emiya Shirou was silent for a while before speaking again.

"Leader, you should have a solution, right?"

"Of course~"

Looking at Lan Ke's confident expression, Emiya Shirou stopped talking nonsense.

"In that case, Leader, you just need to give me orders."

Looking at Shirou Emiya, whose eyes were as determined as ever, Lan Ke couldn't help but laugh.

As expected, Shirou Emiya would never let him down!

Just when Lan Ke took Shirou Emiya to ask "Lucy" for help, the other party did not stay in the bathroom as usual. Instead, she leaned on the sofa and stared at the TV in front of her, not knowing what was playing.

Some time had passed since she commissioned the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

Although the Phantom Thieves of Hearts hadn't made any moves, not even sending out a "warning letter", she knew that they must have already started to act. It was simply because others didn't know what preparations they needed to make, so every time they took action, they were actually just the last domino to fall.

She still has considerable trust in the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Theoretically, her mission has been completed, and all she needs to do now is wait.

But for some reason she always felt empty.

"Johnny's goal is to destroy Arasaka. He shouldn't care about the method. What I'm doing is fulfilling his dream."

Lucy kept comforting herself in her heart, but she still felt extremely irritated.

But at this moment, she suddenly found that the alarm on the attic door was triggered.

She almost instinctively tensed her muscles and prepared to run away, but then she suddenly reacted.

It seems that there is only one group of people who would appear in this way.

As expected, when a figure appeared on the 'monitor', the man wearing the bird-beak mask nodded towards the 'monitor' that had already changed its position, as if he was greeting her.

Lucy didn't care too much about this, she just sat there as usual waiting for the 'guests' to come.

"Sorry to bother you, Miss Lucy, at this time~"

"That's fine. Or rather, if possible, I'd rather meet you all sooner rather than later. After all... I'd really like to know how the matter I've 'commissioned' is progressing."

Looking at Lucy's face, which was tense but still pretty due to nervousness, Lan Ke denied it directly without giving her any face.

"I'm sorry. Although I appreciate the information you provided, Miss Lucy, but..."

"I know this isn't a 'commission,' but if possible, could you please tell me how the two of you are progressing?"

Lucy interrupted Lan Ke directly because she knew what Lan Ke was going to say.

Perhaps most people would think that what Lan Ke said was nonsense, because apart from the different way of expression, it actually did not affect the communication and actions of both parties.

But Lucy knew that Lan Ke said this purely to maintain the initiative.

So she decisively admitted her slip of the tongue and urged Lan Ke on.

"Not bad, it went much more smoothly than we imagined. However, we have encountered a problem right now. I hope Miss Lucy can give us some help."

"help?"

Lucy found it a little unbelievable. After all, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts were not omnipotent, but they had always used various unimaginable means to manipulate their targets and the police.

Could such a powerful and mysterious organization possibly have her help?

However, she did not express any doubt or even ridicule, but made a decision almost instantly.

"Of course not!!"

Almost at the same time as these words came out of her mouth, Lucy felt that her irritability caused by having nothing to do seemed to become excited, and all those irritabilities seemed to be washed away.

Lucy's decisive attitude surprised Lan Ke a little.

"Aren't you going to listen to our request?"

"Of course! As long as Arasaka can be destroyed, I'll do whatever it takes, even my life!"

Although she gave people a cold feeling when they first met, Lan Ke felt that there seemed to be a "flame" burning in Lucy's eyes.

Seeing this, Lan Ke stopped talking nonsense.

He stood up with his cane in his hands and nodded slightly towards Lucy.

"Ms. Lucy, I've sensed your resolve, but as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, we too have our own pride—we will absolutely not let anything happen to you!"

Although Lucy couldn't see Lan Ke's expression because of the mask, she could still feel his confidence and pride from his words.

As she herself said, as long as she can destroy Arasaka, it doesn't matter even if it costs her life. Lan Ke's confident attitude makes her more confident about this goal.

"In that case, let's go!"

But when Lan Ke and his friends were about to set off, they encountered another problem.

The next destination is the "Arasaka Building", but the problem is that usually Lan Ke and the others travel in the "cognitive world", which saves time and is convenient. But now that "Lucy" is here, they have to act in the "material world".

But what happened next surprised Lan Ke a little.

"Leader, you guys go ride your bikes. I'll go meet you 'over there'."

Shirou Emiya actually voluntarily gave up the right to use the "Soul Chariot", which surprised Lan Ke a little. After all, no matter how you look at it, whether it is letting "Lucy" go to the "Arasaka Mansion" alone to meet them, or having Shirou Emiya, the owner of the "Soul Chariot", take the other party to the "Arasaka Mansion", while Lan Ke rides the Bicorn from the "cognitive world", this is more normal.

As if he could see Lan Ke's confusion, Shirou suddenly spoke.

"Leader, when I was most confused, it was you who appeared before me, helped me find the direction for the future, and set out towards my 'dream' again. So no matter what your dream is, I will support you unconditionally!"

Shirou Emiya's words were extremely touching, but Lan Ke's mouth twitched slightly.

"to be honest."

"Leader, now that you have a girlfriend, my sister will be safe."

Although it was unlikely that Lucy could hear Lan Ke and Shirou Emiya's whispered conversation, Shirou Emiya still followed Lan Ke's request and tried to use aliases whenever he was in the "hall" or "appearing in the material world wearing a phantom thief costume."

But what the other party said really made Lan Ke not know how to complain for a moment.

Should you thank the other person for their support, or complain about their honesty?

However, Lan Ke did not reject the other party's kindness.

It’s not that he really has any thoughts about ‘Lucy’. After all, although she meets Lan Ke’s aesthetic standards, there are many people in the world who meet his aesthetic standards.

He simply hoped that Shirou Emiya would stop having wild thoughts.

"Should I say it's you, Rider?"

"But I accept your kindness. Act according to the original plan. I will send the Soul Chariot there later."

Seeing this, Emiya Shirou didn't waste any words. He entered the "cognitive world" at a street corner where "Lucy" couldn't monitor him and rode the "Soul Chariot" back to the material world.

"Let's go!"

Perhaps to express her sincerity, when Lan Ke and Shirou Emiya ran to the side to whisper, Lucy consciously waited for them there. It was not until Lan Ke appeared again riding a very "cool" motorcycle that Lucy looked at the side of him with some confusion.

"Where is Rider?"

"He has his job, just like everyone else."