I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

The girl's jade-like feet, covered in black stockings, were caressed, causing her toes to tense up slightly.

"Yuriko, a former member of SRT and Fox Squad... won't she have too much of a training habit?"

"Hmm~"

After giving a comfortable "hmm," Yuriko became even more languid.

【~???~】(Yuriko)

"Maybe it's because I transferred to Millennium and was influenced by its atmosphere..." The girl lazily answered, her fox ears swaying rhythmically back and forth. "At first, I was not used to it... but later, I was able to relax and gradually came to like this feeling of 'slow life in a fast-paced world'."

"That's it..."

He gently stroked Yuriko's calves and feet, and Amamiya seemed to have a strange feeling.

"However... Yuriko might not be able to stay idle from now on."

Upon hearing this, Yuriko, with her long, silky eyelashes, slightly raised her eyelids, giving off an expression of 'as expected'.

“I knew Sensei, you didn’t come all this way just to pet a fox because you’re addicted to foxes.”

She slightly raised her leg and changed her posture, crossing her lower legs. Yuriko's voice carried a hint of fatigue and helplessness.

"What kind of request does Sensei have for me this time?"

"Is this a custom-made weapon for a particular student?"

"Or aerial mapping of a certain area?"

"Or……"

The tail moved with remarkable agility, quickly contorting into various shapes. Yuriko said meaningfully, "...Do you need me to use my tail to help you 'release your desires'?"

Yuriko didn't 'make things clear' because their 'romantic' relationship hadn't been confirmed yet—in fact, she was the one who proactively postponed confirming it.

Although they haven't officially confirmed their 'romantic' relationship, their unspoken understanding has already reached that level through their previous interactions.

Amamiya shook his head. Things have priorities... He could tell which was more important and which was less important.

"It's a rather special request..."

After careful consideration and wording, Amamiya explained the details of her request.

"The follow-up operations of Operation Clover will require Yuriko's help."

"Ah."

Yuriko gave a soft "hmm," unconsciously perking up.

—When the 'employer' explains the task details, listen attentively. Don't immediately ask questions about any points of doubt. Instead, wait until the 'employer' has finished explaining all the task details before summarizing your questions and raising your own.

This is a very noble "virtue".

"Let me be frank... The ultimate goal of the follow-up operations of this 'Clover' operation is to launch a heavy blow against the head of the defense office of the Federation Student Association—Hanaya Shiranui."

"Even if we can't 'kill' Huaye with one punch, we should at least make her vomit blood and leave her 'severely weakened' for a long time."

"As for the reason..."

Amamiya paused for a moment, then said nothing more.

Yuriko, who runs Fox Workshop and handles various commissions including but not limited to gun manufacturing, logistics, emergency air transport, and aerial surveying, is likely to have a clear understanding of the internal workings of the Federation Student Council.

“I need concrete ‘evidence’ to launch an inquiry into the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau. And ‘evidence gathering’ requires the help of Yuriko and Ranmai.”

Yuriko flicked her fluffy black fox tail to one side and pondered briefly.

I understand... Does this mean I need to provide a reasonable 'reason for obtaining evidence'?

"The main task flow of this action phase is roughly as follows."

"First, Yuriko needs to provide a batch of 'unnumbered equipment' that has been sold before, to be given to Lanwu and her helmet team so they can cause a little trouble with the logistics and warehousing of the Caesar Group and Valkyrie... Then, Yuriko will launch an inquiry under the pretext of 'preventing these weapons from entering the black market or corporations.'"

"Then...we will use this opportunity to gather evidence."

"Once I obtain the relevant evidence, I will gather and organize it, and then convene an emergency meeting of the Federal Student Council in Xia Lai's name..."

Yuriko nodded slightly.

It sounds like a simple, yet versatile, strategy.

While the feasibility is impeccable, it would be slightly 'not honorable' for Xia Lai to do it...

The next phase of planning is for the next phase; there's no need to focus on it too much now.

“Sensei, I can help with anything you ask.”

"However, I have one more question and one request."

Yuriko shifted her body and sat up in her slippers.

"Oh? What's the problem? What's your request?"

After stretching, Yuriko asked with a hint of meaning, "First of all, the question is...Sensei, is what you're doing really 'just'?"

Although Yuriko was the least influenced by SRT's ideology among the Fox squad, she was still a student from SRT and had experienced SRT's unique teachings on the concept of "justice," which were quite different from those of other schools.

In Yuriko's view, there is no "conflict of conscience" in doing the right thing through the wrong means.

She was just curious, wondering why Amamiya would do that.

Amamiya shook her head decisively: "This is absolutely not a just cause, but it is necessary to do it."

【~???~】(Yuriko)

Yuriko sighed silently.

indeed……

Then let's categorize it together with 'The Phantom Thieves Stealing Hearts', and consider it a 'necessary evil' as well.

"Then, here's a request."

Amamiya stood with his arms crossed, waiting for Yuriko to make her request.

"Sensei, can you make me a 'phantom thief'?"

Chapter 44 It must have been that woman who beat Sensei to his knees...

"Sensei, can you make me a 'phantom thief'?"

After a brief pause, Yuriko made a request that surprised Amamiya somewhat.

"To become... a phantom thief?"

Amamiya's first reaction was surprise.

With his gaze following Yuriko, whose fox tail was swaying, to the computer desk, Amamiya asked, slightly puzzled, "Why would Yuriko have such thoughts?"

Yuriko lowered her eyebrows and, without thinking, uttered a 'heartfelt' remark that might sound a little strange to outsiders.

"To add color to a peaceful life."

Upon hearing this, Amamiya's eyelids twitched.

In her view, fighting against giant creatures several meters tall, or even mythical creatures tens of meters tall, or even the numerous but fragile 'minions'... is also a way to enrich one's life?

I don't quite understand it, but only slightly.

The students of Kivotos are not 'born war maniacs'.

If they can live a peaceful life, they naturally don't want to cause trouble over various things.

Gunfights frequently break out within and between schools, probably not only because these students are prone to getting angry... but also because it's a way of enriching life "adapting to local conditions".

With the aura protecting them, small-caliber weapons hitting them are like splashing water or scraping their skin.

Even if small explosives such as fragmentation grenades or grenade launchers are used, the worst that can happen is that the person is stunned.

After a day or two in the school infirmary, they're back to their energetic selves.

"To become a phantom thief..."

After repeating Yuriko's request, Amamiya quickly went through all of Yuriko's advantages in his mind.

If we compare the 'Masked Warriors' to 'Heroic Units' among students, then Yuriko's physical abilities are something even 'max-level Heroic Units' can't match—she's a 'Boss-level Unit'.

Let's say that.

Yuriko is a pure "numerical monster".

Her stats are so powerful that they can ignore many "real-world mechanisms".

Yuriko's advantage is numerical.

The drawback is that it only provides numerical values.

Despite possessing terrifying stats, with astonishing attributes such as stamina, endurance, and explosive power, Yuriko is surprisingly poor at coordinating her body... making her an undeniably 'weak in close combat'.

Amamiya didn't know Yuriko's academic performance at SRT, but she could guess...

Yuriko should have gotten full marks in theory, knowledge, and physical training... She barely passed physical subjects that test body coordination, such as close combat and quick reflexes, based on her scores.

"He's definitely a good candidate to be a master thief..."

Furthermore, those who possess top-tier or super-elite qualities in all subjects except close combat will have the most advantageous 'skill set' once they become a phantom thief.

"Sensei agreed?"

Yuriko, who thought her request was a bit abrupt and even offensive, was surprised.

Amamiya smiled and nodded: "I'm overjoyed to have a 'powerful ally' like Yuriko join us."

【~???~】（百疚齐鹨珊罢留合子）

Temporarily pausing the process of inputting parameters and completely shedding the laziness of daily mode, the fox-eared girl's calm tone revealed a hint of excitement at the prospect of facing something new and exciting.

"When can we begin the infiltration?"

Amamiya: "..."

Although Yuriko has gained a deeper understanding of the other world than the average student through her own efforts, there's still clearly a lack of understanding...

Infiltrating—that's not something you can just do whenever you want.

Impressionist spaces are common, but grand halls are rare.

Impression Space is indeed a place you can visit anytime... but the targets of 'repentance' here are just small fry that can be dealt with easily.

Miscellaneous fish, miscellaneous fish... that probably won't satisfy Yuriko.

The 'desire for challenge' she craves can only be satisfied by facing the master of the hall... or the shadows of the deep impression space.

"At least until this phase of questioning the Valkyrie Police Department is over."

"These things...can't be rushed."

Yuriko was not disappointed. She turned her attention back to the computer screen and quickly typed in various data with her nimble fingers.

"Um……"

The task is to investigate the logistics of an entire large academy, find loopholes based on existing clues, and gather compelling evidence...

This workload...

After trying to roughly estimate her workload, Yuriko frowned slightly.

As her fox ears drooped in low spirits, Yuriko realized with a clear understanding that... another rare, quiet, and leisurely summer vacation was about to end.

This is only the initial evidence collection and search.

Sensei then launched an inquiry into the Valkyrie Public Security Bureau based on the existing evidence. In order to avoid delaying the investigation and inventory of Valkyrie's assets, Sensei would definitely need to race against time with Hana.

Before Huaye could destroy, fabricate, or conceal the evidence of Valkyrie's bribery, the inventory and verification were completed... leaving Huaye no chance to turn the tables or struggle.

The Federal Student Union will definitely contribute its manpower and resources at that time.

But this is similar to the situation of 'I investigate myself' – if only the finance office of the Federal Student Association puts in the effort, the 'evidence' found may be concealed or lied about by potential insiders in the finance office.

Therefore, this large-scale survey...

We definitely need to hire 'outside help'.

Based on Sensei's reason for coming to find him this time...

Yuriko pondered that she would probably still need to "put in the effort" when the subsequent audits were conducted.