Chapter 679 : The Phantom Thief

Flottes, Central-Northern Falano.

It was a clear and sunny day. The streets of Flottes were peaceful under the daylight. Some of the more bustling thoroughfares were filled with the usual crowds, lively as always, and countless carriages passed back and forth along the roads.

Inside one of those black carriages, Dorothy sat comfortably in casual attire, leisurely enjoying the street view outside the window. Sitting across from her was Nephthys, dressed in a fitted trench coat, currently absorbed in reading a recently purchased newspaper.

“Breaking news… Bourbon’s treasured relic, Maria’s Light, reemerges. In honor of national glory, a collector unveils a cherished heirloom in a public exhibition.

“Recently, Roke Durand, director of the Compassion Fund and renowned collector, announced to the press that he would host a grand public exhibition showcasing the Durand family’s collection accumulated over generations. It is said that the Durand family, with centuries of legacy in Rabune, has always had a tradition of collecting rare antiquities. Each family head had a fondness for collecting exquisite artifacts, and their home houses a large number of rare treasures. While the Durands have traditionally held small, private exhibitions at the start of each year, this will be their first large-scale public showing.

“To promote the event, Mr. Roke revealed several first-tier exhibition items to the press. Among them, the most eye-catching is the necklace Maria’s Light, once worn by Queen Maria, consort of the Splendor King Charles. Even within the opulent Bourbon royal palace, this necklace was a supreme treasure. It was believed lost during the Cold Moon Revolution and hadn’t been heard of for over a century. In truth, however, it was secretly safeguarded by Mr. Roke’s grandfather during the chaos and has been preserved ever since.

“In the interview, Mr. Roke stated that he hadn’t originally intended to publicly display Maria’s Light, but seeing how many people today disregard the nation’s glory and mindlessly oppose Bourbon—using anti-Bourbon sentiment to undermine Falano’s national roots—he felt both sorrow and anger. This inspired him to take action.

“Hoping to rekindle public yearning and pride for the nation’s glory, Mr. Roke decided to host this exhibition and openly display his family’s collection—treasures that symbolize Falano’s national heritage. The event will be held on the evening of the 14th at the Rabune City Hall. Afterward, Mr. Roke plans to donate a batch of relics to the state.

“When asked whether his remarks about Falano’s problems were a veiled critique of recent parliamentary policies, Mr. Roke declined to comment, insisting that his exhibition carries no political agenda whatsoever…”

…

Nephthys read the article aloud in pieces as she sat on the carriage, and once she finished reading the whole thing, she gently put the newspaper down and looked toward Dorothy.

“Miss Dorothy… it really turned out just as you predicted. Not even a few days after we started stirring the pot, here it is in the news—an exhibition, and it’s really about that Maria’s Light!”

“As expected,” Dorothy replied, turning her gaze from the window back to Nephthys.

“Even if they hadn’t arranged for an exhibition of Maria’s Light, I was going to have Thief K take action again. I would’ve leaked information ahead of time and had people lying in wait… The fact that they set this up shows they’re quite eager to get their hands on the pedestal that I have.”

She continued.

“I’m not surprised the Dark Gold Society is organizing an exhibition for Maria’s Light. What really interested me was what reason they’d use for the public event—something that wouldn’t arouse Thief K’s suspicion. And now I see… they’re subtly playing on Falano’s current political climate. Not bad.”

Dorothy made this observation with faint admiration. Nephthys, seated across from her, replied.

“So now the Dark Gold Society has published the event details: the night of the 14th, in a place called Rabune. That’s where they’ve chosen to spring the trap? They’ve got Crimson-rank Beyonders lying in wait to catch Thief K?”

“No,” Dorothy said calmly.

“Their Crimson-rank Beyonders won’t be directly present. This exhibition isn’t a trap—it’s bait.”

“Bait, but not a trap… What does that mean?”

Nephthys asked, confused.

“You’ll understand when the time comes. Since they’ve already issued their challenge, we need to respond promptly. Thief K’s calling cards have to be delivered a full day in advance—we need to time it just right.”

As she spoke, Dorothy signaled for the carriage to accelerate. It was time for them to leave Flottes and head toward the fishing spot the Dark Gold Society had so carefully prepared.

…

Rabune lay northwest of Flottes and was a major city in northwestern Falano. With a large population and abundant resources, it had produced countless artists and notable figures due to its long and storied history. Because of the many significant historical events that took place there, it had become one of Falano’s cultural capitals.

Rabune was known as Falano’s historic and cultural city. In its ancient district built along the water, every building had over a century of history. Among these old structures, the most famous was the Rabune City Hall.

At nightfall, beneath a clear sky and a bright moon, the cityscape of Rabune glowed with brilliant lights. Amidst this radiant urban landscape, one particular spot stood out as brighter than all the others—that was the City Hall.

At the heart of Rabune’s old district, a grand temple-like structure supported by towering pillars stood proudly, bathed in moonlight and city lights. Once the extravagant palace of Rabune’s former lords built to flaunt their authority, it had since been converted into a public venue for major events. Tonight, the entire space had been reserved for one highly anticipated exhibition.

Under the night sky, the plaza in front of City Hall was packed with citizens, braving the early spring chill as they gathered in anticipation.

They whispered among themselves, everyone wearing expressions of curiosity—some even tinged with excitement or awe. Conversations buzzed across the plaza, everyone waiting for something. And it wasn’t just Maria’s Light they were waiting for. In fact, those who truly cared about viewing the necklace were probably only a small portion.

“What time is it now…? Is it almost time for the calling card?”

“Will Thief K really show up? Don’t let me down…”

“Ah… I really hope I get to see Lord K in person…”

…

Such whispers and chatter spread densely among the crowd in the plaza. At the boundary between the plaza and the City Hall, a line of security guards stood. With their hands behind their backs, they formed a human wall and stared sternly at the crowd, preventing them from advancing and closely watching their every move.

Behind this line of guards, at the top of a tall staircase at the entrance to the City Hall, a group of people stood. On closer inspection, it became clear that they were a cluster of reporters gathered around one man for an interview. The man being interviewed was slightly stout, dressed in a light gray overcoat, and wore a low top hat—he was a middle-aged man.

“Mr. Roke… may I ask what your reasons were for deciding to bring this treasure exhibition back into the public eye?”

“As I said in the papers, the people of Falano today need something to help them look back upon the glory of our nation’s past. These treasures have been carefully selected by me; I believe they can reignite the spirit of the people—especially the youth.”

“Mr. Roke, holding such an event at a time like this—does it imply dissatisfaction with certain parliamentary decisions?”

“Sorry, I don’t discuss politics.”

“Apologies then, Mr. Roke—another question. We heard that you received a warning letter from Thief K earlier, claiming they would steal Maria’s Light during the exhibition. Is this true?”

“A warning letter? Let me think… Ah, yes, there was something like that. Just some clown’s prank trying to attract attention. I didn’t take it seriously. Now that you mention it, I almost forgot.”

“A clown? Mr. Roke, Thief K has successfully committed several high-profile thefts recently and made a mockery of countless police forces. I’m not sure ‘clown’ is quite the right word.”

“If Thief K is a clown, then the police who let such a clown succeed are even bigger clowns. They’re them—I’m me. My private security is a hundred times better than those incompetent officers. There will be no opportunity for a clown to exploit.

“Still, I have to thank this clown a little. Thanks to them, this exhibition has drawn an enormous crowd. I’m thinking that once we catch them, we won’t hand them over to the police right away. Let them perform for the audience first.”

At the entrance to the City Hall, the man named Roke answered a flood of questions from the press with perfect composure, keeping a calm demeanor under the storm of camera flashes. The air was thick with the scent of burning flash powder.

“All right, dear journalists from near and far, this concludes our interview. Please follow me inside to witness the official opening of the exhibition—and the reappearance of its most precious treasure: Maria’s Light.”

After wrapping up the press segment, Roke led a group of guests into the City Hall’s grand hall. Beneath the glow of a massive chandelier, Roke walked along a plush carpet spread across the marble floor. On either side of the carpet were countless glass display cases, showcasing a variety of rare and exquisite treasures.

At the far end of the carpet stood an enormous display case surrounded by two concentric rings of bodyguards. Draped over the top was a soft silk cover, concealing what lay within.

As Roke approached, the guards stepped aside to make way. Once Roke and the guests reached the display, he made a brief ceremonial speech. Then, under the focused attention of all the reporters, he reached for the silk cloth.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please witness now: one of Queen Maria’s most treasured jewels, a jewel of Falano—Maria’s Light, returning to the world once more!”

With that final proclamation, Roke lifted the silk cover from the towering display case. Instantly, all eyes were locked onto the item beneath—but the moment people got a clear look, their expressions froze, and one by one, voices cried out.

“What… what is this?”

“Empty? It’s empty?!”

Hearing the exclamations from the guests, Roke paused mid-motion. He turned to look at the display himself—and saw that inside the specially crafted multi-layered glass case, atop its elegant pedestal, the exquisite necklace that should have been there was nowhere to be found. Staring in disbelief, Roke blurted out.

“What’s going on?! Where did it go? This case was never opened—how could it be missing? What are you all looking at?!”

Roke shouted angrily at the surrounding bodyguards. While the guards themselves looked utterly dumbfounded, a sudden wave of enthusiastic cheering erupted from the plaza outside the hall.

Hearing the uproar, those near the display exchanged glances and quickly rushed toward the doors. A moment later, they all spilled out into the plaza. There, they saw the gathered citizens all gazing upward.

Roke and his group moved toward a cordoned-off area in the plaza, surrounded by bodyguards. Following the crowd’s gaze upward, they saw—at the edge of the rooftop above the City Hall—stood a flowing silhouette.

Wearing a tall black top hat and an extravagantly styled men's formal suit, with a half-mask covering the upper face and a strikingly fair, well-defined lower half revealed, a black-and-red-lined cape fluttered behind in the wind. The figure before them seemed like something conjured from a masquerade ball—tall, lithe, and androgynous, with no discernible features.

In their white-gloved right hand, they held a glittering, exquisite crystal necklace—Maria’s Light—its four large crystals catching the moonlight like starlight.

Atop the City Hall, the strange figure held Bourbon’s royal treasure up toward the moonlit sky. Under the glow of the moon, the beautiful crystal necklace sparkled brilliantly. The thief themself seemed intoxicated by the radiance emitted by the treasure, and murmured to themself.

“Maria’s Light, is it…? Such brilliance… it must have been crafted by a most exquisite artisan… what a pity…”

The figure seemed to be sighing with regret. Their voice was neutral—uncannily captivating, hard to tell whether it belonged to a man or woman. Just as they was admiring the treasure they had obtained, a furious shout rose from below.

“You clown up there! Put that down immediately! That belongs to me… that is Falano’s national treasure!”

“Falano’s national treasure? No… this radiance comes from a distant and ancient past. It belongs to a history buried beneath the sands. Compared to the luxury of foreign aristocrats… it has a far more rightful owner…”

Gazing down from behind their mask, the thief replied. Upon hearing these words, Roke grew visibly flustered and shouted out loud.

“Seize them!”

With Roke’s order, the rooftop door burst open and a swarm of bodyguards came rushing out, having realized something had gone wrong.

Surrounded by the bodyguards’ attacks from every direction, the figure atop the roof remained calm. With the smallest of movements, they sidestepped the strikes, dodging each assault effortlessly as if they were strolling through the street. Under their refined footwork, the guards all missed their marks—some even stumbled and fell to the ground from overexertion.

To the eyes of the countless onlookers in the plaza, the figure resembled both a dancer on stage and a matador in a bullfight. With minimal gestures, they easily evaded their pursuers without so much as letting them brush their coat. The entire display seemed like an elegant performance, and the crowd below burst into cheers. The clumsy guards crashed into each other again and again, eliciting waves of laughter.

“Ahhh—help!”

Just then, one bodyguard overexerted himself and slipped near the rooftop’s edge. He lost his balance and was about to fall. Several audience members screamed and covered their eyes—but at that moment, a hand reached out and grabbed the man’s arm, saving him from plummeting.

The dazed guard looked up to see that the hand belonged to none other than the very thief he had been chasing.

“Careful… Rough movement in a place like this can be quite dangerous,” the thief said with a smile. With a gentle pull, they brought the guard back to solid ground. As the guard sat there, trembling from the scare, the crowd below erupted into thunderous applause. Even the other bodyguards paused, stunned by the gesture, momentarily unsure whether to continue their assault.

“Don’t just stand there! Don’t capture them—shoot them! Kill them!”

At that moment, a desperate Roke shouted toward his personal guards. One of them flinched, then immediately drew a rifle from his back. Taking aim at the thief, who was now almost completely still atop the rooftop, he fired.

Bang!

The sharp crack of gunfire shattered the cheers. Under everyone’s stunned gaze, the thief at the edge of the roof suddenly clutched their chest, staggered back a few steps, spun once, and dropped to a crouch.

Seeing this, both the rooftop guards and the crowd below froze in place, watching the cloaked figure now huddled with their cape drawn tightly around them. The guard they had just saved stepped forward nervously, his voice trembling.

“H-Hey… are you okay? You… you were shot?”

There was no immediate response. The thief, crouched low, slowly extended their hand before him. Their once-pristine white glove was now soaked in crimson blood.

“Ah… the color of blood. A familiar hue… I think I’ve seen it before… Let me think… ah, right…”

In a low murmur, the thief slowly rose to their feet. As countless concerned eyes watched, they placed the bloodied hand back beneath their cloak. Then, in one smooth motion, they spun around, flung the cloak aside, and stretched out their arm.

The blood was gone.

In its place, they now held a vivid bouquet of red roses.

“Yes… this is the color of roses. How utterly enchanting.”

The miraculous sleight-of-hand drew roaring applause from the crowd. With screaming and cheers echoing through the plaza, the entire scene reached a fever pitch. Voices rang out in unison, calling the same name: “K! Thief K!”

Witnessing this scene, the thief smiled faintly. Then, under the stunned gazes of the surrounding bodyguards, they continued speaking softly.

“Thank you all for your applause. Now… it is time for the curtain to fall.”

As they spoke, they tossed the bouquet into the air. In midair, it suddenly burst open, releasing a stunning flurry of rose petals. The crimson petals danced like snowflakes, swirling downward and quickly concealing the thief’s figure.

In the midst of a final, dramatic pose, they vanished entirely within the floral snowfall.

When the last of the petals had been scattered by the night breeze, the rooftop was empty. From the top of the City Hall, the rose petals drifted down like red snow, blanketing the plaza. The audience below—especially the women—screamed in excitement and rushed to snatch up the petals as keepsakes.

At that moment, in a parked carriage on the edge of the plaza, a handsome young man sat watching the grand finale through the window. After observing the scene, he let out a cold snort.

“Heh… What a flamboyant clown. Who does he think he is, a street magician peddling tricks? Flaunting like that in front of mortals—what a disgrace to the face of Beyonders…”

Angley spoke with scorn. Then he lit a cigarette, placed it between his lips, took a drag, and continued in a low voice.

“Go on then… take your Maria’s Light. Return to your little hideout… to make your precious crystals whole again, and then…”