"If you let me put shackles on you, I might consider it," Chevreuse countered.
Luna merely smiled, lifted her chin, and pulled open her collar.
Her smooth neck showed not a single blemish. "Come then," she said. "I don't mind. Collars or shackles - I'll accept either."
Chevreuse pushed Luna away. "Enough."
She wouldn't admit it was a so-called date, but she did want to take this White Cat outside—not for personal reasons, but to handle the final stages of the case.
"Wait outside," she murmured.
Luna picked up the towel from the table. "Let me dry your hair."
Chevreuse glanced at her and sighed deeply.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Luna pressed down on Chevreuse's shoulders, settling her at the table.
There was no full-length mirror; Chevreuse seemed to rarely dress up. The table held only a small compact mirror.
"Captain, you don't seem to enjoy dressing up much?"
Chevreuse replied mildly, "The Special Task Force has frequent emergencies. We'll sweat plenty anyway, so makeup is unnecessary. Clothes don't need to be fancy either."
Unless there was a special occasion, any emergency call meant changing into uniform.
Luna rubbed the towel through Chevreuse's hair, murmuring, "What a waste."
"There's nothing to waste."
"It's truly regrettable for me," Luna said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I was so looking forward to meeting more different versions of Miss Chevreuse. After all, you're such a beautiful treasure."
Chevreuse arched her eyebrows, her tone frosty. "You want to steal me away?"
"Of course. What kind of treasure I steal is entirely up to me."
When Luna removed her mask, both her hair and facial features had transformed.
Though her purple hair and eyes bore no resemblance to Chevreuse's features, these two points alone created an uncanny similarity.
Luna smiled. "Don't you think we look like sisters now?"
"No, I don't. Change back to your original face. I'm not interested in watching you keep transforming."
"How do you know that face is my true form?"
Luna gently tapped the corner of her mouth. As her finger moved away, a beauty mark appeared.
"Now we look even more alike, don't you think?"
She whispered, her breath brushing against Chevreuse's ear, "Chevreuse-sis."
Chevreuse shivered slightly, a hint of anger appearing on her face—though that was only visible if you ignored her equally flushed cheeks. She still couldn't quite get used to this closeness.
"Get out and wait outside."
"I'm almost done wiping." Luna put her mask back on and carefully dried the water droplets from the ends of Chevreuse's long hair.
"All done. Perfect."
"Give me back the towel."
Luna smiled faintly and simply draped the towel over Chevreuse's head.
Chevreuse saw Luna's reflection turn around in the mirror and wave. "Don't make me wait too long. Being late for a date is unacceptable everywhere."
Chevreuse couldn't help but turn around. "This isn't a date."
But Luna's figure had already vanished from the room.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation in her heart.
After retrieving the necessary items from the drawer, Chevreuse put on her shoes, fastened her gun holster and pistol, closed the window, and left the dormitory room.
"Captain, are you going for a walk?" the female members of the Special Task Force asked from the dormitory living room.
"Mm."
With a curt reply, Chevreuse left the dormitory.
After exiting Fontaine and reaching the outskirts of the city, she calmly called out, "That's enough."
"How does it feel to rendezvous with a Phantom Thief who must be arrested?" Luna sauntered up behind her, twirling a lock of hair.
"Absolutely dreadful."
"The more you act like this, the more I'll want to tease you."
Chevreuse swatted Luna's hand away.
She had brought the Phantom Thief White Cat here for a specific purpose.
"Look at this." Chevreuse produced a gem from her pocket.
It was the Tears of a Maiden.
Luna gasped, "Oh my, how did you get this? I thought the Court of Justice had already stored it in the evidence vault."
"If they had, you'd be stealing it again by now."
"You know me well, Captain." Luna reached out, but her hand met empty air.
Chevreuse had already secured the Tears of a Maiden in her palm.
Though not surprised, Luna still asked, "What's your intention, Miss Chevreuse?"
"What do you think I want?"
"One treasure for my kiss?" Luna smiled.
"You're full of delusions."
Chevreuse unfolded her palm again, revealing the crystalline gem nestled in her hand.
Though she couldn't hear the voices within, the truth she now knew prevented her from ever seeing it as merely a gem again.
It was the fruit of sin, the remains of young girls, and the lingering echoes of their lives.
"The Court of Justice's upper chamber did indeed decide to preserve the Tears of a Maiden as evidence, in compliance with regulations and laws," Luna observed, leaning against the stone with hands clasped behind her back.
"But you and I both know that the consciousness of several young girls has been sealed within this gem. Their moments frozen in time, eternally bound to the instant of their deaths when this gem came into being."
"So you stole it?" Luna pressed.
"I'm not you," Chevreuse murmured. "Monsieur Neuvillette and Lady Furina's decision was to destroy all Tears of a Maiden. The evidence isn't limited to these stones—the Primordial Sea water itself is paramount."
"The inferior mass-produced gems will be publicly destroyed in two days. Their consciousnesses will dissolve into the water, merging with the ocean."
"And I requested that Monsieur Neuvillette entrust this particular gem to me for handling."
So that's how it was, Luna realized with a flash of understanding.
She crossed her arms. "So the Chief Justice isn't as heartless as I thought. Then... what do you intend to do?"
"Simple."
Chevreuse tossed the Tear of a Maiden high into the air. The Vision in her hand erupted with dazzling light.
Bang!
The scorching projectile struck the gem, unleashing a Pyro element eruption more violent than any before.
Beneath the bursting flames, Hydro elements scattered like shattered glass.
Chevreuse had cleverly dissolved the gem with Pyro elements, transforming it back into liquid. The molten mass sank into the sea, sending ripples across the water.
Chevreuse holstered her pistol. "This is how it's done."
Luna sighed. "I could have handled this myself."
Chevreuse didn't respond. Her gaze remained fixed on the moonlit sea, where the moon and stars reflected in the waves.
"I despise criminals like Vacher who commit every evil. Yet I feel helpless for the victims caught in these events, those injured or lost their lives."
"I won't let emotions drive my actions, but sometimes they can't be suppressed."
"Let this calm my troubled heart."
By sending them away.
Luna studied Chevreuse's face. "They say they're grateful to you."
Was this truth or deception? Chevreuse glanced at Luna but asked no questions.
"It's simply what I should do. I brought you here to inform you - the Tears of a Maiden you sought to destroy has already been annihilated by my hand. There's no need for you to take action now."
Luna stepped closer, lifting Chevreuse's hand. She pressed a kiss to the palm. "Then I must thank Miss Chevreuse."
"...You don't need to."
Chevreuse immediately withdrew her hand and turned around.
"The Serial Disappearance Case is over now. What's your next move?" she asked.
Luna smiled. "Naturally, I'll steal more treasures. Don't forget our agreement."
Chevreuse's gaze sharpened. "I'll catch you. Prepare yourself, Phantom Thief White Cat... You're destined to live in the Fortress of Meropide."
"I'd rather be kept by Miss Chevreuse."
"...Don't kill anyone, White Cat," Chevreuse added.
Luna remained silent. Chevreuse began walking away, her figure gradually disappearing into the distance.
Luna thought to herself, She does care about me, doesn't she?