Chapter 679: The Phantom Thief
In the north-central part of Faraluo, in Froz.
On a clear sunny day, the streets of Froz were peaceful, with some bustling sections teeming with people, just as it was in the past. Countless carriages traversed the roads.
Inside one of the black carriages, Doro sat comfortably in her everyday clothes, leisurely enjoying the street scenery outside the window. Opposite her sat Nephnis, who was engrossed in reading a newly purchased newspaper.
“Breaking news… Bourbon treasures, the Light of Maria reappears. To prove national glory, collectors are showcasing their rare collections.
“Recently, renowned collector Mr. Rock Durand, a director of the Youci Foundation, announced to the media that he would host a grand public exhibition featuring treasures accumulated by his family over the years. It is reported that the Durand family has a long-standing heritage in Rabuen, with each head of the family having a penchant for collecting various rare antiques. The family has a tradition of hosting treasure exhibitions at the beginning of each year, but these have previously only catered to friends and relatives. This public exhibition is unprecedented.
“To promote the exhibition, Mr. Rock revealed to the media several top-tier exhibits, the most eye-catching of which is a necklace, the Light of Maria, once worn by Queen Maria, the consort of King Charles. This necklace is considered a superior treasure even within the lavish royal palace of Bourbon. It was lost during the Cold Moon Revolution and disappeared for a century, but in truth, it was preserved by Mr. Rock’s grandfather amidst the turmoil.”
“In an interview, Mr. Rock revealed that he initially did not intend to make the Light of Maria public again, but upon seeing more and more people in our society disregard national glory, brainlessly opposing Bourbon and attempting to destroy the national foundation of Faraluo in the name of anti-Bourbon sentiment, he felt heartbroken and indignant. This spurred the desire to do something.
“To rekindle contemporary people’s pursuit of glory, Mr. Rock decided to hold this exhibition, showcasing the treasures that encapsulate the glory of Faraluo to the public. He hopes this action will awaken the hearts of the people of Faraluo once more. The exhibition will take place later on the 14th at the Citizens’ Mansion in Rabuen, and after the exhibition concludes, a batch of cultural relics will be donated directly.
“In the interview, a reporter asked Mr. Rock if his comments about the issues facing Faraluo were due to dissatisfaction with the recent policies of the parliament, but Mr. Rock declined to respond, insisting that his exhibition is devoid of any political factors…”
As she sat in the carriage, Nephnis attentively read the newspaper, occasionally reciting snippets aloud. After finishing the entire article, she slowly put the newspaper down and turned to Doro.
“Miss Doro… just as you suspected, only a few days after we stirred up trouble, news of the exhibition appears in the newspaper, and the Light of Maria is indeed being exhibited!”
“This was expected. Even if they hadn’t arranged an exhibition for the Light of Maria, I would still have Thief K act again, leaking information in advance for them to set up… Their arrangement proves they are eager for the pedestal in my hands.”
While speaking, Doro shifted her gaze from the window back to Nephnis, continuing, “I’m not surprised that the Dark Gold Society is organizing the Light of Maria exhibition. What truly interests me is the reason they are using for this exhibition to keep Thief K from growing suspicious. Now it appears… they are leveraging some political trends in Faraluo as a justification, which is rather clever.”
Nephnis responded, “Now that the Dark Gold Society has announced the exhibition details for the 14th in a city called Rabuen, their trap is indeed set there, right? With a Red Tier extraordinary being waiting to capture Thief K?”
“No, their Red Tier won’t appear directly there. This exhibition should be a bait rather than a trap for Thief K,” Doro replied to Nephnis, whose expression showed slight confusion.
“A bait but not a trap… what does that mean?”
“You’ll find out when the time comes. Now that they’ve issued a challenge, we must hurry to respond. Thief K’s notice needs to be sent a day in advance; we must be precise with the timing.”
As she spoke, Doro urged the carriage to speed up. They needed to leave Froz and head to the carefully set fishing point prepared by the Dark Gold Society.
…
Blaan, located in the northwest of Froz, is a significant large city in the northwest region of Faraluo, densely populated with abundant resources. Due to its long history, many artists and notable figures have emerged here, and it has witnessed numerous important historical events. As such, it has become a crucial cultural capital of Faraluo.
Blaan is a historic city known for its culture; every building in the ancient district beside the water boasts over a hundred years of history. Among these historical buildings, the Citizens’ Mansion is the most famous.
At night in Blaan, the weather was clear, with a bright full moon illuminating the magnificent city. Under the moonlight, the city was adorned with a striking scene of lights, with one area shining more brightly than others—this was where the Citizens’ Mansion stood.
In the central area of the old district of Blaan, a grand hall supported by numerous tall columns stood, bathed in the moonlight and city lights. It was once a palace built by the lavish lord of Blaan to showcase his authority, but now it served as a shared space for the citizens, hosting various major events. It had been entirely booked for a focal exhibition.
Under the nightfall, countless citizens gathered in the square in front of the Citizens’ Mansion, disregarding the chill of early spring, waiting for something together.
These citizens whispered to each other, most displaying curiosity on their faces, with some even showing excitement. The whole square was abuzz with speculation, eagerly anticipating more than just the Light of Maria; perhaps only a small fraction of the gathered crowd truly longed to see it.
“What time is it now… is it almost the announcement time?”
“Will Thief K really come? I hope I won’t be disappointed…”
“Oh… I really wish I could meet K in person…”
…
Such murmurs spread through the crowd in the square, while a line of security guards stood at the boundary between the square and the Citizens’ Mansion. With their hands clasped behind their backs, they formed a human wall, sternly watching over the crowd, preventing anyone from getting too close and being vigilant of their every move.
Behind this line of security, at the top of a tall flight of stairs at the door of the mansion stood a group of people. Upon closer inspection, they were a group of reporters surrounding one man for an interview. The man being interviewed was a middle-aged man of slightly plump stature, wearing a light gray coat and a low top hat.
“Mr. Rock… may I ask what prompted you to choose to showcase this precious exhibition to the world?”
“I have already stated in the newspaper, the people of contemporary Faraluo need something to revisit our nation’s former glory, and these treasures have been carefully selected by me to reignite the fighting spirit in the populace, especially among the youth.”
“Given Mr. Rock’s actions at this time, is there some dissatisfaction with the parliament’s resolutions?”
“Apologies, I do not discuss politics.”
“Sorry, Mr. Rock. Then let’s change the question. I heard that you received a notice from Thief K earlier, claiming he would steal the Light of Maria during the exhibition. Is this true?”
“A notice? Let me think… Ah, it seems there might have been something like that, a preposterous attempt by a clown to attract attention. I didn’t pay much attention to it until you mentioned it.”
“A clown? Mr. Rock, Thief K has successfully committed numerous crimes recently, outsmarting countless police; he can’t simply be dismissed as a clown.”
“If the thief K is a clown, then those police who let this clown succeed are clowns far worse than he is. They are them, and I am me. My private security measures are a hundred times stronger than those incompetent police; there will be no chance for a clown here.
“However, I must thank this clown; it’s because of his actions that there are so many people attending this exhibition. After catching him, I think I won’t be in a rush to hand him over to the police, allowing him to perform for the audience a bit more first.”
At the entrance of the Citizens’ Mansion, Rock maintained a composed demeanor while answering questions from various media outlets, replying to the journalists’ inquiries with calmness as countless flashbulbs illuminated his face, and an air of burnt powder wafted through the atmosphere.
“Alright, esteemed journalists who have come from afar, our interview will conclude here. Please join me inside to witness the grand opening of this exhibition, to behold the most precious treasure, the Light of Maria, in its resurgence.”
After managing to deal with all the reporters, Rock ended this segment of interviews and led a group of guests into the hall of the Citizens’ Mansion. Under the glow cast from the magnificent chandelier in the hall, Rock walked along the carpet on the marble floor. On either side of the carpet were numerous glass display cases containing various rare treasures.
At the end of the carpet stood an enormous display case, surrounded by bodyguards. A soft satin cloth covered the contents inside the display case, hiding its treasures from view.
Upon seeing Rock’s arrival, the guards guarding the display case made way, allowing Rock and the guests to approach the edge of the display. After a brief speech, and in front of throngs of reporters’ attention, Rock grasped the satin covering the display case.
“Ladies and gentlemen, now please bear witness to one of Queen Maria’s most treasured adornments, a gem of Faraluo, the resurgence of the Light of Maria!”
In the final proclamation, Rock pulled away the satin covering the towering display case. In an instant, all eyes were drawn to the revelation within, but as they focused, they couldn’t help but stare in shock.
“What… what is happening?”
“Empty? It’s empty?!”
Hearing the remarks from the attendees, Rock, who had just unveiled the satin, was momentarily stunned, turning to look at the display case. To his astonishment, the exquisite jewelry that should have been on the delicate stand was nowhere to be seen. Staring in disbelief, Rock exclaimed, “What’s going on?! Where did everything go? This case hasn’t even been opened; how is it empty? What are you all looking at?”
Rock loudly chastised the surrounding bodyguards, who all wore puzzled expressions. Just then, a passionate cheer erupted from the square outside the hall.
Upon hearing the roar, those in front of the display exchanged glances and then rushed towards the door, soon spilling out of the hall. They found countless people outside in the square gazing upward.
Rock and his companions pushed through the crowd around the perimeter of the square, following the gaze of the onlookers up to the rooftop of the Citizens’ Mansion. What they saw was a graceful figure standing at the edge of the mansion’s roof.
Wearing a black top hat and an elaborate, slightly flamboyant gentleman’s suit, their face partly concealed by a mask, revealing a fair and handsome lower half. A black and red cloak billowed behind them in the wind. The figure resembled a character from a masquerade, their indistinct features standing serenely in the wind, holding a glimmering exquisite crystal necklace adorned with four large, striking crystals in their gloved right hand, glinting in the moonlight.
The rooftop phantom, clutching the royal treasure of Bourbon and facing the radiant full moon in the night sky, illuminated the beautiful necklace, which sparkled brightly, seemingly entranced by the aura emanating from the treasure. They murmured softly, “Is this the Light of Maria? Such brilliance… Surely crafted by the most exquisite artisan… What a pity…”
The phantom seemed to lament something, their voice neutral, incredibly charming, and hard to distinguish between genders. Just as they admired the treasure in hand, a furious shout arose below.
“You clown thief up there! Quickly put down what you’re holding! That belongs to me… it belongs to Faraluo!”
“Belongs to Faraluo? No… this light comes from a distant past, belonging to the history buried beneath the sands; compared to the luxurious aristocrats of foreign lands… it has a more legitimate owner…” The masked figure looked disdainfully down below, responding, while Rock grew anxious upon hearing this.
“Seize him!”
At Rock’s command, the doors of the mansion rooftop burst open, and numerous bodyguards surged out, having realized something was amiss.
Facing the onslaught of bodyguards from all directions, the rooftop phantom remained calm and unhurried, skillfully sidestepping blows with minimal movements. Each dodge was performed with ease, as if merely taking a leisurely stroll down the street. With their precise footwork, the assailants missed their targets, and one even tripped and fell in their haste.
To the countless spectators in the square, the phantom appeared as both a dancer on stage and a matador in the arena, effortlessly evading and knocking down those charging at them, without even a scratch on their garments. Such a performative display prompted cheers from the audience below, where those seemingly clumsy bodyguards repeatedly collided in their failed attempts, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
“Ahhh… help!”
At that moment, one bodyguard, overzealous in his pursuit, accidentally charged toward the rooftop’s edge, losing his balance and teetering on the brink of a fall. Just as he was about to plummet, and many audience members screamed, a hand reached out and grasped his arm, pulling him back from the edge. The startled bodyguard, glancing up, found that the owner of the hand was none other than the very phantom he had been pursuing.
“Careful; vigorous activity in places like this can be quite dangerous…”
Gazing at the bewildered bodyguard, the phantom smiled, gently pulling him back to safety. As the shaken bodyguard regained his footing, a resounding round of applause erupted from the spectators, and the other bodyguards who had been trying to capture the phantom paused in surprise, momentarily ceasing their actions.
“Use your weapons! Don’t hesitate! Take him down!”
At this moment, Rock, seemingly irritated, shouted at his nearby guards. One of his personal bodyguards, slightly taken aback, quickly retrieved a rifle from his back and aimed it at the nearly motionless phantom, pulling the trigger.
“Bang!”
A sharp gunshot interrupted the intense applause. As all eyes turned in shock, the elegantly poised phantom suddenly clutched their chest, staggering back a couple of paces and turning in a circle before quickly crouching down.
Witnessing this scene, the stunned audience and rooftop bodyguards fell silent, frozen in place, watching the phantom who crouched down, mostly concealed by their cloak. The bodyguard who had recently been rescued took a hesitant step forward, voice trembling as he asked, “Hey… are you okay? Did you get shot?”
Hearing the concerned voice nearby, the crouching phantom did not respond immediately. In silence, they extended the hand covering their chest before their eyes, revealing their once-white glove, now stained with bright red bl**d.
“Ah… the red of bl**d, a familiar color… I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere before; let me think… That’s right…”
In a low mutter, the once-crouching phantom gradually stood up, then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, returned their hand to the area concealed by the cloak. Quickly, they turned in another circle, sweeping aside the cloak to unveil their hand, where the bl**d that should have been on the glove had vanished without a trace, replaced by a bouquet of vivid red roses.
“Yes… this is the color of roses, truly enchanting.”
Witnessing this magical display, the audience in the square erupted into a deafening storm of applause, accompanied by cries of excitement. The square seemed to bubble over, with many calling out the same name: K, Thief K!
Seeing the scene unfold, the rooftop phantom couldn’t help but smile slightly. Then, under the astonished gaze of the nearby bodyguards, they softly spoke again, “Thank you all for your applause, but now it is time to take my final bow.”
As they spoke, the phantom tossed the bouquet of roses into the air, which erupted mid-flight, inexplicably showering countless rose petals downward, blanketing the phantom’s form in an instant. With a graceful bow, the phantom completely vanished amidst the floral snow.
As the petals were swept away by the evening breeze, the phantom’s figure had disappeared entirely from the rooftop, with numerous rose petals falling like snow from the mansion, fluttering down. Below, the audience, especially the women, shrieked in delight while scrambling to collect the petals that fell.
At that moment, on the edge of the square near the Citizens’ Mansion, a handsome young man sat inside a parked carriage. As he gazed through the window at the scenes of the dramatic finale, he couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.
“Ha… what a performer. Does he think he’s some magician performing on the street? Showboating before mere mortals, truly bringing disgrace to the extraordinary beings…”
Henri commented, then lit a cigarette, taking a drag before slowly saying once more, “Go on… take your ‘Light of Maria’ and retreat to your hiding place… go reclaim your crystals in their entirety, and then…”
