Lyney waved a hand in front of Lynette's face.
"Lynette?"
"Ah... What is it?"
Lyney pulled out his pocket watch. "We're about to go on stage. Even with our 'fathers' mission, this is still a major step for our magic performance. Are you nervous?"
Lynette shook her head gently.
"I was just thinking about many things." Her cat ears twitched slightly.
"About Luna?"
"Mm-hmm."
Lyney placed his hand on Lynette's head with a faint smile. "I saw that Luna had come to watch our performance. Since she can perform so perfectly, we can't fall behind her."
Lynette's eyes brightened. "She came?"
"Yes, though..."
"Though?"
Lyney struggled to find the right words, trying to express himself tactfully.
Noticing his hesitation, Lynette's gaze turned thoughtful. "Your evasive manner is quite irritating. It's like dealing with the household machinery."
He wanted to retort, "That's all because of you, my dear sister," but thought better of it.
It's their fault, he acknowledged silently. We should have been more vigilant.
We shouldn't have left Lynette alone in a room with any machinery.
"Miss Navia was there too?" Lynette pressed.
"No."
"Then Miss Chiori?"
"Also not present."
Lynette's expression turned perplexed. "What's going on? Please explain clearly."
"...It's Lady Furina."
"Hm?"
"She's sitting next to Lady Furina."
"...."
A long silence.
Then came cheeks puffed up like balloons.
It hadn't been five years since leaving home. How had she ended up in this state, always with other girls around her?
Though she couldn't figure it out, Lynette still sprang to her feet with a snap, thrusting her thumbs skyward.
"We'll do better than them."
Huh? We're fighting Luna and Furina? Lyney's expression seemed to ask.
"We can win."
After Lynette spoke, there was a moment of silence. She raised her thumbs even higher.
"Probably."
"...Ah ha ha ha." Lyney could only respond with an awkward laugh.
"Mr. Lyney, Miss Lynette, everything's ready."
The Opera House was a massive stage. The difference between this and the stage they performed on wasn't just night and day—it was the difference between heaven and earth.
Thus, Lyney recruited several magic performers to form a magic troupe.
Lyney clapped his hands. "Excellent! It's time to take the stage!"
"Don't forget your 'father' duties," Lynette whispered.
"Is my dear sister doubting my memory?"
"Occasionally."
With all preparations complete, the time had come to ascend the stage.
The lights illuminated the stage, revealing the silhouettes of Lyney and Lynette, brother and sister, standing center stage.
"Hmm?"
Furina couldn't shake the feeling that Lynette was staring at her.
No, it must be my imagination. What could I possibly be doing to draw attention? Stop looking already! Furina muttered inwardly.
In reality, Lynette's gaze was fixed on Luna.
Their eyes met, but Luna, unsure how to react, could only shift her gaze slightly.
Lynette: "...."
The connection severed.
Luna refocused on the stage, where Lyney had already completed his opening warm-up routine.
They would not use elemental power for their magic.
True magic was a blend of wisdom, skill... and relentless dedication day and night. It was not sorcery.
Yet Lyney's confident expression told them—though not sorcery, it would surpass sorcery in effect.
"Open your eyes wide and watch carefully!"
After the simple tricks of producing playing cards and doves, the true spectacle would begin.
When it comes to magic, nothing captures the audience's attention quite like "making something disappear"—especially when that something is a person. This time, the two performers planned to use a tank as their medium.
Thud-thud. Lynette sat inside the tank, slowly descending from the ceiling.
The tank halted mid-air.
"I shall make my sister vanish into thin air."
Vanish? Furina couldn't help but shudder.
The mere thought of disappearance conjured images of dissolution, and dissolution inevitably led to thoughts of death.
Her mind raced so wildly that her complexion turned pale.
Fortunately, the stage lights focused only on the performance area, hiding her face from the audience...
"Is something wrong, Lady Furina?" Luna asked.
At Luna's question, Clorinde also turned to look at her.
"It's nothing! Don't look at me—watch the show!" Furina hastily replied.
How does she always notice my changes first?
I can't let my guard down; she's truly a formidable opponent...
At that moment, Lynette plunged into the tank. With a click, the tank's lid snapped shut, refusing to budge no matter how she pushed.
The audience leaned forward eagerly.
Luna gripped her dress hem, but then remembered Lyney and Lynette had practiced this routine countless times and would have prepared safety measures. She relaxed slightly.
"I never expected such an unexpected turn of events, but don't worry. Let me show you all my true capabilities!"
With a snap of his fingers, bubbles began to rise as Lynette's figure gradually became obscured. In the end, only her performance costume remained floating in the water.
The person was nowhere to be seen.
"Wow!" The audience gasped in amazement.
"Wah?!" Furina jumped in surprise.
"Woah." Luna's cheeks flushed pink for some inexplicable reason.
Lyney removed his hat and tossed it toward a corner of the stage.
A hand caught it - it was Lynette.
Lynette slowly emerged, her voice calm as she said, "I'm back."
"How does it feel to be a cat that fell into the water?"
"Better than not returning home for years."
The applause thundered, even Clorinde clapping slightly.
Her sharp eyes had naturally seen through the trick, but that only made her admiration grow.
"It's not over yet! Next, we'll select a lucky audience member to help us complete the next phase of our disappearance and teleportation magic."
"Please look!"
A box was wheeled to the center of the stage, while another was placed among the audience.
The theme of the second trick became clear - teleportation.
"The lucky audience member chosen and I will enter these two boxes separately. After a minute, we'll switch places and emerge from each other's boxes."
"Let the number selector choose our lucky participant!"
The device activated.
"Number 73—seventh row, third seat—please step into the box near the audience."
Number 73 was a young woman who nodded slightly. After she entered the box, Lyney also walked into his container under the audience's watchful eyes.
The countdown began.
"Sixty... fifty-nine... fifty-eight..." the crowd chanted in unison.
Furina opened her mouth. She wanted to join in, but shouting with the crowd would be too undignified.
After all, Archons must maintain their solemnity!
Counting on her fingers should be acceptable. Furina placed her hands on her legs and began counting silently, her fingers moving in rhythm.
Boom. A sudden, strange noise echoed through the hall.
Clorinde and Luna looked up, their eyes following the sound.
"What was that?" Clorinde frowned slightly.
"Hmm..."
Luna pondered, her gaze fixed on the audience's box.
"Three... two... one..."
As the spotlight focused, the box door swung open.
Lyney emerged. "Ta-daa! The exchange is complete!"
He pointed his finger, and fireworks erupted across the stage, colorful streamers dancing through the air. But what greeted him wasn't the swapped audience member number 73, but rather—a falling tank.
With a thunderous crash, the tank plummeted to the ground!
Water slowly seeped from the crushed wooden container, drawing the audience's gaze toward its source.
A hand protruded from the mangled wreckage.
"D-dead! Someone's dead!!!"
The performance was halted as the Maison Gardiennage sealed off the area, leaving no audience member permitted to leave.
Furina never imagined an accident would occur during the performance, especially such a brutal death. The corpse... she didn't need to elaborate; it was simply too gruesome to behold.
As the Archon Focalors, she had to say something, do something.
Think carefully, Furina. Who's the most likely suspect in this situation? After a moment's consideration, she turned her gaze toward Lyney.
He was generally considered the most likely culprit.
Just as she was about to speak, Luna interjected: "Lady Furina, might I conduct an investigation?"
"Huh? Oh..."
She was technically a detective, after all.
Though she lacked an office or license, she and Navia had indeed resolved a case before.
...Better not jump to conclusions and wrongfully accuse someone.
In fact—
That's it! Furina's eyes lit up with a smirk. "Of course! But I am Focalors, the Archon of Justice..."
"Does that mean the Hydro Archon wishes to compete with Miss Detective?!"
"Wow, now that's intense!"
"Huh?" Furina blinked repeatedly.
She had merely intended to hand over the task to Luna in a dramatic manner. How did this escalate into a duel between them?
Is this logical?
"Lady Furina will surely defeat Miss Luna in an instant!"
"Defeat my foot! Of course the Detective Miss will triumph!"
What should she do? Furina pressed her lips together.
She had no desire for a duel, but failing to meet the crowd's expectations might jeopardize her performance.
This isn't how the Archon Focalors should behave!
How disappointing!
The conversation's shift seemed to alter both the nature of the deceased and the case itself.
Truth became the weapon, deduction the duel, and the outcome... naturally, the most compelling drama.
Lumine and Paimon also frowned as they observed the development.
"We already have a corpse here. Why is this happening?" Paimon murmured.
"Who knows..." Lumine shook her head.
Luna gazed calmly at the bloodthirsty audience below, their chatter filling the air.
"I have no interest."
The words hung in the air, freezing the crowd.
Lifting her hat, Luna smiled. "I shall present you with the most magnificent spectacle, but this does not mean I will submit to your will and become a puppet on this stage."
Furina: "....."
"Who do you all consider the most suspicious?"
"Mr. Lyney, I suppose," someone said.
"After all, the incident occurred during his performance," another added.
"Lynette might be his accomplice."
A reasonable conjecture.
But it deeply irked her.
Luna nodded slightly, flicking her hat. The spinning top hat traced an elegant arc before landing in Lynette's hands.
"Then let me prove your innocence."
Lyney exclaimed in delight, "Luna..."
Holding the hat, Lynette lowered her head. Though her expression remained hidden, her tail wagged uncontrollably.
"...Miss Luna's words are truly audacious."
"Lady Furina, what are your thoughts?"
"Could it be you approve? Her brilliance threatens to eclipse yours completely!"
Some would always resent Luna's performance, especially as her radiance grew more dazzling.
Furina regained her composure. Though only a few voiced such sentiments, their words drew the crowd's attention toward her.
The Archon needed to make a declaration.
The Archon needed to put on a show.
Focalors shouldn't, and couldn't, remain silent or yield at this moment.
Thus, Furina puffed out her chest and laughed heartily. "Ha ha ha! My radiance outshone by her? Preposterous! This is utterly absurd—pure nonsense!"
"But since my dear subjects so fervently anticipate our duel—"
"I refuse."
Furina's lips twitched, but she pressed on. "—then I formally challenge you to a duel, Luna. Let all bear witness to the disparity in our abilities as we unravel this mystery and seek the truth!"
"I refuse."
Furina drew a deep breath.
You'd better accept!
Clorinde turned away. That wretch was definitely smirking.
"Miss Luna, could it be you're afraid?"
"You mutt, what's with that yelp? Are you jealous of Miss Luna?"
"Quiet down, quiet down!"
Neuvillette, who had been present since early morning, finally couldn't take it anymore. He forcefully rapped his cane against the ground.
"Silence!"
Everyone fell silent.
"It appears you still fail to grasp the gravity of this matter. Let me reiterate: this case involves human lives. The stage before us is no longer the familiar opera stage."
"It is now a crime scene, and every one of you here is a suspect."
"As for Miss Luna, you need not heed Lady Furina's demands. As Chief Justice, I grant you permission to investigate. Please come forward."
Luna nodded slightly.
"Wait," Furina interjected.
This came as no surprise to Luna.
"Are you trying to flee?" Furina murmured.
The Archon "Focalors" could not possibly remain silent at such a critical juncture. She would never simply "swallow her anger."
"Ohh, Lady Furina's dissatisfaction is as expected."
"Now that's the Furina I know."
Luna halted, turning to face Furina.
"No one can refuse Focalors' duel challenge. You claim Lyney and Lynette are innocent? Then—"
She pointed at Lyney and Lynette.
"—I declare them guilty!"
She couldn't articulate herself like Luna could.
She couldn't shed her mask like Luna, unable to let her true brilliance shine through.
You've undoubtedly discovered the breakthrough point in this case, haven't you...? Furina stared directly into Luna's eyes, finding no trace of emotion in those crimson irises.
Even if this accusation proves false, she must proceed with this course of action.
Injustice? Such a thing could never occur.
"...Then let me serve as their defense counsel," Luna replied with a smile.
For she would unearth the truth and present it upon this stage.
Hearing her response, Furina exhaled in relief. This is acceptable...
"Now do you understand?" Furina murmured. "Do you now comprehend what befell those who became my friends?"
The answer was inevitable—disappointment.
She, the current Hydro Archon Focalors, had been forged by the will of the Fontainians. They demanded "drama," so she could only deliver "drama."
When weighing the crowd's desires against a friend's wishes, the balance would always tip toward one side.
My performance must remain concealed.
Luna sought to grasp the fleeting confusion in Furina's eyes, but found only unwavering resolve.
"I understand," Luna said softly, her lips curling into a smile. "Yet any expectation anyone holds for me will yield but one result."
The outcome was predetermined—disappointment.
I shall follow only my inner voice.
"Perhaps what Lady Furina thinks doesn't matter to me at all," Luna murmured.
...What a peculiar person.