Furina, Please Let Me Steal Your Heart! (Genshin Impact)

"I never imagined our Special Task Force would be guarding a cemetery... for a dog," Turenna muttered, rubbing her hands together. "And not just any dog, but a departed one."

Chevreuse glanced at the tombstone. "Ronat's beloved dog, Carrot, rests here in eternal slumber," it read, adorned with several bouquets of flowers.

The air was heavy with humidity, threatening rain. Legend had it that rain fell when the Hydro Dragon wept. If true, the dragon's mood had been remarkably volatile lately.

Chevreuse checked her carbine, replying casually, "At least this is better than staking out criminals in a scorching field for thirteen hours."

"Don't remind me of that experience, Captain..."

She couldn't shake the memory of crouching in the grass, swathed in mosquito-repellent gear, each breath thick, stuffy, and clammy under the merciless sun. She'd nearly suffered heatstroke!

"This place is really creepy," Turenna muttered, a flicker of unease in her voice.

"Don't worry," Chevreuse reassured her. "According to Liyue folklore, firecrackers can ward off demons and spirits. We don't have firecrackers, but we have even louder guns and grenades."

"Good point."

What were demons and spirits compared to a fully loaded firearm? If anything dared to show its face, a few well-placed shots would put it down for good!

"Still, when Phantom Thief White Cat threatened to steal Monsieur Ronat's dog, his face turned bright red and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He really loves his little pup."

Yet in the end, Monsieur Ronat hadn't come himself, likely still terrified of Phantom Thief White Cat.

After all, Phantom Thief White Cat wasn't exactly a benevolent saint.

Turenna asked, "By the way, Captain, do you prefer cats or dogs?"

"Dogs."

"What about cats?"

Chevreuse averted her gaze. "They remind me of a woman who irritates me, so never mind."

Drip... Chevreuse felt a drop of moisture on her nose.

She looked up and saw raindrops steadily falling from the sky. She held out her palm, letting the droplets gradually dampen her glove.

It was raining.

Rain...? The legend of the Hydro Dragon... Chevreuse suddenly understood. So that's it!

The "tears" referred to raindrops, and the "realms of Radiance and Shadow" was this moonlit night in the graveyard!

"It's coming," Chevreuse whispered.

No sooner had she spoken than a figure began to materialize through the rain.

The Special Task Force members braced themselves, but Chevreuse raised her hand, signaling them to lower their weapons.

The team exchanged puzzled glances. This isn't the first time, is it?

They promptly lowered their guns, watching as the elegant figure in the rain grew clearer and closer.

Click. The sound of a pocket watch echoed briefly. The blurred world of rain suddenly slowed to a crawl, each raindrop visible in sharp detail. The team stared in astonishment.

The entire rain had slowed down?!

This ability was even more outrageous than they had imagined.

Could she even control the sea itself? they wondered.

"Good evening. I'm truly impressed by your dedication to remain on duty in this torrential rain. I, myself, would much rather be curled up by the window, listening to the downpour and dreaming sweet dreams."

Her high-heeled boots splashed through a puddle, the droplets rising in slow motion like blossoming, liquid flowers.

She moved with nimble grace, stopping before Chevreuse.

The rain resumed its normal pace, falling steadily, but Luna's white umbrella shielded both women from the downpour.

Luna gently wiped raindrops from Chevreuse's face. "I hope you didn't get too wet, Miss Captain."

"If you'd chosen a different time, you wouldn't need to ask that question." Chevreuse turned and strode out from under Luna's umbrella without hesitation.

She exhaled softly. "I never expected you'd fixate on a dead dog."

"Genuine loyalty... who wouldn't be moved by it? I'm no exception. To me, that too is a treasure."

"Your definition of 'treasure' is remarkably loose."

Chevreuse gestured for the other team members to withdraw temporarily.

Clearly, she and the Phantom Thief were collaborating once again, just as before.

The team showed no surprise. They were more curious about what their captain and the Phantom Thief would uncover this time. Whenever Captain Chevreuse resorted to such measures, it meant she was tackling a particularly thorny case.

Luna handed the umbrella to Chevreuse.

"Please, use it."

"That's unnecessary."

"Then hold it for me. I don't want to get wet."

Chevreuse sighed, resigned, and took the umbrella. As she sheltered Luna from the rain, she watched her dig the coffin out of the grave.

"Heh, it's heavier than I expected," Luna chuckled.

"So there really is something inside?"

"Miss Captain will find out soon enough."

They pried open the coffin lid to reveal a large dog lying peacefully inside, its eyes gently closed. It had been dead for some time, its belly slightly distended.

And that smell... Chevreuse's nose twitched.

Even with the rain and mud interfering, she immediately recognized the unmistakable scent.

"...Preservatives?"

Luna smiled. "Correct."

Why would they use preservatives? Chevreuse frowned.

"That's not all. Feel its belly—gently, of course."

Reaching out, Chevreuse carefully stroked the dog's abdomen. Beneath the fur, the uneven, lumpy texture felt deeply unnatural, jarringly out of place.

A possibility flashed through her mind.

Lowering her head, she confirmed her suspicion: a faint, almost invisible seam ran along its abdomen.

Upon closer inspection, faint traces of stitching could be discerned.

Something was inside.

"It seems Miss Captain has already sensed something," Luna murmured to the lifeless dog. "Allow me to reveal the truth... My apologies."

A cold glint flashed as her sword sliced precisely and cleanly along the seam.

Clink! A Mora coin fell from the opening.

Chevreuse closed her eyes, already anticipating what was to come.

"If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to keep them closed," Luna said gently.

"I'm fine. I've seen worse," Chevreuse replied calmly, though her fist clenched involuntarily.

Luna nodded and widened the slit slightly.

Gleaming Mora coins replaced most of the flesh, their golden luster shimmering hypnotically in the rain. Beneath this metallic "flesh" lay gems, jewelry, and stacks of scrolls, each clearly labeled with the source of its contents.

Evidence of bribery and corruption, plain as day.

Luna pulled out a cigarette case, pressed her thumb against the bottom, and slid it upward.

Click! Several keychains sprang out.

"Warehouse No. 1," "Warehouse No. 2"... five warehouses in total.

Chevreuse meticulously counted the labels on the keys. It seemed the "Golden Dog" was merely a small treasure vault.

The real mastermind was still out there.

"I suspect Monsieur Rainer Wilger was driven to suicide," Luna speculated. "Ronat must have had something on him, leaving him no choice but to follow Ronat's orders: to take his own life and stage a public 'confession.'"

"In other words, he was made a scapegoat," Chevreuse said.

"Exactly. The actual amount involved is likely an order of magnitude higher," Luna said, holding up all ten fingers.

Luna theorized, "The recent internal purge within the Court of Justice, coupled with the Special Task Force's conspicuous successes, probably made him feel cornered."

"He needed to 'clean up' his image, and a scapegoat was the perfect solution. All he had to do was kill his loyal dog, stuff it with the fruits of his crimes, and replace its flesh with ill-gotten gains."

"No one would ever suspect he'd hide his sins inside the belly of the very loyal dog who trusted him most."

Chevreuse narrowed her eyes.

"Unforgivable," she murmured.

Unforgivable indeed.

Now it was time for the Special Task Force to act. With this evidence, they could arrest Ronat and bring him to justice.

"Well done, White Cat—"

Before Chevreuse could finish, Luna snapped her fingers and summoned her Storage Space. She then tossed the Golden Dog and everything related to it inside.

Chevreuse's voice was low and tense. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Taking the treasure, just as I foretold in my challenge letter," Luna replied with a smile. "I'm taking the 'Golden Dog.'"

Chevreuse lunged to grab Luna by the collar, but Luna caught her wrist halfway.

"Do you realize what you're doing?" Chevreuse hissed, her voice cutting through the rain. "Without evidence, I can't send him where he belongs!"

The other members of the Special Task Force turned their attention back to the two women.

"Miss Chevreuse," Luna said softly, "you seem to have forgotten one crucial fact. I'm a Phantom Thief."

Click. The sound of a holster unfastening echoed in the air.

In the next instant, both women had pistols pressed against each other's abdomens.

"How nostalgic, isn't it?" Luna chuckled. It had been a long time since they'd faced each other like this, guns drawn.

"...Don't do anything foolish, White Cat."

But the situation was vastly different now. Chevreuse seemed to see through Luna's intentions. "Hand over the treasure, and you can have whatever you want. I need the evidence."

"And if I refuse?"

Chevreuse fell silent for a moment before barking an order: "Special Task Force, prepare for combat!"

Turenna blinked rapidly. What on earth is going on here?

Just moments ago, everything seemed fine. How had they suddenly found themselves at each other's throats?

Orders were orders. The Special Task Force raised their rifles, aiming at Luna.

Her white umbrella lay abandoned on the ground, tossed by the wind and stained with mud. The relentless rain drenched Luna and Chevreuse, plastering strands of hair to their faces.

Raindrops slid down Luna's mask as she chuckled softly. "Miss Captain, it seems you only found one of my warning letters."

"What?"

Seizing Chevreuse's moment of surprise, Luna flicked a silk thread and yanked! The barrel of Chevreuse's rifle twisted violently toward the empty air.

A blinding sword flash sliced through the rain, hurtling toward Chevreuse.

"Why..." Chevreuse gritted her teeth, her rifle crackling with energy as she swung it upward to parry.

Weapons clashed, gazes locked.

How had it come to this?

Chevreuse's sharp eyes could pierce Luna's very soul, yet all she found was a gentle, unhostile gaze.

"Life is always full of drama, isn't it, Miss Captain?"

"Stop, White Cat," Chevreuse hissed.

"You always think you can persuade me, or order me around, Captain. But you should know—"

Luna twisted her wrist, flicking her sword upward before slamming it down with a force that sent Chevreuse staggering backward.

With a leap, Luna soared to a higher vantage point.

"—my goal has always been singular: to claim the treasures. And tonight, I will claim three!"

The stage lights blazed to life.

Luna announced loudly, "First, Ronat's Golden Dog—a creature forged of gold and silver flesh, its bones made of pure sin."

"Second, the future and hope of two souls who have yet to pass on."

"And third..."

She locked eyes with Chevreuse.

"...the Phantom Thief in Miss Captain's heart."

Luna flicked a card at Chevreuse.

Chevreuse snatched it mid-air with lightning reflexes, but without glancing at its contents, she incinerated it to ashes.

"You can't take anything more from me, nor can you steal any more treasures. The ultimatum is over, White Cat..."

Chevreuse took a deep breath and declared in a resolute tone, "I'm arresting you!"

The actors were ready.

The stage was set.

Only one thing remained.

Showtime.