The car carrying the four women slowly approached the area identified as the thieves' hideout. They stopped about 200 meters away from the building where the thieves were hiding because they didn't want the thieves to notice their arrival, which would make the arrest more difficult.
Additionally, the police had set up a small camp. Everyone gathered at a café being used as headquarters to coordinate the thieves' capture. The plainclothes officers standing at the café's door saw the women get out of the luxury car.
They quickly recognized the trio, including a new partner named Élodie, who had extraordinary strength and could crush the monsters the officers sometimes encountered. She was quite a sight to behold, hammer aside!
The officers also recognized the brunette woman in the witch's hat, Séraphine Rohan. How could they not know her when they had worked with this witch, who was also a detective? Not to mention, she was stunning!
However, it was Francisca, a renowned figure in the underworld, who frightened them upon recognizing her. She wasn't a gang leader or an aristocrat, but she was just as important as the others. Luckily, she only acted up if provoked!
Stunned by the three women standing before them, they didn't notice the little fairy resting on Séraphine's shoulder. Sasha wore a smug expression, having taken the opportunity to hide herself better when they weren't looking.
"We will go inside," said Élodie as she patted one of her companions on the shoulder, signaling confidence. The two police officers quickly stepped aside, making way for them to enter the café.
Upon entering the establishment, the bustle of human activity overwhelmed the quartet. Police officers rushed back and forth with papers and various objects, while higher-ranking officials sat at tables, busy with work.
For example, Police Captain Holland, the person they wanted to speak with, was sitting there. He was holding a cup of hot coffee in one hand and appeared to be writing a letter with the other. However, they were surprised to see Sister Sophia sitting next to him.
"Oh, girls! I'm so glad you came early," she said, standing up to greet them. She first gave a big hug to Séraphine, her close friend.
"Officer Duval, I see your work has been going well lately. Keep it up; you might get a promotion for your service very quickly." Captain Holland looked up to observe the blonde as she spoke and couldn't help but smile at the compliment.
"I have to thank you, Captain! You let me work on interesting cases even though I'm a rookie," replied Élodie with a big smile, causing her boss to nod. He then turned to the other two women who had taken a seat at the table.
"Thank you both for your support. If they were ordinary thieves, we wouldn't have any problems. But they're Resonants. Roman is dying, and Élodie is with you. So the extra support is more than welcome.
Besides, the Tower has gotten involved because of the seriousness of the matter," said Captain Holland, causing Séraphine to wrinkle her nose. She was a little uncomfortable with all the formality. She only did this for the money! She clicked her tongue before speaking.
"I understand, Captain, but let's get to the point, shall we? Do you have our payment ready? Will the Tower affect my payment? What new information do you have on the suspects?" The witch phrased her three questions in such a way as to reveal what was most important to her.
Having interacted with her for so long, however, Captain Holland was accustomed to her manner. He wasn't offended; in fact, he was quite pleased by the witch's frankness. It pained him to talk about money with her, knowing that she was just as greedy as he was stingy.
'It looks like I'll have to ask Chief Norton for more financial support. I don't want to upset Rohan, so I'd rather bother him,' thought Captain Holland. He carefully weighed his words because he didn't want the witch to have an excuse to cast a spell on him.
"Miss Rohan, your payment will be delivered on time and in full. In fact, the Tower has suggested adding an extra amount for your services. That doesn't just apply to you. Your companions will also receive payment from the Tower. Won't they, Miss Castle?" Captain Holland quickly passed the buck to the nun standing beside him, leaving her to face the three women.
"It's as the Captain says. I suggested the extra payment because we have new information about the suspects. Their level of danger has increased. They're not mere criminals," Sophia continued, picking up a folder placed in front of her.
"From the thief we arrested, we learned that our targets are four people. Among them is a mage from the Wild Continent and a person who calls himself a 'Ninja,' a profession from the Eastern Continent based on stealth, assassination, and theft.
The thief also mentioned a regular thief, apparently a local, who is the leader of the operation. The last one is the strangest of all. The captured woman doesn't know much about him and has never seen him in action. That's a significant risk factor." Sophia opened the folder and showed the trio the information gathered, along with some hand-drawn sketches based on the physical descriptions provided by the captured woman.
"The unknown is always problematic in this kind of work. It's what every soldier hates about any mission or deployment," complained Élodie as she traced her index finger over the sketch of the figure whose power and abilities were unknown.
"The plan is to minimize the danger posed by the other three members of that team. That ninja is particularly troublesome and elusive," Francisca pointed out, gesturing toward the drawing of the slender figure wrapped in black clothing that revealed only her eyes.
"Why would a group of foreigners band together under the command of a local?" I understand that he's from here and knows Blume, so I'm not surprised that he's the leader. However, I am surprised that his teammates are foreigners. It seems like they were assigned to him rather than having met organically. Then again, maybe they really do know each other.
Élodie can probably guess the story behind it. Besides, a mage stealing? HAHA! What could have led that poor wretch to that life? Or is he trying to achieve some other goal and stole as a shortcut?" The witch laughed because she thought it was funny that a magician would steal. However, her questions were spot on. Élodie puffed out her cheeks and blushed slightly at the brunette's comment.
"The theory that there's a mastermind behind this is becoming more and more plausible! Don't be surprised if I'm right in the end, girls," said the blonde with a feigned air of arrogance. She even lifted her chin, causing Sophia and Francisca to laugh. Meanwhile, Captain Holland felt like smoking because of his discomfort.
"Well, Élodie, let's hope your fantasy is real. But, getting back to the main point, do we have their names? At least the local thief's name should be somewhat known among the Resonants or in the underworld," Séraphine suggested. This caused Francisca to stop laughing. Her red eyes scanned the portrait of the thief as she searched her memory for any matches.
"We have a name, but it sounds fake. We don't have any real names, known nicknames, or personal marks or symbols since that woman hasn't revealed anything more substantial.
She hasn't said anything about the motive for the robbery, a potential buyer for the goods, or whether they acted on behalf of someone else. It's as if they simply decided to rob the place and that was it. It seems like a demonstration." As the alchemist focused on her memories, Captain Hall answered the witch's questions, causing her blue eyes to shine brightly.
"There's a hidden plot behind all this! The theft is just a means to an end. Those jewels aren't the real target. Haha!" Élodie burst out laughing as if she'd won the lottery, causing Séraphine to slap her on the back of the neck.
"You aren't a detective? It's so obvious!" the blonde complained, causing Séraphine to curl her lips in disdain. She adjusted her hat, partially covering her vibrant green eyes.
"Because I am a detective, I consider your ideas. Remember, most of the time, the simplest answer is the right one. If you happen to be right, though, I don't think it's a cause for joy but for caution.
A twist like that would make me more money but also pose a greater risk. Think a little further ahead. Don't get so carried away with your ideas," Séraphine lectured. Élodie's excitement vanished, and her body seemed to deflate in her seat.
"I know. I've been aware of my urge to fight and take action. But I feel like I'm right. Don't witches usually trust their intuition? That's why I'm insisting on this so much," the policewoman replied softly to the witch's words. However, it was her final remark that made the brunette pause visibly.
"Intuition? Do you trust your own intuition, Élodie?" Séraphine asked in a serious tone. Élodie looked up at her with bright blue eyes that held an enthusiasm that couldn't easily be extinguished.
"I trust it as much as I trust my aether, Séraphine. I know my stories are fanciful. We already talked about that in the car. But I have this feeling that things are complicated. Maybe not exactly as I imagine, but this isn't just a jewelry heist," the policewoman replied. The witch nodded and smiled.
"Witches trust their intuition, whether their own or that of others. Even if they end up being wrong, they'll never stop trusting it. The best we can do is come up with strategies. First, let's describe the characteristics of these thieves' professions. Let's start with the mage from the Wild Continent," said Séraphine, picking up the sketch of the man that had piqued her interest.
"I'll handle the ninja. He seems to be the most dangerous besides the stranger," suggested Élodie with a big smile after hearing the witch's words of confidence, which lifted her spirits once again.
"I'll give you some general antidotes to drink. I can't create anything that's completely effective against the sophisticated poisons those guys usually use, but my potions can help mitigate the effects of many toxins," Francisca added. She pulled several bottles from her storage space, making Élodie's eyes narrow with excitement.
"What about the guy from our town and the stranger?" Sophia asked, looking at the alchemist. She wanted to hear her opinion on the matter and see who she chose as a target.
"I already know who that guy is. I remembered. He's one of my clients and has a certain reputation in the underworld. They call him 'The Wild Cat' because of his excellent stealth, but they always discover his intrusion.
The interesting thing is that he usually emerges unscathed from those dangerous situations, displaying exceptional agility." When stealing, he leaves a small carving of a cat's face as his trademark, something like this," Francisca replied. She grabbed a blank sheet of paper and a pen and drew the head of a smiling cat. Then, she showed it to the rest.
"It's that weirdo! There have been a lot of complaints to the police about him because he tends to rob really rich people. Just like you said, he always gets away way too easily. Even when they surround him and fire at him nonstop, he slips away.
The police have only encountered him a few times. He usually wears a hood with feline motifs, and we thought he was a woman because of his build. We never thought there'd be such a tough guy under that tight-fitting disguise." Captain Holland slammed his fist on the table in response to the information he'd received. It had helped him solve many cases, and soon, if this operation went well, they would close many more.
"Can you tell us your name, Lady Zhang?" the man asked eagerly. Then he realized that Francisca wasn't just anyone. She was a renowned alchemist in Blume! Her dealings spanned both the legal and illegal spheres. Would she hand over sensitive information like a client's name so easily?
"I'm sorry. I don't do intelligence work. That's handled by one of my subordinates. Call this number, and if you're willing to pay a hefty sum, you might get your information. But I warn you: Don't mention my name. I'm doing this as a one-time exception. It might not happen again." The redhead warned as she handed Captain Holland a business card. He stood up and went to make the call.
"So, you're choosing 'The Wild Cat'? Then I'll take the unknown one. It's not like I haven't faced unknown enemies before. Mother Light's power will be enough to handle any problem." Sophia stroked the golden staff standing beside her, completely unsupported.
"Then let me outline the countermeasures I've devised with my objective in mind. I plan to..." With that, they all began discussing the strategies they would employ, both separately and as a group.
Although it was their first time working with Sophia, her versatility, especially her healing abilities, served them well and fit perfectly into the planning process.
Every group needs a healer!
♠♠♠♠♠
"We shouldn't have left that woman behind! What if they lost our trail because of her?" In a cluttered living room, a man wearing a Wild Continent–style hat that covered his brown hair and part of his face spoke angrily. He patted his waist, where he carried a pistol.
"Hehe! My odorless powder is pretty good. They won't be able to catch us with those dogs. And that woman? We never told her about this hideout! How could they catch us? Besides, I wiped out the traces you carelessly left behind," a slender, somewhat small figure spoke. Their voice was slightly distorted and muffled by the black mask covering their mouth.
"Exactly. This time, we avoided drawing attention before the heist, didn't we? We avoided the bad reputation of our 'boss,' who doesn't seem to know what discretion is," said a third figure covered in strange tattoos that looked like symbols from the Iron Continent. This figure had a robust build, thick blond hair, and an unkempt beard, which gave him a wild appearance.
The trio, each with distinct attire and appearance, looked at the last figure in the room, who had not yet spoken. He was a middle-aged man with a slender build and visible muscle definition. He was simply enjoying a bowl of rice. Only when he finished chewing a mouthful did he speak.
"Get ready to leave this place soon," he announced with a matter-of-fact expression. The motley trio tensed up, clearly alarmed by the implications of his words.
"I don't know what it's like at your usual workplaces, but Blume's ecosystem is… unique. We've disrupted it with this mission. It won't just be the police coming after us since our actions have caused quite a stir.
You should know that we also have an organization here that handles supernatural matters: The Tower. They'll get involved in this. If money is involved, an annoyed witch will take action, too," the middle-aged man continued, taking another bite of his food. His words weren't as well-received as he'd thought they would be.
"So what? Are we going to be afraid of that so-called Tower and some woman? You're making too much of this," said the man in the hat, laughing. Seeing that no one was playing along, he stopped and looked at the other two.
"How strong are the people from the Tower? What's so remarkable about that witch? Damn it! Why didn't you tell us about this before? Now that I think about it, you've been avoiding talking about these matters until now, haven't you?" The fully cloaked figure exclaimed, clearly annoyed, and brought their hand to their back, drawing a small curved sword in a threatening gesture.
"Ah, you folks from the Wild Continent really have that 'wild' part ingrained in you, don't you? You might not even understand the power of a state-run Resonant Organization. Not to mention, you probably don't realize just how terrifying witches can be.
But what can you expect from an inhabitant of a land where civilization belongs only to the natives and not the pathetic colonists?" the bearded man sneered.
The man wearing a hat drew his weapon without hesitation and pointed it menacingly at the one who had mocked him.
"Are you one of those bastards who don't support us? We're the ones bringing culture to those guys!" Instead of focusing on the bearded man's key points, the man in the hat zeroed in on the ethnic angle. Those present looked at him with derision.
"You've only survived in that place because the natives are good people. But the moment you showed your fangs, they pacified you and relegated you to your settlements while their civilization quickly caught up with the rest of the world. Sad," the bearded man continued to mock the man in the hat, unconcerned by the threat of the gun.
This made the man in the hat want to shoot, but he sensed that he was blocked by the other three men, especially the supposed ninja who seemed eager to stab him. He decided to put his gun away.
"Enough of that. Let's get back to important matters. The Tower is strong. They have people who resonate with the power of Mother Light through artifacts and magical objects consecrated to that entity," said the middle-aged man, casting a tense atmosphere over the room.
"The witch I'm talking about has quite a reputation in Blume, but you don't read the papers. Aside from her charm and natural beauty, she's a difficult woman to deal with. They say she's a good detective, which is no small feat. She's capable, so don't underestimate her," the man continued. He set his empty plate on the table in front of him, where a pile of valuable jewels lay scattered.
"Mitch, Kirara, Björn," he said, standing up and looking at the people as he said their names. Mitch was the man in the hat; Kirara was the ninja; and Björn was the rough-looking man with a beard.
"If we don't leave now, they'll find us. I don't want to face the Tower and that witch at the same time as the police," he declared. He was 'The Wild Cat,' but he didn't realize that he would have to deal with more than just those groups. He also had to contend with a former soldier and an alchemist.