Unfortunately, the system's beginner's gift only provided skill points that could be used once per skill tree.
This meant Luna had to prepare her phantom thief outfit, weapons, and mask all by herself.
"Phantom thief outfit…"
The image of a certain "ordinary" high school boy summoning a Persona flashed through her mind.
But the system had a "splendor" mechanic.
Rationally speaking, the phantom thief outfit would certainly be included in the evaluation of splendor.
That high school boy's outfit was undeniably stylish, but if she were aiming for true grandeur… Luna shook her head slightly. A white and gold outfit would be ideal.
However, she wasn't great at designing or making clothes.
Luna sighed. Couldn't the system at least provide a starter outfit? Seriously...
Should she ask her friend for help?
If it were her old friend, they could surely meet all her demands.
But this was a phantom thief outfit. If her friend designed it, they'd immediately recognize Luna as the mischievous thief hopping around town.
In the end, it was better to do it herself.
Referencing the designs of the Special Forces, Luna planned to use white and gold with a cape and some decorative elements. She sketched a rough draft on paper.
"As for weapons, I'll use this."
She drew her sword.
To call it a sword was a bit grandiose—it was just an ordinary one-handed blade.
The kind you'd find in any blacksmith's shop. It wouldn't draw any suspicion.
Her second weapon was a handgun.
This handgun was unique to Fontaine—a small firearm. While not widely used in Fontaine, she had obtained hers through special channels.
The small gun wasn't very accurate, and its bullet speed left much to be desired, but it was enough for a backup weapon.
After all, who doesn't like landing a gunshot parry and following it up with a kidney strike?
Besides these, a phantom thief would also need various gadgets. Thankfully, Luna's years as an adventurer weren't for nothing.
She had a week.
"I need to scout the area," Luna muttered.
She had to familiarize herself with the exhibition's layout to maximize her chances of escape.
"Oh, right. I should assign my skill points first."
Since the system had provided skill points, there was no reason not to use them.
The skill tree was divided into the following categories:
- The Path of Splendor: A series of flashy attack skills, such as "Flame Cloak" and "Lightning Snap," with elemental attack capabilities.
- The Path of Shadows: A set of theft-related support skills, like "Theft" and "Thief's Vision."
- The Path of the Hunt: A series of martial skills like "Mastery of All Weapons."
- The Path of Erudition: A collection of auxiliary skills related to crafts, recipes, and treasure appraisal, like "Acting" and "Handgun Crafting."
Each skill tree could be leveled up to 1 using the gifted points.
---
First, she chose The Path of Splendor.
Elemental abilities… Luna thought for a while. She had used a Delusion before and figured that directly using elemental powers might feel similar.
The best fit for her would likely be wind.
It's versatile—for both offense and escape.
"You're the one!"
[Skill Acquired: Wind Burst Kick]
[Wind Burst Kick (LV: 1/3): Gathers wind energy into the foot to deliver a powerful kick. Can knock back enemies and enhance foot strength, allowing for faster running and higher jumps.]
Next, she picked The Path of Shadows.
This was an easy choice. She maxed out the basics right away.
[Skill Acquired: Theft]
[Theft (LV: 1/5): Allows the user to steal one item from a target within one meter.]
For The Path of the Hunt, Luna wasn't too interested in martial skills.
Her swordsmanship, marksmanship, and physical techniques were already decent. Low-level martial skills wouldn't significantly enhance her abilities.
Instead, considering splendor, the flashier the better.
[Skill Acquired: Sword Dance]
[Sword Dance (LV: 1/3): More of a dance than a fight! This elegant, deadly swordplay blends beauty and lethality, embodying the art of taking an enemy's life in style.]
Finally, The Path of Erudition was a tough choice.
The other skills supported her "phantom thief" persona, but this path catered to her "non-phantom thief" self.
Cooking, singing, appraisal…
To be honest, she didn't know what to choose. After much deliberation, Luna decided to hold off.
The skill points wouldn't disappear, so she could decide after her first heist.
"Phew… That's it. Time to start making the outfit and mask."
Six days later, after throwing herself into intense preparation, Luna was satisfied with the exhibition's layout map pinned to her board and the phantom thief outfit on the mannequin.
If her friend were to see the outfit, they'd probably critique it endlessly, pointing out flaws for at least half an hour.
But Luna wasn't Spider-Man, creating intricately designed suits.
She was more than happy with a "decent enough" outcome.
"Making clothes is harder than I thought," Luna sighed.
Her brain was fried.
"Now, for the final step."
The pièce de résistance: the heist notice!
Unfortunately, Luna had no experience designing these either, but as long as she clearly conveyed the main message, it would suffice.
She thought for a moment and began to write:
"To the Confrerie of Cabriere, the beautiful gem 'Maiden's Tears' shall now belong to me."
She signed it as "Phantom Thief White Cat."
Luna picked up the card, feeling it lacked a certain flair. But it would do.
She had already decided during her scouting how to deliver the heist notice to the guild president.
As for why she only mentioned "Maiden's Tears" in the notice? She had an experiment in mind.
"If my target is A, but I also steal B, what will the system's evaluation look like…?" Luna murmured, intrigued.
---
"Long time no see, Navia. You're looking more and more like your mother."
Marcel, the Confrerie of Cabriere's current president, smiled warmly. The elderly man's movements were slow and unsteady, showing signs of age.
Sitting across from him was Navia Casapar, the current leader of the Spina di Rosula.
Her soft, golden curls were immaculately groomed. Her bright, azure eyes shone with clarity, and her dashing yet elegant attire made her the center of attention wherever she went.
If Fontaine were to choose its ideal lady, Navia would undoubtedly take the crown.
Navia smiled. "Long time no see… though it hasn't been that long."
"Haha, perhaps my memory is failing… How is the Spina di Rosula doing these days?"
Navia shook her head slightly.
"I see… That's understandable." Marcel sighed, nodding.
"Ever since your father, Mr. Callas, was accused of murder, the Spina di Rosula's reputation has never recovered…"
Navia interrupted, "There's always a way. Besides, I didn't come here to reminisce."
Marcel chuckled. "I know, I know. You're here for the exhibition, right?"
"Exactly. Since you invited me, I couldn't refuse. Besides, with all the crowds tomorrow, it'll be hard to properly admire the pieces."
"Especially the most eye-catching item—'Maiden's Tears,'" Navia said.
Marcel was about to respond when he noticed someone rushing over out of the corner of his eye.
"President! Something terrible has happened!"
"What is it? Calm down…"
"Look at this!"
Taking the card, Marcel read it carefully.
Navia leaned in and read aloud, "To the Confrerie of Cabriere, the beautiful gem 'Maiden's Tears' shall now belong to me."
"Phantom Thief White Cat… A phantom thief!?"