The Phantom Thief's Letter
Seong-il pulled his clone out of Yuna's throat. The sight that greeted him was of Yuna, completely overwhelmed by the sudden surge of intense pleasure flooding her senses. Her eyes had rolled back, and she had passed out in a messy heap, drool and semen dripping from her lips.
"Aigoo..."
Seong-il cradled the unconscious Yuna, who was still twitching from the overwhelming ecstasy, and gently laid her down on the bed in her private quarters. He checked her condition carefully.
"Whew... She's breathing normally, so it doesn't look like anything's actually wrong with her."
After confirming she was stable, Seong-il fetched a towel soaked in warm water from the bathroom. He cleaned her body thoroughly, tucked her in with a blanket, and quietly left her workshop.
"Oho! Seong-il, my boy! You've arrived!!!!"
Charlotte greeted him with her usual booming voice.
"Yes!! Great Detective! Your Lupin has returned!!"
"Ohohohoh! Excellent! However, Seong-il, my dear! I'm terribly sorry, but could you possibly watch the office by yourself today?!"
"Why's that?"
"Ah! Nothing complicated. It's the day of the regular Great Detective Moriarty Exchange Meeting that I always attend! It's an incredibly important gathering for me! So unfortunately, it seems you'll have to handle any outside cases on your own today!!"
"I see! Have a good time, Detective Charlotte!"
"Yeees!!!! You don't need to wait for me today. Just close the office at six o'clock and head home whenever you like!"
"Yes!! Thank you!!!"
"Well then! I'm off!!"
With a thunderous roar, Charlotte swiftly threw on her coat and dashed outside. Watching her go, Seong-il thought to himself.
Does that woman owe some massive debt to a loan shark or something? Why does she always run everywhere...?
Sighing at Charlotte's utterly eccentric behavior—more four-dimensional than anyone he'd ever met—Seong-il calmly brewed some black tea in the break room and spent a peaceful day at the office.
The next day.
"Y-you're here...!"
Yuna came out to greet him, her body twitching nervously at the sight of Seong-il.
She's frozen stiff. Probably because of what happened yesterday when she lost control.
"Yes! Did you sleep well last night?"
"!!"
Yuna flinched at Seong-il's tone, which subtly hinted at how she'd completely lost herself to pleasure the day before. Savoring her adorable reaction, Seong-il acted as if nothing had happened and stepped into the workshop.
I should probably leave her alone today.
Yuna led him down to the basement, visibly tense. Seong-il asked her a question.
"Will the engraving be finished today?"
"Huh? Y-yes, it will...!"
"If I get the engraving today, when will I be able to use the magic?"
Yuna thought for a moment.
"Hmm... The engraving should be completed around one o'clock this afternoon. So you'll probably be able to use it starting at midnight tonight. Just so you know, around that time you'll feel a hot sensation on your back and instinctively sense that the magic has activated. Normally it would require a full twenty-four hours to recharge, but right after the procedure, your mana will be oversaturated, so you should be able to use it a bit faster than usual."
"I see!"
Listening to her explanation, Seong-il naturally took off his top and lay face-down on the work table.
"Gulp."
Yuna unconsciously swallowed as she wiped his back with a towel, her eyes lingering on his masculine physique.
She just swallowed. Looks like yesterday's activities have started to awaken her long-dormant sexual desires.
While pondering her libido, Seong-il enjoyed the feeling of her hands on his back. After quite a long time, the engraving was finally complete. Seong-il put his clothes back on and casually moved to the living room.
Yuna followed him, her body trembling slightly at his bold demeanor.
As Seong-il naturally took a seat in the living room chair, Yuna asked,
"A-are you not going to wash up today? Not washing is a bit..."
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean...? Even though we have a contract, putting something that hasn't been washed in my mouth is a little..."
"No, I'm not doing it today. I'll just have some tea and leave."
"Ehh?!"
Yuna looked even more flustered by his unexpected response. Seong-il smiled inwardly at her expression and replied,
"Well... it's not like today is the only day. A beauty like you, Miss Yuna—I wanted to see you for at least one more day, so I'll just head out today."
"!!"
Yuna's face flushed red at Seong-il's smooth words. Seeing her reaction, he continued,
"Still, I'm a guest. Aren't you going to serve me a cup of tea? I'm a little disappointed..."
"Ah! J-just a moment!!"
Judging by her reaction, it doesn't seem like she completely hated playing with me yesterday. Next time, I'll have to train her a bit more intensely!
Seong-il entertained pleasant fantasies based on her response. He enjoyed some black tea and casual conversation with Yuna before returning to the detective agency.
"Oh dear! We chatted so much that time just flew by... Miss Charlotte must be waiting! I'll see you next time!"
"Yes? Y-yes!! Take care!"
Seong-il returned to the detective agency with a light step. Charlotte welcomed him enthusiastically.
"Seong-il, my booooy!!! You've arrived!!!"
"Yes!! Great Detective!"
"While you were out during lunch getting your engraving, I received a request from my friend, Lady Aibek!!!"
"Whoa!!!! Really?!?!?!"
"That's right!! And it's an incredible request!!!"
If it's Lady Aibek, it must be the early-game main quest 'The Phantom Thief's Letter,' right?
Seong-il, who knew the game's story, had already guessed what the request was about. Still, he played along with Charlotte's dramatic flair and responded in an exaggerated tone.
"My goodness! What kind of request could possibly make even the Great Detective Charlotte use the word 'incredible'?!?!"
"Prepare to be amazed!! Dun dun dun duuuun!!!"
She's really going all out...
"It's none other than a request to stop the Phantom Thief Luphtesia!!!"
"Wow!!! Is that true, Great Detective Charlotte?!"
"Yes!!! Do you remember how I went to the Great Detective Moriarty Exchange Meeting yesterday?"
"Yes! You said it was a very private and very important gathering! Did something happen there...?"
"My best friend, Lady Olsen Aibek, belongs to the Aibek ducal family. The Phantom Thief Luphtesia sent them a notice saying she would steal the family heirloom, 'Delon's Eye'!"
"Oh no!! By 'Delon's Eye,' do you mean that massive sapphire said to be the largest in the kingdom?"
"Oh!! As expected of my Lupin!! You know it well! That's correct!!"
"Aah...!! As expected of Great Detective Charlotte! To be invited specifically to stop a phantom thief's notice—how impressive!"
"Hohohohohoh! Oh, stop it! In that spirit, Seong-il! Pack your bags immediately! The thief is coming at dawn tomorrow!"
"Oh! Just a moment!!"
Seong-il quickly went to his room, gathered various pieces of equipment, and returned. There he saw Charlotte dragging a suitcase nearly as big as her own body.
Sigh... Are we going on a trip?
Looking at Charlotte's luggage, Seong-il sighed and said to her,
"That's a lot of bags. Would you let me carry them? I'll take care of your luggage, Miss Charlotte."
"Ooooh...! Such consideration for a lady...!"
The words Just shut up and give it to me rose in his throat, but Seong-il exercised superhuman patience, smiled, and took the handle of her suitcase.
Charlotte must have called a magic carriage in advance. A uniquely designed magical carriage was parked in front of the detective agency. Seong-il felt a sense of mystery at its unusual appearance as he loaded the luggage into the storage compartment, then climbed aboard and asked Charlotte,
"It's not just the two of us, right?"
"Hm? Of course not! We're the only outside personnel, but the Windom Metropolitan Police Department is sending a large number of officers as well!"
"Ooh...!"
The two of them chatted about trivial things until they arrived at the Aibek ducal estate.
"Lady Aibek!!"
"You've arrived! Lady Charlotte!!"
Is that habit of shouting at the top of their lungs a common trait among members of the Great Detective Moriarty Exchange Meeting...?
While having such pointless thoughts, Seong-il followed behind Charlotte as Lady Aibek led the way.
"Hm?! Halt! Who are you two?!"
A middle-aged man in a police uniform with a distinctive styled mustache appeared and stopped Charlotte's group. Lady Aibek answered,
"Ah! Inspector Lestrade! These two are my close friends and private detectives. I asked them for personal assistance regarding the Luphtesia matter."
Inspector Lestrade's expression soured slightly as he replied,
"Hmm... Private detectives, you say... Lady Aibek, does that mean you don't trust the Windom Metropolitan Police?"
"Not at all! Of course our family trusts the Windom police, but no one can predict how the world will turn, can they? Think of it as a kind of insurance. Please don't be offended, Inspector."
"Ah... I didn't mean it that way... Well... As long as they don't interfere with our investigation, it's fine."
Inspector Lestrade had unconsciously shown irritation toward the noble Lady Aibek. Feeling a sting of guilt, he responded to Charlotte more generously. Charlotte smiled and answered,
"Oho! So you are the renowned Inspector Lestrade of Windom! It's an honor! I am Detective Charlotte of the Moriarty family!"
"...Moriarty? As in... the Edwin Moriarty from the Ministry of Finance...?"
"Yes!! That's my father!"
"Ah... I see..."
When the name of a major political figure—who was even being discussed as a candidate for the next Prime Minister—came out of Charlotte's mouth, Inspector Lestrade flinched. Given his usual disdain for the profession of detective, he would normally have been hostile and territorial toward Charlotte's group. But upon learning she was the daughter of one of the kingdom's most powerful men, he instantly changed his attitude and spoke to her with a smiling face.
"Aah!! So the daughter of Lord Edwin Moriarty has opened a detective agency! Heh heh! I look forward to working with you! Heh heh heh!"
"Ohohohohoh! The pleasure is all mine! Ohohohoh!!"
Poor guy. Inspector Lestrade too...
Seong-il couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for the inspector. After watching Lestrade's awkward flattery for a while, the group began moving into the interior of the Aibek ducal mansion.
"Here is our defense plan!"
That's intense...
The Aibek ducal estate was enormous—easily the size of a large supermarket or outlet mall. With so many possible infiltration routes, at least two hundred officers appeared to be patrolling the grounds to cover every weakness.
"Now, please follow me, Lady Moriarty."
"It's Detective!"
"Ah! Detective... This way, please..."
...This feels exactly like a battalion commander watching his every move because the division commander's son just enlisted under him.
With that thought in mind, they moved toward the heart of the mansion.
"Oh... Is that...?"
A glass case surrounded by roughly thirty armed officers, containing a massive sapphire inside. When Seong-il let out a sound of admiration at its size, Inspector Lestrade answered him.
"Indeed! That is the 'Delon's Eye' we must protect. As you can see, thirty officers are guarding it without a single gap. We rotate in teams of ten every hour, so I can confidently say there are no openings at all!!"
Inspector Lestrade proudly boasted about their security measures. Charlotte responded in admiration.
"As expected!! Truly worthy of the Windom Metropolitan Police Department's reputation! Magnificent!!!"
"Thank you. Lady... I mean, Detective! With your excellent assistance added to the mix, the Phantom Thief Luphtesia will absolutely not succeed in her theft."
"Ohohohoh! Well said!!"
"Thank you!!"
Bureaucracy really is...
Watching Inspector Lestrade bow and flatter a young woman simply because her father was a high-ranking government official, Seong-il felt a bitter taste in his mouth at this ugly side of the system. He began formulating his plan.
The Windom police have boasted about their security deployment, but Phantom Thief Luphtesia has already infiltrated the Aibek mansion several days ago by disguising herself as a maid and slipping into the core areas.
Before the appointed time, she'll subdue one of the officers whose background she's already investigated, hide him in a secret location, then use magical equipment to disguise herself as him. During the next shift change, she'll approach the jewel.
Then she'll use several automata created with magic in her own image to distract the guards, release sleeping gas to neutralize the security, leisurely steal the jewel, and escape using an ancient artifact for teleportation. That's probably how it'll go.
Now then... Out of the three routes to stop Luphtesia, which one should I choose...?
The Phantom Thief's Letter
📍 Location: Aibek Ducal Mansion, Windom
🎯 Objective: Prevent Luphtesia from stealing 'Delon's Eye'
🎁 Reward: Varies depending on clear method and performance
In Magic City and the Great Detective, the main quests had branching paths. You could solve problems through sharp reasoning and investigation, overpower enemies through combat, or fail entirely if you couldn't do either. The story and ending would change slightly depending on how you cleared the quest and whether you succeeded. 'The Phantom Thief's Letter' was one such quest with multiple branches.
Since Seong-il had already experienced all the possible routes through previous gameplay, he began contemplating which method to use for the clear.