Apart from the trio with their varied reactions, the rest of the crew nodded in approval.
The producer chimed in enthusiastically, "As expected of Lady Furina! When it comes to trending topics and genres, a Phantom Thief story is definitely the way to go!"
"Even though she's been involved in some dangerous stunts recently, that only adds to the intrigue!"
Mysterious.
Danger.
Contradiction.
These three elements often possess a unique allure and charm.
If one can master them, they're sure to leave an indelible mark on the audience's hearts!
Navia thought to herself, That's certainly true.
"But can such a subject matter even pass censorship?" she asked. "Isn't the Court of Justice currently restricting works of this kind?"
"Miss Manager, you're mistaken," the producer replied smugly. "All you need to do is change the packaging!"
He immediately rattled off a list of recent blockbuster movies:
Masked Fools
Masked Freaks vs. the Evil Empire
Ultra-Gigantic Masked Hero
Masked Elemental Rangers, and so on.
"These films may not have 'phantom thief' in their titles, and they might not even feature actual phantom thieves in their plots," he explained, "but the essence of phantom thievery permeates every scene!"
Luna chimed in, "So, it's just borrowing the elements."
After all, phantom thieves are always masked.
"Miss Luna understands perfectly!" the producer exclaimed. "Exactly! What audiences truly crave isn't necessarily a literal phantom thief, but a story that embodies the core principles of the genre!"
Donning a mask transforms an ordinary person into a charming villain or a valiant hero.
Beneath the mask lies either an ordinary individual like you or me, or a talented heiress from a wealthy family.
This duality, however, is precisely the essence of masked characters.
"Without aesthetics, the Phantom Thief archetype simply wouldn't exist," Luna declared. "Aesthetics are the true cornerstone of a Phantom Thief."
"Aesthetics?" Clorinde inquired.
Furina nodded. "It's a Phantom Thief's 'bottom line' or 'philosophy.' They don't necessarily have to be flamboyant—though most modern Phantom Thief stories center around flamboyant protagonists."
"At their core, however, Phantom Thieves must adhere to their own self-imposed code of conduct."
"No one enjoys watching a villain without principles running rampant."
The group had a sudden realization.
It made perfect sense when explained that way.
"So, does Phantom Thief White Cat have no principles?" someone asked.
After all, she had attacked ordinary civilians.
Clorinde and Navia exchanged glances, neither speaking. They had already deduced Phantom Thief White's true objective over the past few days.
"No, that's wrong!" Furina suddenly declared.
All eyes turned to her.
"She's..."
She's truly remarkable, Furina thought sincerely.
With a clear mind, a firm purpose, and the courage to act, everything she had done—that thrilling drama—hadn't been for her own benefit at all.
"Does Lady Furina believe she has hidden motives?"
"Huh? Well..."
But she couldn't reveal the truth. That wasn't the Phantom Thief's intention.
Furina glanced absently at Luna. Though she knew Luna wasn't the Phantom Thief, she couldn't help but find her gaze drawn to her.
"Her standards are simply too low," Furina stated.
The words of a god carry weight. As the God of Justice, how could she defend a criminal?
"But having such low standards is practically the same as having none at all..."
"Not exactly. There's a clear difference between zero and one. Phantom Thief White is probably closer to one."
"I think she's a zero."
They were referring to her moral bottom line.
Furina clapped her hands to silence them. "Enough about Phantom Thief White! Don't worry about the review—look who's standing right in front of you!"
She straightened her chest.
"Oh, right! It's Lady Furina!"
"Then there's nothing to worry about. Still, to avoid any suspicion, we should be discreet during filming..."
With that, the theme was immediately decided.
"An evil Phantom Thief steals people's hearts and treasures, but a righteous law enforcer outwits her in a battle of wits and brings her to justice." That was the basic plot outline.
It sounded clichéd, but an outline only needed to capture the essence of the story. The real magic lay in the details.
Even a classic trope could be transformed into a phenomenal film, scoring eight or nine out of ten, depending entirely on the actors' skills and the director's vision.
And fortunately, the lead actress, Luna, was a universally recognized top-tier talent.
In a word: invincible!
She could embody any role flawlessly, her performances utterly without flaw. In terms of acting prowess, she was Furina's equal—and no one else could even come close to matching them.
The director was none other than Furina herself.
A stellar supporting cast of seasoned actors filled out the ensemble, with music composed by a legendary master.
With such a dream team, how could this project possibly fail? It was impossible!
Yet Navia offered a dissenting opinion.
"Lady Furina," Navia began, "I can't help but feel this plot is rather ordinary."
Clorinde grew wary. "What 'brilliant' idea have you come up with now?"
Navia's thinking wasn't exactly unconventional, but in certain areas, it could be startlingly unique.
When playing Tabletop Troupe, she could use "Persuasion" on a hundred sheep in a row.
She even tried to persuade a bridge!
And she wasn't just doing it to prank the Host; she genuinely wanted to explore the possibilities, which only exasperated everyone.
"Oh my, why are you so on edge?" Navia protested. "I'm just sharing my opinions and suggestions."
Luna averted her gaze. "I think Clorinde's afraid of Nana's opinions and suggestions."
"Lulu, how could you say that too?!"
Navia pinched Luna's cheek. "Whose side are you on—Clorinde's or mine? Watch me pinch your cheek!"
For some reason, Furina felt a tightness in her chest.
Their bond is truly enviable...
Still, she crossed her legs, raised her chin, and gestured dismissively. "Speak freely. Don't hold back. Before art becomes art, it's first a commodity. If your suggestions can improve sales and delight the audience, I'll heed your suggestions."
"This is truly the magnanimity of an Archon!"
Navia reluctantly released Luna's hand, wishing she could keep petting her forever.
"Hehe, as expected of Lady Furina, her heart... her heart is truly boundless!"
Did she deliberately omit a word?
Navia raised both hands, straightening her fingers. "It's quite simple. A single Phantom Thief would be a bit dull, especially if they're obviously evil."
Luna's eyes lit up in understanding. "You want two Phantom Thieves locked in conflict with each other."
"Lulu always understands me best."
Navia lifted her left hand, wiggling her fingers. "To keep the story simple, let one Phantom Thief be righteous and the other wicked."
"A battle between an enforcer and a Phantom Thief wouldn't be nearly as dramatic as a clash between two Phantom Thieves!"
Furina's eyes sparkled.
That's right!
And then, if the enforcer gets caught in the crossfire, the drama will practically write itself! I've even got the perfect title: a Duel of Shadows!
Perfect, absolutely perfect. Furina's mind overflowed with ideas, and she couldn't help but clap in delight.
"Navia, you truly have a gift for scriptwriting!"
"Huh? Do I?" Navia exclaimed in genuine surprise.
Clorinde sighed. "Please, no. She'd probably write something completely incomprehensible."
"Nonsense!" Navia retorted, then turned to Luna. "Would you say that?"
"I've never seen you write anything, so I can't really say," Luna replied.
Navia beamed. "Then I'll write you a letter afterward! I promise you'll be able to understand it perfectly!"
How did we even get onto this topic?
"But we see each other every few days," Luna pointed out. "There's no need for letters."
"But I want to write to you!" Navia insisted, her voice ringing with righteous conviction.
Well, that's an unassailable reason.
"A love letter?" Luna teased with a smile.
"Sort of," Navia replied, her smile dazzling. "Make sure you read it carefully when it comes. I'll quiz you on it!" Her radiant smile shone so brightly that the others couldn't help but avert their gazes.
Ah, what a dazzling smile.
She was like a human sun.
"Of course, I hope Lulu will write me one in return! That would make me so happy," Navia added.
She reached for Luna's hand but hesitated when she noticed everyone watching. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, and she quickly withdrew her hand.
Luna, however, showed no such hesitation, taking Navia's hand without reservation. "Then I'll quiz you on your letter! Tit for tat, okay?"
"No problem."
The more Furina looked around, the more inexplicably restless she felt.
She cleared her throat. "The theme is set, and I've already developed the story. The only crucial decision left is casting the other lead."
After all, this was a story about two Phantom Thieves. She couldn't possibly have Luna play both roles, even if she was capable. This was a rare opportunity, and Furina's gaze swept over the eager faces of the other actors.
Not this one, not that one... None of them quite fit.
She could coach their acting skills, but what truly mattered was whether they captured the essence of the character—that innate suitability.
"Lady Furina, won't you play the part yourself?" Luna asked softly. "When you mentioned directing a film, I assumed we'd be co-stars."
"While I could direct and star myself, this is a unique chance. Let's give another actor the lead this time. I'll be your co-star next time... I mean, your co-lead."
Furina's gaze finally settled on Clorinde.
"Oh?" she murmured thoughtfully.
"Hmm?" Clorinde looked puzzled.
"Hmm..." Furina hummed in contemplation.
Then a smile bloomed on her face.
"You're perfect!"
"You," Furina declared, pointing at Clorinde, "you'll play the other Phantom Thief!"
Clorinde raised an eyebrow slightly. Me, a Phantom Thief?