Scenario:Chat Noir - Misdirection

Misdirection

While Jamil is occupying the attention of Reinbach's subordinates, Chat Noir appears in front of the mastermind himself, explaining how he had disguised himself as one of Reinbach's subordinates earlier. The criminal artist unveils artillery he had prepared for this very confrontation and uses the antidote as leverage. Reinbach finally tells Chat Noir that he had been responsible for the accident that killed the phantom thief's parents long ago.

---

Successfully fending off his pursuers, Jamil follows Reinbach's tracks until he arrives in front of an old mansion.

The place appears abandoned, with not a single person in sight.

Jamil: (It could be a trap... but there's no time to waver.)

Jamil: (I just need to do what I need to do!)

Steeling his resolve, he steps inside.

Jamil: ...

Jamil: Would it be safe to assume that your master is not here?

A number of figures emerge from within the shadows in response to Jamil's question.

Jamil: I've lost him... I will have to ask Seox to offer his guidance in the art of tracking again.

Jamil: But this situation is fine by me. I can fulfill my original obligation this way.

Jamil: Maybe knocking all of you out can lure the animal from its den once more...

Jamil: Two birds with one stone.

Reinbach: Violence, once resorted to, will eventually become routine.

Reinbach: Such behavior will drive you closer to that of the Urzhuwan Clan.

Reinbach: I'm truly looking forward to it, Jamil.

Nonchalant Voice: I don't know about that.

Reinbach: Ah, there you are.

Reinbach's Minion?: Kept you waiting, haven't I?

Reinbach: Oho. I'm surprised you put yourself at such risk.

Reinbach: By the looks of it, at least the wound was real.

Chat Noir: We might've made it a little too flashy in order to deceive you. I must commend Jamil and his handiwork.

Chat Noir: I do feel bad for making him go as far as hitting a friend, but it was necessary given the circumstances.

Chat Noir: I have to say though—your kick was what did the most damage. I've got a broken rib now thanks to you.

Despite his nonchalant smile, beads of cold sweat drip from Chat Noir's brow.

Reinbach: I'm glad I didn't use my gun and went for your stomach instead of the neck. What if I'd accidentally killed you?

Reinbach: It'd be terrible if you started rotting without me realizing... Preserving an already decomposing body wouldn't be the best for room decor.

Reinbach: Still, I'm surprised you were able to find me given your state.

Chat Noir: Jamil graciously agreed to occupy the attention of your subordinates.

Reinbach: That's where your concern lies?

Reinbach: I don't enjoy being looked down on like that.

Reinbach raises his foot and stomps firmly on the ground. The machines behind him immediately begin to move, transforming into three separate devices equipped with artillery.

Chat Noir: (The machine in the middle has one large cannon, whereas the ones on either side of it are equipped to rapid fire. Quite the overkill for self-defense...)

Reinbach: These machines react to movement and have superior precision in shooting any object in motion. I had them prepared for your little friends.

Reinbach: Now that we're standing on even ground, let's hear your reason for coming to see me.

Chat Noir: The reason is obvious: I'm here to save (Captain).

Reinbach: So this is what you want, hm?

Reinbach takes out the same vial he had shown Jamil earlier.

Chat Noir: How about you play nice and give that to me?

Reinbach: You must still be half-asleep to suggest that when you have nothing on your side to negotiate with.

Chat Noir: I do believe you're the one who's looking down on me. It'd be hardly a problem to dodge your shots and take the vial from you.

Chat Noir: You should know that full well, seeing you were the one who taught me.

Reinbach: Heh. Yes, you have a point. But the reason you're bothering with this meaningless talk...

Reinbach: Is because you know there is the possibility that I could simply destroy the antidote entirely.

Chat Noir: ...

Reinbach: You may be able to rush at me to take the vial, but I can either crush the tube with my hand, or conveniently let it slip...

Reinbach opens his hand, letting the vial float midair for a split second before catching it again.

Chat Noir: ...!

Reinbach: I could care less if the vial fell and broke. Why does it matter if a single skyfarer lives or dies?

Reinbach: And that's why you've been waiting for the slightest chance, hoping to distract me with pointless banter.

Reinbach: What a cheap trick. You haven't changed at all since you were a child.

Reinbach: Whenever anything important to you got hurt, you'd grow careless with your thoughts. This has always been the best way to keep you under control.

Reinbach: Back then, you clung onto the simple salvation in front of you. And even now, you come leaping to your death without sufficient preparation.

Chat Noir: Back then? What do you...

Chat Noir: No...

Reinbach: Yes, Chat Noir. You're finally using that brain of yours.

Reinbach: I murdered both of your parents before offering you my hand.

Chat Noir: But... how? They died... in an accident...

Reinbach: Of course it could be nothing but an accident. No one who saw it would be able to say otherwise. Airship mishaps at the port are an everyday occurrence.

Reinbach: An airship charging straight into a couple—right in front of their child—before pulverizing them is not so uncommon.

Reinbach: It all happened so quickly. Two people, turned into nothing but chunks of flesh without even the opportunity to utter their last words.

Reinbach: I can still see the beautiful spectacle, burned forever into my memory!

Chat Noir: Stop it!

Chat Noir lets out a cry, feeling an unbearable ache from deep within his trembling body.

Reinbach's face is lit with exhilaration at the sound of Chat Noir's lament.

Misdirection: Scene 2

When the two fail to come to an understanding, Reinbach destroys the antidote and tells Chat Noir to come back to him. However, Chat Noir sees through his former master's intentions and knows the full antidote must be elsewhere. When Reinbach asks why the phantom thief showed himself when he knew full well the antidote remained hidden, Chat Noir reminds him about the message he had sent ahead of time.

---

Chat Noir: Why did you go after my parents?
Don't tell me... you already had your eye on me as your successor...

Reinbach: But of course.

Chat Noir: I was a simple child, one you'd find in just about any family. What did you see in me that made you so fixated?

Reinbach: A simple child, you say? I suppose that was true in the beginning.

Reinbach: You were quite the mischievous one at the time, you know.

Reinbach: One day you were accompanying your parents out to a cafe in town for afternoon tea...

Reinbach: Before anyone knew it, you were picking up your parents' things and playing with them.

Reinbach: I sat in a seat diagonally behind you, watching. That day is still burned into my memory.

Chat Noir: What are you...

Reinbach: Despite your young age, you were extremely skilled with your hands. You didn't pretend to be something you weren't—your carefree smile after snatching an object was so incredibly beautiful.

Reinbach: That's when I knew that you would grow to become my equal—no, to surpass me.

Reinbach: It'd be an enormous waste if you merely lived your life as an average skydweller. So I thought to myself, you must start your education as soon as possible.

Reinbach: I started devising the crime immediately. The airship accident was a masterpiece even among the many other crimes I've plotted before.

Chat Noir: That's it? That's all it took...

Chat Noir has no memory whatsoever of the day Reinbach spoke so highly of.

But that was only natural—to Chat Noir's family, it had been just another day in their lives.

Chat Noir: ...
Maybe I was unlucky.

Reinbach: What's that?

Chat Noir: Plenty of children—even just in this town—play with their parents' belongings.

Chat Noir: It just happened that I caught your attention that day. That's all.

Reinbach: You don't understand, do you? I've taken on a number of apprentices besides you, but none went down the route I'd intended for them.

Reinbach: You, on the other hand, have remained on the path of crime, albeit as an amateur thief. Do you still doubt my judgment?

Chat Noir: Yes. Your so-called "judgment" is nothing more than a profound delusion.

Reinbach: Hm. Well, no matter. Not every person with talent is aware of it, after all.

Reinbach: So—have you found a way to break out of this situation?

Without a word, the phantom thief slowly takes a step forward.

But the machines behind Reinbach fail to react to his movements.

Chat Noir: You were the one who taught me how to get past any movement perception.

Reinbach: By sheer force of will?

Chat Noir: Exactly!

Reinbach: There's no beauty in that at all. If you're going to call yourself a phantom thief, you should at least live up to the name.

Reinbach: You are truly a disappointment, Chat Noir.

Chat Noir: Wha...

The muzzles are pointed not at Chat Noir, but at Reinbach himself.

Or rather at his hand, which the man has raised high above him.

Reinbach: I have to admit, the machines are not equipped with mechanisms so advanced that they can tell the difference between you and me.

With an unconcerned expression, Reinbach uses a handkerchief to wipe off the liquid from the broken vial, which has spilled all over his hand.

Reinbach: Oh dear, my apologies. I didn't think twice before moving out of reflex.

Reinbach: But oh well. Nothing to fret about—what difference would the death of a young skydweller make?

Chat Noir: ...

Reinbach: What now, Chat Noir? I'm afraid the ship you're on is sinking. Why don't you come back home, just like the old days?

Reinbach: You've grown up quite a lot, so I'll give you a respectable amount of independence this time. You can even continue your work as a thief if that's what you want.

Reinbach: Your character as a phantom thief could come in handy on occasion.

Reinbach: Now, come back to me. Let's live together again.

Chat Noir: Hah...

Reinbach: ...?

Chat Noir: Hahaha!

Reinbach: (Has he finally lost it?)

Chat Noir: Heh... Hahaha... I was wondering what you had planned—you just want to lure me back?

Reinbach: Don't tell me you've given up, Chat Noir.

Chat Noir: Please. Far from it.

Chat Noir: I've merely ascertained my victory.

Reinbach: What did you say?

Chat Noir: There's something I've discovered since I started pursuing you after the incident at Auguste.

Chat Noir: At your old age, you're infatuated with using others and rarely do anything yourself.

Chat Noir: That's because you're well aware that your own abilities have deteriorated—yet you refuse to place trust in other people.

Chat Noir: Putting this into consideration, I highly doubt you'd leave yourself even the least bit vulnerable to the dangers of confronting an enemy by yourself.

Reinbach: ...
Continue.

Chat Noir: When you came in contact with Jamil, you had a few of your subordinates escort you.

Chat Noir: But you only thought of your subordinates as shields. The only person you trust is yourself.

Reinbach: You know me well.

Chat Noir: In other words, you would never entrust something as important as an antidote to someone who is not yourself.

Reinbach: That would make this vial the real antidote, would it not?

Chat Noir: Actually, that brings us to the matter of your deterioration.

Chat Noir: Needless to say, many members of (Captain)'s crew are perfectly capable of facing you one-on-one and taking the antidote from you. It'd be an easy task.

Chat Noir: Your plan would be in shambles by now if it were anyone but me here.

Chat Noir: The solution to that problem is simple—you don't carry the real antidote with you.

Chat Noir: Or you carry something that can't be administered on its own. It'd be able to alleviate some symptoms of the poison, but not enough to act as a full antidote.

Chat Noir: Either way, (Captain) would not be able to make a full recovery with what you're carrying.

Chat Noir: And that's why there'd be no need to rob you of it, and it would not be an issue even if it were destroyed. That is my conclusion.

Reinbach: Are you sure this isn't a miscalculation on your part? You know I don't care the slightest about your captain.

Reinbach: You don't think I've simply run out of patience for your petty thievery and wanted to put a stop to it once and for all?

Chat Noir: Your true target is the crew members who have gathered under (Captain).

Chat Noir: You created a premise in which they could only save (Captain) if they cooperated with you and let you control them.

Chat Noir: If (Captain) were to die, members of the crew would surely tear off the collars around their neck and turn into beasts.

Chat Noir: That is why you can neither let (Captain) live nor die, settling for a state of limbo.

Chat Noir: The antidote is essential for this. You'd never easily discard such an important trump card.

Reinbach: That is some exceptional deduction. Did you learn it from that oaf of a detective?

Chat Noir: Heh... Maybe I did.

Reinbach: Even if what you said is true, what brings you here then?

Chat Noir: I believe I'd sent a letter in advance.

Chat Noir: I'm here to take your eyes again.

Reinbach: ...
It's time you elaborated more on that, Chat Noir.

Misdirection: Scene 3

Chat Noir's role had been to keep Reinbach's eyes on himself, while other crew members located the criminal artist's base and secured the antidote. Reinbach has no choice but to accept his defeat. He creates an explosion and escapes in the moment of chaos. Days later, (Captain) is making a steady recovery. Chat Noir pays a visit, warning the captain of Reinbach's possible future plans before disappearing out the window.

---

Chat Noir: You ask why I'm here.

Chat Noir: Shall we say that I'm here to fulfill my duty as a member of the crew?

Reinbach: A member of the crew?

Chat Noir: I'm afraid you went too far and stepped on the tail of a dangerous animal.

Chat Noir: With (Captain)'s life on the line, the entire crew is shaken up. You were successful in doing that much.

Chat Noir: But the members of our crew are not weak.

Chat Noir: Even without any hints from me, they've begun to find a way to expose your crimes and save their captain.

Chat Noir: Reinbach, you've created a lot more enemies for yourself than you realize.

Chat Noir: From royal families to entire countries, the Crew of Enforcers, a mafia group, and renowned masters of every art across the skies...

Reinbach: Sweet of you to warn me, but I'm rather accustomed to having enemies.

Chat Noir: Yes, of course. You're quite formidable yourself. Anyone who faces you should be quite prepared...

Chat Noir: And give themselves the advantage by diverting your attention elsewhere.

Chat Noir: As you've taught me, misdirection is the absolute basic in committing crime.

Reinbach: Thus your letter... and the man from the Urzhuwan Clan.

Chat Noir: I thought it likely that you'd be interested in Jamil, so I asked for his help.

Chat Noir: And sure enough, you took the bait.

Chat Noir: You said earlier that I get careless with my thoughts. Perhaps you're right—after all, an apprentice takes after his master.

Reinbach: Haha... Indeed.

Chat Noir: Thanks to the investigative efforts of the detectives, a master thief as skilled as myself should be stealing the antidote from your base right about now.

Reinbach: Didn't you mention the possibility of the antidote being split into different vials?

Reinbach: Hard to think that you're so familiar with my bases that you'll be able to locate all of them.

Chat Noir: True. I'm not entirely confident I have the locations of all your bases figured out.

Chat Noir: But I trust the intuition and luck of the detectives.

Chat Noir: I believe that they're capable of finding where you're keeping the poison.

Chat Noir: Obtaining the substance should make things a lot easier. We can make an antidote for the poison ourselves.

Reinbach: It's not so simple, you fool.

Chat Noir: There are outstanding doctors and those well-versed in medicine among the crew. I am merely entrusting the task to them.

Reinbach: Trust, trust, trust. That's all you talk about, when all of your actions are nothing more than wishful thinking.

Reinbach: Your relationship with the crew isn't that deep to begin with.

Reinbach: How could you trust a bunch of people whom you haven't even spoken much to?

Chat Noir: You have a point... It's true that I haven't talked much with a lot of my crewmates.

Chat Noir: But every single person in the crew is someone (Captain) has decided to accept.

Chat Noir: I trust (Captain) above all.

Chat Noir: And I know that anyone (Captain) has chosen will have no problem in pulling this off.

Reinbach: I see. It's too bad I haven't got a cure for foolish dreamers like you.

Reinbach: It appears I expected too much of you. I didn't think you'd trust others so easily.

Chat Noir: I'd say you don't trust others enough.

Reinbach: You dare to lecture me? I stand by my belief that the only trustworthy person will only ever be myself.

Chat Noir: Yeah, I thought so.

Chat Noir takes another step toward Reinbach.

Reinbach: Oh? What're you plotting now, Chat Noir? You plan to kill me yourself?

Chat Noir: I'm only sending you to where you belong...
I'm different from you.

Chat Noir: After all, I'm only a phantom thief.

Reinbach: Is that right? Too bad then. Guess I'll have to end this myself!

Reinbach extends his arm up high once more, triggering the devices behind him to reactivate.

Chat Noir: What are you doing!

Reinbach: Tell this to the crew and your awakened captain!

Reinbach: I underestimated all of you this time. I admit my loss!

Reinbach: My opponent in this game is your entire crew. I'll make sure to remember that!

Reinbach swings his hand down in one swift motion.

Chat Noir immediately makes a dash for his former master—but it is too late.

Reinbach: I won't discard the preservation apparatus for your corpse after all, Chat Noir!

Reinbach: I'll continue looking forward to the day when I can finally put you inside it!

Chat Noir: Reinbaaach!

All three machines take their aim and release their bullets at Reinbach.

Before the phantom thief can reach his former teacher, the blast from the impact of the bullets sends Chat Noir flying.

Chat Noir: Gaaah!

His body is flung back into a stone wall. As Chat Noir loses consciousness from the pain of the impact, he barely makes out Reinbach disappearing into the flames.

Chat Noir: Rrg...

Jamil: Chat Noir. You shouldn't move—you've suffered quite the injury.

Chat Noir: Jamil? Why are you...

Jamil: I heard something detonate just as my battle against Reinbach's subordinates ended.

Chat Noir: Reinbach! Where is he?

Jamil: I'm afraid I arrived too late...

Chat Noir catches a glimpse of the scorched ground over Jamil's shoulder.

Jamil: I searched the vicinity, but I was unable to find any traces of him.

Jamil: It's possible that he was blown away by the explosion...

Chat Noir: No, he's definitely alive. A rather childish trick, but it worked to a certain extent...

Chat Noir: For now, I guess we should just accept our victory this time.

Jamil: Would you deem the mission a success?

Chat Noir: Yes, I think so.

Jamil: Then you will need some medical care immediately. We'll return to the ship after that.

Chat Noir: We can deal with my injuries later. I need to chase after Reinbach... You go back to the ship first.

Jamil: But...

Chat Noir shakes off Jamil and stands up.

Chat Noir: You were a marvelous assistant, Jamil. Thank you for your help, truly!

Chat Noir: Let's meet again!

And with that, Chat Noir vanishes with ease, as if not a single injury hindered him.

A few days later at Kitten Cafe.

Detective Rick: Wheeew, so glad that's over!

Cathy: Shh. Keep your voice down, please.

Detective Rick: Whoops, sorry about that. I'm just so relieved, you know?

Detective Rick: I was really sweating for a while, but looks like it's all good now that (Captain)'s awake. Thanks to you, Cathy!

Cathy: I didn't do anything. You and Barawa were the ones who did the work.

Detective Rick: I mean, sure Barawa's crazy investigation helped a bit—if we can really call it an investigation...

Detective Rick: In any case, looks like the incident even got Nightsmoke and Chat Noir moving.

Detective Rick: (Captain)'s influence knows no bounds, huh?

Cathy: Yes, I guess you could say that. It could be part of (Captain)'s charm.

Detective Rick: Yeah, (Captain)'s a good captain. Speaking of which, have you gone to visit?

Cathy: Not yet. I'm thinking of paying a visit over the weekend.

Detective Rick: Ah, okay. Make the captain something nice to eat, will you? I hear the doctor's been pretty strict.

Cathy: I will. Thanks for letting me know.

Detective Rick: I do feel bad suggesting this while (Captain)'s still in bed, but how about we do a toast? To (Captain)'s recovery.

Cathy: Hehe, sure thing.

Detective Rick: Awesome! All right, chee...

Cathy: Hm? What's the matter?

Detective Rick: Did you start using aroma oil in your cafe, Cathy? I smell something...

Cathy: Oh, yes. I got it from a customer, hehe. It'd be a waste not to use it, so I'm giving it a try.

Detective Rick: Hm...

Rick glances at the small bottle of liquid on the counter.

The bottle is accompanied by a written message: "I chose this scent just for you."

Several days have passed since (Captain) woke from the coma.

Though afflicted by lingering numbness at first, with effective treatment from some crew members, the symptoms soon begin to improve.

Jamil, Barawa, and Rick fill the captain in on the details of the incident from start to end.

Mysterious Voice: You're rather careless for letting someone get in so easily, after all that's happened.

Chat Noir jumps in from the open window.

1. I thought you'd come.

Choose: I thought you'd come.

Chat Noir: Did you now? I was hoping to surprise you.

Chat Noir: Was it Jamil who told you?

(Captain) gives a small nod before saying thank you to the phantom thief.

Chat Noir: Nothing I've done is deserving of your thanks... I'm the one who got you involved in the first place.

Chat Noir: Actually, I haven't done anything at all. It's all thanks to Nightsmoke, the detectives, the healers, and Jamil.

Chat Noir: What's that? I look pretty beat up for someone who hasn't done anything? Well, don't worry about it.

Chat Noir: If you can crack a joke like that, then I presume you'll be okay. I'm glad.

Chat Noir: Still... stay alert. We don't know what Reinbach's going to do from here on out.

1. I'm ready for it.
2. He won't get the better of us next time.

Choose: I'm ready for it.

Chat Noir: You've got some nerve...

Chat Noir: But I guess you're not the captain of this crew for nothing.

Go to "Continue 1"

Choose: He won't get the better of us next time.

Continue 1

Chat Noir: I'm really hoping there won't be a next time...

Chat Noir: But I guess you're not the kind of person who'd just sit around after all that's happened already.

Chat Noir: Good grief. Looks like all I did was rile you up even more, huh?

Chat Noir: Just don't forget that you're this crew's—everyone's—treasure.

Chat Noir: Take care of yourself a little more, all right?

Chat Noir: I'm... almost tempted to steal you away right now to keep you somewhere safe.

Chat Noir leans in, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Chat Noir: I'm only joking.

Chat Noir: Now, it's time to say goodbye. Barawa happened to catch sight of me coming in, you see.

Chat Noir: Give my regards to Jamil and Nightsmoke. Unfortunate that we didn't have a chance to meet again.

Chat Noir: Oh, and to our dear detective and his assistant too, I suppose.

Chat Noir: Farewell! Until we meet again, (Captain)!

Chat Noir disappears out the window just as Barawa swings open the door with great force, barely missing the phantom thief.

As boisterous chatter begins to fill the room, (Captain) gazes quietly out the window into the night sky.