Chapter 36: Did You Elbow a Phantom Thief Three Years Ago?

Shortly after Charlotte left, a long-lost electronic sound suddenly rang in Viluoya’s mind.

[Host, I’m back!]

The system’s voice was cheerful.

[Host, did you miss me?]

Weiluoya looked at the dazzling Miss Seraphina on stage and calmly replied in her mind, “You’re fixed?”

[Of course!]

The system’s voice was full of post-survival excitement.

[I’m back with all my functions intact, hahaha, no wait!]

The system’s voice cut off abruptly.

[Hold on, let me first sync you the specific mission and complete backstory for this world.]

A huge stream of information instantly flooded into Weiluoya’s mind.

In the original storyline, this world’s Viluoya Cromwell was supposed to have a chance encounter with the Phantom Thief Nightingale three years ago on an ordinary day.

She would have fallen hopelessly in love with that mysterious night bird, and to chase after its footsteps, she became a detective.

However, after repeatedly failing to capture Nightingale in multiple theft cases, she got so angry that she quit and ran away.

The mission she left behind was to catch Nightingale and then make her unable to get out of bed.

“How do you make her unable to get out of bed?”

Weiluoya questioned.

“Beat her up?”

System: _(´ཀ`」 ∠)

[That’s not exactly it.]

[I just slightly modified that part of the meaning. It really was a bit unhealthy.]

The system looked at its host’s current expression and replied helplessly.

[But it’s not a big problem. Host, you’ll understand when the time comes.]

“Alright, but I have one more question.”

[Host, go ahead.]

“I’ve never met the Phantom Thief Nightingale.”

She stated the fact.

[Huh?]

The system was clearly stunned too.

[That’s impossible. According to the data, three years ago, on Nightingale’s first heist, you were the target. She should have…]

The system’s voice paused for a moment, as if rapidly scanning something.

A few seconds later, its electronic tone became strange.

[Found it.]

[Three years ago, one day, at Golden Plaza, Nightingale leaped down from the Clock Tower, ready to put on a gorgeous encounter right in front of you…]

[And then… then you expressionlessly gave her an elbow, sending her flying into the fountain.]

[She passed out on the spot, was arrested by the patrolling guards, and sentenced to three years.]

Weiluoya: “…”

She kind of remembered that.

Back then, someone wearing a mask and dressed all flashy suddenly jumped in front of her. She thought it was a thief, so she dealt with them on the spot.

[So that’s it! No wonder the plot went wrong from the very beginning!]

The system suddenly understood, then spoke in a complex tone mixed with admiration and sympathy.

[Host, you are truly terrifying.]

[I’ll tell you now. Nightingale’s real identity is… Mmph mmph mmph ♡ Mm~]

The system’s voice suddenly turned into a muffled sound, as if something had forcibly silenced it.

Weiluoya: “?”

What kind of strange noise was that?

[Warning! A high-priority information blocking protocol has been detected. Related information cannot be disclosed!]

A line of red text popped up in Weiluoya’s consciousness and quickly disappeared.

[What the hell?!]

The system’s frantic voice sounded again, but it seemed genuinely unable to say that name.

According to the permission hierarchy, no one other than its superior had the authority to silence it like that.

Could it be a bug?

[Ahem, Host, maybe there’s a bug in the data.]

The system forced itself to calm down and changed the subject awkwardly.

“Oh.”

Weiluoya responded, not pressing further.

[Oh right, Host, there’s one more thing.]

The system’s voice turned a bit more serious.

[This time, our transmigration wasn’t a normal transfer—it was a crash landing. So I didn’t have time to help you stabilize the fusion between your soul and your body.]

“So?”

[So you might experience a few aftereffects.]

The system explained.

[Like that abnormal super strength you have now, and also your thoughts and emotions might be unconsciously influenced by this body’s original consciousness.]

Weiluoya thought about her obsession with becoming the Great Detective. That wasn’t something she would normally think of herself.

“What should I do?”

[No choice. In this world, it’s like this for now. I’ll try my best to fix it for you, but I can’t guarantee it’ll work.]

The system said helplessly.

[But…]

It hesitated again.

[This fusion really is strange. Normally, the process should be me choosing a body and then stuffing you into it.]

[But according to the data I recovered, the situation back then was more like…]

The system searched for a suitable metaphor.

[More like your soul was falling, and Viluoya’s soulless body reached out, grabbed you, and forcibly dragged you inside.]