arrow_back Genshin Impact Quests 
Felis Fuscus Chapter: Act I
The Forgotten Thief
The bustling streets of the Court of Fontaine seem more lively than usual. Why not take a walk around?
Talk to Charlotte
Charlotte:
I see! So you believe that this warning letter was sent by The Phantom Weasel?
Abagnale:
Absolutely! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The Phantom Weasel never acts as you expect. He must have faked his own death ten years ago using a body double!
Abagnale:
Now that he's back, I'm sure the Gardes who worked on his case back in the day are in for a headache. But however this turns out in the end, the one thing it won't be is boring!
Charlotte:
Couldn't agree more! As a journalist, I'm gonna get a lot of mileage out of this one!
Charlotte:
Thank you, Sir, for your time. Now, whom should I interview next... Huh!? Hey, what a coincidence. Fancy meeting you here!
Charlotte:
Perfect timing. So, The Phantom Weasel's latest warning letter — what are your thoughts?
Paimon:
Yeah, this is the first time we're hearing of this one. Could you clue us in?
Charlotte:
Huh? Oh... Ah, sorry! Yes, this case is from a decade ago. I guess you wouldn't know about it...
Charlotte:
Well, not to worry — you're in good hands, because I'm a professional! The story goes like this...
Charlotte:
Ten or so years ago, a phantom thief became active in the Court of Fontaine. Known only as "The Weasel," nobody knew his true identity, and the authorities never managed to catch him.
Paimon:
Wow, cool! He sounds like one of those... mysterious night burglars that you read about in novels!
Charlotte:
Precisely — well, except the part where they actually have a good reputation. Our Weasel targeted whatever people held dear, and no one was safe from his predations!
Charlotte:
He would just as soon steal a necklace from a rich merchant's safe as he would a toy doll given to a commoner child for their birthday.
Traveler:
Sounds like an absolute weirdo.
Charlotte:
I know! The phantom thieves you read about in novels rob the rich to pay the poor, but this guy did not discriminate. Unsurprisingly, this didn't work wonders for his public reputation. Every man and his dog wanted to see him behind bars.
Paimon:
Yeesh. So, uh... Did they catch him?
Charlotte:
Umm... Not exactly. There's a good chance that the Weasel would still be at large to this day if it hadn't been for an accident ten years ago.
Charlotte:
A magician named Cesar fell to his death in a botched high-altitude escape performance.
Charlotte:
When the police went through his personal effects, they found a hoard of stolen loot and gadgets used for criminal activities... and that was how The Phantom Weasel's identity was revealed to all.
Charlotte:
Sure enough, thefts in Fontaine went down after Cesar's death... But today, ten years on, the notorious thief has once again issued one of his warning letters — and pasted it on the gate of the Opera Epiclese for all to see!
Charlotte:
I had to squeeze through the crowd this morning to get a photo as soon as I heard... Here, it's this one.
Charlotte gives you a photo.
Paimon:
So this is the warning letter, huh? Let's see what he wrote...
Paimon:
"Three days from now, when evening falls, I shall take from you that which you hold most dear at the opera house, just as you did to me ten years ago."
Charlotte:
This is, without a doubt, a clear declaration of criminal intent. After years of laying low, The Phantom Weasel is back with a vengeance!
Charlotte:
What once seemed like an open-and-shut case has been blown wide open again. But why has he re-emerged now, and what does he want? I sense an epic scoop — and I'm going for it!
Paimon:
Uh-oh... If this thief will steal anything that other people value, does that mean even we might be targeted?
Paimon:
Really? Hmph, let him try! In fact... Paimon's gonna eat all her snacks right now — let's see what he can do about that!
Charlotte:
Okay, the people have spoken. It's clear that the public are very concerned about The Phantom Weasel's reappearance...
Charlotte:
Let's see, I've got a photo of the letter, my interview notes... Yup, that should be enough to form the skeleton of my article. It does feel like something is missing, though...
Charlotte:
Something... exclusive.
Charlotte:
Who should I interview next? I need someone with a more concrete connection to the Weasel... Hmm? Is that who I think it is...?
Paimon:
Lyney?
Traveler:
Looks like he's performing some magic.
Charlotte:
Magic... Magician... Cesar... The Phantom Weasel! That's it! Let's go interview Lyney!
Charlotte:
You see? The original phantom thief, Cesar, was a magician too. And what do phantom thieves and magicians have in common? They both have an air of mystery about them! Perhaps there's a connection there?
Paimon:
Are you serious? What sort of a deduction is that!?
Charlotte:
Oh, relax... My journalistic instinct tells me that an exclusive news story is beckoning. Let's go — no time for delay!
Interview Lyney
David:
Wow, Mr. Magician! How did you know which card I'd picked?
Lyney:
Oh, it's simple! Come closer, and I'll let you in on my secret... Magicians have a special skill called "telepathy," which means we can read other people's minds.
David:
Really? Then... What am I thinking now?
Lyney:
Well, first you need to relax... Because I can see that you're clenching your fist in your mind, as if to say "No, I mustn't let him guess it..."
David:
Aww...!
Lyney:
And now you're getting a little flustered. You're trying to find a way to empty your mind, to think of nothing at all. But the more you try to hide a secret, the easier it'll come out~
Lyney:
You snuck out from home today, didn't you? You told your family a little lie so you could come out and play. Now, now, that's not a good habit.
David:
Y—You can tell? Oh boy... you really CAN read my mind!
Lyney:
Of course. And that's the end of my performance — you should really be heading home. Remember to apologize to your family, alright? They must be worried about you.
David:
A—Alright, got it. Bye, Mr. Magician!
Paimon:
Uh... Hey, Lyney...
Lyney:
Why, hello, we meet again. Are you looking for me? What's the situation?
Paimon:
Well, why don't you guess, Mr. Telepathic?
Lyney:
Oh, please! You didn't believe that spiel, did you? The power of telepathy is quite beyond me.
Charlotte:
I'm sure that child would beg to differ... Seemed like you were right on the money.
Lyney:
That was nothing more than a little trickery. I made an educated guess based on his microexpressions...
Lyney:
That, plus the fact that he was the only kid here without his parents, and he looked as guilty as sin. He made it easy for me.
Lyney:
You guys, on the other hand... Let me guess... Don't tell me you're here for the Phantom Weasel, are you?
Paimon:
Wow! Got it in one! Is this more of your trickery at work?
Lyney:
Wait, really? Haha... No, no trickery this time. It was pure luck.
Lyney:
His warning letter's been the talk of the town, so I figured that maybe you were asking around about that.
Charlotte:
Bingo! I plan on writing a column reporting on the latest news about The Phantom Weasel!
Charlotte:
So Lyney, what are your thoughts on this infamous thief's reappearance?
Lyney:
Hmm... To be honest, it makes me angry.
Paimon:
Angry? Why?
Lyney:
You read his letter, right? The Phantom Weasel claims he's planning something in three nights' time at the opera house. That's the night I'll be performing there.
Paimon:
Huh, what are the chances...
Paimon:
...Wait a minute. You don't think he's after you... do you?
Lyney:
Well, if he is, then his warning is clearly a direct challenge to me personally.
Lyney:
And if he's not... then it's still going to be a huge headache for me.
Lyney:
The mere mention of the Weasel's name is enough to scare people off. So once the contents of that letter get out, barely anyone will be showing up to watch my show.
Lyney:
But I've been preparing for this for a long time. I'm not about to let him ruin my big day. This leaves me with only one choice... I have to expose The Phantom Weasel's identity before the show begins.
Charlotte:
Really? So what you're saying is... We might get to see a live duel between a famous magician and an infamous thief? Wow... This has "exclusive" written all over it!
Lyney:
To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll emerge the victor. The Phantom Weasel is a notorious crook, infamous for his inscrutable methods.
Charlotte:
You're being far too modest, Lyney. I think your magic tricks are even more inscrutable than those of a thief!
Lyney:
Thanks for the compliment, though I have to say, I don't care much for the comparison.
Lyney:
A lot of people liken magicians to thieves because we both have the ability to make things disappear without the person noticing. But there's an important difference that these people overlook.
Lyney:
Allow me to demonstrate with a quick magic trick. Here I have a flower, just an ordinary flower that was picked not long ago. Watch it carefully now... Three, two, one...
The flower in Lyney's hand disappears in an instant before your very eyes.
Paimon:
It's gone!
Traveler:
Where'd it go?
Lyney:
That's the question. Where did it go?
Lyney:
Therein lies the difference between us. Thieves make precious things disappear, but only magicians make them reappear.
Lyney:
If I could now invite you all to check your clothes... There might be a surprise in there somewhere.
Paimon:
A surprise? Lemme see...
Traveler:
Huh!!!
The flower that was in Lyney's hand appears in front of your chest.
Paimon:
It's right there! But how? You haven't moved this whole time!
Charlotte:
What an outstanding trick! Sorry, Lyney, it seems that my previous praise was woefully inadequate. Clearly, magic is the superior art form to theft.
Lyney:
Don't worry, I didn't take offense. I just wanted to take the opportunity to perhaps change some of the preconceived notions you might have about magicians.
Lyney:
Since Cesar's death, a lot of people associate magicians with criminality. It can be quite frustrating.
Charlotte:
I can imagine. Um, coming back to your trick just now — might I presume that you are well-versed in floral symbolism?
Charlotte:
For example, magicians often use "Rainbow Roses" in their flower-related performances to represent "passion" and "romantic encounters."
Charlotte:
But you used a Lumidouce Bell, which, if I'm not mistaken, allude to "separations." I'm curious to know if there was any deeper meaning behind this choice?
Lyney:
Impressive knowledge — it's no wonder you're such a successful journalist. But I'm afraid I don't know the first thing about floral symbolism. I'm just in the habit of using Lumidouce Bells in my magic.
Lyney:
It sounds like something I should look into though. I'll buy myself a copy of "Fontaine's Floral Language Facts" when I have some time — but it'll have to wait until this Phantom Weasel business is behind us.
Charlotte:
Well-noted... In that case, this brings us to the end of our interview. I, for one, am looking forward to the final showdown between you and the thief.
Charlotte:
Please feel free to get in touch to update me on any further developments. Otherwise, I will of course see you at your show in three days' time. But let's hope The Phantom Weasel is caught by then.
Charlotte:
If there's nothing else, I'll be off. You've given me lots to work with here, and I've got no time to lose if I wanna write that exclusive piece! I'll see you all later!
Paimon:
So, Lyney... Are you gonna tell us how you did that flower trick now?
Lyney:
Hehe... I'm afraid that's my little secret.
Paimon:
Aww... Well, magicians are entitled to their secrets... But Paimon's reeeally itching to know how it's done...
Paimon:
You feel it too, right? So itchy!
Lyney:
Hehe, not so itchy then, huh?
Lyney:
Well, since you're so concerned, how would you like to serve as my temporary magician's assistants, and help me investigate?
Paimon:
Magician's assistants? That sounds fun! Assistants are technically magicians too!
Paimon:
Also, it'll bring us one step closer to figuring out how that darn trick is done! Shall we go for it?
Lyney:
Excellent. Thank you for putting your trust in moi.
Lyney:
The first thing we need to look into is who Cesar really was. If he truly was The Phantom Weasel, that means that the weasel is dead, and whoever wrote this warning letter is just a copycat criminal.
Lyney:
But if he wasn't The Weasel... Well, that'll make things more interesting. It would mean that The Weasel lives, and he's been laying low all this time in some corner of Fontaine.
Lyney:
And if we're investigating Cesar, his fiancée, Jemma, is a good place to start. Word is that she visits the cemetery often, so I asked Lynette to wait for her there.
Lyney:
We should make a move. Let's go and rendezvous with Lynette.
Talk to Lynette
Lynette:
...You took your time.
Lyney:
Sorry. I bumped into Traveler and Charlotte en route, and we ended up chatting for a while.
Paimon:
It's been a while, Lynette!
Paimon:
We're working as Lyney's temporary assistants in the investigation of The Phantom Weasel!
Lynette:
Thank you. It's good to have you helping.
Lyney:
So, what's the situation? Have you seen Jemma?
Lynette:
Nope. I've been here a while, and she still hasn't shown up.
Lyney:
How bizarre. Maybe it was bad intel?
Lyney:
Well, we won't get anywhere by standing around waiting. Traveler, Paimon, let's go ask around.
Ask around in the area
Lyney:
Excuse me good sir, do you by any chance know a Jemma?
Baltasar:
Jemma? You mean Cesar's fiancée? Sure I do... What's this about?
Lyney:
I'm just trying to get ahold of her, because I need her help with something. I heard she comes here a lot?
Baltasar:
Yeah, she does. *sigh* Poor thing... It's no secret why, either. She's heartsick.
Baltasar:
Ever since Cesar passed away, she's been coming here once every week to clean his grave. Often, she just sits there in front of his headstone, lost in thought. Sometimes she talks to herself.
Baltasar:
I asked her what she was doing once. She said... she wanted to speak to him again.
Baltasar:
She knows he's gone, and can't hear her from the grave, but... She just likes to spend time there, telling her fiancé all about how her life is going.
Paimon:
And she's been doing this ever since Cesar passed away? So, ten years? Wow. Their love must've been really strong.
Baltasar:
I'll bet. Cesar's reputation fell apart after his identity was revealed, so no one else visits his grave... Jemma's the only one who still thinks about him after all these years.
Baltasar:
I don't know if the mind lives on in the waters after death, but if it does... I'm sure Cesar must be grateful to have someone who remembers him fondly.
Baltasar:
If I'm honest, I think this is all so unfair to poor Jemma. Her fiancé was a lowlife crook — he doesn't deserve someone like her.
Baltasar:
Anyway, all of that said — she's running later than usual today. Normally, she'd be sitting in front of his grave by now. I wonder if she's okay?
Baltasar:
Well, that's everything I know, I'm afraid. You might have more luck asking some other people.
Lyney:
Alright, well thanks for sharing all of this with us. We'll keep asking around.
Baltasar:
You're welcome. *sigh* ...I just hope she'll be able to move on one day.
Gracia:
A lot of people here today, huh. When did this cemetery get so popular?
Juliano:
Same thoughts here. What's going on...
Ask around in the area
Gracia:
Did you hear the news? They're saying The Phantom Weasel's back.
Juliano:
You're kidding... Wait, isn't he dead?
Gracia:
I dunno anymore. All sorts of news flying around nowadays. I can never tell what's true and what isn't.
Gracia:
But what if... Just hypothetically, I mean... What if this Weasel's the real deal, and Cesar was framed?
Juliano:
Called it. Seriously, ten years ago, on the day it all went down, I said to myself "You know what? This guy's been set up." The Cesar I knew was a good guy. He gave balloons to children on the street, for Pete's sake. What, are we supposed to believe that he was a balloon thief, or something? Gimme a break.
Gracia:
Oh please. Weren't you the one cursing his name to high heaven when the police announced the news!? You were all, "That gosh-darn lousy son of a... You think you know a guy..." Or words to that effect.
Juliano:
Wait, did I say that? Hmm. I don't seem to recall...
Traveler:
Sorry to interrupt...
Lyney:
Hello there. Sorry for disturbing you, but I couldn't help but notice you were discussing The Phantom Weasel?
Lyney:
We're actually quite interested in this topic as well, but we're struggling to get to the bottom of it. Do you think you could spare a moment to tell us a little bit about Cesar?
Juliano:
You've come to the right people. Yep... I was there. Back when Cesar used to perform magic tricks on the street.
Juliano:
He was a great magician. The best trick I ever saw him do was pop a transparent balloon, only for a whole bunch of doves to fly out from the inside.
Juliano:
I was right up close and didn't blink or look away once. But for the life of me, I still don't have the faintest clue how he pulled it off. Really incredible stuff.
Gracia:
I saw him perform too. He always used to bring some gifts along for the kids who came to watch his show, and he'd hand them out after he was done.
Gracia:
Sometimes, he even got the kids to write their wishes down, and then he'd make the items on the "wishlist" appear in his next show.
Paimon:
Huh, he doesn't sound like such a bad guy...
Gracia:
But after he died, there were also rumors that he used the wishlist to find out what was precious to people, with the intent to steal it later.
Gracia:
...As I'm sure you know, The Phantom Weasel would steal just about anything from anyone.
Juliano:
Whatever the case, now that The Weasel is back, Cesar's become a hot topic once more.
Juliano:
I bet Jemma must be pleased. If Cesar's name gets cleared, maybe it'll finally give her some solace after all this time.
Juliano:
Oh, speak of the devil — that's her over there. If you've got any more questions about Cesar, she's definitely the one to ask.
Paimon:
So that's Jemma... Is it just Paimon, or does it look like something's wrong?
Paimon:
Wait... It looks like she's injured! C'mon, let's see if she's okay!
Ask Jemma about Cesar
Paimon:
Uh... Hi there. You're Jemma, right?
Jemma:
...Who's asking?
Lyney:
Don't be afraid, we mean no harm.
Lyney:
It looks like you're injured. How bad is it?
Jemma:
Thanks for your concern, but you didn't answer my question. Who are you? And what do you want with me?
Lyney:
My name is Lyney, and this is my sister Lynette.
Paimon:
My name's Paimon, and this here's Traveler. We're investigating The Phantom Weasel.
Lyney:
The Weasel posted a warning letter this morning. If he still lives, that means that Cesar was falsely accused.
Lyney:
You knew Cesar better than anyone else. So if you're willing, we'd love to hear what you think about all this.
Jemma:
...
Lyney:
I promise you can trust us. We won't hurt you — in fact, we'll do all we can to keep you safe.
Jemma:
I... I never believed that he was The Weasel.
Lyney:
Huh, I suspected as much. Okay, so going back ten years, do you remember anything strange in the weeks leading up to the accident? Did Cesar have a falling out with anyone, for instance?
Jemma:
...No. Not that I know of.
Lynette:
...
Lyney:
Got it. Alright, sorry for disturbing you.
Jemma:
If you don't have any more questions, please leave. I want to be alone with him.
Paimon:
Judging by the look on her face, there's definitely something fishy about her...
Lynette:
She's lying. She definitely knows something.
Traveler:
Perhaps she simply doesn't trust us.
Lyney:
That's fair. We're just a bunch of strangers who showed up and started questioning her about things that happened a whole decade ago... It makes sense that she'd be wary around us.
Lyney:
In any case, I doubt we'll get any further here, so let's call it a day. Meet me outside Hotel Debord tomorrow, and then we'll start the next step of our plan.
Lyney and you agreed to meet outside Hotel Debord. Go meet him at the appointed time.
Rendezvous with Lyney
Lyney:
Over here.
Paimon:
Lynette's not joining us today?
Lyney:
I've had her follow Jemma and see if we can make any inroads with her. They should be at a cafe right now.
Lyney:
Still... I don't think that Jemma's likely to open up to us. *sigh* So we need a contingency plan.
Lyney:
Today, we'll be looking into a guy named Lorenzo, Cesar's former pupil and assistant.
Lyney:
When Cesar passed away, all the stolen goods discovered in his home were confiscated and returned to their rightful owners. But Lorenzo was the only one privy to all his magic secrets, and he inherited his craft.
Lyney:
Before long, Lorenzo was the next big magician in town, his fame surpassing even that of his master, and it made him very wealthy. He's since left the magic scene though, and these days, he's a wealthy businessman with his fingers in a lot of different pies.
Lyney:
I had to pull a lot of strings, but I managed to get him to agree to a couple of drinks with me. Be warned, though — I hear he's got a hair-trigger temper. We'd best be careful.
Talk to Lorenzo at the hotel
Lorenzo:
You neglected to mention that you were bringing two other people with you.
Lyney:
My apologies, these two are my assistants. When they heard that I was meeting with the former magic maestro himself, they begged and pleaded with me to bring them along... Um, and if it's no trouble, a couple of autographs would really make their day...
Lorenzo:
Hmph. Forget the pleasantries. Just sit.
Paimon:
Get a load of this guy... "Forget the pleasantries," he says, but he looks pretty happy about Lyney stroking his ego...
Lorenzo:
I only agreed to meet since we're both magicians. Do me a favor and cut to the chase — I have more important things to do than drinking.
Lyney:
Much obliged, Sir. As it happens, the matter I want to address is also related to magic.
Lyney:
Yesterday morning, a warning letter from The Phantom Weasel appeared on the entrance to the opera house. He claims to be planning something for the same evening that I'm scheduled to do a magic show there. As such, I believe that I may well be his target.
Lyney:
I have to get to the bottom of this to ensure that my show can go ahead as planned. Naturally, any investigation into The Weasel starts with a few questions about Cesar, who—
Lorenzo:
What is there to investigate?
Lorenzo:
Cesar was The Weasel, and he's been dead for ten years. So what if some sick creep thought it'd be funny to write a warning letter? It changes nothing! Are you trying to tell me you actually bought it?
Lyney:
Please, Sir, no need to get so worked up. I do concede that a copycat is but one possibility...
Lorenzo:
Possibility? It's a fact, Lyney. Look, my patience is limited, so listen carefully while I'm still willing to put up with you.
Lorenzo:
The Weasel is dead, period. Everyone knows that. So do yourself a favor, and quit this investigation — it'll lead you nowhere. Look, if this affects your magic show in any way, I will personally compensate you for any losses.
Lyney:
Oh... Sir, I'm... honored, really, but this isn't about finances for me.
Lyney:
My pride as a magician is what's at stake here, Lorenzo. Copycat or not, this person has thrown me the gauntlet — and I must meet their challenge head-on.
Lorenzo:
Your pride? Hah! Don't mince words with me, boy. Just tell me, what exactly are you seeking to do?
Lyney:
I want to find out The Phantom Weasel's true identity. I have to know for myself what really happened ten years ago.
Lorenzo:
What would that accomplish? And what do the events of ten years ago have to do with you, anyway? Look, you of all people should know that a magician never reveals their secrets — and in any case, dead men don't talk. So if you really care about your magician's pride, then you'll forget about Cesar and move on.
Lyney:
...
Paimon:
Uh-oh, this is getting awkward...
A drunken man comes over from the side of the stairs.
Edmondo:
Lorenzo? Is that— It is you! I know that big... booming voice anywhere. What's up, my man? Wanna grab a drink with me?
Lorenzo:
Another day. I'm busy.
Edmondo:
Ah, come on, you can't be all business all the... time. You know what they say, live fast, die... young. You gotta learn how to kick back and relax once in a while.
Lorenzo:
If I wanted your life advice, I'd ask for it. Now, get out of my face and go be drunk somewhere else.
Lyney:
Sorry, my good sir, I don't believe I've had the pleasure...
Edmondo:
Oh, hey. I'm Edmondo. He and I are business pals, we've worked together a bunch of times.
Edmondo:
This your first time meeting him? He's always like this — foul-mouthed and hard-nosed. Never heard a kind word outta this guy the whole time I've known him.
Edmondo:
And he wonders why he can't get a girlfriend, despite being... what, pushing forty? Thirty-something, anyway — the point is, a lot older than when he first got rejected by the girl he was into... and is still into, from what I hear...
Lorenzo:
Shut up, and get out of my face. Another word out of you, and you can forget about doing business with me ever again. Do I make myself clear?
Edmondo:
...
Edmondo:
Haha... Sorry, I may have had a liiiiittle too much to drink... Alright, I'm gonna leave. Don't work too hard.
Lorenzo:
I think it's high time I made a move as well. If you really want to investigate this, Lyney, be my guest.
Lorenzo:
But if nothing good comes of it, don't say I didn't warn you.
Lyney:
Well, that fell to pieces in a rather spectacular fashion... Any thoughts?
Traveler:
There's something strange about him.
Paimon:
Totally. And what was all that about compensating you for your losses? Why would someone you've just met make an offer like that?
Paimon:
He's gotta be hiding something... And not like Jemma. She was little suspicious, but this guy's definitely covering something up.
Lyney:
I think so too. We need to look into Lorenzo more closely.
Lyney:
That guy Edmondo seems to know a thing or two about him. He only just left — let's see if we can catch up with him.
Find Edmondo
Edmondo:
Ugh... *cough*...
Lyney:
You okay there?
Edmondo:
Uhh... Who are you?
Edmondo:
Oh... You guys. Don't worry about me, I must've had one too many... Just need to ride it out.
Edmondo:
I said waaay too much back there, didn't I? Nearly talked myself into complete financial ruin... Note to self: No more drunken chats when Lorenzo's around.
Paimon:
So he was serious about threatening to cut you off? Ugh, Paimon knew he was a bad egg!
Edmondo:
Hey, hey, hey! Keep your voice down!
Edmondo:
Don't go prying into Lorenzo's personal affairs... Bad things happen to people who ask too many questions or make an enemy out of him.
Lyney:
What kind of bad things?
Edmondo:
Don't even ask. I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to cut this conversation short. I'm not crossing that line again.
Edmondo:
And take it from me: Trouble with Lorenzo is one thing you don't need in your life. You saw him flare up back there — I don't know what you said to him, but clearly it touched a nerve.
Edmondo:
That's not a good sign. You're too young for this — don't get in over your head. I'm leaving.
Paimon:
And there he goes... What do we do now, Lyney?
Lyney:
Shhh. I think we're being watched. Someone was listening in to our whole conversation.
Lyney:
Don't say anything, and don't look back. Any altercation in the city will attract the Gardes... We'd better take this elsewhere.
Get out of the city and lure out the people tailing you
Lyney:
You've followed us a long way. Why don't you come out and introduce yourselves?
"Smoothface" Paccino:
So you're Lyney? And where's your sister, ain't she with you today?
"Smoothface" Paccino:
Save us the trouble and go fetch her for us. Let's not drag this out.
Paimon:
Paimon doesn't like the tone of your voice, mister! Who sent you, huh?
"Painter" De Niro:
Save your questions, missy. You ain't gonna need answers where you're goin', capiche?
Lyney:
*sigh* Looks like we can't avoid this fight.
Lyney:
Now, I'm not the strongest fighter, so I hope you're ready to back me up.
Paimon:
Don't worry, we got this!
Go over the situation
"Smoothface" Paccino:
Curses! They're tougher than we thought...
"Painter" De Niro:
Vision-wielders are always trouble! Intimidation ain't gonna work like it did on the lady...
"Smoothface" Paccino:
C'mon! Let's scram!
Paimon:
Hey, wise guys! We ain't through with you yet...
Paimon:
Grr, they got away! Did you catch what they said just before they left? Something about intimidating someone else?
Paimon:
Sounds like they just wanted to rough us up as a scare-tactic... and they've already done it to someone else. But who?
Traveler:
Could it be Jemma?
Paimon:
You're right! She was injured when we saw her yesterday, and she acted like she had something to hide...
Paimon:
Maybe she was too scared to tell us the truth because those guys had threatened her.
Lyney:
Hmm... Well if that's the case, she should be more willing to open up to us once she learns that those thugs won't be bothering her anymore.
Lyney:
Let's head back to the cafe and see if we can get any information from her.
Inform Jemma of what happened
Jemma:
...
Lynette:
...
Paimon:
Jemma?
Jemma:
You again... What is it this time?
Paimon:
We just ran into the men who've been threatening you... And we gave 'em a taste of their own medicine.
Paimon:
So you can relax now. We're here to protect you!
Jemma:
What? Why? ...I didn't tell you anything. Why would they come after you?
Lyney:
Hmm. Sounds like they're no strangers to you.
Jemma:
...
Jemma:
That's putting it mildly. I know them all too well... and I hate them with every fiber of my being.
Jemma:
It's been ten long years... And still, every time I try to look into Cesar's death, they show up and warn me not to "do anything stupid"...
Jemma:
...How do I know I can trust you? Do you really think you can get to the bottom of it all? And... Why are you doing this?
Lyney:
I'm afraid I can't reveal all the details just yet, but I can promise you this — I will expose The Phantom Weasel's true identity.
Lyney:
Because you see, this is a personal matter of the utmost importance. I give you my word. Trust me.
Jemma:
...Okay. How can I help you?
Lyney:
I've heard that Cesar used to have a magic workshop where he kept a lot of his personal effects. If possible, I'd like to take a look at them.
Lyney:
Do you know where it is?
Jemma:
The Fleuve Cendre. But the place was sealed up by the police after his death, and no one's been there since.
Jemma:
I also know that The Fleuve Cendre is dangerous territory — lots of hostile groups lurking around. If you're serious about going there... please be careful.
Lyney:
Understood. Lynette, you stay here and take care of Jemma. Don't let her come to harm.
Lynette:
Got it. But if I'm staying here, I'm ordering dessert...
Lyney:
I mean... bon appetit, but stay sharp too. They're likely to come for you while I'm away.
Lynette:
Kay... Alright, power-saving mode off. I'll start taking this more seriously now.
Enter Cesar's workshop
Lyney:
If Jemma gave us the right location, then the workshop should be right nearby... Huh, looks like these boxes are blocking the entrance. Let's shift them away first.
You help Lyney move the boxes aside. It looks like no one's been here in a long time...
Lyney:
There we go! It should be just down here.
Explore the workshop
Wishlist:
"I'd like a little dove."
Wishlist:
"I want a robot with cool powers!"
Wishlist:
Note: You need your parents' permission to own a pet, and you also need to take good care of it.
Wishlist:
I've brought a fluffy toy dove for you this time. If you're ready to own a pet, I'll make a real dove appear for you next time. — Cesar
Continue reading the wishlist...
Wishlist:
"I want a bucket of fried chicken that never runs out."
Wishlist:
"I'd like a new bag."
Wishlist:
Note: There is no such thing as fried chicken that never runs out, just as there's no such thing as children who never grow up.
Wishlist:
Also, eating too much fried food is bad for you. Make sure to pair it with something healthy, like a salad, alright? — Cesar
Continue reading the wishlist...
Wishlist:
"I wish my parents would get back together."
Wishlist:
"I wish for good grades in my next exam."
Wishlist:
"I wish for my little sister to have a normal life free of danger."
Wishlist:
Note: I want you to know that you can always share your troubles with me, children. But some wishes need more than magic to make them come true — they need the power of your hard work.
Wishlist:
I wish you the best of luck, and hope that all of your wishes will come true. — Cesar
Continue reading the wishlist...
Wishlist:
"When do we get to go to your wedding, Uncle Cesar?"
Wishlist:
"I wanna watch your shows even when I'm grown up, Uncle Cesar!"
Wishlist:
"Do you have to go on tour? Can't you stay here with us, Uncle Cesar?"
Wishlist:
Note: Oh my... This round of wishes has rather exceeded my expectations. The wedding will be held very soon, and don't worry, you're all invited!
Wishlist:
The tour has already been scheduled, but I will definitely be back. And you'll always be welcome at my shows if you like magic. — Cesar
Continue deeper within
Paimon:
That's weird. Have we reached the end already?
Paimon:
There's nothing here. Maybe this was a wasted trip...
Traveler:
Lyney, what're you looking at?
Lyney:
This place seems a little too ordinary for a magician's workshop. There's a distinct lack of mystery.
Lyney:
We've triggered quite a few devices on the way here. I'm starting to wonder whether Cesar built this whole place as one big, elaborate magic contraption.
Lyney:
If so, then there must be more to this place than meets the eye. Maybe a hidden room somewhere.
Lyney:
Aha. If I just move this book, then hopefully... and, presto!
Paimon:
A secret passageway! How did you know?
Lyney:
I'm a magician too. And apparently, great minds really do think alike.
Lyney:
Looks pretty big inside. Let's head in and take a look around.
Keep investigating
Paimon:
Why've you stopped, Lyney? Is there some device in that box?
Lyney:
Huh... It just looks familiar, somehow. Lemme check this out for a second while you guys go on ahead.
Lyney:
If anyone makes a major discovery, let's rendezvous here.
Paimon:
Alright. See ya in a bit!
Investigate the hidden room
Paimon:
This book's thick as a brick... Let's take a peek inside it, shall we?
Traveler:
About the Wishlists...
Cesar's Diary:
At one of my shows a few days ago, a child asked me how I pulled candy out of my hat.
Cesar's Diary:
As a joke, I told the kid that the hat has a built-in wish-granting machine... Next thing I know, today a whole bunch of kids were pestering me to pull all sorts of things out of the hat...
Cesar's Diary:
So I told them another white lie: "The machine needs time to power up, but in the meantime, you can write your wishes down." Well, they took me up on that offer enthusiastically... As I write this, I've only just got back from running around all over town, buying the things they wanted. Boy, are my legs sore...
Cesar's Diary:
I wound up saving very little this month, but that's not a major issue. I now have a bigger problem: How am I going to hide all these things inside my hat...?
Traveler:
About the Children Studying Magic...
Cesar's Diary:
Two children came to talk to me after today's show. I don't know why they were out on their own — they looked much too young to be unsupervised. I do hope they got home safely.
Cesar's Diary:
Anyway, they said that they wanted me to teach them how to do magic. It's not uncommon for children to ask this, of course, but I've never seen any of them as serious about it as these two.
Cesar's Diary:
I told them that learning magic is very hard work, but that didn't faze them at all — it's like they already knew. They seemed so committed... I couldn't turn them down.
Traveler:
About Lorenzo's Issues...
Cesar's Diary:
It seems like something's bothering Lorenzo lately, but he won't open up to me about it.
Cesar's Diary:
Surely, he's not upset that I agreed to teach those two children? I'll have to talk him around...
Cesar's Diary:
I have a good feeling about those kids. They're naturally talented, and it seems like they're not new to the world of magic.
Cesar's Diary:
They have all sorts of fantastic ideas. All I'm really doing is helping them develop a more professional-standard training plan.
Cesar's Diary:
They wanted to call me "Master," but I told them they absolutely mustn't. Any magician worth their salt could've taught them what I have... They're the geniuses here. Compared to them, I don't deserve to be called any sort of "master."
Cesar's Diary:
With time, I have no doubt that they could become far greater magicians than I. My only concern is why they're so mature for their age... I fear they've had to grow up too fast. I don't dare to imagine what they must have been through.
Cesar's Diary:
Jemma thinks so too. She doesn't like being around them — says that their eyes are "too piercing." They don't bother me, but then again, I've never been the sharpest tool in the shed.
Traveler:
About the Farewell...
Cesar's Diary:
It's nearly time for me to go on tour. I asked the two kids if they'd like to come with me, but they shook their heads.
Cesar's Diary:
I once overheard them talking about their "Father" and their "mission"... Sounds like their parents have other plans for them. I guess we'll be parting ways soon.
Cesar's Diary:
It's only been ten days since I first met them, but I think that I've gotten a feel for their personalities now.
Cesar's Diary:
They're very tough, but also very cautious — and they trust no one but each other. This, I fear, is not a good habit to have.
Cesar's Diary:
They hide things from me, too. For example, when I asked them where they live and why they wanted to learn magic, they lied.
Cesar's Diary:
That's the thing about children — whenever they're trying to cover something up, it always shows somehow...
Cesar's Diary:
I can sense that their lives have been hard — possibly even dangerous, too. They're not like other children... It's a shame that I can't do more to help them.
Cesar's Diary:
After thinking things over, I decided to tell them a bit about how I see the world: It's full of lies and falsehoods, and that is why we must find our own truth.
Cesar's Diary:
P.S. I hope they won't find my nagging annoying. Children are so opinionated nowadays. Will it do them more harm than good for someone they've only known ten days to lecture them like that?
Cesar's Diary:
P.P.S. Maybe I'm overthinking this. Children aren't interested in grand philosophies — it probably just went in one ear and out the other. I bet they've already forgotten every word I said.
Cesar's Diary:
Oh, Cesar, Cesar... Just mind your own business next time.
Rendezvous with Lyney
Paimon:
Lyney—
Lyney:
Shh, hold that thought... As I expected, there's a lot of fishy things going on in this place.
Paimon:
Fishy? Uh-oh, what have you found?
Lyney:
All in good time. Before we go over our new leads, I wanna tell you how a "high-altitude escape" is performed.
Lyney:
First, the magician slots themselves into a magic box in full view of the audience. The box is then suspended high in the air, and a short while later, the base automatically opens.
Lyney:
At this point, a dummy will fall out of the box, but it looks real enough to grab the audience's attention, and they start wailing and screaming...
Lyney:
Meanwhile, the real magician — who has by now blended into the crowd — waits for a good moment to make their appearance and put on a hysterical performance:
Lyney:
"Oh no! Is that me!? Did I just fall to my death!?"
Paimon:
Very vivid description, Paimon can really picture it... and then what?
Lyney:
The audience's gaze then turns to the magician, and by the time they realize what's happened, the dummy has vanished — as if everything that just happened was some sort of shared illusion.
Lyney:
Of course, that's just how I think the process should work, theoretically speaking.
Traveler:
Theoretically speaking? What do you mean?
Lyney:
The inventor of this trick never performed it successfully. When the box opened... Cesar was the one who fell out, and not the dummy.
Lyney:
He fell right to the ground from the highest point of the opera house... No one could hope to survive that fall — not without a Vision, at least.
Lyney:
And no one else has ever attempted this trick since. My understanding of how it works is just based on what I could gather from his notes and the relevant gadgets here in his workshop.
Paimon:
So Cesar's famous high-altitude escape has never been done, huh?
Paimon:
Paimon was about to say how cool it would be to see it in person. But if it's that dangerous, it's probably for the best that no one else tries to do it.
Paimon:
Wait a second, so if a dummy's supposed to drop out of the box, then where does the real magician go? How does he get out?
Lyney:
Glad you asked — that brings us to the secret of said box.
Lyney:
This box right here is the one that Cesar constructed himself to use in the performance, and it's not as simple as it looks. Inside, there's a device that only the magician himself would know about.
Lyney:
Once the magician's inside, and the box is lifted up into the air, the audience's view of the box is fixed at a certain angle.
Lyney:
From where they're standing, they have a clear view of the front, sides, and bottom, but the back and the top are now no longer visible.
Lyney:
At this point, the magician presses a button inside the box, opening a secret door out of view.
Lyney:
He then escapes through this trap door onto the opera house roof, waits for the dummy to fall and distract the audience, and quietly returns to ground level.
Paimon:
That's way simpler than Paimon imagined. Even Paimon could probably do it!
Lyney:
Haha, well, there's a little more to it than that, of course. The hardest part of this trick is controlling the audience's mood and reactions. That takes an exceptional degree of showmanship.
Lyney:
There's the falling dummy, the miraculous reappearance, the pompous performing... Maybe the magician would even have themselves tied up before it begins to strengthen the impression that there's no escape.
Lyney:
Many days and nights of careful research and painstaking practice would have gone into this, all culminating in a performance just a few minutes long — but one that still manages to transform the shock and grief of a tragic accident to the joy and laughter of a mesmerizing magic trick.
Lyney:
Cesar was a highly accomplished magician... But unfortunately, even he didn't manage to pull it off.
Paimon:
So... How did it go so wrong? You said you found some fishy stuff here — have you figured out what really happened?
Lyney:
...I can make a pretty good guess.
Lyney:
I looked into the case files. The magic box Cesar was using at the time of his death had the secret button I mentioned positioned on the right-hand side. And sure enough, he always used his right hand as his dominant hand in public.
Paimon:
Okay... Nothing suspicious there...
Lyney:
But here's the strange thing: Most of the devices in this workshop have the mechanism on the left-hand side, including this box right here. Which leads me to believe that Cesar was, in fact, left-handed.
Lyney:
Because a magician can't afford to have their most basic habits stand out too much. People naturally focus their attention on the most important details of the task or situation at hand.
Lyney:
But a magician needs to be able to redirect an audience's attention at will, so as to avoid arousing their suspicion.
Lyney:
The essence of magic is getting people to believe a lie. If even the truth raises eyebrows, the falsehoods become all the more difficult to mask.
Lyney:
And so, Cesar trained himself to use his right hand to align with his audience's expectations... Great magic always requires sacrifices.
Lyney:
But in his most stressful and nerve-wracking moments, and when no one was watching, reflex would kick in and he'd use his left hand. That's why he set his gadgets with the mechanism on his left.
Traveler:
Maybe someone exploited that fact against him?
Lyney:
Exactly. I think that's likely what happened.
Lyney:
Cesar would have been under a lot of time pressure during the escape. He'd have had mere seconds to open the hidden compartment, retrieve the dummy, then open the secret door and make a swift escape.
Lyney:
But I'm sure he was confident. He would have rehearsed countless times, to the point where it was second nature. He'd barely need to think about what he was doing, because muscle memory would guide him through.
Lyney:
So he opened the compartment, took out the dummy, checked everything was in order, and then went to leave. With his left hand, he reached for the button, and suddenly his heart skipped a beat — it wasn't there.
Lyney:
Much like when you reach for your keys but find your pocket empty, his mind needed a moment to process what was going on.
Lyney:
Instinctively, his left hand would keep feeling around for the missing button, maybe for another second or two... until the bottom of the box gave way.
Lyney:
With the stakes being as high as they were, just a two-second delay cost him everything. The authorities would find nothing suspicious, and conclude that his death was due to his own error.
Paimon:
When in reality, someone switched the boxes... and they did it to murder him.
Paimon:
But how would they be able to make the switch without being noticed? That would be difficult to pull off, no?
Lyney:
It would have to have been someone who knew that he was left-handed, and who could move his props around without arousing suspicion. Someone who was always by his side.
Lyney:
Isn't that right... Lorenzo?
Lorenzo already made it to the workshop before you could notice him... and he brought his men, too.
Lorenzo:
You just couldn't let sleeping dogs lie, could you?
Lorenzo:
There's not a lot of people who'd go to all this trouble for some magician who died ten years ago. I didn't want to have to do this, you know... Silencing you the hard way just creates more problems for me to deal with.
Lorenzo:
But I gave you your chance. I hoped you'd do what's good for you and back off, like the lady, but... you disappoint me.
Paimon:
You mean Jemma? So YOU are the one who's been threatening her!
Lorenzo:
Yes, although however stubborn she might be, she was never much of a liability. But you people... You never even knew him, but for some reason you just wouldn't drop it...
Lorenzo:
Which is why you can't leave this place alive. Take them out. And make it quick.
Paimon:
Hmph, do your worst!!!
Get the truth behind Cesar's death from Lorenzo
Lorenzo:
*cough* ...Ugh, you kids are tougher than you look...
Lyney:
Had enough yet, Lorenzo? Your cronies can't help you now.
Lyney:
I think it's high time you started talking, and what I'd really like to know is... Why did you murder Cesar?
Lorenzo:
Ugh, if I had a Mora for every time you've said that man's name... Of course you idolize Cesar, everyone else did. But I was the real genius magician! Me!
Lorenzo:
He was just an amateur who did cheap tricks for gullible children. I was the one who made magic into the fine art it is today! The aristocrats doffed their hats to ME!
Lyney:
So it was jealousy...
Lorenzo:
...
Lorenzo:
Jealousy? Hatred, more like. I hated Cesar. All he cared about was his magic — he lived and breathed it.
Lorenzo:
He poured everything into his street performances and his stupid tours like it was just a hobby to him, never bothering to think about Mora. What sort of fool devotes their life to the art of deception and never has a Mora to show for it?
Lorenzo:
But the people loved him, didn't they? Oh, how they looked up to him! No one gave me a second look. All I ever heard was "Oh, your master's amazing, isn't he!"
Lorenzo:
Amazing? Yeah, so amazing that he was completely broke. Every other apprentice was living it up at their master's expense, but no, not me! I put in all the work, mastered all the skills, and it brought me nothing more than the life I already had.
Lorenzo:
He forbade me from using magic to trick people out of their Mora. There was nothing he hated more than that.
Lorenzo:
And with his reputation in Fontaine, it was too risky for me to go it alone. As long as he was alive, if I dabbled in my own brand of money-making magic, he would expose me, and it would destroy me.
Lorenzo:
I had to kill him... There was no other way. He had to go.
Lyney:
...
Lyney:
And this was your only motive?
Lorenzo:
It was reason enough. What other motive would I need?
Lyney:
Well, I was under the impression that there might have been other factors at play. For instance... Maybe you were in love with Jemma, but she was engaged to Cesar.
Lorenzo:
In love with Jemma? D—Don't be ridiculous...
Lyney:
Guess I was wrong about that, then. Next question: Are you The Phantom Weasel?
Lorenzo:
...I am.
Lorenzo:
Cesar was so strict with me. He insisted that his way was the right way. That the sole purpose of magic was to bring joy to the world.
Lorenzo:
I never bought into any of that. I was more interested in the practical value of magic... Sure enough, it helped me fill my pockets with all kinds of valuable treasures.
Traveler:
But I heard that The Phantom Weasel stole from the rich and poor alike.
Paimon:
Oh, yeah. Charlotte told us that The Weasel would steal whatever people valued, no matter how much it was worth.
Lorenzo:
That's just how it looked from the outside. What would any thief want with second-rate loot? I've only ever targeted high-value items.
Lorenzo:
I stole cheap things as a way of practicing my craft. It was other people's overactive imaginations that conjured up the preposterous image they then dubbed the "Phantom Weasel."
Lyney:
So that's the story, huh? Well, I hope you're ready to tell it all over again during your trial?
Lorenzo:
What choice do I have? You're a pack of wolves and you've got me between your jaws. You've seen what's here, and my last-ditch effort to stop it getting out has failed. What else can I do?
Lorenzo:
So be it. I've enjoyed power and wealth for the last ten years, the likes of which Cesar could never give me. I wouldn't choose for things to end this way, but I regret nothing.
Lyney:
Very well. In that case, I'll contact the Gardes.
Lyney:
Traveler, Paimon, keep an eye on Lorenzo for me. I'll meet you just outside the workshop when I'm back.
Hand Lorenzo over to the Gardes
Bruno:
Lyney has told me the whole story.
Bruno:
Lorenzo, do you confess to the murder of Cesar, and to framing him for the Phantom Weasel's crimes?
Lorenzo:
...
Lori:
Hmph. Look who's finally developed a conscience.
Lori:
What kind of disciple murders their own master? I hope it was worth it, because there'll be hell to pay!
Paimon:
Phew. Looks like it's all over. What should we do next, Lyney? Should we start preparing for your show?
Lyney:
Let me think...
Lyney:
Let's rendezvous with Lynette and Jemma first. With Lorenzo in custody, Jemma will no longer have to fear for her safety.
Paimon:
Good point! We should go tell Jemma the good news right away. It'll give her some peace of mind for sure!
Explain the situation to Lynette and Jemma
Lynette:
...Ah. You're back.
Lynette:
You were so quick. I've only just finished my third dessert.
Lyney:
Your third!? Lynette, come on, we've talked about this, everything in moderation... You're not gonna have any room left for dinner now.
Lynette:
That's fine. I'll shift to Exercise Mode and jog off the excess sugar.
Lyney:
That's besides the point... *sigh* Well, it's done now. But try to eat a more balanced diet in the future.
Lynette:
Point taken.
Jemma:
Did... everything go okay?
Paimon:
Of course. Lorenzo was no match for us! The Gardes are taking him into custody as we speak.
Jemma:
Gosh. That's amazing... I'm sorry, I still didn't know if I could trust you, but now it seems I can.
Jemma:
I had my suspicions about Lorenzo, but I... *sob*
Paimon:
It's okay, we understand. He did threaten you. Paimon would find it hard to trust strangers in your position too.
Paimon:
But you don't need to be scared anymore. Everything's gonna be okay!
Jemma:
Sorry... Sorry, my emotions are all over the place right now. I've been waiting for this day to come for so long.
Jemma:
I always wanted to report Lorenzo. He took all of Cesar's property, which I found suspicious, but I had people watching me all the time, so I couldn't risk looking into it...
Jemma:
I was so afraid... I was scared he'd do something terrible to me, and then no one would be left to visit Cesar's grave... so I never had the courage to speak out.
Jemma:
Thank you all, truly. Thank you so much...
At Lyney's suggestion, everyone goes to the cemetery to announce Lorenzo's arrest and hold a memorial for Cesar.
Go to the cemetery to hold a memorial for Cesar
Baltasar:
Thank you all for clearing Cesar's name.
Baltasar:
I never would have guessed that Lorenzo was the real Phantom Weasel... He never showed any signs that there were problems between him and Cesar in public. From the outside, it looked like they got along great.
Baltasar:
Ugh, to think that lowlife's been living life to the fullest all this time while Cesar's name was getting dragged through the mud. It's a travesty...
Baltasar:
At least his soul can finally rest in peace now, thanks to your efforts.
Jemma:
...
Jemma:
If... If only I'd realized before it was too late...
Gracia:
Don't blame yourself, Jemma. This isn't your fault.
Dolora:
Yeah. You still have the rest of your life to live. Cesar wouldn't want to see you spend it feeling guilty.
Lyney:
...
Lynette:
Cheer up, Jemma.
Lynette:
My brother's doing a magic show at the opera house tomorrow evening. Would you like to come along? It might raise your spirits.
Lynette:
This show will be a special one. We're holding it in Cesar's honor.
Jemma:
In Cesar's honor? Really?
Jemma:
Thank you. I'll be there.
Lyney:
Great! We'll see you tomorrow evening. Traveler, Paimon, don't be late~
Paimon:
Don't worry, we'll be there. No way are we gonna miss out on a free magic show!
With the Phantom Weasel arrested, Lyney's show can finally take place. Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly...
Watch the magic show at the opera house
Paimon:
Hehe, Paimon's excited to see another of Lyney's magic shows. Wait... Lynette, shouldn't you be on stage by now?
Lynette:
Not this time. My brother's going solo today.
Lynette:
So I'll be watching with you.
Robert Houdin:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I hope everybody's ready, because the show is about to begin!
Robert Houdin:
The great magician Lyney has prepared a spectacular show for us all tonight, concluding with an all-new grand finale that no audience has ever seen before!
Paimon:
Wow! A new trick!
Lyney:
Thank you all so much for coming. Now, prepare to join me on a journey through the mystical and miraculous.
Lyney wows the audience with his skill...
Jemma:
...
Lynette:
Exciting stuff, isn't it?
Jemma:
Yes, it's just... It reminds me of him.
Paimon:
No wonder. Cesar was a famous magician, too.
Paimon:
So how did you two first meet, Jemma?
Jemma:
Hmm? Well, I was out on the street once, and I saw him performing for little children.
Jemma:
Children love magic, because they're willing to believe in things that can't be rationally explained. Cesar had this amazing way of bringing them into a dream-like world.
Jemma:
And somehow... I felt drawn to him, too. So I went up and asked him to do a trick for me.
Paimon:
Aw, that sounds so romantic... What trick did he do?
Jemma:
It was... with a flower. He took it in his hand, snapped his fingers, and it magically appeared on my head.
Jemma:
I was so happy that day. No one had ever given me a flower before that.
Paimon:
Aw, that's so cute... Actually, now that you mention it, Lyney's done that one before.
Jemma:
Is that right? Then I suppose he's a romantic at heart, just like Cesar. So let's treasure the time we have with him.
Jemma:
After all... You never know when the people dearest to you might... be gone.
Paimon:
That's right. It's all over now.
Paimon:
Um... Paimon doesn't really know how to comfort you, but at the very least, no one's gonna be intimidating you from now on. You can breathe easy at least, right?
Lynette:
...Right.
Lynette:
Yes, you can breathe easy now, Phantom Weasel.
Paimon:
See, even Lynette says— Wait, what!?
Paimon:
The Phantom Weasel? Lorenzo escaped? Where is he?
Jemma:
Wh—What do you mean, "Phantom Weasel"?
Lynette:
As Lyney once said... A performer's job is to commit fully to their role, and put on a flawless performance for their audience.
Lynette:
But once the bag of tricks is empty, and the curtain falls, it's time to end the show. The spotlight is no place for someone with no more cards up their sleeve.
Lynette:
It's been ten years, Jemma. Aren't you tired of the grieving widow act? I think it's time to put an end to it.
Paimon:
What are you talking about? Paimon doesn't like this riddle...
Paimon:
Traveler, Paimon doesn't like where this is going... C'mon, say something!
Jemma:
...
Robert Houdin:
Ladies and Gentlemen! I hope you're all enjoying the performance so far!
Robert Houdin:
There will now be a brief intermission, after which Lyney will perform the most electrifying act of tonight's show — the one we've all been waiting for!
Robert Houdin:
The final performance will take place outside of the opera house, so please make your way outside in a calm and orderly fashion.
Lynette:
The Phantom Weasel never did like public places, did they?
Lynette:
Don't worry, this place will be quiet soon. Let's talk somewhere else for now.
Go somewhere quiet and ask about the truth
Lyney:
Dear me, this is awkward, isn't it? And unfortunately, I'm all out of gadgets, so I'm afraid I can't do any tricks to liven up the mood.
Lyney:
This is a big mistake for a magician to make. But thankfully, I do have a backup plan... Now, who wants to hear a story?
Paimon:
Uh, Lyney, don't we have more important things to address right now?
Paimon:
Lynette accused Jemma of being the real Phantom Weasel a moment ago. What the heck's going on?
Lyney:
All in good time. Magicians are good at guessing what people are thinking. I know the questions you want to ask... and as it happens, the story I'm about to tell might answer a few of them.
Paimon:
Really? Well then, let's hear it! Paimon's dying of curiosity here!
Lyney:
Let's go back to the very beginning. A decade ago, when The Phantom Weasel was terrorizing the Court of Fontaine. She never missed a target, never left a trace, and no treasure was safe from her thieving hands.
Lyney:
But as her infamy grew, so did the readiness of the police, and her opportunities to act became ever fewer. Every day, she ran the risk of being exposed for who she was.
Lyney:
Of course, she could not simply take this lying down, and before long she found her ticket to freedom: She would create a scapegoat, a false Weasel to close the chapter on her behalf.
Lyney:
After weighing her options, she set her sights on a renowned magician — Cesar. After all, magic and theft shared enough similarities for people to buy the story when the "truth" came out.
Paimon:
So... So then what?
Lynette:
Being the master deceiver she was, The Weasel easily earned Cesar's trust. Now all that remained was to frame him for her countless crimes.
Lynette:
But as she was considering how to make her move, she noticed Cesar's aggrieved pupil, and a new thought entered her mind: "Maybe I don't need to get my hands dirty after all"...
Lynette:
At her encouragement, Lorenzo tampered with Cesar's magic box, causing him to fall to his death.
Lynette:
Afterwards, Lorenzo seized his master's property, and The Weasel set about tarnishing Cesar's reputation. Two co-conspirators committed the perfect crime.
Jemma:
I've gotta hand it to you, you're both exceptional storytellers. It's enough to make even me wonder whether there was really another mastermind behind all this, pulling the strings.
Jemma:
But I just have one question. You seem to think that I am the villain in this tale. What's brought this on, Lyney? Is it something that Lorenzo said?
Lyney:
Don't worry, Lorenzo said nothing at all.
Lyney:
But I never believed that he was The Weasel, and in fact my investigation only made me more certain of that. He was too forthcoming with his confession — as if there was something else he was trying to hide.
Jemma:
How disappointing. So you'd sooner trust Lorenzo than me, even without a shred of evidence?
Lyney:
A magician is an expert at playing the audience to get the result they want. And I have no doubt that you, Jemma, are equally talented in this regard.
Lyney:
With a little help from Lorenzo, you put on a very convincing performance. The lovesick fiancée, whose devotion to her betrothed is unshakable even under threats of violence...
Lyney:
Cesar was maligned and hated by all for ten years, but you? Everyone sympathized with your plight.
Lyney:
Who would suspect for one second that the lovely young lady always seen weeping in front of Cesar's grave was actually the mastermind behind his demise? No, not that poor lady. Perish the thought!
Paimon:
Wait, so you mean... The whole intimidation thing was just a hoax? Jemma and Lorenzo were both in on it?
Paimon:
But why would Lorenzo agree to that? And why didn't he sell her out, even at the end? Instead of admitting to being The Weasel himself...
Lyney:
Yes, why indeed? Maybe Jemma herself could enlighten us on that question.
Jemma:
Well, Lyney, if you're so confident in your version of events, then I think the answer should be obvious.
Jemma:
Having killed Cesar with his own hands, Lorenzo was plagued by overwhelming guilt.
Jemma:
Revealing The Phantom Weasel's true identity would serve no purpose. But if the Weasel remained free, then she could take care of Lorenzo's loved ones.
Lyney:
An excellent answer... Though sadly, a little dull.
Jemma:
Is that right? Well don't let me bore you. If you'd care to change the topic to something more interesting, I'd be much obliged.
Lyney:
As a matter of fact, there's one thing I'd really like to understand.
Lyney:
Why would the real Weasel have targeted things that only have value to other people? Could you shed any light on that?
Jemma:
Of course. After all, we're just telling stories here, aren't we?
Jemma:
If I had to guess, I would say that the real Weasel must have had a terrible childhood.
Jemma:
Left to fend for herself after her parents died young. Betrayed. Scorned. Beaten...
Jemma:
She'd scrounge waste paper from garbage bins to draw on, using twigs and dirt for lack of ink and pen. She'd sew ugly ragdolls from whatever scrap material she could get her hands on.
Jemma:
This was her only source of happiness in life. But it was all she needed, and she was content... until the world decided that even this was too good for her.
Jemma:
Once again, she was betrayed, and this time everything was taken from her. She felt like life was a miry pit that dragged her further down the more she struggled to escape. At that tender age, she should have been happy... Instead, she stood in the shadows and watched with envy as all good things in the world passed her by.
Jemma:
This was a fate too cruel for anyone to bear. Her pain became a breeding ground for dark thoughts, thoughts which festered and grew into a twisted solution to her troubles:
Jemma:
"I detest the happiness of others in all its forms alike."
Jemma:
"I will rob them of everything they hold to be good and true, and it will fill the void in my soul."
Paimon:
That's some pretty heavy stuff...
Lynette:
...Now it all makes sense.
Jemma:
Does this story satisfy you, Lyney?
Lyney:
Yes, it is quite to my tastes. Thank you for helping to clear up my confusion.
Traveler:
So what was with the warning letter?
Paimon:
Huh, that's right. What drove you to write that letter, Jemma? What were you trying to achieve there?
Paimon:
Cause without that, none of this would have ever come to light...
Lyney:
She didn't write the letter.
Jemma:
After ten long years, I'd hoped that The Phantom Weasel would be consigned to the history books by now. But it seems like someone still wasn't ready to let her finally be at peace.
Jemma:
Lyney... Or should I call you The Phantom Copycat now? You were the one who posted that letter outside the opera house. But why?
Lyney:
Very sharp, Phantom Weasel. Still as shrewd as ever.
Lyney:
Well, no need for me to be coy about it. Our goal was to clear Cesar's name.
Lyney:
The most straightforward way to change the public's impression of Cesar was to force The Weasel to show themselves.
Jemma:
That's it? You had no other agenda?
Lyney:
Of course we did. We made it quite clear in the letter, I believe? "I shall take from you that which you hold most dear, just as you did to me ten years ago."
Jemma:
Ten years ago...? You mean Cesar's death? You... met him?
Jemma:
Wait... Oh, I get it! You were those two obnoxious kids! It's been so long, and you're all grown up now... I didn't recognize you.
Jemma:
He taught you magic back then, didn't he? For what, ten days or something? ...And you went to all this trouble... why, because you feel like you still owe him something?
Lyney:
We remember all our debts, however great or small.
Lyney:
Ten years ago, Cesar's reputation was torn to shreds and his legacy was thrown out. Ten years on, and no one cares what the truth is anymore.
Lyney:
But we did not forget, and so we came to find you.
Jemma:
And? What exactly did you take from me? I'm still standing, as you can see. Lorenzo has admitted to everything — I'm free.
Lyney:
"Free"? ...Do you really think so?
Lyney:
Cesar once told me that even though the world is filled with lies and falsehoods, we must find our own truth.
Lyney:
I think that applies to you, too. Truth can take many forms — prized possessions with nostalgic value, fervent hopes and dreams... and irreplaceable people.
Lyney:
Life took many things from you, and those wounds never healed. When they ached unbearably in the dead of night, stealing became your way of numbing the pain.
Jemma:
What are you trying to say?
Lyney:
I'm saying that for the last ten years, you've been living a rather uneventful life. Perhaps that's because you've found something other than a life of crime to fill the hole?
Lyney:
Back to Lorenzo for a second: He murdered his own master, played along with your act, and took pains to make sure any suspicion would be directed towards him. But what did he have to gain from all that?
Lyney:
He knew who you were and the things you'd done, and despite that, he was willing to give everything up for your sake. He's the reason that you haven't felt the compulsion to steal in all these years.
Lyney:
You're more than just accomplices in murder — you're the only real friends each other has. So I think you know, deep down, that he is the only "truth" you have in your life.
Lyney:
But that truth is gone now. And I guarantee you, you'll never see it again.
Jemma:
...
Lynette:
Congratulations on your freedom, Jemma.
Lyney:
Your freedom will cost you dearly. From now on, you'll be all alone in a world full of lies and falsehoods. I do hope you'll be able to bear it — you've still got a long life ahead of you, after all.
Robert Houdin:
Gather 'round, one and all, the time has now come for the amazing Lyney to perform his final act in tonight's show!
Robert Houdin:
I'm sure you're all wondering what he has planned for the grand finale? Well, wonder no more, for the answer is... A death-defying high-altitude escape!
Paimon:
A high-altitude escape!?
Robert Houdin:
I'm sure you all remember the magician Cesar. This was the very trick that led to his fatal fall, after which he was dubbed The Phantom Weasel.
Robert Houdin:
But we have now learned that Cesar was wrongly accused, and that the real Weasel has now confessed to their crimes...
Lyney:
Guess that's my cue to leave. Whew... I've been practicing this one for ages now, but I'm still a little nervous.
Lyney:
Traveler, Paimon, I hope you enjoy the rest of the show. There may be a lot of people watching tonight, but you alone are my true witnesses.
Jemma:
Lyney, wait.
Jemma:
You two hid a lot from Cesar — he went to his grave without ever knowing your secrets. So what about now? Are you an open book — or are you still the same as ever?
Jemma:
You don't have to tell lies to end up isolated and alone. One day, you'll end up exactly where I am today — maybe then you'll finally understand.
Lyney:
You're wrong. I'm nothing like you.
Jemma:
...
Paimon:
So, uh... What are we, uh... doing now?
Lynette:
Like Lyney said — when you're ready, let's head outside and watch the show.
Paimon:
But what about Jemma...?
Lynette:
She'll figure out what's best for her soon enough. Oh — and if you'd like to see Lyney after the show... You know where he'll be. The usual haunt.
Paimon:
Alright, well let's go and watch Lyney's finale then! This trick's a pretty dangerous one... but he should be able to pull it off, right?
Watch the high-altitude escape trick
movie
A decade ago, the magician Cesar passed on his knowledge of magic to Lyney and Lynette. But the most important thing he taught them was not his magic tricks. Now, 10 years after Cesar's unjust demise, it is time for another performance of escape magic upon the stage of the opera house. During the performance, the lock on the escape box chained high above the stage breaks open, and like that fateful trick years before, Lyney falls out and plunges down towards the stage. But this time, the performer doesn't fall down onto the stage, but rather, Lyney disappears in mid-air, turning into a shower of Lumidouce Bell petals, symbolizing farewell, which fall onto the stage before the audience's eyes.
"Mystery, surprise, breaking the bounds of reason... I have returned this honor to you, Cesar."
Janet:
Did you see that? One minute he was falling... And the next, he turned into flowers!
Randolf:
How could he possibly have done that?
Olivia:
How mysterious! I didn't blink once, he just... vanished, right in front of my eyes!
Charlotte:
What a heart-stopping magic show! This was really worth the trip.
Charlotte:
Cesar's name has finally been cleared, and Fontaine's new star magician, Lyney, has fulfilled a wish on his behalf... Ah, I couldn't ask for a better grand finale. It will make a great headline for The Steambird tomorrow, even if I do say so myself!
Paimon:
Whew... Looks like everyone really loved Lyney's grand finale!
Traveler:
Even though they don't know the full story...
Paimon:
Paimon doesn't see Lyney anywhere. Where'd he go?
Paimon:
Oh, Lynette said he'd be waiting for us at the "usual haunt"... But, um... Where is that?
Traveler:
The cemetery...?
Paimon:
Oh, you mean the one where Cesar's buried?
Paimon:
Yeah, that's probably it. This whole magic show kinda seemed like Lyney's way of saying goodbye to Cesar. So it makes sense that that's where he'd be afterward.
Paimon:
Alright, let's go look for him there!
Meet Lyney at the cemetery
Paimon:
Lyney, there you are!
Paimon:
Are you alright? Paimon was scared to death when the chain broke... Paimon was sure something had gone horribly wrong.
Lyney:
Magic is a performance art. A magician has to get creative to keep the audience on tenterhooks — that's our job. So I tweaked Cesar's original setup a little to keep it fresh.
Lyney:
I was honestly a little nervous during the live performance. The thought of falling, suddenly feeling weightless, seeing the sky and the ground spinning and spinning...
Lyney:
Sometimes, I can't help but wonder what Cesar thought in those final moments.
Lyney:
Did he regret taking Jemma and Lorenzo on? Or... Did he believe that it was his own slip-up right until the end?
Paimon:
Y'know... Paimon's been wanting to ask you about something ever since we were in Cesar's workshop. You learned magic from Cesar once, didn't you? When was that?
Lyney:
After I joined the House of the Hearth. To be honest, Lynette and I had an agenda when we approached him.
Traveler:
An agenda?
Lyney:
I told you about my past before, remember? As a young boy, I survived by secretly learning magic from street performers. I'd watch their tricks and try to figure out how they were done.
Lyney:
But I quickly realized that observation alone could only get me so far. What I saw was the polished final performance, but the rigorous training they put in behind the scenes remained invisible to me.
Lyney:
I needed to learn how to improve my sleight of hand, hone my misdirection skills, and make niftier props...
Lyney:
We were gifted enough that we'd made some progress by ourselves. But without proper guidance from a professional magician, we quickly plateaued.
Paimon:
So that's why you sought Cesar out?
Lyney:
Yes. We figured there was no harm in asking — but it took us by surprise that he was so willing to teach us.
Lyney:
In all, we only spent ten short days together, but he was very good to us. By contrast, we hid so many things from him...
Lyney:
For instance, when he asked why I wanted to learn magic... I answered "It's my passion."
Lyney:
But in truth, there was already a lot more to the story by then. After being taken in by an aristocrat for our magic talent, then betrayed soon after... This was no longer about me doing what I loved.
Lyney:
What amazed me was how the lie escaped my lips even as I was hesitating over whether to tell him the truth.
Lyney:
Trust is a beautiful thing. Sadly, I'd forgotten how to trust by then.
Paimon:
Lyney...
Lyney:
Still worried about the way I feel? You really are a gentle soul, aren't you?
Lyney:
But don't worry, I'm used to it now. From the mansions of the elite to the House of the Hearth, lies and selfishness have followed me and Lynette everywhere we go.
Lyney:
After Cesar went on tour, we became busy with our missions. The next we heard of him was that he'd fallen to his death and was now declared to be The Phantom Weasel...
Lyney:
That night, I remembered his smile... But as I lay there, I didn't know what to say to him.
Lyney:
To keep secrets is to put up walls. The longer you keep them up, the less you let people in. Then one day, you look around and realize your life is like an empty auditorium after a show — full of seats once occupied by all the people who left... But I guess that's the price we have to pay.
Lyney:
You only realize how much someone really meant to you when you lose them completely. That's why I was so confident this would hurt Jemma... because I've felt it for myself.
Paimon:
Yeah. Cheer up, Lyney.
Paimon:
We've had to say our fair share of goodbyes during our journey, too... But whatever happens, Paimon always believes in what tomorrow brings.
Paimon:
Delicious food, fun toys, and Traveler by my side... Paimon just needs to focus on things like this, and all the unhappy stuff goes right out the window.
Paimon:
Y'know, Traveler... Doesn't that kinda make you Paimon's "truth"?
Lyney:
Exactly. It's the same for me and Lynette — we are the truest thing each other has in the world, and nothing can replace that.
Lyney:
Life has taken plenty from us, like it did from Jemma. But at least it left us with each other. That's what gave us the strength to get through the darkest days.
Lyney:
That's why the darkness never consumed me, and why it never will. Maybe we live in the shadows too, but we remember every precious ray of light that shines through.
Lyney:
Alright, time to lighten this conversation up a little! What did you think of the show tonight? Were you happy with it?
Paimon:
It was amazing! Paimon just wishes we hadn't been so distracted with the Jemma situation... We spent most of our time in the opera house just talking, and pretty much missed the entire first half of the show.
Paimon:
Um, Lyney... Could you do just one more trick for us?
Lyney:
Whoa, that's a bit of a tall order I'm afraid. The show's just finished, so my sleeves are decidedly card-free right now...
Paimon:
Aw, c'mon... Surely you can think of something! The Lyney Paimon knows can do anything if he puts his mind to it!
Lyney:
Oh, alright then. I'll give it a go — but only because it's you.
Lyney:
Watch closely. I have a flower in my hand...
Paimon:
You liar! There's nothing in your hand! We ain't going along with this!
Lyney:
Huh? My goodness, you're right! But I could've sworn I brought one here with me... Okay, try this. Count down with me: Three, two, one...
Paimon:
Three, two, one!
Lyney:
Now have another look around — maybe the flower's appeared somewhere else.
Paimon:
Really? Let's see...
Traveler:
...
A pink flower appears on your chest.
Paimon:
Wow, there it is! This is a different flower from the one last time, right? This one's called... oh yeah, a Rainbow Rose!
Paimon:
But more importantly — Paimon has to know how the trick is done! Please, Lyney, pretty please?
Lyney:
Well, if you want to learn magic, you'll have to start by addressing me as "Teacher"...
Paimon:
Uhh... Fine, pleeease, Teacher, please!
Lyney:
*sigh* Since you asked so nicely... I'll share one little tip with you. Namely, the student of magic cannot solely rely on others being prepared to reveal their secrets. You have to observe, think, and find the answers for yourself.
Paimon:
...Is that it!?
Lyney:
Ah, look at the time — we shouldn't linger here too long. Thanks again for coming to see my show. I bid you both good night!
Lyney:
...I look forward to seeing you again.
Paimon:
Alright, fine... See ya!
Paimon:
Shall we head back now too?
Paimon:
Hehe, Paimon can't wait to read The Steambird tomorrow. Paimon bets Lyney and Cesar will be plastered all over it!
Paimon:
Let's head to The Steambird's offices tomorrow morning and see what we can find out!
What's made headlines today? Go to The Steambird and check it out!
Go to The Steambird's offices
Lyney:
I'm very sorry, Charlotte, but my sister and I are quite busy today. I'm afraid we will have to decline this interview...
Charlotte:
Oh, please, Lyney? I'll only take a moment of your time! If you would be so kind!
Paimon:
Huh. What's happening here?
Charlotte:
I spent all night writing my piece about The Phantom Weasel, and it was going to go to print this morning...
Charlotte:
But just as dawn broke, I suddenly received news that Cesar's fiancée, Jemma, had contacted the Gardes and confessed to having been the real Phantom Weasel all along!
Paimon:
That was quick!
Lyney:
Ahem.
Charlotte:
Hmm?
Lynette:
Too late, bro.
Charlotte:
Hohoho! "That was quick," you say? It sounds like I've got some catching up to do! Please, fill me in.
Paimon:
Hehe, whoops!
Charlotte:
Aha! My instincts did not lead me astray — you DO have something to hide! Jemma turning herself in must have something to do with Lyney's performance last night!
Lyney:
Maybe watching my high-altitude escape trick reminded her of a better time with Cesar, and she could no longer ignore the voice of her conscience.
Charlotte:
Huh, okay then... Wait, no no no, there must be more to it! If that's all it took for her to have a change of heart, how did it take her ten whole years?
Lyney:
Umm... Well...
Traveler:
(Charlotte's journalistic spirit is burning red — we're going to have to distract her somehow...)
Charlotte:
Ah, I remember now! You and Jemma were nowhere to be found after the show... What happened between you?
Charlotte:
Quickfire question! Where did you all go after the show?
Paimon:
Oh, we went to the cemetery, and Lyney did a private magic trick, just for us!
Paimon:
Actually, glad you mentioned it, 'cause that reminds Paimon. Guess what? Lyney's started using Rainbow Roses in his tricks!
Lyney:
*cough*
Lynette:
...What?
Lynette:
I don't recall ever having received a Rainbow Rose from you myself. Is this supposed to mean that they're more important to you than your own sister?
Lyney:
No! I, I just, uh...
Paimon:
What the... What now? Oh, did Paimon say something wrong again, Traveler?
Paimon:
This is getting pretty awkward... What do we do, Traveler?
Charlotte:
*sigh* Seems like this interview wasn't meant to be. Well, never mind — there's always next time.
Charlotte:
Forgive my persistence, but when there's explosive news waiting to be found, I can't turn away! The news about Jemma has already made waves, and I'll stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it all!
Charlotte:
Apparently, one of the things she said to the Gardes was that her "final wish is to see Lorenzo one last time." *sigh* There's clearly a web of complicated relationships there... Can't blame me for being curious.
Charlotte:
Alright, I guess I'll leave you to continue the rest of your conversation in peace. Bye for now!
Paimon:
Um, Lynette, Paimon didn't mean to—
Lynette:
Don't worry, I wasn't angry. I was just trying to distract her.
Paimon:
Oh, really? Thank goodness. You scared Paimon there!
Lyney:
Phew, you and me both, Paimon, you and me both... At least it did the job, right?
Lynette:
...Please take good care of that Rainbow Rose.
Lynette:
I'd be really upset if you lost it.