The Phantom Thief and Lyla

In the beginning, L.L. was just an abbreviation of Logan Larson, his own name.

Logan wasn't skilled at creating nicknames, and even the term "Lunar Larcenist" was coined by the media after his first heist, which took place during a bright full moon.

L.L. initially referred to his solo performances as a phantom thief before he met Lyla Kudryavka.

Now, for Logan, L.L. symbolized not only his initials but also Logan and Lyla—a partnership that had changed his life.

Becoming a phantom thief was no easy task, especially when it came to gathering crucial information like building layouts and escape routes. Logan's encounter with Lyla felt like a fortunate twist of fate.

For Lyla, a professional hacker, uncovering Logan's identity was a piece of cake. Sometimes she wondered if detectives were truly inept or if she was just too brilliant.

During Logan's debut as a phantom thief, there were both physical and digital traces left behind.

Of course, Logan wasn't someone sloppy enough to leave blatant evidence. Compared to an average person, Logan was exceptionally clean in his actions.

Starting from small jewelry store heists, he had now become a fugitive attempting to steal a gem from Princess Seraphina.

Logan's life journey had been filled with various events and experiences.

From being accustomed to solitude, he now found himself accompanied by Lyla.

Though they each brought unique skills and perspectives to their partnership, Logan and Lyla faced numerous challenges.

Their heists became more daring and complex, targeting high-profile individuals and organizations.

In addition, they had acquired an artificial intelligence companion named "Lucy," which Logan had stolen previously from Musée Étoile Brillante.

Lucy's name was inspired by an old film of the same name, where the plot revolved around an artificial intelligence created to replace a deceased scientist's child.

The film held many tear-jerking moments and scored a perfect 10/10 for Logan. 

With a few modifications, Lucy became an unreplaceable companion.

Right now, Logan stood atop a tall building, dressed in his modified power suit costume.

Behind the hollow mask he wore, a mix of nervousness and awe-filled him.

Compared to his first heists, this time the location was surrounded by layers of police, strategically positioned to prevent L.L. from disrupting the event.

The occasion was a ceremonial gala taking place at the city hall across from the city council.

It is the only low-rise building in a sea of towering skyscrapers.

At night, it was the only structure illuminated by a cascade of lights.

Celebrities, government officials, and public figures were attending the event.

The series of events began with a gala dinner at 8 PM, followed by the official inauguration of Musée Étoile Brillante, marked by the signature of Princess Seraphina and the High Prime Minister of the U.G.F.

Afterward, there would be a dance party and free time until the end of the festivities. For Logan, the time between the inauguration and the dance party was the perfect window to carry out his mission.

As the clock struck 8 PM, Logan's heart raced with anticipation.

He had meticulously planned every detail of this heist.

With Lyla by his side, her fingers dancing across the keyboard as she hacked into the museum's security system, Logan felt a sense of reassurance.

Lyla's skills as a professional hacker were unmatched, and her ability to dig up information and manipulate digital barriers was awe-inspiring.

Together, they made a formidable team, complementing each other's strengths.

However, this heist was different from any they had attempted before. The security measures in place were formidable.

Logan knew he had to be cautious and adapt to any unexpected challenges that might arise.

***

"Moon's Tears will be mine tonight. It's a perfect night to blend into the darkness and claim the princess's gem," Logan whispered to himself.

"Are you narrating yourself?" asked Lyla

"What? no. of course not..." Logan said.

"Lyla never did understand a phantom thief. Thought he was a loose cannon." Logan muttered.

"Already regretting this..." Lyla said.

Suddenly, a notification appeared on his terminal.

"Logan, there's bad news. The police have changed the terms of your bounty. They no longer want information. It's now a live or dead bounty worth 2,000,000 units," Lyla informed him.

"The show must go on, Lyla," Logan replied with determination.

"But... this is dangerous. It's unlike any of your previous heists. You could get killed. The government must be involved in this bounty," Lyla expressed her concern.

"Don't worry, Lyla. I will definitely come back. Once all of this is over, we'll retire from the world of phantom thieves and enjoy life to the fullest," Logan reassured Lyla, trying to calm her down.

"I know that. I'm just worried. Promise me you'll come back," Lyla asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Of course," Logan responded.

After ending their transmission, Logan leaped off the skyscraper with style, and then gracefully glided through the air with his modified glider suit.

"You can safely land behind the large tree near that spot. I'll blind the vision of the humanoid police robot, and Lucy will guide you from there. There's heavy signal jamming, so I can't see the conditions inside. I'm praying for your success," Lyla conveyed instructions through his terminal.

As he descended to a suitable location near a large tree close to the employee entrance, Logan's suit, made of revolutionary black ink that absorbed 99.99% of light, allowed him to remain unseen by the patrolling police guards.

"I've landed," Logan replied.

"Good. Now proceed to stage 2. I'll prepare the escape route while you're inside. Be careful. Not only has the value of your bounty increased, but many mercenaries have started showing interest in bringing you down, Logan. Please, take care," Lyla cautioned.