The Thieves gathered before the shack. Sadayo crossed her arms.

"Are you ready to go?"

Everyone nodded.

"Beginning navigation."

The air shifted again and the group found itself before Madarame's Palace. Sadayo whistled.

"Somebody is a hypocrite. Remind me what he said, already? What's important is to distance oneself from worldly desires such as money and fame. Ha! Good joke…"

"Yeah, no argument here." Ryuji shook his head. "This place's so shiny it's gaudy!"

Jessikah looked at the museum.

"

"Exactly, Now, let's find a way in."

"We're not waiting in line right?"

"Nuh-huh. Phantom thieves don't enter by the front door. Guys, remember how it works: we explore the Palace and find the Treasure."

"Let's get to the sneaking!"

"Easy now, Skull." Sadayo chided. "So, where's our entrance?"

"Right there" Jessikah smiled as she climbed atop a truck.

From there, it was over the wall and into a garden, then atop pillars all the way to the museum's roof. Eventually, they reached an open skylight.

Morgana took a rope, hung it and watched them drop inside, going last. The first thing the group noticed upon entering was the portraits. They were a little blurry and, for some reason, moving. Morgana looked at the title.

"Gyoushi Fubuki, 19… What is that? This doesn't look like an ordinary painting."

Ann looked at another.

"I got another one. Akito Kurusabe, 15. And… Another name here again. All the paintings have a name and a number. What does it mean? What's with them?"

Sadayo looked around, her cutlass drawn, ready to fight any Shadow that appeared. Instead, the place was quiet as a graveyard. There was nothing but the Thieves, Sae and the paintings. The teacher eventually stumbled upon a familiar name.

"Natsuhiko Nakanohara, 23… I think I get it. These aren't paintings, they are Madarame's students!"

The realization cast a chill over the group.

"No freaking way?"

" Hey over there " Sadayo said noticing the brouchure rack

The rack had a map of the first half of the Palace and headed further. No one complained about the place's emptiness. The group finally reached a golden statue, a spiral rising upwards, carrying young people of various ages in pained positions. Ann read the panel.

"The Infinite Spring… A conglomerate work of art that he great director Madarame created with his own funds. These individuals must offer their ideas to the director for the rest of their lives. Those who cannot do so have no worth living!"

"In other words…" Morgana summed. "His pupils are his property. I understand now why he sees them as paintings. For Madarame, his students are just the source of his creations. Whatever they make is his in is mind."

Ann shuddered.

"This is slavery!"

"You're right." Sadayo said bitterly. "This man reminds me more and more of Kamoshida. He has to be stopped!"

Ryuji shook his head.

"No Kamoshida is worse."

"Let's leave for now. We have seen enough."

The Thieves nodded. Heading back was simple. That evening, as Jessikah browsed the Phan-Site, she was surprised to find a PM from Yuki.

Joker:

I got a message from Nakanohara. He said he wants to meet you. There is someone he wants to undergo a change of heart, but posting it online may prove problematic. He asked me to set the meeting. Could you tell the others about it?

Jessikah frowned. " I already know who his target is."

Taking her phone, she opened the group chat.

J.S: I got news. Nakanohara sent Yuki a request to meet us personally. He got a target for us.

Ann was the first to answer.

A.T: My money's on the target being Madarame.

R.S: Same. I bet that's him.

S.K: Let's wait to hear it from him first before making assumptions.

S.K: But you're right, Madarame is most likely the target he's going to suggest.

J.S: So, how do we arrange that? How do we set the meeting and where?

None of the Thieves answered for a moment. Then…

S.K: Why dont we meet him as Phantom Thieves?

R.S: I doubt his shadow can help.

S.K: You Idiot i mean in our world

A.T: …Sensei, you're not suggesting we meet him as the Phantom Thieves, are you!?

Jessikah chuckled.

J.S: I thought about it, but where can we suits made? I mean secretly

S.K: Actually your from Inaba right Shiomi.

J.S: I am why?

S.K: Remember the Tatsumi's text tile shop. I used to work there.

S.K: I will make them .

J.S: Thats cool

R.S: Got it. Were meeting at Sensei's place?

S.K: As much as i dont want students knowing my home address this can not be avoided it seems.

Jesiskah nodded. The conversation ended.

18 May

They left for breakfast, sending the Thieves a message. From there, Sadayo set them her address before sending Mishima a messgae. Yuki confirmed Nakanohara had received the message.

After school was over, the Thieves headed to Sadayo's apartment there they used a room to change and emerge a moment later in full outfit. Ryuji stretched.

"They're a bit loose, but it's all the better. Makes them easier to move in."

"I'm glad the cleavage window's covered." Ann grumbled

Sadayo smiled.

"I guessed you would. I have a skin-colored undershirt to cover my stomach for the same reason."

Jessikah adjusted her shirt and then adjusted her gloves.

"If the coat was anymore comfortable, I could fall asleep in it. So, ready to go, everyone?"

"Yep!"

The Thieves thenleft and headed through a dark alley as night crept over the city. Morgana was on Jessikah's shoulder.

"Now, we wait for Nakanohara."

Ann looked at the group.

"Hey, what about that group shot?"

"Right, there's that."

"Excuse me?"

The group turned. Nakanohara was there… The Thieves faced him.

"I was told to find a group of masked people at this place." Nakanohara explained. "I… The admin of this site said the Phantom Thieves themselves would meet me. Are you them? Your masks fit the ones on the site…"

"We are indeed." Jessikah said confidently. She was Joker, the leader of the Phantom Thieves. A smirk crossed her face. As she swaggered over to Nakanohara.

"We were told you have a target to offer, one that would be… problematic if their name were to appear on the site. We're all ears."

"It is… Yes, I have a target for you. The name is Ichiryusai Madarame."

The Thieves looked at one another. Ann crossed her arms.

"Told you."

"It was an easy bet." Ryuji snorted.

Nakanohara looked at them, disbelief in his eyes.

"You already knew?"

"You are a former student of his." Jessikah explained.

"Oh… I should have guess you knew" Nakanohara smiled.

The Phantom Thieves nodded. Sadayo chuckled.

"So my request was redundant." Nakanohara asked softly. "Make him pay ok."

Jessikah nodded .

" Thank you Joker."

After Nakanohara left Jessikah turned to the rest of theives.

"Also, for the Palace, back at it tomorrow?"

The Thieves returned to Kawakami's apartment to change. As she left, Jessikah got a message from Yoshida. Apparently, the politician was finally ready for their first lesson.