Chapter 10: Velvette's Treasure

April 15th. I was getting myself a cup of coffee at the Café Lars took me to a while ago. I got a message from Lars saying that he needs to help with his mother on some errands, so our next flight back to Shadow Velvette's mansion will have to wait a bit.

"Yeah, I'll take a small one with sugar." I said to the barista.

Later, I got myself a small cup of coffee with sugar as I walked to Rosie's Emporium. There, Rosie greeted me and sat me down.

"Now, today is Saturday." She said, "You will have off on Sunday and Monday for whatever reasons. Don't tell Lucifer why though, he made up the rules, not me."

Lucifer…

"I will see you on Tuesday at 8:30AM and you will work until 2:30PM. 6 hour shift everyday from Tuesday to Saturday." Rosie continued, "However, you won't be working today since I'm nice."

"Sounds like a plan." I said,

Rosie looked at my cup of coffee.

"You can go ahead and take a sip break." She said, "We got plenty of time."

"Oh!" I said as I took a quick sip of my coffee,

April 16th. I was cleaning my Hotel room as Charlie walked in to talk to me.

"Hey, Ren! How's your stay here at The Happy Hotel?" She asked me,

"Pretty good." I replied, "Thanks."

"You know, I see you with potential here now you're very polite as our first customer!"

"Huh? Potential? I mean, I've already applied at Rosie's Emporium and starting Tuesday, full-time."

"No, no, I mean like a little contract for you and I!"

Contract?

"I'm listening." I said,

"Well, I need someone to help out with the hotel whenever they're available, so I'm hoping you will be the one!" Charlie said,

"I'll do my best."

Charlie got surprised.

"Wow, that was quick!" She said, "But I wasn't finished!'

"Oh, go on." I said, "I'm still listening."

We both share a laugh.

"Anyways, I need someone to help out with this list of things to do via this little contract I also have." Charlie said as she showed me the list and contract, "Take your time and read it. I have a pen if you're interested. If you do take this contract, then I'll pay you your stay here in the hotel, so that you won't have to worry about paying, moving out or anything like that. Deal?"

A minute later, I signed the contract.

"Deal." I replied as I signed the contract.

Charlie got happy.

"Yay! Thanks Ren!" She said, "I'll let you know when we need some extra assistance, ok?"

"Ok." I said,

I made a deal with Charlie.

Fast forwarding to many months later.

Bernie was still interrogating me.

"That hotel you're staying at and helping out for…" He said, "The Hazbin Hotel was it called, yes? Your role as leader of The Phantom Thieves might have some connections to the place."

I was silent.

"And I know that some of those workers might be associated with those calling cards you sent out to those that meet their match." He continued, "Right?"

Calling cards…

Back to the present moment. A voice spoke to me.

"I am thou... Thou art I…

Thou hast acquired a new vow...

It shall become the wings of rebellion

That breaketh thy chains of captivity.

With the birth of the Sun Persona

I have obtained the winds of blessing that

shall lead to freedom and new power…"

I have formed a bond with Charlie Morningstar. Although she's not a Persona User like me, Lars or Cattleya, I know for a fact that she and I have something in common: To change Hell the way we wanted it to be, but in our different paths to the light.

"Alright, I'll be on my way, thanks!" Charlie said as she happily walked out of my room.

April 20th. After a few days off from Mementos and some work to do at Rosie's Emporium and around The Happy Hotel, it was evening. Me, Lars and Cattleya were in Cattleya's apartment, discussing.

"So, now that we have some time to ourselves, I want to tell you boys something." Cattleya started,

"And what's that?" Lars wonder,

"Have a look at this."

Cattleya showed a selfie that Velvette had taken of herself and the three of us. It seems that she was even flipping the bird.

"What the fuck?!" Lars shouted, "It's Velvette!"

"That's right." Cattleya said, "And here's what the captions read on Sinstagram."

"Starting May 4th, I'm gonna be exposing these three! I know exactly what they're doing when it comes to being outside of the private club! Stay tuned!" - Velvette

"That bitch!" Lars shouted, "She's trying to expose us?!"

"Seems likely." Cattleya replied, "But we don't know why."

"Maybe it has something to do with the Cognitive World." I said, "She probably knows someone who's part of it, that's not us."

"Well whatever her reason is, we gotta stop her!" Lars shouted,

"Agreed, let's head back to her mansion and find what I want to find!" Cattleya said as she stood up, "Her treasure!"

"Treasure?"

"You'll find out! Stealing treasure while stealing someone's heart is what being a Phantom Thief is all about! Meow-how! Come on! We have until May 4th!"

We all nodded in agreement.

Later, we were on the roof of Shadow Velvette's mansion as we're attempting to break in without getting caught.

"Ok, I've been thinking of something that I forgot to bring up." Cattleya said, "We should have Code Names."

"Code Names?" Lars wonder,

"If we're gonna be Phantom Thieves, we might as well not let our real infos get by."

"Ok, if that's the case, then you'll go first."

"My Code Name is pretty obvious: Pirate."

"Makes sense because you steal money and you're from Greed."

"Whatever floats your boat, Wonder."

"Heh, Wonder? Was that supposed to be my Code Name?"

"Suits you well since you're wearing a magician costume or something and your Persona is named Mad Hatter."

"Alright, what about you Ren?"

"Code names…" I said, "Joker."

"Joker? You don't look very jokey."

"I'm still going by it."

"Fair enough, and since you're advanced at this whole thing before you came down here in Hell, let's let you be the leader." Cattleya said,

"I thought you would make a great leader." Lars said,

"Come on, I'm not leadership material."

"Alright, alright, let's let Joker be the leader."

"Thanks." Ren said, "I won't let you guys down."

As we attempted to break in, we went into the hallways.

"Hey!" A Pixie Shadow shouted at us, "Intruders!"

"Oh! She found us!" Lars shouted,

I used my Persona, Arsene.

"Arsene!" I shouted,

The pixie was scared.

"WAH! Please don't hurt me! I'll do anything you ask!" She shouted,

"Anything?" I asked as I called back my Persona,

"Yes! Just don't kill me!"

Lars and Cattleya were confused.

"Join us." I said to the Pixie,

"Y-You want me to join you guys?" The pixie said as she turned into a Persona, "I'll gladly join you! I won't let you down!"

I absorb the Pixie as I now have 2 Personas to wield.

"W-Wow…" Lars said as he and Cattleya were stunned,

"No wonder why we chose to make him leader." Cattleya said, "I've never seen anyone that can wield more than 1 Persona."

"Now you have." I said as I gave out a thumbs-up.

When we kept searching, we came across Velvette's bedroom. Inside, it was a punk rock haven. She was dating another woman back in high school named… Vaggie… Vaggie?! Vaggie used to date her? I got a closer look at the photo. She and Vaggie used to date.

"Huh, so someone you know used to date Velvette." Cattleya said,

"That's… Vaggie." I said, shocked. "From the hotel I'm staying at."

"Oh, wow, she worked at the hotel." Lars said, "How ironic.

Cattleya then saw something glowing outside.

"Hold on, what is that?" She wondered as she took a closer look and gasped, "It's from the balcony!"

We all headed to the balcony and saw a glowing light of some sort.

"There it is!" Cattleya said, "The treasure!"

"THAT'S the treasure?" Lars said, "It's a glowing ball of light!"

"Well it's not in its physical form yet." Cattleya said, "Once we change Velvette's heart, that's where it will turn into what made Velvette's desires this way."

"Oh, I see. So… Now what?"

I raised my hand.

"I have an idea." I said, "We sent out a calling card to Velvette."

"A calling card?" Cattleya wondered, "Oooh, Go on! I'm listening!"