Iverson: ... No doubt. This is a failure. A complete humiliation!
Iverson: The shameless thief stole the exhibit, and sent it back in a package, as if our security was invisible!
Iverson: But this is not a failure of Guidance on Security ... but a failure of us, of our security officers.
Iverson: Guidance on Security gives us perfect strategies, but the securiy officers were sleepy and negligent ...
Iverson: When the London Police entered the exhibition hall, they were all sound asleep!
Iverson: New Humans shall not allow this to happen again!
Iverson: We promise that human security officer is to be phased out from today, and something more rational, more efficient, and more rigorous is to be introduced—security robots!
Iverson: Over the next three to five years, we are devoted to developing new types, so that human security officers are completely replaced.
Iverson: We will lead by example and transform the security industry into a future-oriented, science-based, civilised and rational industry!
Melania puts down the magazine, astonished.
Melania: There are flaws in the Guidance, and their response was to fire everyone?
Melania: Seems Mr. Iverson has completely ignored the Guidance on Security with comments enclosed in my letter ... I pulled two all-nighters for this!
Ms. Acey: I've warned you. You should finish Prof. Claire's essay first.
Melania: And there's not even a word about Ramirez retrieving the Mainedonty. A lot of journalists were there to interview me ...
Fiennes: Iverson has way better connections than ours, after all.
Fiennes: A Ramirez retriving collection's report, at this time? The New Humans are suffering, they won't let it be reported.
Melania stands up, alerted.
Melania: Fiennes ... No. Mr. Sean the Great Thief.
Fiennes: Call me Fiennes like the old days. I am nothing special.
Melania: You're being modest.
Melania: You are the only international thief of the 20th century who has stolen in London and Paris at the same time.
Her voice sounds cold as the winter Thames. Obviously, there is no way this conversation can be that kind of awkward small talk they used to have.
Fiennes: In my defence, I have never committed such a shocking crime.
Fiennes: Just two guards lost the exhibits on the same day, and they used me as an excuse.
Melania: ... What?
She frowns. It's not easy to tell if it's just another lie of "Sean".
Fiennes: Use your brain, Melania. How would this ever make sense?
Fiennes: If my arcane skill is that marvellous, why am I still just a thief?
Fiennes: Some security guards make up those stories of international thieves to cover their malpractice.
Fiennes: Their imagination can evenly match those of thieves in order not to lose their jobs.
Melania: ...
Noticing her being nervous, the Great Thief gives her a smile.
Fiennes: Relax. Well, to be fair, the Mainedonty you have stolen is also a counterfeit.
This is not something she can let go of.
Her jaw drops, but maybe too late.
Melania: Wh-What?
Fiennes: My arcane skill is to touch something and make a copy of it. Like what you just heard, it only works on one object once.
Fiennes: I had copied countless fake antiques with my arcane skill, but at the same time, they would have my arcane mark.
Fiennes: As their price gets higher and higher, I'm afraid someone will find out that they're all counterfeits. So I decided to steal my copies.
Fiennes: Nothing could stop me back to the days I was in the auctions, exhibitions and museums. I quite enjoyed being unstoppable.
Fiennes: Until your father showed up—My plans fell flat in front of him.
Melania: ...
Fiennes: I thought and thought but still couldn't figure out how he predicted my plan.
Fiennes: So I applied for Ramirez Security, but only to find that ... your father had no plan, no plan at all!
Fiennes: I was the one with a plan in the whole little company!
He lets out a long sigh, a sigh for mourning the time he wasted on his former rival.
Fiennes: I worked as a security officer for 5 years with full passion.
Fiennes: During that time, I formed an ultimate larceny plan, with all I had learnt from Ramirez. This was going to be a great thievery that even your father couldn't stop.
Fiennes: But before I can perform this plan, your father committed suicide. I was disappointed, and upset.
Fiennes: However, I do know that he considered you as his successor ...
Melania: ... So, is that a revenge?
Melania: You asked me to take over the company, and then you stole the exhibits from me, putting an end to Ramirez that almost closed down.
Fiennes opens his mouth as if trying to defend himself. But before he can say anything, Melania has already grabbed her notebook from the shoulder bag and turned to a certain page.
Melania: Now it makes sense...!
Melania: I didn't figure out how you stole the Mainedonty before ... I thought I had an unconscious bias as the question was set by myself, until I heard about your arcane skill!
Melania: You made a copy of Ms. Acey that night, right? You copied my arcane skill! Then you swapped the exhibit like I did!
Fiennes: Yes. I trade the Mainedonty with an ice cube in my coffee. After it melts, there was no trace of exchange.
Fiennes: Usually, I can't imitate other arcanist's incantation. But I've worked hard for five years, and the effort paid off—I learnt how to do it once.
Fiennes: I ought to thank you for that too, Melania, for demonstrating it in front of me.
Melania: Oh my ... the answer is so simple!
She drops into a chair, supporting her forehead with one hand.
Melania: So you must have read my plan for The Football Match in the office. I wrote it all down, and arranged the references alphabetically. Right there on the table!
Melania: But you still came to the roof. I don't understand ...
He shakes his head, interrupts the young girl's speech with a bitter smile on his face.
Fiennes: You're like your father, Melania.
Melania: Me ... Like him? That's not possible.
Fiennes: He always said that the job of a security officer is to ensure the safety of the client's property. Nothing matters except that. His world is nothing but the challenge of attack and defence.
Fiennes: You, however, after knowing the inside story of the security field and antique trade, you still focus on your "test questions."
Melania: No. I'm just used to answering questions ...
Fiennes: Most importantly, you all see this as a self-challange.
Fiennes is caught up in his memory.
Fiennes: Your father was a real artist. Everything became dull after he died.
Fiennes: I have to say, at first it was an act of revenge on Ramirez ... but I changed my mind.
Fiennes: Melania, you are smart, inquisitive and detail-oriented. You will not miss any chance. These are valuable qualities, and that's why I went to the patio and met you.
Fiennes: Would you fancy being a thief?
Melania: Ah...?!
Fiennes: You are talented.
Melania: Mr. Fiennes, I have no interest in illegally possessing others' belongings!
Melania blushes. Apparently, an offer of crime is not something she had ever expected.
Fiennes shrugs. Apparently, this offer is just impromptu.
Fiennes: Well, keep leading Ramirez is not a bad choice. You are an elite planner.
Melania: ... No. I'm neither a good question maker nor a business leader.
Fiennes: Thinking from the aspect of a thief is not a common way.
Fiennes: Your father always said, "respect your opponent, and they'll respect you." For that alone, he trumped countless Iversons.
Melania: ... But it's unfair.
Melania: Father respected his opponents but was seen as an accomplice. Both Ramirez and New Humans had lost their exhibits before. When we were seen as a humiliation to the industry, and Father was driven to commit suicide ... What for New Humans?
Melania: No one ever pointed out the flaws in Guidance on Security ...! Everyone was convinced of his statements. They were drawn to the bumbling robots, while as security officer an ambulance would have been better.
Fiennes: People are short-sighted, that's not new. They can only see the result.
Fiennes: It doesn't matter whether Guidance on Security is flawless or not. It matters whether people believe it is. If so, even when something goes wrong, Iverson can blame those idiots instead of the Guidance.
Melania: But it's not the truth!
Fiennes: It's the truth in people's eyes.
Fiennes: They are the ones manipulating public opinions. One success cannot save the credibility of Ramirez. One theft cannot shake the position of the New Humans.
Once again, she grabs the handle of the bag tighter.
Melania: Then I'll prove it to them ...!
Melania: I'll point out the flaws in Guidance on Security, and I will show the flaws to everyone ... in the same way I did this time!
Melania: If it happens only once, it may be ignored. But what if it happens twice, three times, and ten?
Melania: No security style is better or worse than another, but truth and justice must be manifested. The Guidance on Security is not the principles written once and for all ... I must bring it to light ...!
This is an answer beyond Fiennes's imagination.
Fiennes: Is that your choice?
Fiennes: Then what would you be? The one who keeps writing the legend of Ramirez, or the one who rewrites it?
Melania: No, Mr Fiennes ...
Melania: I'm just a student.
The Great Thief looks into the young student's eyes.
The bell at the bar ends this silent competition.
Fiennes: Unfortunately, it's time for me to head to the wharf. By the way, I used your arcane skill to switch your recording tape. Don't even think about catching me, Melania.
Melania opens her bag in a hurry ....
And sadly finds that he is not lying. She immediately drops her shoulder.
Melania: That's not fair, Mr. Sean. I bought it with my scholarship...
Fiennes: You turned down my offer, so don't expect me to teach you any lessons.
Fiennes: One last thing.
Fiennes: Arcanists will leave an arcane mark on their works. Proud as your father was, he has no reason not to.
Fiennes: I have nothing to do with the Rimet Cup case, but I suggest you not underestimate the "imagination of a security officer."
She hops up, shocked.
Melania: Wait. Are you suggesting that there's something else about my Father's case?
Fiennes: I just want to see the legend continue.
Fiennes: It should be tired as your father's daughter, am I right, Melania?
He waved at her elegantly. The next second, he disappeared into the crowd.
Sean the Great Thief has completed his revenge.
Ms. Acey: He is strange.
Melania: Yes. But free ...
Melania takes a deep breath.
Melania: Ms. Acey, I know what to do.
Melania: I can't be like Father or Sean ... and I don't need to. But I can try to understand them.
Melania: One day, I will be back and set my own questions. But before that, I need practice, practice, and practice. Until the day when I figure out everything.
Melania: Could you help me?
The shoulder bag gives her student a playful nibble.
Ms. Acey: Anytime, Melania.
Weeks later, Ramirez Security Company announces its dissolution.
Meanwhile, an advance notice signed "The Great Thief Acey" was sent to many famous newpapers.
Dear editorial board of Guidance on Security:
Congratulations on the publication.
In the past five years, you've been travelling together with us in the world of imagination.
And now, you are trying to use a guide full of flaws to solve all problems once and for all.
Security, however, shall be art. It requires courage, prudence, creativity and infinite passion.
You respect us no more, so we will respond in the same way.
5 p.m., Sunday, I shall arrive and claim the Light Cross in Naval Museum.
Good luck setting up a perfect security arrangement according to the Guidance.
Sincerely, The Great Thief Acey
Melania: Ms. Acey, if Father knew what I was going to do, would he still be proud of me?
Ms. Acey: I think he would say, "Ace!"
Melania: I bet he would.
The young thief shoots the hook gun and jumps towards the building.
In the exhibition hall full of miracles and legacies, countless shiny "test questions" await her challenge.
