Thanks for another good chapter. I didn't believe the alligator stepping sequence in the original; but I do believe Illya could just manage it. If the alligators weren't too eager.

I wonder who the real panther is based on?

I guess Le Panthere is going to be one villain they don't foil, considering how successful his plot was. More seriously, it's a very good one. For the readers, not the plottees.

(Very small point. On another forum, I recently read that cross bows are by no means completely silent.)