While Luo You and Zhizhi were busy rescuing people, more and more Magical Girls arrived.
The local Fusion Warrior Program Department also responded, sending personnel to block off foreign forces and related parties.
Even the local military district sent troops to surround the area, preventing the enemy from escaping.
Most of those who arrived were Magical Girls from Jiuming Sea.
Of course, Feiyu was present, and even Luo Zining showed up.
[Shit, should I hurry up and get out of here?]
Luo You glanced at the carriage, wondering if she should just lie inside, covered in injuries.
But when she checked her phone, no one had sent her a message or called.
With nothing to worry about, she simply ignored it.
“By the way, shouldn’t we go over there to help?”
Luo You asked Zhizhi.
“No need. Magical Girls don’t intervene in disputes between national forces. We’re only responsible for hunting Dimensional Beasts and criminals. As for the rest, it’s none of our business.”
Zhizhi lifted a section of the battered carriage, confirming there was no one trapped underneath, then said, “That’s the last of them, everyone’s rescued. Let’s head back.”
“Okay, bye then.”
Luo You left in a flash, feeling that if she didn’t hurry, even Luo Zining might come over.
***
Back in Huahai City, Luo You didn’t go home first, but headed to the place where Xue was currently staying.
“Xue.”
“You!”
Looking at this heartless creature, gaming away like a total slacker, Luo You was momentarily entranced.
Expectations…
What exactly was she hoping for from her?
Maybe it’s best if things stay like this.
Hmm? Luo You noticed that Xue had suddenly stopped playing and was just sitting in front of the monitor, doing nothing.
“What’s wrong?”
“You, I want to sleep.”
“Then go to sleep.”
“But I’ll be watched.”
“Just let it be, then.”
That was hardly a human way to talk.
Realizing that sleep was hopeless, Xue simply clicked ‘Match’ to start another round.
Luo You lowered her head again, scrolling through her phone.
“I’ve been dreaming every time I sleep lately.”
“Hm? We’re continuing this topic?”
Luo You looked up.
Xue was still staring intently at the screen, but spared some attention to say, “Every time I dream of something good, there’s a strong gaze peeping at me. Isn’t that weird?”
“…Only when you’re dreaming of something good?”
“Yeah, like, when I dream of you getting stabbed—stab, stab, stab—there’s no sense of being watched at all. You get stabbed from start to finish, not a peep from you.”
“Damn it, didn’t I tell you to stop having those bizarre dreams?!”
And so, the night passed.
***
When Luo You woke up the next morning, the headline news was about last night’s high-speed train derailment.
A passenger who had remained conscious during the incident had recorded a video on their phone of Magical Girl Jinlin and the Fusion Warriors fighting, capturing most of the whole thing.
Was there anything good to see in that video?
Unsurprisingly, after it was posted online, Jinlin was instantly blasted by netizens.
Reportedly, the person who took the video was still in the hospital, awaiting surgery to amputate a leg.
“Tch, the train was wrecked that badly and he still had the mood to pull out his phone and film?”
Luo You sneered in disdain.
That was her own mistake.
She’d thought that silencing those two Fusion Warriors would be enough to seal things up, but it was still a case of missing one out of a hundred.
But no matter how harshly the public scolded her, she didn’t so much as bat an eye.
Still, emergency PR was necessary.
That afternoon, Luo You came out as Jinlin to do emergency public relations.
She spouted the usual lines about “sacrificing a small part to save the whole” and “abandoning the train to save the people”—nothing new.
After speaking, Luo You simply went back, no matter what the world outside said.
“Lord Jinlin, please don’t mind what the public is saying….”
Some Magical Girls came to comfort Luo You, but she simply responded blandly.
This sense of composure gave the Magical Girls of the Huahai City Branch immense confidence.
***
Meanwhile—
Inside an office, a beautiful woman in black stockings and a low-cut formal dress looked out the window, a seductive smile on her lips.
A synthesized, system-modified voice came from the computer terminal: “What do you think, Bai He?”
“I didn’t quite believe the lower department’s reports before, but now it’s basically certain she’s the one.”
Bai He stared at Jinlin during the emergency PR conference.
“Such ruthless decisiveness—even the Ten Seats members can’t match her. If she’s the Gray Witch, then it makes sense.”
The Gray Witch, Ariel, was never a good person.
Naturally, she cared nothing for the lives of ants.
Although no one knew exactly what kind of power operated behind Ariel, enabling her to become a rising star and Hope’s Light of the Magic Alliance, it was enough to prove the might of the force behind her.
It might be the Inhumans Organization.
Or perhaps… the Dragon Nation itself stood behind her.
“We must act as soon as possible. Right now, the Magic Alliance is weak, Xingyue and Manjusaka are not in peak condition after using Zero-Rank Magic, so now is the best opportunity.”
Even the synthesized voice carried excitement.
“Ariel is a key card for us to control the Black Candle Titan. Once we have her, the plan can begin!”
But Bai He only smiled.
“Don’t rush yet. We’ve found another interesting lead.”
“…You mean that kid mentioned in the report?”
“Yes. She may not be as important as Ariel, but my instincts tell me that if we can capture her too, the gains will be the highest.”
“I’m only giving you three days. Once time’s up, I’ll immediately notify the Rage-Eater Titan. You know how obsessed that thing is with Ariel—it can’t be stopped.”
“All right, all right~”
***
Sending the Rage-Eater Titan against Ariel was a sure bet, unless Jinlin already had top-two combat strength among the Ten Seats.
Taking down the Gray Witch was as good as done; and now capturing that little one was nearly in hand as well.
According to the investigation, the kid lived in Huahai City, often went out to buy cola, and stayed in a certain neighborhood, but lately had vanished.
Some witnesses said she had already moved out.
But moving is easy to track.
Check the freight company’s shipping records and the new address is easy to find—three days is more than enough.
“Xue, you haven’t gone out to buy drinks recently, right?”
“Nope, all online delivery.”
“That’s fine then.”
Luo You continued to supervise Xue that day.
She couldn’t say why, but lately this person made her uneasy—as if something bad would happen the moment she stopped watching her.
“You, looks like you’re getting roasted online.”
“Why do you care so much?”
“But people are calling you a callous, murderous bitch, and someone even said they’re going to dox you. Should I retaliate? I love trolling online the most.”
“Don’t stir up trouble.”
Luo You quickly reined in her thoughts.
“Listen—this is a critical time, even your online comments had better be careful!”