To her long-unseen superior, Mingji, Wuhua expressed her attitude and thoughts. After saying goodbye to her and the company, Wuhua got into the car heading back to Lianying’s home. It was like she had made the choice she had to make, leaving the past and the company far behind.
“……”
Remaining silent, Wuhua, sitting in the back seat, rested her hand on the door handle and looked up at the sky. Her expression was complex and didn’t seem like that of a seven-year-old girl.
Because of her height, she couldn’t see the scenery outside the window. So the clear blue sky was her only pastime.
.
“Little girl. Why are you taking a ride-hailing car alone?”
Just then, the driver in the driver’s seat suddenly spoke, as if to liven up the atmosphere in the car.
“Where are your parents? Why aren’t they with you?”
It’s true that many drivers like to strike up conversations with passengers to relieve work fatigue and boredom. Wuhua didn’t take it to heart.
“Mm…! I’m going to my mom’s workplace to see her.”
Wuhua resumed her usual state and replied in a pinched voice.
“Uncle Driver was also called by her for me.”
Since the other party wouldn’t verify it anyway, Wuhua casually made up an excuse. In fact, aside from the superior-subordinate relationship, everything else was correct.
“I see, that’s amazing! Even though you’re so young, you’ve started to be independent.”
The driver pulled down the brim of his cap, and a young, handsome face appeared in the rearview mirror.
“Also, if possible, don’t call me uncle. I’m actually still quite young. Driving is just something I do on the way.”
“Mm… then, big brother.”
Even though Wuhua felt it was unnecessary, she still changed the form of address.
“How much longer until we get home?”
“Well, normally it’d be just over ten minutes, but…”
The driver squinted and smiled at Wuhua.
“I want to chat with you first. What? Do you have some urgent business?”
“…No, not really.”
Wuhua subconsciously grabbed her seatbelt.
“Then, big brother, what do you want to talk to me about?”
‘Oh no, this guy. Could he be a lolicon?’
‘Would a normal person suddenly say something like that to a strange little girl?’
“Mm. Of course, a cute little girl like you will be popular wherever you go.”
As he spoke, the driver glanced at Wuhua in the back seat through the rearview mirror.
“Guuu…”
Wuhua felt a chill and was very uncomfortable. She wanted to get out immediately, but the steering wheel wasn’t in her hands.
Just as she was about to say something to avoid the worst-case scenario of “being forced to transform” or call Mingji for help,
.
“Moreover, you’re a magical girl loved and praised by the citizens.”
Suddenly, the driver said nonchalantly. The smile on his face also faded.
“Don’t you think so? The mysterious magical girl with silver-white twin tails.”
The man’s deep pupils seemed to pierce through Wuhua’s inner feelings.
“You—”
An expression of surprise and confusion involuntarily appeared on her face. Wuhua’s words got stuck in her throat. In other words, her mind went almost completely blank.
The driver of the ride-hailing car she had boarded by chance actually knew her true identity.
It was no longer an unexpected encounter. Wuhua vaguely sensed that the other party had deliberately approached her. Furthermore, they had used certain methods.
‘The one who comes is not kind… This guy, who is he? And what does he want to get through me?’
While thinking, Wuhua showed a cautious and alert attitude, reaching into her pocket and clutching the earrings in her hand. She was ready to deal with an emergency at any time.
“From your reaction… it seems I’m not far off.”
Even though he was the one who exposed her identity, the man shook his head with a complex expression.
“Oh dear, when I first received the information and mission, I didn’t believe it. A little girl of this age being a magical girl or something.”
“It must have been a mistake by the Intelligence Department, or a belated April Fool’s prank. But as for now—indeed, my experience and knowledge are still too immature.”
“Rest assured, I’m not here to cause conflict with you. On the contrary, I’m here to help you. So could you please not do something like suddenly transforming? It’s better for everyone that way.”
After saying everything he wanted to say, the man suddenly waved his hand in shame. He sighed apologetically.
“Ah… no, no. That kind of speech shouldn’t be said to a girl of this age. Oh dear, I’m really sorry. I have no experience in this regard.”
“……”
“It’s fine. Just go ahead and say it. I’m listening.”
With no intention of formalities, Wuhua said straightforwardly.
“You, who are you exactly?”
And she asked the question that most concerned her at the moment.
“—”
The man first frowned in surprise, then returned to his original expression.
“Well, um, this… you suddenly say that, I-I don’t know how to continue.”
The man touched his head.
“It seems you are more mature than I thought.”
‘No kidding. I’m not an ordinary little girl.’
Wuhua gave him a disgusted glance. For some reason, she had no goodwill towards men who act mysterious and say things halfway.
“Then, right. Anyway, let me introduce myself first.”
The man took a business card from the armrest box and handed it to Wuhua.
The card clearly read “Magic Girl Management”, “Liaison Officer”, and “Ce Feng”.
“Magic Girl Management?”
Seeing this, Wuhua somewhat understood the reason—
She had heard from Mingji at the amusement park that the Bureau would secretly send people to establish contact with magical girls. She just didn’t expect it to come so quickly.
“That’s right, nice to meet you. It’s necessary to explain this to you. We are a government-affiliated organization responsible for handling all incidents caused by magical girls in this city.”
The man named Ce Feng slowly explained.
“Mm… If I were to put it in a way you can understand, it’s like a police station just for magical girls? If you need shelter and help, we will provide all the assistance we can.”
“At the same time, we need to register some information about magical girls like you into our system. This is to facilitate our identification and further contact. This is all for the ordinary citizens and the stability and peace of society.”
“In other words, little girl, if you do something bad that endangers the citizens and society, then you will be considered a villain, and we will send policeman uncle… should be sister, and then catch you.”
Ce Feng spoke in a tone that was both coaxing a child and a bit serious. The expression on his face was always a meaningful smile.
“On the other hand, if you are willing to protect everyone from those terrifying monsters, we will give you a high evaluation and give you rewards you can imagine. You can use that money to buy your favorite toys, and cakes and snacks too.”
“So, what do you think?”
Seeming to have finished his introduction, Ce Feng pulled the car over to the roadside, turned off the engine, and pulled the handbrake.
“Can you give Big Brother a chance to get to know you?”
‘…It’s unwise to start a conflict with him here. I can’t rule out that he has other means to forcefully achieve his goal.’
‘…If the facts are as he says, cooperating with the Bureau seems to only have benefits for us.’
‘After all, I have no intention of doing bad things.’
Just as Wuhua was thinking, light suddenly began to seep out of her pocket.
“Wuhua. For now, just give him a contact method.”
Ruibi reminded Wuhua from beside her. Even though it was right in front of him, Ce Feng couldn’t sense its presence.
“The urgent matter now is not to be targeted by these guys. We’ll figure out the subsequent responses together when the time comes.”
In agreement with Ruibi’s thoughts, Wuhua finally made a decision suitable for the moment.
“I understand. Big brother, you can find me through this.”
Wuhua took out her phone from her pocket and let him add her as a friend.
“…On behalf of myself and the organization, thank you.”
Seeing this, Ce Feng breathed a sigh of relief from the tension of waiting for an answer.
“It was unavoidable to meet you in such a sudden way. I’m really sorry if I scared you.”
Having obtained the desired result, he sincerely bowed to Wuhua in apology. Then, he unlocked the car door and nodded with a cheerful mood.
“Then, guest. We’ve arrived at our destination. Looking forward to our next meeting.”
Wuhua got out of the car with an uneasy feeling. In front of her was the entrance to Chunhui Community.
Looking back, the Volkswagen had already gone far away, disappearing without a trace.