From the perspective of the top leaders in various countries, this video was nothing short of a blatant threat directed squarely at them.
The highest authorities of a nation gathered together for a meeting, yet someone filmed them right in the face without them even noticing—it was unbelievable.
Very few countries’ top officials are completely clean, especially those where capitalism thrives; if you don’t have some dirt on you, you can’t even become president, let alone make it into the top ten.
If the Magical Girls did the same to them, they’d all have to step down.
To think even more exaggeratedly—if the thing pointing at their faces wasn’t a camera but a gun, they would have all died silently without a sound.
Magic is too extraordinary, mainly because it has so many varied uses, making it hard to counter scientifically one by one.
If only Magical Girls were the only ones wielding magic so far; otherwise, this world would have already fallen into chaos.
Some country presidents might have been replaced or their countries taken over without anyone knowing.
But right now, any magical action that crosses the line still causes panic among some nations.
Some national leaders openly voiced calls to revive the Magical Girl threat theory that was popular over a decade ago, demanding that countries resist and be wary of the Magic Alliance, restrict the personal freedoms of Magical Girls, and this was even brought up on the United Nations agenda in early February.
Of course, this won’t pass, because the countries near the Realm Sea rely on Magical Girls to hunt down Dimensional Beasts.
Still, these events have put enormous public pressure on the Magic Alliance and the Magical Girls.
So while the UN held discussions, Manjusaka once again appeared before the media.
At the Magic Alliance branch’s podium, Manjusaka stepped onto the stage with quiet grace from backstage.
The woman had soft golden wavy hair and wore a nun’s hat.
The large nun’s habit she donned couldn’t hide anything—the perfect curves beneath looked like a freshly baked cake in a paper cup, soft and tempting.
“Miss Manjusaka, could you respond point by point to the several mainstream criticisms against the Magic Alliance circulating online right now?”
When the media microphones were pointed at her, the heat gathered like the barrel of a gun.
Manjusaka remained calm as if she weren’t standing in the spotlight at all.
She spoke only a brief sentence.
“With a great enemy looming, we cannot allow some useless trash dragging us down from behind. I can responsibly tell everyone that the Heizhu Jvling will definitely strike again, because it was never truly destroyed four years ago, only barely sealed.”
This statement stirred up a thousand waves.
To much of the public, the Heizhu Jvling was considered dead years ago.
The higher-ups had publicly declared its death to calm the post-war public panic.
Manjusaka gave the reporters little time to react, adjusting a slightly crooked microphone, and said:
“The old enemy will surely use the Heizhu Jvling again, and this time the attack will be more thorough and fierce than four years ago, so we absolutely cannot allow internal sabotage. Everything the Magic Alliance does now is to address the crisis of the Realm Sea. I say this plainly: whoever opposes us most fiercely is suspected of colluding with Dimensional Beasts.”
“If any country believes we are wrong, or that Magical Girls are overreacting, then we can withdraw from that country entirely and let you handle the Dimensional Beasts yourselves. Any consequences will be your responsibility.”
“We will absolutely not pay the price for your internal corruption, greed, conflicts of interest, or party disputes, which send Magical Girls to be sacrificed like grass to the Dimensional Beasts.”
There was no room for dissent.
That was Manjusaka’s clear message.
If the Magic Alliance is expected to fight Dimensional Beasts, it must be on the Alliance’s terms.
The press conference ended, immediately triggering a new round of public uproar.
But the tone shifted—no longer just attacking the Magical Girls.
There were also accusations aimed at governments, criticism of corrupt politicians, calls for legislation to impose capital punishment on those who collude with Dimensional Beasts—many voices.
This somewhat dispersed the fire aimed at the Magic Alliance.
Among the public, pressure on the Magic Alliance eased slightly, but from the top officials’ side, the Alliance’s plight was obvious.
***
Huahai City Entertainment Center—
“I’m sorry, Youyou, uh… you should take some time off first. Don’t come to teach fitness for now.” Qiushui spoke apologetically to Luoyou.
“Nani?”
Just arriving at work on time, Luoyou blinked in surprise.
“Why?”
“Uh… well… the branch’s income has been… tight lately, so…”
Ah.
Am I being dismissed?
…No, laid off?
“It’s a break! A break!”
Qiushui hurriedly called out.
“Unpaid break, right?”
“Uh—!”
Luoyou’s heart sank.
She never thought that even with her beauty, there would be a day she’d be laid off.
“Isn’t your entertainment business supposed to be flush with cash?”
Luoyou asked in confusion, “Doesn’t the entertainment industry just mean standing in front of the stage, singing and dancing, making millions?”
“You have such a stereotypical impression of entertainment…”
Qiushui wiped sweat from her brow.
“This industry doesn’t make that kind of money, we barely break even. The important thing is we don’t evade taxes! Plus, the profits have to be funneled into running the Magic Alliance and paying Magical Girls. There are so many expenses!”
“Then why am I suddenly laid off? Ah, just to be clear, I’m not upset, I still have the gym job.”
“Emmm… Youyou, if you’ve been following the news, you probably understand the situation Magical Girls are facing now, right?”
Qiushui’s embarrassed eyes darted around.
“Oh~ I get it.”
Luoyou nodded.
“Because of this, many entertainment programs, considering risk hedging, have postponed or canceled collaborations with us. Plus, government subsidies haven’t arrived yet; the cash flow is very tight…”
“That’s tough for you too…”
“Yeah, I’m supposed to be hunting Dimensional Beasts but ended up as an accountant! Though I do have an accounting degree! (complaining)”
“Exposed, Qiushui.”
“Ah, Youyou, just pretend you didn’t hear that.”
Qiushui was soon dragged away by the frantic accounting department.
And so, Luoyou was suddenly unemployed!
“Oh my god, this is the first time I’ve ever been laid off in my life!”
At a red light, Luoyou rare treated herself to a can of soda, something she never touched as a fitness coach.
By the way, the can of soda cost four yuan.
“…What is Manjusaka trying to do?”
Luoyou was confused.
The authorities must be very displeased with Manjusaka’s tough words.
Being tough on other countries was one thing, but to reveal that the Heizhu Jvling was still alive—wasn’t that slapping them in the face?
Though Manjusaka’s hardline stance was effective, it sacrificed the future of the Magical Girls.
After this Realm Sea Tide passes, Magical Girls might be severely suppressed.
Not to the degree of the Outsiders’ Organization, but inflexible Magical Girls would have a hard time.
Unless Manjusaka was hiding something else, it was hard to see why she would take such a risk.
Could it be… the Realm Sea’s danger is more than just the Heizhu Jvling?
Luoyou entered the gym where she used to work, still puzzled.
How should she explain this to her colleagues?
Saying she was laid off felt embarrassing…
Just then, the gym’s Manager came out of the main entrance.
“Yo, Manager, going out for something?”
“Uh? Luo Youyou, you’re back. I’ve already heard about what happened there.”
The Manager remembered something and said to her, “By the way, I have to tell you, you’re fired. Your salary will be settled later. You should check with accounting.”
“Eh?”
Luoyou’s face was a complete blank.