A beam of pure white light descended from the sky like divine punishment, landing precisely in front of the grand and solemn gates of the Red Sea City Magic Association.
As the light faded, the tall and imposing figure of Baihe Hua appeared, her pure white battle attire spotless under the sunlight.
The powerful magical energy rippled invisibly, causing the guards to instinctively straighten their backs.
Soon, she saw the person in charge of the Red Sea City Magic Association.
A middle-aged woman with a capable and refined demeanor stood before her.
Though the corners of her eyes bore the marks of time, her gaze remained sharp like an eagle’s, and her back was perfectly straight.
Clearly, this was a former powerful Magical Girl Senior.
Magical Girls possess magic that can preserve their youth eternally, but they can also choose to give it up and age naturally like ordinary people.
This leader had clearly chosen the latter.
“Senior.”
Baihe Hua nodded slightly, performing a standard Magical Girl greeting, her voice cold and respectful.
“No need to call me that,” Zhang Xia waved her hand, her tone brisk yet authoritative.
“I’m no longer a Magical Girl. Just call me Zhang Xia.”
“Alright, Zhang Xia.”
A faint warmth flickered in Baihe Hua’s ice-blue eyes as a polite yet distant smile curved her lips.
“Enough small talk.”
Zhang Xia turned decisively.
“Let’s go to the meeting room and discuss business.”
She strode forward, Baihe Hua following closely behind.
The two passed through the wide, bright corridors of the Association, filled with an undercurrent of tension.
Their footsteps echoed against the polished marble floor.
The moment they pushed open the heavy meeting room doors, Baihe Hua’s gaze quickly swept across the interior.
Around the oval table sat several young Magical Girls.
They still carried the breath of youth, their eyes filled with curiosity, nervousness, and admiration.
“These are the kids of Red Sea City,” Zhang Xia introduced succinctly.
“Greetings, Senior Baihe Hua!”
The red-haired girl codenamed Poppy immediately stood up, her voice loud but with a barely perceptible trace of panic and humiliation hidden deep within her eyes.
The flush on her cheeks hadn’t completely faded.
“Wow! It really is Senior Baihe Hua!”
The girl known as Sunflower whispered excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
“Yeah! I’ve heard your name for a long time!”
The short-haired Nightstar Flower nodded vigorously, full of reverence.
“Witch Hunter…”
The blue-haired girl Wuwangwo pushed up her glasses, the lenses reflecting a calm light.
“…That title has long echoed throughout the Association.”
The Magical Girls flocked around as if meeting an idol, the atmosphere instantly buzzing with excitement.
Standing slightly apart, Mu Yurou gently tugged Huang Xi’s sleeve and whispered, “Huang Xi, if I remember correctly, Senior Baihe Hua… was a student of Crystal Orchid Senior?”
Her voice carried a subtle complexity.
Huang Xi immediately clasped her hand in return, signaling her to keep quiet and lowering her own voice, “Shh… yes. But it’s best not to mention Crystal Orchid Senior’s name in front of her…”
“Alright! Quiet down!”
Zhang Xia’s authoritative voice cut through the murmurs, instantly suppressing the chatter.
“Everyone, return to your seats! This is not the time for fangirling!”
The Magical Girls quickly composed themselves and sat down, restoring order to the meeting room.
Zhang Xia introduced each Magical Girl present and their codenames one by one.
Finally, her gaze rested on Baihe Hua as she solemnly stated, “They are currently the core combat force of Red Sea City.”
“From this moment on, they will be under your complete command, fully assisting you… in capturing the witches of Red Sea City.”
Baihe Hua’s ice-blue eyes swept over the young faces filled with battle spirit.
She bowed slightly, her tone sincere, “This is the greatest help I could ask for. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Zhang Xia nodded and said no more.
“Alright, now it’s your young people’s stage. I’m leaving.”
She turned briskly and exited the meeting room.
The heavy doors closed, cutting off the outside world.
Inside, only seven young Magical Girls and the Abyssal Predecessor Baihe Hua remained.
The air instantly grew heavy and deadly silent.
Baihe Hua walked to the head of the table but did not sit down immediately.
Her gaze, like a tangible spotlight, slowly scanned each Magical Girl present.
That gaze carried scrutiny and a weighty pressure.
“Everyone,” her cold voice broke the silence, “some of you may never have truly faced a witch…”
Her gaze finally landed on Poppy, carrying a trace of understanding, “…and some of you may have already had… ‘intimate contact’ with them.”
Poppy’s body visibly stiffened, her fingers unconsciously clutching at the hem of her clothes.
Baihe Hua withdrew her gaze.
Her voice suddenly turned icy and grave, like shattering ice:
“Witches—”
“Are twisted products of evil and filth condensed.”
“They take pleasure in toying with their prey, like a cat playing with a mouse…”
“When they grow tired of the game…”
Her voice pierced everyone’s eardrums like an ice spike, “…that is when they strike the killing blow and devour you utterly!”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees.
“They are fallen Magical Girls…”
“The most complete and darkest inversion of ‘Love and Justice’!”
Baihe Hua’s words struck like a hammer upon every heart.
Mu Yurou’s hand trembled slightly on her lap, and Huang Xi immediately gripped her hand under the table.
“Our upcoming mission…”
Baihe Hua’s voice softened somewhat but remained resolute and unwavering, “…will be extremely dangerous.”
“But…”
Her ice-blue eyes flared with a sharpness like burning ice, radiating a powerful and reassuring Abyssal-class aura.
“Do not be afraid!”
“I, Baihe Hua…”
She raised her hand and declared solemnly.
“…will always be at the very front line with you!”
“Now…”
Her gaze sharpened to an intense point as she swept the room.
“Tell me everything you know…”
“About witches.”