Late at night, at the Moxie Headquarters in Ye City.
“Mr. Song… we were wrong.”
“We’re sorry… Please… don’t… don’t do this anymore… ah!”
A series of sounds, suggestive and wavering, echoed in a certain hidden basement of the headquarters, a place no one would ever discover.
At this moment, Jie Li and Star Splitter were completely bound from head to toe with red ribbons, their full chests and round, perky hips maliciously outlined by the restraints.
If it had been anyone else daring to show such disrespect to the lofty Magical Girls, they would’ve been instantly blasted to ashes.
Yet before this person, Star Splitter and Jie Li didn’t dare utter a single complaint.
All they could do was beg:
“Please… let us go, Mr. Song…”
“We’re sorry…”
“Hmph, useless!”
The one addressed as Mr. Song was dressed in a gray suit, his face caked with powder, an image of a successful professional, yet bearing a hint of wickedness—even effeminacy.
This “woman” was named Song Fanchun, a member of one of today’s Eight Great Clans, the Pingbei Song Clan.
Aside from being a clan member, she had another identity—Vice President of the Ye City Moxie.
It was said this Vice President’s position was earned back when Song Fanchun was still a man.
To gain extraordinary Miracle Power, she decisively chose to become a Magical Girl, climbing the ranks step by step through hunting Monsters to reach this post.
Looking at the two Magical Girls who had failed their task, Song Fanchun snorted coldly, her voice raspy and coquettish like a drake:
“You didn’t catch the unlicensed Magical Girl, fine. But you actually let a Monster steal the Demonic Armament. Do you have any idea how much that weapon costs?”
“What did the agreement say when you signed the Contract? As Magical Girls, you only have usage rights for the Demonic Armament, not ownership. Now that you’ve lost a weapon issued by the Association, all the losses caused to the Association will be reclaimed from you!”
As she spoke, there were staff members beside her, expressionless, focused intently on taking pictures of the two exposed Magical Girls.
According to the agreement signed when they became Contract Magical Girls, if the Demonic Armament was lost by accident, Moxie had the right to recover the Debt by any means necessary.
These photos would later be sold at a high price to the rich and powerful in exchange for various Resources.
After her subordinates took several thick stacks of photos, Song Fanchun felt it was enough.
She waved her hand, signaling them to release Star Splitter and Jie Li, and said sternly:
“Tell me, why did this mission fail?”
“Mr. Song!” As soon as she was freed, Star Splitter hurried to explain:
“It was the Black Knight! If not for it, that unlicensed Magical Girl would never have escaped! Jie Li’s Magic Staff was also taken by it!”
“You mean the Black Mist Monster?”
Song Fanchun was taken aback.
During the Eastern Building battle, the Black Mist Monster had already achieved a shocking record of defeating more than twenty Magical Girl Interns in its first fight.
As a Monster, it was formidable, but what concerned Song Fanchun even more was its Miracle Power.
According to the Magical Girls who’d fought in the Eastern Building, it possessed an ability that could deduct funds from the opposing side’s deposits.
Just imagining that every punch landed would cost her side over a dozen bucks made Song Fanchun’s mouth twitch.
Honestly, even she wouldn’t want to face the Black Knight:
“Hmph, making excuses! Have you considered that maybe you’re the problem if you can’t beat a Monster?”
Song Fanchun snorted again, but didn’t linger on the topic:
“Enough. The remaining Debt you owe Moxie, you’ll repay by hunting Monsters. Are you aware of the Worm Mother in the sewers?”
Star Splitter and Jie Li nodded frantically, like pecking chicks.
“The Worm Mother’s offspring seem to have a Coin-collecting Ability.”
Song Fanchun’s gaze grew distant:
“If we can catch it, control its money-collecting ability, and mass-produce Worm Monsters, our Ye City Moxie could become the most lucrative branch. Unfortunately, most of the Magical Girls in the organization have been transferred to the provincial Moxie, leaving only a few useless ones like you. Hmph… I want you to redeem yourselves. Capture the Worm Mother at any cost!”
The two nodded anxiously, then timidly asked:
“B-but, Mr. Song, what if we run into the Black Knight again? Its Miracle Power is almost bankrupting me…”
“My Armament was stolen too…”
“Hah, useless.”
Song Fanchun shot them a look of disdain.
She knew that relying solely on these two Magical Girls’ abilities would never be enough to defeat the Black Knight.
As someone well-versed in control, after the stick, she would offer the carrot:
“Don’t say I never look out for you. These are good things—if not for your pitiful state, I wouldn’t bother.”
She pulled out two sheets of paper she’d prepared and tossed them in front of Star Splitter and Jie Li.
“What… what are these?”
“One is a High-interest Loan, the other is Battle High-value Insurance,” Song Fanchun explained leisurely:
“With the High-interest Loan, you’ll owe a hundred thousand a month in interest, but in return, you can use the money to rent a slumber-grade Demonic Armament from the Association. Of course, you don’t have to borrow, but if you fail to capture the Worm Mother, the consequences will be very serious.”
Jie Li and Star Splitter both turned pale, nodding with unwillingness and fear.
“Okay, Mr. Song. Then… what about the insurance?”
They replied in trembling voices.
“The Battle High-value Insurance will saddle you with five million in Debt right away.”
Song Fanchun explained calmly:
“But, all losses incurred in a single battle will be compensated by an Insurance Company in cooperation with Moxie. If possible, I hope you never have to use it.”
“Remember: when pursuing the Worm Mother, only success is allowed. Failure is not an option. Otherwise…”
Song Fanchun stared fixedly at Jie Li and Star Splitter.
Her face, pitted from years of excessive cosmetics, stretched into a hideous smile:
“For the rest of your lives, you’ll debut as Magical Girl a, v, actresses to repay the Association’s kindness!”
“Y-yes!”
The two nodded, tears welling in their eyes.
“Xiaoling, where did this Magic Staff come from?”
Back at home, Lu Liang asked Lu Xiaoling about the origin of the Magic Staff, though he already knew.
A flicker of panic flashed across her face.
“It—it was a gift from a friend!”
“Oh, a friend, huh.”
Lu Liang grinned mischievously in his heart, delighting in teasing his sister with secrets.
He put on a puzzled face and asked:
“What kind of friend?”
“Just a…”
Lu Xiaoling snatched the Magic Staff back from Lu Liang, pouting and looking annoyed:
“Brother, are you trying to bully me again?”
“When did I ever?”
Lu Liang looked innocent.
“Hmph, every time you want to bully me you make that evil grin.”
Hmm?
Lu Liang subconsciously touched his mouth.
Not good! I slipped up! Even I have unconscious habits!
While Lu Liang was rubbing his mouth…
“Brother.” Lu Xiaoling suddenly hugged Lu Liang’s waist, her plump little face pressed against his chest, looking up at him:
“You don’t have to work so hard from now on… Our family will be rich soon.”
Feeling Lu Xiaoling trembling slightly from excitement, Lu Liang’s gaze softened.
He patted her head affectionately and nodded:
“Mm, I know. Our family will be rolling in money very soon…”