Xie Jingci never expected happiness to arrive so suddenly.
Just a few minutes ago, when she burst into that key person’s room and found it soaked in blood mixed with wine, her heart immediately sank.
That witness was the most crucial one and the last lead they could find. With him dead, the subsequent investigation would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
And yet, half an hour before they arrived at the scene, someone had beaten them to it and killed the witness.
There was no doubt—it was a silencing!
However, the perpetrator was extremely careful, leaving no clues in the room, and even the hotel corridor’s cameras failed to capture their figure.
If nothing unexpected happened, this lead might just end here.
But then, an unexpected turn appeared.
“She looks like this, dressed like this, and strong enough to almost knock me down.” Luo Shuangyue explained while sketching the girl’s image on the white paper that Xie Jingci handed her.
As an Initial Bloom-class Magical Girl, Luo Shuangyue’s physical strength was quite remarkable. Normally, if a girl bumped into her, she wouldn’t even flinch.
But after being hit by that girl in black clothes, she nearly fell over.
If Luo Shuangyue hadn’t been focusing all her attention on controlling her magic from going haywire, she would have noticed this anomaly much sooner.
“Oh! Great!” Xie Jingci was so excited watching the portrait gradually take shape.
When Luo Shuangyue finished the sketch, Xie Jingci couldn’t help but reach out and grab Luo Shuangyue’s hand, wanting to express her gratitude.
But that sudden grip scared Luo Shuangyue so much she jumped back ten meters like a startled rabbit.
Xie Jingci had only just felt the touch of those small hands!
Am I that terrifying? A flash of sadness crossed her eyes. “I’m a Magical Girl too, and I’m not even ugly. Why would this pretty comrade reject me so strongly?”
Then she noticed something on Luo Shuangyue’s hand, right where she had touched—suddenly dozens of sharp spikes emerged.
If Luo Shuangyue hadn’t reacted fast enough, her hand would have been pricked like a hedgehog.
“What is this…”
“My power is advancing too quickly without a stable foundation, so I came to see the Soul Summoner Princess of Jidong.” Luo Shuangyue explained frankly, with no reason to hide her true purpose.
The Soul Summoner Princess wasn’t only skilled at dealing with the wills of magical beasts, but also excelled at improving Magical Girls’ control over their magic.
For the problem Luo Shuangyue faced, coming to the Soul Summoner Princess was definitely the right medicine.
Xie Jingci had no suspicions hearing this.
Luo Shuangyue was also a Magical Girl staying in the Magic Department’s hotel, and her reason for coming to Jidong City was perfectly reasonable.
Why would anyone suspect her of killing the witness? Xie Jingci wasn’t some foolish detective.
“Those who come looking for the Soul Summoner Princess—she’s reclusive in the East District but hasn’t been seen for a long time,” Xie Jingci said, putting away the portrait she had drawn of the girl, and shared what she knew about the Soul Summoner Princess.
Being a Magical Girl from the West District, Xie Jingci didn’t know much about the East District, but she had heard of the Soul Summoner Princess.
She was a powerful Magical Girl independent of the Magic Department, considered one of Jidong City’s guardians, though she hadn’t appeared publicly for many years.
Every year, many Magical Girls tried to visit her but always returned disappointed.
Xie Jingci felt she should give Luo Shuangyue a heads-up, so she wouldn’t be too upset if she failed to meet the Soul Summoner Princess.
“Oh, by the way, I’m Xie Jingci. What’s your name?”
“Luo… Die. Just call me Die.” Luo Shuangyue almost revealed her real name but stopped after saying her surname.
She realized she definitely couldn’t use her real name here.
Please, I’m using the identity of Dark Moth now; how could I use Luo Shuangyue’s name?
Xie Jingci noticed Luo Shuangyue’s odd hesitation but didn’t press further. “Well, I’ll keep investigating. There might be others coming to ask you questions later. Just answer truthfully.”
“Got it.”
An hour later, after returning from shopping, Xia Mo listened as Luo Shuangyue recounted everything that had happened while she was gone.
Learning that a horrific murder had taken place in one of the hotel rooms just as they checked in, Xia Mo couldn’t believe it.
When she heard that the girl who had nearly knocked down Luo Shuangyue might be the killer, Xia Mo was even more stunned.
“We actually brushed past a murderer? So scary!”
The idea of crushing a killer’s head with one hand made Xia Mo shiver.
“I don’t think that counts as just brushing past. It’s more like bumping into her. If I hadn’t controlled my magic then, this case would’ve been closed already, right?” Luo Shuangyue mused aloud while flipping through the new clothes Xia Mo had bought for her.
Obviously, Xia Mo didn’t buy male clothing for Luo Shuangyue this time.
The clothes included various styles and colors, all loose, cool, casual sportswear.
As for socks, Xia Mo bought several pairs of short socks instead of long ones, probably wanting to give Luo Shuangyue a different look.
After all, black stockings can get boring; Xia Mo might want to see those fair legs of Luo Shuangyue.
“I think before that, you’ll probably get arrested by the police.” Xia Mo said firmly. “Stop thinking about all that and just fix your body.”
In this state—like a human porcupine—she could feel how prickly Luo Shuangyue was.
Finally coming to a strange city with someone she liked, finally staying in the same room, something should happen at a time like this, right?
The suite even had a small indoor pool.
But because of Luo Shuangyue’s current dire condition, Xia Mo could only watch that feast swing before her eyes and not take a bite, which was deeply frustrating.
She just wanted to heal Luo Shuangyue as soon as possible, wait for the lockdown in Jidong City to end, and then the two of them could properly enjoy the city together.
And perhaps, strengthen the relationship between them.
Xia Mo had to learn how to get along with a girl she liked, so when the time came to reveal her feelings to Luo Shuangyue, she would have the upper hand!
“This is Jidong City’s problem. Let’s fix our own problems first, then worry about those.”
Jidong City was rife with undercurrents, but for Luo Shuangyue and Xia Mo, those tides couldn’t touch them.
If they saw injustice, Xia Mo might draw her sword to help, but now, even if she wanted to help, she didn’t know how.
Jidong City wasn’t short on Initial Bloom-class fighters like her.
Besides, Xia Mo wasn’t skilled in investigation. Expecting a just-graduated high school girl to solve a case?
Come on, that’s a professional’s job. Xia Mo was a monster-fighting Magical Girl, not a detective who could see through the truth at a glance.
She’d be doing well just by not causing trouble.
A quiet night passed.
The next morning, the two got up early, dressed, ate breakfast, and headed straight toward the Soul Summoner Princess’s secluded residence.
Though reclusive, the Soul Summoner Princess’s whereabouts weren’t exactly a secret.
Every Full Bloom-class Magical Girl knew where she lived.
And many below that rank had used various means to discover her address and pay her visits.
But knowing the address and actually meeting her were two different matters.
After entering the East District from the West District of Jidong City, Luo Shuangyue truly felt the foreign atmosphere here.
This place was completely different from the West District she was familiar with.
The Soul Summoner Princess’s hidden place was a shrine imbued with East District characteristics.
“I’ve only seen this kind of building on TV before,” Xia Mo whispered to Luo Shuangyue as they climbed the long staircase.
The vermilion-colored torii gates stood on both sides of the stairs, giving the illusion of walking a path to another world.
After about ten minutes, a grand and magnificent shrine appeared before them—it was the Soul Summoner Princess’s home and also the center of her faction.
“Today isn’t a day for shrine tours. Guests, please leave.”
But as soon as they reached the gate, a Shrine Maiden sweeping the floor stopped Luo Shuangyue, shutting the door in her face.
“We came to see the Soul Summoner Princess. Dragon Princess should have already told her about this.” Xia Mo hurriedly explained their purpose, emphasizing they were not tourists.
The Shrine Maiden guarding the door gave a thoughtful look.
“Master did say she would have two guests these days, but their timing is really bad. She got an urgent phone call just after midnight and rushed out, and she still hasn’t returned.”
Such bad luck?
Luo Shuangyue scratched her head. She had just come to see the Soul Summoner Princess, but the latter had left on an emergency and hadn’t come back for half a day. That was strange.
Normally, even if a Magical Girl went out on business, it wouldn’t take more than half a day.
Unless she went far away or faced a very strong enemy—but the latter was impossible.
If such a powerful foe appeared, Xia Mo would know immediately.
The Magic Department would send an all-alert message to nearby Magical Girls.
“When will the Soul Summoner Princess return?”
“Hard to say. Normally, she should have been back by now,” the Shrine Maiden shook her head. She didn’t know either.
Usually, the Soul Summoner Princess would return after a half-day outing, but today she’d been gone half a day with no sign of return.
Seeing no chance of meeting her today, Luo Shuangyue exchanged a helpless glance with Xia Mo, preparing to turn back.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind them.
“Is Kanata here?”
“Scarlet Feather Flame Princess? What are you doing here? You’re not welcome!”
The newcomer was a girl in a red-and-white Shrine Maiden outfit.
Compared to the conservative Shrine Maiden sweeping the floor, this outfit was much more revealing and unconventional.
To some old traditionalists, this was probably an unforgivable act of desecration.
Clearly, this modern-style Shrine Maiden and the traditional one disliked each other, even to the point of mutual disdain.
“Yuan, move aside! I have urgent business with Kanata!” The Scarlet Feather Flame Princess rolled up her sleeves and tried to force her way inside.
But Yuan stood firm, holding a broom like a guardian at the gate, refusing to let Scarlet Feather Flame Princess enter.
The two fought like martial arts masters in a TV drama.
In the end, Scarlet Feather Flame Princess gained the upper hand and broke through Yuan’s defense.
“Master’s not home. You traitor, get out!” Yuan stomped angrily as Scarlet Feather Flame Princess rushed inside, chasing after her.
Left standing aside like air, Luo Shuangyue showed a look of amusement.
This brief skirmish made her realize one thing:
Both these Shrine Maidens were Magical Girls—not some newbies.
“Scarlet Feather Flame Princess? She’s apparently the Magic Department’s ace in Jidong City, and she has connections with the Soul Summoner Princess…” Xia Mo recognized the modern-styled Shrine Maiden.
She was a colleague of hers and the Magic Department’s strongest fighter, aside from the Full Bloom-class Magical Girls who were considered strategic weapons.
The short fight confirmed this—the Scarlet Feather Flame Princess quickly overcame Yuan, who was clearly weaker.
If they really fought, ten Yuan clones wouldn’t be enough to stop one Scarlet Feather Flame Princess.
“Looks like no one’s going to receive us. Should we head back or wait a bit longer?” Luo Shuangyue looked at the now unguarded gate, wondering if she should sneak inside.
But it was just a thought—Scarlet Feather Flame Princess had a connection here and could barge in.
Luo Shuangyue didn’t have that luxury; if she went in, she’d probably be kicked out immediately.
“Let’s wait a bit longer. Maybe the Soul Summoner Princess will come back soon.” Xia Mo thought it better to wait.
If they had left just now and the Soul Summoner Princess returned, that would be awkward.
“Yeah, I think so too.”
They waited a while more, but the Soul Summoner Princess didn’t return.
Instead, they saw Scarlet Feather Flame Princess being dragged out by Yuan wielding a broom.
While being expelled, Scarlet Feather Flame Princess muttered, “So she really isn’t here.”
“Get lost! Even if Master were here, she wouldn’t want to see you, traitor!” Yuan swung her broom fiercely, trying to hit Scarlet Feather Flame Princess, but the latter dodged every strike.
The disparity in their strength was obvious.
After forcing Scarlet Feather Flame Princess out, Yuan stood guard at the gate, fuming.
If the shrine had a door, she probably would have slammed it shut.
Scarlet Feather Flame Princess, meanwhile, had her eyes fixed on Xia Mo and Luo Shuangyue.