Chapter 105: Duo Collaboration, Meow?

Although magic power has become quite common nowadays, it’s nearly impossible for ordinary people to obtain magic power through legitimate means.

Except for the Magical Girls registered with the Association who can freely use magic power, all documented Monsters are restricted under magic power control.

However, there are exceptions—like Mo Lan’er.

Alanbel’s luck ability functions more like a passive skill; even if Mo Lan’er wanted to turn it off, she couldn’t. But cases like hers are rare.

Therefore, wherever there are rules, there are always those who break them to make money. Magic power trading has thus become a classic item in the Black Market.

Magic power sometimes acts like fuel. For example, if a regular person sneaks in a Magic Device, they still need some magic power to activate it, right?

So Black Market dealers who sell Magic Devices usually offer bonus magic power along with the sale.

But Mo Lan’er can’t buy magic power through Black Market channels inevitably monitored by the Association.

She also can’t find a covert and safe channel in the short term, so after some hesitation, she had no choice but to use a rather unsafe trading route.

“If it really doesn’t work, Miss, you can absorb some magic power from me to last two days. I can output a bit more magic power without the Association noticing. I’ll keep looking for more reliable channels…”

“It’s really fine, Alan. Unless Eternal Star suddenly appears out of nowhere, what danger could I possibly encounter?”

Ye Xinglan was full of confidence, which eased Mo Lan’er’s worries a bit. She stood up from the sofa.

“Well, I’ll head off now before Xiaoxi finds out I came. Miss, contact me anytime if there’s any problem.”

Mo Lan’er left in a hurry, unaware that Xiaoxi wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon today—Xiaoxi was having an unlucky day working overtime at the Association.

At that moment, inside the Association’s Conference Room, Miss L stood before a projection screen. Everyone from the Mu Xingge Squad sat around the table, each holding a copy of the briefing materials.

It was unusual that the discussion wasn’t in Miss Shan’s office, which indicated this was a formal meeting. Xiaoxi was tricked back by Miss Shan just as she was about to leave work.

“The target of this mission is hidden in the Old Town. This time you’ll work in pairs: Mu Xingge with Xiaohongmao, Sirius with Shandie. Any questions?”

Shandie frowned. Not only was the mission location in Old Town, but she was paired with Sirius. She seriously suspected this mission might be a setup against her.

Could it be that Sirius recklessly confronted her because she’d already leaked information to Minister L?

Xiaoxi felt awkward. She hadn’t expected that right after talking with Shandie, Miss Shan would pair them together.

She looked up and met Shandie’s gaze, giving a friendly smile—after all, personal grudges shouldn’t affect mission cooperation.

“Shandie, let’s work well together.”

Shandie didn’t respond, and Xiaoxi’s smile only confirmed Shandie’s suspicion that this grouping was intentional. Shandie was now very wary of Xiaoxi.

But Shandie had truly misunderstood Xiaoxi. Miss Shan’s grouping was simply to balance strength: two S-Class Magical Girls paired with two D-Class rookies. It maximizes average combat power during split operations.

“This mission’s target is tough. You are the Mu Xingge Squad, the strongest squad in Xiahai City in terms of overall strength. So the main assault will be entrusted to you.”

Miss L gave Xiaoxi a subtle glance. Xiaoxi understood—the target must be really tricky.

Xiaohongmao chuckled. Strongest squad?

Clearly, it was Senior Xingge, the S-Class Magical Girl, dragging the other three dead weight members.

They called it the main assault team, but the real attacker was only Mu Xingge.

“The wanted Monster fugitive, codename Butcher,” Miss Shan brought up a photo on the screen, “This man previously trafficked Monsters and organs in North Blossom City. He disappeared for a long time after escaping and was recently confirmed to be hiding in Old Town of Xiahai City.”

The photo showed a muscular, fierce-looking man covered with scars. His Monster features were obvious—he had four arms, resembling the Four-Armed Warrior from Ben 10.

Xiaoxi’s heart jolted. Now she understood why the Association took this mission so seriously. Trafficking Monsters is a grave crime.

It’s no different from slave trading in the Middle Ages—treating Monsters as less than human.

Such practices were strictly banned after The Great Chaos Era ended. Anyone still doing this must be ruthless criminals.

“But this photo is only for reference. The Butcher’s Monster ability is quite unique and blood-related. He can manipulate his own and others’ flesh and blood. When he escaped from North Blossom City, he wore someone else’s face. Now he probably has a completely new identity.”

“During the operation, all main roads in Old Town will be sealed off, and you are authorized to detain all suspicious individuals.”

“No, rather, all suspicious individuals must be detained first. This mission operates on ‘guilty until proven innocent.’ After thorough checks, you can release them. Understood?”

Xiaoxi carefully reviewed the target’s profile and the operation plan again.

Suddenly, a thought popped into her head: Looks like she wouldn’t make it home by noon tomorrow to cook for Ye Xinglan after all.

Since starting this relationship, her concerns had multiplied. Back when she was an active Magical Girl, Xiaoxi never cared so much.

If Monsters appeared, she’d just find a secluded spot to transform and rush off without a second thought.

During these three years of retirement, Xiaoxi had always scoffed at the trouble of finding a partner.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been pressured into blind dates by her elders. She once believed she’d be single forever as a homebody.

Then she met Ye Xinglan. Now, if anyone asked whether being single or in a relationship was better, Xiaoxi could only say… it’s surprisingly great.

……

“I’m back—” Xiaoxi entered, and Ye Xinglan came forward to greet her. “Sorry, there was a last-minute meeting, so I got home late.”

“It’s okay. Maybe I should cook from now on?” Ye Xinglan took Xiaoxi’s bag. “You’re so busy at work, and it’s no good for me to just sit at home doing nothing.”

Ye Xinglan showed a certain domestic sensibility. Previously, Xiaoxi had done the cooking because they agreed she’d handle the spoiled rich girl’s meals.

But times had changed; of course, Ye Xinglan cared about her little girlfriend.

“Ahem, well, it’s not necessary. It’s not always this busy,” Xiaoxi politely declined. Actually, a couple of days ago Ye Xinglan had enthusiastically offered to cook for her. Xiaoxi had praised the dish with, “It looks as beautiful and dark as your eyes, baby.”

Since that day, Xiaoxi quietly resolved to never let Ye Xinglan cook again.

Not because she disliked Ye Xinglan’s cooking—how could she dislike her girlfriend’s food?

She simply couldn’t bear to let her girlfriend work hard.

“Oh, by the way, I have to work overtime and execute a mission at noon tomorrow. I probably won’t be back in time to cook.”

Ye Xinglan pouted. “What mission? The Association really is ruthless, always squeezing labor out of you.”

Of course, Xiaoxi couldn’t reveal the mission details to Ye Xinglan and only smiled, saying it was nothing troublesome.

But Ye Xinglan felt secretly delighted hearing the news. What a coincidence! She planned to go to Old Town tomorrow to trade magic power.

Xiaoxi working overtime saved her the trouble of making up an excuse to go out.

“Um… Xinglan, it’s still daytime. Shouldn’t we at least wait until nighttime to talk about these things?”

Xiaoxi’s reminder brought Ye Xinglan back to her senses. She realized she had somehow been clinging to Xiaoxi, her nose pressed greedily against Xiaoxi’s neck, softly nuzzling.

Ye Xinglan quickly stepped back, forcing herself to suppress the redness in her eyes and the urge to stretch out her tentacles.

Her craving to absorb magic power was growing stronger and harder to control.

Just now, she had been intoxicated by the magic power scent emanating from Xiaoxi.

Strangely enough, Xiaoxi was just a D-Rank Magical Girl; her magic power reserves should be pitifully low.

Yet Ye Xinglan found Xiaoxi’s magic power scent incredibly delicious… Could it be that Xiaoxi actually had a talent for being a Magical Girl?

Whatever the case, Ye Xinglan resolved to solve this problem tomorrow.

Otherwise, living so close to Xiaoxi would be like locking a hungry wolf with a plump, juicy little lamb in one cage.

Ye Xinglan truly feared losing control and devouring Xiaoxi dry someday.