Si Beili was experienced enough that she could guess most of the situation just by looking at Wen Ling’s symptoms, without even needing to understand the case details.
It was like a proctologist in Chengdu.
No mystery to it—just a matter of seeing too much and knowing too much.
“ Tsk. ”
Jiang Yin felt a bit irritated.
“Is there any way to find the other party’s location?”
“If there was, do you think the Yuan Ming Cult would still dare to use this kind of method domestically?”
Si Beili rolled her eyes.
“No. Don’t even think about it.”
“Let me remind you of something.”
She suddenly lowered her voice.
“Don’t trust the Investigation Department too much.”
“I’m leaving. Call me if you need anything.”
***
Si Beili’s reminder wasn’t saying the Investigation Department was rotten or anything like that—just that you had to guard against spies causing sabotage from the shadows.
Why did Ning Rong tell Jiang Yin that Zhang Feng could be trusted, but also say this case would be a battle of wits?
Because this incident was likely not just the Yuan Ming Cult making trouble domestically, but also a test run by certain foreign forces reaching in.
It would be best if Jiang Yin and Zhang Feng could solve it.
If not…
Then it would be time for other departments hidden in the shadows to step in.
Which departments?
Relevant Department!
Fine, to be honest, Jiang Yin didn’t know either.
But by rational deduction, she couldn’t believe that the rabbit’s habit of hiding all the good stuff didn’t also include secret magical girl powers—just think about the 9.3 Military Parade.
If the recent international tensions hadn’t forced the rabbit to show off some muscle, who would’ve guessed so many good things were stashed at home!?
And that was just the Current Equipment…
What did Current Equipment mean?
It meant that this stuff had already been secretly in service for several years in small batches, with countless exercises, but only now brought out for the public to see.
Strike! All! Around! The! Globe!
So, Jiang Yin actually wasn’t particularly tense.
Especially for cases involving foreign forces, all they could really do was ‘resolve specific cases’—as for those grand back-and-forth games behind the scenes…
Leave that headache for the higher-ups.
——The first thing she learned as an office worker was how to throw blame upwards!
“What do you plan to do?”
Seeing Wen Ling still asleep, Jiang Yin had just stepped out of the room when she spotted Zhang Feng hiding in the corner smoking.
She casually stole a cigarette and lit it.
The girl frowned.
“I want to go to the starting point of the incident.”
“Using the Program Team’s name.”
“You mean that place in the neighboring province…”
“Yeah.”
Jiang Yin nodded.
“I just feel like there’s something off there, maybe something else is hidden. I heard it’s even become a minor tourist spot?”
“Oh, right.”
“Before that, it’d be best to bring Zhuo Xun’s mother to the Bureau for a couple of days.”
“Why?”
Zhang Feng was a bit puzzled; he couldn’t keep up with Jiang Yin’s train of thought.
“I wasn’t even planning to have any official contact with Zhuo Xun’s mother, given the circumstances…”
“I think it’s better if she doesn’t know.”
Zhang Feng’s eyes darkened a little.
He recalled a similar case he’d handled before—also foreign forces, also a cult, also the victim’s mother.
They’d solved the case, the criminal was brought to justice, but still got scolded harshly.
——Because the cult’s main body was in Bangzi Nation, they had no cross-border enforcement ability, and couldn’t catch the real mastermind.
“Why let her know, then?”
Jiang Yin grinned slyly.
“We just need to find a reason to invite her over for a couple of days, that’s all!”
Then she sighed.
“Let’s protect her for now. Seeing how the culprit dared to play spooky tricks knowing you’re an investigator, I think either they’re completely insane or there’s some hidden reason we don’t know yet.”
“That is a suspicious point.”
The reason Zhang Feng hadn’t acted was because he couldn’t figure it out—it was too abstract.
If the shadow from before was the culprit trying to scare them, then what was the purpose?
At the time, they hadn’t leaked any information.
Was the point to make the Bureau increase its investigation?
But the culprit only appeared to frighten them for a moment and didn’t silence Wen Ling.
There wasn’t even any sign of an attack.
Yet, if the culprit had no malice, then why was Wen Ling targeted the moment she returned?
Either way, Zhang Feng couldn’t figure it out even after racking his brains, so he simply nodded.
“Let’s proceed as planned. I’m worried about more victims appearing.”
“I feel like there’s more to this.”
“Wen Ling’s information is too limited. Tomorrow, I’ll personally call the relevant people for questioning. You protect Wen Ling, and follow the original schedule tomorrow.”
***
“Jiang Yin! Was I really cursed yesterday?!”
The next day, upon learning that she’d wandered near Ghost Gate last night, Wen Ling wasn’t scared at all.
Instead, her big eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“What was I like at the time? How did I get cursed? And, and…”
“Alright, alright, stop asking.”
Jiang Yin got a headache from her barrage of questions.
She stood up, pressed Wen Ling back into her seat, then sat down and opened her notebook.
“So you really can’t remember anything at all? Was there anything strange about your death-seeking squad, or anyone behaving weirdly?”
“Nope.”
Wen Ling shrugged helplessly.
“Sis Ning asked all those questions too. I’ve tried to recall so many times. All the useful information’s already been said. As for the useless stuff…”
“Are you interested in love-hate gossip between seniors and juniors?”
“Not interested!”
Jiang Yin rolled her eyes.
If it was important, Ning Rong would have reminded her.
Since she hadn’t, it was clearly just pure gossip.
“Then let’s go shopping!”
“I heard from Sis Ning you can only buy kids’ clothes…”
“Hey! That’s slander!”
Jiang Yin slammed the table, face flushing red.
“Who wears kids’ clothes?! Who does?! I just bought a size smaller online! That doesn’t count as kids’ clothes!”
“Hahahahaha~”
“Jiang Yin, your reaction is so funny.”
“Can’t figure you out at all.”
Seeing her cheerful face, the girl instantly deflated, collapsing on the table and biting her pen.
“You’re not scared at all?”
“You were cursed, you know?”
“Because being scared doesn’t help…”
Wen Ling also quieted.
She lowered her eyes, a maturity and sorrow not fitting her age showing through.
“What’s the point in being scared after it’s already happened?”
“So why did you do it?”
“Because…”
She sighed.
Looking out at the bright, green world beyond the window, at the blue sky and white clouds, her back to the girl.
There was emotion in her voice—though it was unclear which feeling was strongest.
“I liked Senior Zihan. I didn’t want to see another girl as dazzling as summer flowers have her rosy life shattered. That would be a regret.”
“I also liked Senior Zhuo Xun. I didn’t want to see another gentle boy like him have his brilliant future tainted by injustice. That would be unwillingness.”
At this, she turned back.
Still smiling foolishly, but beautifully, she twirled a strand of hair shyly around her finger.
“Of course, I also don’t want a beautiful, clever, radiant, elegant, double-ten-years-old, gor…gorg…gorgeous magical girl like myself to die a tragic death!”
“Using everything you’ve got, huh?”
Jiang Yin teased with a smile.
“How about our magical girl Wen Ling goes back to elementary school for a refresher?”
Wen Ling: “….”