Just as Lingling and Yang Mo reached the doorway of the Cat Cafe’s inner room, they saw a woman who left a refreshing impression.
She looked to be about twenty-five years old, with short black hair and deep blue eyes, wearing a suit and trousers that felt out of place in the relaxed environment. Before the two actually stepped inside, she was staring at the opposite side of the sofa with an emotionless gaze, gently stroking a cat lying on her lap. Besides the one on her lap, there were two more cats resting on either side of her thighs and one on her shoulder.
As the woman shifted her gaze toward Lingling and Yang Mo, the cats also seemed to notice them, scurrying away in a panic the next second. Thus, no person or thing remained in the room to disturb their meeting.
“Please sit,” she said calmly, standing up and pointing an open palm toward the seats opposite her.
From this gesture, Lingling suspected she had been trained by the same teacher as the clerk from earlier. Furthermore, the fact that those clingy cats fled the moment they saw her and Yang Mo suggested she was likely a regular here.
Lingling took her seat while thinking this, with Yang Mo following behind. Once they were both settled, the woman in the suit sat back down.
“First, let me introduce myself. My name is Lin Qingwen, a Visiting Specialist for the Support Association. You may call me Ms. Lin.”
She handed a business card to Yang Mo. Yang Mo saw that her name and title were exactly as she had stated, and her phone number was also included.
“This is my business card,” she explained. “If you encounter any difficulties later, you can contact me directly using the number on it.”
Lingling received one as well.
“All right, I understand,” Lingling said.
Hearing her speak, Yang Mo couldn’t help but swallow hard, unaware that the woman had noticed. For the first time since Lingling and Yang Mo began talking to her, a flicker of emotion appeared on Lin Qingwen’s serious face.
She gave Yang Mo a bitter smile. “Actually, you don’t need to be so nervous. I’m only here today to confirm a few simple matters. As long as you cooperate and answer a few questions, you can leave immediately.”
“I see…”
“And please rest assured, we won’t just take Ms. Lingling away without a word.”
“Oh… okay…”
Yang Mo suddenly lowered her head. From Lingling’s perspective, she could see Yang Mo’s cheeks turning slightly red; she had been seen through. Witnessing Yang Mo like this, Lingling let out a long sigh. ‘If you don’t stay a bit more composed at a time like this, you’ll be led by the nose…’ She truly wished Yang Mo could show the same nonchalance she had when taking sick leave.
Lin Qingwen maintained her smile as she checked with them. “I’m about to ask the first question. Is that all right?”
“Ask away.”
“Yes.”
After Lingling and Yang Mo gave their consent, she leaned back and sat upright to ask her first question.
“First, I’d like to confirm Ms. Lingling’s identity. According to the reports, you are a Doll created by a Witch, yet your appearance shows no difference. How is that possible?”
There was nothing to hide, so Lingling answered directly, “It’s because I’ve used Disguise Magic.”
“Then, could you please release that Magic?”
“But is it really okay here?” Lingling asked. Magic inevitably carried risks.
As if guessing her thoughts, Lin Qingwen said, “We have set up some protective measures in this Cat Cafe. For instance, the Glass Pane next to us prevents people outside from seeing in, so please don’t worry.”
“All right, then.”
Lingling then shed the Human appearance granted by the Disguise Magic, revealing the Spherical Joints and the seams on her body beneath.
“I see. It’s exactly like the remains we recovered at the Logistics Port…”
Lin Qingwen’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Lingling’s current form. However, Lingling wasn’t particularly surprised by what she said; after all, no one but the Support Association would have had the chance to recover those remains.
Lingling interrupted her train of thought. “Is there anything else to confirm?”
“Yes.”
Lin Qingwen sincerely brought her fingers together and held out her palm to Lingling. “Could you show me your Heart Weapon?”
“That’s easy.”
Lingling made a grasping motion with one hand. In the next instant, a Silver Pocket Watch appeared in her palm. Lin Qingwen started to reach out, but Lingling alertly pulled it back.
The woman had to clarify again, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch it. I only need to sense a few things from a distance.”
Only then did Lingling hold the watch a bit closer to her. Lin Qingwen held her hand near the watch and closed her eyes, as if sensing something invisible to the naked eye.
“A true Heart Weapon. I can feel Repair Magic running through it.”
“So, can you admit that I am a Magical Girl now?”
Hearing that answer, a weight was finally lifted from Lingling’s heart. However, she had already anticipated this outcome. The Support Association’s initial message mentioned a “Witness Report.” Under what circumstances would an ordinary person witness her? It had to be while she was fighting a Badma.
Lingling had thought of this earlier. Therefore, the Support Association only needed to do a little investigation to understand whether her actions thus far resembled a Badma or a Magical Girl. The only important thing in this meeting was confirming the authenticity of the Heart Weapon. To the Support Association, if even the Heart Weapon was real, there was no need to dwell on the rest.
While Lingling was feeling smug as she thought about these things, Yang Mo suddenly spoke up.
“Um… Ms. Lin, since that’s the case, could you please help Lingling in other ways as well?”
Her voice grew tense again, and her brow twitched slightly, as if it took a great deal of determination to speak. Lingling herself felt lost. ‘Helping me in other ways… which ways?’
Before she could figure it out, Lin Qingwen put on a smile and told Yang Mo, “Go ahead. If it’s within our power, we will help you.”
Thus, Yang Mo voiced her request.
“It’s… can you give Lingling a formal identity?”
At this request, Lin Qingwen showed obvious agitation. Her eyes widened even further than when she had seen Lingling’s true form, and her mouth opened involuntarily.
“By formal identity… do you mean Household Registration?”
Yang Mo nodded at her anxiously.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible. There is no precedent for such a thing.”
“What kind of precedent?” Yang Mo pressed.
“A precedent for granting Household Registration to a non-human entity… If we allowed such a thing, the social order we have built would experience problems.”
As she spoke, even Lin Qingwen’s face showed a trace of sorrow.
“If Ms. Lingling were a Human, it would be easy… So, I’m truly sorry, I cannot help you with this.”
Yang Mo slowly lowered her head as she listened, but when she looked up again, a flickering fire burned in her eyes.
“I want to use my Wishing Right. Is it still impossible, even then?”
At this moment, her voice was no longer tense; instead, it was filled with the determination of someone who had burned their bridges.
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