“A-A Li! You’re here!”
Little Fox Spirit’s eyes welled up with tears, her ears and tail perking up in excitement.
This was the first time in her life she’d ever been so happy to see Xiaoxi— in the Great Chaos Era, every time she saw Xiaoxi, wasn’t she always skirting around, scared of getting beaten up?
Black Rose looked up at Xiaoxi, who was transformed in her [Venus] form and suspended in midair. Under this night sky, she truly looked as dazzling and resplendent as the starlight, radiating authority. Yet Black Rose did not panic; she merely let out a soft, confused gasp.
As a meeting point, this remote suburb of Summersea City was secluded and well-hidden enough.
Miss L had only just arrived when Black Rose set her sights on her— she had already confirmed that Minister Lin didn’t have any personnel with her before making a move, but she hadn’t expected to draw the attention of such a formidable character.
Neither of the two took action right away; instead, Black Rose sized up Xiaoxi from head to toe, her eyes filled with delight.
“At last, I have the fortune to meet you, Eternal Star… I’m your fan!”
Xiaoxi: “?”
The excitement in Black Rose’s eyes didn’t seem faked, but her reaction was clearly beyond Xiaoxi’s expectations.
Aren’t villains who skulk in the shadows supposed to be ruthless? Why does this feel more like a fan meet and greet?
“I thought you’d already retired. I never imagined you’d still be active in Summersea City. It’s so great to see you!”
“I’d like that too. If there were fewer people like you around, maybe I could retire in peace. You think I want to run out to this godforsaken place in the middle of the night?”
Miss L couldn’t help but agree—after all, late at night was the perfect time to chat with her little girlfriend, so being called out here must really have annoyed A Xing.
In fact, before leaving home, Xiaoxi had promised Ye Xinglan that she’d play games with her.
Who knew, just as the two of them started a match—when the game was still in the loading screen—
Something happened, and Xiaoxi was forced to go AFK.
Given Ye Xinglan’s game-addicted personality, Xiaoxi figured she’d have a hard time coaxing her little Rich Girl back into a good mood after this.
“I’ve always wanted to have a chat with you,” Black Rose went on, unconcerned.
“You must’ve refused to join the Association because you can’t stand the way they do things, right? So? Want to hear about my plan?”
“I have a feeling we share the same ideals. Join me—my plan can… completely purify this broken world!”
Every time Black Rose brought up this topic, she seemed to become a different person—almost fanatical. Xiaoxi frowned.
She’d seen this same look far too often in members of the Divine Summon Order.
Each of them seemed brainwashed by some cult… To put it nicely, “they have unrealistic fantasies.”
To put it bluntly, “they’ve lost their minds.”
She had always thought Black Rose, who was so cautious and careful, would be a shrewd and difficult opponent, but she hadn’t expected her to be a lunatic.
“No thanks,” Xiaoxi refused as bluntly as someone turning down an insurance salesman. “I’d advise you to surrender. I haven’t fought with my full strength in a long time—I’m worried I won’t be able to hold back if things get rough.”
Disappointment flickered across Black Rose’s face. Eternal Star really wasn’t so easy to talk to. It looked like she’d have to use more direct methods to make her listen.
“I know you’re strong, but you’d better understand the situation—I still have two hostages, you know.”
Black Rose intended to kill Fox Momomo as a warning.
As long as those black tattoos were still attached to Fox Momomo’s table, Black Rose could make them instantly consume half of Fox Momomo’s body. Not even Eternal Star could react in time.
Black Rose snapped her fingers lightly… but nothing happened.
“Huh?”
She turned around in confusion, only to find Miss L and Fox Momomo already surrounded by a faint violet Barrier.
Eight sixteenth notes floated quietly around the two of them, forming a cube-shaped Barrier at their connection points, completely wrapping the pair inside.
Black Rose recognized these musical notes—this was Bailing Songstress Muxingge’s handiwork. So Eternal Star had only been chatting with her just now to distract her attention.
“You think we never studied your ability? That Monster attack at Beidajie Shopping Mall last time was your doing, right?”
The Dark Serpent coiled around Miss L’s wrist dropped lifelessly to the floor. Miss L smiled lightly, adjusting her glasses.
Ever since Xiaoxi and Muxingge realized that Monster was being controlled by someone, the Association had been researching ways to counter Black Rose’s ability.
“As long as we cut off the magic link, you can’t control your little black things anymore, right?”
This was a common flaw of manipulation-type abilities. Just like the Puppeteer Monster Xiaoxi had encountered at the theater before—the Threads were its medium for controlling puppets.
As long as the Threads were cut, the magic link was severed, and it could no longer control the puppets.
Black Rose’s ability worked the same way. Even if her methods were more sophisticated than that Puppeteer Monster, in the end, it still depended on magic to control things.
With the plan a success, Muxingge dropped her pretense and flew over from nearby. Judging by Muxingge’s smiling—yet clearly furious—expression, she was in a fiery mood.
“Alright, Lin! You kept this from me for so long, I knew you were still sneaking around behind my back and staying in touch with A Xing!”
“A Xing, you’ve got guts too. Last time you ran away so fast, after we’re done today you’re drinking with me or else! If you try to bail again, you’re dead meat!”
“And you, you damn fox, the first time we caught you I felt sorry and let you off, and now you’ve been spreading rumors, huh?”
Muxingge didn’t even glance at Black Rose when she arrived, instead lashing out at the three people present one after another.
Muxingge had a habit of getting rough during interrogations, but the first time they’d caught Fox Momomo, she actually hadn’t used force.
After all, everyone had felt pity for the soft, cute, and apologetic little fox girl and let her off. Who knew this little brat was the type to forget the lesson and only remember the food?
Fox Momomo’s ears drooped. Sister Xingge was as hot-tempered as ever.
But this time, Fox Momomo had only spoken ill of Sister Xingge because she had no choice—she probably wouldn’t mind, right?
Black Rose let out a long, enlightened “ahhh.”
She’d checked Fox Momomo before, confirmed that this little fox hadn’t arranged any signals with Miss L, but now she finally realized how the two of them had passed on information.
Miss L pulled out her phone from her jacket pocket and ended the call right in front of Black Rose.
She’d never told Fox Momomo that, even if A Xing wasn’t present, she’d be eavesdropping on their meeting via phone, so Black Rose couldn’t have learned this from Fox Momomo.
Miss L trusted that Fox Momomo was clever enough.
When she draped her jacket over Fox Momomo’s shoulders, she’d taken the chance to straighten it and pat the pocket, letting Fox Momomo feel the phone inside through the fabric.
Fox Momomo could instantly guess why Miss L always chatted with her before each handoff.
So next, when Miss L brought up Muxingge, the little fox played along without hesitation, speaking ill of Muxingge and successfully passing on the message.
However, the Monster’s enormous body could only hold out for two or three seconds under their combined attack.
Just as the Monster was about to be torn apart by a massive beam of light, Xiaoxi suddenly frowned and withdrew her hand.
“That Black Rose is a fake—her real body isn’t there anymore!”
The “Black Rose” standing in place didn’t move a muscle.
At the instant the Monster’s body swelled to block her from view, she pulled a switch.
Now, a Shadow was darting toward the Magic Girls’ encirclement.
Black Rose was incredibly fast, and the one standing in her way was Shandie!
“Get out of the way! You don’t need to stop her!”
Xiaoxi shouted, confident she could catch up to Black Rose.
But in that instant of exchange, Xiaoxi realized just how terrifying Black Rose’s true strength was—she could just barely qualify as S-Class, and Shandie definitely couldn’t take on an opponent like her!
The black tattoos all covered Black Rose’s Right Arm, transforming into a pitch-black, fearsome claw!
Xiaoxi instantly switched to [Morning Star] form, her starlight-forged Knight’s Longsword slashing toward Black Rose!
Shandie’s face was expressionless. In her eyes, the whole scene seemed to slow down, like watching a slow-motion replay.
Both Black Rose and Eternal Star were rushing toward her. If she struck at Eternal Star now, she might give Black Rose the chance to escape.
“…Sorry.”
Shandie lowered her head, no longer looking at Black Rose.
The butterfly wings behind her folded around her like a shield, but Shandie didn’t step aside.
Everything happened in an instant. With a thunderous crash, all Magic Girls in the Association ranked B-Rank and above rushed to support Eternal Star.
As the dust settled, everyone saw the scene before them—
In [Morning Star] form, with a single high ponytail and clad in a lightweight knight’s outfit, Xiaoxi looked heroic and valiant.
The starlight-forged Knight’s Longsword was already buried a few inches into Black Rose’s shoulder, black blood flowing down from the wound. The outcome was decided.
Black Rose failed to escape. Shandie’s attempt to block her didn’t change anything—because Xiaoxi was faster, intercepting Black Rose before she could injure Shandie.
With a flick of Xiaoxi’s hand, the bloodstained sword was pressed against Black Rose’s neck.
“You’ve lost. Don’t waste any more effort struggling.”
“Eternal Star… You clearly don’t agree with the Association’s methods. Why do you still work for them?”
Black Rose seemed not to care at all about the gash in her shoulder.
Her eyes were filled with disappointment, and even when Muxingge came to take her away, she kept staring at Xiaoxi, never sparing a glance at Shandie.
Xiaoxi felt nothing about this, nor did she think much of it.
She’d seen far too many lunatics like Black Rose and had gotten used to ignoring their rants.
Yet, to Xiaoxi’s surprise, Shandie suddenly called out to her from behind.
“Um, Eternal Star… Senior, I’m your fan…”
Xiaoxi thought, why does everyone today say they’re my fan… Oh, but Shandie really was an Eternal Star fan.
She remembered Shandie mentioning it the last time they chatted at a restaurant.
“Thank you. Want an autograph—? You were very brave just now, but if you’re in a similar situation next time, I think you should prioritize your own safety.”
“No need… I just wanted to tell you, you’re the one who gave me the dream to become a Magic Girl…”
“Well, that really is my honor.” Xiaoxi smiled, sizing up Shandie. “Looks like you’ve realized your dream now.”
Xiaoxi had always disliked the idolization of Magic Girls, but seeing people inspired to grow stronger because of her wasn’t a bad feeling.
Elsewhere, Muxingge had just secured the Heavy Offender Black Rose and was about to invite Xiaoxi out for drinks and a catch-up.
But as soon as she turned around, she realized Xiaoxi was already gone.
“Lin! Where’s A Xing?”
“How would I know?” Miss L spread her hands innocently. “I’m just a desk worker. If she wants to leave, I couldn’t stop her anyway.”
“You totally let her go on purpose! Who are you kidding! That jerk, I just warned her not to run off again…”
Looking at Muxingge gritting her teeth, Miss L thought, at a time like this, forget trying to catch up with A Xing—she’s probably hurrying home to be with her little girlfriend.
Isn’t a girlfriend more important than a few old friends?
At that moment, the phone in her pocket rang. Miss L picked up, and after listening for a few seconds, her expression turned serious.
“Quit complaining, Xingge. You’ll be seeing A Xing again very soon.”
After hanging up, Miss L immediately called Xiaoxi.
“Don’t go just yet, A Xing, hurry back—I just received a report. There are signs of Blood Moon Witch activity near the outskirts of the city.”
Sorry, A Xing. Looks like I’m going to have to interrupt your time with your little girlfriend again… Miss L thought to herself.
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