Qianling glanced at the wreckage of Number One, then looked down at her own apron, only to find both sides covered in the lime powder that had just been scattered everywhere. Even if she tried to pat it off, only a portion stuck to the surface would come off.
Looks like I won’t be able to wear this for now.
She sighed, then simply used the dirty apron as a rag to wipe the powder from her hands.
Afterwards, she took out her phone with clean hands and began dialing the only number saved in her contacts.
Come to think of it, it’s quite the coincidence that both the new clothes and phone card she’d prepared just yesterday happened to come in handy.
As she waited for the call to be picked up, Qianling looked around her.
Traces of her battle with Number One were everywhere. There was no way she could just sweep this under the rug given the mess she’d made.
Within this space, although the magic that lowered her presence was still in effect, it would completely dissipate in a few hours. By then, others were sure to discover what had happened here.
Moreover… after defeating Number One, there was still something I couldn’t handle on my own.
Just as she was thinking this, the call connected.
“Hello? Qianling, is there something you need help with, calling at this hour?”
Yang Mo’s somewhat worried voice came through the receiver.
It seemed she still remembered their agreement—that if Qianling reached out, it was likely because she’d run into trouble.
So Qianling briefly explained, “I just finished off the other doll. There’s a few things here I can’t handle alone, so…”
She hadn’t finished when Yang Mo immediately cut in, “Where are you? My sister and I will be right there!”
“No need to rush. Nothing urgent on my end. You and your sister should finish up what you’re doing,” Qianling replied.
She was telling the truth—since as long as the magic inside this space hadn’t faded, there was no need to worry about being found out.
There would be more than enough time for the sisters to return from the cemetery and come here.
But upon hearing her, Yang Mo’s voice only grew more anxious.
“My sister and I already came down the mountain! What about you, Qianling… Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“No… I’m perfectly fine.”
“Really? You’re not just acting tough?”
“Really. Is that how you see me—someone who pretends to be strong?” Qianling tried to lighten the mood with a joke.
She hadn’t expected the response to be a flat, emotionless “…Mm.”
A heavy mood gradually seeped through the line.
“…”
Qianling found herself at a loss for words.
After a short silence on both ends, Yang Mo spoke up again. “Anyway… as long as you’re okay! Hurry up and send me your location!”
She sounded relieved, her usual cheerfulness returning to her voice. Qianling decided not to dwell on the earlier awkwardness.
“I’ll send it right now.”
With that, she used the app Yang Mo had helped her register to send her location.
A short while later, Yang Mo and Yang Xia arrived at the logistics port.
Unlike Qianling, they couldn’t just stroll in openly, so Qianling went out to meet them by the roadside.
“Qianling~”
From a distance, Yang Mo called her name and ran over.
When she got close, she let out a little cry of surprise.
“Why are you covered in flour or something?”
“During the fight, I burst a bag of lime.”
Qianling kept her explanation short.
At that moment, Yang Xia walked up to them. Unlike Yang Mo, she didn’t look happy at all—she started complaining the moment she saw Qianling.
“We took a taxi here, you know. Do you have any idea how much it cost from where we were…”
“Um… sorry.”
That was all Qianling could say at that point.
She then extended her hands to Yang Mo and Yang Xia, telling them, “Take my hands. That way, you’ll both be within the range of my Stealth Magic.”
This was necessary in order to enter the logistics port.
Yang Mo had already experienced this once on the rooftop, so she grabbed Qianling’s hand with a smile.
Yang Xia, however, looked at her hand in disgust. “There’s so much dust. Can’t you wipe your hands first?”
“I already did!”
Even so, Yang Xia hesitated several times before finally taking her hand.
With that, Qianling led them both to the scene.
At first, the two were stunned by the brutal signs of battle. After a look around, their gazes finally settled on the motionless doll.
Yang Mo crouched beside Number One’s remains, carefully brushing its hair aside with some regret.
“It really does look almost exactly like you, Qianling…”
She looked up and asked, “Can it be repaired?”
“If it could, that would be a real problem…”
Qianling reminded her, “Don’t forget, it’s nothing but a killing machine. Don’t let its appearance fool you into feeling sorry for it.”
“I know, it’s just a shame…”
Looking at Yang Mo’s reluctant expression, Qianling thought back to how they’d first met.
Come to think of it, wasn’t I picked up by her from a pile of scrap too…?
Given that, she wasn’t surprised at all by Yang Mo’s reaction.
From the beginning, Yang Xia had her arms crossed and now interrupted her trip down memory lane.
“So, what exactly do you need our help with here?”
“It’s very simple.”
Facing her, and after glancing at Yang Mo to make sure they were both listening, Qianling explained, “I want you to report defeating the doll as your own accomplishment.”
“Huh?”
“What? Why?”
Yang Mo and Yang Xia both stared at her in disbelief.
Qianling put one hand on her hip, raised her index finger with a hint of pride, and continued, “Don’t you remember? I’m still wanted by the magical girls, at least on that so-called message board.”
“Ah… Don’t tell me…”
Yang Mo immediately caught on, eyes wide, and clapped her fist into her palm.
“That’s exactly it.”
Qianling switched her gesture to a thumbs-up.
“You’ll report that ‘I’ was defeated by you two. Honestly, the only reason I left it alone before was because I was worried more dolls might appear.”
Yang Xia was so shocked by her plan that her jaw nearly dropped. When she recovered, she muttered, “Well, I gotta say, you sure are full of tricks…”
So, a few minutes later, a new post appeared on the magical girls’ message board.
Successful Subjugation of Doll-Type Bad Mage! — Joint Post by Amber and Pomegranate Fire.
As usual, the report included the time and place, plus a photo for proof.
The photo showed a damaged doll with silver hair and red eyes, wearing a patient’s gown. There was a deep crack in its chest, evidently a fatal wound to its core.
Soon, two replies appeared beneath the post.
Iris: Is this the one Senior Huangya mentioned before…? You two are amazing!
Huangya: Nicely done.
Qianling crossed her arms and lifted her chin, snorting in triumph.
After all, even the one who’d started the bounty had been fooled. Didn’t that mean her plan was a resounding success?