“I actually don’t know how I became a magical girl either. How should I put it… I just closed my eyes and when I opened them again…?”
Ye Xiao Chi and Xia Che were on their way to the Headquarters Building of the Special Task Force.
As per their previous agreement, Ye Xiao Chi was telling Xia Che how she became a magical girl.
A quality answer: I don’t know.
“What? That’s way too casual!” Xia Che laughed and teased.
“If this were a novel, shouldn’t it be that a companion was in danger, then you awakened a powerful force, and finally defeated the forces of darkness?”
“So novels are just novels after all. People still have to be realistic.”
Ye Xiao Chi crossed her arms, her little nose practically pointing to the sky.
“I really was chosen by the heavens, right? The chosen magical girl!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Xia Che replied absentmindedly.
He had originally intended to use Xiao Chi’s process of becoming a magical girl as a reference, but who could possibly learn from that?
So there really were no shortcuts to take…
A short while later, the two arrived at the park in front of the main building.
As she walked, Ye Xiao Chi shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand, straining to look up.
“Wow—so tall! Is this the Special Task Force? It’s so cool!”
The girl cupped her face in her hands.
“Am I really going to become a hero? Am I dreaming? Hehehe… Fame, money, here I come!”
She cheerfully broke into a little run, charging towards the main entrance.
“Hey, your reason for wanting to be a hero is way too impure!”
Xia Che chased after her while complaining.
The lobby on the first floor had an extremely high ceiling, about three or four stories tall.
The floor was made of large, light gray polished stone slabs, while the walls were covered in white matte panels.
Not a single light fixture was visible in the entire lobby; it used concealed lighting hidden within the walls and ceiling.
It was Saturday, so there weren’t many people coming to work, making it quiet and deserted.
Occasionally, they could see people in sharp suits passing by them, walking into the elevator lobby made of stainless steel and glass.
“There are actually sixty elevators? Just how many floors does this building have…”
Xia Che couldn’t help but stare in astonishment.
“Wow, so big. Wow, so tall.”
Ye Xiao Chi exclaimed beside him.
Xia Che glanced at his childhood friend.
Was this really the vocabulary of someone ranked second in their grade?
Then he noticed the girl suddenly shiver and quickly asked:
“What’s wrong?”
“I-I don’t know… I just suddenly had a bad feeling, like someone was watching me.”
Xia Che looked around in confusion.
“This is the Special Task Force headquarters, you know? It’d be strange if no one was watching. Let’s go up first, we’re almost late.”
“Mm, mm…”
…
“Magical Girl Feizuan, is that right?”
Jiang Yiyun leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, casually flipping through a file.
In reality, she wasn’t reading anything; she was just doing it on purpose to make Feizuan nervous.
“Y-yes, ma’am!!!”
Feizuan placed her hands together at her sides, chest out and head held high, standing even straighter than during military training.
Jiang Yiyun smiled, then struck the classic Gendo Ikari pose, creating a first impression of a good boss, but not that good.
These days, pure-hearted magical girls like Feizuan were rare.
She had to “enjoy” this one properly.
She stopped flipping the file, lowered her head, and looked up, glancing at Xia Che.
This gesture reminded Xia Che of his school’s dean of discipline, who liked to glare at students just like that when scolding them.
He couldn’t help but feel a tingling on his scalp.
“And this handsome young man is?”
“Hello, Director Jiang. My name is Xia Che. I am a person aware of Feizuan’s identity. I’m currently interning in the logistics department of the Special Task Force. My future goal is to join the Special Task Force and become a hero!”
Xia Che smoothly recited the introduction he had prepared long ago.
This was a rare opportunity to meet a high-ranking official of the Special Task Force; he at least had to make Jiang Yiyun remember him.
“You two are childhood friends?”
Jiang Yiyun’s smile widened.
“Yes…”
Why ask that all of a sudden?
Xia Che suddenly had a bad feeling.
“I see, hehe…”
Jiang Yiyun shifted her gaze back to Feizuan and said gently:
“I’ve seen your combat footage. You did an excellent job! You didn’t disgrace our Magical Girl Branch!”
“Ah… I’m not worthy of such praise, I still have a long way to go!”
Feizuan really couldn’t handle compliments.
Her little face flushed red instantly.
If the girl had a tail, it would probably be wagging like a propeller right now.
“Hmm, if you work hard, your future promotion prospects will be very significant.”
Jiang Yiyun stroked the pen in her hand, speaking unhurriedly.
“In fact, I’ve already decided to raise your rating to D-Class.”
“R-really? Thank you, Director Jiang!” Feizuan bowed deeply to the woman.
“Ah, don’t thank me just yet. Before being promoted to D-Class, you still have to complete one small little task…”
Jiang Yiyun stood up from her chair, walked around the desk, and came to Feizuan’s side, saying slowly:
“As your promotion task, how does that sound?”
“Yes, yes!”
Feizuan agreed without hesitation.
Xia Che watched from the side, feeling more and more that something was off.
Why did this scene look like an older woman tricking an innocent high school girl?
“May I ask if we could hear what the task is first before considering whether to accept it?” he asked.
“Of course. The Special Task Force respects the wishes of its heroes.”
Jiang Yiyun looked at Xia Che, the corner of her mouth still holding a faint, elusive smile.
“Simply put, I need Feizuan to get close to Hui Jin, gain Hui Jin’s trust, and find out whether or not she is actually a magical girl.”
“Eh? Senior Hui Jin? I know her!” Feizuan blurted out without thinking.
“…!”
Xia Che’s eyes widened.
Crap, I forgot to warn Xiao Chi not to tell anyone about Hui Jin’s identity.
He looked sharply at Feizuan, staring intently at her face, as if trying to stop her from speaking through sheer willpower.
“You know her?” Jiang Yiyun’s eyes lit up.
Feizuan nodded like a woodpecker:
“Mhm, mhm, I know her really well. Senior Hui Jin is super reliable.”
Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it…
“Is she a magical girl?” Jiang Yiyun looked somewhat excited.
Feizuan blinked her pure, innocent big eyes, and Xia Che knew it was over.
“She is!”
Don’t say it!
You just sold out your reliable Senior Hui Jin like that!
Xia Che felt a throbbing at his temples.
“Oh, so she really is a magical girl. No wonder… ahem, that explains it, that explains it…”
The joy on Jiang Yiyun’s face was overflowing.
Anyone who didn’t know better would think she had just secured her performance quota for the entire year.
She quickly walked up to Feizuan and patted her shoulder:
“It seems this task is perfect for you, Magical Girl Feizuan. I have high hopes for you!”
“Um… what exactly do I need to do?” Feizuan raised her little hand to her chest.
“As long as you get Hui Jin to register as an official magical girl, your task is complete. Isn’t that very simple?”
Jiang Yiyun coaxed persuasively.
Feizuan looked a bit troubled:
“But… I get the feeling Senior Hui Jin isn’t very keen on joining the Special Task Force…”
So you do know!
Xia Che felt like he was about to collapse from exhaustion.
Jiang Yiyun smiled.
“Little Feizuan, you see, about this promotion to D-Class…”
“I guarantee I’ll complete the task!” Feizuan puffed out her ample chest.
You really didn’t hesitate to sell her out at all!
What happened to being the embodiment of love and justice?
Is your love for money and fame instead?
Xia Che looked down at his own hands.
He had already promised Hui Jin he would help protect her identity.
Right now, Hui Jin was probably running around investigating something. He absolutely could not betray her!
There was no better partner for him than Hui Jin!
Xiao Chi, a sad, thick wall has already come between us…
At that moment, Jiang Yiyun slowly walked up to Xia Che and looked at him with a smile.
“Little Xia, as Feizuan’s childhood friend, you should help her out more, right?”
Xia Che was on high alert, but he caught the implication in Jiang Yiyun’s words.
“Director Jiang, are you saying…”
Jiang Yiyun rubbed her hands together, chuckling.
“If you help Feizuan complete the task, not only will Feizuan be promoted to D-Class, but I can also arrange a position for you within the Special Task Force…
“A position that involves close contact with heroes, like a dispatcher at the Hero Dispatch Center. How does that sound?”
Jiang Yiyun could tell this young man was quite wary of her. Though she didn’t know the reason, it might be related to Hui Jin.
If that was the case, then he was worth winning over.
Give him an offer he can’t refuse.
Hehe, young man, putting your desires right out in the open isn’t a good habit, you know? Consider this your first lesson from your big sister.
“You…” Xia Che’s pupils trembled.
Getting into the Special Task Force was extremely difficult, and the dispatcher position was one of the hardest to test for among all positions, requiring exceptionally high overall qualifications from applicants…
Now, the opportunity to get this job was right before his eyes. Xia Che had to consider if this was his one and only chance in this lifetime.
“In or out?” Jiang Yiyun tempted further.
“I… I need to think about it.”
Xia Che answered with difficulty.
Jiang Yiyun smiled, picked up a card from the desk, and slipped it into the breast pocket of his shirt.
“Of course. If you make up your mind, contact me anytime. This is my business card.”
After saying that, she whispered in his ear:
“Here’s to a pleasant cooperation~”
…
“Achoo!”
Ye Qianqiu, who was slacking off and scrolling through his phone at his workstation, let out a huge sneeze.
“Hah…” He rubbed his nose and sat up straight.
Why did he feel so uneasy?
Was it because he skipped breakfast… Ah, I’m really getting old.
Skipping breakfast used to be no problem at all.
Ye Qianqiu left his workstation, planning to go downstairs to buy some bread.