“Um… this… that…”
White Li turned away guiltily, facing the Lady seated on the stone throne.
Strange, can the Lady teleport?
Didn’t she just confirm no one was here? How did she suddenly appear there?
Did she come out from behind one of those doors?
Or was she sitting there the whole time, and White Li just didn’t see her?
This is bad, how am I supposed to explain this? The Lady didn’t see her enter the Warehouse, right?
White Li broke out in a cold sweat, her hand instinctively pulling the backpack on her back closer. The bag was bulging, the zipper stretched to its limit, with a golden sword hilt poking out.
She quickly shoved the hilt back inside.
The Lady yawned, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. Her other hand picked up the wine glass on the table and swirled it gently.
“I didn’t sleep very well tonight. In the middle of the night, it sounded like there was a little mouse making noise.”
“Is……is that so?”
White Li laughed awkwardly, forcing the corners of her mouth up.
“Then……I’ll bring some rat poison next time. I guarantee not a single one will survive.”
“Heh heh——”
The Lady let out a soft laugh, set down her glass, and beckoned White Li over.
“Come here, little one. Since you’re not asleep either, let’s Chat.”
Her Lips curled up slightly, looking as warm as a big sister from next door, friendly and harmless.
But White Li knew that anyone who could sit in this position in the Starfall Society, a place teeming with Strange Person, was absolutely the cruelest of the cruel, the most extraordinary of the extraordinary.
What was hidden beneath that smiling face? She didn’t dare think about it, nor did she want to.
But a command was a command, and it couldn’t be refused.
White Li swallowed hard, walked slowly to the Throne, and stood there respectfully.
“Your remarks about the Blazing Knight were well handled.”
The Lady Nodded at her, then pointed to a chair beside the Throne.
“Sit. There’s tea on the table.”
White Li followed her Fingers and saw a wooden chair draped with a deep red velvet cushion.
On the small table sat a white porcelain teacup, Steam curling up from the rim.
“Okay……”
White Li sat down on the chair, hands resting on her Knees, back straight as a board.
She didn’t dare touch that tea. Last time she drank the Lady’s tea, a restriction was placed on her throat, and she nearly got choked to death.
What would be added to this tea? Arsenic? Or something even more terrifying than arsenic?
“That Meng Mo—how do you think she’s doing?”
The Lady spoke, lowering her gaze to White Li.
White Li was momentarily stunned, her mind racing.
Is this a test? Or just casual conversation?
She weighed her words and spoke up: “She’s doing great. She runs around everywhere every day—putting out fires in East City one moment, catching thieves in the west the next. Her reports show up in the news every other day. She might even have infiltrated the Bureau of Anomalies by now.”
She paused, then added: “Online reviews of her are all positive. They see her as a true Magical Girl, with full Trust.”
“There’s also the occasional rumor about her—something about her going in and out of hotels with some male celebrity late at night…… Anyway, all kinds of gossip.”
The Lady tilted her head slightly, signaling her to continue.
“But……”
White Li rested her hand on her chin, shifting the topic.
“Those are all harmless. After all, she’s a Meng Mo—if she didn’t rely on that to replenish her strength, she’d starve to death. Siphoning a little vital energy…… is just part of the job, right?”
She scratched her Cheeks, realizing she’d said too much, and quickly shut her mouth.
“Mm.”
The Lady Nodded, picked up her glass, and took a sip.
“It matches the intel she’s sent back. The Mission was indeed completed well. From an infiltration standpoint, she’s already exceeded expectations.”
She set down the glass, her Fingers tapping lightly on the armrest twice.
White Li’s heart skipped a beat, a vague sense of dread creeping in.
“The Blazing Knight has already been stripped of the Knight System and lost the qualification for Transformation.”
The Lady said coldly: “This is the latest intel from Meng Mo. The Bureau of Anomalies has a high level of Trust in her internally. She can already access levels that ordinary staff can’t reach.”
So that’s it, no wonder these past few days……
White Li seemed to suddenly think of something, her Fingers on her Knees tightening slightly.
“It seems she’s still very useful as a pawn.”
The Lady turned her head, her violet Eyes looking at White Li from behind her Mask.
“Yes……yes.”
White Li’s voice was a bit strained.
Her heart was racing. Was the Lady praising the new employee here just to fire her?
After all, Meng Mo could do far more than she could—she could fly, fight, and infiltrate human society more perfectly.
And what was she, White Li? Besides throwing Slime, stealing things, and cooking instant noodles, she didn’t seem to have any other talents.
White Li kept her head down, not daring to meet the Lady’s Gaze, her heart pounding.
The silence lasted a few seconds, until the firewood in the Fireplace crackled.
“Don’t worry.”
The Lady suddenly spoke up: “Meng Mo has Meng Mo’s tasks, and you have yours. You’re not in competition.”
She smiled slightly: “At least not for now.”
White Li breathed a sigh of Relief, nearly choking on herself.
“Do you still remember our Plan?”
The Lady raised an eyebrow: “The Paradise Plan?”
“I remember.”
White Li Nodded.
Ever since she stole that Magic Staff, she hadn’t heard any further instructions. She thought the Lady had already abandoned the Plan.
“Next month, the Plan will enter its final stage.”
The Lady leaned back on the Throne, looking relaxed.
“Your undercover Mission is almost over. Get ready to come back.”
White Li froze, her mind going completely blank.
“It’s over……?”
Right. She was a monster, not a human.
These nine months of life were, in reality, just an undercover Mission.
That was what it had been from start to finish. She shouldn’t forget that.
“Lady……”
White Li’s voice came out hoarse.
“Then……about my return to the original world……”
“Did you find out the Blazing Knight’s identity?”
The Lady asked calmly.
“No……not yet.”
White Li lowered her head.
The most important task the Lady had given her was to uncover the Blazing Knight’s true identity.
But she hadn’t done it. She’d wasted plenty of time slacking off, and hadn’t accomplished a single real thing.
The Lady shook her head, a hint of regret in her tone.
Her Gaze shifted to White Li’s back.
“Got everything you needed?”
White Li Nodded.
“Mm.”
White Li followed the Lady’s Gaze and saw the golden sword hilt sticking out of the backpack behind her.
“It’s getting late. Go back and rest.”
The Lady opened her Eyes and looked at White Li.
“!”
White Li felt like she’d been electrocuted.
She quickly turned sideways, blocking the backpack with her body.
Then she tugged at the zipper, shoved the hilt inside, and pulled the straps tighter over her shoulder.
“I saw everything. Don’t be nervous.”
The Lady waved her hand.
“Those things are useless to me. But that sword is a bit sharp—you need to be careful not to cut yourself.”
“I……I just wanted to borrow it. This is……this is something I need for the Mission. I’ll return it soon.”
White Li lacked confidence, her voice as quiet as a mosquito’s hum.
“Approved.”
The Lady stood up and slowly descended the steps.
She walked up to White Li, looked down at the little fox curled up in the chair, and patted her on the top of the head.
“Hurry back now. Don’t keep people waiting.”
“Th……thank you, Lady……”
White Li tried to stand up from the chair, but it was too high, and her feet couldn’t reach the Ground.
So she pushed herself off the seat with her hands, sliding down until her canvas shoes gently landed on the carpet.
She tapped her feet twice.
“Then……I’ll head back first.”
White Li put her backpack on properly, both straps hanging over her shoulders, and pressed down on the bottom of the bag to make sure nothing would fall out.
The Lady had already turned and walked back to the Throne, sitting down again.
“Mm. Safe travels.”
She paused, then added:
“You really do suit wearing skirts.”
“Thank you……”
White Li bowed to the Lady, then turned around and walked quickly toward the Hall’s entrance.
She pushed open the door, squeezed through sideways, and closed it behind her.
White Li ran out of the underground entrance of the Starfall Society, sprinting through the late-night Street.
Her heart was a mix of joy and lingering shock.
Her Phone buzzed in her pocket.
White Li pulled it out and lit up the screen. It was a message from Lin Du.
[-Where did you go? Why can’t I see you?]
The corners of White Li’s mouth curled up slightly as she typed a reply:
[-I went to grab something. I’ll be right back!]
[-Okay. Safe travels.]
Poor Li, I’m almost positive they have no intention of sending you home