The crowd gathered around the stall was also discussing and whispering among themselves.
Most of them were just onlookers who enjoyed watching the drama and did not mind making things bigger.
“Brother, we just arrived here. We’d like to ask what happened?”
Jiang Yuelan did not follow the crowd’s emotions.
Instead she found someone who looked relatively free of malice and first inquired about the situation clearly before doing anything else.
This big brother was in the innermost layer of the crowd and happened to know the entire process.
It was a group claiming to be fans of [Golden Lantern] who would not allow this stall to sell [White Iris] merchandise.
The stall owner had also gotten angry for a moment and, in a fit of pique, had actually replaced all the merchandise of other magical girls on his stall with [White Iris] goods.
The conflict between the two sides was on the verge of exploding, and they had been stuck in a stalemate for quite a while.
The sound of the argument had attracted many onlookers.
“What right do you have to stop the sales? What business is it of yours what I sell? Don’t tell me you even want to smash my stall?”
The stall owner’s voice rose eight degrees.
His body firmly blocked the front of the stall as he glared angrily.
The surrounding crowd also grew restless.
Some people supported the stall owner and actively stood in front of the stall.
“What’s more, those things you talk about have never been recognized by the association’s official side at all. They’re all online rumors!”
Fans of [White Iris] in the crowd also came out to question.
“The association’s official side? Our evidence is that [Golden Lantern] herself orally stated it.
She personally admitted that [White Iris] did many things that wronged her.” The [Golden Lantern] fans also took out [Golden Lantern]’s chat records as proof.
On them it said things like: [White Iris] used the characteristic of being able to transform into a female to do all kinds of despicable things with various girls.
“Even [Golden Lantern] herself has to produce evidence, right? How can you smear others with empty words?” [White Iris] fans clearly did not believe their own magical girl could do something so rotten.
“You mean [Golden Lantern] is lying? [Golden Lantern] has now been promoted to S-rank magical girl. What reason would she have to lie?
Besides, this kind of thing is very difficult to leave evidence of. [Golden Lantern] is speaking out while taking the risk of public opinion. She is the victim.”
The stall owner said with a serious face, “Complete nonsense. Everyone knows what kind of magical girl [White Iris] is. She could never have such a thing happen.
The current problem is that a lot of this is just you talking among yourselves. [White Iris] herself still has no way to speak up even now. Even in court the defendant has to be allowed to speak, right?”
As Jiang Yuelan listened to the two sides arguing, that heart-wrenching pain appeared again.
The hand she was holding also seemed to grow cold.
Looking up along the arm, Su Bai’s face had not a single trace of color left. It was deathly pale as if a layer of white ash had been applied.
She could be certain Su Bai was not that kind of person, because witches were most sensitive to the “emotional” scent on a person’s body.
The scent on Su Bai was that sweet and refreshing kind, completely different from the greasy and pungent “streetwalker” scent she had encountered in the past.
Moreover, these few days of interaction had also made Jiang Yuelan feel that Su Bai was very measured when it came to contact with others.
These small actions could not be faked.
Watching the argument between the two sides grow more and more intense, even developing in the direction of physical conflict, Jiang Yuelan thought to herself: Better to take Su Bai and leave this place quickly.
“Everyone make way. The organizers and association people are here. Don’t crowd here, everyone!”
A loudspeaker voice covered the argument.
The crowd looked outward as several staff members began controlling the field, wanting to stabilize the situation.
The crowd consciously made a path and let them enter.
“Everyone calm down first and listen to me. We are the organizers of this event. If you have any questions you can come ask us.” One staff member immediately stepped forward and said.
“Hey, how do you manage things? Why are you allowing them to sell [White Iris] things so openly and on such a large scale?”
“Sir, please don’t get agitated first. This exhibition is a magical girl exhibition. Selling these things is not a major problem, and we have not received any related notifications from the association.”
Yes.
Regarding [White Iris], the association had not directly banned her.
In fact, the external announcement claimed: “Due to violating association regulations and acting arbitrarily, all magical girl activities are suspended.”
They had not made any clarification regarding the rumors and mixed true-and-false information spreading online.
They had only done a certain degree of comment control.
The surrounding people also largely agreed with the organizers and still primarily believed the official side.
“If you continue like this, we can only call the police.” As the staff member spoke, the security guards beside him also took out anti-riot batons and stared at this group of troublemakers.
They instantly fell silent.
Clearly, the organizers were also standing on the side of the stall owner.
They were only ordinary otaku students.
If they truly encountered the police, they would probably be so frightened they could not say anything.
“We’re leaving.” Seeing that the overall situation was lost, the leading person took this group and walked out of the crowd without looking back.
Those among the onlookers who had spoken up in support of this group just now also quietly left this place.
After the previous turmoil, the stall was also in complete chaos.
Seeing this, the staff immediately spoke up.
“Stall owner, these people are all student youths. Don’t take it to heart. For the losses caused, we organizers will compensate you at the original price. How about it?”
The stall owner was clearly still quite angry, yet this anger was not directed at the losses.
“Are there any high-level association personnel coming today? We just want to hear an explanation right now. Even if [White Iris] herself comes out and shows her face it would be fine.
If things continue like this, it makes those of us who paid for love because of [White Iris] feel very cold-hearted.”
That was exactly it.
Without anyone making a clarification, all kinds of speculation and rumors would snowball larger and larger, and further and further off track.
“Sorry, I am only the organizer of this event and do not know the arrangements inside the association…”
“Wait.”
Suddenly a voice came from the distance, and then a magical fluctuation that only Su Bai and Jiang Yuelan among this group of people could sense flew over from the other side of the venue.
A yellow-and-pink magical girl landed right in the middle of the crowd.
“Listen to me. I am magical girl [Cloud Begonia].”
The moment a magical girl descended, the crowd that had been a bit dejected just now actually became lively again.
“[White Iris] is my senior, and also the person I admire the most in my heart.” She paused, as if recalling something, then continued.
“We once went on missions together with her. Senior [White Iris] is a very kind and very determined person. More than once she taught me how to fight and how to save the masses.
Sometimes even when it meant risking serious injury, or even the possibility of death, she had always been protecting everyone and protecting us juniors.”
“I trust her.” Word by word, these four words were spoken with particular force.
“Not only me. Including all of you here, there are still many people who trust Senior. She would absolutely never do that kind of thing.”
She looked around, lips slightly pressed together, eyes firm, as if wanting to give everyone present a calming pill as she continued:
“So please, fans of [White Iris], give a little more time. I firmly believe Senior will definitely be able to make a comeback, and the association will also give everyone an explanation.”
Quite a few [White Iris] fans in the crowd nodded along, and some even began clapping and cheering.
The promise of a magical girl was even more effective than the association’s words.
“All right, all right. Everyone don’t crowd here anymore. Wish everyone a happy time. There’s still a performance in the evening. Don’t forget to watch it.”
[Cloud Begonia] began cooperating with the staff to orderly disperse the crowd.
Under the persuasion of a magical girl, everyone was quite cooperative with the work.
In a short while, only Su Bai and Jiang Yuelan were still standing there.
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