Chapter 6: Undercover

“You’re giving this to me? What exactly is your goal?”

Looking at the glowing transformation device in front of her, she knew this was no gift at all.

After the previous incident, she understood better than anyone that there was no free lunch in this world.

“Relax.” The special commissioner leaned back and crossed her hands on the desk.

“You can treat this change as an ordinary personnel transfer.

We need you to complete one mission. That is all.”

Su Bai’s heart beat even faster.

Right now even her basic magic power was sealed.

How could she possibly complete any mission?

As if seeing through her doubts, the special commissioner curved her lips into a meaningful smile and spoke word by word.

“Specifically, you will go undercover… at the side of a witch.”

These words struck like a thunderclap and exploded in Su Bai’s mind.

She jerked her head up and stared at the special commissioner in disbelief.

All the blood in her body seemed to freeze in that instant.

“Undercover? A witch?” Su Bai could no longer hide her emotions and asked in a trembling voice.

“Correct. Here, take a look at this material first.”

Miss Special Commissioner picked up a stack of documents from the desk and handed them to Su Bai.

Jiang Yuelan, female, 18 years old.

Currently a high school graduate living at home, about to enroll in Chengjiang University in C City, Department of Language and Literature.

There was a short introduction about her, along with a headshot.

Black long straight hair, bangs covering her eyebrows, a cold face, and a pair of large black-framed glasses that gave off an unapproachable air.

Su Bai asked doubtfully, “This is a witch? Apart from being a bit better-looking, she doesn’t seem any different from an ordinary student.”

She continued reading.

The material stated:

Suspected to be a witch.

Not registered in the association’s records.

Ability unknown, high danger level.

Suspected highly related forces: several black organizations in Gu Street of Chengjiang District, the local cult “Fetishism,” and the “Tea Party” (authenticity in doubt).

Note: Relationships currently unclear and require further investigation.

Su Bai flipped through page after page.

The further she read, the more tightly her brows knitted.

Most of the content in the materials was speculation.

There was no solid proof that Jiang Yuelan was a witch.

“What if she isn’t a witch?” Su Bai asked the question subconsciously.

“Don’t worry. The association isn’t so stupid as that.

A lot of the intelligence here is organizational confidential.

Unfortunately we cannot tell you more.

The only thing I can tell you is that the possibility she is a witch is at least ninety percent.”

“Then what exactly do I need to do?” Su Bai knew the other side had left her no way out.

Whether she was willing or not, she had to go.

It was better to ask their purpose directly.

“No need to be nervous.

For this mission the association has prepared two things for you.

One of them is this transformation device.

This transformation device can communicate, locate, and you can even use the magic power inside it for self-protection.

Of course the magic power inside is very weak and cannot support a full transformation, so give up that idea.”

Su Bai nodded.

The association had just gone to the trouble of taking away the transformation device in her hands, only to turn around and give her another one.

No matter how she thought about it, it did not make sense.

“The other is her. I shouldn’t need to introduce her much.”

The special commissioner pointed at the magical girl [Green Vine] who had been standing beside her the entire time.

“The association has assigned her as your handler, and at the same time as the bodyguard for this undercover operation.

She will stay by your side and protect your safety.”

Su Bai looked up.

The green-haired girl in front of her was also staring at her expressionlessly.

This was the first time the two of them had met since that day.

What Su Bai felt first was that Green Vine’s strength had greatly increased.

Her surging magic power was worlds apart from a few months ago.

She had now become an S-rank magical girl.

“Your mission is simply to report Jiang Yuelan’s situation.

If any suspicious situation appears, report it to Miss Green Vine in time.”

Su Bai continued voicing her doubts.

“But what about my identity problem?

Even if I’m not known by everyone right now, it would still be far too easy to dig up who I am.”

“Don’t worry. We have already considered this problem.

Besides the functions I just mentioned, this transformation device has one more critical function.

It can emit a kind of magical disturbance that is extremely weak and difficult to sense.

The only effect of this disturbance is to interfere with cognition.”

“In other words, as long as you wear it, other people will not connect this ‘Su Bai’ with the ‘Su Bai’ online.

Unless you run into someone who knows you or deliberately investigates you, as long as you do not actively expose yourself, there is basically no risk of exposure.”

Su Bai sensed it herself for a moment.

With her top-tier sensitivity to magical fluctuations, she still could not detect it at all.

Then she nodded.

“The association is not completely unreasonable either.

If you can truly confirm the witch’s real identity and abilities, the association will give you corresponding rewards.

It is even possible that they will be gracious enough to restore your magical girl identity.”

Su Bai paid no attention to this sentence and treated it as just another joke she had heard.

After such a long time, she still had a clear idea of the association’s ability to paint big pictures.

“One more thing, Miss Su Bai.

A word of advice: do not try any tricks.

Don’t think the association doesn’t know about those little actions you had with certain witches during previous missions.” The special commissioner waved her hand and then looked toward Green Vine standing to the side.

The implication could not have been clearer.

If Su Bai had any other ideas, the locating function of this transformation device and Green Vine’s role would instantly change from protection to “supervision.”

“I also wish you a pleasant time getting along with your ‘old colleague.’

By the way, the admission notice for Chengjiang University will be mailed to your home in two days.

Enrollment registration is five days from now.

Treat these next few days as your holiday and go home to prepare.

C City isn’t close to here, so you’d better not miss the timing.” The special commissioner added a final remark.

The tone sounded concerned on the surface, yet it was full of sarcasm and carried a hint of threat.

After finishing the instructions, the two of them left quickly.

Listening to their gradually fading footsteps, Su Bai also left the office.

She stood alone in front of her desk and mechanically packed her things with both hands.

Her surrounding colleagues looked over with expressions of curiosity mixed with a bit of regret.

Su Bai paid them no attention.

Her thoughts had already drifted far away.

Witches were cunning and powerful.

This trip of hers was probably more dangerous than not.

But could she choose not to go?

Continue steadily working as a small clerk here?

That was probably impossible as well.

Although she had not asked just now why they had chosen her to go undercover, relying on intuition and experience she speculated there were roughly two situations.

First, someone high up wanted to use her to achieve some goal, so they needed her alive.

Second, someone high up was covering something up and therefore wanted to eliminate her in secret.

Thinking carefully, the most likely possibility was that both situations existed at the same time.

If that was truly the case, it indicated that the association itself held great disagreement over how to deal with her.

Perhaps the purpose of sending her undercover right now needed careful pondering.