Get off work and become a magical girl

Chapter 236 Return
On the morning of the first day of the new year, after the revelry on New Year's Eve the day before, the entire Fangting City was still in a state of tranquility.

In the past, Donghua Prefecture had a tradition of setting off fireworks and firecrackers during the New Year. People placed their hopes on these simple explosives to "drive away the remaining beasts," letting their wishes echo through the streets and alleys of the city along with the crisp sounds of the New Year. However, as the times change, some research results show that this irritating explosion is more likely to stimulate the remaining beasts hidden underground in the city, causing unnecessary losses. As a result, this tradition, which originally meant to drive away the remaining beasts, has declined due to the existence of the remaining beasts.

During this rare day, Lin Yun also had a few days of incomplete vacation. The reason why it is incomplete is that he still has to visit the Special Strategies Bureau from time to time, to comfort the employees while also ensuring the normal operation of the entire Special Strategies Bureau; the reason why it is called a vacation is that apart from inspections, he really has no more complicated work, so he has a lot of personal time.

So, Director Lin, who did not need to go to work, got up early on the first day of the new year, drove alone through the almost deserted streets, and went to the commercial office building next to the Strategy Bureau.

——"So, you came to me for refuge?"

Controlling the doll that looked like a pure-blood fairy, Emerald raised her head from the research table covered with tubes and asked lazily.

"What's this strange term 'refuge'? I'm only here to fulfill my promise."

While expressing doubts about Emerald's words, Delphinium took out a purple-black crystal from her sleeve and placed it in front of Emerald: "Here, I'm done with this thing, and now I'm returning it to you."

"What is this... Oh, the source of beasts."

Emerald muttered in a muffled voice, and used her doll's claws to poke at the purple-black crystal twice, then held it upside down in her claws, staring at it as if observing something: "It's a good thing that you can return it on time, but there's no need to be so anxious."

"Who was that person last night who wanted me to return it overnight after I finished using it?"

Delphinium couldn't help but droop her eyelids: "Because you emphasized it so much at the time, I rushed to deliver it on the morning of the holiday. Now you tell me that it's not necessary?"

"Ah... well, actually, it's all thanks to you guys."

Emerald said carelessly: "Originally, I only have the Beast Source in my hand, so naturally all the experimental data must be obtained from it. But because you guys had a fight with that young man with claw marks last night, I also collected a lot of data on the scene. Oh my, it's unexpectedly useful."

"On-site? Data?"

The key words from Emerald's mouth made Delphinium frown subconsciously: "So you were there too?"

“Yes, but also no.”

Emerald continued to play with the Beast Origin in her hand: "I still have a few backup clones. Although the performance and quality are far inferior to the one I am using now, they can complete some simple tasks. I just sent a clone to follow you to the outskirts of the city. If you can win, I will naturally collect some data; if you can't win, then I can't really let Claw Mark kill you, right?"

What she said sounded logical, but Delphinium felt something was not right no matter how she thought about it. One of the core questions was, could Emerald really be so kind?
"You're thinking I could be that kind, aren't you?"

Emerald suddenly asked as if she had read other people's minds.

"How do you know?" Delphinium was hit on the heart, but she was not annoyed at all and asked back bluntly.

"I guessed it. After all, every time you see me, you always have 'don't believe' written all over your face."

Emerald squinted at her. "I have no intention of reiterating my noble character as a veteran magical girl, but I have the right to take this opportunity to tell you that I have always been sincere in the transactions I initiated."

"How is it specifically manifested?"

"It is reflected in the fact that I attach great importance to the completion of transactions and will formulate a series of safeguards."

Emerald carefully put the Beast Origin in the container on the research table and put it away. "In this process, I also pay attention to the self-will of the trading partner and will not do anything unnecessary. For example, in the transaction between us, have you felt my protection in the past two months?"

"No."

Delphinium looked at Emerald suspiciously. "Let's not talk about whether I feel it or not. Doesn't your approach sound more like 'surveillance' and 'tracking' than 'protection'?"

They both paused in unison.

"No, that's absolutely not true, young man."

After a pause, Emerald quickly spoke out to stop him: "If you ignore my subjective good intentions and presume to have bad intentions on my behavior, then there will be an irreparable gap between us."

"In other words, if you don't consider 'subjective good intentions', you did follow me?"

Delphinium slightly widened her eyes and said, "Mr. Chief, I am not saying this, although I think I have estimated the bottom line of the Gem Scepter, but this... have you really gone to this extent?"

"What do you mean by 'have come this far'? Can you please not make it sound like I've completely failed as a person?" Emerald reacted fiercely.

"No, but we can be said to be trading with each other, and we are half allies for now. But you are secretly tracking me and 'collecting data', and you call it 'transaction protection'. It just sounds like a petty act, right?"

Delphinium pointed at the fairy doll in front of her expressionlessly: "Now I am a little curious. What is the specific level of your so-called 'protection'? Is it only when we are out on the field? Or when I am in the Strategy Bureau? Or is it..."

"Only field service! Only field service!"

Emerald waved the doll's short claws: "Think about it for a moment. I will definitely not monitor the Strategy Bureau and your Magical Girl Base, right? It won't benefit me in any way, and I have no reason to care about your personal lives, right?"

"Really?" Delphinium put one hand on her waist.

"Really." Emerald nodded repeatedly.

"Well, I have one last question about this topic." Delphinium said calmly.

"Um...please?" Emerald agreed with difficulty.

Delphinium nodded slightly, keeping her hands on her hips, and said in a calm tone: "When I first came here, you said I came here to seek refuge. What did you mean?"

silence.

In the huge laboratory, there was only the faint sound of many instruments running.

"Haha, maybe it's because I was still sleeping when you came, and I was confused, so I brought my dream talking into reality?" After a while, Emerald scratched her head and laughed, like a malfunctioning machine that finally resumed operation after a jam.

"I see. It was just a dream. I can understand it now."

Delphinium also clapped her hands in agreement, looking pleased: "It's probably not that he overheard other people's conversations when monitoring the Magical Girls' Base, nor that he saw other people's family affairs when monitoring the Strategy Bureau, right?"

"Of course, of course?" Emerald took the opportunity to back off.

"…Let's get back to the matter of the claw marks."

As if knowing that it was meaningless to continue arguing on this topic, Kuei-Jin sighed, as if she had really let it go. "If the identity of the leader of Claw Mark is really as you said, then this person... well, I don't know much about her. In your opinion, is it likely that she will continue to send people to Fangting City?"

"Are you worried that Bai Lang won't succeed this time, so will you send more people next time?" Emerald was no longer in the lazy, half-asleep look she had a few minutes ago. She spoke after thinking, like an old senior who was really concerned about the safety of Fangting City.

"Ah."

"Based on my personal understanding of her, the possibility of this happening is not small, because Bai Lang is a person who will not give up until she achieves her goal. She will definitely find a way to complete something she has set her mind to, no matter how complicated or tortuous it is."

"That's really admirable." Delphinium deadpanned, "So the claw marks will definitely come back?"

"Yes, definitely." Emerald said confidently: "Of course, variables do exist. For example, who comes and how many people come, the final result will most likely be different."

"Are there many people like Yuan this time in Claw Mark?"

"What aspect are you talking about?"

"All of them. Strength, personality, and opinions... Although it's not appropriate to ask you this question, her claw marks probably have some..."

"You should ask that old witch in the Investigation Institute this question, young man."

Emerald spread her hands and said, "After all, I'm not in charge of the Investigation Bureau. Even if I have a rough understanding of the backgrounds of these rebellious magical girls, I can't check every one of their information as clearly as the Investigation Bureau."

"What's the percentage? Do you know?"

"Probably less than one percent, an isolated case among isolated cases."

Emerald said helplessly, "To be honest, I advise you not to count on the so-called 'moderates' coming next time. White Wolf knows that he made a mistake in selecting people, so the men he sends next time will only be the most vicious. Instead of hoping for mercy from the enemy, it is better to make ourselves stronger. We should go to the kingdom as soon as possible and heal your injury."

"I know. I'm just asking. I don't expect any mercy from my enemies."

Delphinium said calmly: "Although I remember very clearly that I didn't seem to tell you that the enemy this time was a 'moderate'."

The laboratory fell into silence again, and this time, it lasted longer than the previous two times combined.

"I definitely don't need you to tell me about this. After all, the enemy was able to stay in Fangting City for such a long time without doing anything bad. How could they be extremists?"

After waiting for a long time, Emerald reluctantly said, "And I also sent a stand-in to watch her when she was in Fangting City. It's not difficult to draw this conclusion through reasoning, right?"

Delphinium said nothing, staring at Emerald in silence.

"Hey, at least say something back!"

Emerald felt uncomfortable being stared at and couldn't help but protest: "I've been trying so hard to think of a reason, can't you be understanding at this time?"

"Rather than the question of whether it is big or small, what bothers me now is how I should react."

Delphinium shook her head. "Although I have always expected the Chief's moral limit, it is still hard to believe it after I really confirmed it. And in principle, I should not forgive your behavior, but the transaction relationship is here, and I don't seem to have any reason to terminate it unilaterally. Now I don't know what expression I should make."

"Then could you please be a little more considerate and at least say something like 'I don't care' to give the old man some face?" the doll asked, tilting its head.

"Although I would like to do so, it is related to personal privacy and security, and I don't want to be careless."

"Alas, you young man."

Emerald sighed, "Didn't I tell you before? If you insist on delving into this topic, it will only cause a rift in our partnership. If you insist on digging into the matter, won't it make everyone embarrassed?"

"Well, I actually have another plan." Delphinium said.

"What plan?"

"Let's talk openly. In order for our future cooperation to go smoothly, I need your formal statement."

Pulling a small chair from the side, Delphinium sat down: "I have figured it out. For me now, whether it is for myself, my companions or the city, it seems that only by finding a true partner and ally can I feel a little more secure. I want to know if it is possible for you and I to become allies with more consistent interests." "Ally with consistent interests..."

The doll on the swivel chair scratched its chin in a rather humane way: "I see. You mean, you need to confirm that you and I are one?"

“It’s not a confirmation, it’s a discussion.”

Delphinium said firmly, "If the result of the discussion is that we can cooperate more deeply, then I can turn a blind eye to this kind of 'protection'. If the result is that we have different ideas and cannot work together, then our deal may end here. Next, I will not go to the kingdom as you planned."

"That's a bit unreasonable."

Emerald's eyes widened. "I sent you to the kingdom to help you heal. It's obviously for your own good. How come it became a condition for bargaining with me?"

"It's 'healing' for me, but is it really that simple for you, for the institute, or even for the entire interest group related to you?"

Delphinium looked at her calmly: "We both know my true identity, and we both know why I am in this situation. And the impact of me stepping into the kingdom again should be greater than I know. If I am not mistaken, my trip to recuperate should only be the first stop of the journey, and the so-called 'assessment' is only the last stop. What other arrangements are waiting for me in between?"

"Hmm...I surprisingly can't find any angle to refute it, but I don't think this issue needs to be discussed."

Emerald thought: "After all, it's called a deal, but I should be the only one making an offer now, right? I should have the right to bargain."

"If that's what you're asking, then you actually have two other bidders."

Delphinium held up two fingers. "The first one, without a doubt, is White Wolf. Although I don't know the reason, Claw Mark has clearly extended an olive branch to me. This is an option for me."

"White Wolf? Her?"

The doll looked unconvinced: "Can you really get rid of the claw marks at this critical moment?"

"If there was any other choice, I wouldn't go."

Delphinium closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes lowered: "But if it is for the safety of me and my companions, when there are no other options, I might consider White Wolf's proposal."

“I don’t think she has the same competitiveness as a bidder as I do.”

Emerald made a judgment: "I need to hear more about the other opponent you mentioned."

"You don't know?" Delphinium asked in confusion.

"Why would I know? It can't be the Black Cinder Dawn, right?"

"Hmm...how should I say it?"

"Don't joke, young man, it can't really be the Black Cinder Dawn, right?" The doll couldn't help but widen its eyes.

"No, of course not. Claw Mark is already a bottom-line option for me, and Black Dawn is not an option at all."

Delphinium denied, "I was just thinking, if we don't discuss positions and crimes, and just talk about credibility and character, who is more trustworthy, Mr. Dean or Black Cinder Dawn?"

This question made Emerald ponder as well. After a while, she tentatively gave an answer: "...Dawn of the Dark Ashes?"

"really?"

Delphinium seemed to have reached the same conclusion: "But for me now, it seems that it is not impossible to try to take a gamble."

"That old witch clearly didn't make any offer to you. I didn't hear anything about it."

Emerald was obviously not satisfied with this answer: "If you think that just bringing up my old enemy can be used as bargaining leverage, you are really looking down on me, young man."

"The dean has indeed not discussed with me whether to cooperate deeply."

Delphinium admitted the truth of what Emerald said: "But I am also sure that if I go to her now, I will definitely get a corresponding offer from her."

"Impossible." The doll shook its head, "Absolutely impossible."

"I don't think so."

Delphinium was unmoved: "Although her attitude has been ambiguous and even a bit bad so far, I believe in her sense of interests. I am very clear about my value as a political commodity."

"It's a bit too pathetic to call yourself a 'political commodity', young man."

"Am I not?" Delphinium asked back nonchalantly.

"You...sigh."

Emerald seemed to want to say something, but stopped talking: "Forget it, I'll tell you straight away, that old witch won't make you an offer."

"why?"

"There is no reason. If there really is a reason, it is that my offer is her offer."

Emerald shook her head: "I have revealed all my secrets, so I will not repeat them a second time. Do you understand?"

"I see...it seems I am indeed more valuable than I thought." Delphinium blinked.

"Hmm." Emerald said noncommittally.

"That is to say, I do have the power to raise the price."

Delphinium came to the corresponding conclusion: "Is it okay for me to ask you to stand up and pour me a cup of tea now?"

"Hey, don't go too far!" Emerald protested immediately.

"no?"

"Look at me, with my short arms and legs, do I look like I can pour you tea?"

The doll stretched out its chubby body, showing its short legs and claws: "And there is no tea in my lab!"

"Then give me some response." Delphinium looked straight at her.

The doll immediately jumped down from the swivel chair, rummaged through the drawers and took out a small box from some unknown corner, ran back to the test bench, poured out a bunch of animal remains from it, and pushed it in front of Delphinium.

"I said, don't go too far!" She emphasized it even more.

"If you want to make harsh remarks, I think it's better to put the action later... But never mind."

Delphinium finally sighed, "I already know."

"If you have any other requests, just tell me!"

Emerald also looked like she had given up. "Anyway, as long as you make a request, after today, you can never think of jumping ship again!"

Delphinium wanted to say that she already understood everything, that everyone was sensible, and that there was no need to pretend to be confused when it was not necessary. But before she could open her mouth, an idea suddenly occurred to her.

She suddenly thought of a question she could ask.

"Your Excellency, Chief."

"What?" Emerald said unhappily.

"You should know what happened at our base in Fangting City last night, right?" Cuique suddenly said.

"What happened? What are you talking about? Was it the two young men in Bai'an City who knocked over the hot pot while cleaning the table, or the tallest girl in your team who washed the same dish twice because she interrupted, or the time when your daughter asked in the room if she could call you mom, or the time when Chao Yan shouted your name in her room..."

"My daughter's matter!" Delphinium interrupted immediately, looking at Emerald with an "I knew it" look.

"You don't have to stare at me like that. Although I admit that I did see it, I have to clarify that I'm not a voyeur. I just want to know if you are injured after the fight with Claw Mark, and whether Bo Xue's condition is stable."

Emerald clasped her claws, "Anyway, if you're just trying to use this to attack me, I will never admit it."

"I'm not naive enough to think I can use something like this to attack the character of a person with a gemstone scepter."

Delphinium shook her head: "The reason I bring this up is because my next question is related to this."

"Huh? What do you mean, you want me to do family counseling?"

I don't know what switch was pressed, but Emerald jumped up from the chair. "Would you like to ask if I have any suggestions for your parent-child relationship? This is something I'm good at."

"No, not that either."

Delphinium pursed her lips, her eyes slightly fixed: "That's right, if you feel you can't do what I'm going to say next, just pretend you didn't hear it."

"Well...what do you say?"

"that is……"

Delphinium paused for a moment, and finally spoke hesitantly, "If I really intend to provide emotional care to the child as both a 'mother' and a 'father' in the days ahead, that is, I want these two identities to exist at the same time in certain situations, do you have any useful equipment?"

"I'm not saying that I plan to let the two identities form a family or anything like that. But if I really plan to let the magical girl's identity act as the child's mother and provide her with the missing family affection, then I may need to consider the occasional identity conflict. That is, if I want to cover it up... are you listening?"

Emerald actually didn't really listen to what Delphinium said next.

Of course, the answer to why she couldn't listen and what was going on in her mind is actually very simple: just one word.

--"ah?"

(End of this chapter)