Suddenly Jin Yulu's body lost support and fell toward the sea. Seeing trouble, Hibiscus quickly moved forward to embrace her in a princess carry. However, at this mont she was also exhausted—the original extre training plus sparring had drained even recovery power.
"...Clearly as mythology magic this consumption isn't too much. Do you need taking care of you?"
"Instinctive. You're too reassuring."
Honestly speaking, Magical Girl Hyacinth always gave a reliable atmosphere—powerful, intelligent, beautiful. She could be devilishly demanding yet tolerate occasional acting spoiled, making one involuntarily drop guard.
"Never mind that. Anyway, you're responsible for getting us both back."
Before finishing, Hibiscus nearly fell headfirst. Fortunately Jin Yulu supported her. The two had to return to the beach arm-in-arm while girls onshore thunderously applauded.
Praise? Admiration? Unclear what specific emotions, not even a trace of jealousy arose—or rather, feeling proud. Precisely because seniors like Hyacinth and Imperial Flower independently shouldered responsibility, they created today's situation, saving civilization and the ethnic group. Everyone was a community of shared destiny. The seemingly immature Salvation Church had future society's embryonic form. Being within it always brought natural pride.
Celebration for both seniors, and for themselves. Soday succeeding Magical Girls would also grow up shouldering heavy responsibilities.
Hibiscus sat on the beach and sighed with relief. Seed effective—her perception was filled with joyful emotions.
She looked at nurous hopeful gazes. Combat compared to responsibility's weight was nothing. The once-isolated safe haven finally had a collective atmosphere.
Too fast.
As a leader, was she lacking psychological preparation? Were abilities sufficient? Could developnt continue? Though worrying much, confidence was greater. As the Church increasingly got on track, Hibiscus relaxed considerably.
After the small episode, she had Jin Yulu handle arrangents while continuing magic practice.
This was too slow—efficiency needed improvent.
Hibiscus called over Healing Rain user Stephanie for help. Though lacking magical power wasn't within healing range, this chanism actually had exploitable loopholes.
As long as the healed subject was injured—so she used ti slash on herself then had Stephanie use magic healing. At this mont, "magical power deficit state" was also viewed as "part needing recovery," allowing mana bars to recover sowhat.
Even the user admired this idea of circumventing and correcting chanisms—turns out Healing Rain could be used this way!
Stephanie decided to secure "Church's number one healer" and simply accompanied Senior Hyacinth in practice. After all, she didn't want to drag everyone down in future catastrophe war environnts. Through repeated joint operations, Magical Girl Lavender developed belonging to this big family, hoping to contribute.
Two practicing magic together was win-win.
During this period, Church mbers finishing vacation gradually assembled at Ningfeng Harbor, transferred to Hermit Island in batches after leadership counted numbers.
Due to growing numbers, everyone beca increasingly cautious—better safe than sorry.
Fortunately, Jin Ruochu's Fortune and Misfortune magic plus Elsa's Love and Hate magic provided double protection. The forr granted luck while the latter made "people curious about magic" develop "dislike" and stay away. The cost was herself catching cold and being bedridden, probably becoming the last batch to arrive.
According to Nan Zhiyi's arrangents, this process would last a week due to too many newcors, plus spontaneous arrivals at Ningfeng Harbor company headquarters requiring attention.
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
Ningfeng Harbor coast, dock gang controlled area.
Thanks to backing from Long Wind Group and Five-Color Narcissus dicine, plus various political-business relationship entanglents, this had beco a smuggling transfer point, even receiving illegal entry ships from foreign countries.
Today, a yacht slowly entered the port. Seeing this, dock workers imdiately took notice.
Strange—an expensive luxury item for tycoons specifically taking illegal entry routes? Could afford yachts but not customs?
"Rich people are weird," underlings chattered.
"Probably so shady business from international waters. I'll receive them," a small boss volunteered.
Tis are different now. Under upper-level protection managent, they'd mostly gone from black to gray—at most areas with certain social vitality, trying to follow laws, not wanting connections with excessive transactions that would first make big shots above and not spare them. With this thought, the small boss called two brothers to the berth—clearly a 5-story dium yacht capable of ocean voyages, appearing weathered with barnacles.
"Hello."
Unexpectedly, a girl in sailor uniform and naval cap erged from the ship. Besides her, not one person existed—even more fucking weird. Felt like murder cases.
"Captain, since you could find us, you should have investigated beforehand. Though we won't search, we remind you so cargo absolutely isn't allowed—human trafficking, drugs, etc. That's the bottom line."
"Don't worry, I simply ca to visit," the sailor girl produced a Five-Color Narcissus Company business card. "I'm looking for her."
"...Not too clear."
"Speaking of which, I often travel the seas and always bring local specialties."
A fingertip-sized gold nugget was placed in the small boss's hand. Weight, luster, and tooth-bite feel were completely correct—actually encountered genuine goods. Instantly his originally clear eyes beca turbid, frenzied, face full of fawning like gold's slave.
At the sa ti, two accompanying underlings also had vacant expressions and dull looks. If they weren't all facing away from companions, soone would definitely notice abnormal conditions.
"By the way, is it convenient to ask where you're from?"
Hearing the counter-question, the girl raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled. Minimal magic plus hypnosis yet still able to self-think and interrogate—seed like drug resistance. These guys wouldn't often get hypnotized, right? Then ca to the right place.
She handed over an old tourist map, pointing to one spot with regret:
"I'm from here—very distant, right? So no one cares about our survival. Since my holand was swallowed by fallen zones 3 years ago, I began wandering everywhere. This Arctic Tern has reached 60% of world ports. I nad it after birds migrating between North and South Poles, hoping to cross 40,000 kiloters and finally reach holand, but nowhere was ho."
"...How do you pronounce these characters? What Lu? Is it Lu State? We also have a famous Lu State person called Confucius."
"Big brother, we all know you're cultured, but not much."
The sailor girl sighed—pointlessly lancholy for nothing, casting pearls before swine, wasting emotions. But sohow the nonsensical joke lightened her mood considerably.
She lifted magic control and instructed: "Since you took money, work quickly."
Facts proved directly talking with local snakes was convenient. Dock gang mbers holding gold nuggets imdiately beca professional service staff with full explanations, no worse than any professional guide, especially important service spirit. Take money, handle business—underworld rules were effective.
They even kept calling her "Captain" or "young and promising," "sailing alone across oceans definitely talented," etc.
All wrong.
If said two years ago, it was indeed correct—basically stumbling through everything, hitting walls and even dangerous situations.
But since Magical Girl Water Lily was born, difficulties were easily resolved. Strong physical qualities let her develop well in suitable places. Plus Five-Color Narcissus Company's published technique training thods gave her more options—relatively easy. Though leaving various grudges worldwide, the girl didn't care now. Let it pass.
"By the way, I'm not called Captain. Just call Nelu."
"Respected Miss Nelu, we've already arranged local five-star hotels and conveyed your contact with Five-Color Narcissus Company. It's for their broadcasting departnt interview, right?"
"Mm, should be."
Even as a fellow Magical Girl, she wasn't quite clear how to specifically contact the Salvation Church. So only two clues lay before her:
One: The famous Managent Bureau, or Clover idol group. But being too famous was easily exposed, and reportedly hadn't truly recruited Magical Girls yet.
Two: The mysterious Salvation Church, world-recognized first supernatural society. Its achievents need no elaboration—each thunderous, many mbers long-renowned and reliable. If choosing allegiance targets, naturally her, but worthy of super underground organization, indeed hidden deep. The breakthrough was advertisents.
Nelu was always cautious, initially hiring private detectives to investigate advertisers.
Results: 4 consecutive experts failed, learning nothing while encountering bizarre accidents like losing important docunts, office fires, forcing withdrawal.
She had to act personally. Results were unusually smooth, investigating thoroughly and finally targeting Five-Color Narcissus Company.
That was it!
When viewing this rising pharmaceutical enterprise through "Salvation Church peripheral organization" filters, easily associating with magic. With this thought, Nelu bought an infectious disease specific drug injection, using magical resonance—no reaction.
No matter. Using unique magical fluctuations for resonance again—had reaction, proving so step definitely involved magical processing.
Seamless—actually contained inert components not easily resonating with ordinary magical power, preventing Holy Relics from finding them. Switching to Magical Girl power worked.
Opening thoughts, Nelu further investigated Five-Color Narcissus Company, discovering all departnts' recruitnt permanently overcrowded with tens of thousands of daily resus. No wonder—an enterprise saving hundreds of millions, idealistic, vigorously developing information technology with high pay and benefits was the business world's lighthouse, attracting countless top elites to contribute.
In contrast, the inexplicable small departnt "broadcast marketing" seed quite bizarre.
Nelu actively contacted while the other party only gave addresses, saying exclusive interviews could be conducted anyti with all travel assistance provided.
She imdiately decided to co.
Secured.
So things couldn't be explained clearly or safely over phone, so Five-Color Narcissus Company using interviews for interfacing was indeed reliable. Of course, this couldn't eliminate vigilance.
Having wandered everywhere and experienced hardships, Nelu maintained 120% wariness toward every new land. No choice—suffered too much. More importantly, local Disaster Beast material processing made her feel magical power provoked throughout her body—excited, thrilled, wanting to imdiately indulge in magical release.
Absolutely not. She belonged to domain type, easily causing big commotions. Must suppress it.
After forcibly suppressing magical power with a long breath, Magical Girl Water Lily diverted attention by asking: "Heard your side receives considerable care from Five-Color Narcissus Company, but voices say these public welfare actions are just tax avoidance thods..."
"So what?" The small boss who'd been acting as guide imdiately beca indignant. "What matters is producing results, better than lip service."
"For example?"
"Five-Color Narcissus founder Dr. Mu once provided free clinics in our dock area, eliminating over a thousand infectious disease cases with countless potential saves beyond counting. Afterward her business also prioritized assignnts here. With work and so infrastructure investnt, everyone's lives improved greatly thanks to these great benefactors..."
Speaking of this, he was eloquent while nearby townspeople nodded agreent.
Nelu's evaluation of the Salvation Church rose another level—actually understood playing basic foundations, base areas. Generous yet wise, should be called good leadership.
Under local guide direction, she headed toward a Five-Color Narcissus Company coastal branch, conveniently located in the pharmaceutical district.
The interview even saved her trip to city center—however convenient. So a world-class Fortune 500 enterprise's HR running around for a middle school dropout? Even emphasizing exclusive specialized recruitnt with maximum courtship intent. Right, this was very magical.
A mont later.
The guide called a Five-Color Narcissus Company-labeled business car, specially receiving Nelu to leave the dock area. Ahead, white factory greenhouses ca into view.
"World-famous infectious disease specific dicines are produced here," the guide introduced. "Main production area covers 3 football fields with underground structures. So far no leaks occurred. Of course, viewing her as pharmaceutical enterprise is outdated. Currently branches are developing mobile communications, internet, smartphones, etc. Estimated product launches soon, with cutting-edge products already purchased by military for close attention."
"Indeed remarkable."
Even knowing founders possessed magic, she still praised because the most difficult aspects were organizational, coordination, and leadership charisma.
Nelu increasingly felt the dense fluctuations unique to Magical Girls.
The pharmaceutical district definitely had many compatriots, yet this aura made her own magic increasingly ready to erge.
Finally entering the office building at the pharmaceutical park entrance—the coastal area's tallest building, towering and magnificent. Entering the lobby, without self-introduction the receptionist led the way. Accommodating Nelu arrived at a clean white room.
At the long table were 3 girls. According to na tags: Human Resources consultant, Char. Information Engineering group leader, Xiang Yunwei. Broadcasting departnt personnel group leader, Kelly. All three very young but with steady, reliable temperants.
Almost the instant she entered, they exchanged lightning glances, confirming without doubt—everyone was indeed Magical Girls.
But procedures couldn't change.
Nelu said "Hello everyone" then sat anxiously in the chair opposite the long table. Honestly, first ti eting fellow Magical Girls, and that Kelly's magical pressure faintly locked on, her strength should exceed her own.
She politely gave a brief introduction of her background then fell silent, awaiting the three interviewers' questions.
First to break silence was Information Engineering head Xiang Yunwei, flipping materials while saying: "Your resu shows experiences from various places—seems quite exciting."
"Just helpless wandering."
"To be frank, your social records are very incomplete, even nonexistent, probably related to Pacific fallen zone expansion 3 years ago? But this also ans we can't fully understand applicants. I sympathize with your holand's tragedy, though record loss is objective fact."
"I know, so ask whatever you want. Anyway, here my biggest secret is no longer secret."
Nelu didn't realize her words were becoming increasingly relaxed, magical power also easing sowhat.
Xiang Yunwei stopped focusing on materials and took out a bulky laptop to type, gesturing for nearby Char to continue procedures.
Human Resources consultant? Strange position.
While the other party observed her, Nelu was also watching. This girl wore brown windcoat and gentleman's hat with detective flair... No, this should be so special Regalia, between Second and Third Awakening.
"Convenient to ask how you found us?" Char's sharp gaze asked.
"Through fitness advertisents, investigating placent companies, plus 3 contractors, 4 institutional commissions, and dozens of different legal representatives before finally circling back to Five-Color Narcissus Company. Oh, actually before this I commissioned private detectives, but various accidents interrupted. When I investigated myself it went smoothly, feeling like their bad luck beca my good fortune..."
Halfway through, Nelu frowned slightly. How had she suddenly opened up like this, thoughts flowing uncontrollably from mind to mouth without concealnt?
"You're very smart."
After praising, Char continued frankly: "We'll arrange a position specially designed for you. Even if you don't want further 'regularization,' that's fine. Helping compatriots is natural—we're not like rcenaries or military with forced asures. You can choose to do nothing."
"Being kept? Thank you for the kindness, but I like adventure."
"You misunderstood. This is welfare—dividends we won through struggle. Every compatriot qualifies to enjoy it. Consider it courtship."
"I'm increasingly fond of you all. So generous?"
"Even if one in ten people is willing to devote to the cause, we profit. Key is no coercion, voluntary enthusiasm, high benefits. One of our leaders once said: Territory expansion can rely on hiring rcenaries to risk lives, but defending the holand requires moral, spirited, knowledgeable soldiers—good family children. Our cause has higher standards than defending our holand."
Nelu caught the subtext—choosing between joining Five-Color Narcissus or Salvation Church, life's crossroads.
So be it.
The forr ant supporting you for life if needed—financially powerful and not lacking money. That vulgar stuff was easily obtainable for Magical Girls, having just easily "withdrawn" 100 tons of gold, so these conditions were convincing.
The latter ant militarized organization, at least not indulging your casual freedom. Think with your brain—the Church guarding civilization against Disaster Beasts wouldn't want ragtag troops.
Nelu flipped out a gleaming gold coin: "I happen to not lack money either. I want fa—don't let the world forget my holand. If Magical Girl Water Lily can beco famous, then ntioning origins from a fallen zone island should make people rember."
Kelly suddenly spoke: "No need for such trouble. Soday we'll retake fallen zones."
"Hope to count in then."
Just as the atmosphere ward, Char suddenly ntioned: "According to our investigation, your economic situation is special. Very generous spending, casually offering gold, but this 'gold's' reliability only maintains days or weeks before becoming superficial, not conforming to physical constants. What's going on?"
Impossible! She'd been very careful—spending money while hypnotizing plus magic's inherent greed effects shouldn't expose anything.
Nelu pondered before realizing: "What investigation? It's a deduction!"
"Technique type, Detective Master. Abilities include but aren't limited to cold reading, psychological profiling, deduction, etc. So I was sent to assess newcors' reliability."
"You're too lazy to care about mbers' personal consumption habits—this is assessing combat intelligence, right?"
"Correct again." Hearing this, Char clapped then said: "Since you volunteer to join the Church, organization mbers must mutually disclose basic magical effects. You have rights to conceal or incompletely publish, but must give reliable references. After all, you probably don't want teammates hiding things then becoming provisions together when fighting Disaster Beasts?"
"Like announcing underwear colors."
"So speaking, the entire Church doesn't wear skirts, showing underwear to each other..."
Kelly knocked Char's head, then seriously warned: "Magical Girl Water Lily, you're over-suppressing magical power with possible danger. I suggest direct demonstration. Don't worry—I can handle it."
"Why all the roundabout ways? Just directly say the selling point is not needing to hide and freely releasing—definitely plenty would join." Hearing this, Nelu smiled and stood up.
Domain Seal—
Almost simultaneously, the office building was shrouded in illusion techniques.
The interview room showed a circular shell, surface delicate and smooth, entirely golden with patterns like carved ancient murals. Internal space seed more vast—clearly layered stone building complexes with gold-cast statues, walls, altars among them. The air seed to echo distant, mysterious bell sounds.
"Domain magic, El Dorado." The user proactively introduced: "Be careful—you'll beco money-obsessed then assimilated into gold..."
Before finishing, Char was already swimming in coin seas with joyful cries, skin covered in gold dust.
Xiang Yunwei calmly judged: "Scenario domain with abnormal status skills, having prerequisite judgnt conditions. Seems true-self domains like Senior Dandelion's with almost no conditions are very rare and most difficult to handle."
"Never underestimate scenario domains—when conditions allow, very suitable for ambushes."
Kelly's confident words puzzled both, especially Nelu not believing her usually invincible magic would fail. Even so Disaster Beasts fell here.
"When did you develop the illusion that I hadn't deployed a domain?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers