Hermit Island.
The ringing sound on the office desk interrupted Hibiscus's review of company docunts. She picked up the phone casually. "Hello, good morning, Elsa... There's news so quickly?"
The other side relayed the Central Arican excavation site battle in detail—news from the attacking rcenary Alliance was naturally reliable.
24 dead, 203 wounded, astral compass seized, strategic weapons fallen into private military contractor hands. More importantly, the planned route exposed the treasury's location.
The encrypted navigation device on the transport plane had been cracked—the map's fog of war was lit up.
Hearing Elsa directly provide results, Hibiscus couldn't help being surprised. Progress was faster than imagined. Seems the rcenary Alliance had many capable people—execution, combat power, and organizational ability were all comndable. The real world plus changed history made them unlike the dumbed-down original work, instead achieving repeated successes. But logically, the military should've heavily guarded it. Why did problems occur?
Learning of Magical Girl intervention, she held her forehead and sighed. I see—because the two leading elite troops were enhanced versions, they'd definitely succeed.
What a move.
Did the rcenaries really lack that legendary strategic weapon-class relic? Not really—the real intention wasn't the wine. Fabricating news and spreading rumors actually hyped up this thing's importance, making the military rush and err in organizing transport, resulting in exposing the treasury location while dragging the Church into the water.
Anyway, Hibiscus had originally planned to get involved.
However, she still asked cautiously: "Haven't the military made any statents so far?"
"The night of the incident, investigations and arrests of rcenary peripheral enterprises began. All related suppliers were cut off—basically an economic sanctions state. Seems they finally made up their minds. Next should be ard confrontation—those bases entirely belonging to rcenaries will face forced takeover."
"...But according to you, they haven't publicized the Central Arican incident. On the surface, the military does have advantages, but actually everyone's waiting for a result."
Elsa agreed: "Right. Now there are two key points. The rcenary Alliance's main training ground in Australia will face seizure—this place stockpiles many relics and related technology, undoubtedly the heart. Might trigger siege warfare. The other is the Relic Treasury. There's word that large-scale curses will activate together with Prophecy Books and Oracle Books for precision, but performance will be more prone to losing control. Honestly, there are conflicting reports now—can't guarantee ssage source authenticity. One thing's certain: they're equivalent to an exchange of fire state."
"I understand."
Excitent aside, Hibiscus was quite clear that grassroots forces wouldn't actually go to war—wouldn't reach chaos and disorder.
Both sides still preserved the last bit of tacit understanding: controlling struggles at the top level.
After all, no one wanted to rule ruins after winning. Besides, many rcenaries were actually retired military—hard to make relatives and old friends fight each other to the death.
So this war had distinctive "special warfare characteristics"—just need to take key locations, facilities, or personnel. This also gave more bystanders opportunities to stay neutral without taking sides. Everyone was waiting for clear trends before placing bets.
Hibiscus couldn't be soone placing bets—had to enter the field. She'd already changed her mind earlier. This order transition couldn't lack the Church's presence.
Otherwise, how to divide spoils later? No share for you.
She said: "If I'm not mistaken, deliberately sending Magical Girls into action was also responding to Managent Bureau recruitnt—releasing goodwill while trying to win us over."
Elsa replied: "Very crude thod of dragging people into water, but effective. Now the military has to consider the Church standing on the opposing side. My final ssage is that rcenary Alliance President and Union Leader Bull hopes to et—choosing Glacier Island."
"I'm not surprised by the previous statents, but this big shot insisting on coming to the North Pole..."
"What does the boss think the reason is?"
"Distance-wise it's indeed relatively close, and it's within European control zone's firepower coverage. Plus Magical Girl protection, and he should want to sell the Managent Bureau so face." After thinking carefully, Hibiscus understood—indeed better to have the other party co to her territory.
The silver-haired girl glanced at Glacier Island under major construction outside the window and sighed. Clearly a construction site—since guests didn't mind, the host might as well be generous.
"Just reply that I very much welco it. Will send people to receive them then. You co too. Ti set by him—always available."
After a few more instructions, Elsa hung up and sent over a stack of files.
Including those two Magical Girls who made a big splash at the Central Arican excavation site. After returning, they received Red Cedar Company's communication of expectations for the Managent Bureau, finally deciding they could first work as peripheral temporary employees.
From a personality perspective, these sisters actually didn't like relatively militarized organizations. Having a Managent Bureau that was relatively free and allowed affiliation was naturally perfect.
After both agreed, a resu was submitted to the Church.
Magical Girl Flowering Crabapple, real na Ruan Xinyue, ti magic, save points. Ordinary family background, sowhat lazy personality but passionate about magic research, likes gas, and gradually growing fond of rcenary fighting and killing. Gentle yet firm character. Though seemingly investigated and given Red Cedar Company special appointnt letters, both sides weren't actually in an employnt relationship but cooperation, even promised shares.
According to General Sid's evaluation: "She said I'm a one-in-ten-thousand ti magic user—need more money, and appearance fees keep rising."
So brains too.
Magical Girl Dieffenbachia, real na Ruan Manyue, space magic, door-knocker. As the younger sister, she was conversely the active good student. Since contacting rcenaries, besides daily help with "opening doors" for infiltration missions everywhere, she even handled part of her sister's equity managent, not suffering too much loss facing a bunch of old foxes.
Additionally, there were over ten Magical Girls—all willing to join the Managent Bureau or Church.
Red Cedar Company predictably controlled so personnel, but Hibiscus was quite surprised. So easy? Did I say one word and North Arica's top rcenary group just hands over people?
She even worried about deception, but facts were very smooth—nothing more than employee job-hopping between enterprises.
According to Elsa, no additional agreents existed either.
Hyacinth's reputation spread far and wide. Even General Sid was willing to give face. Besides, now the rcenary Alliance was asking for favors—might as well take so losses. Anyway, he never thought Magical Girls would always follow.
Hibiscus had to admire the netizen-evaluated "non-stick" character—indeed had thods. She couldn't find fault with this response thod and found it quite comfortable.
Pleasant cooperation.
Red Cedar Company truly inherited the political wisdom of the Thirteen Colonies' founders. Having such smart people in the rcenary Alliance actually reassured her—just don't be pig teammates. But comprehensive strikes from the military had just begun—talk after surviving.
Hibiscus had to prepare hospitality, otherwise Glacier Island's shabby appearance would show no respect.
Hermit Island ended intensive training early and opened up.
As the situation grew increasingly tense, Hibiscus had no leisure to delay at headquarters. Better to build Glacier Island's prototype early, lest with chaos and turmoil no one recognized it or used it as an excuse. Only after building related facilities for complete personal use could she feel at ease.
She readjusted work. The Thousand-Li Viewing Mirror fully opened passages, with Magical Girls and tad Disaster Beasts responsible for building material transport.
Because workers were too capable, even freezing weather couldn't stop construction progress. Plus Hibiscus's design blueprints built houses at visibly rapid speed.
Simpler than imagined—should credit Glacier Island's rich magic power letting everyone recover faster.
Jin Yulu was busiest.
General construction machinery couldn't operate at the North Pole, so parts that Magical Girls and Disaster Beasts couldn't handle had to be her responsibility. But the person involved was quite willing, claiming to "practice dual transformation endurance by the way." How could everything be interpreted as involution? She didn't forget reminding everyone to also exercise their magic for relevant effects during construction—still had spare ti to pressure everyone.
Glacier Island construction work proceeded with great enthusiasm. With Hibiscus and netizens continuously confirming, it rapidly built up—changing appearance daily.
The project seed complex, but she most lacked think tanks. So professionals provided suggestions safeguarding progress. "Glacier Island Phase One Project" even beca a professional representative the post, with large numbers of practitioners providing valuable guidance. Even outsider Hibiscus learned much through exposure.
In just three days, small flat levels were built as footholds.
Clearly at the North Pole in deep winter yet giving tropical island vacation vibes. Fortunately Magical Girls weren't afraid of cold, otherwise this art style would make people sneeze just looking—even colder.
Gurgle gurgle!
Nearby at a port, nuclear submarine wreckage was docked. Dandelion commanded Xiang Yunwei and Gu Rubai to dismantle nuclear warheads from submarine-launched ballistic missiles, boldly rolling them out and stacking them. In terms of scale, one was enough to blow Hermit Island sky-high.
Magical Girl Dandelion checked submarine internal data while counting nuclear bombs with unchanged expression.
Without activation keys, they were the world's safest weapons. But for the Church it didn't matter—too many thods could bypass authorization procedures.
Hibiscus asked: "How's missile integrity?"
Dandelion shook her head: "Pity—most twisted and deford in collision. Dare use them to deliver nuclear bombs and no one knows where they'll land—a bunch of Brownian motion guys. Since so, might as well store the nuclear warheads first."
"No rush processing. Just leave them like this—guests coming later."
"rcenaries?"
"And President Bull."
"So impressive!" Dandelion slightly froze then showed admiration. "Bold enough—going to a eting alone."
"Actually, not long ago I hadn't confird betting on any side, but the rcenary Alliance made more eye-catching achievents. This ti is very important—I want to hear your opinion."
"Very simple—we've bet either way. Must be in the victor's position to secure a seat, otherwise the Church will have no voice in the new order. Easy to say, hard to do. We must win. Might as well ask ourselves: how much can we actually bet? Sacrifice how much? Including ourselves?"
Both unconsciously looked at the nuclear bombs stacked before them, discovering their gazes fell on the sa point and couldn't help laughing heartily.
"No way? We're too crazy." Hibiscus self-mocked.
"Without so abnormal thods, how to compete with those guys with centuries of accumulation?"
"To avoid evolving into that scene, must strike advantages from the start. Anyway, I'll be stationed at Hermit Island initially, then go wherever needed. But key depends on the rcenary Alliance's upcoming eting."
Suddenly so Magical Girls' greeting voices interrupted their conversation. They had expressions of watching excitent without fearing trouble, bringing over a television.
"Senior, big news!"
Thanks to Hermit Island's closed barrier opening, even the North Pole could receive so weak signals. The picture gradually cleared: center was Coalition Disaster Beast Commander-in-Chief Croft, surrounded by nurous generals, atmosphere quite oppressive. These battle-hardened people seed to emanate killing intent. His gaze tightly locked on the cara, as if staring at soone—naturally imposing without anger.
Croft made no motions to check speech drafts, opening straight to the point:
"I've reported the Central Arican attack case to the oversight court and obtained search warrants for related rcenary companies' illegal operations. You no longer receive legal protection. Before comprehensive investigation ends... but that's not what I want to say. Detailed situations will be reported later."
He straightened up with even colder tone: "This is rebellion, infighting, and ambitious activities. Culprit Bull is destroying the peaceful environnt."
"Coalition forces have taken necessary asures, including using certain relics. Hope everyone won't be too surprised."
"Just as this press conference occurred, so investigating military and rcenaries exchanged fire. Obviously there's command behind it, so I advise Bull to imdiately order disarmant and stop advancing on individual state organs, otherwise it will invite destructive strikes."
"This is an ultimatum!"
Croft's speech was shorter than imagined—throughout ruthless with few words, directly hitting vital points, leveraging rcenary companies' legal principles.
He was releasing a signal—more official forces sided with the military.
Magical Girls didn't much care about these two groups fighting to the death. The important thing was the Central Arican incident was glossed over—not even ntioning magical attacks.
The military was smart—simplifying where appropriate without drawing conclusions. Current priority was controlling major rcenary company arsenals. Rather than saying the ultimatum was declaring war, better to say it was fighting for middle swing forces while buying ti. Since it is already defined as rebellion, it must clean up thoroughly, otherwise it would completely damage the worldwide Anti-Disaster Beast strength. The next catastrophe wave would definitely fail.
Dandelion couldn't help asking: "According to Croft's aning, he'll offer conditions, wanting to divide rcenaries?"
"Joke—amnesty ans killing however many surrender. Even if he's willing to spare people, subordinates stained with blood feuds will purge surrenderers. This is an ultimatum? No, I only hear warnings that not fighting ans death. Want to eliminate these guys—nothing to do with justice, just profitable."
"You're not worried the alliance will terminate or weaken operations?"
"They're not ignorant peasant armies—pacified with a few lons and dates. rcenaries want power, we want status. Fight until we win."
Magical Girls were also shocked by Hibiscus's words, but thinking again all determined to follow to the end. Looking at the military's aggressive posture, still Senior Hyacinth was more reliable.
"Don't be too moved. Won't die many high-level people. This is modern politics—will play reality show gas."
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
North Atlantic airspace, so private aircraft.
Bull removed headphones connected to radio broadcast news and laughed disdainfully. Then he turned to rear seats: "Miss Pasha, General Sid, have you received news of executives being cursed?"
"5 people. Should be Red Cedar Company being relatively close, and their death state was virus infection skin ulceration—not predicted causality type."
"3 people. Originally would be more, but one was saved by holy dicine experints. That thing's absoluteness is questionable."
Three old foxes calculated together and imdiately relaxed sowhat. Everyone knew that relic had even affected Catastrophe Disaster Beasts—nad Plague Seed but perhaps needed Black Jar cooperation to activate, now controlled by the Salvation Church. But couldn't be too pleased early—strange things were nurous. If seeds cooperated with prophecy twin books, definitely comparable to death god roll call. Plus Scarecrow is equally worth guarding against...
Relic Treasury's power wasn't how many strong trump cards, but mutual complentation. As long as inventory was sufficient, no weaknesses existed.
Really troubleso.
Though Antarctica gained certain route guidance, still needed further investigation.
"Everyone don't worry." Flowering Crabapple in nearby seats proactively spoke: "For old friends' sake, I'll apply saves to you—5 million per person. If accidents happen, there's regret dicine."
Dieffenbachia poked her arm: "Sis, don't you know that consus a lot? Don't casually peddle."
Both sang in harmony advertising.
Bull smiled and spread his hands: "Pity all my assets are frozen, otherwise would definitely pay super-high prices for your business. Really unfortunate. Speaking of which, ladies, individual survival isn't important in this war. Just preserve combat strength—at least can get revenge."
"Chairman, you have more awareness than I expected."
Elsa, who'd returned from making phone calls in the other cabin, greeted. At this mont she also wore won's black formal attire, not using Regalia to hide identity, showing trust.
"You flatter . I think rcenary work is a great cause. History happened to choose —death can't stop trends."
"This recognition alone surpasses many people." Elsa continued: "5 more minutes of flight should have reception—Senior Manjusaka. She'll guide the plane to a safe place."
Glacier Island was wrapped in Hermit Island's clouds and mist, entering radio silence—more hidden than nuclear submarines. Must have navigation, preferably human navigation.
This reputation was thunderous.
Anyone who'd investigated the Salvation Church wouldn't be unfamiliar. Manjusaka belonged to the original Magical Girls, with several powerful performances. Even now people couldn't forget the Los Angeles battle's teor-falling spectacle. Besides, in the recent North Pole battle she was among affiliated Disaster Beast groups, equally sweeping through thousands. In terms of comprehensive strength, definitely the Church frontline.
"Director Elsa, does the Church have many rare magic possessors?" Flowering Crabapple asked in surprise.
"Yes. Causality type like , plus space type, ti type, technique type combat class, domain type true self domain all exist. Frankly speaking, you'll definitely find similar types. Especially Senior Hyacinth is very good at teaching—should have more insights on similar magic. Everyone progresses together."
"...Sounds quite interesting indeed."
"Sis, you can first join the Church and get along a bit."
Elsa took the opportunity: "Compared to military organizations, we're more like rcenaries taking missions. Usually very idle—if you're strong and don't need supervision, it's even more convenient."
Flowering Crabapple nodded slightly while flicking her sister's forehead, signaling not to be a diator with elbows turning outward.
Nearby rcenaries pretended not to exist, watching the top Magical Girl force openly poach. This director's strange beloved ability was too suitable—couldn't retain them. Might as well relax and accept.
They'd even done ideological work for the Ruan sisters, promoting Church mbership. After all, having people inside with favorable impressions counted as profit.
Bang bang!
Suddenly at ten thousand ters altitude, the cabin door was knocked. Then saw a pink-haired girl's profile pressed tightly against the glass window, high-speed wind pressure making her expression quite codic.
"Driver sir, please open the door."
Bull helped relay Manjusaka's request. Though dangerous, the trusted pilot completely implented orders. The mont the cabin door opened, wild winds howled endlessly.
Massive suction poured into the cabin, but everyone sat steady without even fastening seatbelts—no ordinary mortals present.
Manjusaka thanked them and openly entered the private plane, not forgetting to casually close the door. She straightened her Regalia tie and patted non-existent dust, then greeted everyone one by one.
"Miss Pasha, long ti no see. Still going smoothly since parting in Edo?"
"Busy dealing with investigations."
"General Sid, Hyacinth ntioned you, saying you and Red Cedar Company both understand advance and retreat."
"She said that about ? What an honor."
"Also, the two Miss Ruans, presumably Elsa told you the general situation. Detailed explanations will have people receive and explain on the island."
Both Magical Girls instinctively sat up straight and nodded. Though Manjusaka's entrance had so dramatic effect, real face-to-face contact conveyed authority. In terms of age, experience, and strength, she far exceeded ordinary Magical Girls, sitting firmly in the first tier. Moreover, that causality-type strongest magic title wasn't to be underestimated. Juniors like Flowering Crabapple and Dieffenbachia had to take it seriously.
Finally, Manjusaka's gaze focused on Bull, who also made eye contact and politely spoke first: "Long admired your reputation. Having you here makes more confident about the voyage."
"Not necessarily. When I ca, I saw several fighter jets seemingly searching for targets in the sky."
"No problem. Aren't you supposed to navigate? Can contact the captain anyti."
"No need. The mont I stepped on this aircraft, it was destined for Glacier Island."
The pink-haired girl's aningful statent made everyone slightly freeze, developing deeper wariness toward such mysterious magic. Moreover, they always felt the more the other party revealed information, the less they understood specific chanisms—truly headache-inducing.
They were wrong.
Little did they know the real aning was "without permission, no aircraft can successfully reach Glacier Island—always encountering accidents." So what's aircraft accidents called? To avoid air disasters, Manjusaka rged with it while guiding out luck toward correct destinations.
Then everyone began chatting. Rather than formally discussing cooperation, they tacitly used ordinary topics to open communication atmosphere.
But good tis didn't last long. Alarm sounds echoed through the cabin.
"Boss, we're now locked by fire control radar." The captain reported urgently.
"Imdiately land at Iceland airport under our guidance." Cold commands rang through radio channels. "Otherwise you rebellious bastards will all die."
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