Chapter 98 What a Coincidence?
“Although they say the city is sealed off, it seems that the lives of the city residents haven’t been too affected?”
Walking on the still prosperous street, Xia Mo murmured softly after turning back to her original form.
Compared to Xinghai City, Eastern Extreme City is much more bustling, and the streets have a unique flavor that reflects Eastern Extreme City’s characteristics.
“After all, nowadays, people rarely leave their own city to go elsewhere, so the sealing off doesn’t have much impact on ordinary citizens.” Luo Shuangyue didn’t find this very strange; how many people can casually visit other cities these days?
For the vast majority of ordinary people, does sealing off the city really make a significant difference from not sealing it?
As for the magical girls catching bad guys day and night… Come on, ordinary citizens can’t see those happenings; at most, they just get a brief mention on the news.
These extraordinary events really don’t have a large impact on ordinary people.
As long as they don’t do anything wrong, what does it matter to them if magical girls are fighting against bad guys?
“I feel like the student uniforms here in Eastern Extreme City look better than ours in Xinghai City…” Xia Mo glanced at some students passing by and made another quiet comment.
The student uniforms in Xinghai City are very ordinary, looking completely unremarkable, akin to plain sportswear, reflecting the trends of the times.
In contrast, Eastern Extreme City is different, with small suits and plaid skirts that fully showcase the youth and beauty of the girls.
“This is considered their tradition; after all, this place is a fusion of the three former countries, so there will definitely be mutual compromises and assimilations…” Luo Shuangyue glanced at the girls before quickly retracting her gaze.
Well, they aren’t as pretty as my Xia Mo.
“We’re currently in the Western District of Eastern Extreme City, where people live similarly to us, while the Soul Guide is in the Eastern District, which is completely different from here.”
Eastern Extreme City is divided into three districts: Eastern, Western, and Southern. The Western District occupies half of the area, the Eastern District takes up one-third, and the Southern District is the smallest, only covering one-sixth of Eastern Extreme City’s area.
The Western District is the best-developed area in Eastern Extreme City, with the overall safety being the best as well.
The technology in the Eastern District is more advanced; the regulations there are more favorable for tech companies.
As for the Southern District, it can be considered a slum in Eastern Extreme City, chaotic, impoverished, and filled with crime, and the administrators of the Southern District are even too lazy to manage these matters.
Of course, it’s also possible that the administrators of the Southern District are profiting from it.
“In any case, we should avoid going to the other two districts, especially the Southern District.” Luo Shuangyue warned Xia Mo very solemnly.
She wasn’t worried about Xia Mo being set up but rather that if Xia Mo accidentally killed someone, it would be very troublesome.
“Mm-mm.” Xia Mo hurriedly nodded.
She didn’t know much about Eastern Extreme City, but seeing how well-informed Luo Shuangyue was, she certainly wouldn’t be stubborn.
Only a fool would do something like that, and Xia Mo is no fool.
After introducing Xia Mo to the general situation in Eastern Extreme City, Luo Shuangyue planned to go to the hotel to check in, but just as she took out her phone to navigate, Xia Mo said she had already booked a luxury hotel under the Magic Department.
Not only was it free, but they could also enjoy the best treatment directly.
According to the Magic Department, magical girls going on business trips to other cities were already being put at a disadvantage; they couldn’t help with other work, but arranging for the magical girls to live comfortably and eat happily was no problem.
After all, the Magic Department has a lot of properties, and having the magical girls stay in a presidential suite costs almost nothing, not even counting as part of their business trip allowance.
“Isn’t that not considered a business trip?” After hearing this, Luo Shuangyue gasped—could it be that the life of you magical girls is too good?
“It counts! I also have a business trip certificate issued by the director.” Xia Mo cheerfully pulled out her phone and opened the internal software of the Magic Department to show her business trip certificate. “My task is to accompany you to find the Soul Guide and bring you safely back to Xinghai City.”
“Can a certificate that looks like a personal matter really be approved?”
“Of course! This was applied for by Senior Longwen and the director together.”
A Blooming Level Magical Girl plus a member of the city’s Magic Department management, it would be a miracle if they couldn’t get it approved.
The hotel under the Magic Department is easy to find; after wandering around the buzzing city center, they quickly found the hotel Xia Mo had chosen.
It was tall, large, and luxurious—a place clearly prepared for the upper class.
“I don’t even dare to breathe loudly in a place like this,” Luo Shuangyue said quietly to Xia Mo.
“Are you really feeling shy?” At this time, Xia Mo was acting much better than Luo Shuangyue, boldly walking to the hotel front desk and showing her reservation record.
The front desk attendant glanced at the reservation record, immediately respectful, handing Xia Mo a black and gold card, “Miss Xia, your room is on the twenty-first floor.”
Xia Mo nodded, returned a gentle smile, and then led Luo Shuangyue towards the nearby elevator.
This calm demeanor made Luo Shuangyue see another side of Xia Mo. In a way, this childhood friend of hers actually possessed quite a bit of the refined young lady’s temperament.
“I felt like you just now was just like those rich young ladies.”
“I think you can drop the word ‘just.’ Magical girls are all pretty wealthy.” Xia Mo smiled; she might have felt shy here before, but after becoming a magical girl, she never felt that way again.
To her now, money is merely a number. No matter how much she enjoys it and spends, it’s hard to exhaust her salary, and realizing this has completely elevated her mindset.
Now she’s just like those young ladies: when faced with problems that money can solve, they aren’t problems at all.
She, Xia Mo, is a wealthy lady!
Ding dong~
The elevator door opened, and a girl wearing a black trench coat and a light gray beret hurriedly stepped out.
Luo Shuangyue, who was whispering to Xia Mo, was caught off guard and bumped heavily into the girl’s shoulder, nearly falling.
The girl stumbled back, quickly apologizing to Luo Shuangyue, “Sorry, sorry! I was in a rush…”
Luo Shuangyue didn’t respond; her face flushed red.
After a little over ten seconds, she finally squeezed out a voice that sounded quite cold, “It’s nothing, it’s okay.”
She didn’t really mind being bumped, but let’s not forget her current state.
Being hit like that, in order not to let the girl in black bleed on the spot, she could only use all her strength to suppress her automatically defensive spikes.
In this state, it was a blessing that her voice even sounded pleasant.
……
Stab!
A dark spike pierced through her clothes, protruding half a meter from Luo Shuangyue’s shoulder.
Then it slowly retracted at a speed of about five centimeters per second back into Luo Shuangyue’s body.
“Great, this piece of clothing is ruined.” After glancing at the big hole in her shoulder, Luo Shuangyue let out a sigh.
She wanted to take off her clothes before she couldn’t suppress herself any longer, but unfortunately, women’s clothing isn’t as easy to remove as men’s; she had only gotten halfway through when her magic power was uncontrollable, shooting out from where she had just been hit.
Resigned to taking off her clothes, Luo Shuangyue realized something she didn’t know whether to be happy or sad about: she can actually take off her clothes in front of Xia Mo without changing color.
Originally, she would feel a bit shy about it, but it seems that after being forced by Xia Mo to go into the bathroom and strip last time, her psychological endurance had greatly improved; now she wasn’t shy at all!
Of course, it might also be because she knew that Xia Mo wouldn’t do anything to her right now.
“In your situation… you’d better wear some looser and more economical clothes recently, and if possible, try to avoid going out.” Seeing Luo Shuangyue’s performance, Xia Mo’s eyelids twitched; thankfully, she hadn’t lingered with that apologetic girl earlier, or Luo Shuangyue would’ve really been in trouble in the lobby.
That kind of situation could cause quite a problem.
The fact that the clothes Xia Mo bought for Luo Shuangyue got ruined didn’t trouble Xia Mo much; after all, they weren’t particularly precious clothes. Luo Shuangyue’s current situation is just something she’s clear about; some things really aren’t something Luo Shuangyue can control.
If it’s ruined, it’s ruined; just buy a few new ones.
“Mm, besides going out to find the Soul Guide, I’ll just stay here at home,” Luo Shuangyue nodded repeatedly.
This hotel room is certainly bigger than her home; there’s no problem staying for a few more days.
“Alright, I’ll go buy you some new clothes, you wait here.” Xia Mo set her things aside, “You choose a room first; I’ll take whatever you leave behind.”
……
“Two unfamiliar Initial Bloom Magical Girls, one of whom has unstable magical power… Are they here to find the Soul Guide?” A silver blade danced gracefully on the girl’s fingertips, her black eyes glimmering with contemplation.
Having dealt with magical girls many times, she could easily identify their strength level; from the aura emanating from the two she’d just encountered, she couldn’t help but tremble. This was characteristic of Initial Bloom Magical Girls.
Thinking back to how she had let her guard down and bumped into that white-haired magical girl, the girl felt a chill down her spine. Thankfully, magical girls are all hopelessly righteous, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to get out of there.
With her identity, being caught by the Magic Department would only lead to one ending: humane destruction.
Because, she is a Transformed Person, having obtained the abilities of magical creatures through prohibited technology.
Underneath her black trench coat hides a body that has deviated significantly from humanity; she can no longer be considered human.
Ding ding ding!
Her phone in her pocket vibrated twice.
She took out her phone; the screen was pitch black, but she still held it to her ear.
“Task completed, key target eliminated, all leads to the Magic Department have been cut off.”
“Is the next target him? Alright, I understand.”
“Mm, is there a need to keep an eye on the two new magical girls?”
“No need? Understood.”
Putting the phone, which hadn’t even connected to a call, back into her pocket, the girl narrowed her black eyes slightly. She was a knife, a knife devoid of self-awareness.
She had only one purpose: to kill.
To eliminate anyone that might pose a threat to that plan.
……
“Eastern Extreme City Magic Department! Open the door immediately, or don’t blame us for being rude!”
When the loud knocking came from outside the door, Luo Shuangyue was bewildered.
What’s going on? I just changed into my pajamas, why is the Eastern Extreme City Magic Department here to check? They don’t think that Xia Mo’s business trip certificate was deemed invalid by the Eastern Extreme City Magic Department, do they?
With a confused mindset, Luo Shuangyue put on her slippers and walked to the front door, opening it.
Outside were two girls in black uniforms, and behind them, several Magic Department staff were wandering in the corridor with instruments.
“Are you a guest staying here?” Upon seeing Luo Shuangyue, the girl in front squinted, “You look very familiar, very suspicious.”
Non-transformed magical girls actually don’t look too different from ordinary people; besides a few particularly perceptive individuals, others can’t tell whether someone is a magical girl or not.
But Luo Shuangyue’s situation was different; her magical aura was in a state of agitation, belonging to the type that would reveal she had issues just by standing there.
“Uh, can this be discussed here?” Luo Shuangyue nervously wondered; isn’t the identity of a magical girl supposed to remain confidential?
The questioning girl in uniform nodded lightly, threw a glance at her companions behind her, and said to Luo Shuangyue, “Then let’s talk inside.”
“Okay.”
After bringing the uniformed girl into the room, Luo Shuangyue questioned out of curiosity, “What’s going on? From the commotion outside, it seems something big happened?”
Seeing the Magic Department members outside, Luo Shuangyue knew the matter couldn’t be simple; at least they weren’t there to address Xia Mo’s business trip certificate.
The last time she saw the Magic Department conduct such an operation was during the hunt for the Royal-class magical creature in Xinghai City!
…It didn’t seem that long ago.
Ahem, in any case, the Magic Department generally wouldn’t mobilize for trivial matters, and the atmosphere in Eastern Extreme City wasn’t very leisurely; just recently, they had discovered a Royal-class magical creature.
“There’s been a death, and it’s a very key witness.” The uniformed girl scrutinized Luo Shuangyue for a while before explaining the current situation.
She could tell from Luo Shuangyue’s clear eyes that this girl indeed had no knowledge of the situation and was even curious about what had happened.
“The time of death was about half an hour ago; did you hear any strange sounds or encounter anything unusual during that time?”
Half an hour… Doesn’t that coincide perfectly with when she and Xia Mo checked into this place?
The only thing that stood out during that time was that she had been bumped into by a girl wearing a black trench coat, rushing past.
“I checked in here with my friend half an hour ago; if I had to mention something strange that happened, it’s that when we were in the elevator, someone rushed out and nearly bumped into me.”
……
Xie Jingci didn’t expect happiness to come so suddenly.
Just minutes ago, when she rushed into that key person’s room, discovering that the person’s blood had splattered all over the room, her heart sank.
This witness was the most crucial one, and the last lead they could find. Now that he was dead, the subsequent investigation would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The situation was that half an hour before they arrived, someone had already preceded them, killing this witness.
Undoubtedly, it was a silencing act!
However, the attacker had been extremely cautious, leaving no clues in the room; even the surveillance cameras in the hotel corridor had failed to capture any images of the assailant.
If nothing unexpected happens, this lead would likely be cut off here.
But an unexpected situation arose.
“She looked like this, dressed like that, and was quite strong; she nearly knocked me down…” While drawing the girl’s image on the white paper handed by Xie Jingci, Luo Shuangyue explained.
As an Initial Bloom Magical Girl, Luo Shuangyue’s physical qualities were impressive; normally, a regular girl bumping into her wouldn’t faze her at all.
However, after being bumped by that girl in black, she had nearly fallen.
If it hadn’t been for her concentration being focused on controlling her magic power, she would have noticed the abnormality much faster.
“Oh, oh, good!” Watching the gradually forming portrait, Xie Jingci became very excited. Once Luo Shuangyue finished the drawing, she couldn’t help but reach out to grasp Luo Shuangyue’s hand to express her gratitude.
But this one hold startled Luo Shuangyue like a frightened rabbit, causing her to retreat ten meters in an instant.
Xie Jingci had only just experienced the sensation of that little hand!
Am I so frightening? A sad emotion flickered in her eyes. I’m a magical girl too, I don’t look bad either. Why is this pretty companion of mine so averse to me?
Then she saw the spikes suddenly sprouting from the area on Luo Shuangyue’s hand that she had just touched. If Luo Shuangyue hadn’t reacted quickly, her hand would’ve likely been pricked to shreds.
“This is…”
“My power has advanced too quickly and my foundation isn’t stable, so I came to see your esteemed Soul Guide.” There’s really nothing to hide here; Luo Shuangyue straightforwardly stated her purpose.
The Soul Guide specializes not only in handling the wills of magical creatures but is also very adept at helping magical girls enhance their control over magical power. For the issues Luo Shuangyue is facing, seeking the Soul Guide is definitely a remedy.
Hearing Luo Shuangyue’s explanation, Xie Jingci didn’t raise any suspicion either; after all, Luo Shuangyue was also a magical girl and was staying in a hotel under the Magic Department. It seemed quite reasonable for her to have come to Eastern Extreme City.
Could it be doubted that Luo Shuangyue was the one who killed that witness? Xie Jingci wasn’t that kind of foolish detective.
“I see that you’re here to find the Soul Guide; she’s hidden in the Eastern District, but it’s been a long time since anyone has seen her.” Xie Jingci put away the character drawing Luo Shuangyue had finished and shared what she knew about the Soul Guide.
As a magical girl from the Western District, her knowledge of the Eastern District was limited, but she had also heard of the Soul Guide’s name.
She is a powerful magical girl not affiliated with the Magic Department, considered one of the guardians of Eastern Extreme City, but she hasn’t appeared in public for many, many years.
Every year, magical girls want to visit that senior, but they ultimately return disappointed. Xie Jingci believed she should give Luo Shuangyue a heads-up to prevent her from becoming overly sad if she didn’t get to see the Soul Guide.
“By the way, my name is Xie Jingci. What about you?”
“Luo… Die. Just call me Die’er.” Luo Shuangyue instinctively wanted to reveal her real name, but after saying a surname, she realized she definitely couldn’t disclose her true name.
Come on, I’m now using the identity of the Dark Butterfly; how can I use Luo Shuangyue’s name?
Xie Jingci thought Luo Shuangyue’s pause was a bit odd but didn’t think too much of it. “Then I’ll continue the investigation. Someone may come to ask you for some details later; just answer truthfully.”
“Okay, I understand.”
……
An hour later, Xia Mo returned from shopping and heard Luo Shuangyue recount what had happened during her absence.
When she learned that there had been a grisly murder in a hotel room just as they checked in, Xia Mo displayed a look of disbelief.
Upon hearing that the girl who bumped into Luo Shuangyue might be the killer, Xia Mo became even more incredulous.
“We actually brushed past a murderer? How terrifying!”
Having the strength to crush a killer’s skull with one hand, Xia Mo uttered in a frightened voice.
“I think it shouldn’t be called brushing past; it should be labeled as colliding. You have to say if I hadn’t controlled my magic, wouldn’t this case have already been closed?” Luo Shuangyue mused while flipping through the new clothes Xia Mo had bought for her, making random connections.
It was obvious that Xia Mo wouldn’t have bought Luo Shuangyue men’s clothing; instead, the clothes she purchased were all of various styles and colors, all relatively loose, cool casual outfits.
As for the socks, Xia Mo didn’t get her long socks but instead bought several pairs of short ones, probably wanting to change up Luo Shuangyue’s style.
Wearing black stockings for too long would also become boring; Xia Mo might be wanting to take a look at Luo Shuangyue’s fair legs.
“I think you’d be arrested before that ever happens.” Xia Mo insisted that it would be better for her to focus on resolving her physical issues first.
Given her current state as a human porcupine, she really felt like her heart was pricked.
She finally made it to a new place with the person she liked, and they’d finally gotten a room together; normally, something should happen, right?
This suite even has a small indoor pool!
But because of Luo Shuangyue’s predicament, Xia Mo could only watch a feast laid out before her without being able to partake, making her feel quite awful.
All she wanted was to hurry and get Luo Shuangyue’s condition fixed, then for Eastern Extreme City’s lockdown to end, so the two of them could have some fun together.
And by the way, she needed to learn how to get along with the girl she liked, so she could gain the upper hand when confessing to Luo Shuangyue in the future!
“This is an issue in Eastern Extreme City; let’s first resolve our own matters before caring about those things.”
Though there are undercurrents swirling in Eastern Extreme City, they wouldn’t impact Luo Shuangyue and Xia Mo.
If they encountered injustice, Xia Mo might consider intervening, but given this situation, she simply didn’t know how to help even if she wanted to.
Eastern Extreme City doesn’t lack her Initial Bloom combat strength; Xia Mo is unversed in other matters. Is she supposed to rely on this freshly graduated girl hoping to solve cases?
Please, that’s the work of professionals. Xia Mo is a magical girl intended for monster-fighting; she isn’t a detective who can uncover the truth of events instantly.
It would be great if she could refrain from causing trouble.
The calm night passed, and the next morning, the two woke up early, got dressed, had breakfast, and headed straight to where the Soul Guide was hiding.
Although it was a hidden location, the Soul Guide’s residence wasn’t exactly a secret. Every Blooming Level Magical Girl basically knows where she lives.
Magical girls below the Blooming Level have also gathered her address through various means to visit her.
But just knowing the address doesn’t guarantee an audience with the Soul Guide.
Once they entered the Eastern District from the Western District of Eastern Extreme City, Luo Shuangyue truly felt the exotic atmosphere; the environment here was completely different from the Western District she was used to.
The place where the Soul Guide resides is a shrine brimming with Eastern District characteristics.
“I’ve only seen this kind of architecture on TV before.” Climbing the long steps, Xia Mo quietly spoke to Luo Shuangyue beside her.
The vermillion objects known as Torii stood on either side of the steps, creating a sense of walking on a path to a different realm.
After walking for about ten minutes, an imposing shrine appeared before them; this is the Soul Guide’s hiding place.
Simultaneously, it is also the force to which the Soul Guide belongs.
“Today isn’t a day for public visits to the shrine, so please return, guests.”
But as soon as they arrived at the entrance, Luo Shuangyue was blocked by a shrine maiden who was sweeping the floor, receiving a cold shoulder.
“We’re here to see the senior Soul Guide; Senior Longjun should have already informed her about this.” Xia Mo quickly explained their purpose, stating that she and Luo Shuangyue were not tourists visiting the shrine.
Upon hearing this, the shrine maiden blocking the entrance revealed a thoughtful expression.
“My master did mention that two guests would be coming by in the next couple of days, but it’s rather unfortunate for you both; she got a phone call in the early morning and rushed out. She hasn’t returned yet.”
What horrible luck? Luo Shuangyue scratched her head; to think she had just come here, and the Soul Guide had rushed out due to an urgent matter and hasn’t returned even after this long—it’s really strange.
Under normal circumstances, a magical girl wouldn’t be out for more than half a day, right?
Unless She went somewhere far away, facing a formidable opponent. However, the latter was impossible; if that were the case, Xia Mo would certainly know.
If such an enemy appeared, the Magic Department would send out notifications to nearby magical girls.
“When will the Soul Guide return?”
“Hard to say; under normal circumstances, she should already be back.” The shrine maiden shook her head, indicating that she didn’t know the answer.
Normally, the Soul Guide would step out, but she’d be back within half a day, yet who would have thought she’d been gone for such an extended period and showed no signs of returning?
Seeing that they wouldn’t meet her today, Luo Shuangyue reluctantly exchanged glances with Xia Mo. Just as she was about to turn back, hurried footsteps suddenly came from behind.
“Is Hikaru here? Is she here!”
“Akabane Enji? What brings you here? We don’t welcome you here!”
The newcomer was a girl dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit. This shrine maiden’s attire was even cooler and more unconventional than the one that had been sweeping the entrance.
To some old-fashioned people, this must seem like an unacceptable act of desecration, right?
Evidently, this modern-style shrine maiden didn’t get along well with the traditional shrine maiden, even showing disdain for her.
“Let me through, Izumi; I need to see Hikaru on important business!” The girl, called Akabane Enji, rolled up her sleeves, attempting to force her way into the shrine.
However, Izumi stood her ground, broom in hand, guarding the doorway like a gatekeeper, refusing to let Akabane Enji enter.
The two engaged in what looked like a fight between martial arts masters from a drama, but in the end, Akabane Enji slightly gained the upper hand, breaking through Izumi’s defenses.
“Master isn’t home; you traitor, get out of here!” Seeing Akabane Enji rush into the shrine, Izumi angrily stamped her foot and hurriedly chased after her.
Luo Shuangyue, left behind as if she were air, revealed a look of amusement. The battle just now made her realize one thing.
Both of these girls were likely magical girls, and not even at a novice level.
“Akabane Enji? She seems to be the ace magical girl of the Eastern Extreme City Magic Department. Turns out she has connections with the Soul Guide…”
Xia Mo quickly recognized the modern-style shrine maiden, knowing she was her colleague and the ace of the Eastern Extreme City Magic Department.
Apart from being a strategic weapon-level Blooming Level Magical Girl, she is also the strongest in the Eastern Extreme City Magic Department.
From the brief exchange they had just now, it was evident; Akabane Enji effortlessly broke past Izumi’s easier defenses.
If they were to truly engage in combat, more than ten Izumis wouldn’t be able to stand against one Akabane Enji.
“It seems like no one is going to entertain us, should we go back, or keep waiting?” Luo Shuangyue looked at the now unguarded entrance, contemplating whether to go in and take a look.
But simply thinking about it was one thing; Akabane Enji had a connection with this shrine and could directly barge in, but Luo Shuangyue couldn’t.
She would probably get chased out, right?
“Let’s wait a little longer; perhaps the Soul Guide will return very soon.” Xia Mo thought it would be better to stay a little longer.
If they had just left, and the Soul Guide returned, wouldn’t that make for an awkward situation?
“I think so too…”
After waiting a bit longer without seeing the Soul Guide return, they instead saw Akabane Enji being expelled from the shrine by Izumi, who was wielding a broom.
As she was driven out, she muttered, “So she really isn’t here.”
“Get out of here! Even if Master were home, she wouldn’t want to see you, you traitor!” Izumi vigorously waved the broom, attempting to hit Akabane Enji, but every time, Akabane Enji dodged.
The difference in their strengths was evident.
After chasing Akabane Enji out of the shrine, Izumi stood fuming at the entrance. If the shrine hadn’t had no gate, she would have probably slammed it shut hard by now.
Meanwhile, Akabane Enji turned her gaze toward Xia Mo and Luo Shuangyue.
