Chapter 417

Medusa let out a light laugh, and a faint purple aura instantly spread over her body. Before the surrounding people could react, Nara Shunpei's body was sent flying in midair.

The original walnut tea table was completely overturned, and the crystal ball placed on it fell along the tilted table onto the floor, the clear crystal ball making a crisp collision sound on the pine floor.

Nara Shunpei cried out in pain on the ground, clutching his chest and writhing his body.

Beside him, Otohiko Rinji suddenly realized these two might be here to attack them, immediately drew the revolver she carried, pointed its black muzzle at Jiang Xia's head, and shouted sharply, "Release little Reki!"

Being aimed at the head by a revolver that won't misfire, ordinary people would surely be terrified; even a mage, without transforming, cannot be immune to a revolver's harm, after all they are still humans.

However, Jiang Xia didn't even glance at the revolver aimed at his body; instead, he turned his gaze to Nara Shunpei, who was lying on the ground wailing, and said helplessly, "Don't keep wailing on the ground, it's noisy. Besides, your injury isn't that serious; if you keep wailing like this, this police officer will shoot."

He isn't blind; his eyes can see many things, and judging the severity of a person's injury is still quite simple.

Medusa perfectly carried out his order; even in this situation, she didn't strike Nara Shunpei too hard, merely sending him flying with the simplest move.

"Huh?"

Hearing Jiang Xia's words, Nara Shunpei froze, his whole body seeming to suddenly sober up; it still hurt, but not that much—just like an ordinary person taking a tumble, far from worthy of a wail.

"Shunpei?" Otohiko Rinji stared at Nara Shunpei, who had gotten up from the ground as if nothing had happened, her beautiful eyes widening.

"Sorry, sorry, when I saw Seijin brother defeated by the Phantom earlier, I was lying on the ground wailing like that, so I unconsciously imitated it." Nara Shunpei scratched his head embarrassedly, giving an awkward laugh.

"Next time say it sooner! You made me misunderstand them!" Otohiko Rinji put away her revolver, took a big step, and precisely grabbed Nara Shunpei's ear with her right hand, yanking it hard.

"Ah, gentle, it's going to break, it's going to break."

This time it was a genuine wail; the slight pain from falling couldn't compare to having one's ear pulled. Nara Shunpei kept waving his hands, apologizing continuously, saying he'd never dare do it again.

"Pfft." Sitting on the sofa, Fuki Reki couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the two.

She really enjoyed this lively, noisy atmosphere; if it weren't for needing to replenish her magic power from time to time, and if her body didn't become weak and powerless when her magic ran low, she would also want to join their roughhousing.

As for Medusa, who had sent Nara Shunpei flying, she completely couldn't understand why they felt pain in their bodies but their hearts were laughing.

Moreover, she couldn't fathom why Jiang Xia was sitting here—clearly this is the lair of the mage who wears the ring, so why not just annihilate them?

(Medusa had fought against Operate Seijin and seen these people in their monster forms.) Although Medusa indeed had many doubts in her heart, she still buried those doubts deep inside.

She shouldn't doubt; the Sage must have his reasons for doing this.

Perhaps it's to infiltrate from within and then use them to carry out some plan.

In the atmosphere of Men'ei Hall, Medusa was like an outsider, arms crossed, silently observing.

"Sorry, I misunderstood you just now." Otohiko Rinji bowed to Jiang Xia in apology; actually pointing a gun at someone is already a serious matter, and good people shouldn't be aimed at with a gun.

"It's fine; I just don't like anyone disturbing me." Jiang Xia said with a smile.

This world is indeed strange: clearly he signaled Medusa to attack Nara Shunpei, yet in the end it was Otohiko Rinji bowing to him in apology—perhaps that's just the logic of good people.

After all, to him a revolver is just a toy; would you be afraid of someone pointing a toy gun at you, trying to scare you?

This is the difference in perspective brought by different heights of life, so Jiang Xia doesn't feel that Otohiko Rinji pointing a gun at him is offensive, while Otohiko Rinji believes it's a grave mistake.

"Um, what exactly are you here for little Reki? Are you mages like Seijin?"

Otohiko Rinji sat opposite Jiang Xia, and the already tilted tea table had been helped up by Nara Shunpei; he now resembled a remorseful child, pitifully covering his already reddened ear.

The attack just now was clearly beyond what an ordinary person could produce; only a mage could do such a thing. As for the Phantom, would the Phantom sit here and chat amicably with them?

"Yeah, I'm a mage. I came this time to settle little Reki..."

Jiang Xia turned his head toward the doll‑cute Fuki Reki and asked:

"You don't mind me calling you like that, do you?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Fuki Reki lightly nodded.

"I'm here to solve little Reki's problem of needing to replenish magic power every day to stay active." "Really!" Shigemaru Wheeljack was very excited, looking at Jiang Xia with hopeful eyes.

Although he hadn't been here long, he had already come to regard Fuki Reki as family.

Although Seijin replenishes Fuki Reki's magic power every day, making her appear normal, he himself knows deep down that Fuki Reki might not be human, merely a doll driven by magic power.

He is merely an old man who makes magic rings; he himself cannot use magic, so in such situations he can only rely on Seijin, and Seijin also has to fight the Phantom, so his magic power is perpetually insufficient.

If this problem can be solved, not only will little Reki be able to live happily as a normal person, but Seijin will also not lose his combat ability due to lack of magic power—truly a perfect ending.

"I never lie." Jiang Xia said.

"Then let's begin right away." Not only was Shigemaru Wheeljack excited, but Otohiko Rinji and Nara Shunpei were equally filled with enthusiasm, even somewhat impatient.

"Can I really recover?" Fuki Reki looked toward Jiang Xia with eyes pure as a fawn's, full of hope.

"Of course, didn't I say so? I am your hope to keep living."

Jiang Xia looked at Medusa, who had her arms crossed; Medusa sensed Jiang Xia's gaze, and her indifferent expression instantly shattered—she lowered her hands, her body instantly tensing, standing ready, awaiting the Sage's command.

"Guard the door; don't let anyone in, no matter what happens." Jiang Xia pointed at the gate of Men'ei Hall.

"Yes, I won't let anyone set foot inside, not even a single step." Medusa clenched her fist.

"Driveron"

A flash of light, and Jiang Xia's waist suddenly gained a red palm‑sized belt.

"Sure enough, just like Seijin, they are both mages who use rings." Otohiko Rinji clenched her hands, excitedly watching this scene.

"I also want to be a mage." Nara Shunpei felt a twinge of envy; unfortunately he never endured despair, otherwise he too would want to transform.

"Shabadoubitouchhenshin! Shabadoubitouchhenshin!"

"So noisy—no wonder it's the loudest belt of the Heisei era." Jiang Xia lowered his head to look at the belt constantly emitting sound effects, muttering to himself.

"But after listening for a while, it unexpectedly feels cool."

"henshin (transformation)"

Jiang Xia placed the magic ring on his right hand onto the belt at his waist.

"Change! Now!"

A golden magic circle appeared out of thin air before Jiang Xia, enveloping his body.

But just then, after Shigemaru Wheeljack's excitement subsided, he discovered a problem—and not just one.

How did this strange mage know about Reki's affairs, and why does he want to help Reki? Who exactly is he? Should we wait for Seijin to return before deciding?

After all, although there is hope for treatment, we still need to guarantee that the treatment plan is real.

Not all magicians are necessarily good people like Qingren; what if the ones just now were all disguises—what should we do?

Countless doubts flashed through his mind in an instant, and finally his gaze became resolute.

Let's wait for Qingren to come back before we talk.

Lundao Fan made up his mind and prepared to speak.

Just as Lundao Fan was preparing to ask the person in front to temporarily stop treating Xiaoli, the blinding light of the transformation already covered his eyes.

The dazzling light instantly flooded the Face Shadow Hall, revealing before them a magician wearing a white robe-like magical garment, with a white cloak extending down from the shoulders, and a head shaped like a five-pointed star.

"A white magician..." Lundao Fan said, his lips slightly parted and trembling. (End of chapter)