Chapter 236: The Emerald of the Emerald Gallery

As the most mysterious region of Runnore, the location of the Emerald Gallery lies north of the Academy District, its scope encompassing the entire Emerald Mountain Range; it derives its name from the fact that its main structure is a vast, magnificent, and unending gallery established along the mountain ridge.

As one of the iconic buildings of Runnore, all sorts of rumors circulate regarding the Emerald Gallery: for instance, that the gallery houses every book that ever existed throughout the nation's history; or that the name "gallery" is merely a ruse and the place is actually an evil research base gathering various forbidden studies; or that the gallery is a signal center for communicating with aliens, and the majority of the institute's research content is alien technology...

Because no one can personally visit the gallery to verify the truth of these rumors, some of the rumor's content becomes increasingly absurd through repeated dissemination, shifting from nine truths and one lie to nine lies and one truth, until finally becoming ten lies with no truth at all—delirious nonsense. The public gradually sinks into information where they cannot distinguish truth from falsehood, adhering to the spirit of "if it hasn't been debunked, it must be true" to entertain themselves to death, creating even more rumors that should not withstand scrutiny. And these rumors ultimately transformed into layers of clothing unique to the Emerald Gallery, making it appear increasingly mysterious in the eyes of the masses.

This mysterious Emerald Gallery, today, at some unknown moment, opened its doors for a special guest.

For the people who work and live here, the real Emerald Gallery is actually not as mystical as the external rumors suggest; it is the database of the Magic Kingdom Institute and also a memorial hall gathering the crystallized wisdom of countless predecessors. It is very important and very sacred, but "important" and "sacred" never describe this building, but rather the knowledge it carries and the people gathered here.

Precisely because of this, although ordinary citizens or magic girls may never have the chance to enter in their lifetimes, in fact, looking across the entire Magic Kingdom, the Emerald Gallery is not a closed institution; there are always guests here, even many guests, because the Institute invites all researchers who have achieved mastery to come here; it never rejects learning and knowledge.

Besides researchers, there are also numerous Flower Card magic girls coming to the Institute to seek cooperation, powerful magic girls from the Five Great Academies, and even nobles of the Wang Ting... All these guests, no matter how much power they hold in the Kingdom, do not count as "special" to the Institute.

And the reason why the guest arriving today leads people to the conclusion of "special" is very simple—

The Institute's Chief, who had been cooped up alone in the laboratory for a month, to the point where people suspected she had died of sudden cardiac arrest inside, has come out of the laboratory.

Only the absolute core members of the Institute can know the Chief's movements; for these people, what kind of dignitary the visiting guest is, what kind of entourage they have not seen? But even if you go back several decades, a hundred years, you probably cannot find many instances where the Chief appeared in person.

What makes them even more panicked and uneasy is that their Chief—Lady Emerald—appeared in the gallery early this morning for the first time in ages; she was not grabbing conscripts to cooperate with her experiments, nor was she hugging a pillow to find a place to sleep, but was properly dressed in clothes suitable for going out, had her hair groomed, and even put on a little makeup!

This made the researchers, who witnessed this scene and deeply knew how many legal red lines their Chief had stepped over these years for research convenience, even more terrified: Has the cat finally been let out of the bag, and has the Wang Ting sent people to investigate?

Out of a primitive tendency to seek benefits and avoid harm, the trembling researchers began to subtly probe around Lady Emerald, trying to fish out some words, but all failed.

They tried to gather at the entrance to see the guest's true appearance, but came up empty-handed. Because the visitor had already been personally escorted by the gallery's administrator and entered the gallery through a dedicated reception channel.

The researchers were anxious, the administrator responsible for the escort remained silent, and these core members belonging to the Institute were all unsettled due to their Chief's abnormal behavior. So, what exactly was Lady Emerald doing at this moment?

"Your shadow has been stepped on by me; you are dead." Lady Emerald squatted on the ground, pointing at Senior Cuique's shadow.

"What nonsense are you talking?" Senior Cuique said expressionlessly.

"Shadow game, shadow game."

Lady Emerald stood up and patted the hem of her coat: "The beginning of a duel often lies only in the instant when eyes meet; your vigilance is insufficient, junior."

"When did I agree to play a game with you?" Senior Cuique felt it was inexplicable.

"Did you not? But your expression is so tense as if you are about to duel me."

Lady Emerald spread her hands: "Since that is the case, I will duel you once; now I win, you lose, the game is over; can you relax a bit?"

"... Sorry."

Senior Cuique paused for a moment, then understood, and tried to adjust her expression to appear more relaxed: "Because I felt this meeting was a very serious matter, so I was a bit tense."

"It's fine; I share your view, but everyone here is one of us, so there is no need to worry too much."

Lady Emerald said this, maintaining the posture of spreading both hands, and spun around in place: "How is it? You must be seeing me in person for the first time? Do you feel honored?"

Unlike before, when she always appeared in the form of a fairy doll, Lady Emerald was indeed revealing her magic girl appearance to Senior Cuique for the first time.

Although she claimed to have lived for many years, looking only at her appearance, Lady Emerald seemed to be just a young girl; her height was about half a head taller than Senior Cuique, her figure looked relatively proportional but thin, and her skin was fair and smooth, showing no traces of time.

Senior Cuique had seen Golden Jinlv Maoyan, who also wielded a Gem Scepter; compared to Golden Jinlv Maoyan, who was imposing without anger and looked very much like a superior, Lady Emerald's temperament was much gentler; whether it was her light green hair tied into a single braid draped over her shoulder, or her pair of sleepy grass-green round eyes, neither gave any feeling of aggression.

At this moment, she wore a cyan-white top on her upper body that looked like a ru garment but had no sleeves; the loose top was tied at the waist by a wide belt. On her lower body was a short skirt with a hem only reaching the middle of the thigh, internally divided into two layers: the inner layer was golden, and the outer layer was black-green. Golden threads embroidered cloud patterns on the outer layer of the short skirt, making it look very elegant. And what was most impressive was the coat draped over her body; at first glance it looked like a lan skirt, but on second thought it resembled an oversized magua jacket: this coat was very large and very long, with a dark green base dotted with patterns of different colors, and the opening was edged with white fabric embroidered with regular dark blue patterns. The first impression the entire coat gave was splendor, and with Lady Emerald spreading her hands at this moment, letting the hem of the coat drape down to her calves, she looked like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

Playful and lazy, yet with a touch of splendor like a well-bred young lady.

This was the first impression Lady Emerald's attire gave.

Although in past interactions, Senior Cuique had already roughly felt that Lady Emerald was not a very serious person, after actually seeing her, she still felt there were many differences between her true appearance and the impression in her mind.

"Hehe, before seeing me, you must have thought I was that kind of unkempt, crazy scientist who always wears a white lab coat and has a bird's nest on her head, right?"

Senior Cuique said nothing, so Lady Emerald very proactively took over the conversation, saying somewhat proudly: "Unfortunately, I am a very self-aware beauty; as long as I dress up seriously, I look like a very standard beauty, you know."

"So if you don't dress up normally, you are a crazy scientist?" Senior Cuique very directly pointed out the flaw in her words.

"Maintaining silence when necessary is also a social strategy, junior."

Lady Emerald instantly lowered her eyelids, with an expression of "I can't help you": "If favorability could be represented by numbers, your sentence just now caused the Chief's favorability toward you to drop by 5 points."

"Sounds like something a teenager would say these days." Senior Cuique evaluated thus.

"I am only 17 years old this year, which is why I love beauty so much." Lady Emerald spread her coat again, just as a peacock in breeding season always looks for opportunities to spread its tail: "Now, adding a sentence of 'The Chief is truly beautiful' can still recover the lost favorability points."

"What base?" Senior Cuique asked.

"Base? You mean favorability?" Lady Emerald blinked: "It's a percentage system."

"No, I asked about age."

"Ah, age..."

Lady Emerald had an expression as if she wanted to say something, but after a brief pause, it turned into a quite quiet smile: "Yes, yes, you guessed correctly; it is indeed a base-100 system. As a reward for you, the junior, being so smart, favorability has recovered."

It seems even guessing base-100 was too low.

Senior Cuique could not help but draw this conclusion.

However, she was not to the point of exposing even this; the questions asked before were still barely within the realm of trash talk; continuing to pursue whether this "17" years old was base-1000 would turn into provocation, so she very decisively ended this topic.

"Thank you for proactively easing the atmosphere; I feel much better now. So, what should we do about the matter we agreed on earlier?"

Taking a deep breath, Senior Cuique spoke again: "Do I need to do any preparatory work?"

"You mean healing? That one, in principle, can be done now."

After saying this, Lady Emerald immediately extended two index fingers and crossed them in front of herself: "But you also know that 'in principle possible' means 'in practice impossible'."

"Why?"

"Insufficient favorability; permissions are temporarily not open, junior."

Lady Emerald imitated the peacock spreading its tail again, shaking her sleeves: "You need to increase the Chief's favorability to unlock related items; for example, you can compliment my coat right now."

"... Oh, your coat is very nice." Senior Cuique said expressionlessly.

"So perfunctory... But seeing as you are rarely willing to say something good about me, I'll add 1 favorability point for you." Lady Emerald nodded: "Still not enough; is there anything else you want to say?"

"The hair ornament is very pretty." Senior Cuique said somewhat helplessly.

"Hmm, still 1 point." Lady Emerald proudly touched the dangling hairpin pinned to the side of her head.

"The lipstick effect is very good."

"You've hit on my pride point: 2 points."

"... The hairstyle is suitable."

"1 point. Barely passing."

"How much is still missing?" Senior Cuique couldn't help but ask.

"Probably still short by 20 points." Emerald crossed her arms, looking quite pleased: "Out of a hundred, say more."

Senior Cuique was left speechless. After a long while, she sighed and squinted: "The skirt is beautiful."

"1 point."

"The lines of your brow bone and nose bridge are very good."

"2 points!"

"Long eyelashes."

"0.5 points."

"Why only 0.5?"

"Because your eyelashes are better than mine. Praising that would just feel like sarcasm."

The two went back and forth like playing a spot-the-difference game, haggling over it for a long time, until Senior Cuique felt she had found all the "beautiful" merits on Emerald, yet still fell short of the standard set by Emerald by 3 points.

"Must I really reach the so-called 20 points? I'm starting to get tired of this boring little game."

Because she had been staring at the other person for too long, Senior Cuique had to close her eyes and say: "Rather, isn't setting such harsh rules unreasonable for someone meeting for the first time?"

"Sigh, I clearly gave you a secret hint already, youngster. You really are unenlightened; your mind has trapped itself."

Emerald shook her head: "No choice. To ensure you can successfully achieve the goal, let the embodiment of wisdom, beauty, and kindness, my lord, guide you. What does the word 'favorability' mean? It means that any behavior capable of increasing my favor toward you is permitted. Having you praise how beautiful I am today is merely one way among many."

"So?"

"Think hard, youngster. What kind of thing you do now would make me happier?" Emerald looked at Senior Cuique, her lazy expression carrying a hint of cunning that made one think of a cat: "Let me state beforehand, praising me as smart, wise, or knowledgeable won't work, since others praise me like that every day."

... So actually, few people praise her for looking good?

Senior Cuique thought so.

"Minus 5 points." Emerald's voice turned cold instantly.

"I clearly said nothing." Senior Cuique feigned innocence.

"My wisdom tells me you are secretly thinking of things that slander my lord's reputation." Emerald was merciless.

"Hmm."

Progress had regressed merely because of a thought, and Senior Cuique immediately fell into thought again. She had to seriously think, review her contacts with Emerald over these past few months, analyze the potential logic behind the other's many behaviors, and finally deduce what kind of needs the other truly had...

Then, she thought of an answer with little basis.

Although there was no basis, and it even sounded like she was overthinking, it seemed to fit the logic. Besides, there was no cost to being wrong.

"No time for jokes. We have many things to do, Emerald."

So she spoke, half utilitarian, half sincere: "I have already chosen you. I need your help."

The corner of Emerald's mouth curled slightly.

"50 points. No, 100 points."

She gave a score that made one suspect their ears were malfunctioning: "Excellent. As expected of a magical girl who almost became my colleague; your comprehension is satisfactory."

"You have already chosen me."

Saying this, she stretched lazily: "This means we are allies. I have offered you my highest price, so I need your recognition of me personally."

"And you need my help."

She lowered her hand, making a motion in the air behind her as if pushing air: "This statement requires no interpretation. As long as you are willing to say it to me, that is enough. And my answer has only one form."

Click.

A door that did not previously exist in Senior Cuique's line of sight opened in the void. Behind the door, countless fine pipes and research instruments were fully displayed before the eyes of the two.

"At your service."

She half-opened her eyes and grinned under the brilliant white lights of the research lab: "Welcome to the marrow of the realm, the heart of the Research Institute, my true private research lab."

"The Research Institute's... heart?" Senior Cuique murmured.

"Not boasting, just stating facts. The prosperity of the Research Institute began with me, and will end only with me."

Emerald walked into the door and stood inside, beckoning to Senior Cuique: "Come. What you want is right here."

Unlike the temporary research institute previously established in Fang Ting City, this place, which Emerald called her "true private research lab," did not have many experimental instruments. In fact, aside from a very few experimental devices that were hard to understand and some culture tanks floating with strange flesh, the most numerous items were monitoring devices shimmering with magical radiance.

Rather than a research lab, it was more like a monitoring room. What was displayed on the neatly arranged row of screens were more than ten, even approaching twenty, different viewpoints from fairy dolls.

The scenery seen through the dolls' viewpoints was largely similar: temporary research institutes densely packed with various experimental instruments. Yet the internal furnishings of these institutes had many differences, enough to prove to anyone: each viewpoint corresponded to an independent research institute.

Deploying temporary research institutes around the world while controlling clones within the Research Institute to complete experiments with different needs in various laboratories with different focuses. This ensured that even with many projects on hand, they could be processed in parallel. This was the working method Emerald had chosen.

"If any institute encounters an accident, I can transfer the data to a nearby institute immediately, ensuring experimental results are not lost. And every additional institute and clone is like an extra pair of hands, greatly increasing my work efficiency."

Standing beneath that row of screens, Emerald said with immense pride: "As long as I can complete the scheduled work at ten times the speed, the remaining ninety percent of my time can be spent sleeping. And even if I sleep before finishing my work, my loyal clones can still complete the meaningless repetitive labor for me, so even while asleep, I can continue working."

"Impressive." Senior Cuique clapped symbolically to show her attitude.

"No need to pretend to be envious; it actually makes me a bit uncomfortable... Anyway, since I've already brought you here, I won't make things difficult for a child like you just because you often speak ill."

Emerald spread her hands: "In any case, let's get down to business. Give me your Soul Gem."

"Which one?" Senior Cuique took out two gems from her person: one was her own Heart Flower, and the other was the Heart Bud used to disguise "Gentian."

"Of course the real one. What would I do with that fake?"

Emerald reached out and took Senior Cuique's Heart Flower, pointing to a treatment bed not far away: "Alright. Before I let you up, lie down there. The treatment process might be quite drowsy. No need to resist; just sleep."

"Just like that?" Senior Cuique found it hard to believe.

"What else could I do? I am a researcher, not a doctor. Although it is called 'treating injuries,' the essence is repairing your Soul Gem, so of course there is no need to cut into your body."

Emerald held Cuique's Heart Flower, examining it repeatedly like a gemologist appraising a stone: "As I suspected, the Heart Gem is cracked into such a mess; it's merely a pile of fragments forcibly glued together. Anyone else would be dead by now."

"But I am not dead yet. I came specifically to solve this problem," Cuique replied seriously, standing beside the treatment bed.

"Yes, solving the problem..."

Emerald continued observing the gem: "Hmm, it seems the initial treatment worked well. The mana overflow has stopped, improving the adhesion of your gem fragments. Although some internal structures are completely damaged, it is still within the realm of salvageability."

"So?" Cuique sat on the bed.

"So there is no problem. We can begin the treatment."

Emerald set down the gem in her hand, clapped lightly, and a dark compartment suddenly Tang Tu appeared in the middle of the floor covered with pipes. She reached out, retrieved a key from the compartment, removed one of the surveillance screens in front of her, and revealed the door of a safe.

Ignoring Cuique's suspicious gaze from the side, she opened the safe and took out a liquid containment device resembling a thermos. Then, with a dizzying speed, she inscribed a pure decryption spell on the device's surface and opened its lid.

"What is that?" Cuique, already lying on the treatment bed, couldn't help but ask.

"Raw material for repairing the Heart Gem. No, that's not quite right, because it is the raw material of the Heart Gem itself—the Source of Love."

Emerald fetched a test tube from the side and carefully tilted the device, allowing a liquid glowing with seven colors, almost white, to flow out slowly. Throughout the process, she did not speak another word, nor even breathe, simply gazing silently at the liquid pouring into the container until it filled half the test tube, only then did she close the device with extreme care.

"Ten milliliters. Just a ten-milliliter dose can create an additional Heart Seed for the Realm, along with the combat power of a Magical Girl. If it were to fall outside the Realm, it would be the world's top-tier magical material; no one would not be tempted by it."

Emerald gazed at the liquid in the test tube with some obsession: "Even within the Realm, it is only permitted to appear in the Rose Palace and the Garden, and in the hands of a very few decision-makers of the Magic Affairs Bureau. Its usage is strictly regulated. Even for our Research Institute to apply for a small amount as research material, the process is incredibly difficult, and obtaining ten milliliters is almost impossible."

"Just from the name, it certainly sounds like something worthy of trading with the Beast Source."

Cuique looked at Emerald: "But why do you have so much of it?"

"A friend gave it to me," Emerald said concisely.

"A friend?" Cuique confirmed.

"A friend."

Emerald spoke with absolute conviction, then cleared her throat lightly: "Ahem, enough small talk. Pay a little attention; I am about to begin repairing your Heart Flower. Do not distract me. Wasting the material would be a huge loss for both of us."

Cuique stared unyieldingly at Emerald's face, trying to read something from her expression, but Emerald's willpower was extraordinary, maintaining a poker face throughout. Finally, annoyed by Cuique's stare, she simply turned around, facing away from Cuique's line of sight.

Now, Cuique truly could see nothing at all.

So be it.

Cuique withdrew her gaze, looking up at the ceiling casting down the scorching white light.

Even if these items were obtained through improper means, she herself was a wanted criminal of the Realm. Using the so-called "Source of Love" on a wanted criminal; if not for someone as audacious as Emerald, she would likely never witness such a scene.

She indeed began to feel a bit sleepy.

It was not fatigue of the body or the mind, but a simple sensation, as if her soul was telling her that a nap would make things better.

So she stopped overthinking, closed her eyes, and let her mind go blank.

The laboratory was left with only the hum of operating instruments and the sounds of Emerald manipulating them; and then, precisely in this environment like white noise, Cuique fell asleep.