Chapter 33: The Extraordinary Strategy Bureau

"The Extraordinary Strategy Bureau in Nanyun City replied yesterday, stating that their 'Sower' has already submitted a report to the Magic Kingdom, confirming that there is indeed a Sower registered under the name 'Moke,' though the associated resume is completely blank."

Several days have passed since Cui Que killed the pupa-stage remnant beast, and Lin Yun and Hong Siyu are currently driving together to the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau.

Flipping through documents in her hands, Hong Siyu sat in the car and said in a flat, emotionless voice: "As for the loss of contact with the previous Sower of Fang Ting City, 'Nini,' the Kingdom's reply is: 'It has already been filed; please contact the new Magical Girl to continue the previous investigation'? Strange, was this matter reported to the Kingdom before? And are they really not planning to send any reinforcements at all?"

"...I expected as much; it probably has to do with me."

Hearing Hong Siyu's words, Lin Yun, who was driving, suddenly spoke up and sighed: "When I retired, I should have had my name wiped directly from the Investigation Institute."

His identity as a Magical Girl is a hidden card to the local Extraordinary Strategy Bureau, but it is not one to the Magic Kingdom.

Magical Girls in the material world who gain power will face a retirement period after ten years of service. At this stage, they have two choices: first, join the magic-rich Magic Kingdom and become a permanent resident, thereby solving issues like magical decay and continuing to serve as a Magical Girl; second, remain in the material world but retire from the identity of a Magical Girl to become an ordinary person, while receiving a very generous financial subsidy from the Kingdom—enough to ensure financial freedom for the rest of their lives—and live a peaceful, happy life.

Most Magical Girls who have fought for ten years, or who have grown tired of battle, choose to retire. There are also those who do not wish to give up their magic or their youthful appearance and choose to settle in the Magic Kingdom. But regardless of the choice, a record is kept on the side of the Magic Kingdom.

Beyond these rules, there is actually one exception, known as a "Lifelong Magical Girl."

When a Magical Girl performs sufficient meritorious service on an important occasion, the Wang Ting will preside over the awarding of this title. From then on, neither aging nor injury will cause her to lose her Magical Girl powers, and she is free to choose whether to stay in the Kingdom or the material world.

Lin Yun and Anya both actually belong to this exception.

This has led to the fact that even though Lin Yun registered his cessation of activities long ago, his codename remains on the lists of the Wang Ting and the Investigation Institute, and they even recorded his retirement location as Fang Ting City.

Further information is not kept there, but it is enough for people to know that there is a "senior" in Fang Ting City.

"Senior, are you very familiar with the Investigation Institute?" Having retired through the normal process and thus understanding these ins and outs, the former Magical Girl Hong Siyu tilted her head and asked with some confusion.

"I did hold the title of Inspection Envoy, after all; I had some dealings with them in the past."

Gripping the steering wheel, Lin Yun clicked his tongue inwardly: "I can even guess who made the decision."

"So that means there are no reinforcements?" Hong Siyu leaned back against the seat, holding the documents.

"It means we can just focus on finding new people from here on out." Lin Yun was equally helpless.

But it's better that they aren't sending anyone, he thought. In any case, he didn't want to resume contact with certain "old acquaintances."

"Finding new people... there are only three of us now, right?" Hong Siyu counted on her fingers, "How many more would be better?"

"I don't know, and also, don't count me in the headcount."

Lin Yun corrected her with a displeased expression: "I don't want others to know about my return."

"Alright, alright—my ears are almost calloused from hearing you say that."

Hong Siyu feigned covering her ears and mumbled to brush it off: "But if you keep being active, it's bound to get out, right?"

"Then we'll deal with it when it gets out."

Lin Yun set the tone for the conversation with that one sentence, and for the rest of the trip, the two never brought up the topic again.

As the car gradually drove toward the destination, the building housing the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau gradually appeared before them.

The existence of the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau itself is no secret, but the way it operates varies depending on the city.

In Fang Ting City, the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau operates openly as an official agency, and even its office location is established squarely in the city center.

The car drove past the guard post, and Hong Siyu showed her work credentials to the guard; after some verification, they were allowed to pass and officially entered the office area of the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau.

Lin Yun adjusted the steering wheel while looking through the car window at the building not far away, his mind filled with thoughts.

The meeting request he had previously submitted was accepted by the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau a few days later; furthermore, this meeting was arranged within the Bureau, and the person receiving him would be the current Director.

Undoubtedly, the Director appearing in person to speak with him meant that a considerable degree of attention was being paid to this matter, though whether this attention was well-intentioned or had ulterior motives remained unknown for now.

"Relax, don't look like you're facing a formidable enemy; our Director isn't a very serious person."

Following Lin Yun into the building, Hong Siyu said somewhat flippantly: "The old lady is actually quite talkative; just ask whatever you want to ask."

"You seem to have a very high opinion of her?"

Scanning the key points of his own attire, Lin Yun said with some surprise: "You usually complain a lot about your colleagues at the Extraordinary Strategy Bureau on the phone; I thought there weren't many people you could look up to."

"Shh! Don't say things like that in the office!"

Hong Siyu immediately signaled for him to be quiet, and after confirming no one was around, she patted him: "That's scary; if my colleagues heard that, wouldn't they misunderstand that I'm slandering them behind their backs?"

"I think the word here should be 'seeing through,' not 'misunderstanding.'"

Walking to the elevator lobby and pressing the button to go up, Lin Yun looked at Hong Siyu: "What floor?"

"Eleventh floor," Hong Siyu replied, then added, "I received quite a bit of care from this Director when I first started working here. You can tell she is a person with many ideas. As an ordinary person who has not mastered magic and cannot touch the transcendent, she is actually doing her best in many things."

"Is that so?" Lin Yun's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he became a bit more interested in the upcoming meeting.

The elevator rose rapidly with a mechanical hum, the floor numbers on the display flickering constantly; before long, it reached the designated eleventh floor.

The two stepped out of the elevator, and Lin Yun followed Hong Siyu into the floor. After passing a corner, he saw a pair of rather imposing wooden double doors against the wall.

Hong Siyu stepped forward and knocked lightly. After a "please come in" came from inside, she looked at Lin Yun and gestured for him to enter. Lin Yun straightened his collar and walked into the office behind the double doors alone.

What met his eyes was a full-length floor-to-ceiling window, bookshelves standing solemnly on both sides of the walls, and a massive desk in the center.

And the elderly lady who stood up from behind the desk, currently greeting him with a polite bow.

—"Hello, Mr. Lin Yun."