Chapter 361: Reflection

"You ask me what's going on? That sounds rather strange, young one. I am far more confused than you are right now. Why do the people of the Finance Bureau now have the right to examine the files of the Demon Affairs Bureau?"

"Hmm? What do you mean I'm asking a question I already know the answer to? Use your brain for a moment. You violated the regulations; how would I know how you violated them if I didn't?"

"No, I cannot tell you more. Or rather, you do not have the right to question me. This S+ rated file and the subsequent research work are confidential projects of our Research Institute. Once we obtain reliable and solid results, we will naturally report to Your Majesty. You need not worry about that aspect."

"Very well, you can go report to Your Majesty right now. But I must correct your statement; I do not need to conceal anything. Furthermore, I must emphasize that the report you are seeing now is our Research Institute's internal version, and all content is provisional. Regarding this candidate's magical gear capabilities, we have not actually conducted more refined testing and experiments yet, so the current results are not reliable enough. If you cite data and content from this internal report, and it is later proven by us to contain errors, please understand the hierarchy and do not claim it is our fault."

"Hmm... I think it's quite good. Wish you success."

Inside the examination hall of the Silver Corridor, Emerald's voice came intermittently from the doll, obviously having just conducted a conversation with someone.

And when this conversation ended, she finally had the time to manipulate the doll to look at the door, at which point Senior Cuique asked, "How did it go? What did she say?"

From the moment she stepped into this examination hall until now, forty minutes had passed.

No matter how many excuses were found, "Gentian" had already lingered here as a candidate for far too long. If this continued, it might even hinder the progress of other candidates behind her, so Senior Cuique could only swallow her pride and contact Zhe Helan, following the Demon Affairs Bureau's procedures to temporarily arrange the several candidates behind her to other examination halls.

Admittedly, she could also pretend to know nothing and leave directly, letting Emerald figure out how to negotiate with Amethyst. But since the matter involved Lin Xiaolu, if she could not know the result immediately, she truly could not rest easy.

"She said that for such a major discovery, our Research Institute is not qualified to keep it private. Even if research is to be conducted, we must first notify Your Majesty and then proceed according to Your Majesty's instructions."

Hearing Senior Cuique's question, the fairy doll spread its paws: "In terms of principle, what she said is actually not wrong."

"Not wrong in terms of principle?" Senior Cuique raised an eyebrow: "Then where is the actual problem?"

"There are two points." The fairy doll raised its round paws, extending two short toe tips: "First, regardless of her intentions, theoretically, the Gem Scepters should not compete for credit internally. If every Gem Scepter fights to snatch the most eye-catching work to curry favor with Your Majesty, it would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to work efficiency. Your Majesty, along with the Secretaries of Wang Ting, do not wish to see this situation."

"And the second point?"

"Second, the most important duty of our existence as Gem Scepters is to relieve Your Majesty's burdens, so Your Majesty does not need to toil over too many trivial matters."

Emerald took a sip of tea, then said slowly: "Bringing something that hasn't even taken shape before Your Majesty to make a decision is wasting everyone's time."

"I see."

Senior Cuique nodded expressionlessly: "So that is why you appear so confident."

"This is not being confident without cause; it is simply having a clear plan." Emerald corrected.

"It doesn't matter. Since you have made your plans, I have no need to interfere."

Senior Cuique stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed: "Then, what should be done about my child? Is there any way to stop Amethyst, or rather, change her mind?"

"No."

"... What did you say?"

"I said no." The fairy doll sat there calmly: "Since she intends to bring this matter up, none of us can stop her anymore."

"So we just ignore her?" Senior Cuique found it hard to believe.

"Ignore her."

"Just let the Queen see that child's file?"

"Yes."

"She will know that child is related to me." Senior Cuique looked serious: "Even if she cannot immediately determine that the child is mine, she will know the child is my junior."

"I am sorry, but currently it seems we are powerless." Emerald shook her head.

Senior Cuique fell silent.

She said nothing, but anyone could feel the unrest in her heart from the aura surrounding her. After remaining silent for a long time, she let out a long sigh:

"How long do you think it will take from when this report reaches the Queen's hands until she actually issues some order regarding it?"

Emerald paused, probably not expecting her to ask such a question, so she answered after a while: "We are not qualified to arbitrarily speculate on Your Majesty's course of action, but based on past experience... since Amethyst is personally bringing it up, it should be within two days."

"That is to say, by the time the next assessment begins, the entire Wang Ting will know that this assessment has produced a candidate with a magical gear rating of 'S+'." Senior Cuique analyzed, her eyelids drooping.

"About right. However, I can make some adjustments on the Examination Institute's side to slightly hide this S+ when the results are announced." Emerald spoke in a muffled voice: "Do you still need that?"

"Doing so is meaningless. It won't fool Wang Ting; it is just self-deception." Senior Cuique glanced at her.

"At least it can prevent the people of Black Ash Dawn and Claw Mark from paying too much attention to your child." Emerald remained noncommittal: "If they really find out there is an S+ rated candidate in this assessment, guess what they might do during the assessment?"

Senior Cuique immediately fell into hesitation.

Right now, she had a strange feeling that her conspiracy with Emerald and others was destined to be a leaky jar; because too many people were involved, as time progressed, it was destined to expose more and more flaws. And what she needed to do seemed not to be patching up this leaky jar, but racing against it.

—Would she complete the plan before the conspiracy was fully exposed, "atone for her crimes," and appear before the Queen with justification? Or would the matter be exposed before she finished everything, plunging her entire group into an unfavorable position?

As long as she successfully obtained the position of Sapphire Scepter, then Lin Xiaolu's problem would merely be an additional bargaining chip; but if the matter failed, Lin Xiaolu's file would be another shackle on her, the "exile." All of this was merely a difference in timing.

After pondering much within her heart, Senior Cuique gradually formed an answer.

She lifted the shoulder bag she held in one hand, rummaged through it, took out her mobile phone, opened the contacts, and dialed a number.

That was Lin Xiaolu's phone number.

After waiting quietly for a while, the call was answered.

"... Ah, hello? Senior Cuique? What's the matter?"

"Hmm, it's me." Senior Cuique replied calmly, as if just making casual conversation: "How did the exam go? No unexpected incidents? Any results yet?"

"Oh, that? Don't worry, everything went smoothly, and the things I was worried about didn't happen. Also, Xiao Xuan's results are out already, it's a B-."

"Oh? B-?" Senior Cuique feigned a tone of just learning the news: "That is indeed... very good, as excellent as I expected."

"Right? I heard from other candidates that the upper limit for the evaluation of a single piece of magical gear is usually around C grade. Xiao Xuan, in a way, has broken the record."

"Hmm, we should celebrate for her after returning." Senior Cuique said softly: "Then, how about you?"

"Ah, me? I only just finished and came out not long ago..."

"So you haven't received your results yet?"

"Well... hmm, hehe, forget it. I originally wanted to give you a surprise, but I just couldn't hold back. My evaluation is extremely high, Senior Cuique, guess what it is?"

"Extremely high? Higher than Xiao Xuan's?"

"Although saying this is a bit unfair to her, it is indeed much higher."

"Much higher? Grade A?" Senior Cuique feigned disbelief.

"No, even higher."

"A+?" Senior Cuique seemed puzzled.

【You could guess even bolder; it's higher than that.】

"S?"

【Haha, I don't even believe it myself, but they actually rated my Demon Armor as S+】

"S+? What is that? Did you misread it?"

【How could that be? It's not a handwritten score; the screen clearly shows a plus sign.】

"Then I've truly never heard of it." Senior Cuique spoke with a tone still caught in surprise: "Did they just tell you this rating? No other notifications?"

【Hmm? Other notifications? No. Probably we have to wait for the results to be announced? I asked around and it seems there are no other S+ ratings; maybe I have the highest score?】

"... I think that's possible."

【So I'm still keeping it from others; I haven't told anyone my score yet. Hehe, I'll give them a shock when the results are announced.】

"You haven't told anyone yet?"

【No, so far I've only told you, Senior Cuique.】

"Hmm..."

【What's wrong?】

"I'm thinking, I've never heard of an S+ score before. Although it is indeed excellent and it startled me, to be honest, it also makes people a bit worried."

【Worried? Why?】

"You know, right? Some situations might arise during this exam. If those bad guys find out about your score, they might list you as a special target... perhaps there will be some danger."

【Ah, right, that does seem true. What should I do?】

"Do you want to go tell another examiner now, or should I ask my colleagues here to confirm what exactly this S+ score means? If it really is as special as we think, should we... just change it to S, or A+, or something, to avoid the spotlight?"

Senior Cuique spoke as if calm, yet with a hint of caution.

【Eh—change the score to worse? That's a bit... hmm, but if you, Senior Cuique, really want me to do that, well, it's not impossible.】

"No, I'm not forcing you; I just wanted to know what you think. After all, I've thought a lot; if I deprive you of the honor you deserve just because of my worry, isn't that a bit too selfish?"

Senior Cuique closed her eyes, focusing all her attention on the voice from the other end of the microphone.

This sentence, though still a lie, expressed feelings that were not false.

Blocking Lin Xiaolu's score was her own idea; now that things had failed, she had indeed thought much about the future, but she also had more thoughts about her own position and her daughter's position in this matter.

Probably, it was because she held this one-sided, even arrogant "care" that things went so badly.

Senior Cuique thought with a touch of self-mockery.

【It's not really like that; after all, I understand what you're saying; you're just worried about me... But if I really have to decide, I'd still prefer to have this score announced.】

"Announce this score?"

【Yes, well, I need to save some face for myself, and...】 Lin Xiaolu's voice suddenly paused.

"And?" Senior Cuique asked with some confusion.

【And, Senior Cuique, you told me I would definitely become a very powerful Magical Girl, right? I... I don't want to abandon the honor and expectations I deserve just because I'm afraid of enemies or afraid of battle. I think if I want to become a powerful Magical Girl, I should fight on bearing everyone's expectations... right?】 Lin Xiaolu explained somewhat awkwardly.

But Senior Cuique understood what she meant.

—She didn't want to hide under someone else's protection; she wanted to become someone who protects others.

【Ah, why is there no sound? Hello? Can you hear me? Did I sound too pretentious?】 Seeing that Senior Cuique hadn't replied for a while, Lin Xiaolu asked awkwardly.

"... No, nothing; I just thought of something."

Senior Cuique shook her head: "Bai Mei."

【I'm listening; what is it?】

"Compared to getting an S+ rating, what you just said makes me prouder of you."