Chapter 51: The Gem Scepter

"Noticed?"

Hong Siyu raised an eyebrow, but then showed a somewhat troubled expression: "I can't just say this casually. Without Cuique's permission, I shouldn't tell you privately."

"Can't say it?"

Xia Liang became even more curious: "Why must Junior Senior agree?"

"What? Junior Senior... hahaha!"

Hearing Xia Liang's title, Hong Siyu burst out laughing on the spot: "That nickname is interesting; you actually call her Junior Senior?"

To this, Xia Liang only tilted her head in confusion, clearly not understanding where the joke lay.

But her keen intuition immediately realized this was a good opportunity; she leaned forward at once, putting on a somewhat pitiful expression: "Junior Senior is so gentle; she definitely won't blame you. Sister, just tell us."

"Acting cute is cheating!"

Hard-pressed by Xia Liang's offensive and on the verge of speaking up, Hong Siyu still did not easily yield: "I can say it! But you must admit, what I know is somewhat useful, right? Cuique wouldn't tell you these things; she's afraid you'll aim too high and reach too far."

The target of this remark was clearly Lin Xiaolu, who was still dwelling on the earlier conversation where she was mocked as "inferior to Cuique."

"Hmm..."

With her curiosity piqued and her name called for questioning, Lin Xiaolu had to put aside those few strands of worry in her heart and weigh the new question.

She actually wanted to remain tough to the end, but what Hong Siyu wanted to say might have a great connection to Cuique, making it hard for her to refuse.

"Fine, let's say what you said is useful."

After a long pause, she could only puff her cheeks in frustration and say: "So I admit it; can you say it now?"

"Hmph! That's more like it!"

Finally receiving Lin Xiaolu's admission, Hong Siyu smiled contentedly, lifting the corners of her mouth, and spoke: "Since you've all requested it this way, I'll reluctantly educate you."

"First, let me ask a question: have you noticed your codenames?"

"Codenames?" Lin Xiaolu didn't understand what game she was playing and could only answer somewhat bewilderedly, "My codename is Bai Mei."

"This little sister here..." Nodding upon hearing this, Hong Siyu then looked at Xia Liang.

"My name is Xia Liang."

"Good, then Xia Liang, what is your codename?"

"My codename is Senior Xiaojin; it should refer to the small broomrape flower, or perhaps the broomrape flower?" Xia Liang answered, tapping her chin.

"Then I can tell you now: my former codename was Chaoyan, and Cuique's codename, as you know, is Cuique. Have you discovered the common point?" Hong Siyu winked at them.

"They're all flowers?"

"They're all flowers."

The two magical girls, one after the other, gave the same answer.

"Yes, that's right; magical girl codenames are actually all named after flowers."

Hong Siyu proudly lifted her chin, as if this conclusion came from her personally, and summarized: "The moment you become a magical girl, your codename will appear in your heart along with the awakening of the Heart Seed; it is also the proof that you have gained power. You can imagine that your wish caused the Heart Seed to become a flower."

"But just speaking up to this point, you should also be able to guess: there are exceptions to everything."

"Although every magical girl has a codename corresponding to a flower name, in reality, there are also magical girls who do not use this as their codename."

"Why? Do their Heart Seeds have no codename?" Lin Xiaolu asked somewhat suspiciously.

"No, it's not that reason."

Hong Siyu shook her head: "But to explain it clearly, I must tell another story here."

"Can't you just say it directly?" Lin Xiaolu was somewhat dissatisfied with her pretentious riddler style.

"No, here I must tell a story first!" Hong Siyang said firmly.

"Why must a story be inserted even in this place?"

"If you don't listen, you'll regret it!"

"Alright, forget it, Xiaolu; we've already come this far."

Xia Liang played peacemaker in the middle, persuading Lin Xiaolu: "Anyway, it's almost lunchtime; why not just listen?"

Her words indeed calmed Lin Xiaolu down.

"I know... then try to keep it brief." Lin Xiaolu was actually someone who yielded to softness rather than hardness; hearing Xia Liang's gentle persuasion, she reluctantly agreed.

"Fine, fine, fine."

Hong Siyu responded somewhat perfunctorily, then adjusted her state and tone of voice, speaking in a voice like recitation:

"The reason the Magical Realm is called a realm is because it is a country; yes, the 'country' spoken of in history books."

"Since it is a country, there will naturally be its leader; and within the Magical Realm, the one who rules everything is Her Majesty the Queen in the Rose Palace."

"Her Majesty the Queen possesses a very exquisite and magnificent gem scepter; at the top of the scepter are inlaid five extremely luxurious gems, all her most beloved jewels."

"Later, one day, Her Majesty the Queen bestowed the gems on the scepter upon the magical girls she most admired and trusted, and at the same time bestowed her authority and powers upon them."

"The so-called authority is actually the authority of the Five Great Institutes; handing over the Five Great Institutes along with the gems to those magical girls; while power means a more transcendent power within the realm."

"At the same time, for the magical girls bestowed with gems, their codenames will no longer be flower names, but the names of those gems bestowed by Her Majesty the Queen."

"Therefore, these few magical girls are also called 'Gem Scepter'; they are the pinnacle of power and strength among magical girls in the realm."

"The Investigation Institute we speak of corresponds to the authority of a Gem Scepter my lord; it is the magical girl corresponding to the golden-green gem on the scepter—her codename is Golden-green Cat's-eye."

"Using the Queen's gems as codenames..."

Lin Xiaolu's eyes sparkled as she listened: "It sounds so magnificent!"

Even Xia Liang nodded with a face full of longing.

"Right?"

Hong Siyu shrugged and said somewhat nostalgically: "Every magical girl who first hears the story has this reaction; even I was no exception back then."

"Only your Senior Cuique, when hearing this story, had a face as if frozen, with no reaction at all."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaolu, who had just been deeply moved by "using gems as codenames," immediately froze, then straightened up and pretended to be calm as well.

"So, that 'Jin Lu Jinlv Maoyan' is the actual ruler of the Investigation Bureau, and thus your Direct Strategy Bureau's direct superior?" On the other side, having understood the content Hong Siyu expressed, Xia Liang asked once again.

"You child! Why do you always bring up the pot that shouldn't be opened? Why do you keep asking such questions?"

Hong Siyu couldn't help but sigh: "But if we must say it, indeed, Lord Jin Lu Jinlv Maoyan should be considered our direct superior."

"What about the Demon Affairs Bureau?" Xia Liang continued to press.

"The Demon Affairs Bureau... power has not been delegated; it remains with the Queen, that is, Wang Ting."

Hong Siyu rubbed her chin, her train of thought inspired: "Come to think of it, the Queen could also be counted as our direct superior?"

"Ah, starting to gild your own lily." Lin Xiaolu, still playing cool, said softly.

"You too! I told you not to say things that make you look un-cute!" Stung repeatedly, Hong Siyu felt slightly annoyed.

After bringing up the topic of the Gem Scepter, the group chatted for a while about the current situation in the Magical Kingdom. When the time reached exactly twelve noon, Hong Siyu finally stood up and stretched.

"Hmm—what do you plan to eat for lunch? Takeout?"

"There are leftovers cooked by the part-time auntie yesterday in the refrigerator." Leaning crookedly on the sofa, Xia Liang answered honestly.

"Leftovers?"

Hearing this, Hong Siyu waved her hand: "Then that won't be needed! Since I am here, let me show you my cooking skills! What vegetables are left in the refrigerator?"

"Um... if you want to eat fresh food, I actually know a little cooking."

Xia Liang straightened up somewhat warily and proposed with a smile: "It's not delicious, but it should be edible."

"It's too improper for children to cook for themselves; I will now let you see the results of my culinary cultivation as a single young woman!" Hong Siyu made a bold declaration.

"You're already a middle-aged woman, right?" Lin Xiaolu said mercilessly from the side.

"You child, say such things again and big sister will cry!"

"I know, I know, speak properly, don't come over here!"

Another round of chaos ensued; in the end, Hong Siyu tied on an apron, walked into the kitchen, and rummaged through the refrigerator for various vegetables and frozen meat.

Behind her, Xia Liang and Lin Xiaolu watched her busy herself left and right; although her technique seemed quite skilled, a trace of unease remained in their hearts.

"It should be fine, right?" Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Ahaha, she said so herself; let's trust big sister, shall we?"

Xia Liang smiled at her in a comforting manner; after saying this, she looked toward the kitchen. However, watching Hong Siyu's increasingly inappropriate seasoning ratios, her smile gradually froze:

"It should... be fine, right?"