Chapter 93: Call Ended

Cuique's hand tightened slightly, but her face showed no extra expression: "What is Black Ash Dawn?"

"This is also the second thing I need to tell you. The two groups that attacked Fang Ting City this time: one is the 'Claw Marks' composed of rebellious magical girls; the other is this organization called Black Ash Dawn."

The blonde girl on the other side of the mirror spoke calmly: "According to investigations over the past two years, we can basically confirm one thing: in the attack on Magical Girl Sakura, there was the presence of this organization called Black Ash Dawn."

"Who are they?"

"A group who believe they can overthrow the Magical Kingdom."

There was no emotional bias in the words of the gold-green cat-eye, but Cuique could feel a sense of contempt: "Composed of material-world magicians dissatisfied with the status quo and radical enemies from the Interstitial Realm."

Hearing this, Cuique fell into brief silence.

Two years had not cooled the fire of hatred in her heart; hearing the name of her enemy, and the news of Tumi's death, added more fuel to that flame.

She and Tumi were not actually close; after all, she had retired too early, so early that she had never fought alongside Tumi. What kind of magical girl Tumi was, what type of combat she specialized in, and what her fighting style was—she knew none of it.

They had only known each other because of Anya, holding the titles of senior and junior respectively; the other could only be considered Anya's teammate.

However, the other had ultimately embarked on this dangerous path to investigate Anya's death, and now had truly paid with her life for it, which made Cuique's emotions hard to settle.

She suddenly remembered the remnant beast she had killed a few days ago, which was said to originate from Black Ash Dawn and had transformed from a human.

Merely tearing that remnant beast in half seemed to have been too light a blow.

Cuique thought silently.

But since they were still in a formal conversation, she had to suppress her emotions and continued to ask calmly: "... What about the others from Fang Ting City?"

She had long been accustomed to suppression, accustomed to silence; she would not reveal her anger toward her enemies to anyone, simply because this was not the occasion for an outburst.

"The others are currently still on duty."

Seeming not to notice Cuique's emotional fluctuation, the gold-green cat-eye flipped through her notebook, then closed it: "Regarding Tumi's sacrifice, the colleagues at the Investigation Bureau also feel sorrow for her. However, matters regarding sacrifice compensation are handled by the Magic Affairs Bureau, and the efficiency of the Magic Affairs Bureau... unfortunately, as you know, we can only describe it as 'regrettable'."

Cuique nodded expressionlessly.

As the only power structure not yet assigned to the Gem Scepter, the Magic Affairs Bureau, nominally directly subordinate to the Queen, is actually the most free and lax. The magical girls serving there are mostly native inhabitants of the Kingdom, or old hands who joined the Kingdom and have been far from the front lines for many years. These people are notoriously lazy in their work and have always been the object of covert disdain by the magical girls of the other four bureaus.

And setting aside the affairs of the Magic Affairs Bureau, whether the gold-green cat-eye truly felt sorrow for Tumi's "sacrifice" as she claimed is also a big question mark.

Because everyone who knows the gold-green cat-eye actually shares a consensus: no one knows what her true thoughts actually are.

As a Gem Scepter who has held office for over a century, the gold-green cat-eye has firmly kept her past in her own hands, and since taking this position, she has never clearly expressed her attitude toward anything.

This is also one of the reasons Cuique dislikes dealing with her.

"And besides the matter of your juniors, there is also your companion, Miss Margaret, who recently advanced to the Flower Card, and for whom the Academy has a high call to become the new Inspector."

Seeing Cuique say nothing, the blonde girl on the other side of the mirror suddenly spoke again to add: "While conducting a solo investigation mission out of town, she somehow learned of what recently happened in your Fang Ting City, so she applied for a transfer to Fang Ting City..."

Cuique shook her head, her face turning iron-green.

"That's good; it seems my decision was correct."

The gold-green cat-eye narrowed her eyes and stopped speaking: "It seems you really do not wish to see her."

"If possible, at this stage I do not wish to see any 'old friends', Director."

Forced to respond, Cuique said somewhat helplessly: "Margaret as well."

"Then let us follow your opinion."

Nodding somewhat noncommittally, the gold-green cat-eye seemed to have finished saying what she wanted to say and placed her notebook aside: "Then, since you have appeared before me again as a magical girl, does this mean you have decided what to do next?"

"... I know. I am ready."

Cuique said softly: "However, I must stay in this city for a while. Because the magical girls of Fang Ting City have been cut off from succession, before that day truly arrives, I still need to train the new recruits first."

"I think Miss Margaret can help you with training new recruits." The gold-green cat-eye implied something.

"Let's not bother. If she finds out I have returned, it will likely cause quite a bit of trouble." Cuique insisted on shaking her head.

"You should know that the Investigation Bureau always has the most up-to-date information; if she is willing to investigate, she will eventually learn the news from Fang Ting City."

The words spoken by the other party made Cuique continue to remain silent, because she knew these were facts.

"Alright, then let me confirm one last time: you currently still intend to stay in Fang Ting City, have no intention of going to the Kingdom, and do not wish for more people to know the news of your return, is that correct?" Seeing that Cuique still did not answer, the gold-green cat-eye no longer repeated the matter and lightly moved past the topic.

"Yes."

"Then that is all; the purpose of this conversation has been achieved."

The blonde girl narrowed her eyes, her lips curling up slightly: "You may end the call now, Miss Cuique."

"Salutations to you, Your Excellency the Director."

Cuique nodded, then reached out to touch the gem at the top of the magic mirror; after a surge of mana, the image on the mirror surface gradually began to blur.

— "However, there is one last thing I need to remind you of."

Before the magic mirror call ended, the blonde girl suddenly added: "Regarding your current Sower in Fang Ting City, that fairy named Moko, it may be hiding some small secrets."

"Although it is not anything bad, if you are interested, you can go and ask it about it."

As her voice fell, the image on the magic mirror completely vanished, turning back into an ordinary mirror surface.

And the final piece of information made Cuique fall into thought once more, gazing at the magic mirror for a long time without speaking.

The call with the gold-green cat-eye ended just like that.

(End of Chapter)