Chapter 13

Jiang Si was taken to a private room.

The Strategic Disaster Bureau was situated in such an unusual location that, under normal circumstances, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to infiltrate it.

Yet it is well known that wherever there are people, there are always vulnerabilities—the Disaster Bureau was no exception.

Otherwise, the Azure Cloud Sect would not have been able to plant a mole within the bureau.

Moreover, since this world had magical girls, it also harbored other strange and extraordinary powers.

Disguises, invisibility, teleportation—any of these could exist. Sneaking in here was not some fanciful tale.

Jiang Keke, being a newly appointed magical girl, naturally held a significant position within the bureau.

The bureau had been eagerly awaiting a newcomer; such a precious asset was never treated with negligence.

Much less to be captured.

When Jiang Si was taken away, they even made sure to do some mental preparation for Jiang Keke, telling her it was just a private inquiry.

Yet moments later, Jiang Si found himself locked in what resembled an interrogation room.

Naturally, Jiang Si was not overly anxious.

Over the years, Bing Tang had gathered many magical girls, and with them, a variety of peculiar abilities.

For instance, spatial powers such as position swapping.

Magical girls’ abilities varied widely and lacked consistent rules. As their powers developed and were honed, even the simplest mechanisms could yield incredible effects.

Take the magic of swapping positions—it originally was just a physical attack akin to a magical hand.

Somehow, it evolved into a full-fledged position exchange.

For Jiang Si, if his identity were truly exposed, he could simply swap locations and leave.

However, doing so would irrevocably confirm his identity, making it impossible for him to live a normal life in BH City thereafter.

It was best not to resort to that unless absolutely necessary.

Besides, Bing Tang had also told him that there was a mole inside the Disaster Bureau who would intervene if anything unexpected happened.

So Jiang Si was in no rush; he would wait and observe how the situation unfolded.

“Susan, he’s Jiang Keke’s brother. Jiang Keke is the long-awaited newcomer to the Disaster Bureau. You come here and immediately arrest her brother—how do you expect people to view us? If this gets out, who would want to join us as a new magical girl?”

“As long as it doesn’t get out, it’s fine.”

“Jiang Keke is a magical girl; that amnesia spell won’t work on her.”

“I know. I have other methods to ensure she won’t reveal anything, Miss Yin Luo.”

“You don’t intend to harm a magical girl, do you?”

The speaker was a tall woman with long red hair, wearing dark glasses and dressed in business attire.

Her features bore some resemblance to Yin Lian’s but were more mature. She held a stack of files in her left arm and occasionally adjusted her glasses with her right hand, an expression of helplessness on her face.

She was Yin Lian’s older sister, a clerical staff member at the Disaster Bureau. When Jiang Si was captured, Yin Lian immediately contacted her sister for assistance.

This was the main reason Jiang Si had not yet been interrogated.

Opposing her was the blonde girl in military uniform who had apprehended Jiang Si.

Susan.

By appearance, she seemed to be mixed-race, with a commanding presence and a gaze tinged with arrogance.

Hearing the question, she lifted her chin. “I’m not that foolish, Miss Yin Luo.”

“I need to accompany this interrogation.”

“That’s against regulations.”

“You acted without authorization in detaining Jiang Si. We have no authority to imprison relatives of magical girls. Miss Susan, he just signed an employment contract for Jiang Keke.”

…

After some time of arguing, Susan and Yin Luo finally entered the room together.

One expressionless, with a cold gaze; the other smiling kindly, speaking gently.

“You must be Mr. Jiang Si, Jiang Keke’s brother.”

While speaking, she poured him a cup of hot water and pushed it toward him.

“Please don’t be nervous. We will only ask some simple questions. Afterward, you will be allowed to leave. As Jiang Keke’s brother, you are a distinguished guest here—we have no intention of troubling you…”

“At two forty-one this afternoon, when you disembarked from the broom carriage and passed through the cloud layer, you fell down, correct?”

Though no direct surveillance footage was shown, the bureau likely had similar equipment nearby, since such a precise time was given.

In fact, Jiang Si had not landed on the clouds but had fallen at exactly two forty-one and twenty-nine seconds.

Years of training and meditation had made him sensitive to every second, as he kept a mental clock inside his head.

He knew Susan wasn’t bluffing; she had indeed checked the surveillance or something similar.

“Correct,” Jiang Si did not deny it. “Yesterday, I passed by North Second Middle School and encountered a bat disaster beast. I was contaminated by its blood, which is why I couldn’t stand on the clouds. That’s what Yin Lian said.”

Yin Luo glanced at Susan and smiled. “That’s true. Previously, a magical girl was also contaminated by a disaster beast and nearly fell when she came here.”

Susan was noncommittal. “Contamination doesn’t last for a whole day.”

“People’s constitutions differ. Besides, he’s an ordinary person. Magical girls clear contamination faster, right?”

This time, Susan no longer denied it.

Yin Luo sighed in relief. “In any case, ordinary people should keep away from disaster beasts. Their magical pollution lasts a while and not only causes illness but also makes one irritable and quick-tempered.”

“I understand.”

“There’s also an agreement here for you to sign. It concerns the interrogation and hopes you won’t disclose anything…”

“Wait, I haven’t said the interrogation is over.”

Susan immediately interrupted Yin Luo, who was about to end the questioning.

“Don’t act on your own. There are still many doubts about him. We must continue testing if he can pass through the cloud layer.”

“Miss Susan,” Yin Luo’s tone finally sharpened, “the contamination period for ordinary people can last up to half a month. Do you intend to detain him for that long?”

“We can perform a purification ritual for him.”

“He’s an ordinary person, not a magical girl. The purification ritual causes memory loss and harms the body.” Yin Luo knocked on the table. “I can sue you, Miss Susan!”

Susan stood firm, lifting her head coldly. “We lost three miracle seeds, Yin Luo. If this man is the thief, releasing him is a responsibility none can bear.”

“I guarantee he’s not the one who stole the seeds.”

The two women had completely ignored Jiang Si, absorbed in their argument. Yin Luo seemed less to be defending Jiang Si and more to be standing up for herself, growing heated quickly.

“I stake my position on it. If he’s the seed thief, I will bear all responsibility!”

Jiang Si couldn’t help but glance sideways. The woman looked like a mature white-collar worker but was far more emotional than she appeared.

The argument quickly escalated to outright guarantees.

Susan, with a perpetually cold expression, finally curled the corner of her lips and nodded swiftly.

“Since you say so, write a report for the director. If any problems arise from Jiang Si’s investigation later, you will take full responsibility.”

Yin Luo smiled in return. “Fine, no problem.”

She adjusted her glasses, though her hand trembled slightly.

Jiang Si understood that Yin Luo’s sister was far less composed than she appeared.

Provoked by Susan’s two words, she had taken on the burden wholeheartedly…

“Can we release him now?”

Yin Luo clearly did not want to continue bickering and stood decisively.

“I will take responsibility. If you’re afraid of trouble, you might as well resign sooner rather than later.”

“It’s hard to dismiss me, but Miss Yin Luo, if Jiang Si is abnormal, not only your position but your sister’s captaincy will be revoked.”

Her expression stiffened slightly, but Yin Luo stayed firm.

“That’s none of your concern.”

With that, she stepped forward, unlocked the handcuffs on Jiang Si, and took his hand as they left the interrogation room.

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll leave now.”

“Suit yourself.”

As he stepped outside, Jiang Si instinctively wanted to look back.

Yin Luo immediately lowered her voice, “Don’t look back.”

Jiang Si had wanted to see if Susan would follow, but the warning made him obedient.

Only upon reaching the stairwell preparing to descend did Yin Luo explain.

“That woman is extremely suspicious. Even a glance from you will get you caught and interrogated again.”

“That unreasonable?”

“Susan was once a magical girl but lost her miracle seeds due to some minor mistakes at the bureau. She can no longer transform. The bureau compensated her with the position of security chief, granting her great power. Since losing her transformation ability, she’s like she’s gone through menopause—always looking for trouble because her life is unsatisfactory…”

Hearing Yin Luo’s somewhat harsh assessment, Jiang Si chuckled inwardly. Official organizations were really the same everywhere, rife with internal strife.

Even bearing the title of magical girl couldn’t exempt them.

Yin Luo seemed to realize she had been a bit too blunt and quickly added, “Anyway, she and I never got along. This isn’t just about helping you; it’s also about defending my own honor.”

That much was clear—a passionate soul.

Jiang Si said nothing, instead asking, “If I truly am suspicious, you’d be in trouble, wouldn’t you?”

“Doesn’t matter. I never liked this position anyway.”

A hint of loneliness flickered in her eyes.

“If I could be a magical girl, who’d want to be stuck in the rear…”

Then realizing she might have said too much, Yin Luo quickly corrected herself.

“Heh, sorry for the extra words. Since you arrived at the Disaster Bureau, all your actions have been recorded. I’ve checked—there’s nothing unusual. My sister Yin Lian also said you’re not suspicious. I believe both Yin Lian and you.”

“I will do my best not to appear suspicious.”

Yin Luo smiled, finding Jiang Si rather humorous.

Descending the stairs, they found the incubators at the front desk gone and the entire hall empty.

Jiang Keke was seated on a bench opposite the counter, quietly holding the employment contract, as if attending class.

Yin Lian paced nearby, clearly anxious.

When Jiang Si came down, he heard Keke complaining to Yin Lian, “Can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”

“Your brother was captured, and you’re not worried at all?”

“Nothing will happen. The Disaster Bureau is official; what’s there to fear?”

“You just don’t understand. You’re not scared, but Senior Susan is terrifying!”

“Surely she won’t kill him. Imprisonment isn’t a big deal—probably lets him train in peace.”

“I think your sibling relationship isn’t good, and you’re partly to blame, Keke…”

“Say whatever you want.”

When Jiang Si followed Yin Luo down, the two girls noticed him first.

Yin Lian ran over excitedly, grabbing her sister’s arm.

“Big sis, you really know how to get him out of Susan’s hands!”

Jiang Keke stood briefly, her gaze resting on her brother for a second before sitting down again, keeping her distance.

Yin Luo found her sister’s cold attitude puzzling and patted her head.

“There’s really nothing wrong. Susan is just at fault. But with the loss of the miracle seeds, a divination says the Witch Society will find the Disaster Bureau’s location. Yin Lian, you need to be careful.”

“Don’t worry, sister. When we find them, I’ll give them a fierce blow!”

Yin Lian punched the air with determination.

Jiang Si frowned slightly.

The Witch Society was an organization that spread seeds of sorrow and bred disaster beasts.

He had heard from Bing Tang before that they had caused considerable trouble for the Azure Cloud Sect.

Their goal was to hunt magical girls, naturally including members of the sect.

Because their initiation rites were so cruel, Bing Tang had not been able to infiltrate the Witch Society.

In terms of scale and renown, the Witch Society could not compare to the Azure Cloud Sect or the Disaster Bureau, at least not in the Northern Sea region.

Yet they had managed to steal miracle seeds from the Disaster Bureau.

The bureau was truly incompetent.

But why was Bing Tang slower than the Witch Society? Or was the divination mistaken?

Lost in thought, sudden hurried footsteps came from upstairs.

Susan descended again, accompanied by three soldiers.

Yin Luo frowned and moved to block the way, but Susan suddenly threw down a document.

“The cloud layer test application has been approved. I am required to conduct a separate test for Jiang Si.”

Yin Luo immediately pointed at Susan in anger. “You!”

Susan’s cold face bore a hint of disdainful laughter.

“You what? If you have complaints, take them to the director. The document is here; Yin Lian, you saw it too. This is a legitimate, compliant test. Any obstruction on your part is against regulations.”

Yin Luo was caught off guard. Despite her earlier promise, Susan had immediately applied for the cloud layer test.

The document was clear as black and white. Even with some standing in the bureau, there was little she could do.

Yin Lian looked utterly helpless.

Jiang Si realized there was no avoiding this now and stepped forward.

“It’s fine. I’ll take the test. Stay here and wait; don’t leave yet—I won’t find my way back.”

This eased the tension somewhat.

Still staring at the employment contract, Jiang Keke replied coldly, “Then hurry up. If it’s too late, no one will wait for you.”

“Hey, hey, I will, I will. No worries,” Yin Lian patted her chest. “I’ll definitely bring you back!”

“Mm.”

Hearing such earnest words from a magical girl like Yin Lian gave some reassurance.

Susan sneered beside them, saying nothing, but tugged Jiang Si along.

They proceeded upstairs again, this time to a different room—the last one on the east side, more enclosed and even somewhat lightproof.

Once Susan closed the door and locked the soldiers outside, she slowly sat down across from him.

In the pitch-dark room, the pressure was intense.

As Jiang Si pondered how to face the cloud layer test, Susan suddenly tilted her head, lips moving silently in the dark.

“Nature is unkind.”

Jiang Si was taken aback but matched her lowered voice.

“All things are but straw dogs.”

The once cold woman immediately cupped her hands, her expression softening.

“Fellow Daoist, forgive my offense.”