Stay?

Night fell. Inside the Dispatch Center, Meng Shan, Ran Jiu’yi, and the “Little Trio” gathered together.

During the day, Meng Shan had forcibly sent the three girls away on the pretext that they needed to nurse their injuries, promising to explain everything to them that evening. He needed time to deal with the lingering mess alongside Ran Jiu’yi and time to contemplate their next steps.

Busy hours always fly by, and before they knew it, night had arrived. Faced with the unwavering, direct stares of the three girls, Ran Jiu’yi knew it was time to make things clear.

She stood up and said bluntly, “Er, we’ve known each other for a while now, and you all know me. But I admit I’ve hidden some things from you. So, I’ve thought it over and decided to give it to you straight.”

“Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Ran Jiu’yi—don’t find it strange, that’s my real name. I am also ‘Bian,’ the one who fought you twice before and beat you both times.”

Having said that, Ran Jiu’yi transformed into her Magical Girl form right in front of the girls and Meng Shan, assuming the appearance of Bian.

“So, is there anything you want to ask?”

Looking at Ran Jiu’yi, who was sitting in a wheelchair with her lower body completely empty, Yi Ziling was the first to speak. “Sister Ran, where are your legs?”

Ran Jiu’yi countered with a question: “Did you watch my fight with that woman, Cheng Ya?”

“I did. Why?”

“Then you know where my legs went. But don’t worry, they’ll grow back in three days. More importantly, have your wounds healed?”

Yi Ziling replied, “They’re all better. Sister Ran, how did you do that? How did you make the wounds heal so fast?”

“Because I supplemented you with extra life force to accelerate recovery. Xiao Yi, you’re a defense and healing-oriented Magical Girl; you should consider learning that technique. Anything else?”

Jiang Yunshu and Bai He’an exchanged a glance. Then Jiang Yunshu asked, “Sister Ran, how do you actually view the three of us… and Brother Dashan?”

“My view, huh…”

Ran Jiu’yi pondered for a moment before saying, “Three complete ‘noob’ Magical Girls who are green in every aspect, and an overprotective ‘caretaker’ who spoils them too much.”

Meng Shan cut in, “That’s a bit too blunt, isn’t it? Couldn’t you be a bit more diplomatic?”

Ran Jiu’yi shot him a look. “This is my style. Deal with it. Besides, I wasn’t finished.”

“However, regarding your duties, you’ve passed. To face a powerful enemy like Ken the Werewolf and fight to the very end—that is something the vast majority of people couldn’t achieve in a lifetime.”

Hearing Ran Jiu’yi’s approval, smiles bloomed on the girls’ faces, only for Ran Jiu’yi to continue: “It’s just that your strength is pathetic. Facing anyone with real weight, all three of you would have to kneel. In that fight with Ken, if it wasn’t for Meng Shan’s plan, you’d all be gone.”

The smiles instantly collapsed. Jiang Yunshu grumbled, “Sister Ran, did you have to say that right now? Read the room!”

Ran Jiu’yi shrugged. “Just telling the truth. As Magical Girls, your fighting spirit is fine, but without enough power, it’s only a matter of time before you’re kneeling on the ground crying, ‘I can’t do anything!'”

The three girls looked embarrassed. Less than two weeks ago, they were immersed in the fantasy of being invincible. Only after being tormented three times by Ran Jiu’yi and Ken the Werewolf did they realize how weak they truly were.

Thinking of this, Bai He’an asked, “Ran… Sister Ran, when you fought us, how much power did you use?”

“It wasn’t easy, but you finally called me ‘Sister,’ Xiao An.”

Ran Jiu’yi rolled her wheelchair over to Bai He’an and happily ruffled her hair, causing the girl to wave her hands in protest.

“Let me think… compared to my strongest state, in the first fight against you, I didn’t even use half a percent of my power.”

Bai He’an was shocked. “Only that much?”

“What did you expect? Think of it like playing a game where you strip the character of all skills, passives, and most buffs, using only basic attacks. Even half a percent is being generous.”

“What about the second time?”

Ran Jiu’yi held up a finger. “Less than ten percent. Incidentally, it would take twenty percent of my power to take down Ken the Werewolf. If he could fully master his strength, it would take thirty percent—which is roughly the level of a combat executive in a standard superhuman organization.”

“And at my peak, I’m roughly on par with the leaders of ultra-large superhuman organizations or the top-tier superhuman combat assets of human nations.”

Jiang Yunshu asked, “What about Cheng Ya? The one you couldn’t beat. What rank of enemy is she?”

“That woman…” Ran Jiu’yi’s expression grew solemn. “Top-tier power level of a superhuman nation. I’ve only seen that kind of strength in those old monsters within superhuman countries who have lived for decades or centuries, honing their power and skill to the absolute limit.”

“There are at most thirty such individuals in the world after the war between humans and superhumans. Each one of them can easily turn a whole country upside down.”

“Most importantly, while being that strong, she’s also a perverted scientist. Heaven knows what kind of sick research she’s done.”

“If you three see her, run as far as you can. Do not engage her in conversation, or you’ll likely be snatched away for her twisted experiments.”

Yi Ziling flinched. “…Is it really that exaggerated?”

“It is. Why do you think she fought me? To take my body tissues for experiments, of course. I couldn’t stop her; I could only watch as she ripped out my spine.”

The girls jumped in horror. Meng Shan had intentionally avoided telling them this part to keep them from being traumatized.

Bai He’an asked, “Spine? Did I hear that right? Sister Ran, you’re joking, right?”

Ran Jiu’yi shook her head. “Not at all. She used her bare hands to pull my entire spine out. So you understand now? Stay as far away as possible from characters that dangerous.”

The three girls nodded vigorously like chickens pecking at grain. What Cheng Ya had done was terrifying just to hear about.

Bai He’an took the opportunity to ask, “Then, Sister Ran, can you help us?”

“Help you with what?”

“Help us get stronger. You said we’re weak, so we want to be stronger… Sister Ran, can you stay here and help us? Brother Dashan told us that once Ken was dealt with, you’d be leaving, wouldn’t you?”

Ran Jiu’yi smiled. “According to the original plan, I was indeed supposed to leave. And are you sure you want me to stay? Perhaps my self-introduction wasn’t detailed enough. Let me be more specific…”

Meng Shan interrupted her: “A super-criminal wanted by most countries in the world, a cold-blooded mercenary with blood on her hands, the perpetrator of numerous massacres and terrorist incidents…”

“Some of those titles are true, some are rumors, and some are just filth thrown your way. But regardless of what they are, I’ve already told them. I shared every scrap of information I gathered with them, word for word.”

Jiang Yunshu nodded. “Yes, Brother Dashan told us everything. The good parts and the bad. On paper, Sister Ran, you really are a ‘bad person.'”

Yi Ziling added, “But rumors are just rumors. After interacting with you these past few days, we feel you aren’t a bad person. On the contrary, you’re actually very kind-hearted.”

Bai He’an finished, “So, Sister Ran, can you stay?”

Ran Jiu’yi laughed. “You really think too highly of me. Why should I help you? Because you’re Magical Girls? Because you’re young and pretty? Forget it. I don’t do things that offer no benefit.”

“Benefits? I’ll waive the compensation for my gear. How’s that?” Meng Shan said. “I won’t ask for a cent for the armor or the sniper rifle in exchange for you staying a while longer.”

“Are you sure? That’s enough money to let you live comfortably for the rest of your life. You’d give that up just like that?”

Meng Shan said without hesitation, “I’m sure. Because I don’t want any more regrets in my life. And I believe you feel the same way.”

Those words pierced Ran Jiu’yi’s heart like a steel nail.

Meng Shan struck while the iron was hot: “Just as you evaluated them—they have the determination but lack the power. If they encounter a real enemy, do you think they can survive? And if they die, would you be sad?”

“I… I…” Ran Jiu’yi hesitated, a rare sight for her. “I suppose I would be.”

Seeing her indecision, Meng Shan didn’t press further. Instead, he said, “Then let’s drop it for now. Consider the question later. Tonight, we defeated a truly powerful enemy; it’s a time for celebration.”

Jiang Yunshu asked, “Eh? We’re celebrating tonight? I’m not against it, but where are we going?”

Meng Shan smiled. “My house, of course. Plenty of space, and few neighbors nearby—we can make as much noise as we want. So, you’re all coming tonight, right?”

The girls looked at each other and nodded simultaneously. “Of course!” x3

Then, the three of them and Meng Shan looked toward Ran Jiu’yi.

“Honestly,” Ran Jiu’yi sighed helplessly. “Don’t you think this is a bit rushed? Half a day ago, you were all lying on the ground half-dead.”

Jiang Yunshu looked at her with puppy-dog eyes. “Sister Ran, do you mean you don’t want to come with us?”

Ran Jiu’yi gently rubbed Jiang Yunshu’s hair. “Of course not. At a time like this, if I didn’t go, I’d be the one failing to read the room.”

Meng Shan chimed in, “Good. If you go, you can help us cook. It’ll save a lot of money.”

Ran Jiu’yi rolled her eyes. “Money, money, money. Your head is full of nothing but money. What rotten luck, meeting someone like you.”

Meng Shan smiled. “But I’m very lucky to have met someone as strong and kind-hearted as you. Besides, I’ll cook with you; I won’t just sit and watch you work alone.”

“That’s more like it.”