Winnie Arrives

The habitat offered Su Ran financial compensation by repurchasing the magic crystals at a price higher than the market rate.

After receiving the compensation, she was quite satisfied and prepared to leave.

“Xiao Ran! Xiao Ran!”

Before Su Ran had taken two steps, she turned around to find her vision filled with a soft embrace.

She reflexively patted the person’s back and asked in confusion, “Shirui? What are you doing here?”

The person who had rushed over calling her name was Yuan Shirui, and it was hearing her voice that made Su Ran feel puzzled.

‘Weren’t they supposed to be at Sakura Cafe today?’

“A Sequence Three magical beast suddenly appeared in the habitat. As personnel from the Blood Hunter branch, don’t you think we should be here?”

The one who answered Su Ran’s question was Winnie.

Even she had come to the scene after hearing the news from the habitat.

“Of course, I’m not here for work. I was worried about our adorable little maid, Xiao Ran. If anything happened to you, there would be a long line of wealthy clients waiting to give me trouble.”

Winnie’s words warmed Su Ran’s heart.

“Thank you, Manager.”

Even though Winnie said that, the habitat was managed by the Human Federation.

What happened here was different from the last mission issued by the Blood Hunters; Winnie didn’t have to be here in person.

Her rushing here so quickly after hearing the news was clearly out of concern for Su Ran’s safety.

“What about me? What about me?” Yuan Shirui repeatedly raised her hand, pointing to herself.

“You’re not needed. You should have come with me in the car.”

Winnie flicked Yuan Shirui’s forehead, telling her to go cool off somewhere.

“No need for thanks. But honestly, how do you cause a commotion wherever you go?”

Winnie looked at the habitat’s staff behind Su Ran, who were still frantically directing the evacuation of the crowded area.

Winnie considered whether she should change Su Ran’s pay to a daily settlement; perhaps that would effectively stop her from running around everywhere.

Su Ran didn’t know how to answer that.

However, she believed there must have been some sort of catalyst for the appearance of the Earth Fire leader this time.

During her meditation, she had sensed a dark aura belonging to devour magic, very similar to the one she had used.

However, the other party’s magic also contained a tendency to assimilate everything around it.

But rather than assimilation, it was more appropriate to call it plundering or sacrifice—exchanging the flesh and blood of its own kind for magic essence to advance in Sequence.

Unfortunately, this assimilating tendency within the devour magic was very faint, so much so that Su Ran herself hadn’t had time to perceive it carefully.

If she had been given a little more time, she might have been able to discern exactly what was hidden within.

“Speaking of which, you’ve already reached Sequence Two?”

Seeing that Su Ran had fallen silent, Winnie opportunely changed the subject.

“Let me see.”

Yuan Shirui also leaned in closer.

“It’s true! She’s already at Sequence Two.”

Even though Winnie knew that one of Su Ran’s goals at the habitat was to reach Sequence Two, she was still astonished.

For a human, Su Ran’s speed—advancing from entering the superhuman sequences to Sequence Two in less than two months—was terrifying.

Perhaps in Yuan Shirui’s eyes, Su Ran’s progress was a case of accumulated strength bursting forth, but only Winnie truly understood just how terrifying Su Ran’s advancement speed was.

“With the threat of the Earth Fire leader, I wouldn’t have had any strength to fight back if I didn’t advance to Sequence Two,” Su Ran replied with a shrug.

Given the situation at the time, Su Ran hadn’t placed her hopes on a rescue from the habitat.

Faced with the horde of Sequence Two magical beasts and the quasi-Sequence Three leader that had surrounded her, her decision was practically a desperate gamble.

However, the facts proved her right.

Advancing to Sequence Two, she successfully killed the Earth Fire leader.

“Do you need a few days off to stabilize your Sequence?”

However, Winnie quickly realized her question was pointless.

She couldn’t find any signs of instability in Su Ran’s Sequence.

There was no overflowing magic essence, which meant the magic essence vortex she had constructed was stable.

She probably didn’t need any time off.

“Yes, yes, yes!”

It was rare for Winnie to offer her a break, so how could Su Ran pass it up?

Even if she didn’t need to stabilize her Sequence, a chance to slack off was a good thing for her.

Especially since Isa and the others were at a critical point in their journey to Tukulu, Su Ran definitely needed to be present for the whole process.

“Alright, I’ll give you two more days off. I wonder how many young ladies will come crying to me when this news gets out.”

Since she had already said it, Winnie didn’t take it back.

She shook her head helplessly.

“As for you, remember to come to work! The mission to find the vampire is still posted, and many people are coming to turn it in. Don’t you dare slack off! I’ll give you a vacation when you advance to Sequence Four.”

Seeing Yuan Shirui point at herself with an expectant look, Winnie directed the last sentence at her.

Hearing this, Yuan Shirui’s head drooped, a look of dejection on her face.

She had been stuck at Sequence Three for a while now, and advancing to Sequence Four would still require some effort.

Seeing this, Winnie sighed helplessly.

“One day. I’ll give you one day off. Just remember to finish the urgent work first.”

Yuan Shirui’s expression changed from cloudy to sunny upon hearing this, and she tried to rush over and hug Winnie.

However, Winnie deftly dodged, causing Yuan Shirui to miss her and embrace Su Ran instead.

Once again, Su Ran found herself in Yuan Shirui’s warm embrace.

This time, Yuan Shirui practically clung to Su Ran, unwilling to let go.

“Xiao Ran is so cool and refreshing, just like an air conditioner. It feels so good!”

After her witch abilities and magic essence protection intertwined, Su Ran’s body temperature had a tendency to drop.

Coupled with the fact that her little witch dress always maintained a comfortable temperature for her, Yuan Shirui felt a pleasant coolness.

“I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but your chest seems bigger than it was this morning?”

While hugging Su Ran, Yuan Shirui reached out, trying to tug at the front of her dress for a closer look.

“Shirui, don’t! Stop it!”

Noticing Yuan Shirui’s mischievous little hand creeping downwards, Su Ran hurriedly tried to stop her.

But then she discovered something—her strength had diminished!

Or rather, she couldn’t exert much force against Yuan Shirui’s assault!

Her bright eyes misted over, and a blush crept up her delicate earlobes.

Su Ran now looked completely helpless, at the mercy of others.

‘So this is what “weakness value” means? It makes me unable to resist when attacked!’

If she didn’t have other uses for her money, Su Ran would have cleared her weakness value right then and there.

‘This isn’t fun at all!’

“Alright, Shirui, we still have things to do!”

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Winnie intervened, grabbing one little friend in each hand and dragging them off to visit the Blood Hunters who were injured in the incident.

After the visit, Winnie drove them away from the habitat.