One hour later, Zhou Huanan had finished lecturing Magical Girl Grey Moon. He disregarded the girl’s playful pouting, instructing her to behave herself that afternoon and avoid causing further trouble. With that, Zhou Huanan parted ways with Magical Girl Grey Moon and returned to the Banjao base.
****
The ritualistic summoning of the monster had concluded, regardless of its success. As the captain leading the team, he was obliged to provide a summary.
He knocked on Dr. Zhuge’s office door and entered. Zhou Huanan then reported the sequence of events and their underlying causes to Dr. Zhuge.
Dr. Zhuge acknowledged him with a nod, indicating she had understood. Immediately, she had a more pressing matter to discuss with Zhou Huanan.
“Magical Girl Violet, who escaped from our base, has reappeared.”
Dr. Zhuge beckoned Zhou Huanan closer. When he had taken two steps forward, she still felt it wasn’t enough, so she lightly tapped the table.
Understanding her unspoken command, Zhou Huanan circled around. He then moved to stand beside Dr. Zhuge.
Dr. Zhuge pointed her finger in mid-air, directing Zhou Huanan’s gaze to the computer screen.
On the wide screen, Magical Girl Violet appeared, looking starkly different from Zhou Huanan’s memory. She wore a metallic mask, laughing manically as she slaughtered the Banjao operatives displayed on the screen.
Magical Girls were not supposed to kill; this was common knowledge even to children.
Zhou Huanan’s brows furrowed deeply. He quickly surmised why Dr. Zhuge had shown him this footage.
“When did this happen?”
“This morning, Magical Girl Violet killed operatives from two squads.”
Dr. Zhuge lit a cigarette, her expression displeased as she looked at Zhou Huanan.
There were some matters she could pretend hadn’t occurred, for who could be without fault? However, those who needed a warning still needed one.
“Don’t let their dazzling appearance, immense power, and charming exteriors fool you; the hearts of Magical Girls are incredibly fragile.”
Dr. Zhuge’s words served as a stark reminder to Zhou Huanan, bringing Liu Li to mind. He opened his mouth, but Dr. Zhuge, assuming he was reflecting, continued speaking.
“Once they lose control, this is what happens.”
Dr. Zhuge paused the screen, pointing her hand at the deceased Banjao operatives. They had clearly not made any physical contact with Magical Girl Violet.
Yet, they now lay motionless on the ground, unable to rise.
Their breaths gradually faded.
If their helmets were removed, one would undoubtedly find faces contorted with pain and panic.
“Magical Girls are too dangerous; under necessary circumstances, they must be restrained.”
It was as if Dr. Zhuge had said nothing, yet she had conveyed everything.
Zhou Huanan understood. Dr. Zhuge already knew he was the one who had released Magical Girl Violet, and that he had done so to suppress Magical Girl Liu Li. At this moment, he had no recourse but to admit his mistake and attempt to make amends.
“Then, is there anything I can do?”
Zhou Huanan did not attempt to argue or feign ignorance.
Dr. Zhuge, still believing it was normal for young people to make mistakes, informed him about Magical Girl Violet. She had already requested specialized personnel from Banjao’s upper echelons to handle the situation.
“What you need to do now…”
Dr. Zhuge gazed at a somewhat remorseful Zhou Huanan, then extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray.
“Is to quickly lure out Magical Girl Grey Moon—and do it fast. Then, there’s this.”
Dr. Zhuge pushed a box towards Zhou Huanan. Upon opening it, the contents struck Zhou Huanan as remarkably familiar.
Looking closely, he recognized it from his probationary period as a gate guard.
It was the purple Magical Girl’s Heart, previously stored on the lowest floor.
“This is a Magical Girl’s Heart,” she explained, “an irresistible treasure for Magical Girls, capable of enhancing their power.”
“Take this with you.”
“When Magical Girl Grey Moon appears, you are to ‘burst gold coins’ and give this item to her.”
Zhou Huanan: “Hmm?”
‘Wasn’t this blatant aid to the enemy?’
Zhou Huanan looked at Dr. Zhuge with a bewildered expression. Handing the item to Magical Girl Grey Moon was something he could easily do at any time.
However, whether the item itself was truly beneficial remained debatable.
Dr. Zhuge claimed Magical Girls had no resistance to it. Yet, when he had captured Magical Girl Grey Moon and caused her to drop items, she had also obtained this, but had clearly disdained it, focusing instead on the Magma Demon’s core.
Zhou Huanan found himself doubting Dr. Zhuge.
Dr. Zhuge, too weary to explain, simply instructed Zhou Huanan to proceed. After all, the intricacies of the situation and Banjao’s stance could not be clarified in just a few words.
Finished with their discussion, Zhou Huanan was dismissed by Dr. Zhuge with the ultimatum that he ‘smoke a cigarette with her next time or get out.’ She urged him to hurry and get to work, to find Magical Girl Grey Moon.
Outside the office door.
Zhou Huanan gazed at the Magical Girl’s Heart in his hand.
He mused on the bizarre nature of it all, yet he didn’t want to follow Dr. Zhuge’s instructions blindly.
Even if he were to give it to Magical Girl Grey Moon, he decided to wait until he fully understood what this mysterious item was before making any decisions.
At that moment, anxious Banjao operatives passed by Zhou Huanan.
Operative A: “I don’t know what to do either. We can’t just take leave now, can we?”
Operative B: “It’s no use. A corrupted Magical Girl kills everyone she sees. It’s safer inside the Banjao base.”
Many operatives passing through the corridors expressed their apprehension about Magical Girl Violet.
Outside, a corrupted Magical Girl was rampaging.
Though only half a day had passed, news of this life-or-death situation spread throughout the Banjao base in less than an hour. Everyone was aware.
Yet, Zhou Huanan disregarded this information, intending to continue his mission. After all, Liu Li was still waiting for him somewhere unknown, and the sooner he acted, the less harm she would suffer.
Zhou Huanan had not considered his own safety at all.
Time.
It no longer permitted him even a moment of laxity.
Even if it truly meant risking his life, Zhou Huanan was prepared for it.
He couldn’t ask Dr. Zhuge to resolve this particular matter.
While Dr. Zhuge was usually quite kind to him, often turning a blind eye to his actions,
She was, ultimately, Zhou Huanan’s superior, not his friend.
If she discovered the source of Zhou Huanan’s motivation, she would likely secretly imprison Liu Li, tormenting her mind until Zhou Huanan ascended to a position favored by Dr. Zhuge, only then arranging their reunion.
But that would take too long.
Zhou Huanan shook his head. He gathered his team for deployment.
Upon hearing that they were to be deployed immediately, Zhou Huanan’s operatives didn’t even have the luxury of screaming. Several operatives, directly in front of the elevator plaza and under the gaze of everyone present, fell to their knees, begging Zhou Huanan and declaring they didn’t want to die.
Many Banjao staff members looked on in silence. Even the Banjao instruction teams didn’t immediately subdue the insubordinate operatives.
Witnessing this, Zhou Huanan became enraged.
“You don’t want to die?”
“What kind of place is Banjao? It’s an evil organization! You’ve reaped all the benefits of bullying men and oppressing women, and now you tell me you don’t want to die!?”
Several individuals knelt before Zhou Huanan, repeatedly begging for mercy, claiming they had elderly parents and young children. Their pleas made Zhou Huanan grit his teeth in fury.
The thought gnawed at him: these people had harmed countless girls like Liu Li, yet they expected to bear no risks themselves.
They had exploited the kindness of Magical Girls, committing evil without a shred of conscience.
How could those who committed evil not pay a price?
Zhou Huanan had long since come to terms with this, preparing himself to…
But seeing these pathetic individuals—
“What do you take Banjao for?”
“A benevolent organization existing solely for your pleasure?!”
Zhou Huanan was furious.
He pulled a handgun from behind him.
Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he pressed the barrel directly against the heads of the insubordinate operatives.
Banjao’s specially designed armor-piercing handgun, loaded with armor-piercing rounds that could penetrate the shells of C-rank monsters when wielded by a captain, was pointed directly at them. These rounds were even capable of piercing the Banjao operatives’ helmets.
The handgun in Zhou Huanan’s grip, at this close range, could claim a life with a single pull of the trigger.
At that moment, within the plaza, numerous Banjao operatives and staff members witnessed Zhou Huanan in this terrifying state. It was only then that they truly comprehended the nature of the organization they had joined.
They swallowed hard, cold sweat breaking out on their skin.
No matter how trendy Banjao’s external propaganda was, or how generous its salaries, it couldn’t change the fundamental truth that it was an evil organization.
Many only now realized this stark reality.
‘Refuse my orders, and you die.’
Zhou Huanan watched the men before him with cold eyes. The weapon in his hand would truly fire.
At this moment, a spectral Hannya demon, representing Banjao, seemed to stand behind Zhou Huanan. It was opening its gaping, blood-red maw.
It seemed to mock those who had joined Banjao simply for its trendiness, for the thrill, or on a whim, believing the organization to be ‘not bad.’
The Banjao operatives were so terrified they lost control of their bladders. These weaklings were ultimately dragged away by the instruction teams, their limbs to be severed.
No one knew where these men, who had openly defied orders and refused to deploy with their superior, were ultimately taken.
No one knew.
Zhou Huanan was not a good man.
He was willing to do anything to climb the ranks, to save Liu Li, to grasp that sliver of hope.
Anything.
Whether it meant being a villain through and through, or pointing a gun at someone’s head, Zhou Huanan was resolute. He led the remaining team members, selected a monster, and fully equipped, they boarded the elevator.
They commenced their Magical Girl luring mission.
Despite a Magical Girl rampaging outside, driven by revenge, Captain 19’s squad still resolutely took action.
Everyone else in the plaza hall remembered the number on his mask: ’19’.
Zhou Huanan, behind the ’19’ mask, was unaware of the admiration Captain 19 garnered. He only knew that three days were swiftly passing, and there was still no news of Liu Li; the girl was waiting for him.
That was all that mattered.
He recalled the smile of his childhood sweetheart, the warmth of holding her in his arms that night, and the memory of playfully teasing her.
At this thought.
Mere dangers, even the possibility of death, could not impede Zhou Huanan’s search for Liu Li.