Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

"The Source of Beasts, right?"

Molu agreed, "Indeed, if I can think of this, there is no reason the White Wolf cannot. She was willing to betray her country for merely two Sources of Beasts; it's implausible for her not to covet the one you possess."

"I might not be able to protect this thing from a fully capable Card Player."

Emerald Sparrow stated the facts in a calm tone, "If the other party uses force, or even threatens the safety of Fangting City to demand the Source of Beasts from me, I'll need your assistance."

"My assistance? You mean to have me help you defeat that 'Canna'? Unfortunately, my true self is still within the realm, so I can't come to Fangting City."

The doll in the magic mirror shook its paw, "This incarnation of mine practically has no combat ability. Not just Card Players, even your juniors could easily defeat this incarnation."

It spoke with certainty, as if truly incapable, but Emerald Sparrow did not speak, simply continuing to watch the magic mirror expressionlessly.

The doll in the mirror paused for a few seconds, seemingly waiting for something. Seeing that Emerald Sparrow gave no reaction, it couldn't help but say boringly, "Really, such an unadorable younger generation. Can't you throw me a line at a time like this?"

"So?" Emerald Sparrow nodded, "Do you have a solution?"

"You're so convinced I will help you?" Molu found this rather strange, "What if I really can't do anything? After all, this doesn't concern me, right?"

Emerald Sparrow sighed somewhat helplessly, "I think a Gemstone Scepter shouldn't say that a traitor attacking the city is none of their concern."

"From the standpoint of a Magical Girl, yes," Molu countered, "But I am after all a Gemstone Scepter. Even if I am morally upright, I must consider the broader benefits."

"From a beneficial perspective, you presumably wouldn't tolerate others laying hands on the Source of Beasts."

Emerald Sparrow analyzed calmly, "You specially came to Fangting to build a research institute; obviously, you had plans to conduct research here. Even if our deal is successfully concluded and the Source of Beasts is in your hands, you would have to consider the problem of it being stolen by others."

"Hmm... it seems I can't refute that. Such clarity of thought should not be underestimated, youngster."

The doll in the mirror first assumed a thoughtful pose, then nodded in some agreement, "Then I will tell you, there is no need to worry. Even if the other party is the fugitive 'Canna', what follows will be..."

— "Thud!"

Before Molu could finish speaking, Emerald Sparrow felt a strong impact on the wooden door behind her.

The door to the reception room was abruptly pushed open, and Emerald Sparrow, who had been resting against it, was knocked to the ground. The magic mirror in her hand flew out from her grasp, landing several meters away, leaving only Molu's somewhat puzzled voice calling out from the mirror.

Emerald Sparrow stood up, bracing herself from the ground, and turned to look towards the door, only to see the Magical Girl calling herself "Canna" who had arrived unannounced at her back, now looking at her with interest.

"Indeed, my sense was right, it's a Magical Girl!"
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She held a wine glass brought from the dining table in her hand, with a slight flush of inebriation on her cheeks, "Semi, you lost the bet!"

"To think it's really a Magical Girl?"

The Black Cat Fairy floated out from behind her, eyeing Emerald Sparrow with a mix of surprise and uncertainty, "Indeed she is... but it's so strange, why didn't I feel anything?"

"Like I said, you fairies have too singular a mode of perception," the girl said with some self-assuredness, smiling confidently, "In this aspect, I'm more professional than you."

"Are you Fangting City's Magical Girl? What are you doing here?"

But meanwhile, Semi paid her no further attention, instead focusing intently on Emerald Sparrow, "Did that man inform you to come here?"

Earlier at the dining table, Yuan suddenly spoke up, feeling the presence of Magical Power and then directly headed for this room. Although Semi thought such behavior was reckless, out of necessity, she had followed along.

Even though she followed Yuan into the adjacent reception room, she actually had no idea: Did Fangting City's Magical Girl come with good or bad intentions? Was she aware they came from Claw Mark? Without knowing such information, she didn't know what action to take at the moment.

Truth be told, Semi did not wish to resolve things by force.

Because it always worried that Cornflower in Fangting City possessed great strength, a direct confrontation might lead to a disastrous conflict. In its opinion, the risk of a head-on battle was much higher than outsmarting or negotiating with the enemy, so it should not resort to fighting unless there was no other choice.

That was also why it attempted to use dialogue to confirm the other party's stance, wanting to know if its cover had really been blown.

"I received a notification about an unknown Magical Girl entering Fangting."

In response, Emerald Sparrow glossed over and did not dwell on Lin Yun's actions, summarily going through the reason for her presence here, "So I came to confirm your identities and intentions."

"Confirm identities?"

Semi's ears noticeably perked up, but quickly relaxed again, "What would you like to know?"

"Your code names, identification numbers, positions, and missions."

With the same line of thought as Semi, in order to avoid exacerbating the conflict and leading to a direct confrontation, Emerald Sparrow decided to repeat the old trick after a brief contemplation, again pretending not to know that the other party was Claw Mark, "It might be a bit offensive, but I need to ensure that you truly are Magical Girls from the realm."

Her attitude also confused Semi.

It had already prepared itself for the possibility that it was discovered and braced for a tough fight. However, the attitude displayed by Emerald Sparrow suggested that she was not yet certain they were Claw Mark, indicating that there might still be room for maneuver.

Should we talk some more?

Thinking this way, it was about to continue along Emerald Sparrow's line of inquiry, but it saw Yuan stretch out her hand to stop it.

——"No need to act anymore, young lady."

Her expression slightly tipsy yet her tone confident, she shook her head with a laugh, "I heard you earlier, behind the door; you said 'Source of Beasts'. You clearly know why we're here, right?"

"Huh?" Semi turned its head in surprise to look at her.

The previously indifferent expression on Emerald Sparrow's face became even more tense.

"Since that's the case, there's no need for further pretense. We're from 'Claw Mark', and we came to Fangting City to retrieve the Source of Beasts from Cornflower, and incidentally accomplish some other tasks."

Yuan brought the cup to her lips, taking a light sip, "You're a Magical Girl from Fangting City? Then you should know where Cornflower is, don't you?"

"...So your purpose is indeed the Source of Beasts." Seeing her intentions exposed, Emerald Sparrow no longer pretended. She took a few steps back, picked up the magic mirror from the ground, and slipped it into her sleeve. The wide cuffs of her dress acted like a storage bag, concealing the magic mirror without any outward sign of bulging.

After doing this, she looked at the group in front of her with some wariness, "What do you want with it?"

"Want to know?"

Exhaling the smell of alcohol, Yuan moved a few steps closer to Emerald Sparrow; her height, a good half head taller, created an oppressive aura, "Then first answer my question, young lady, are you acquainted with Cornflower, do you know where Cornflower is?"

Emerald Sparrow lifted her head, meeting her gaze fearlessly, "I am under no obligation to answer your questions..."

Before she could finish, however, a sense of alarm suddenly surged in her heart. She felt a chill on her back, as if some danger was rapidly approaching.

Clang!

Without a moment's hesitation, Emerald Sparrow almost instinctively activated her magic gear, layers of threads overlapped behind her forming a shield-like masterpiece, fending off the attack from behind.

But that was all it did – fend off the attack. She hadn't even been able to see what it was that attacked her.

What was worse, after having used her magic gear, she realized that trouble was far from over. Yuan, looking at the threads around her, revealed a somewhat knowing smile.

"...Although I had a hunch, it still requires a test of skill to be sure it's you."

She gently placed her wine glass aside on the table, the drunken look on her face gradually fading away,

"Cornflower."