NOVEL NEXT Chapter 235: Interlude Two Backstage Deal
——"I have completely understood the situation, and you have worked hard, the Investigation Bureau will thank you for your contribution."
In the bedroom bathed in the setting sun, the girl's voice came from the mirror on the table. A girl in a golden magic robe, with a smile on her face, nodded slightly towards the mirror, "I will dispatch a magical girl from the Abnormal Strategy Bureau as soon as possible to assist Black Ash Dawn in the pursuit, and you will receive the corresponding compensation and rewards, Miss Emerald Sparrow."
"You know that's not what I want to hear."
Across the mirror, the girl in the blue dress was expressionless, "If you just want to spout bureaucracy, let's just leave it at that, Madam Director."
The time was the night of the Full Moon Festival, following the assault incident, when Emerald Sparrow had made contact with the Investigation Agency. This matter was tied to the real higher-ups in Black Ash Dawn, so Golden Green Cat's Eye took part in this conversation.
However, after Emerald Sparrow finished describing the whole event, she showed no particular reaction, simply giving a very official yet completely useless response as usual.
This left Emerald Sparrow quite dissatisfied, hence the above dialogue.
"Bureaucracy... It seems you have something else to say?" Golden Green Cat's Eye showed a slight confusion appropriately.
In her hand, a porcelain teacup had appeared, seemingly intending to end the conversation, but now she had to cease her actions, "Very well, if you are willing, perhaps we can fill in some gaps."
"I have no intention of going around in circles with you, you've deceived me, Madam Director." Emerald Sparrow spoke bluntly.
"...I don't understand what you mean, Miss Emerald Sparrow." Golden Green Cat's Eye blinked. Your next journey awaits at empire
"You couldn't possibly be unaware of the cause and effect of this incident."
Emerald Sparrow lowered her eyes slightly, "What has happened in the Donghua Region, what Black Ash Dawn has done—you know all about it. Their every move has been under your watch. Over the course of two years, more than a dozen magical girls have disappeared, and a large number of civilians have been sacrificed. Are you going to tell me that you really know nothing?"
"It seems you have a great misunderstanding about me, Miss Emerald Sparrow."
The hand holding the teacup paused for a moment, and Golden Green Cat's Eye shook her head, "The Gemstone Scepter and the Investigation Bureau are not as omnipotent as you imagine. The Investigation Bureau merely knows that they have schemes within the Donghua Region, but cannot understand in detail what they have done in each city."
"Madam Director."
Across the mirror, Emerald Sparrow stared at Golden Green Cat's Eye, "Do you think I'm a fool, or do you think your investigation teams are fools?"
"No one is a fool. All of you are outstanding members of the Investigation Bureau, and you, Miss Emerald Sparrow, are a heroine of this incident."
Golden Green Cat's Eye spoke quite sincerely, "As you know, although the Investigation Bureau has been investigating the serial disappearances in the Donghua Region, the main culprits of Black Ash Dawn have been deeply hidden, especially the chief perpetrator of this event—Moth, who occupies a high position within the Abnormal Strategy Bureau. With the limited manpower of the Investigation Bureau, we cannot penetrate such an intricate power network to reach the truth. If it weren't for you, the colleagues in the Investigation Bureau probably still couldn't have cracked this case."
For some reason, even though Golden Green Cat's Eye was very polite in the conversation, Emerald Sparrow felt oddly irritated.
This was one of the reasons she had never taken a liking to Golden Green Cat's Eye—this person always managed to remain uninvolved and had an evasive attitude towards all matters, making it difficult to grasp her true thoughts.
She had come with interrogative intentions, only to feel as if she were punching cotton; there were neither conclusions nor satisfaction, just a deep sense of powerlessness.
But she knew that she couldn't show her emotions in front of this person. Golden Green Cat's Eye was adept at concealing herself and at discerning others. Revealing her own emotional inclinations to Golden Green Cat's Eye would not solve any problems, but instead would leave more room to be exploited.
Even if she had grievances against this person, she had to exercise restraint.
"Praising my contributions cannot cover your deception, Madam Director."
```
So she suppressed the urge to make cutting remarks and continued impassively, "I need an explanation."
Golden Green Cat's Eye set down her teacup.
"The Magical Affairs Institute failed to play its proper role in this incident. As the director, I express deep regret and reflection, and I am very grateful for your contribution and achievements. I also extend my deepest sympathy and concern to the citizens of Fangting City affected by the disaster."
Her eyes lowered slightly, her expression tinged with sadness, "Hereafter, the Magical Affairs Institute will diligently pursue the remnants of the Black Ash Dawn, and should Miss Emerald Sparrow have any needs, we will also provide as much aid as possible for post-disaster reconstruction to compensate the injured employees of the Abnormal Strategy Bureau and the public."
"Is this the explanation you wanted?"
"It is not, Director."
Emerald Sparrow remained indifferent, "You know what I want."
"...I think, if you came here today solely to lay blame, it wouldn't have been necessary to report the details of the Fangting City incident so thoroughly."
Golden Green Cat's Eye slightly raised her eyelids, her catlike vertical pupils fixating on Emerald Sparrow:
"Then, what do you need me to do for you, my... prospective colleague?"
The real issue at hand.
Emerald Sparrow sighed inwardly.
She knew that seeking the truth from Golden Green Cat's Eye would be fruitless, so her only option was to nibble some advantage from her opponent. The attitude displayed by the other party indicated agreement with the implicit meaning in Emerald Sparrow's words: either explain the truth or provide compensation.
If Emerald Sparrow were just an ordinary magical girl, she wouldn't have the standing to negotiate terms like this—with Golden Green Cat's Eye being one of the oldest Gemstone Scepters of the Magic Kingdom, she could well afford to ignore anyone.
But she was not; she too had been a candidate for the Gemstone Scepter.
Now, she was not addressing Golden Green Cat's Eye as a Magical Affairs Institute inspector; instead, as a candidate for the Sapphire Gemstone Scepter—or even beyond a mere candidate—she voiced her dissatisfaction and used that status to coerce the other party into making a choice.
Golden Green Cat's Eye chose the latter.
"I have two demands."
Thus, Emerald Sparrow brought out the draft she had prepared in advance and began, "My first demand pertains to the dispatch and command of magical affairs; I want you to transfer all powers regarding the deployment and directive authority of the magical girls Bai Mei, Little Jin, and Bo Xue from the Magical Affairs Institute to me."
"What do you mean?" Golden Green Cat's Eye's vertical pupils were still locked onto Emerald Sparrow, as if they could see through one's heart.
"Transfer them to Cornflower's command," Emerald Sparrow responded seriously.
"You want to be their supreme commander, with no one but the Queen having authority to order those children over you?"
Golden Green Cat's Eye asked, "Why? You seem to have little trust in the Magical Affairs Institute?"
"To be honest, I have very little trust in the royal court of the kingdom," Emerald Sparrow said flatly. "Having been through so many dangerous incidents, I cannot leave the lives and directives of my daughter and juniors in the hands of the Magical Affairs Institute, so give them to me."
"...You seem to have some misconceptions about the functions of the Magical Affairs Institute, Emerald Sparrow."
```
After Emerald Sparrow made her demands clear, Golden Green Cat's Eye gradually regained a relatively mild demeanor, lifting her finger as if somewhat vexed, she tapped the teacup, "We, the Abnormal Strategy Bureau, are merely on par with the Magical Affairs Institute, and it's impossible for us to interfere in their matters."
"In name, the Magical Affairs Institute is directly under the royal court, but in reality, all the Magical Girls in the institute have ties with factions from the Four Great Institutions; it could be said that the power has already been divvied up by you all. Do I need to remind you of this fact?"
Emerald Sparrow also tapped the table confrontationally, "When I initially refused the Sapphire Scepter, it was actually beneficial for you, indirectly preserving the cake in your hands. Now that it involves the Magical Affairs Institute, I don't think you have any reason to refuse me."
"I think there's no need for me to remind you that rumors should not be taken lightly; the Gemstone Scepter doesn't have such great power."
Golden Green Cat's Eye smiled and shook her head, "However, if you insist on making such a request, then as an individual Magical Girl, I do indeed have some friends in the Magical Affairs Institute who can accomplish this task. I can ask them to handle this matter for you."
"The second matter."
Having received the other party's promise, Emerald Sparrow didn't waste any words and drove the conversation forward, "Regarding the truth about Cherry's death, you've been investigating for two years now. What exactly have you uncovered? Tell me now."
Golden Green Cat's Eye smiled at her, remaining silent.
"Director?" Emerald Sparrow called out calmly.
"...I didn't expect it to be such a straightforward request," Golden Green Cat's Eye slightly narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not someone who enjoys making things difficult for others," Emerald Sparrow said expressionlessly.
"Your approach makes me personally feel indebted, Miss Emerald Sparrow."
Continuing to tap the teacup with her finger, Golden Green Cat's Eye said, "Because actually, I'm not able to provide you with much information."
"You've been investigating for two years."
Emerald Sparrow reminded her again, "Don't tell me you have no conclusions at all."
"No, in fact, there is a result, but it might differ from what you expected," Golden Green Cat's Eye replied, "Because you also know this conclusion—the murderer is from the Black Ash Dawn."
"Who?" Emerald Sparrow pressed.
Golden Green Cat's Eye shook her head.
"You know it's Black Ash Dawn, yet you can't find the specific murderer?"
Emerald Sparrow said indifferently, "How exactly do you expect me to believe you, Director?"
"It's not that we can't find them, it's just that this result... feels somewhat strange."
Golden Green Cat's Eye raised those vertical pupils, "Based on recent investigations and eyewitness accounts, after Cherry's death, indeed a member of the Black Ash Dawn left Fangting City and was suspected of carrying the Heart's Gem that went missing when Cherry died."
"And then?" Emerald Sparrow clenched her fist.
"Then, their bodies were discovered in the Wilderness outside the city after a week," Golden Green Cat's Eye said, slightly lowering her gaze, "All dead, not a single survivor."
"What about Cherry's Heart's Gem?"
"Stolen once again."
The room instantly fell into silence.
"You mean..." Emerald Sparrow began, trying to maintain her composure, but was ultimately unable to voice the answer she found hard to accept.
"Yes, if there's no problem with this investigation, the real murderer who killed Cherry might already be dead," Golden Green Cat's Eye provided the answer.
Emerald Sparrow was again long silent.
"...I do not believe this answer."
After a moment, she spoke again, "If Cherry's Heart's Gem was taken, then the person who did this might also be related to her death."
"I don't deny it," Golden Green Cat's Eye nodded lightly.
"Therefore, the next direction for the investigation should be finding out who took Cherry's Heart's Gem."
"We will attempt to proceed in that direction."
"...Then, I have no other requests."
Emerald Sparrow took a deep breath, "I've taken up your time, thank you for listening to my requests, Director."
With those words, she reached out to touch the mirror's surface, intending to end the call.
—"One more thing, Miss Emerald Sparrow."
However, Golden Green Cat's Eye's voice once again came through the mirror, "As I mentioned earlier, I haven't actually done much regarding your second request."
Emerald Sparrow stopped what she was doing and looked at the other party once more, waiting for Golden Green Cat's Eye to explain further.
Seeing Emerald Sparrow's face reappear in the mirror, Golden Green Cat's Eye spoke slowly, "What I mean is, due to this incident, the Abnormal Strategy Bureau of Fangting City is actually full of holes, having lost its due functionality, hasn't it?"
"Yes, Director."
"Then have you considered personally restoring its functionality?"
"...Personality restoring?"
Emerald Sparrow raised an eyebrow, "That seems unrelated to the work of a Magical Girl; it should be something for your investigative branch and the city government to handle."
"No, I'm not asking you to assist the government in rebuilding the Abnormal Strategy Bureau; I mean that the position of director of Fangting City's Bureau is currently vacant."
Shaking her head, Golden Green Cat's Eye clasped her hands on the table, her expression somewhat playful,
—"So, are you interested in this position?"