Kitada Ryuuji had once mentioned that the Sakura Witch now needed assistance in all forms.
Let’s take that piece of information as a starting point.
"Miss Kirino," Xu Yang sent a message, "I joined this channel because I heard you needed help."
"Thank you! I am very grateful for any form of assistance!" Kirino Reisei replied with a cute emoticon, one that came with this old-fashioned communication system, only used by those very unfamiliar with the internet.
Before Xu Yang could respond, Kirino Reisei sent another message.
"After 10 p.m. tonight, let’s communicate using this link, this channel is still too crude." A recognition code followed the message.
Xu Yang checked the recognition code, which represented a special area on a virtual social platform, the kind that required the use of a simulation pod for interaction.
In other words, to enter the platform, one must first enter a virtual pod and connect their nerves to the virtual world. The principle was similar to online gaming, where you use specific equipment to go online into a virtual space, but now it was used by Kirino Reisei as a means of communication.
This was the style that had been popular 30 years ago; nowadays, people usually just directly use neural connections to enter online meetings, which is less costly and more efficient.
"I will visit," Xu Yang replied.
"I appreciate your trouble, and I too will be there on time," she responded.
The communication ended.
Kirino Reisei turned off her smart screen, falling into contemplation. She truly had no idea what the other person was there for, but with so few resources at her disposal, there was little she could do.
At least the other party showed a certain degree of goodwill, and she had to utilize every clue as much as possible, maybe one of them would become a lifeline to change the situation.
"...Kirino Reisei..."
She heard a hoarse call and her heart gave a sudden thud. She stood up and went into a side room where a restless box was placed in the center of the glass cupboard, supported by a red brocade, ornamented by gold at the corners, with a jade lock hanging in the center, but it was unlocked.
Kirino Reisei knelt before the box.
"...Go find..." The hoarse voice echoed still.
"Yes," she nodded, "I’ve tried my best."
"You are stalling..."
"No, no..." Kirino Reisei stood up in panic.
"...Witch, you wouldn’t want Kyoto Infinity to perish, would you..."
Kirino Reisei had no response.
She silently took out her portable screen and opened a document to show to the box.
"Look, these are the most suitable ones," Kirino Reisei murmured, "all strong and smart. I just need to screen them, and I need a way and the manpower."
A wisp of smoke came out of a small crack in the box, wrapping around one of the figures on the screen. Kirino Reisei’s gaze passed beyond the device to see its choice, nodding eagerly.
"I understand," Kirino Reisei said, "I will find him by all means and bring him to you."
On the other side, in the Nestor Industrial Park, after ending the communication with Kirino Reisei, Xu Yang’s mind was still haunted by the image of "her" he had seen before, heartbreakingly beautiful, captivating his soul, causing his heart to flutter as if a layer of imprint had been left permanently in his spirit. The more he tried to peel it away, the more it refused to go.
This condition felt strange to him, as being "bewitched" belongs in this category; it describes when an individual’s mind is clouded by magic power, resulting in persistent illusions. It could also be said that the individual is bound by a contagious meme, forming an indelible psychological structure: text, symbols, imagery, the three in one.
Kirino Reisei... to be capable of such a thing, she must possess a certain magic power.
At the same time, her traits overlapped with those of the mythical creatures from the Archipelago Continent, especially creatures like the fox spirit.
Monsters are mythical creatures that were originally widespread in Xia and the Archipelago Continents. Although there were many variations, most were populations that struggled to reproduce. After being purged several times by the Corporate Alliance’s eradication campaign against the occult, they completely disappeared, and due to environmental changes, they were declared extinct 130 years ago.
The early anime productions of Kyoto Infinity were mostly monster-themed, but as the elements of monsters became less popular, this screen material also disappeared over the years.
Without any leads for the time being, he would have to wait for Kirino Reisei to clarify her needs so that they could communicate further.
Before the agreed time arrived, Xu Yang first distributed the rewards to the members of the Witch Division, commending their comprehensive victory in the recent operation. To avoid competition and comparison, he always distributed the rewards secretly.
The first commendation was for 102, who had sustained most of the damage for everyone, earning a substantial 800,000 funds reward.
Next were 101 and Mizuiro Yoshioka, commended for their coordination work, each receiving a 400,000 reward.
Last were Miyazato Kazama, Shallow Dream, and Du Qianqian, each receiving a 300,000 reward.
Upon receiving the money, the most excited was Miyazato Kazama. She had never seen so much money on her card in her life, only dreaming of such fortune. Now, her resolve to devote herself to Nestor Corporation had only intensified.
At that moment, Du Qianqian was in Lila’s room.
Lila Nestor held a file, recording Du Qianqian’s psychological state.
"So," Lila said, "the crux of the problem is that you don’t like 101."
"She’s malicious toward me," Du Qianqian complained.
"You show yourself to be unwelcome and of an unpleasant character, then hope for others to tolerate and concede to you. This trait, I’ve seen it before."
"..." Du Qianqian clenched her fists, "What do you want?"
"Then don’t make yourself the one who’s in the wrong," Lila said, "Right now, you’re not yet capable of standing on your own. You must cooperate and do your part."
"I’m very capable," Du Qianqian said earnestly.
"Try to be like me." Lila pressed her forehead.
"Lila Nestor. Lila Nestor..." Du Qianqian repeated in her mind, but didn’t feel any magic power being used. She looked at herself in the room’s mirror, and her appearance hadn’t changed at all.
She paused, then turned to Lila.
"Even your magic power has limits," Lila crossed one leg over the other, using her thigh as a desk to write several lines on a report.
"But... but that’s impossible," Du Qianqian was stunned, "I’ve seen your skin, I also know your name."
"When you’re thinking of doing something odd, don’t forget my existence," Lila’s tone was indifferent, "The same goes for the other witches. I am the ultimate safeguard. Also, it seems you have some unrealistic ideas about the ’boss’."
"..." Du Qianqian lowered her head.
"He’s over a decade older than you," Lila pointed towards Du Qianqian with the end of her pen, "You need to go through a witch’s adolescence alone. Endure it, then overcome it."
"But, I’m lonely," Du Qianqian sighed, "I... I need company."
"I once endured five years of solitude," Lila said.
"It was so painful that I tried to forget it, but in the end, I found a way to bring those memories back," Lila looked at Du Qianqian’s face, "Unable to communicate, move, or eat, without anyone to talk to, going over every conceivable thought in my mind more than ten thousand times. My own thoughts became a great echo chamber. Completely isolated from people and society, I languished in absolute silence and a negative atmosphere. I was rotting away in that state, waiting for death."
Just imagining that situation made Du Qianqian feel suffocated and powerless. She leaned back, took a deep breath, and hugged her legs.
"I don’t expect you to understand that kind of loneliness and torment," Lila continued, "Of course, I can’t fully grasp the confusion you’re feeling right now either. What I’m trying to say is, once you get through this period of solitude, then you will grow."
"The real issue is, if you perceive solitude as suffering, then you’ll be in pain for more than half your life. Even if you have someone’s company in the short term, fulfilling your desires with intense, passionate engagement, it’s all temporary. In the majority of the time, in the face of most things, you are absolutely alone."
"So..." Du Qianqian murmured, "Five years, your solitude lasted only five years. What happened after those five years?"
"The master came," Lila stood up, "Your concept of a boss, and also my master. Ever since he freed me from that absolute solitude, I’ve sworn to serve only him for the rest of my life, dedicating everything I have to ensuring his victory. The reason I’m tracking your psychological state is also to hope you won’t let these thoughts trip you up and ultimately affect his plans and interests."
"That’s straightforward," Du Qianqian took a deep breath, bowed her head, and then smiled, "Thank you."
As Du Qianqian left the room, she encountered 101 in the common area.
"You shot me," Du Qianqian said, "That really hurt."
"It wasn’t intentional," 101 looked at Du Qianqian askance.
"I get it," Du Qianqian said candidly. "You saved my life once from the bar, even if you take my life away in the future, I deserve it."
This response caught 101 off guard.
"..." 101 paused, suddenly feeling a sense of guilt surging within her, "...Sorry, Qianqian, I’m truly sorry."
When Xu Yang arrived, he saw her in high spirits and in good health, and he felt good about it.
"Here." Xu Yang handed Du Qianqian an anonymous cash card, "After every mission, there will be a performance bonus. Don’t spend it carelessly."
Looking at the cash card with a fund amount of 300,000, Du Qianqian nodded lightly.
"Thank you." Looking at Xu Yang, Du Qianqian, who no longer had that naive and impulsive feeling, bowed deeply to him, then she left.
"She’s changed," Lila approached Xu Yang.
"More friendly," Xu Yang observed.
"And more mature," Lila watched Du Qianqian walk away, "That’s the ideal state for a witch."