Vol 2 Chapter 6: Encounter at the Station
The conversation between Lin Yun and Emerald didn’t last long.
After Lin Yun helped her select a location for a private research facility, the comical fairy puppet swaggered out of his office and casually walked right out of the Countermeasure Bureau, completely ignoring the people around her.
According to Emerald, the puppet wasn’t just a mimicry of a fairy’s form—it possessed the same cognition-interference abilities as a real Fairy, but far more potent. While ordinary fairies could only conceal themselves from low-magic civilians, Emerald’s puppet could block the perception of anyone except Magical Girls and fairies.
After seeing off this uninvited bigwig from the Research Institute, Lin Yun spent some more time reviewing documents and meeting a few staff members. Then, finally, the first day of his tenure came to a close.
Even now that he was Director of the Bureau, Lin Yun still didn’t have the habit of commuting by car. Today, he had once again opted for the light rail train. The Logistics Department had planned to assign him a dedicated vehicle and driver, but he turned it down.
He didn’t see himself as some sort of leader—and he didn’t want the privileges of his position to make him start thinking otherwise.
Compared to his previous workplace, the Bureau building was much closer to the light rail station—easily walkable. As dusk fell, Lin Yun strolled for about ten minutes and arrived at the nearest station.
He passed security, scanned his card, and stood on the platform waiting for the train. His gaze wandered casually across the station until it caught on a somewhat familiar figure:
Tian Sheng was currently wearing wireless earbuds, head lowered, eyes glued to his phone. Whether he was watching a video or playing a game, he was clearly very focused.
Lin Yun had no intention of striking up a conversation. But since the man was one of his employees, he gave him a second glance. That was when he saw the screen—and froze, breath catching involuntarily.
Not Lin Yun the Director—but Veronica. Latest content publıshed on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
Two weeks ago, on the night of the Moon Festival, when Mors unleashed an army of Ravagers on all of Fangting City, Veronica had summoned her Domain to save the city—at the cost of her Magical Armor.
The silver-blue threads spanning the sky over the city center had been seen by everyone.
It wasn’t the first time she had deployed her Domain on such a scale in Fangting City. Nineteen years ago, during the Great Disaster, she had done something similar. Back then, still young and naive, Veronica hadn’t shied away from media attention and openly admitted to her actions alongside her teammates.
That carelessness had led to unintended consequences.
When she used her Domain again during the recent attack, those iconic blue threads made it easy for the public to guess her identity.
As a Magical Girl once active in Fangting City, the name Cornflower wasn’t unfamiliar. Some netizens even dug up old footage, and soon enough, "Cornflower returns as a Magical Girl" was trending across local social media.
And what was Tian Sheng watching on his phone now?
An old interview with Veronica.
Seeing it, Lin Yun fell into silence. He stood motionless for a long moment, then slowly stepped back, intending to find another spot to wait for the train.
But just as he was turning away, the train’s headlights lit up the tracks ahead.
The train was arriving.
Tian Sheng, still absorbed in the video, suddenly looked up toward the approaching train—and spotted Lin Yun.
He immediately pushed through the crowd and walked over.
“Director!” he called out.
There went Lin Yun’s plan to pretend he hadn’t been seen. Left with no choice, he turned toward Tian Sheng with a faint nod and an expressionless face.
They entered the train together. Lin Yun found a quiet corner and stood there, and Tian Sheng followed closely behind, respectfully greeting him:
“Good evening, Director.”
“This is after work. No need for formalities.”
Lin Yun took out his phone, pretending to be busy scrolling. “Is there something you need?”
“Oh, no. I was just surprised to see you on the train, Director.” Tian Sheng removed his earbuds. “Even our department head gets chauffeured. I wasn’t expecting you to take public transit.”
“I’m not used to being waited on. Having someone drive me around would just make me uncomfortable.”
Lin Yun didn’t look up from his screen. “Don’t use your department head as a standard—that’s normal. I’m the exception. I don’t mind.”
“Not liking to be waited on… I see. You really don’t come off like most leaders I’ve met, Director.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Tian Sheng said sheepishly, scratching his arm. “And also, Director, about what I said this afternoon—I’ve been thinking, and I remembered a few more details.”
“This afternoon? The welfare home incident?” Lin Yun finally looked up at him.
“Yes, the welfare home,” Tian Sheng said, his earlier awkwardness now replaced by a more serious tone. “I think I remember seeing a Ravager.”
“A Ravager? Are you sure?”
Lin Yun put his phone away. “Based on witness statements and the official record, only one Ravager appeared at the welfare home—and it was quickly eliminated by a Magical Girl. Almost no one encountered it directly.”
“I know. But in my memory, I saw it up close. I remember its face.”
Tian Sheng paused, trying to choose his words. “And… I think I saw a Magical Girl too.”
“What makes you think that?” Lin Yun asked, carefully neutral.
“I did some digging this afternoon. In Ravager incidents, there are two kinds of people who end up having their memories altered through psychic suggestion—to help them forget certain things.”
Tian Sheng spoke earnestly: “One, those who suffer serious trauma from the attack. Two, those who see a Magical Girl’s true identity.”
“You think your memory was altered because you saw a Magical Girl?”
“Yes… because I remember the color of the magic.”
“I can’t remember who it was, but I haven’t forgotten the magic’s color.”
Holding onto the train’s overhead ring with one hand, Tian Sheng touched his chest with the other:
“Back at the welfare home, I saw green Magic.”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I can’t think of any other explanation. If I’m right, then the dream about becoming a moth, and this sudden power-up I experienced—might all be tied to that green magic.”