Urging for more updates, then turning into a magical girl.

Chapter 62 Creating Friends Out of Thin Air

Just as Dong Nuan was explaining the knowledge about echoes to Qing Luan, the cell phone in Qing Luan's pocket vibrated.

Qingluan took it out and glanced at the caller ID, then frowned slightly.

She looked up, adopting an apologetic expression: "Miss Dongnuan, I'm sorry, I need to take this call."

"Okay, go ahead and do your work, junior."

Qingluan turned around without making a sound, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and quickly flew to a small alley on the other side of the street. After confirming that no one was around, she pressed the answer button.

"Feed? Dr. Zhang, what is it?"

"My Lord! Please don't go to the Magic Kingdom!" Zhang Menglin's urgent voice came from the other end of the phone.

"……ha?"

Qingluan was taken aback, somewhat bewildered by this sudden question: "Why not go? Did you suddenly discover that your skills have flaws and will be discovered by the kingdom?"

"How could it be a technical issue! I already said my technique is absolutely impossible to detect!"

Zhang Menglin instinctively retorted. After refuting her technical claims, she quickly steered the conversation back on track, "The situation in the country... is extremely unstable right now! I've received concrete information that some magical girls might... uh, cause trouble at the medal-awarding ceremony!"

"...Causing trouble? How big of a commotion could there be? It's normal for a magical girl who's dissatisfied with the country to have a temper. It seems like it's just a minor squabble on the spot."

"Waaaaah... That wasn't just a simple disturbance!"

Zhang Menglin was so anxious on the other end of the phone that she was practically jumping up and down, and she laid it all out: "They've almost reached the point of rebellion! If a real fight breaks out, the bystanders will suffer terribly! In short, that place is now a den of dragons and tigers, you'd better find an excuse to stay in the material world!"

Upon hearing this, Qingluan did not immediately agree, but instead noticed something else.

"...Where did you find out? The higher-ups in the magical kingdom probably haven't even figured out the inside story of the riots yet, and you know it all so well?"

If it were anything else, I could let it go. But this kind of thing... can no longer be ignored.

"Hey, Commander, I'll explain everything to you after this is over. Just listen to me for now, stay in the material world and you'll be safe!"

"...No, if I stay, what will happen to Arc Moon?" Qingluan was clearly worried. "I can choose not to go, but Arc Moon needs to participate in the awarding ceremony, so she will definitely go to the kingdom. I've finally managed to infiltrate her side, and the hypnosis is progressing steadily. If something happens to her then..."

That's right, if the chief eunuch gets caught up in the riot and something happens to him, then the novel will really be abandoned!

"So what if she's dead!"

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Menglin's tone was full of disdain:

"She's just a magical girl with a little bit of strength. Aren't there plenty of flower-level magical girls who have died in this kingdom? We can just find another target. But you're different! You're my precious experimental subject... no! I mean, you're my precious leader! You absolutely cannot be harmed!"

"..."

Did you almost blurt out something terrible just now?!

Unable to bear it any longer, Qingluan decided that she had to get something out of this guy today, no matter what.

There's something you need to make clear to me.

"Hmm?... Commander, what do you want to say?" Zhang Menglin's voice sounded somewhat guilty.

"Zhang Menglin, who exactly are you?"

Qingluan spoke slowly and deliberately, her tone solemn.

"You are very familiar with the 'Seed of the Heart's' subjective choice mechanism, and you also know the technological level of the magical kingdom. You even know about the magical girl riot that is about to happen within the kingdom... How do you know so much? You are definitely not an ordinary person."

"Zhang Menglin, we're friends, right? After I go undercover, I'm willing to entrust the Starry Sky to you, and you're willing to manage such a large operation for me."

"Over the years, I have never questioned your private research. I have never been stingy with funding, materials, or anything else I can provide."

"I've always seen your support for the organization, so I trust you. We came out of the 'Two Worlds War' together... we shouldn't be hiding anything from each other, right? I don't care if you have any secrets, but for something too big... you have to tell me some of the truth, right?"

These words can be described as sincere and heartfelt.

As a human being, she possessed feelings. Given her heartfelt words, surely she should have said something?

Unless the other party is truly shameless to an extreme degree, there's nothing that can be done.

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

A dozen seconds later, Qingluan was still waiting.

You shouldn't rush them at this time.

If we respect Zhang Menglin enough and give her time to think so that the atmosphere can become serious, then she is unlikely to suddenly say strange things like "the phone exploded" or "my hand is out of control".

Just as Qingluan had predicted, Zhang Menglin's somewhat disappointed voice soon came from the other end of the phone:

"...Yes, I never thought that day would come. I never thought that you, Commander... would find out after all."

Upon hearing this, Qingluan almost lost her composure—

Anyone could see there was something wrong with you, right?

"Since you've put it this way, Commander, I'll be frank."

Zhang Menglin's voice regained its calmness, filled with a sense of relief and peace: "My knowledge and research on magical girls, as well as my understanding of the magical kingdom... are certainly not without reason. I think it's time to be honest."

At this moment, it was Qingluan who felt somewhat worried, and countless speculations surfaced in her mind—

Is she actually a retired magical girl? Or a magical girl who fled from the country? Or even... a spy magical girl sent by the country to monitor the location of the stars.

Qingluan felt a chill. She was worried that if the truth were to be revealed, the complex relationship between them—a relationship that was also one of mentor, friend, and subject—would be completely shattered and irreparable.

"I have a friend."

Zhang Menglin's words came abruptly over the phone, catching Qingluan completely off guard.

For a moment, Qingluan didn't understand what Zhang Menglin was trying to say.

"…………? What did you say?"

"What I mean is, I know so much because I have a friend who's in the country right now, so she knows a lot about these things."

Zhang Menglin spoke calmly and seriously.

The air was silent for about ten seconds.

"Zhang Menglin... if you're just trying to fool me with some random excuse, could you at least be a little more serious?!"

"Your Excellency is wise! I swear, I really do have a friend!" Zhang Menglin said confidently on the other end of the phone.

Qingluan laughed in exasperation and began to press for answers: "Very well, then tell me, what is your 'friend's' name? What does he do in the kingdom? Why would he tell you these secrets?"

"Uh... well..." Zhang Menglin stammered again, "My friend has a rather unique background. She's socially awkward and doesn't like people asking about her name. As for what she does... I guess she's a researcher? She told me these things, of course, because we're good friends!"

Forget it, let's just destroy it.

Qingluan realized that by asking questions on her own, she would have no chance of finding out the truth.

The only way is to take the initiative!

"Very well, Dr. Zhang, now that you put it that way, I understand completely."

"Hmm? You're not angry anymore?"

"Of course. Because I definitely have to go to that country, and your 'friend' will surely protect me then, right?"

"Huh—?"

Before Zhang Menglin could react, Qingluan pressed the hang-up button without hesitation.