Magical Girl's Knight Brother

Chapter 663 The Long-Awaited Peace

The cold metal and glass curtain walls of the Magic Bureau building were left far behind, and the hustle and bustle of the city was gradually replaced by the familiar streetlights of the community.

Tang Zijun pushed open the long-unseen door to his home, and a whiff of air mixed with dust and a faint, familiar scent rushed out. The lights came on, illuminating the slightly deserted but still tidy living room. Time seemed to have been paused here, just as it had been when he left, yet everywhere there was a sense of alienation, as if things had changed and people were no longer the same.

In the kitchen, Tang Zijun stood in front of the familiar yet unfamiliar stove, holding the cold spatula in her hand, heavy and with a long-lost texture.

Since being swept up in the smoke of the wasteland, the bizarre dreams, the twilight of the gods, and the shadows of the past, he couldn't remember the last time he stood here like this, just to cook a meal.

As his fingertips traced the gleaming stovetop, a wave of indescribable emotion and a touch of bittersweetness washed over him. This small space, filled with the warmth of everyday life, had once been the anchor that sustained him through countless challenges, but now it had become a brief and precious respite in the eye of the storm.

"Brother, do you need help?" Tang Cao's little head peeked in from the kitchen doorway, her big eyes sparkling with excitement.

Behind her stood Su Siyao and Xiao Xiao, who were also standing quietly. All three girls had changed out of their mercenary uniforms and were wearing comfortable home clothes, as if they had unloaded all their burdens and returned to the appearance of ordinary girls.

Tang Zijun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a rare, pure, and gentle smile.

He shook his head, his voice very soft. "No need, you guys rest. I'll do it today; it's a rare opportunity..."

He skillfully lit the stove fire, the blue flames gently licking the bottom of the pot.

The hot oil sizzled, and the chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic were thrown into the pot, instantly releasing a rich and spicy aroma that dispelled the last trace of cold, dusty smell in the room. This familiar sound and familiar smell were like a pair of warm hands, gently smoothing the heaviness between his brows caused by the Eternal Abyss and the Great Old Ones.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Tang Cao skipped to open the door, where Chang Lei stood, along with Luan Luan, who was being led by the hand like a little tail.

Chang Lei was still the same as always. His old clothes looked out of place under the warm light. He glanced at Tang Zijun, who was busy in the kitchen, and then at the smoke and cooking smells filling the house. He let out a pleasant hum and pulled Luan Luan to sit down on the sofa as if this were his living room.

Luan Luan, on the other hand, seemed much more well-behaved. The little girl, dressed in an adorable pink dress, curiously looked around the room with her big eyes, finally fixing her gaze on Tang Zijun's back in the kitchen. She whispered to Chang Lei, "Daddy, is Uncle Tang Zijun making something delicious?"

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying the unique innocence of a child.

"Hmm," Chang Lei responded through his nose, which was his reply.

"Call me brother." That was the voice coming from the kitchen.

The aroma of the food grew stronger and stronger: the fresh fragrance of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, the light flavor of steamed fish, and the rich broth of pork ribs simmering in the pot. Together, they created a long-lost warm barrier called home, temporarily shielding the hustle and bustle of the city outside the window, and isolating the dark red clouds and cold stardust that churned in the distant dream world from another dimension.

Tang Zijun brought the last dish to the table and invited everyone to eat.

Under the warm yellow lights of the restaurant, a peculiar group sat around: Chang Lei, who was vying with his beer; Luan Luan, who was eating fish in small bites with her eyes crinkling with laughter; Tang Cao, who was excitedly serving food to Xiao Xiao; Xiao Xiao, who was eating quietly but with a gentle look in her eyes; and Tang Zijun, who was sitting in the main seat watching this scene.

A rare, almost illusory peace spread out.

However, this peace did not last long.

Chang Lei ate a few mouthfuls of rice, glanced at the deep night outside the window, and suddenly spoke.

"Hey boss, are you really going to wait for Director Shangguan to get you a ship? I doubt it. International waters, sensitive area, and you still want to find some Trident... Even if she has some influence in this position, it won't be easy for her to get all the paperwork done without anyone noticing, and then find a ship that can dive for treasure."

Tang Cao thought for a moment and couldn't help but interject, "If you ask me, why don't we just find a decent-looking boat, whether it's a yacht or a fishing boat, and use the reverse tunnel to pack it up and transport it there? It'll save time and effort."

"Yes! That's a good idea." Chang Lei nodded repeatedly.

Tang Zijun placed a piece of spare rib into Luan Luan's bowl, watched the little girl happily thank her, and then calmly looked at Tang Cao.

"I've considered that too." His voice was flat. "But the problem isn't how to get the ship to the designated sea area."

He put down his chopsticks, and his gaze sharpened.

"The coordinates provided by Scáthach are too large. Searching in the deep sea is like finding a needle in a haystack. What we need are ships that can conduct detailed searches over long periods of time, over large areas, and even at deep depths. Ordinary yachts or fishing boats, even if transported there, would be useless. They lack deep-sea diving capabilities, cannot withstand the pressure of the deep sea, let alone be equipped with professional underwater detection equipment."

Tang Zijun's finger tapped unconsciously on the table.

"What we need are special vessels capable of deep-sea operations, or even... small shipborne special deep-sea submersibles. Each of these is priceless and subject to strict registration and control. Whether it's being used internally by the Magic Supervision Bureau or acquired through other channels, it requires extremely complex operations and carries enormous risks. It's reasonable for Shangguan Su to need time, but to use them arbitrarily... just think about how troublesome that would be."

Chang Lei frowned. "Just how deep is that fork hidden?"

"Very deep." Tang Zijun's voice lowered, as if recalling the scene Scáthach described. "Very deep, in the cracks of the real dimension, in the ruins of the lost divine realm, on the edge of the eternal abyss, where even sunlight may not be able to reach."

He looked out the window. The city lights twinkled in the night like stars on the ground, but Tang Zijun's gaze seemed to have pierced through the concrete and steel, reaching the deep, dark, boundless sea that concealed the legacy of a mad god and the danger of world destruction.

"How about I do it myself?" Chang Lei glanced at Luan Luan, then winked at Tang Zijun. "If I find someone, the paperwork will be processed 'faster'."

Without needing to be explained, everyone present except Luan Luan knew what Chang Lei meant. Using deception was indeed a very good method.

But Nuomi jumped onto the table. "I advise you to use a different method. It's not that you can't go, but this method has its risks. Don't forget your identity."

Upon hearing this, Chang Lei frowned, and the atmosphere at the table became strange.

Admittedly, Chang Lei had long since abandoned his identity as a greedy person and joined the side of the light, but his methods still terrified many people.

It was one thing if people didn't know before, but ever since the God of Time and Space caused a ruckus in Shanghai, the whole world knows about Shadow Woman Lost Shake, Wolf Rider, and Mr. Conman Hawkes. If Chang Lei uses his deception skills to provide convenience, no matter what the reason, it will cause a huge misunderstanding once it comes to light.

Tang Cao had actually thought of this idea before, but that's why she didn't bring it up herself. Xiao Xiao, on the other hand, patted Nuomi's head. "Don't talk nonsense."

"I was just thinking of him..." Nuomi covered her head.

"This won't work, that won't work either." Chang Lei looked up at Tang Zijun. "Tell me what we should do. Time is of the essence. Who knows when that thing in the sea will crawl ashore?"

Tang Zijun picked up a soup ladle and ladled a steaming bowl of pork rib soup for Chang Lei, her voice carrying an undeniable calm strength. "Don't worry, I have a way."

"What method?" Chang Lei asked, taking the soup from his hands.

Just then, the screen of Tang Zijun's cell phone on the table in front of her suddenly lit up, and the caller ID showed an international long distance call.

Seeing this, Tang Zijun's lips curled up, and she picked up her phone and waved it at Chang Lei.

"Here's the solution."

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