Once the affection level is maxed out, the rivalry begins!

"Could you please help us with rehearsals before the actual performance?"

Before leaving, Bai Ze received this request.

Because the poltergeist temporarily dissipated, his fabricated identity as an exorcist was fully accepted by the Signal Lights trio.

They even planned to use it as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.

"No need, no need. It's just to liven things up at school, so there's no need to keep him here. Nothing bad has happened before, has it?"

Xia Yunli pushed his back towards the door of the lounge.

"She's possessive of her food..." "She was just having a private chat outside..." "She's finally reached that age."

Their whispers drew a murderous glare from Xia Yunli.

"Are you my mother?!"

"Oh, then we'll all go home and call it a day. Xiao Li doesn't need to report what she's going to do, okay?"

"Don't deliberately steer the conversation in a strange direction!"

The girls, laughing and joking, huddled in a corner, trying to escape Xia Yunli's anger.

"What a hassle."

She muttered her arrogant words and pushed Bai Ze out of the lounge, leading him to the outer corridor.

Lu Xingyao was leaning against the railing, facing them.

"The people who were in the way are all gone. Could you tell me how you met, senior?"

She asked the question without a hint of a smile.

In fact, from the moment Xia Yunli pulled Bai Ze out for a private chat, she sensed that the two were definitely not just ordinary acquaintances.

Not to mention that it even involves supernatural events.

As a witch who wields the power of fate and divination, her intuition is incredibly accurate!

"Oh, remember the phantom thief who impersonated us and sent out random notices? That's her." Bai Ze calmly betrayed Xia Yunli.

"Idiot! How could you just blurt something like that out!"

Caught off guard, the latter jumped up and tried to strangle him, but he easily dodged it.

But Xia Yunli quickly realized the more crucial point.

"Impersonating you..."

She looked at the girl leaning against the railing with surprise and uncertainty, feeling as if the girl had suddenly been enveloped in an aura of mystery. "Are you also a member of the Eternal Serpent?"

If there are any things in the world that shouldn't be done, asking questions like this by someone with chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) would definitely be on the list.

"Since you've asked so sincerely—"

Lu Xingyao pulled out the stack of tarot cards she always used from somewhere, spread them out like a folding fan to cover the lower half of her face, and twisted her body into a pose that only a stand-in user could strike.

"I am the one who listened to the principles of cycles and founded this organization!"

Bai Ze turned his face away, unable to bear looking at him.

Then he saw Xia Yunli with a serious expression.

"You're not working for the Bureau of Spirit Disasters... Oh, I see, I understand."

What do you know? Let me know too, okay?

She even took a step back away from Lu Xingyao, somewhat fearfully.

"Is everything going according to your prediction? You even asked him to introduce me... but you already knew my identity, didn't you?"

No, no, no, she just came along to join the fun! She only found out you're the Phantom Thief a few seconds ago!

"That's right, I saw this with my own eyes a long time ago."

Lu Xingyao raised her left hand, pressed it against her face, and traced her index finger from between her eyebrows to the bridge of her nose.

"From the very beginning, I knew you were connected to one of us!"

She was referring to the result of Bai Ze's divination when he came to her house after she received the notice—that the phantom thief had some connection with one of the investigators.

Xia Yunli's expression became even more serious: "You even know this? I thought you were hiding it quite well."

"Hmph, nothing can hide from me."

Lu Xingyao smiled confidently.

Don't underestimate her intelligence network!

"My older sister is the detective who came to investigate the advance notice letter..."

"Actually, you and your senior have known each other for a long time, haven't you?"

The two girls spoke in unison.

An awkward, deathly silence descended upon this place.

"puff."

Bai Ze couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"—I see. So you and the detective are sisters. Of course I already knew that."

Lu Xingyao pretended to calmly try to cover it up.

"...Could she actually be an idiot?"

Xia Yunli hesitated and tugged at his sleeve.

"No, it's just that I sometimes have an overly strong sense of self."

Bai Ze answered responsibly, watching as a blush, like the sunset, rose on his junior's face.

"Alright! You despicable thief, burglar, imposter, what business do you have with us?"

She recklessly changed the subject.

"So you're getting angry... Weren't you the ones who came to me?"

"He was indeed enraged and embarrassed."

The two, singing in unison, were undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire of the girl's embarrassment and anger.

"Gurgle..."

Lu Xingyao pointed at her with a strange cry, "I've decided, you're joining the Eternal Serpent too!"

"Huh, why?"

Xia Yunli visibly wavered, "I feel like the leader is embarrassing."

"Who gave you permission to impersonate us and send out the notice! If you refuse, I'll report you to the Bureau of Spiritual Disasters!"

Lu Xingyao threatened him without any scruples.

"Don't you find it shameful that there are mysterious anomalous containment organizations in the world that use tattling as a means of coercion?"

Xia Yunli looked at her with the same eyes she would use to look at an insect.

"Ugh... As a leader, you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty!"

The junior student wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes and said resolutely.

"Don't make it sound like you made a huge sacrifice!"

Even Bai Ze couldn't stand it anymore.

However, even if Lu Xingyao doesn't extend an invitation to the other party, he will find another way to bring Xia Yunli into his camp.

After all, the method to completely cure witch-like transformation is still unclear, so the more samples the better.

So he turned to Xia Yunli and said, "Didn't you want to find the high priest's whereabouts? She might be able to help."

Bai Ze briefly explained Xia Yunli's purpose, their cooperative relationship, and Lu Xingyao's abilities to the two girls.

After a moment's thought, the gray-haired girl nodded.

"The power of prophecy and divination... If you're willing to help, I'll join your group that makes the world more exciting."

"It is the Serpent of Eternity!"

"Yes, the sacrificial serpent."

"Eternal calamity!"

"Not the Service Department?"

"Senior, I'm against her joining!"

Seemingly finding it amusing to tease and correct Lu Xingyao, a slight smile appeared on her usually expressionless and indifferent face.

It's too late to change your mind and oppose it now.

And so, the decision to add a new member was made quite casually.

"...Getting back to the point, I need more information about your goals."

After Bai Ze comforted her, Lu Xingyao reluctantly agreed to help.

"Would a code name and ability be acceptable?"

Xia Yunli asked, "I know that the other party possesses a mythical-level anomaly, which is also her code name within the cult."

"It is called [Osiris's Scales]".