Regarding the fact that my best friend is a magical girl

Falcon flew out of the window and began searching the vicinity.

My friend was kidnapped as soon as we arrived in Changkong City. Even she wasn't in the mood for laughter anymore. I had to do something...

"Then I'll go look around nearby too..."

I had just stood up when Seruno pressed me back into my seat.

"Ye Zi, just stay here! Even if you find the person, there's nothing you can do, right?"

"I……"

Seruno's words made me even more tormented.

For whatever reason, in order to keep my secret, I chose not to help Yangyan.

This is an undeniable fact.

"Something's wrong, Director of the Spica Division!"

Yin Lu rushed in from outside the lecture hall.

"Don't panic, explain calmly."

Spica patted her on the back, and Yin Lu continued, "Something...something really bad has happened! Those media reporters just reported what happened in the air-raid shelter! Probably to grab attention and traffic, more than a dozen media outlets seemed to have planned it, releasing the news almost simultaneously..."

"Spreading rumors and misleading the public! Do they think that because there are so many people, the association can get away with anything? What have they even reported?"

"An unknown terrorist organization possesses the technology to forcibly use Star Crystals, as well as wormhole applications that are more advanced than the Association's... and the fact that the magical girl Kagerou was kidnapped by them... It is foreseeable that these reports will deal a huge blow to the Association's credibility."

With such shocking revelations, it's no wonder that entertainment reporters lost their minds.

"Director, what should we do about this?"

"It's probably already spread. We need to implement intelligence control. I need to call an emergency meeting..."

"Yes!"

Upon receiving the order, Lu'er ran out again.

"Go ahead and look for people if you want, but be careful and don't get caught again... and don't make too much of a commotion."

Spica seems to be having a headache.

It wasn't just because of Kagerou, but more because of the reports by those unscrupulous journalists.

Anyone can forcibly use the power of crystals, and the consequences of this technology being exposed would be unimaginable.

The Star Crystals were originally meant to be a filter, preventing those with malicious intentions, a lack of justice, and a sense of responsibility from being chosen. However, if anyone can adapt, the character of the heroes known as "Magical Girls" cannot be guaranteed.

Even if the association can distinguish between "genuine magical girls" and "pirated magical terrorists," the general public cannot. The image of magical girls will be impacted, and magical power will become a "commodity" that can be bought with money...

Just imagining it sends chills down my spine. What would the world become?

"This is a trap set by 'the other side.' Without firing a single shot, they can turn the world upside down by distorting public opinion. Even if we successfully destroy this third-party organization, it will be packaged by people with ulterior motives as 'the association's actions to monopolize the power of magical girls.' The public won't think about it."

Sirius spoke, trying to smooth out his furrowed brow.

"Pandora's box has been opened. I'm afraid even the association won't be able to control the situation from now on."

Chapter Twenty-Six: Big Trouble

(Sun Yao)

Miss Spica and Sirius went back to the branch for a general meeting.

Yezi said she was going to look for clues about Yangyan in the vicinity, so I followed her out.

This was supposed to be my debut press conference, so why did it turn out like this...?

But in that case, no one will pay attention to my terrible performance today, right?

No, there's no time to think about that. The most important thing right now is to get Yangyan back!

I patted my cheeks to perk myself up.

"Ye Zi, may I call Aunt Lin Xi?"

Ye Zi nodded, took out her phone, and asked, "Do you want to ask about the results of her investigation?"

"Yes, this matter is most likely related to my father. She may have already discovered something by following the clues..."

"for you."

He tossed the phone over, then walked away with his hands in his pockets.

"I'll go check out the neighborhood first. You stay here and don't move."

Perhaps because she watched Kagerou being taken away right before her eyes, Yoko is very anxious now.

I understand that anxiety stemming from weakness and powerlessness.

I felt the same way when "Lava" ravaged the Sunfire in front of me.

If only the leaves could also obtain the power of the Star Crystal.

"Oh my? That's amazing! Little Yezi, you actually called your mom on your own initiative! Is there something urgent that requires an international call?"

The call connected, and Aunt Linxi seemed very excited.

“…Auntie, I am Ayao.”

"Serno? What happened?"

"Well... the thing is..."

I told Aunt Rinki that Kagerou had been arrested, and that the news had already reported it.

There was a period of silence on the other end until I finished speaking.

After all, the leak of wormhole technology and the third-party research institute's overstepping of the Star Crystal's boundaries are both closely related to her work.

"Phew, calm down and listen to me. The results of your uncle and aunt's investigation are not enough to prove that this matter is related to your father. Even if all the possibilities point to him, we cannot confront him without decisive evidence... After all, he is still the nominal chairman of the association."

"Did my father really betray me?"

“I can’t make a judgment, but I have some clues about that lawless ‘third-party organization’… According to the interrogation results, they have an underground research institute in Changkong City, but we don’t know the location of the institute. If we can find it, this matter will definitely make progress.”

If we can destroy this third-party organization, we'll find out if Dad is involved with them.

"Don't those traitors have any clues?"

"The mole didn't know either. It was a facility that could only be entered through a 'wormhole,' with no external access. It was like being on 'the other side'... This is the most consistent testimony."

Has this third-party organization developed a wormhole that ordinary people can pass through?

I thought for a moment and then asked, "Is there no possibility of collusion or lying?"

"Impossible! No one in this world can lie to me!"

Aunt Rinki's confidence in this matter made me uneasy. Was she an expert at interrogation?

"Then what makes you so sure it's in Changkong City?"

“You’ve already given your reasons… The institute is accessed through the ‘red-haired woman,’ and theoretically, a magical girl’s magic power cannot support the expansion of a wormhole… In other words, it’s just a portal that looks like a wormhole.”

Does the door in the basement of the library lead directly to a research institute of a third-party organization?

"Redhead, it really is Miss Ange..."

The only red-haired women who have impressed me recently, besides Melissa who lives in Hawaii, are my dad's secretary.

"Don't rush, we can't be sure that it's Secretary-General An Jie yet, and even if it is, we don't have any evidence at the moment."

For Aunt Rinki, the evidence might be very important.

But for me, finding that research institute and rescuing Ms. Kagerou is more important... All her misfortunes so far have been caused by me, and I can't just leave her to fend for herself.

What can I do?

Thinking about this, I couldn't help but sigh again.

"Sigh, if only there were a way to find out where Yang Yan is."

"Actually, there is."

My aunt's answer surprised me.

"……what?"

"Common sense tells us we're helpless, but my magic is specifically designed for this kind of thing. I'll talk to you when I get back to Changkong City. International calls are quite expensive, so I'll hang up now!"

The call was disconnected.

Did she really just say "my magic"?

Could it be that Aunt Rinki is also... and she said she wanted to come back?

The brain crashed due to excessive surprise.

"Have you finished the phone call?"

"Wow!"

The sudden sound startled me and gave me a sharp pain in my chest.

"You scared me! Make some noise!"

I clutched my chest and rubbed it, but Ye Zi looked completely innocent.

"Didn't I get through this normally? So, what did Mom say?"

It's better for Aunt Rinki to tell Yoko herself that she's a magical girl. After all, she's kept it a secret from Yoko for so many years, so she must have her own reasons for not telling me. I shouldn't have taken it upon myself to tell Yoko.

"Yes, they say all the clues point to a third-party organization in Changkong City, but we'll have to wait for her to return for further investigation to find out the exact location."

There shouldn't be anything wrong with this answer.

"Is she coming back?"

"Ah."

"It was so sudden, and they didn't even tell me..."

He took the phone and said to me, "Dude, you go home and rest for a bit. I'll wander around the city a bit more."

"There's no reason for ordinary people to look for help while magical girls go to rest."