Chapter 61: Unexpected Acquisitions and a Flustered Fan

“To think it had come to this.”

The crew members, having just completed their repair work, stared dumbfounded at the Armored-Beak Hawks.

Individually, these beasts were D-rank lower-tier, yet their collective threat rivaled even mid-tier D-rank creatures, and now they lay neatly dismembered and arranged.

While the Deputy Conductor’s words had already informed them that these two were no ordinary individuals, they had never imagined that D-rank Otherworld Beasts could be dispatched so swiftly and without suffering a single injury.

If they were truly students, then these two were undoubtedly geniuses among geniuses, possessing both talent and experience that far exceeded what was expected for their age.

“So, how should we handle these materials?”

Pointing to the pile of feathers that now resembled a small mountain, Bai Li posed the question to the others.

Typically, materials collected outside of formally issued missions or pre-arranged agreements are acquired by the individual who defeated the Otherworld Beast or contributed the most.

Therefore, it would have been only natural for Bai Li and Lin Xi, having defeated all the Armored-Beak Hawks, to claim all the feathers for themselves.

However, they chose instead to first inquire about the train staff’s opinion.

“Ah… you can simply take those,” the lead crew member said.

“Moreover, we should be thanking you for being able to repair the vacuum tube and the carriage so quickly and safely.”

He bowed slightly to Bai Li and Lin Xi, a gesture of profound respect.

Just then, however, a communication came through, causing him to halt his actions.

“…Is that so… All right,” he murmured.

After the communication concluded, he looked back at Bai Li and Lin Xi.

“Um, the Deputy Conductor sent a message saying that if you don’t mind, our company is willing to purchase the armored feathers you collected at a price higher than market value.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this reply, Bai Li’s expression remained unchanged, yet inwardly, she felt a trace of surprise.

In truth, the very reason she had asked them how to handle the materials was that these items held little use for either of them.

While the armored feathers of the Armored-Beak Hawks were indeed quite versatile materials, neither of them possessed creation-type abilities, nor did they have any overt channels for trading them or contacting individuals who did.

Were they to utilize their connections with the Arbitrators or the Otherworld Beast organization under Bai Li’s command, it would be all too easy to expose subtle clues about their identities.

Therefore, rather than carrying around something of little use, it was far better to let them serve a purpose in the present.

“I recall that the market price for the armored feathers of a single Armored-Beak Hawk is roughly two thousand, correct?”

“For nine, that would be around eighteen thousand. Are you sure about this offer?”

“Yes, the Deputy Conductor said they could directly acquire them for twenty thousand, and furthermore, grant both of you lifetime VIP status.”

Setting aside the additional two thousand in profit, the lifetime VIP status alone was a reward that even the children of prominent families might not necessarily obtain.

After all, this train company commanded immense influence, and ordinary families might truly be unable to contend with its power.

However, who exactly was this Deputy Conductor who could directly offer such a deal? Such immense authority was certainly not something a mere Deputy Conductor should possess.

“Then we’ll proceed as you’ve suggested,” Bai Li stated.

“As for the money, you can just deposit it into the account associated with the identification we used when purchasing our tickets.”

****

After concluding the matters outside, Bai Li and Lin Xi returned to the carriage.

“Um…”

Watching the two of them, now transformed back and returned, Teresa appeared utterly flustered.

Who would have known!

At first, she had thought she had finally met a kindred spirit with whom she could chat so easily.

She had mustered her courage to strike up a conversation and even received a warm response, imagining she had finally made a new friend, would become a ‘normie’ (TL Note: A common internet slang term referring to someone who lives a conventional, socially active life, often contrasted with an otaku or shut-in), and ultimately become a ‘life winner’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to someone who is successful and happy in all aspects of life).

Yet, in the end, the very person she had been talking about magical girls with all this time was a magical girl herself!?

The sheer level of awkwardness was such that she could almost mimic an ostrich or a fox, burying her head in the ground.

What was she to do?

Surely, they wouldn’t think she was some airheaded otaku who just randomly strikes up conversations with strangers, only to laugh at her behind her back and then never speak to her again, would they?

However, unlike Teresa, who was on the verge of shutting down, Lin Xi offered her a gentle smile.

It was as if a true angel had descended to save all living beings.

“You can… just call me Resha,” Teresa stammered.

“My sister calls me that too…”

“Then, Little Resha?” Lin Xi asked, her smile widening.

Gazing at Lin Xi, who was even more angelic than an angel, Teresa was utterly convinced.

Without a doubt, this person was a true magical girl!

How could a magical girl like her possibly engage in such behavior behind someone’s back?

All those earlier thoughts were just her own baseless, meaningless conjectures, and to impose such negative thoughts upon Lin Xi was a truly heinous sin!

Suddenly, Teresa noticed Bai Li, standing beside Lin Xi, casting a glance her way.

She probably fully agreed with her thoughts, right?

Although she didn’t know why her body seemed to be subtly trembling, it must have been due to excitement.

As someone who also understood Lin Xi’s divine nature, Teresa immediately judged Bai Li to be someone she could truly get along with!

“Um, Lin Xi, are you perhaps some famous magical girl?” Teresa ventured.

“I’m quite knowledgeable about most magical girls, but I don’t have any impression of either of you.”

To some extent, Teresa was a meticulous researcher of magical girls; she possessed information on the vast majority of them, even including some undisclosed details.

Yet, she had never once encountered Lin Xi’s or Bai Li’s magical girl forms.

“Hmm… Little Resha, you must have arrived in this vicinity recently, haven’t you?” Lin Xi inquired gently.

“That’s right,” Teresa confirmed.

“Because I’m looking for something, I transferred here from an airport in the city next to Tiangong City.”

“I only arrived in Tiangong City yesterday.”

“I see, that explains it then.”

While modern technology had erased most boundaries in this world, save for the uninhabited zones severely encroached upon by the Otherworld, the sheer scale of cities still remained a factor.

Under normal circumstances, unless news was exceptionally significant, reports typically focused on events within their own city.

Thus, for the most part, only the residents of Tiangong City recognized Magical Girl Shio Kaze and Magical Girl Byakuya—who were, of course, Lin Xi and Bai Li.

Given the vast membership of official ability user organizations, knowing every single magical girl was an almost impossible feat.

Moreover, Teresa was merely a student; it was highly probable that she had gathered all her information purely out of personal interest.

That being said, Lin Xi also didn’t know the full extent of Teresa’s knowledge about magical girls.

After all, information in this area involved privacy and various other sensitive matters, and was generally not discussed openly.

“In simple terms, it’s like this…”

Lin Xi proceeded to introduce their identities to Teresa, briefly describing the operations they had participated in earlier.

As Teresa listened, she first paid close attention, then began to sense something amiss, before her expression ultimately transformed into one of both terror and confusion.

“Oh my goodness, so it’s like this!” Teresa exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

“My dear God, I can hardly believe it; you two are already professional ability users!”