Chapter 73: Unexpected Interruption and a Curious Invitation

‘Discovered already!?’ Lin Xi thought, feeling Bai Li’s scrutinizing gaze upon her.

Although she was already somewhat aware of Bai Li’s formidable power and had painstakingly enhanced her magic’s concealment, she had gravely underestimated the extent of Bai Li’s perceptive abilities.

There was no other option; regrettable as it was, she decided to come clean now and, while she was at it, perhaps seal their fate.

“Hoo-ha~ Good evening…”

“?”

Just as Lin Xi was about to dispel her magic, a languid voice echoed from directly behind her.

“Gu Ling, why are you here?”

Bai Li’s eyes, upon seeing the suddenly materializing petite gray-haired girl, flickered with a fleeting iciness before swiftly reverting to their customary calm.

Fortunately, the Blue Rabbit Girl’s appearance was indistinguishable from a human cosplaying as a rabbit-eared maiden, thus leaving some room for negotiation.

“Mmm… was there carrot added to the rice?”

“…What?”

Gu Ling’s question left not only Lin Xi, who had just halted her magic’s dispersal, but even Bai Li utterly bewildered.

They had initially presumed Gu Ling to be a deceptively soft and timid loli, merely feigning social anxiety while secretly being a master of disguise and a dangerous individual. Instead, her question had completely disarmed everyone, leaving them speechless.

“I did, actually. Is something amiss?”

“I don’t like eating carrots.”

“…”

So much for that. She was, after all, just a picky, good-for-nothing loli.

Even after she had finely diced the carrots and stir-fried them with the rice, making them virtually undetectable, Gu Ling still refused to eat them.

“Being a picky eater is hardly a commendable habit.”

“But I simply don’t like them.”

“In that case, I’ll swap it for bitter melon.”

“Now I like that.”

They say a woman’s moods shift faster than turning a page, but this little loli, Gu Ling, seemed to possess a temperament that fluctuated with quantum speed.

“Is there anything else, then?”

“Um, that person over there…”

Gu Ling’s gaze settled upon the Blue Rabbit Girl standing beside Bai Li. Having seemingly sensed an approaching presence, the Blue Rabbit Girl had already risen, yet remained rooted to her spot.

“She… is someone I know. She merely happened to be visiting me…”

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jasmine, and I am affiliated with the Moonlit Forest. Miss Bai Li is a distinguished guest and vital partner of our organization, so I seized this opportunity to pay her a visit.”

Even as Bai Li pondered how to casually brush off the situation, the Blue Rabbit Girl—Jasmine—had already offered a surprisingly credible explanation.

‘They’re secretly called the Witch’s Forest, yet publicly go by Moonlit Forest. It appears they’ve given this considerable thought, though the name itself strikes me as somewhat familiar.’

“Moonlit Forest? Are you referring to that rather renowned Ability weapons manufacturer that recently emerged?”

“Hmm?”

Upon hearing the name “Moonlit Forest,” Gu Ling’s usual social anxiety evaporated almost entirely, leaving her even more animated than when she had spoken of magic that morning.

“You’re unaware? The Moonlit Forest is a merchant group that recently burst onto the scene, rapidly seizing a significant portion of the Ability weapons market. Their products are not only more affordable than many comparable items but also boast superior performance, making them incredibly popular. This success, however, has drawn the animosity of competitors, who have even resorted to slandering them over their mysterious origins. Yet, the Moonlit Forest has simply brushed aside all obstacles, relying solely on their undeniable strength.”

At this moment, Gu Ling gushed like a fervent fangirl, recounting the Moonlit Forest’s achievements without pause.

“That is indeed quite commendable. However, Miss Bai Li holds no particular interest in such matters. After all, in her estimation, our significance is not exceptionally high, and we haven’t yet elaborated on the finer details to her.”

It was undeniably the mark of an executive trained to infiltrate human society; setting aside the minor detail of her rabbit ears, Jasmine’s speech and bearing were utterly refined, perfectly mimicking a courteous human.

‘Hmph. It felt as if these Otherworld Beasts understood human social graces better than humans themselves. What was going on?’

“Is that truly the case? Why was I not informed sooner?”

Despite the fact that the full truth of Bai Li’s connection to the Moonlit Forest had yet to be revealed, Gu Ling’s eyes were practically sparkling with excitement.

“Um, if it’s at all possible, might I be permitted to observe?”

“Observe? Is this young lady expressing a desire to witness our company’s Ability weapons manufacturing process firsthand?”

“Mm.”

At this very moment, Gu Ling’s demeanor perfectly matched her youthful appearance; she was like a child thrilled at the prospect of visiting something she adored. At the very least, in terms of sheer cuteness, Bai Li judged her to be perhaps one percent as endearing as Lin Xi.

It was widely known that crafting Ability items was an exceedingly technical endeavor. Given the unique habits, strengths, and abilities of each individual, even Ability items designed for the same effect would inevitably feature diverse manufacturing processes and varying levels of performance.

For instance, medicinal Ability items often manifested as elixirs for Cultivators, while mages and alchemists typically produced liquid potions, and technologically inclined practitioners might even craft miniature machines.

Consequently, most manufacturing-oriented Ability Users harbored a profound desire to acquire more techniques. Some, not averse to the dissemination of knowledge, would even form exchange groups to share insights. For Gu Ling, however, interactions with typical students offered little value, making an opportunity with the Moonlit Forest exceedingly rare and precious.

“Regarding that…”

Jasmine paused for a moment, her gaze subtly shifting towards Bai Li, a silent query for her assent.

After all, while Bai Li was presented as merely a crucial partner to the outside world, she was, in truth, the supreme ruler of the entire organization, occupying a rank even higher than the Octopus Head leader. Such a matter, therefore, undeniably required her explicit approval.

Bai Li, for her part, found no compelling reason to object to the request.

Given Jasmine’s boldness in seeking her opinion, it was likely that their external facade was already meticulously crafted. Moreover, operating in any market beyond the black market inherently demanded the capacity to deceive outsiders, a prerequisite that had been subtly communicated when Bai Li had vaguely introduced their organization through the Official Ability User Organization.

As for whether Gu Ling would detect anything amiss, observing her current sparkling eyes, Bai Li surmised that even if she uncovered the Moonlit Forest’s true nature as an organization composed largely of Otherworld Beasts, she would remain utterly unfazed. After all, in Gu Ling’s perspective, the pursuit of research and the creation of Ability items far outweighed any other consideration—a common affliction among researchers and artisans alike.

In any case, transactions between Otherworld Beasts and humans were not unheard of.

“That should pose no issue. I will relay this information to the higher-ups, and you shall receive an invitation once a suitable time becomes available.”

With those words, Jasmine, as if presenting a business card, effortlessly placed a specially crafted communication Ability item into Bai Li’s hand.

“Well then, the hour grows late. I urge you all to rest well, ladies, as you still have classes to attend, after all.”

After offering a graceful bow to everyone present, Jasmine retreated into the treeline, vanishing from sight.