Chapter 18: An Offer of Surrender

Remarkably, a magical girl, despite their presumed dietary standards, would frequent such a humble establishment?

Regardless, with someone offering to treat, Ling Xing had no intention of holding back.

With a confident swagger, she pulled out a chair and settled opposite the girl.

Considering the prices here, even ordering every single item on the menu likely wouldn’t amount to the cost of a single pastry from a magical girl’s afternoon tea.

The shop owner, momentarily stunned into a state of trepidation, ultimately dared not accept the ring, instead retreating directly to the bustling kitchen.

The ring spun languidly across the tabletop a few times, only coming to a hesitant halt upon nudging the corner.

“Indeed, after all, this is an integral part of local culture. And truly, the most significant aspect of a meal isn’t what one consumes, nor where one partakes, but rather with whom one shares it. I find dining with you far more engaging than any grand feast.”

‘…?’

‘What on earth is this person saying? To immediately launch into such ambiguous remarks, acting as if we’re intimately acquainted.’

Ling Xing opened her mouth to retort, but a moment of reflection reminded her that since the other party was treating, being overly sharp-tongued might be impolite. Thus, she refrained from speaking her mind.

‘Damn it, is this what it feels like to be beholden after accepting a meal?’

“Cease with such vague pronouncements. We are, by all accounts, adversaries, are we not? Shouldn’t you, much like your young lady, spout a few provocative words before publicly striking someone down?”

“Do not mistake Young Lady Mashiro’s behavior for the norm among magical girls, kuso! I am a perfectly ordinary person. How utterly pathetic would it be to willingly work unpaid overtime after a long day, actively seeking out confrontation with dark organizations and monsters?”

Uh…

‘It seems most magical girls in works of fiction are precisely like that, aren’t they?’

‘I can’t shake the feeling that a devastating area-of-effect attack has just been unleashed.’

However, since I’m not a magical girl myself, that metaphorical blast won’t reach me. So, who cares?

“So? Since you’ve gone to the trouble of waiting for me here, is there something specific you wish to convey? Surely, you weren’t captivated by my dashing charisma… though, I suppose it’s not entirely out of the question?”

“It’s not that I have anything particularly special to say. I merely wished to observe… my former self.”

The petite, purple-haired girl rested her chin in her hand, her gaze fixed intently on Ling Xing, as if in profound admiration.

Even Ling Xing, with all her self-admiration, couldn’t help but feel a prickle of unease.

She dismissively waved a small hand before the girl’s eyes, breaking her unnerving stare, before finally speaking with a hint of exasperation.

“Hmph, a mere glance at your profile reveals it. You are…”

Her record was so utterly pristine, so devoid of any information, that from a normal person’s perspective, it was simply an impossibility.

Only one explanation remained.

Her personal data had been deliberately expunged.

Thus, the answer became glaringly obvious.

She was…

“A former combatant of the Dark Organization’s Neon Branch, Hojo Hane.”

The girl, once again, proactively divulged her name.

It was a conversational tactic mirroring Ling Xing’s own: seizing the initiative by interrupting others, thereby asserting dominance and projecting an air of authority.

Not only did their abilities bear a striking resemblance, but even the very essence of their roles as combatants evoked a profound sense of déjà vu.

Little wonder, then, that from the outset, Ling Xing had sensed an undeniable aura of kinship.

“I was once a rogue combatant from the Dark Organization’s Neon Branch, dispatched to infiltrate the ranks of the magical girl Kuonji Mashiro, tasked with gathering intelligence and capturing magical girls.”

“And then, you were moved by that ‘big-breasted monster,’ betrayed your branch, joined the magical girl organization, and miraculously survived its utter destruction. What a clichéd narrative; I honestly feel too uninspired to even bother adding it to any official records.”

Without even needing to hear more, Ling Xing, in turn, cut off the girl’s words.

Despite the seemingly casual scene of two people sharing a meal face-to-face, an unseen battle of wills raged between them. Neither conceded, neither uttered another word.

Their silent gazes locked, a fierce challenge in the air. Their aura, their very presence, absolutely could not be allowed to falter!

They remained locked in that defiant stare for what felt like several minutes, until…

“Customers, your noodles. Please enjoy your meal—”

The fragrant steam, wafting from the two large bowls of noodles placed before them, abruptly punctuated their standoff. The rising heat, almost visibly churning, finally shattered the competitive silence that had enveloped them.

Snapping her chopsticks apart, Ling Xing stirred her noodles, then delicately slurped the broth from the tip of her utensil.

‘Woah, this is the luxurious, extra-meat flavor! How utterly extravagant…’

‘Hmph, I can finish these noodles in complete silence and simply walk away. Can you do the same? Can you truly hold your tongue?’

Ling Xing arched an eyebrow, casting a provocative glance at her opponent.

Ultimately, it was the other party who broke first, letting out a soft hum before speaking.

“Hmph… Very well, I shall be direct. With the exception of this remote branch, every Dark Organization across the globe has been declared utterly annihilated.”

“So you mean to imply that my stubborn resistance is utterly futile? That if the magical girl organization were to get serious, they could obliterate me in an instant? And that if I surrender now, just like you, I could secure a position and enjoy the same lavish benefits?”

Anticipating the other party’s intent, she preemptively interrupted, seizing control of the conversation’s flow.

In this particular skill, Ling Xing proved far more adept than the petite girl who identified herself as Hane.

In mere moments, with only a handful of words exchanged, she had already grasped the full extent of the other party’s true intentions.

A plea for surrender. If such an appeal came from this individual—once her comrade, now enjoying privileged treatment within the magical girl organization—it might indeed stand a chance of success.

However, Ling Xing was no ordinary combatant; she was an elite.

Not only her formidable abilities, but even her sharp intellect surpassed the simple ploys of these magical girls.

Her mind, however, delved into a far more profound and enduring problem.

“Heh… If I were truly so easily vanquished, why bother going to such extraordinary lengths? Why dispatch you to negotiate in person, and why stir up such a storm across the city by mobilizing the Magic Science Squad?”

“……”

“Ah, it must be because of that machine, mustn’t it? As the one who activated it, I still hold some residual value to the magical girl organization. They need to keep me alive, if only to further test that very device.”

“……”

The girl, who had introduced herself as Hane, silently snapped open her chopsticks.

There were no words left for her to offer in response.

Despite having received no direct intelligence from Chao Wu, Ling Xing had gleaned the answer from mere fragments of conversation.

Consequently, there was no longer any need for further prevarication, bluffs, or emotional manipulation.

“Indeed, that is correct. Furthermore, I can inform you that Young Lady Mashiro is currently dispatching samurai from the main family to this location, intended to replace the ineffectual Magic Science Squad in carrying out their mission. This samurai contingent is formidable enough to contend with monster-level threats, and when combined with two D-rank magical girls, I trust you won’t fail to grasp the overwhelming disparity…”

With an open and forthright demeanor, her approach shifted from emotional appeal to direct, unvarnished deterrence.

Even if Ling Xing’s intellect allowed her to deduce the truth and gain an advantage in their verbal sparring, in the face of such an overwhelming disparity in power, Hane’s intimidating aura ultimately proved more aggressive.

Without true power, what could mere verbal dexterity possibly accomplish?

The girl slurped a mouthful of noodles, her expression utterly devoid of emotion.

From the very beginning, this entire encounter had merely been a fleeting whim, an idle curiosity towards one of her own kind. Even having suffered a minor setback, it would not deter her from continuing to pursue her objectives.

“…If I were to surrender, I could become a magical girl and enjoy their privileges? And my cadres as well…”

Ling Xing lowered her voice, diligently shoveling a few mouthfuls of noodles into her mouth.

‘Hmph… In the end, she’s merely another one of my kind.’

The girl’s lips curved into a faint smile, which she then subtly suppressed.

“Ah, I agree. This is a transaction: your freedom in exchange for the continued survival and favorable treatment of both you and your cadres. Agree, and return to the organization with me.”

In doing so, Young Lady Mashiro might not descend further into her current frenzy.

The girl set down her noodle bowl, having only taken a few bites, and rose to her feet.

The answer seemed a foregone conclusion; given Ling Xing’s demonstrated intelligence, refusal appeared an impossibility.

However…

Ling Xing’s retort, however, came even swifter than Hane’s movement to stand.

“Well said, indeed—but I refuse.”

“What?”

The girl’s utterly unexpected response caused her movements to falter for a beat.

This momentary hesitation allowed Ling Xing to act after, yet arrive first, moving a beat later but rising to her feet a step ahead.

She produced a few coins, placing them with a decisive slap onto the table. Then, with an air of absolute righteousness, she plucked the ring from the tabletop, tossed it aloft, and caught it deftly in her palm, where it now spun playfully between her fingers.

“I graciously accept your kind intentions and your gift. Now, return and inform your Young Lady that I await her samurai contingent, and I eagerly anticipate the arrival of you two rookie D-rank magical girls—”

Having delivered her defiant message, Ling Xing tilted her head back and drained the noodle soup in a single, fluid motion. Without a single glance at the girl’s reaction, she turned with an air of utter nonchalance and departed.