Chapter 26: The GSA Black Gold Card and a Royal Pursuit

“Of course not, I’m merely providing a routine reminder.” The waiter’s words were polite, but his demeanor grew increasingly arrogant.

“Alright, enough with the pointless chatter.” Hua Mu’ai impatiently pushed the menu aside, not even bothering to glance at it.

“Bring one of each of your most expensive signature dishes. For wine, just open that Lafite you advertise; remember, it has to be ’82 vintage. I won’t drink anything else.”

Then, Hua Mu’ai pulled a card from her pocket—a sleek, jet-black rectangle adorned with golden patterns along its edges—and slapped it onto the table with a crisp ‘thwack.’

“The password is six eights. Now, be quick and serve this young lady her meal.” She crossed her legs, urging him on.

The waiter stared intently at the card, his breath almost catching in his throat.

It was the legendary GSA Black Gold Card, never issued to the public! Only heroes who had made unparalleled contributions to humanity were qualified to possess one!

Cold sweat beaded on the waiter’s brow, trickling down his cheeks and dripping onto the polished floor. He tried to speak, but his throat felt constricted by an unseen hand, rendering him utterly speechless.

‘I’m finished! I’ve gotten myself into serious trouble this time!’

Trembling, he snatched up the card as if it were a scorching hot iron, then stumbled out of the room.

Silence descended upon the private room.

Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu had yet to fully process what had just occurred.

How had the waiter, who moments ago had been so arrogant and looked down on everyone, transformed so utterly in an instant?

Hua Mu’ai leisurely picked up a teacup from the table, took a slow sip, and wore an expression that practically screamed, ‘Praise me!’

Yet, Gu Qianqian seemed oblivious, merely whispering, “Senior, Xiaolu and I are still high school students. We should probably stick to soft drinks later.”

Hua Mu’ai felt a pang of disappointment but quickly recovered.

‘Damn it, I almost forgot! I’m my daughter’s idol and captain now; how can I drink alcohol in front of these two?’

‘I absolutely mustn’t set a bad example for these two kids.’

Turning her head to the side, she offered a forced explanation.

“Hmph, of course this young lady knows. The wine I ordered is purely for decoration.”

“For decoration?” Lin Xiaolu and Gu Qianqian exchanged bewildered glances.

“Because it highlights this young lady’s exquisite taste… Is that not allowed?” Hua Mu’ai added weakly.

Gu Qianqian truly wanted to believe her.

However, her senior’s face was flushed, even as she tried to maintain an air of composure.

A slight smile touched her lips.

‘Senior is contradicting herself again; she’s truly adorable.’

Less than a minute later, the restaurant manager himself arrived, followed by the earlier waiter, who now looked on the verge of tears.

The manager bowed ninety degrees to Hua Mu’ai, his voice trembling.

“My deepest apologies! We were blind and failed to recognize such a distinguished guest! All expenses for the three of you tonight will be completely waived!”

“Waived?” Hua Mu’ai raised an eyebrow. “Does this young lady look like someone who lacks such paltry sums?”

“No, no, no, I spoke out of turn!” The manager, drenched in cold sweat, stammered, “Fifty percent off! No, ten percent off! Please, grant us an opportunity to make amends!”

“Fine, ten percent it is. Now, quickly get out of this young lady’s sight; don’t be an eyesore here.” Hua Mu’ai waved her hand impatiently.

The manager, as if granted a great pardon, dragged the stunned waiter away, scrambling out of the room in a panicked rush.

The two youngsters were left dumbfounded by the scene.

After a long moment, Lin Xiaolu finally gasped, her mouth slightly agape.

“Qianqian was right. Senior really is super, super wealthy!”

****

As the three awaited their meal, they remained blissfully unaware that someone had long since been watching them from the shadows.

Not long before their arrival at the Golden Iris.

Xia Xingyan sat expressionless by the window, gazing out at the city’s nightscape.

Across from her, her father, Xia Hongde, was engaged in boisterous conversation with a portly “Uncle Li,” while her mother gracefully offered polite smiles by his side.

For her, it was yet another meaningless dinner party.

Her sole purpose was to be present, a mere embellishment to uphold the family’s prestige.

Just as she left the private room, intending to use the restroom, several familiar figures appeared at the restaurant’s entrance.

She never would have imagined seeing Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu here.

Xia Xingyan’s mind raced.

She had long known that Gu Qianqian was the magical girl “Flame Rose.” As for the other person in the infirmary, she had already sent someone to investigate; her name was Lin Xiaolu, a timid ordinary student.

However, she surmised that Lin Xiaolu was likely the magical girl Morning Dew.

During the last academy crisis, given Lin Xiaolu’s timid nature, she hadn’t sought refuge but had instead appeared alongside Gu Qianqian.

Considering that there were only two active magical girls in Linhai City.

By process of elimination, Lin Xiaolu was most likely the magical girl Morning Dew.

Now, the question arose.

Who was the pink-haired girl with them?

Ever since the Academy Festival incident, Tian Lanxing’s disguised identity, “Bai Shiyu,” had not returned to school.

Now, an unfamiliar girl, equally beautiful to the point of seeming unreal, had appeared beside Gu Qianqian and Lin Xiaolu, and from her bearing, she subtly seemed to be the center of the trio.

Could this pink-haired girl be…

Though it was merely a possibility, Xia Xingyan felt an inexplicable thrumming sensation that told her.

‘My guess is correct; that adorable pink-haired girl is my idol, Tian Lanxing.’

She slightly turned her head towards the black-suited bodyguard standing behind her.

“Uncle Chen.” Her voice was soft.

“Miss, what are your orders?” The bodyguard, Uncle Chen, bowed slightly.

Xia Xingyan subtly gestured with her chin towards the private room.

“Find a way for me to hear what they’re saying.”

“Yes, Miss.” He retreated silently.

A few minutes later, a faint crackle of static emanated from the small, custom-made communicator in Xia Xingyan’s ear.

After the buzzing interference subsided, the voices from the private room came through clearly.

“…So, from now on, you two are my Tian Lanxing’s team members. Be sharp and don’t hold us back, understand?”

It sounded like the pink-haired girl’s voice, arrogant yet clear.

A subtle, imperceptible curve touched the corners of Xia Xingyan’s lips.

‘It really is you.’

****

Two days later.

A dark alleyway somewhere.

Yuena licked the Xu Yuan (TL Note: A term referring to a malevolent, corrupting energy or substance, often associated with monstrous entities) clinging to her paw, her pale pink eyes filled with disgust.

She loathed the Azure Realm (TL Note: A fantastical world or dimension, distinct from the Emerald Dream).

The Xu Yuan Beasts (TL Note: Monstrous creatures corrupted by Xu Yuan energy) here were more than ten times as numerous as in the Emerald Dream (TL Note: A fantastical world or dimension, distinct from the Azure Realm), and the air was thick with the stench of decay.

As a princess of the fairy race, she should never have set foot upon this polluted land.

Yet, to apprehend her sister, who had fled the royal court, she had no choice but to come.

Ever since the “Scar of Heaven” (TL Note: A catastrophic event mentioned in the lore) incident a millennium ago, the Emerald Dream had completely severed ties with the Azure Realm.

In the past few days, while tracking her sister, Yuena had also dealt with numerous malevolent Xu Yuan Beasts.

Fairies fought by absorbing the corrupted energy of Xu Yuan Beasts, storing it within their bodies to slowly purify it.

This process was agonizing, and it had inevitably left Yuena permeated with a potent aura of Xu Yuan.

To human detectors, she currently appeared no different from a genuine Xu Yuan Beast.