Chapter 46: Lu Zhichuan’s Investigation and a Sunshower’s Secret

As the Hero himself confessed, his Transcended abilities were less than one percent of their former glory.

In particular, the core ‘Hero’s Sword’ was currently central to an ongoing project, making it impossible to draw.

Furthermore, Lu Zhichuan didn’t possess the same keen ‘dog nose’ as Su Qingyao, which could effortlessly sniff out anomalies.

Given these factors.

This was the true reason Lu Zhichuan failed to notice a certain ‘presence’ hidden beneath Jiang Jiuli’s magical aura.

After confirming that little Jiuli, though somewhat emotionally unstable, was far from having her magic core ‘shattered,’ Lu Zhichuan closed his apartment door and focused on the map before him.

Reluctantly, Han Ruoyu had procured a survey from the Iron Vow Army.

It encompassed not only Dawn City itself, but all cities established by the New World Council, whether they contained megastructures like ‘The Tower’ or not.

Due to the document’s confidential nature, Lu Zhichuan had only received a pre-processed copy that would quickly fade.

Using his own calculations, he meticulously outlined circles upon circles of ‘isoline frequencies’ on the fading map.

Previously, the most heavily defended ‘City of Hope’ and the headquarters of other Transcended triangles had the lowest frequencies.

Subsequently, the frequency would steadily increase with greater distance from these central hubs.

Reaching the borders of civilization, near the ‘Iron Wall’ ring adjoining the uninhabited zones, the frequency would then decrease again due to sparse population and low mobility.

To Lu Zhichuan’s surprise.

Recently, alongside the Council’s so-called ‘campaign to rectify anti-human beliefs,’ the supposed cult sacrificial activities had indeed significantly decreased.

However, the true situation remained ambiguous.

They would have to await Han Ruoyu’s latest investigation report from the museum before any conclusive patterns could emerge.

“Knock, knock.”

The man’s pen tip paused momentarily.

From outside the adjacent apartment, a soft knock echoed, followed by the chime of a doorbell.

Five seconds later, the creak of a turning doorknob could be heard.

Lu Zhichuan redirected his attention.

After putting away the map, he retrieved other documents.

This was Lu Zhichuan’s side hustle.

Issued by the Professor, it allowed Lu Zhichuan to embezzle, or rather, ‘adjust’ research funds.

Incidentally, Lu Zhichuan was truly in dire need of money.

****

“Achoo.” Su Qingyao sneezed.

“Little Qingyao—are you alright?”

Xu Yiyi, seated beside her, immediately put down her menu upon hearing Su Qingyao’s sneeze.

She hastily expressed her concern for the girl.

Even the usually silent Xu Yanqing cast a worried glance her way.

This made Su Qingyao feel slightly overwhelmed.

“It’s fine,” she said, “Someone must be talking about me.”

As she spoke, she stretched her lips into a smile that seemed a little ‘mischievous.’

“Let’s order first.”

“Huh, can we really order anything? The prices look a bit terrifying.”

Xu Yiyi remained somewhat uneasy, so she simply laid the menu on the table and pointed to a price, showing it to Xu Yanqing across from them.

‘See? Even Xu Yanqing, a ‘Tower dweller,’ looked surprised after seeing the prices.’

After preparations were complete, and under the persistent coaxing of the curious Xu Yiyi, Xu Yanqing finally led the two to what was truly considered ‘the cafeteria’ within the Tower.

A cafeteria devoid of people.

No wonder the staff meals they brought out were just ‘desserts.’

As it turned out, Su Qingyao had still overestimated the average culinary skill in the New World.

After all, most good chefs had been equally wiped out during the disaster, and the general attitude towards food preparation was simply ‘as long as it’s not poisonous.’

Su Qingyao couldn’t help but click her tongue in dismay, opting instead to take Xu Yanqing and Xu Yiyi to the restaurant Lu Zhichuan had previously recommended.

Among a multitude of restaurants with mediocre food, one stood out with flavors good enough to have run a business in the Old World, and its prices were, predictably, quite high.

“It’s fine,”

“I’ll be covering all the expenses today.”

As she swiped the card Lu Zhichuan had given her, Su Qingyao’s smile widened even further.

It was almost a ‘W’-shaped cat’s grin.

‘After all, my senior personally told me I could spend as much as I wanted.’

Unaware of the underlying situation, Xu Yanqing and Xu Yiyi ultimately chose the relatively cheaper home-style dishes on the menu.

Listening to the beeping sound of the transaction.

Their faces turned a shade paler than Su Qingyao’s, who was actually paying.

“Hope we can get our money’s worth…”

Xu Yiyi tossed the menu aside, leaning back against the sofa as she muttered.

Su Qingyao spared a glance before turning her attention to Xu Yanqing, who had once again drifted into a daze.

Xiaohua had previously told Su Qingyao.

Ever since Lin Xiaobai’s disappearance, Xu Yanqing’s condition had grown increasingly abnormal.

Although Xu Yanqing had now tacitly accepted the cruel reality of her companion’s fate.

In a short span of time.

Xu Yanqing’s absentmindedness was visibly worsening.

So much so that, at times, she didn’t even notice the extent of her own distraction.

It was precisely this demeanor that had repeatedly stifled a very important question Su Qingyao had wanted to ask but hadn’t.

“…”

Su Qingyao remained silent for a moment.

In the interim while waiting for their meal, and on the eve of their departure for the camp, Su Qingyao clearly realized.

This was the last, and best, opportunity.

“Tell me, Miss Xu Yanqing.”

Su Qingyao spoke, drawing the distant Xu Yanqing’s gaze back to her.

“Do you have any other questions?”

Su Qingyao deliberated for a moment, carefully choosing her words; out of her own conviction, she refrained from using any manipulative magic.

“Out of my personal curiosity,” Su Qingyao began slowly and cautiously.

“What exactly is Lin Xiaobai’s unique magic?”

Under the watchful eyes of Su Qingyao and the puzzled Xu Yiyi, Xu Yanqing’s expression completely froze.

After what felt like an eternity to her, all the tumultuous emotions within her were crushed into a handful of broken petals, which she finally exhaled.

“Ah…”

She sighed, answering Su Qingyao’s question: “Lin Xiaobai’s magic is ‘Sunshower’.”

“It can manifest as a tangible curtain of rain, providing a barrier; simultaneously, the raindrops offer both pain relief and healing effects for allies.”

Xu Yiyi instinctively responded.

“Wouldn’t that be like a combined version of mine and little Qingyao’s abilities!?”

“Precisely.”

Xu Yanqing nodded calmly in affirmation, continuing, “In fact, that’s why you and Miss Su Qingyao were initially chosen by me.”

****

A long, long time ago.

Before Xu Yanqing, who remained utterly unresponsive no matter how she was provoked, Lin Xiaobai unleashed a shower of rain.

At that time, Xu Yanqing was still some distance from becoming a magical girl; the effects of her hollow heart condition persisted.

Yet, it was that sunshower under a clear sky, and the gentle warmth it contained.

As if by some strange impulse, Xu Yanqing pressed her handprint onto the application to join the ‘Magical Girl Tower.’

And then?

A very long time passed since then.

So long that the sunshower transformed into murky, black droplets, piercing through Xu Yanqing’s magical defenses.

Until the desolate rain soaked her hair, mingling with her surging tears, blurring Xu Yanqing’s vision.

She saw—