Chapter 58: A Dangerous Proposition

On the evening the Monday’s events concluded, a young boy, appearing no older than eight or nine, sat face to face with a composed middle-aged man in a coffee shop.

“Can a child really get used to bitter coffee?”

“Bitter coffee, though unpleasant, is still far better than chemotherapy. I used to detest it, but after falling ill, I’ve come to see that even savoring something like this is a valuable life experience. Gradually, one can even appreciate its subtle nuances.”

The boy took a small sip of his coffee. “So, what exactly do you intend to do, Mr. Ox Mask? You could have stopped Tiger Mask, couldn’t you?”

The man chuckled. “Then why did you help Tiger Mask?”

“Tiger Mask is a decent person. How could I refuse his request? I am merely a child, after all. It’s difficult to decline the pleas of adults; I lack the courage.”

The man clicked his tongue in annoyance. “That’s why I despise child prodigies. Beneath an innocent face, their minds are teeming with dark schemes, instinctively making one uncomfortable.”

“That’s quite an unkind thing to say, Mr. Ox Mask. So, what do you want from me now?”

He smiled. “This is a rather dangerous undertaking. Surely, you don’t expect me to sacrifice myself again?”

“Initially, I intended to hide away. Whether Tiger Mask got arrested was his own affair. However, that day I discovered an interesting person and an interesting item. If we could acquire that item, it might allow our research to advance significantly.”

The boy continued to sip his coffee in small amounts. “If you’re referring to that so-called Kamen Rider who suddenly appeared, then Snake Mask humbly requests to be excused. That entity seems even more formidable than a Magical Girl. Sister Snake Mask was practically annihilated in an instant. Their power might even rival Rainbow Jade’s. It’s an opponent we might not defeat, even if we went all out.”

“But if my research succeeds, everyone can gain even greater power. Even Rainbow Jade might not be our match then.”

“You’re suggesting that to gain power superior to Rainbow Jade’s, we should challenge that Kamen Rider. How then would we defeat the Kamen Rider? Isn’t that a complete paradox?”

Ox Mask smiled. “Magical Girls wield the power of love and justice, but that Kamen Rider is different. He is fundamentally a monster, one of us, even if he appears to side with the Magical Girls. It’s debatable whether he truly is their ally. If he and Rainbow Jade were to clash, we might just reap the benefits.”

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“If Rainbow Jade proves stronger, we can seize the opportunity to recruit him. While it carries risks, with your abilities, it shouldn’t be impossible, should it?”

The boy remained silent.

“If the Kamen Rider proves stronger, all the better. Should he defeat Rainbow Jade, he will surely find no peace in the future. He would become a thorn in the side of the Magical Girls, drawing much of their attention, which is precisely the opportunity we need for our biological advancements.”

“So, by that calculation, you stand to lose nothing. Truly astute. However, while the plan is perfect in theory, how do you intend to make the Magical Girl and that Kamen Rider fight?”

Ox Mask maintained his smile. “The athletic festival presents an excellent opportunity.”

“Are you insane? Do you truly believe that athletic festival is the time to stir up trouble? Can’t you access the backend data? Carnelian will be there. It’s highly probable Rainbow Jade will be present too. Tiger Mask just caused a scene; no matter how foolish Magical Girls are, they’ll surely be on guard, won’t they?”

Ox Mask’s smile deepened. “As the saying goes, the most dangerous places are often the safest. The more stringent the Magical Girls’ defenses, the more gaps will inevitably appear within them.”

The boy’s face was a picture of exasperation. “I disagree with your reasoning entirely. But I must ask, why don’t you seek out Dog Mask? What’s the point of coming to me? You know my abilities; I can handle petty schemes, but fighting Magical Girls? You must be joking. I might not even be able to defeat the newest Magical Girl, Ink Crystal.”

“I would seek them out, but they are exceptionally good at hiding. Besides, if our plan fails, we need to have at least one person with true conviction remaining. At least you are not that person.”

The boy scoffed. “You, sir! You need my help, yet you can’t even offer a single kind word? Don’t you find that rather excessive?”

“However, I don’t particularly care for such things, as you know. What I want to know is how much you are willing to pay for this.”

He crossed his legs, not like a child at all. “I am a shortsighted person, you know. As long as you can offer me satisfactory compensation, I can assist you. Even if the risk is significant, it’s not entirely unacceptable.”

Ox Mask fell silent for a moment. “I can arrange for your family to die a very natural death, and you would receive a substantial inheritance. How does that sound?”

The smile gradually vanished from the boy’s face as he stared at Ox Mask. “You investigated me?”

“It was never a secret.”

“This way, you would be free from any constraints and possess a large sum of money to do as you please. You could act yourself, but there would always be traces—and if one truly investigated, it wouldn’t be impossible to uncover.”

He smiled. “But if I were to act, you would simply be a victim. Even if some knew you disliked your family, you truly didn’t commit the act, did you?”

The boy’s expression twisted. “An intriguing proposal. However, I might have to undergo psychological counseling for a period. After all, that’s the policy of this era. A young person like me, whose family suddenly undergoes such a drastic change, must receive counseling for a long time to ensure their mental state is sound before truly gaining freedom. I suppose this wouldn’t affect anything.”

Indeed, it wouldn’t affect anything, as psychological counseling is merely that.

“So, the deal is struck?”

“The deal is struck.”

****

Liu Xingyue ultimately failed to defeat Liu Yun. Even with her utmost effort, a tangible gap in strength remained between them.

To put it bluntly, even if everyone shamelessly resorted to comparing raw power levels, Magical Girl Emerald was no match for Amethyst.

Magical Girls, in common understanding, typically enhance their strength by becoming more active.

As Magical Girls, who embody the collective power of love and justice, the more they do—defeating more monsters, saving more people, and being remembered and thanked by more individuals—the more beautiful human emotions they gather, making them stronger.

Therefore, generally speaking, powerful Magical Girls are always highly active Magical Girls.

Magical Girls who have been active for longer periods are also consistently stronger than new Magical Girls. Of course, there are also numerous instances of those who achieve rapid advancements.

Many accidental factors contribute to this; some Magical Girls are naturally more prone to receiving support from others and are more favored by the powers of love and justice.

Take Rainbow Jade, for instance. From the very moment of her birth, she garnered widespread attention, enabling her to become the ‘Strongest’ of Clear Sky City within just a few short years.

Having been completely outmatched by Teacher Liu Yun, Liu Xingyue couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

She had boasted so confidently before the combat competition, only to be defeated by Teacher Liu, which made her feel somewhat like a clown.

She felt incredibly embarrassed and disheartened.

“Relax, relax! After all, your opponent was Teacher Liu! Losing to her is nothing to be ashamed of!”

Huang Xi, spotting Liu Xingyue first, rushed over. As her best friend, Huang Xi comforted Liu Xingyue. “My little moon, be a good girl~ If you’re feeling down, let Sister Huang Xi give you a hug!”

Liu Xingyue pushed her away with a look of disdain.

Just then, He Yao appeared before Liu Xingyue, carrying a cake.

“Hmm?” Huang Xi’s face broke into a knowing smile. “Ah~ It seems Mr. Boyfriend has arrived~ What’s that?”

He Yao smiled and nodded at Huang Xi, then handed the strawberry cake he held to Liu Xingyue. “It must be tough to lose a match, right? Eating something sweet can help lift your spirits~”

Liu Xingyue was surprised. To be honest, someone bringing her a small cake during such a sad moment… she hadn’t experienced anything like it since graduating from elementary school.

Her face flushed slightly. “You, you’re making me a little embarrassed…”

“Oh~ How fiery~”

Huang Xi said with a mischievous grin. Her eyes darted around twice before she asked He Yao, “Can I have some of that little cake?”

He Yao, still smiling, calmly placed the cake into Liu Xingyue’s hands. “I’ve already given the cake to Xingyue. Whether she chooses to share it with you or anyone else is her decision.”

Huang Xi gasped dramatically. “You! Aren’t you a shut-in? How can you be so composed!”

Liu Xingyue rolled her eyes at Huang Xi. “Stop messing around!”

Then, with a blush, she turned to He Yao. “Um, thank you…”

He Yao waved a hand dismissively. “I can’t just watch my girlfriend feel down.”

As he spoke, he furtively glanced around. “Um, I, I’m leaving now! I need to deliver something to Teacher Liu later. I finally got a day off under the guise of assassinating Teacher Lin, but if I deliver it to Teacher Liu, she’ll probably make me run errands for the class. I’m outta here!”

With those words, He Yao vanished into the crowd.

“Wait…”

“Oh my, oh my~ Someone’s heart is fluttering! How wonderful~ I wish a rich young master would bring me a little cake when I’m sad~”

Huang Xi’s face was full of teasing smiles. “How does one ‘hook’ a shut-in rich young master like someone I know?”

“Who! Who knows! Let’s find somewhere to cut this cake!”

“I! I see I can’t shut your mouth!”

“Shut my mouth, you say! Little Moon, you’re truly quite suggestive!”

“If you don’t eat the cake, then you’ll eat my fist!”

“My mistake, my mistake~”