Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

For a girl of Lin Xiaolu's age, a beautifully crafted princess dress, especially one made with the Kingdom's craftsmanship and hailed as a master's work, is indeed an eye-catching item.

Although Emerald Sparrow couldn't quite empathize, it didn't stop her from expressing understanding, so she allowed the few juniors to circle around her, gaze at it, and even occasionally touch the dress with their hands.

And after she went back to change out of the dress, several girls actively requested it, spending half the day in front of the mirror trying it on, which was even harder for Emerald Sparrow to comprehend, but she didn't say much.

Once the juniors had finished their uproar, she called them back, sitting in a circle on the sofa in the small room, then leaned against the sofa and spoke:

"I went out for a meal with someone tonight, and the other party was a high-ranking member of the Magical Affairs Institute and the Research Institute."

With just one sentence, the previously noisy girls quieted down immediately.

"The Magical Affairs Institute... and the Research Institute?" Xia Liang was the first to understand what Emerald Sparrow was talking about, even realizing certain facts.

Undoubtedly, the topic of the Kingdom's Five Institutes and their power divisions was relatively unfamiliar to the juniors.

Xia Liang and Lin Xiaolu were better off, as they became Magical Girls earlier, so Emerald Sparrow indoctrinated them with more common knowledge, making them familiar with the terms "Magical Affairs Institute" and "Research Institute." As for Bai Jingxuan, although she was fed with duck-style lessons later on by Emerald Sparrow, the things she could understand at her age were ultimately limited; these terms for her were infinitely close to "things only seen in textbooks."

"And then, Emerald Sparrow, you are a Patrol Envoy of the Investigation Bureau, so this meal was a gathering of people from three institutes?"

Lin Xiaolu, though not very sensitive to these topics, gradually realized: "Did you discuss something very important?"

"...You could say it's quite important, and it's related to this examination, so I thought it necessary to talk to you about it."

Emerald Sparrow nodded, calmly saying: "We've received some bad news, that people from Black Ash Dawn and Claw Mark have infiltrated this city. Though they haven't acted yet, we've all determined they will during the examination."

"Claw Mark?" Lin Xiaolu, who was recently beaten down by Claw Mark people, immediately shouted.

"Black Ash Dawn?" Bai Jingxuan, knowing her family's affairs, instinctively rubbed the back of her hand.

"Us?" Xia Liang noticed a certain change in the pronouns in Emerald Sparrow's speech and extracted information from it.

"Yes, you heard right, these two groups intend to make a move at the examination site."

Emerald Sparrow nodded in affirmation: "Currently, due to certain reasons, I am cooperating with the Investigation Bureau and the Magical Affairs Institute. We'll discuss this later, but there is absolutely no doubt about the authenticity of this information. So now, I need to confirm with you regarding this examination..."

—"So you're saying that those guys who caused trouble in Fangting City before, or their associates, also plan to come here and stir up trouble this time, right."

Before Emerald Sparrow could finish speaking, Lin Xiaolu nodded and summarized, then wore a serious expression: "Great, this time I'll make sure they suffer."

"Mm-mm." Bai Jingxuan, beside her, positively expressed agreement as well.

Only Xia Liang showed a thoughtful expression and didn't immediately give an answer. But even so, the two-to-one vote was enough to explain a certain issue.

"...I haven't asked you guys yet. I've already told you before, this examination's difficulty is higher than in previous years, and now it's confirmed that there will be disturbances, which can definitely turn it into a place of trouble. Under such circumstances, are you still determined to participate?"

Despite being interrupted by the juniors, Emerald Sparrow still tried hard to express her thoughts completely: "You must know, examinations are held every year, and if your strength is sufficient, you can participate by skipping grades. Even if you choose to avoid it this year, yet make rapid progress next year, and participate in the word plate examination, it still complies with the rules. So, if we avoid this examination this year, and treat it as a trip to the Kingdom, and come again next year..."

"But if we come again next year, the Queen won't be watching, right?" Lin Xiaolu blinked and asked.

"In theory, that's true, but if there's some other major event next year, there's no rule she won't appear..." Emerald Sparrow continued to explain.

"So, it's highly likely she won't watch next year!" But then, even Bai Jingxuan understood the implicit condition in Emerald Sparrow's words.

"...Right." Emerald Sparrow couldn't lie about something so obvious, and could only admit.

"Then if we participate next year, no matter how well we perform, the Queen won't see it, right?"

Lin Xiaolu seriously said: "And if we participate this year, because the difficulty is higher than previous years, and there's interference from enemies, if I really perform excellently, and the Queen sees it, isn't it more likely I'll be valued?"

"I think this possibility is slim."

Realizing there's no chance to change her daughter's decision through gentle persuasion, Emerald Sparrow face went expressionless as she poured cold water: "And as someone who's been through this, I have to tell you, Bai Mei, there's some uniqueness about you and Bo Xue, which means being noticed by high-level Magical Girls isn't necessarily a good thing."

"Why?"

Lin Xiaolu tilted her head: "Xiao Xuan can use Remnant Beasts' magic power, which indeed seems a bit problematic, but as long as it can be explained, there should still be a chance; as for me, although I'm a Shifter, my magic power should be fine, right?"

"Normally, that's correct." Emerald Sparrow lowered her eyelids.

"Then if the Queen discovers I'm a Shifter, wouldn't she focus on training me, even arrange for me to enter the Five Institutes, and later become a major figure among Magical Girls..." Clearly, Lin Xiaolu's fantasies had completely taken off.

So Emerald Sparrow turned her gaze to Bai Jingxuan beside her.

"I've already prepared myself, teacher."

And her answer was equally resolute: "I want revenge for Senior Ying, and I want to avenge my former parents, so I must kill those Black Ash Dawn people."

"...I guessed your answer would be like this."

Emerald Sparrow sighed: "Yet even so, I hope you can soften your stance a little; we're Magical Girls, defeating villains is our duty, but killing is not."

"I know, teacher."

Bai Jingxuan said seriously, her pitch-black sclera revealing a vertical pupil constructed from magic power: "But I'll never let them go, this is what you taught me."

"So, you really should measure your own strength more."

Emerald Sparrow continued to advise: "I've told you this before, I won't ask you to give up on hatred anymore, however, without the corresponding strength, so-called revenge is just self-destructing."

"I understand, teacher."

Bai Jingxuan nodded: "So, in recent days, I haven't abandoned Spiritual Thought and training, and I've achieved new progress."

These words made Emerald Sparrow raise an eyebrow.

During the month of special training in Fangting City before, the three juniors each mastered new abilities, gaining strength; she was very aware of this. And now, Bai Jingxuan told her there was so-called "new progress," meaning it wasn't something achieved earlier in Fangting City but rather something that emerged in recent days.

Moreover, Bai Jingxuan wasn't someone who liked to keep secrets, so after she said this, she reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out her Heart's Gem.

At this moment, the gem in her hand no longer appeared as a budding sprout, but rather it had taken the form of a small, thin, yet fully formed leaf.