During the break on the second day, in the morning, Emerald Sparrow went to the Research Institute together with Lin Xiaolu.
She finally agreed to the request of Purple Diamond for a simple reason: the newly appointed Purple Diamond did not seem like someone who would easily give up. Even if she rejected him, he would most likely achieve his goal by other means, which would make things even harder to control.
Instead of rashly pushing matters to an irreconcilable state, it was better to see if there was room for communication. With this thought in mind, Emerald Sparrow asked Lin Xiaolu for her opinion.
Lin Xiaolu was quite optimistic, believing that having the Gemstone Scepter wanting to see her was because the Queen wanted to rely on her again, significantly improving her previously gloomy mood, and she agreed without hesitation.
Honestly, this made Emerald Sparrow's mood somewhat complex.
The meeting place was set at the Research Institute because Emerald Sparrow was destined not to meet Purple Diamond as Cornflower. Using the false identity of "Long Dan" also had the potential to expose herself, and without understanding the current Purple Diamond's intentions, it was more prudent not to make contact lightly. Thus, choosing the Research Institute and having Emerald handle security seems like the safest arrangement.
"Don't be too nervous, but remember that some things can be said, while others cannot."
Standing not far from the Research Institute's main gate, Emerald Sparrow subconsciously helped Lin Xiaolu tidy her collar while calmly saying, "If you sense that Purple Diamond has bad intentions, remember to find Emerald, alright?"
It must be said that after all these days of collusion, Emerald Sparrow's trust in Emerald had significantly increased, at least within the scope of the Royal Court and the Gemstone Scepter; Emerald should be the most trustworthy person.
"Oh."
Lin Xiaolu nodded: "Just as you said before, Emerald has a better relationship with you. She's the one inviting you back to become the Gemstone Scepter, right?"
"Consider it like that for now, but you know, those words…"
"Cannot be mentioned to Purple Diamond." Lin Xiaolu blinked.
"That's right, just talk about your own matters. If asked about me or Ying, casually mention some irrelevant information. Don't lie, but also don't disclose useful truths."
Emerald Sparrow instructed seriously: "Finally, if she wants to take you to meet the Queen, you can go, but don't agree to any 'requests' the Queen makes."
"Why?" Lin Xiaolu asked, slightly puzzled.
"Just listen." Emerald Sparrow gently hugged Lin Xiaolu's shoulder.
And so, Lin Xiaolu no longer felt puzzled.
...
...
Eventually, Lin Xiaolu met this "Purple Diamond" in a relatively secluded lounge within the Research Institute.
The person wore a white princess dress with light pink hair, without any trace of "purple," leading Lin Xiaolu to initially think she had entered the wrong room. It was only when the other person spoke that she dismissed her doubts.
"You're Bai Mei, right?"
Despite her appearance not looking much older than Lin Xiaolu, the Purple Diamond sitting there exuded a very oppressive aura.
"...Yes."
This color combination, shouldn't it be called White Diamond or Pink Diamond?
Lin Xiaolu held such doubts in her heart but didn't express them. Instead, she behaved obediently, standing properly and waiting for the other to continue speaking.
"Sorry to take up a bit of your time, calling you over just before your exams, but I do have some matters to discuss with you."
Purple Diamond pointed to an empty spot on the sofa beside her: "Sit down and let's talk."
"Alright." Lin Xiaolu obediently sat on the sofa but slightly further from the spot Purple Diamond indicated.
"Well, I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll get straight to the point: your Magic Armor assessment is rated SS; you should be aware of this."
Purple Diamond noticed Lin Xiaolu's small movements but didn't mention them: "Therefore, you actually have the potential to become the Gemstone Scepter."
"Ah...ah." Lin Xiaolu responded, slightly dazed.
Emerald Sparrow had already told her about this, so she wasn't surprised at the moment. However, hearing it directly from an outsider, especially from a Gemstone Scepter, still left her without a sense of reality.
If she truly was a so-called reserve Gemstone Scepter, then was her performance too ordinary, even slightly underwhelming? Aside from her Magic Armor form being somewhat special, the total magic power was slightly higher, but there seemed to be nothing particularly unique. She even lost in battles limited to using Magic Armor against Mu Mian, a peer in the same cohort... Such a self, does she really have a chance to become the Gemstone Scepter?
"It seems you haven't realized the special nature of this matter."
Seeing Lin Xiaolu's dazed look, Purple Diamond shook her head: "Bai Mei, have you ever heard the story of the Gemstone Scepter's origin?"
"The origin of the Gemstone Scepter?"
Lin Xiaolu came back to her senses, trying to recall: "I remember... it says the Queen bestowed her scepter gems upon her most trusted Magical Girls, and these Magical Girls became the Gemstone Scepter..."
"Yes, the story is true." Purple Diamond folded her hands: "So have you realized the special nature of this so-called 'Gemstone Scepter potential'?"
"Special nature?" Lin Xiaolu still didn't quite understand: "Is it because my Magic Armor is rare, so they plan to give me the gem... this kind of feeling?"
"Hmm, you really haven't understood."
Still expressionless, Purple Diamond remarked, "Then let me remind you again. From that 'legend,' didn't you notice a difference from your current situation? How are those Magical Girls, who were bestowed gems by the Queen, described?"
"It's, trust...ah."
Lin Xiaolu suddenly stopped.
She understood what Purple Diamond wanted to say because in that "legend," the so-called Gemstone Scepters were actually the Queen's trusted inner circle. They became the Gemstone Scepter not because of any innate talent but because the Queen shared her authority with them.
In other words, if it only comes to talent, none of the currently serving Gemstone Scepters had the "talent to become a Gemstone Scepter." From the start, this was a false proposition, something nonexistent.
The only strict requirement to "become a Gemstone Scepter" is the Queen's trust, nothing more.
"Gemstone Scepters were never a stage Magical Girls reached through Kaihua. Our authority comes from the Majesty's sharing, so theoretically, no Magical Girl could reach this point by herself."
Purple Diamond looked at Lin Xiaolu: "However, Emerald claimed she never gave up researching this subject, and in her hypothesis model, there is indeed a minuscule possibility that under some extremely special outside factors, a Magical Girl could have the potential to spontaneously gain authority."
Actually, even Purple Diamond herself had only just learned this fact.
Before meeting Lin Xiaolu, she specifically went to question Emerald and got this information from her.
As for what the so-called "extremely special outside factors" are, Emerald remained vague, but Purple Diamond had some understanding of her. If Emerald set "Gemstone Scepter potential" as a standard within the machine, it means she's found some sort of answer; she's just unwilling to share it with me.
Of course, Purple Diamond didn't expect Emerald to divulge everything to her.
"Your talent comes from Fangting City, a city once guarded by Magic Girl Ying, Cornflower, and Margaret, where you yourself were a disciple of Cornflower."
Looking at Lin Xiaolu, Purple Diamond leaned slightly forward: "Then about your potential to become the Gemstone Scepter, do you have any guesses about its origin, or who do you think is most likely to be the so-called 'outside factor'?"
