Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

"I see, because they had questions about the relationship between 'Long Dan' and 'Cornflower', so instead of letting them speculate wildly, you thought it would be better to just give them an answer, like saying 'Long Dan is Cornflower's child'?"

After listening to Lin Xiaolu's explanation, Emerald Sparrow pondered briefly, showing an expression of understanding: "Alright, I guess I understand what happened."

However, despite her calm appearance, the force in her hands increased a few notches as she pulled Lin Xiaolu's cheeks outward.

"I was wrong... I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

In front of her, Lin Xiaolu's cheeks were nearly stretched into a flatbread as she tearfully looked at Emerald Sparrow: "I just spoke without thinking!"

"Speaking without thinking, you just randomly make rumors about someone having a child?"

Yet this time, Emerald Sparrow had no intention of letting Lin Xiaolu go, only lowering her gaze to look at her: "It's just because I'm your mother's friend, and now I've acknowledged you as my goddaughter. If it were someone else you spread rumors about, like having an illegitimate child, do you think they would forgive you?"

"Sob sob sob..." Lin Xiaolu could only remain speechless and tearful.

"Sigh, you child."

Seeing that Lin Xiaolu was truly regretful, there was little point in further scolding her, and Emerald Sparrow eventually let go. Yet, she could finally understand the feeling behind Emerald's earlier words, "you child," which were indeed filled with helplessness.

"So have you thought about how to cover up this lie? What will you do when they ask more questions?" she asked Lin Xiaolu.

"Ask more questions? What else would they ask?" Lin Xiaolu looked bewildered.

"What if someone asks 'who is Long Dan's father'? What are you planning to answer?" Emerald Sparrow asked with a blank expression.

"Uh..." Lin Xiaolu's eyes darted around.

"If you dare to use your dad to fill this hole, I'll keep punching you," Emerald Sparrow, knowing her daughter's expression all too well, immediately raised a hand.

"I-I never said it was him!" Lin Xiaolu said nervously.

"Then who are you planning to say it is?"

"Uh, well... that..." Lin Xiaolu racked her brains: "What should I do, I don't know any other age-appropriate men..."

"The correct answer is to say nothing, you fool!" Emerald Sparrow finally couldn't stand it anymore, once again grabbing and pulling Lin Xiaolu's face.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong!"

After a chaotic scene, Emerald Sparrow finally calmed down, repeatedly warning Lin Xiaolu not to spout nonsense outside, while also mentally preparing an explanation strategy.

After temporarily sorting out this mess, she turned back to the main topic, wanting to ask about Lin Xiaolu's examination situation, only to receive a second piece of bad news.

—Lin Xiaolu's number plate, even Bai Jingxuan's and Mint's number plates had been snatched by Arrowroot.

"You mean she used some unknown method to evade surveillance in the examination hall, using the Beast Child's abilities?"

After listening to Lin Xiaolu's explanation, Emerald Sparrow's expression turned serious: "So Black Ash Dawn's people have the ability to evade examination surveillance?"

She didn't really blame Lin Xiaolu for her setback, knowing well that information and experience are crucial in battles among magical girls, and a single failure doesn't mean much. But the means revealed by Black Ash Dawn were more alarming.

It also magnified a lingering sense of unease in her mind.

That was, she didn't really understand why Black Ash Dawn and Claw Mark's invasion seemed so "honest" this time.

Yes, she had to use the word honest.

Not only did they display a completely unguarded stance in information warfare, but even within a fully mobilized Luennolay, where Claw Mark's plan could have been understood, they still strictly followed their own plan, showing nothing out of the ordinary in the first three examinations. Also, Black Ash Dawn's Beast Children were so blatant, as if they had no intent to hide, that even without Mint as a "spy," it was only a matter of time before the Kingdom noticed these unusual candidates.

By then, even if they didn't know they were related to Black Ash, the Kingdom side would inevitably focus more attention on them.

So why was this happening? Could it simply be because the enemy was too relaxed and careless?

Emerald Sparrow couldn't accept this explanation.

Even though the world doesn't always follow logic and reason, with Black Ash and Claw Mark having survived and even succeeded against the Kingdom for so many years, they shouldn't be a bunch of fools.

She had a vague sense of an answer, but it needed more deduction and thought to be completed, and for now, she had more important matters to attend to.

Looking at Lin Xiaolu's anxious face, Emerald Sparrow took a deep breath to soften her expression.

—"Do you have a plan to get them back?"

She asked.

Yes, she didn't believe that Lin Xiaolu's loss to Arrowroot was a certainty this time.

"...I do have a plan, but even if we seek revenge, if Bai Jingxuan and Mint still can't use their full power, it doesn't mean we can keep her."

Lin Xiaolu responded immediately, having clearly considered this issue for a long time: "Her abilities are too well-suited for ambushes and escaping, and my Sure Hit ability can't lock onto her once she turns to smoke."

"Then in battle, how can you be sure you'll win?" Emerald Sparrow asked.

"I'm not sure, but I think, knowing her abilities and having thought of more responses, I'll definitely perform better than last time."

Lin Xiaolu scratched her head: "Also, even though you told me that duel techniques can be systematically learned later, upon reflection, some techniques can be applied to both Remnant Beasts and people; I've been a bit too rigid."

"It sounds like there's potential for improvement, but it's not enough," Emerald Sparrow neither agreed nor disagreed: "Besides, integrating techniques isn't something that happens overnight; even if you have new insights, you have to practice repeatedly to apply it in real battles."

"Yes, and I've realized that this examination is a battle for number plates, not a completely fair duel."

Lin Xiaolu continued: "That person also used this fact to create a favorable environment when we're unable to exert our full abilities. So, I should focus on the task of retrieving the plates."

"I thought you would insist on finding her within the remaining days, facing her head-on and winning honorably, then delivering a victory speech as you take back the plates," Emerald Sparrow crossed her arms, describing how she imagined Lin Xiaolu would act.

"I would love to do that, but even I know that the success rate would be too low, not reliable enough."

Lin Xiaolu sighed slightly, then clenched a fist with determination:

"I've realized, no matter what, or by what means, I have to win against her and get the plates back first!"