During the flight on White Eagles, as we approached Shanghai, Ling Ling finally woke up. But noticing the "pilot," she didn't ask questions not meant for outsiders' ears. Instead, she just slipped into her Inner World, then flashed a bright smile.
Apparently, riding a wave of euphoria, her genius brain didn't notice the poor state of the stars, or she knew something I didn't. But for the rest of the trip, she quietly pressed against me and whispered her thanks, rubbing her face against my chest. Seeing such genuine joy, my doubts vanished, and I brightly smiled while stroking Ling Ling's head.
Upon arrival, she immediately skipped off to her grandpa, while we, without even thinking of resting, headed straight to Director Xiao's office. After all, the exam for the Main Campus was just three days away. We needed to report our achievements in Cultivation and hunting to earn full rights to go through the back door. In all fairness, though, the other students should thank us for skipping that exam. Otherwise, they wouldn't have had a chance at prize spots.
Not for the first time heading to the director, we knew exactly where his office was. Ten minutes later, we were knocking on his door. Getting permission to enter, we didn't refuse, and our eyes beheld the ever-present Director Xiao buried in papers.
"We greet you, Director. We've come with good news," As usual, I took the lead in negotiations, while the girls just listened attentively and pretended to be the most serious people in the world.
"Hmm, yes, I can already sense it. You've made great progress in Cultivation. I wouldn't be wrong to say you're among the most talented young mages in the country," Stroking his beard contentedly, he declared.
Well, no wonder he was pleased. If we performed excellently at the world championships, we'd definitely bring glory to our home turf, and he could rub it in the Imperial University's face – they always had more members in the national team than us.
"Here's our Hunter stats for the recent period and badges confirming our rank. If there are no objections, I hope you'll keep your word on transferring us to the Main Campus and tickets to the National Team," I handed him the printout from the Hunter's Association branch that we'd picked up when turning in our previous quests.
"Ooo, you're all Master Hunters already? Excellent results! No objections here at all. With that service record, you won't turn into greenhouse mages. And of course, my word stands – you'll get all the promised tickets when team selection is announced," Beaming a smile, the director started scanning the walls with his eyes, apparently planning to frame our results for motivation of other students coming to him.
"And the transfer to the Main Campus?" I decided to clarify anyway.
"I've already transferred you ages ago. How could I not? I'd be a senile old fool to let a solid High-level three-mage team go against students just stepping into Mid-level," He twitched his eyebrow in irritation.
"Well then, we'll take our leave. Urgent matters demand our attention," Nodding to him, I left the office satisfied, with the girls. Heh, I haven't lost my touch for irritating him.
"You can go home and rest. The next two days, I'll be very busy with my martial arts teacher. I promise, as soon as the Main Campus transfer exam ends, we'll spend lots of time together," I turned to my girls and pecked their cheeks.
"Don't forget to strengthen our bodies later and help with training! Don't think that just because your physical strength has far surpassed ours, you can dominate us in bed!" Ruffling her feathers, TuTu glared menacingly at me.
"... But we always lose anyway," Blushing a bit from the conversation in a semi-public place, Jiao Jiao stated the obvious fact.
"But with equal physical strength, we'd have a chance to win!" Chin up, arms folded under her ample chest, TuTu declared. Strangely, her female logic made a bit of sense this time.
Parting with the girls, I stepped aside to a quiet spot and dialed one of the few numbers in my phonebook – which, by the way, kept changing:
"What do you want, you rascal?" A tired voice sounded from the other end.
"Hey now, why so cold? We're practically inseparable!" I started teasing her to lift her obviously bad mood.
"... I'm hanging up," Came the same tired reply. Something must've really worn her down.
"What if I say I have info on a small Black Church cell in Shanghai, led by at least a blue Deacon? True, no exact location, but I know their likely strike target," I got straight to business.
"Why didn't you say so sooner?! That should've been reported immediately! I'm flying to you right now – don't you dare go poking around alone! Tell me everything in person," Tang Yue perked up instantly.
"Better bring an investigation team and some strong allies. They're striking in three days. I'll tell you the exact target a couple hours before it starts," I hung up amid her cursing tirade. Didn't know she could swear like that.
Switching my phone to wild zone mode – fully suppressing its signal to stay undetectable to monsters – I strolled a bit more and teleported to Master Mo Shu. Eh, it's been a while.
_____
Hangzhou City. Magic Tribunal Building. Tang Yue's office.
For the third time calling the troublesome blabbermouth who'd delivered her a heap of problems, and getting the same "out of network" response, Tang Yue stopped cursing and tried to calm down.
Over the past six months, the tax audit sent to their organization had gone berserk. Convinced she was involved in funneling massive sums – or equivalent resources – to Mu Bai, they'd dug specifically under their faction in the Magic Tribunal, where her uncle firmly held power.
And they found stuff! Not what they sought, but spies – lots of new spies! Who bypassed spiritual contracts sworn on the Oath Tree, once thought an extremely tough feat worthy of High-level mage epics.
These individuals came from everywhere: Black Church, other terror groups, even the Parthenon! The last ones, especially galling, had to be sent home to avoid a diplomatic scandal.
And not just spies. Shady suppliers emerged too, who'd previously fed the Magic Tribunal defective goods, killing field agents. And it had all been right under their noses, but somehow unseen before!
In short, her uncle's chairman seat wobbled hard, but he held on again, dumping blame on a swarm of department heads – they had them like flies. By now, nearly a third of Magic Tribunal staff was fired as redundant; their departments just sucked budget with minimal or negative output.
The tax folks achieved their goal: stopped budget theft. Normally, they'd stop there, but these devils were dead sure she'd recently handed Mu Bai resources dwarfing prior reports!
In short, no peace for her or her family – constant surveillance, digging through their past. Her uncle even divorced because the taxies uncovered his wife's cheating and followed that thread, thinking funds came from outside. Turns out, his wife just slept with young boys, paying from his pocket...
Hearing her accuse Tang Yue of the same as she left with divorce papers was teeth-grindingly insulting. Truth was, Tang Yue was still pure – never even kissed.
Tang Yue even agreed to a spirit element magic interrogation to refute the claims, but with so many in the Magic Tribunal recently fooling what was deemed the country's strongest oath... They just brazenly said she couldn't lie to them.
Only one thing reconciled her to this harsh reality: the Magic Tribunal was purging rot at breakneck speed and working more efficiently. At this rate, the Tang family's power wouldn't weaken – it'd grow. Resources once wasted on useless crap now sat in their hands, ready for real priorities.
And now the culprit of her sleepless nights brazenly called and dropped an intel bomb! A terror cell in one of China's key cities! Not some gray Novices – at least hundreds of members! Capturing a blue Deacon might yield new info on a red Cardinal. "Insufferable brat, I'll make you pay when we meet," Clenching her fist, Tang Yue promised the sky.
"Ding!" Her phone pinged, then flew into the wall.
"Where do these half-assed playboys get my new number?!" Her furious scream was heard and noted by the tax agent in the vent – who'd leaked it to provoke his surveillance target.
Only this way could he expose this genius actor they'd failed to crack for so long. A truly terrifying woman, possibly even a red Cardinal. Nothing else explained her monstrous stealth skills.