"Cough!"
"To be frank, the Witch Agency hopes to establish a deeper connection with you personally."
"Cough!"
"Giant Cat Lamps and Cat Lamps—their relationship with witches will enter a more deeply developed arrangement, a higher level of strategic thinking. You know, when the situation turns turbulent, the candle is snuffed and the wax pulled..."
"Meow-ow, cough!"
"Miss Han, are you feeling a little unwell?"
Ning Shuqing asked with a concerned look.
"No, no."
Jiang Han let out another rumbling cough, clutching a smoking cat pipe in her hand. Her big eyes were glistening slightly with tears from the smoke.
She turned her head, coughed again, then carefully took a puff from the pipe between her lips.
This time, she was mentally prepared, and her witch's body had adapted once more, so she fared much better and did not cough again.
Jiang Han and Ning Shuqing sat on a relatively quiet sofa nearby. Ning Shuqing had brought with her [a hint from the Witch Agency].
This was also a common occurrence. The Witch Agency often sent hints or unofficial orders to exceptionally gifted witches. Put simply, they used benefits and personal ties to deepen those witches' feelings toward the Witch Agency, so that when necessary, they would do what could—and needed—to be done.
Though everyone knew about this sort of order, just like "Giant Cat Lamps have no factions," witches all pretended not to know.
Jiang Han had deliberately contacted the other party in such a quiet corner as a mere show of propriety.
"..."
"...So, the Witch Agency wants to obtain some recruitment rights for Giant Cat Lamps?"
Jiang Han rubbed the bowl of her pipe with her fingertips. It was packed with tobacco specially produced by Cat Lamps. The flavor was harsh, but its ingredients were sea