The Honest Man and the False Phantom

Saying this, the magical girl referred to as a "Masterpiece" calmly looked at Red and the other magical girls behind her. "I have a mission, so I won't chat anymore. Since you're not dead... don't forget to come back and report later."

After saying that, she prepared to leave.

However, these words undoubtedly angered Hong, who almost instantly raised her hand, conjuring a dazzling crimson magic. "You are..."

"Are you kidding me?! You idiot!!"

As he continued cursing, countless Crimson Crystal appeared in the air, covering a large area and falling from the sky, forcing the person who wanted to leave to stay.

Xiao Cui and Cong Yu looked at the sky together, staring at the two Takemikazuchi in each other's hands. "Masterpiece... Is this their title?"

Is the other person's name [Magical Girl Masterpiece ☆chan]?

In response to Xiao Cui's curiosity, Lantian Zhu, who also came from the Purge Squad, answered for her, "She is one of the Purge Squad's aces, and was a teammate of Senior Hong... She is the squad's artificial ace, their greatest Masterpiece."

Man-made ace? Can an ace even be man-made?

Xiao Cui blinked and looked at the magical girl who was called a "Masterpiece," immediately realizing that the other party might be a formidable enemy.

After all, even Teacher Hong wasn't considered a "Masterpiece," while the other party was given the title of "Masterpiece," so it must be even more impressive than Teacher Hong.

"I've only heard about it... The training for the first Purge Squad is extremely rigorous and brutal, but this level alone is certainly not artificial."

Lantian Zhu echoed this sentiment, squinting at the sky. "Emotions can affect the efficiency of magic... The stronger the emotion used in casting a spell, the greater its power will be."

"This is 'Emotional Loading.' Theoretically, 'emotion' can bring a 100% boost to the spell."

"However, generally speaking, determination and emotion cannot reach, or even exceed, the theoretical amplification..."

"But the other party can do it."

"A 'Masterpiece' can actively control emotions and Loading them into the technique, so without a doubt..."

"They will be formidable opponents!"

"..."

"Boom!!!"

As Lantian Zhu was thinking this, Teacher Hong and "Masterpiece," his two old teammates, immediately bumped into each other.

Then, a violent explosion occurred.

Amidst the solemn expressions of Lantian Zhu and Xiao Cui, and the sidelong glances of Cong Yu who was trying not to laugh... the smoke gradually dissipated.

What was revealed was Teacher Hong, whose feet were shrouded in Crimson Formation, who was holding his "Masterpiece" by the neck with one hand and crushing the other's head with his bare hands.

Despite being hyped up just now, that magical girl, hailed as a "Masterpiece," seems to have been utterly defeated by Red in the very first battle.

His head was smashed by an elbow.

"???" Lantian Zhu looked confused... What's going on? Why is it so weak? Is it just a clone?

Or is it that Senior Red is just too strong?

Xiao Cui paused for a moment, then looked at Sister Blue Sky, who had just been praising "Masterpiece-san" enthusiastically, hoping to get an explanation from her.

However, Lantian Zhu could only show an embarrassed expression in response.

Cong Yu, unable to suppress a smile, shook her head helplessly... Although the boast was true, it would still be a bit difficult for her to compete with Hong.

Moreover, false emotions are ultimately just that—false emotions.

All I can say is...

Full Loading is already T0 in this version.

Cong Yu Yusang, who possesses "Mixed Magic" and is currently a top-tier character, offered this insightful comment.

Chapter 485 Honest Man and Replica Phantom

For Hong Xiawu Hong, or rather, for magical girls of that era, the concept of teammates was far less significant than it literally meant.

Or rather, it's closer to the original meaning of "teammate".

Nowadays, magical girls should be called companions rather than "teammates".

In the past...

It's probably closer than a "colleague" relationship, but not by much... There's still not a lot of emotional connection between us.

But there are still some.

For the emotionally detached "Purge Squad," even a little bit of camaraderie is incredibly important.

As killing tools, they might even share a certain degree of mutual respect... and Red is no exception.

After being rescued by Cong Yu, Hong considered helping her former teammates find relief... but ultimately gave up on the idea.

Because old teammates might not appreciate it.

It was because of this slight pity that Hong heard the words, "[Since you're not dead, don't forget to come back and report later]."

I was both angry and sad.

Filled with anger and disappointment at her former teammates, Red unleashed the Crimson Formation, subsequently annihilating the enemy.

Because they knew the opponent's information, and were also aware that the opponent didn't know theirs, they focused on thoroughly defeating the opponent.

Because of affection

They reported it, so they didn't suffer a setback.

This is the value of Jiraiya's intelligence... cough cough, the value of Hong Xiawu Hong's intelligence.

At this very moment, deep within the 22nd Group, in a laboratory undetectable by any instrument, lies the site of the Purge Squad's "Masterpiece."

"Will you talk or not?!"

"..."

"Will you talk or not?!"

"..." Facing his old teammate wielding the small leather whip, the suspended "Masterpiece" didn't know what expression to make. "What did you say?"

Cong Yu, who had just entered, was speechless...

I was thinking that Hong seemed to be getting more serious and that he was about to shed his comedic persona, but then he pulled this stunt.

If you want to know something, just ask...

What's the story behind Takemikazuchi?

"Masterpiece" had no intention of answering Red's question, and Red had no intention of actually whipping her old teammate.

After all, she knew that beating the other person to death would be pointless.

We're all highly trained people; there's no way to get the other party to talk during interrogations or similar situations.

Hong hesitated for a moment, then reached out and placed her hand on the other person's waist.

"Crunch-crunch-crunch--"

As for Hong's actions, the "Masterpiece" that was tickling her itch looked at Hong with eyes that seemed to regard her as an idiot.

Red. "..."

That's it, it's completely still.

"Pfft..."

Cong Yu couldn't help but laugh out loud, but when Hong looked over, she straightened up and suppressed her laughter to maintain the seriousness of the scene.

"..." Hong fell silent. She began to realize how difficult she had been to deal with in the past... Speaking of which, how did I ever manage to break down my defenses back then?

I thought about it briefly.

It seems that she wasn't hanging at that time, but rather locked in a room, and Cong Yu would occasionally come over and hug her.

Yes, it's a sense of "peace of mind"...

People live for peace of mind.

Realizing this, Hong Xiawu Hong looked at Cong Yu as if she understood something. "Cong Yu! You should hold her and go to sleep!"

"..." Cong Yu: "???"

To this, Cong Yu immediately burst into three laughs.

"Hahaha, I don't want to."

Responding like this, Cong Yu understood that Hong was connecting it to the past. He helplessly reminded her, "She's not you. How do you know that using the same method on her will work?"

Hong immediately retorted to Cong Yu's words, saying, "You're not me, how do you know I don't know the same method would work on her?"

"..." Good grief, are you trying to pull this "you are not a fish" trick on me?

Cong Yu did not engage in the dialogue game with her, which involved the lines: "[You're not me, how do you know I don't know you don't know...]".

Instead, he simply took two steps forward, pressed his fist against Hong's temple, and then violently showed her the consequences of kissing her boss. "I'll crawl!"

Drill drill drill!!!

"Croak!!"

The red monster cried out, covering its head with its hands. "Wrong, wrong! Let me think of another way, let me think of another way!"

The two, oblivious to everyone else, began their playful antics. The girl watching their "Masterpiece" looked completely bewildered; four words flashed through her mind—

Singing, imitating, teasing, and performing!

"..." No, no, no...

It's "Damn, I'm mentally challenged!"

"..."

"Well..."

After letting out a sigh, "Masterpiece" only felt a slight headache... not the lingering phantom pain from when his head was crushed earlier.

Instead, it's the headache of "getting too old to look at these childish things"... Of course, perhaps there's some envy and jealousy hidden in it.

However, "Masterpiece" is completely unaware of her own emotions, so she is completely oblivious to this.

That's Replica Phantom.

This Masterpiece of a speech awaited their reaction. However, Cong Yu and Hong were still playfully bickering, seemingly oblivious to her words.

After a brief silence, "Masterpiece's" voice rose eight octaves. "Those two Takemikazuchi are Replica Phantom created by the spell."

This time, both Cong Yu and Hong heard it clearly.

"Replica Phantom?"

Cong Yu asked this question, quietly sitting down without asking why "Masterpiece" had suddenly cooperated. "What is that? Like a clone?"

Cloning... what is that?

A clone from science fiction?

"Hmm, more or less, it should be something similar."

"Masterpiece" nodded in response, then explained in detail, "The biological individuals created using collected bodily fluids, limbs, or hair through the 'Phantom Image Technique' are one of the attempts in the 'Anti-King' project."

Then, before Cong Yu could ask, she continued to explain the term, "The Purge Squad sent people to secretly purchase 'Takemikazuchi's' blood at the Wind City Magical Girl Agency, but failed... In the end, they collected some hair."

"The 'Phantom Image Technique' is a technique that can create Replica Phantom entities. After consuming a large amount of magic power, the illusory entities created can restore a small portion of the original's power."

"Anti-King Project is a joint operation by the Purge Squad and several other independent teams, with the goal of defeating the Monster King."

"But that's what they say. Actually, all we need to do is achieve the goal of having Japan covered in weirdos again... to restore the old..."

"Situations with numerous commissions and many job positions."

"..." Wow, she told me everything! How honest she is!

Cong Yu was somewhat surprised. This was the first time she had encountered a prisoner who, without even being asked specifically, honestly and straightforwardly explained the situation.

"Red, your teammate is really honest."

Hong nodded in agreement at Cong Yu's remarks. "The Purge Squad works like this... the Anti-King Project, hmm--"

Hong said this with some emotion.