The Return Journey and the Confrontation

The dinner party ended close to midnight.

Emerald declined the offers from several employees of the Magic Affairs Institute to take her back to the Research Institute, so on the way back, only Larkspur rode in the same car with her.

In contrast to the leisurely and warm scenery along the way, Luen Nore appeared much more desolate at night.

Emerald leaned back in her seat, eyes closed, and remained silent, seemingly wanting to take a short rest on the way there, just as she had done on the way. However, after a while, she still couldn't fall asleep, so she opened her eyes somewhat helplessly.

"I slept too much today..."

She groaned in distress.

Like an old woman, she leaned on the armrest of her chair and raised her upper body, her gaze shifting to the Larkspur sitting opposite her. The Larkspur, with her hands folded, sat quite upright in her seat, her face expressionless and her eyes slightly lowered. Even when Emerald looked at her, she did not react, clearly deep in thought.

"What's wrong? Are you really that unhappy?"

So Emerald simply spoke up, taking the initiative to start the conversation. "You've been looking like someone owes you money ever since before dinner. Is there something you're unhappy about?"

"... No."

Upon hearing this, Larkspur looked up and glanced at Emerald: "I was just thinking about some things."

"What's the problem?" Emerald asked, glancing at the street scene outside the carriage and realizing that they were still some distance from the Research Institute.

"It's my own business, it has nothing to do with you or them." Larkspur shook her head.

The "they" here naturally refers to the members of the Magic Affairs Institute.

"Then you can tell me."

Emerald mimicked the Larkspur's movements, sitting up like a true lady. "This is a rare act of kindness from me towards the younger generation, giving you an opportunity to rely on me and the wisdom of the Research Institute's chief researcher. Shouldn't you make the most of it?"

"I'm afraid I can't handle it," Larkspur said irritably.

"I don't think gunpowder is on our dinner menu."

Emerald told a lame joke, "What's making you so unhappy? Is it because you still don't want to be the Gem Scepter and feel like we're all forcing you?"

The Larkspur glared at her, and she squinted back at the Larkspur; the two remained locked in this stalemate for a while.

"... No, that's not true."

After a moment, perhaps realizing that Emerald wouldn't give up if she didn't say something, Larkspur sighed, "I'm not so irrational. For me right now, continuing to run away won't solve the problem, so I was already planning to agree to your plan."

"To perform good deeds, to atone for one's crimes, and then to become a scepter?" the Emerald repeated.

"That's right."

Larkspur nodded. "But the problem lies in the method of achieving merit."

"Are you still worried about your child?" Emerald spread her hands. "Is it our plan still not putting your mind at ease?"

"That's one of the reasons."

Larkspur nodded. "But I'll talk to them about this when I get back, and we'll respect their wishes. If they really want to pass the assessment and get their Certification Card sooner, you must involve me in the development and implementation of the security plan."

"A reasonable request," Emerald nodded. "So it doesn't seem like it's worth you being so upset."

"... Perhaps."

Larkspur paused for a moment. "To be honest, even so, I still feel that this kind of thing is not right, and I even feel that I am quite despicable for participating in it and profiting from it... However, I know that I have already made my choice and made preparations, so I have no right to criticize you in this matter."

"Hmm, so?" Emerald remained noncommittal. "What's really making you so volatile?"

"You're playing me, Emerald."

Larkspur remained expressionless. "You clearly knew all along that Claw Mark had infiltrated Luen Nore, and you even knew that some of them had connections with me, and might even have already made contact with me, but you've been pretending you know nothing."

"This is slander, young man."

Emerald puffed out her cheeks slightly. "Is it possible that I'm just protecting your privacy and don't want to discuss your social circle without your consent, plus not everyone here may know the full story, so it's necessary for me to keep it a secret for you?"

"So you really did know all along?" Larkspur stared at her.

"Yes, I knew it all along." Emerald nodded rather nonchalantly. "After all, Tulip, or rather, the Claw Mark Magical Girl codenamed 'Golden Snake,' is a big celebrity. No matter how well she disguises herself, our informants can deduce her identity through multiple verifications. After all, you know, they're in the open, and we're in the shadows."

"And what about the fact that they've seen me?" Larkspur continued.

"How could I possibly know that? Didn't you tell me yourself?"

Emerald shrugged. "However, although I haven't received any definite information, just thinking about it for a moment tells me that if I were one of Claw Mark's people, I would definitely want to win you over. Although I don't know how they know you're in Luen Nore, as long as you can meet, there should be some discussion."

"You know very well that many of them were once Luen Nore, soldiers of the city beneath your feet," Larkspur said.

"Yes," Emerald nodded.

"But now, you've agreed to the plan proposed by the Magic Affairs Institute, using bait to lure them in and offer them as a sacrifice for your own gain." The Larkspur pressed on relentlessly.

"Is there a problem with this?" Emerald tilted her head.

"They are heroes of this country," Larkspur, looking at her.

"No, that's no longer the case, young man."

Emerald spoke softly, "They are not like you. Perhaps many people still think Cornflower is a hero, but they... I must tell you a fact: they are just traitors to the Kingdom, just a group of terrorists."

"Then why did they 'become traitors'? Why would a group of people who once fought for the honor of this country become a group of terrorists?"

Larkspur persisted, "There can't be no reason behind this. There's no such thing as love or hate without a cause in this world. What is it that led them to this point?"

"I don't know, young man."

Her question had hit the nail on the head, but Emerald simply looked at her calmly. "I don't know the answer to this question, or rather, I know a tiny bit, but even if I told you that, you wouldn't get the whole truth, and you might even suspect I'm lying to you. So, this is a question you should find out."

"Perhaps you will learn of some huge scandals in the process, or perhaps just some sad, trivial stories, but these are not things I should concern myself with. I am the master of Luen Nore, the guardian of the millions of people on this land. For me, it is my duty and my responsibility to seek benefits for my city and the Research Institute, and I have a clear conscience."

"If you disagree with my plan, feel it's too unreasonable, don't believe your former colleagues would betray you, or even think there's still a truth to uncover..."

"Then, seize all the power you can, understand all the truths you can, and then tell me I was wrong, where I was wrong, and what you want to do."

At this point, Emerald closed her eyes:

"Climb higher, whether it's the power of the Gem Scepter or the higher power of being a magical girl... Keep climbing, young one. Only in this way can you stop what you consider 'wrong.' Otherwise, you're just like them, a grain of sand swept along by the tide."