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The Larkspur didn't glean much from the Beast Child.

After all, it was just a distant observation, and the time was short, so the information that could be obtained was very limited. In addition, some of the Beast Child had very sharp senses. For example, the magical girl codenamed "Arrowroot" seemed to sense that "someone was watching her" even though Larkspur had concealed her magical fluctuations and deliberately blended into the crowd. She tried to find the source of the gaze.

Of course, it was impossible for them to discover the Larkspur. While its keen senses were commendable, the difference in magic, experience, and skill determined the information asymmetry between the two sides.

"To be honest, although I can sense the distance between them and other children, I think it's just a difference caused by their background and education."

While recalling the information she had secretly observed, Larkspur organized her thoughts. "Although saying this might seem too lenient, I feel that, in essence, they seem to be no different from ordinary magical girls."

"Um."

The Fairy Doll shook its head. "That's normal."

"Normal?"

"In other words, it's normal for you to have this feeling, because based solely on their appearance and behavior, we've reached roughly the same conclusion."

Emerald's voice remained languid. "However, this confirms our previous suspicions, doesn't it?"

"Us?" Larkspur looked doubtful, because she had no recollection of ever speculating about anything with Emerald.

"Your girl, Bo Xue."

Emerald pointed out, "Do you remember what I told you when you brought her to me?"

"You said a lot back then," Larkspur nodded. "But which specific sentence?"

"What I'm saying is—she's a born Beast Shifter, and after she became a magical girl, she was born with 'Claw Mark'."

Emerald coughed twice, reciting as if from a memorized text. "Purer than the White Wolf, more complete, closer to the perfect form, a true 'Claw Mark'."

The Larkspur remembered those words.

Without a doubt, the words Emerald used to describe Bai Jingxuan can now be perfectly applied to those Beast Child.

"So, just like you can't see anything special about your little girl, these Beast Child are naturally the same."

Emerald offered her conclusion. "Their existence proves that Bo Xue is not an isolated case; this trait is a common characteristic of these Beast Child."

"This was expected?" Larkspur looked at the doll.

"Not here."

Emerald said succinctly, "But it's not that surprising. Once it happens, it'll happen again. After meeting your little girl, I had more or less guessed it, but I didn't expect to see so many examples so soon."

After listening to Emerald's analysis, Larkspur hesitated to speak.

"What's wrong? Is there something you can't tell me?" Seeing the Larkspur's reaction, the doll tilted its head, looking rather cute.

"... It's not that I can't say."

Larkspur pursed her lips. "But, when I think of Bo Xue, I can't help but have some thoughts when I look at these 'Beast Child'."

"Oh, so that's what you meant."

Emerald suddenly realized. "I was wondering why you were acting so strangely. Were you still thinking about these things? Did you feel sorry for them? Did you want to help them?"

"It hasn't reached that level."

Larkspur sighed, "I just can't help but wonder if there might be a child like Bo Xue among them."

"Young man."

Emerald's voice suddenly became much more serious. "You shouldn't have forgotten, I told you yesterday that just trying to protect that examinee named Mint has already put us under a lot of extra risk. Don't forget, their identities are first and foremost our enemies, and only secondly 'children.' And the situation we're about to face will be incredibly chaotic. You don't need to, and you can't, save everyone. Even we, the reigning Gem Scepter, can't do that."

In fact, Larkspur had already discussed this topic with Emerald yesterday.

In Emerald's view, not only did the Larkspur keep thinking about its "old comrades-in-arms" from Claw Mark, but it also inexplicably felt compassion for the Beast Child of Black Ash Dawn. If this kind of hesitant thinking wasn't pointed out, it might cause trouble in the following actions.

And the Larkspur itself knew what the Emerald was thinking.

"I know, and I've explained it to you many times already. I'm not so arrogant as to think I can resolve every dispute."

Larkspur remained calm. "In fact, the more I know, the more my loathing for Black Ash Dawn grows daily."

That's disgusting, it makes me want to vomit.

This is how Larkspur feels about what Black Ash Dawn has done.

Emerald had previously stated, the origin of Claw Mark, this unconventional beastification technique, has always been a mystery. Although White Wolf himself was the former Gem Scepter, he was not a scientific researcher skilled in technological development. Therefore, it is completely illogical that he could develop a complete system of beastification, combat, and ability development after more than a decade of defection.

Previously, if Black Ash Dawn was merely a "suspect" on the list of potential providers of this technology to Claw Mark Larkspur, now, after learning what "Beast Child" are and that some of Beast Child can become magical girls, she is certain that Black Ash Dawn's people are definitely among the sources of Claw Mark's technology.

She couldn't help but think of Hong Siyu.

The memory of Hong Siyu's ordeal on the day of the Full Moon Festival remains vivid. And how many victims like Hong Siyu will emerge on Claw Mark's path of exploring this forbidden technology?

Larkspur simply couldn't think deeply; even guessing a number made her feel heavy-hearted.

"The Claw Mark technology seems highly likely to be related to them. These 'Beast Child' who became magical girls were also their doing. These scum not only disregard taboos and abuse the power of Aberrant Beast, treating human life like dirt, but now they're even reaching out to magical girls, to children who originally harbored beautiful dreams and wanted to help others..."

She looked at her palms, then loosely clenched her fists. "That's why, no matter what conspiracy they're plotting right now, I absolutely don't want them to succeed. Not only that, I'm determined to find that disgusting guy hiding behind the scenes, using the magical girls as shields while he schemes for his own ends."

"Hmm, you sound quite motivated. Let's just say I was overthinking it."

The sound of drinking water came from the doll's head, probably from Emerald herself. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Are you free tonight?"

"Night?"

"Let's add another meeting. Since you're so motivated, our security plan should be adjusted again," Emerald suggested.

"It should be fine. In fact, I already have some ideas..."

Larkspur nodded in agreement, and the two of them immediately began discussing the draft.

The locations of some points need to be changed, the patrol logic in some areas needs to be reconsidered, and many plans need to be modified if we need to both defend against external enemies and deal with the trouble caused by the Beast Child.

Just as the two were having a heated discussion, Emerald suddenly received a message from the Magic Mirror.

Their conversation had to be temporarily suspended. Seeing that she had been in the examination room for almost 20 minutes and that staying any longer might delay the rest of the exam, Larkspur offered to leave.

The Emerald did not stand in the way.

Just as Larkspur thought the conversation was over and strode confidently to the exam hall door, her hand already outstretched towards it, Emerald's slightly surprised exclamation came from behind her:

"What did you say? The file I just changed access to was viewed by Purple Diamond?"