Several days later, at the special containment facility of the Fangting City Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau.
At the building's entrance, Larkspur stood with her arms folded beside Hong Siyu, silently waiting.
Today was the day agreed upon with the Kingdom. Someone from the Investigation Institute would come to investigate the previous attack on Fangting City and take the renegade Magical Girl involved—Sparrow—back to the Kingdom.
After noon, the sun was still blazing, so the two had deliberately found a patch of shade. Even so, the heat remained oppressive.
Fortunately, before long, several figures slowly descended from the sky amid golden flashes mixed with the glaring sunlight, landing steadily before them.
They were three Magical Girls.
Unlike ordinary city garrison squads, they wore matching golden robes over their usual outfits, along with golden hard hats that gleamed brilliantly beneath the afternoon sun, making them look remarkably uniform.
The Magical Girl leading them had a figure that would leave a deep impression on the opposite sex. She wore her light-red hair cut short to her ears, yet she looked quite stern and serious.
Upon spotting Larkspur at the entrance, she identified her, stepped forward, and performed an unusual-looking salute. "Letter Card certification 35032. Captain of a subordinate Investigation Institute squad, Magical Girl Cat Tail."
Her voice was forceful, giving off a composed impression.
"Flower Card certification 41076. Inspector, Larkspur." Releasing her folded arms, Larkspur returned the salute.
"Larkspur?"
Somewhat puzzled by the codename, the Magical Girl calling herself Cat Tail asked, "Please allow me to confirm. If I remember correctly, wasn't your codename Cornflower?"
"I changed it." Maintaining the reserved manner expected of an Inspector, Larkspur answered concisely.
"Very well, Lady Larkspur."
Possessing excellent professional discipline, Cat Tail promptly ignored these unimportant details and turned to the matter at hand. "We are a