Chapter 144 – Whoever Threatens Z City Shall Be Slain, No Matter How Far Away!

The next day after school, Lin Xi took the day off and skipped practice in the band activity room.

Together with Shi Yu and Lu Yi, she once again rode in the luxury car driven by Zheng Mo’s butler, Sebas, and headed to Zheng Mo’s home.

The team gathering was being held at Zheng Mo’s home-a sprawling mansion.

During the ride, the nap-loving Neko once again fell asleep with her head pillowed on Lin Xi’s lap.

“Lu Yi is one thing,” Lin Xi said, turning to Shi Yu, “but why are you leaning over too?”

“I’m a little sleepy as well,” Shi Yu replied. “I’m your backup girlfriend. It’s not too much to ask for your shoulder to lean on, is it?”

“No.” Lin Xi rejected her without hesitation.

“All right.” Shi Yu obediently gave up.

Although she couldn’t rest her head on Lin Xi’s shoulder, she quietly inched closer and pressed herself against Lin Xi’s side instead.

Lin Xi was utterly speechless.

So, to sum up the current situation:

Shi Yu, Lu Yi, Qin Ling, and Thor-the four cuddle targets on the Cuddle Witch’s Last Wish List-had all started cuddling up to me of their own accord?!

“Shi Yu, you used to tell me, ‘Don’t keep looking my way in class, and don’t talk to me either.’ Now I’m asking the same of you.”

“Huh? So you really are still mad?”

“That’s not it,” Lin Xi said. “We used to act like we barely knew each other in class. If we suddenly become close, what are the other students supposed to think?”

“Miss Shanshan has already asked me whether there’s something special going on between us.”

“Oh?” Shi Yu said. “What’s so troubling about that? I’m even planning to become your deskmate.”

“Get lost.” Lin Xi had absolutely no desire to sit beside Shi Yu.

At Lin Xi’s insistence, Shi Yu finally agreed to keep acting like an ordinary classmate around her, just as she had before.

“I’ll do anything you ask,” Shi Yu said. “After all, I’m your backup girlfriend.”

Lin Xi was speechless.

…

Upon arriving at Zheng Mo’s home, Lin Xi finally met Zhou Lin in person.

Zhou Lin was a beautiful, capable older woman-the exact sort of independent and dashing woman Lin Xi hoped to become when she grew up.

After exchanging warm greetings, the first thing Lin Xi did was explain what had happened in the group chat last night.

She had to clear up the misunderstanding and make sure Zheng Mo and Zhou Lin hadn’t been misled into believing their team had some sort of “sharing a bed with Lin Xi” tradition.

Zhou Lin laughed. “We might not have such a tradition, but this does prove how popular you are, Lin Xi.”

Lin Xi gave a wry smile.

Zheng Mo invited everyone to take their seats.

Tonight’s dinner was yet another extravagant feast.

Once everyone not involved with the team had been sent away, only the team members remained.

They ate, drank, chatted, and laughed together.

It was only after Lin Xi asked that she learned C City was Zhou Lin’s hometown.

Zhou Lin was also a senior mechanic.

“Before joining ZERO, I also despaired of this world, constantly besieged by Dark Realm Disaster incursions,” Zhou Lin said. “In C City, pessimism and withdrawal from the world are the prevailing attitudes. That’s why the people there pursue mechanical ascension, modifying their own bodies so they can withstand each Dark Realm Disaster.”

“Just as I was about to join the ranks of the augmented, I encountered ZERO. It was ZERO that gave me the courage to face this cruel world.”

“But merely having the courage to face it isn’t enough. We must change this world as well.”

“Making the world a better place is ZERO’s ultimate goal.”

Zhou Lin seemed to regard ZERO as a faith. Lin Xi’s convictions did not run nearly that deep.

Changing the world was far too broad a goal. Lin Xi didn’t believe she was capable of accomplishing something like that.

All she wanted was to protect her teammates, as well as her friends-Xinning, Miss Shanshan, Miss Su Xiangxue, and the others.

As for Xia Xun, she certainly didn’t need Lin Xi’s protection.

Lin Xi felt that she only had room in her heart for these few things. Changing the world was better left to capable people like Sister Lin.

“Lin Xi! Especially you,” Zhou Lin suddenly said with excitement. “Given your outstanding performance, you’re destined to become part of ZERO’s core in the near future!”

Lin Xi: “…”

“You… you really think too highly of me…”

“Not at all,” Zhou Lin said. “You have tremendous potential. You need to have more confidence in yourself.”

“Uh, all right. I’ll do my best…” Lin Xi dreaded the thought of Heaven entrusting her with some great mission. How could a lazy good-for-nothing like her shoulder such a burden…?

Come to think of it, I’m the Blazing Blast Witch. Does ZERO really not mind at all?

They even plan to entrust me with major responsibilities in the future???

ZERO really is a strange organization…

They then moved on to three serious matters.

The first concerned Shuguang Technology’s illegal program to create superpower user subjects.

The core from C City had already been used on Shi Yu.

But everyone knew Shuguang Technology wouldn’t let the matter rest.

As the team’s intelligence expert, Qin Ling had been following the situation closely.

“Shuguang Technology must already know that one of the robbers was an artificial human.”

“If they investigate their old research records, they might trace them back to Shi Yu.”

“And it seems… they’ve already started making moves.”

“I’ve discovered that Shuguang Technology is attempting to contact the strongest mercenary squad in Z City.”

“This squad claims that below the level of a Magical Girl, they’re invincible.”

“Apparently, that’s because their team has five members, each a superpower user.”

“Five members, each a superpower user?!” Zhou Lin was somewhat shocked. “If that’s really their lineup, they’ll certainly be difficult to deal with.”

“We’re no pushovers either,” Shi Yu said. “I have a new core, Lin Xi and Thor are each a Special-Grade Disaster, Lu Yi and Zheng Mo can provide covering fire, and we have Qin Ling’s precise intelligence. Our lineup is nothing to scoff at.”

Thor declared with complete confidence,

“There’s no need for anyone else to lift a finger. I can handle them by myself.”

“I may not be able to beat a Magical Girl, but surely I can crush them?”

“Qin Ling, if you track down their location, I won’t wait for them to come to us. I’ll strike first and make sure not one of them is left alive.”

My Dragon Maid sure is violent… Lin Xi silently grumbled.

She said to Thor, “If we do take action, there’s no way we’d let you go alone.”

“They’re battle-hardened mercenaries. Who knows what kinds of dirty tricks they might use?”

“Master, are you worried about me? Do you want to fight by my side? I love you-!” Thor pressed herself against Lin Xi, only for Lin Xi to push her away.

“Stick to the subject! We’re in front of everyone, so show some shame!”

After the commotion died down, the atmosphere grew serious again.

“With your lineup, Shuguang Technology shouldn’t be too difficult to handle,” Zhou Lin said. “The real problems are the Dark Realm Alliance and the Destroyer, Drax, who coerced Thor into coming to Z City to launch a terrorist attack.”

As the most trusted lieutenant of the Monarch of Pride, the Destroyer Drax was so terrifying that Thor couldn’t help trembling at the sound of his name.

She clutched Lin Xi’s hand tightly. Lin Xi gently patted the back of Thor’s hand.

“Don’t worry. I’m here.”

“If the Monarch of Pride came in person, there might be nothing we could do. But if this Drax guy comes to Z City, I’ll make sure he never leaves alive!”

“Whoever attacks Z City will be killed, no matter how far away they flee!”

Lin Xi wasn’t just talking big. She had absolute confidence in her Mega Fireball Spell.