---o---
Inside the W Magic Troupe, in the ringmaster's office.
Following Anna's introduction and explanation, the trouble Fu Li had caused was naturally forgiven, and he was gratefully invited into the office.
The woman in the main seat had long, golden hair and magnificent violet eyes. Although she was in her thirties, she could still be described as graceful and charming.
She sat in her chair, a magician's top hat placed beside her, and sized up the three people before her with a suspicious gaze.
There was her Anna, her old friend's child Vill-V, and the one her own daughter had personally acknowledged as her savior... a boy who called himself Li.
He was an almost unfairly handsome, yet unusually mature, child.
However, according to the police, the ones who had kidnapped Anna last night were a well-known local gang, whose members were mostly adults. This child, on the other hand, looked to be no more than seven or eight years old.
How on earth did a child of this age manage to rescue her daughter?
"First, allow me to express my gratitude, Mister... Li. Thank you for saving my daughter. To be honest, when I received the threatening letter, I was truly in a panic."
Although addressing a young boy as "Mister" was a bit strange, Cocolia did so out of gratitude.
Despite her politeness, a clear note of doubt could be heard in her voice.
Fu Li paid it no mind. He knew that in human interactions, the first impression is always based on appearance.
Therefore, he simply replied courteously.
"Not at all. It was a small effort, not worth mentioning."
"...A small effort?"
A deeper look entered Cocolia's eyes as she cut straight to the point. "Don't worry about the reward; I've already sent someone to prepare it. But before that, I have a question."
She leaned forward, applying pressure while her hand subtly reached down below the desk.
"I wonder, Mister Li, how did a child like you manage to rescue Anna from a dozen, maybe even more, adult men?"
"Well, first of all, I didn't engage in any conflict with those men. I simply found an opportunity to cut her ropes and then escaped with her."
Fu Li told a lie riddled with holes. He didn't expect Cocolia to believe him.
Because no matter how perfect a lie is, it cannot bridge the enormous gap between a normal child and a grown adult.
So, he chose this kind of lie, one that seemed to rely purely on luck, to see if Cocolia might have a lapse in judgment and choose to believe it.
"Is that so? I see."
Cocolia nodded as if she believed him, but in the next instant, she vaulted over the desk, a magic wand shooting out, aiming for the side of Fu Li's head.
The thrust was incredibly fast, but in Fu Li's eyes, it was like slow motion.
This was purely a test. If he didn't dodge, he would seem too calm. If he did dodge, he would need to feign being startled. Only then could he deceive Cocolia.
Naturally, Fu Li was unwilling to make a fool of himself in front of Vill-V, so he chose a third option.
He blocked with both hands, bent one leg, and gave Cocolia's abdomen a light push with his foot.
Fu Li used Cocolia's momentum against her, deflecting her force with a standard martial arts stance before sending her to the ground.
Cocolia lost the first exchange, but because Fu Li was holding back significantly, and because her own skills were quite good, she managed to adjust her posture the moment she landed.
Quickly, within the few seconds before Anna and Vill-V could even react, the two figures clashed again.
In less than ten seconds, after a rapid exchange of intertwined arms and legs, the victor was decided.
Cocolia, the adult, was pinned to the ground like a helpless chick. The magic wand in her hand had, at some point, transformed into a sharp knife.
A classic magic trick, transforming a wand into something else. Only this time, it wasn't a flower, but a blade.
"Truly impressive, Miss Cocolia. You have the skills of a top-tier soldier, and your magic is just as formidable."
"Cough, cough... Let go of me! As I thought, you're no ordinary person. The police will be here soon to get a statement from Anna. You can take the money, but you are not to harm my children."
"Alright, alright, I have no ill intentions toward you. Don't make me out to be the bad guy."
Seeing the distorted expression on Cocolia's face, Fu Li knew her protective instincts had kicked in. He had no choice but to release her with a sigh.
The moment he let go, Cocolia pulled Anna and Vill-V behind her, picked up the knife from the floor, and aimed it at Fu Li.
Is this the post-traumatic stress disorder characteristic of soldiers?
So this is the alternate-universe counterpart of that Cocolia? As expected, she's still tied to the military.
"Okay, okay, Miss Cocolia, I only came here for Vill-V," the unfazed Fu Li said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Seeing this, Cocolia calmed down a little, but the shock in her heart did not diminish.
She had only intended to probe him, but she never expected his skills to be this good.
"For Vill-V?" Cocolia frowned. "What about Vill-V?"
She looked at Fu Li, but he didn't answer. He simply glanced behind her, and then, Vill-V spoke up.
"Aunt Cocolia, he... Li is not a bad person. He's only here to take me away."
"Take you away? Why?" Cocolia was perplexed. She looked at Vill-V, confused.
And Vill-V, just as naturally, wove a nearly perfect story.
"So, Li's original name is actually Temir? He's your cousin, and he changed his name while on the run because his entire family was killed. After becoming a child soldier, he's been searching for you all this time?"
After hearing the story Vill-V fabricated, Cocolia was surprised, but she didn't doubt it in the slightest.
Is this the power of a conman? To be this terrifying even at such a young age.
Fu Li grumbled internally but maintained a smile on his face. "That's right, that's how it is. Vill-V is my only living relative. May I take her with me?"
His request was, as expected, met with opposition.
"What are you thinking? No matter how I look at it, there's no way I'm letting Vill-V go with a seven or eight-year-old brat."
Even if this little brat is more skilled than I am...
Cocolia clutched her head, which was beginning to ache. She pushed down Anna, who kept trying to say something, and confirmed with a sigh.
"To ensure everyone's safety, I need to confirm something. Have you left your former mercenary group? And what happened to the people who kidnapped Anna?"
"Yes, I left a year ago. As for those people, they're dead."
So it's true...
Looking at Fu Li, who said this with a smile, Cocolia rubbed her temples in frustration.
Her logic told her to refuse, but her emotions urged her to accept.
Finally, she dropped her hand with a sigh and clapped it onto Fu Li's shoulder.
"Alright, it's decided. There's no way I can let you take Vill-V away right now. After all, you're still a child, so..."
At this, Cocolia sighed heavily, feeling as though she had just taken on a huge problem.
"You'll stay here and work until you're both grown up. Only then will I consider letting you leave with Vill-V. How about it?"
"This..." Fu Li feigned hesitation, but his eyes met Vill-V's from behind Cocolia for a brief moment.
In their eyes, the glint of a successful con shone.
From the moment Fu Li had seen Cocolia stand against him to protect Vill-V, his test and probe of her had found its answer.
That was, he would not take Vill-V away for the time being. He would let her grow up here and see what she wanted to do in the future.
"Very well, Miss Cocolia. Your actions just now have earned my trust. Therefore, I am willing to stay here until Vill-V has grown up."
"Tch. You're just a little kid. Stop with the little-adult act."
Looking at the dead-serious Fu Li, Cocolia chuckled with exasperation. She rubbed her shoulder, wanting to light a cigarette.
But, as if remembering there were children present, her hand paused, and she reluctantly lowered it.
"Alright... I get it. Have Anna take you to pick out an empty room. As for the police, leave them to me."
Cocolia returned to her seat and let out a breath.
"I may be retired now, but I still have my old connections. Don't worry."
Author's Note: I finished writing a bit late, so sleepy.