...Before anyone could react, Sparkle, wearing a white mask, approached Mo Xin on her own.
"Hi hi! Next up is a 'buy one, get one free' value special gift meticulously prepared by Sparkle!"
As she spoke, Sparkle playfully removed the white fox mask and gently handed it to Mo Xin.
Sparkle～(∠・ω＜ )⌒☆: "Cutie, this is a special compensation from Lady Sparkle. You must take very~ good care of it~"
Yunli (▼皿▼#): "Damn Fool! Stay away from my Disciple!"
Mo Xin accepted the mask with a dazed expression, still utterly confused by the situation unfolding before her.
Then, the Sparkle standing before her burst into bubbles under Yunli's comet-like punch.
Mo Xin: (O∆O)?
Mo Xin lightly examined the feather-light mask in her hand, her fingertips brushing over its delicate surface. Just like Qing Yutong, she was filled with confusion.
If the mask given to Qing Yutong was a congratulatory gift for her recovery...
Then what was the meaning behind the mask given to her?
Yunli, who understood Sparkle better than anyone present, was equally concerned about this.
Finally, under Yunli's repeated "interrogation," Sparkle eventually spoke with a helpless expression.
"Fine, fine. Just treat it as compensation sent on behalf of your sister, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Xin immediately flared up.
"What?! Are you planning to do something to my sister?!"
Seeing Mo Xin's angry face, Sparkle shook her head in boredom.
Back then, she had only tried to strike up a conversation, yet she ended up being chased down and slashed at by a woman wielding a sword.
To make matters worse, because of that woman's interference, she had nearly been caught by Acheron while teasing Mo Xi.
At the thought of this, even the usually arrogant and overbearing Sparkle couldn't help but shiver slightly.
However...
Sparkle (๑＞＜๑):But I'll definitely do it again next time! Besides... hehe, I'm super curious. When all of you discover that woman's true identity, what kind of dumbfounded expressions will you make? Just imagining it is hilarious~
"Pfft—?! You mean you got 'counter-killed' by my sister, who's just an ordinary person? Hahaha—"
Mo Xin, still unaware of the truth, had been angry that Sparkle was treating her sister as entertainment.
But after hearing that, she couldn't help bursting into laughter on the spot.
Even the rest of the team couldn't hold back their chuckles.
As for Mo Xin's sister, the Ability Bureau had already conducted some investigations and more or less understood her background.
They knew that Mo Xi was just an ordinary person.
As for Acheron... it was as though she had appeared out of nowhere, yet every investigation into her revealed nothing suspicious.
And Sparkle just so happened to encounter Mo Xin's sister?
Heh. They had already heard plenty of rumors about this pleasure-seeking troublemaker in Canglan City.
Fortunately, from what they knew, aside from being somewhat malicious and mischievous, Sparkle hadn't done anything truly outrageous yet.
Hearing this, even Yunli relaxed slightly.
She quietly wondered if Acheron had intervened behind the scenes.
"It's getting late, and the young lady's condition seems stable enough. I look forward to our next meeting."
Having said that, Sparkle strode toward the door.
Click!
The door swung open.
The two figures standing on either side of it locked eyes instantly.
Sparkle: (^▽^)
Director Yanxi: Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟﾉ)ﾉ
"Mmm~ Eavesdropping isn't exactly a good habit, but Sparkle doesn't dislike it at all~"
Caught red-handed, Director Yanxi looked slightly embarrassed, though she obediently stepped aside.
No one else tried to stop Sparkle.
After all, they knew perfectly well that they couldn't stop her anyway.
But...
Since when had Sparkle ever willingly used the front door?
Just as everyone expected...
Sparkle, who was about to leave, suddenly seemed to remember something.
She slowly turned around, her cunning gaze sweeping across everyone from the Ability Bureau.
"Ah, right. Quite a few major events may happen in Muyun City recently, so... you righteous partners of justice should be very careful. After all, Sparkle would actually be rather sad if I had to say goodbye to everyone~"
Those inexplicable words instantly made everyone's scalp tingle.
Director Yanxi instinctively asked the question everyone was thinking.
"Wait, what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Mmm... who knows? Surprises are always more interesting when they're revealed at the very end, aren't they?"
Director Yanxi and Chen Yuxuan's pupils shrank sharply as they stared at Sparkle's delicate, adorable face, watching her smile gradually become more unhinged.
Their hearts sank.
The complexity of the situation clearly far exceeded their expectations.
"Being offline for nearly a hundred chapters really made waking up again difficult... Hehe~ Since we're acquainted, Sparkle will make a special exception and leave everyone a hint!
[People fear 'blood' and dread 'darkness,' but sometimes a little 'red' can bring unexpected surprises.]
Alright then~ I hope to see the young lady and everyone else again in the future!"
With those final words, Sparkle waved her hand while maintaining that sweet and lovely smile.
Her figure dispersed like a school of golden fish, dissolving into countless particles of light before vanishing into the air.
Yunli immediately rushed forward, but grasped only empty air, her fingertips touching nothing but the cold breeze.
"Ugh! Followers of Elation really are a headache."
The others remained lost in thought over Sparkle's final cryptic words.
Only deep within Qing Yutong's darkened memories did a flash of crimson light flicker unconsciously.
Although no one understood the true meaning behind Sparkle's hint, one thing was obvious—
It definitely wasn't a good omen.
"Master Yunli, do you have any clues?"
"If the Masked Fools were that easy to understand, they wouldn't be called 'madmen' by so many people."
"Huh?! No way..."
Realizing that even her overwhelmingly powerful master had no answers...
Mo Xin suddenly felt as though the mask in her hand had become a burning hot potato.
"Then... this mask..."
"...Keep it for now."
Even Yunli couldn't discern anything special about the mask Sparkle had given.
But since Sparkle had personally delivered it, there was a high chance it would prove useful in the future.
With her master's permission, Mo Xin finally decided to keep the mask.
Qing Yutong did the same.
However, compared to Mo Xin, who had only recently joined, Chen Yuxuan and Director Yanxi felt a deep and indescribable unease lingering in their hearts.
The warning and hint Sparkle left behind were like invisible thorns buried deep within them, causing a constant dull ache.
Is Sparkle plotting something?
Judging from what she said... could there really be something hidden within Muyun City...?
And... how did Sparkle find out about it...
Recalling Sparkle's final unhinged smile, the two finally realized just how badly they had underestimated her madness.
An ominous suspicion surged into their minds instantly.
Chen Yuxuan and Director Yanxi exchanged glances, lingering fear flickering within their eyes.
This meant that the possibility they feared most...
...had likely already become reality.
Could it be... that for the sake of amusement... Sparkle has actually cooperated with some unsavory people?