The masked man, Gloomy Old Eight, bent down to pick up his dropped cigarette, much like his dignity.

The cigarette could be retrieved, but his pride was forever stuck to the ground.

“Instructor, let’s get to business,” Old Eight said, cigarette in hand, scanning the surroundings.

“Regarding this beast escape incident, we can preliminarily conclude it’s due to untimely registration of beast data in the nature reserve,” he said.

“Have you figured out where the leak came from? I thought they were vile beasts,” Bald Li asked.

“Based on the residual mana traces in the magic crystal of the least-damaged beast, we’ve confirmed they escaped from the Hengduan Mountain Nature Reserve in our jurisdiction.”

“We tested their flesh and found their genes don’t match any in the beast gene database.”

“They must be a new species, which caused a flaw in the monitoring network’s alert system.”

“That just proves how rich and vast the south is,” Lu Xin said, patting Bald Li’s shoulder.

“Rich and vast, sure, but thank goodness these critters didn’t make it to town. Otherwise, me and Gloomy here would be in for a rough time,” Bald Li said, patting his chest with lingering fear.

“Not long ago, beasts escaped from several other reserves too. I bet the higher-ups will issue a lockdown notice soon.”

“If we hadn’t spotted them, come breeding season, we’d have a mess on our hands. Rat-like beasts like these have terrifying reproduction rates,” Old Eight said.

“We’d be dealing with a beast tide and these stragglers.”

“Yeah, that’d be a headache,” Bald Li agreed.

“Protecting the public makes any trouble worth it.”

“Thanks for coming out so late for this,” Lu Xin said.

“Duty calls,” both said in unison.

“It’s getting late. You two wrap up here,” Lu Xin said, checking the time on his phone.

“My wife and I need to get to Linhai City for our honeymoon. No need to escort us.”

The team member who’d questioned Lu Xin earlier jogged over, handing back his ID with both hands.

“You did well too,” Lu Xin said with a smile.

He got into the car, started the engine, shifted the clutch and brake, released the handbrake, and rolled down the window.

To Bald Li and Old Eight, who’d approached, he said, “Let’s grab a drink sometime. My wife’s not feeling well, so I’m heading to Linhai City to rest.”

“See you, Instructor and Mrs. Lu!” they said in unison.

“See you.”

Lu Xin released the clutch and brake, driving off, leaving the two teams to clean up the beast remains.

…

“Man, after all these years, your wife still looks like a young girl,” Bald Li said, hands on his hips.

“Yeah, back at the training base, we saw her with a kid. We thought she was some girl with her little sister,” Old Eight said, pulling his mask up to reveal a stubbled lip, taking a deep drag of his Great Mage cigarette.

“Wonder who was dumb enough to chase her for her contact info, only to get hammered by the Head Instructor,” Bald Li said, chuckling and patting Old Eight’s shoulder.

“You know, the guy who’s all gloomy on the outside but a flirt inside.”

Cough, cough! Old Eight choked on the smoke, coughing it out through his nose and mouth.

“No one expected her to be that young. We even wondered if the Instructor had committed a crime,” Bald Li said.

“But we should’ve known—she’s a magical girl.”

“Yeah, a magical girl…” Old Eight coughed, still recovering.

“Forever young, forever beautiful,” he added.

“That’s why you’re still single, huh?” Bald Li teased.

“After seeing how perfect the Instructor’s wife is, I want a magical girl wife too.”

“But you haven’t figured out your own problem,” Bald Li said, eyeing Old Eight’s outfit.

A black mask from Midnight Assassins, a knitted cape from Super Great Mage, a transformation belt from Knight King, and the (free) Bureau-issued emergency team uniform.

“No wonder no magical girl gave you a second look at the internal mixers.”

“You were probably one glow stick short of a fanboy,” Bald Li mocked.

“You don’t get it. I just haven’t found my destined one,” Old Eight retorted.

“You only have yourself to blame for missing your shot. You know magical girls tend to pair up internally. If you’d dressed normally, you might’ve had a chance.”

“There’s nothing wrong with wearing what I like!” Old Eight argued, his face reddening.

“Fine, if you’re that stubborn…” Bald Li pulled out his phone for the final blow.

“My wife’s a magical girl,” he said, shoving the screen in Old Eight’s face.

The lock screen showed a happy family of three, with a striking blonde magical girl holding a child.

“But I…” Old Eight tried to argue.

“My wife’s a magical girl,” Bald Li said calmly.

Old Eight collapsed dramatically.

Bald Li scoffed, rallying his Hedong City team to head home.

After Bald Li’s team left, the Hexi City team swarmed Old Eight, yanking off his mask and pinching his philtrum until he groggily woke up.

As if nothing happened, he stood, dusted himself off, and said calmly to his team, “Pack up. Let’s go home.”

The highway soon returned to its nightly silence, save for a large crater marking the battle, awaiting the road repair crew in a few hours.

Hours later, deep into the night.

Lu Xin drove the SUV to the entrance of a seaside villa resort’s lobby.

A staff member hurried to the window with a device.

“Sir, checking in?”

“Yes, I made a reservation this afternoon. Phone number ending in XXXXX,” Lu Xin said.

“Got it. Mr. Lu and Ms. Ludwig, correct?” the staff asked.

“Yes,” Lu Xin replied.

“But…” The staff glanced hesitantly at the silver-haired girl curled up in the passenger seat, eyes closed.

Lu Xin, as if expecting this, opened his phone and showed a photo of their marriage certificate.

“You can verify the number.”

“Oh, sorry, sir. I’ll process your check-in now,” the staff said, bowing and operating the device.

“Heh, I get your caution. A man in his late thirties with a young girl—easy to assume something shady,” Lu Xin said with a chuckle, handing over his ID and bank card.

“It’s just my wife’s youthful looks and period pain causing the misunderstanding.”

Once everything was settled, Lu Xin took the villa key tag, drove to the designated parking spot, and opened the passenger door.

He scooped Alicefiel into a princess carry, closed the door with his foot, and fished the key from his pocket.

Without changing shoes, he carried her upstairs to the bedroom and laid her on the bed.

From Lu Xin’s perspective, Alicefiel observed her own body, feeling the escalating pain hindering her movements.

She couldn’t help but appreciate the utility of this “tool” for daily life.

Though she’d bathed that morning, the journey had left her sweaty and dusty.

Another shower was needed tonight.

With that thought, Alicefiel, controlling Lu Xin, gently lifted her own body and carried it to the bathroom.