Chapter 22: Operation Hunting the “Queen”

Mei, silent until called, finally spoke.

Direct bomb:

“I believe magical girls staying forever undefeated is impossible, unreasonable, and shouldn’t be.”

Instant uproar.

“Hey hey… what are you saying?” Sunglass man growled.

Gray-hair raised hand—sunglass muted instantly.

“Continue.” Gray-hair to Mei.

“In short: current magical girls imperfect—lack ‘adversity’ forging.”

Mei grave: “Only through adversity do we perfect—truly achieve undefeated.”

“Haa… here we go.”

Shizuru lazy yawn, tea ripples:

“Famous ‘adversity lover.’ Last proposed she break rules for Tea Party punishment—experience adversity. Rejected. Incomprehensible.”

“Your adversity isn’t mine—wrong adversity.”

Mei calm counter: “Only full effort yet blocked = adversity.”

“Fine fine, surrender?” Shizuru exaggerated hands-up, performative.

Mei ignored, continued:

“From Delinquent defeat public—magical girls enter new ‘era.’ Can’t cling old attitudes—change all aspects. Key: always ready for adversity.”

“Meaning Delinquent loss not last; ‘Queen’ not final adversity-bringer?” Gray-hair narrowed, ghostly.

“Exactly.”

Mei nodded frank, pivot: “Personal view only. If ‘Queen’ eliminated—ignore me.”

“Long circle—same as that ‘senior,’ warn vs. monsters?”

Shizuru tea sip: “Post-second defeat, reconsider valid.”

“Now—unclear if ‘bell-ringer unties,’ but Dongyang issue—Dongyang fix.”

Mei eyes sharp, word-by-word: “We’ll eliminate ‘Queen.'”

Gray-hair iced face faint uncatchable curve; hands clasped chin-propped, stare locked Mei:

“You’re Fruit Pie, right?”

“Yes.”

“Among ‘thousand-monster-slay’ teams—shortest debut: super novas.”

Gray-hair flat: “Eager for your performance~?”

Acknowledged, Mei steady nod: “Mission accomplished.”

“Oh, right.”

Gray-hair fingertip idle coffee rim trace, added: “Capture ‘Queen’ alive.”

Mei brow micro-twitch.

Gray-hair explained:

“You’ve heard: evil org core cadre ‘Evil Doctor’ recently developed drug turning normals to monsters.”

“New drug”—iced eyes deep micro-spark, fleeting illusion; tapping fingers instant freeze.

“Association prioritizes—Evil Doctor hunt underway. Suspect sudden ‘Queen’ beating Delinquent—drug product. Alive capture: crack secrets, crush plot.”

Tone steady, but subtle posture shift—lean forward; beyond research, hidden expectation for live ‘Queen.’

“Understood.” Mei nod again.

“On defeated Delinquent…”

Gray-hair drawl, eyes flash undetectable malice, to leisurely tea Shizuru:

“Final battle interaction with ‘Queen’—President Shizuru noticed?”

Cue—sunglass remote; wall screens lit, loop zoomed surveillance.

Clear: post-defeat “Queen” spoke; three Delinquent abnormally “obedient”—submissive.

“See? Brainwashed?” Gray-hair ghostly, “Or fallen, surrendered?”

“Of course noticed. Ara, headache~”

Shizuru set cup, embroidered silk hanky dainty mouth dab, brows furrow troubled:

“Tea Party fair, cherishes every magical girl. But evidence unfavorable. If proven monster ties—nature changes. Hard to… ‘favor’ as before~”

Soft words—poison dagger, nailing “betrayal” unreserved.

Weird atmosphere abrupt shroud.

Mei sensed, mouth open objection:

“I think Delinquent not necessarily…”

“Mei.”

Gray-hair ghostly call name, low yet absolute authority—cut off:

“Other matters: responsible parties. Do your job.”

Bottomless gaze on Mei—see-through; hint/warning obvious.

Deeper: indifference beyond “Queen”—Delinquent fate preset, unworthy mention.

‘Queen’ hunt looms—behind: complex “personal desires.”