Chapter 36: Famous Entrepreneur, Meow?

Frustration at the Association

Two days later, inside Miss L’s office.

Xiao Xi flipped through a stack of documents on Miss L’s desk, her brow furrowing.

“Is everyone at the association just coasting for a paycheck? A massive monster attack like that, and the association hasn’t found a single clue?”

She slammed the files back onto the desk. No wonder she was so irritated—two days had passed, and the association still hadn’t uncovered even a trace from the attack sites.

“It’s not entirely the association’s fault, Xing,” Miss L sighed. “Other departments have been investigating hard, but this case is different from the Mang Wolf Gang. The mastermind hid their tracks perfectly.”

Creating monsters instantly while concealing magical fluctuations was tricky. Only the Divine Summoning Society had that technology before, but Eternal Star had dismantled them three years ago, along with all their monster tech and factories.

“The association plans to start over with a thorough sweep of the sites. We’ll find something this time.”

Xiao Xi skimmed the task plan Miss L handed her. It listed locations of past sudden monster attacks, including Su Ying’s café.

Recalling that day, Xiao Xi remembered the monster that attacked the café during her blind date with Ye Xinglan. Was there a pattern to the mastermind’s chosen locations?

“By the way, Xing, I heard you got hurt in the last mission. You okay?”

“No big deal, just a scratch. I barely felt it.”

Xiao Xi waved it off casually. Admitting she’d been infected by a C-grade monster’s magic? Too embarrassing to tell her old teammate!

But speaking of which, she’d been doing a lot of unpaid work for Miss L lately, even getting “workplace injuries.” Who was going to compensate her for that?

A Deal Unfulfilled

“Hey, didn’t we agree you’d share Blood Moon Witch intel if I helped you out?”

Xiao Xi beckoned at Miss L. Did she think Xiao Xi had forgotten?

To her surprise, Miss L didn’t dodge the question this time. Instead, she pulled out her phone, searched something, and handed it to Xiao Xi.

Taking the phone, Xiao Xi glanced at the screen… a biography page? Why was Miss L showing her this?

The page detailed an entrepreneur named Mo Lan’er, with titles like “Outstanding Entrepreneur” and “Distinguished Community Figure.”

Though Xiao Xi didn’t get it, she knew anyone with that many accolades was loaded. Rich people like that had nothing to do with a broke nobody like her.

“Who’s this?”

“You don’t know her?” Miss L took back the phone. “Fair enough. The name Mo Lan’er might not ring a bell, but what about [Aranbell]?”

Xiao Xi’s jaw dropped, her expression like she’d seen a ghost. “This Mo Lan’er is [Aranbell]?”

That name hit hard. Aranbell was a key member of the Divine Summoning Society, the Blood Moon Witch’s right-hand… or rather, more like her clingy sidekick.

The title Aranbell came from Greek mythology, meaning the goddess of luck and happiness. Her ability matched—manipulating luck.

In short, she could buff allies with good fortune and curse enemies with bad luck. It wasn’t combat-focused, but as support, it was top-tier.

Aranbell had been the Blood Moon Witch’s ace assistant. Xiao Xi had suffered plenty at her hands, like tripping over her own feet in battle and nearly stumbling into the Blood Moon Witch’s attack.

That ability was maddening. But after the Divine Summoning Society’s fall, shouldn’t Aranbell have been arrested with the Blood Moon Witch? How’d she become a famous entrepreneur?

The Monster Rehabilitation Act

“This ties to the association’s Monster Rehabilitation Act. You know about it, right, Xing?”

Xiao Xi nodded. The Divine Summoning Society’s vileness lay in its lack of morals. Using their monster tech, they mass-produced monsters in factories.

These monsters had no intent to harm and were arguably innocent, but the society brainwashed them into weapons.

After the society’s collapse, handling these deprogrammed monsters became a major issue.

Out of humanitarian concerns, the Monster Rehabilitation Act emerged. Monsters underwent psychological treatment and evaluation at association facilities. If deemed harmless, they reintegrated into society.

But Xiao Xi knew public backlash and prejudice against monsters ran deep. Many refused to live or work alongside potential threats, despite the association’s assurances of their safety.

Changing public perception would take time, and Xiao Xi understood the monster issue might need decades to resolve.

“Releasing [Aranbell] was a high-level decision,” Miss L explained. “Her ability isn’t dangerous, and she showed a strong willingness to reform.”

“It’s also to set an example. See, even a former Divine Summoning Society higher-up can reintegrate and become a successful entrepreneur. Monsters aren’t as scary as people think.”

Xiao Xi nodded. “So the association propped up Aranbell’s entrepreneur status?”

“Nope. I heard she started her own business after release and just… sailed smoothly into what she is now.”

A Bitter Comparison

Xiao Xi’s feelings tangled. She didn’t begrudge others’ success, but her old enemy was now a celebrated entrepreneur while she, the strongest magical girl, scraped by as a maid?

Talk about a blow to her pride!

Still, Xiao Xi had mastered the art of self-consolation. Mo Lan’er’s success was fine—not every monster was thriving like her. The escaped Blood Moon Witch, for instance, was surely worse off than Xiao Xi, right?

“Wait a sec, I asked for Blood Moon Witch intel. Why are you telling me this?”

Xiao Xi’s brow furrowed, sensing a dodge. Was Miss L playing her?

“The association’s investigating Mo Lan’er right now,” Miss L said with a shrug. “She was closest to the Blood Moon Witch during the Divine Summoning Society days. With the Witch’s escape, she’s the first suspect.”

“But we haven’t found anything yet. That’s all I’ve got—because that’s all I know.”

Xiao Xi let out a “Hah?” She’d definitely been played by Miss L.