Chapter 45: Swinging Sticks with Force

A large group poured out of the Magic Affairs Department building onto the street, a disciplined formation of emergency response team members, magical girls, and regular staff, occupying an entire lane.

Though this annoyed drivers trailing behind, none dared honk, wary of provoking the formidable crowd.

Even the trio of petite magical girls tried to look fierce, but their adorable appearances undermined their efforts.
Passersby wanted to snap photos of their cuteness but were deterred by the menacing glares of the adults around them, reluctantly pocketing their phones.

Since the Ministry of Natural Resources building was in the West District and the Magic Affairs Department headquarters was in the neighboring East District—both forming the city center—Lu Xin’s group reached their destination quickly, and traffic resumed normally.

At the Ministry of Natural Resources building, a magical girl with emerald hair and eyes, floating in the air, saw Lu Xin, the new minister, leading the Magic Affairs Department crowd.
She descended gracefully, her toes touching the ground, and saluted Lu Xin:

“Captain of the Capital Magic Affairs Department Magical Girl Corps, Jade, salutes the Minister!”

“All entrances and exits of the Ministry of Natural Resources building have been sealed by our magical girls. Awaiting your orders, Minister!”

“Well done. Your initiative pleases me. Iverson!” Lu Xin nodded.

“Here!” Iverson responded.

“Distribute some consolation gifts to our magical girl captain.”

Iverson complied, pulling supplies from the storage ring Lu Xin had given him and handing them to Jade.

“My gratitude for the Minister’s generosity,” Jade saluted again.

“I’m asking for your help, so I’ve got to be generous,” Lu Xin said.

“Iverson, take a few people and distribute what’s due to the magical girls guarding the exits.”

“And these accessories—enough for them to choose from.”

Lu Xin produced a bag of accessories, all of the same quality as those given to the trio earlier.

Once Iverson finished distributing, Lu Xin continued:

“Magical girls, keep guarding the exits. Everyone else, follow me inside!”

“Loyalty!” the crowd roared.

…………

At the top of the White Tower, Fan and Merlin sat across from each other.

Merlin filled Fan’s beer mug with bubbling cola and said to the contemplative Fan, propping his chin:

“Chairman Fan, you’re a rare visitor. What brings you to my backwater perch?”

“Hah, you fat old man, look how high this place is—birds can’t even fly up here, let alone leave droppings,” Fan teased with a laugh.

“But are you really okay with that girl causing trouble for your student?” Fan asked.

“Haha, Alice Phil is Lu An’s kid, after all. No matter how much she stirs things up, we old-timers have her back,” Merlin said, taking a big gulp of cola from his mug.

“And Louis hasn’t said anything, has he?” Merlin glanced at Fan, setting down his mug.

“Yet here you are, alone.”

“Yup, just me,” Fan said, chugging his cola and slamming the mug down.

“But…” Fan’s tone shifted.

“That Han Lin from the Ministry of Natural Resources is your student, right?”

“Yes, he’s my student,” Merlin replied.

“You know what a mess his department’s made.”

“I’m fully aware,” Merlin nodded, unfazed.

“And even if I’m his teacher, I can’t control his actions. Han Lin brought this on himself with his poor oversight.”

“So you’re saying it’s none of your business?” Fan narrowed his eyes.

“Of course. And it’s not just me—you all tacitly approved of letting Alice Phil shake up that department, didn’t you?” Merlin said, patting his belly.

“True, we did,” Fan admitted, sipping more cola.

“We all know if Alice Phil doesn’t get to vent, it’d be too unfair to her.”

“Yeah, her kid nearly died. We grandparents are worried too,” Merlin said, leaning back in his chair.

“And there’s the matter of answering to Lady Mercury later.”

“She treasures her granddaughter,” Fan added.

“But Alice Phil’s temper is explosive. Hope she doesn’t go too far,” Merlin said, standing and walking to the railing, gazing into the distance.

“Hah, didn’t you say let her make a fuss? Now you’re worried about your student?”

“No, no, just talking off the cuff,” Merlin said, waving it off with a smile.

…………

Inside the Ministry of Natural Resources building, Lu Xin first directed a few emergency response team members to lead a dozen clerks from the Magic Affairs Department to the finance office to audit the Ministry’s accounts.

“Check their books thoroughly. If anyone tries to stop you, swing your sticks hard,” Lu Xin said, using alchemy to transmute parts of the building’s foundation into uniform short batons.

“Those of you auditing, take these. Everyone else, grab a stick too,” Lu Xin said, scanning the group.

“Everyone gets one. Just don’t kill anyone.”

“Anyone who resists when we go upstairs, hit them.”

“Understood?”

“Loyalty!”

Lu Xin led the Magic Affairs Department group in a sweeping advance.
Those who resisted were met with swinging batons.

Favors carry weight, and sticks swing with force.

The Ministry’s lower-ranking staff quickly lost the will to resist, fleeing toward the exits—unaware they were merely trapped birds circling in a cage.

Soon, Lu Xin and her group reached the Minister of Natural Resources’ office.
The door was locked tight.
Lu Xin raised a hand, signaling everyone to step back, then politely knocked.

“Hello, Mr. Han.”

“I’m Lu Xin, the Tongzhou City Magic Affairs Bureau Director who called you earlier for an explanation. Now, as the Minister of the Magic Affairs Department, I think I’m qualified…” Lu Xin drawled.

“…to demand answers.”

With that, she pushed the door open, only to find the office empty—no sign of Minister Han Lin.

“Did he escape after all?” Lu Xin muttered.

She knew Han Lin was only a Tier-Six grand mage.
Someone must have tipped him off, allowing him to flee.

“Damn it!” Lu Xin cursed.

“Commander.”

It was Iverson.
He gestured with his eyes, pointing toward a filing cabinet.

He strode to it, effortlessly ripping the wall-mounted cabinet away, revealing Han Lin cowering in a hidden compartment like a frightened chick.

Iverson hauled him out and brought him before Lu Xin.

“Hello, we meet at last,” Lu Xin said, her face breaking into a sunny smile.