“Settled down?”
The deep blue Cat Girl stood by the boathouse shed near the dock, looking at the person in front of her and asking.
“……”
Hyacinth was tied up like a zongzi with magic ropes, hanging under the eaves of the boathouse shed, silent and resigned.
“It seems she’s temporarily settled down.”
The Cat Girl sighed, stretched her somewhat sore wrists and shoulders, and mused.
Her workout today was much more intense than usual, especially when she was brutally beating the Ripper with her Steel gauntlets; that was the most exhausting part.
Normally, taking down Hyacinth would only require two moves, but today it took a lot of effort. It seems she still needs to continue training.
Should she increase the frequency of fighting Hyacinth in the future?
The Cat Girl thought, a playful, feline glint appearing in her eyes as she looked at Hyacinth.
Hyacinth felt a chill down her spine.
“Well then…”
Iris and Nightingale stood not far away, looking at the suspended Hyacinth, their gaze falling on the petite blonde girl not far off. Iris spoke up,
“Can you explain, Miss Xin Yuehu, why you are with that person over there?”
“About that…”
Su Tianqing turned her head, and everyone’s eyes immediately focused on the blonde girl.
Aurora timidly took half a step back, nervously pursing her lips.
“I heard she encountered some unexpected circumstances, so I invited her here to meet and help her resolve some troubles,” Xin Yuehu said.
Iris and Nightingale exchanged glances, their feelings somewhat complex.
In their eyes, Xin Yuehu’s stance was always in a state of wavering.
Sometimes she would summon Monsters to hang them up and tease them, but in times of crisis, she could step forward, even fighting alongside them.
During the Hong Kong City Star Realm Giant Beast incident, if not for the active participation of Xin Yuehu and her group, the outcome would likely not have been so joyful.
—However,
She was standing with Jack the Ripper.
This person was a wanted criminal publicly pursued by the London Association, accused of countless murders, a world-renowned top criminal.
Even in Los Santos, America, he could rank among the TOP.
“…Miss Xin Yuehu, you might not know the identity of that person over there.”
Iris adopted a serious demeanor and said sternly,
“The Rongcheng Hero Association received intelligence from the London Association: the wanted criminal codenamed 【Jack the Ripper】 has arrived in Rong City from England.”
“According to the intelligence we have, the person beside you is this wanted criminal.”
Su Tianqing glanced back at Aurora.
She was clutching her skirt, not daring to utter a sound, especially after confirming the serious expressions on Iris and Nightingale’s faces. She lowered her head even further, timidly staying in place.
Magic Girls are all good children. Su Tianqing firmly believed this.
After all, becoming a Magic Girl requires the recognition of the stars.
Even villains like Catcat Rabbitrabbit and herself received the recognition of the guardian star; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to transform at all.
If Aurora were truly a disguised villain, the guardian star probably wouldn't respond to her call, let alone grant her the power of a Magic Girl.
But she could also understand the feelings of Iris and Nightingale.
In their understanding, 【Jack the Ripper】 was a murderous villain and criminal, an existence that must be apprehended.
“A bit troublesome…”
The Golden Fox sighed and said,
“…Iris, Nightingale, are you two interested in having a chat with Fox Fox?”
“Interested!”
Nightingale blurted out.
As the number one fox-obsessed Monster, Nightingale was eager for a chance to have a private conversation with this Golden Fox.
Iris paused for a moment, initially wanting to agree immediately like Nightingale, but hesitated slightly when she saw Hyacinth’s peculiar gaze.
“Miss Iris~ Don’t you want to chat with Fox Fox after such a long time~?”
The soft voice of the Golden-haired Fox Girl drifted over, drawing Iris’s gaze. No matter how Hyacinth wailed, it couldn’t sway their resolve.
“Iris! Nightingale! Don’t listen to Xin Yuehu’s fox-talk!”
“She’s definitely deceiving you! She must have set some terrible trap!”
“…How noisy, Miss Hyacinth.”
The Golden-haired Fox Girl narrowed her eyes, a subtle smile on her face.
A golden piece of cloth appeared in Fox Fox’s hand, and with the help of her familiar, it was shoved into Hyacinth’s mouth.
Hyacinth was silenced!
“Fox Fox will find a quiet place to have a good chat with Miss Iris and Miss Nightingale~”
“As for you, Miss Hyacinth…”
The Fox Girl opened her emerald eyes, a cunning smile appearing in them.
“As punishment for just now, Miss Hyacinth, you can stay here and play with Catcat Rabbitrabbit and them for a while~”
“Mmph mmph mmph!! Mmph mmph mmph mmph!!!”
Silenced by the golden cloth, Hyacinth whimpered, but she received no sympathy whatsoever. She could only watch as the Golden Fox and her companions departed.
“…Hehe, Miss Hyacinth… you look so cute… tied up…”
A somewhat heavy panting sound came from beside her ear.
Hyacinth was drenched in sweat, turning back in terror to meet the gaze of Cheshire Rabbit, who was floating behind her with a crescent-moon smile.
She was still in her pink bunny-girl outfit with ribbons, but the Rabbit’s big hammer on her back made Hyacinth struggle violently.
The Ordeal of Hyacinth officially began.
…
From the distant dock, Hyacinth’s wails occasionally drifted over.
Nightingale looked back with some concern, then turned her head to find a cup of jasmine milk tea handed to her by a familiar.
“Would you like a drink, Miss Nightingale~”
“Thank you.”
Nightingale accepted it, flattered. The familiar then handed Iris a warm drink as well.
The three stood one in front and two behind by the observation deck.
To the distant background music of Hyacinth’s wails, the Golden Fox recounted the story she had learned from Aurora.
Upon hearing about the infinitely resurrecting Ripper, Nightingale and Iris gasped in surprise, saying:
“She’s been harassed by a Monster for so long? And she’s been misunderstood as the murderer…”
“That being said, our intelligence indeed has no records of Jack the Ripper acting personally.”
Iris said thoughtfully.
According to the intelligence and accusations from the London Association, the Ripper had, without exception, appeared at every crime scene attributed to 【Jack the Ripper】.
And he was always the one directly committing the acts.
Aurora was suspected precisely because of her close connection with the Ripper,
Coupled with her being an unofficial Magic Girl, like Hellcat, and the repeatedly appearing Ripper, she was naturally considered the culprit.
“So that means, little Golden Fox, she was actually wronged?”
“Misunderstood for so long, even wanting to give up being a Magic Girl… how regrettable…”
Iris couldn’t help but recall her own past desire to quit.
Although she later regained her spirits with Tianqing Jie’s encouragement, she still carried some psychological trauma to this day.
And the pressure borne by that small Magic Girl was probably much greater than what she had faced back then.
“But that child is quite strong, isn’t she?”
Su Tianqing smiled, glancing at Aurora in the distance, who was observing Hyacinth’s ordeal.
“So I want to help her.”
“Completely eliminate the Ripper that has been relentlessly harassing her, clear her name, remove all the pressure that shouldn’t have been placed on her, and avenge the victims.”
Having said that, the Golden Fox turned and looked at the two Magic Girls behind her.
“Well then…”
“In the coming days, you two will have to put in more effort to deal with that Ripper.”
“Miss Iris, and Miss Nightingale~”
