"I think I understand what you an."
Erald Sparrow took a deep breath, "Thank you for your regard and favor, but unfortunately, there are two reasons why I cannot agree to your request."
As she spoke these words, she felt a slight tremor beneath her feet. Clearly, the flying airship had already taken off during their conversation.
In the current atmosphere, Erald Sparrow's response was certainly untily. After all, both Erald, the authority figure, and Zhe Helan and others of her subordinates had shown considerable enthusiasm for "nominating Erald Sparrow as the new Sapphire Wand." To refuse at this mont was akin to slapping them in the face.
However, as Erald Sparrow herself said, she had reasons for refusal that were not to be ignored.
Fortunately, even though her words were so blunt that several mbers of the Magical Affairs Institute in the group visibly wore expressions of regret and disappointnt, Zhe Helan's face remained unchanged.
"Please, go on." She rely continued to bow her head, echoing thus.
Seeing her rationale, Erald Sparrow knew there was no need for unnecessary explanations. She straightforwardly said, "First, I am still officially banned from entering the Kingdom as an exile, which is an order from the Rose Palace, and I have already expressed my compliance with it. In fact, standing here now, I have crossed the Boundary Gate in a nearly smuggler-like manner. So, I cannot go against the Kingdom's regulations, nor could the Kingdom itself acknowledge soone like , who should rightly be exiled."
"Yes, that is indeed a problem we need to solve." Zhe Helan nodded in agreent.
"Second, I carry a certain hatred upon . I am destined, at so point, to seek out my enemy and take revenge. I don't know when this journey will end or in what form. The worst possibility is that I myself may lose my life in it. Therefore, I cannot stay long-term in the Magic Kingdom, let alone beco a Gemstone Scepter."
Erald Sparrow continued, "Actually, there was originally a third reason, and that is my disagreent with that person...or rather, my disagreent with this country's Royal Court. At least twenty years ago, I was unwilling to work with them and beco one of those who grovel for power."
"I see, then what changed your mind about the third reason?" Zhe Helan seed as if she truly beca a listener, promptly asking back.
"Because over the past twenty years, I've learned that avoiding things will not make ugliness or corruption disappear on their own."
The vibration of the floor reminded everyone that their altitude was increasing. So, Erald Sparrow moved a bit to the side, placing her hand on the back of a chair: "Soone must stand up and do sothing, and I am also willing to take this opportunity to grasp the initiative in things, so that I might change so things and avoid results that I find most unacceptable."
Zhe Helan continued to listen in silence, yet she seed to be pondering sothing.
Before long, she raised her head, looked at Erald Sparrow, and seriously said, "Alright, I understand now. Then, allow to boldly summarize your stance."
Erald Sparrow nodded, without speaking, rely gesturing for her to proceed.
So, Zhe Helan began her summary: "The two problems you ntioned still exist as external obstacles: one is your identity, and the other is the hatred you carry."
"Regarding the third problem that no longer exists, can I understand it as...if the first two problems are resolved, you are willing to beco the Sapphire Wand from your subjective intent?"
"Yes." Erald Sparrow spoke bluntly.
"Then, please allow to report that regarding these two problems you ntioned, both I and the Chief have already prepared contingency plans."
Zhe Helan smiled, "These two problems of yours actually may not be problems at all."
"Let's hear it?" Erald Sparrow couldn't help raising her eyebrows.
"Alright, actually this is also the main topic we wanted to discuss today. Please, have a seat first."
Zhe Helan first arranged for Erald Sparrow and Erald to sit at the guest seats at the dining table, and then naturally stood beside Erald Sparrow's seat, calmly saying, "Regarding your second problem, I feel that those of us present are not that concerned."
"Perhaps you think that the Gemstone Scepter should bear the entire institution's decisions and responsibilities. To maintain the normal operations of the Magical Affairs Institute, we need you, the Scepter, to always handle governntal affairs within the Institute."
"But, in actuality, it is not so. The Magical Affairs Institute does indeed need its own Gemstone Scepter, but as long as the Institute has a Scepter, where the Scepter is personally and what they are doing is actually not important."
"On this point, perhaps the Chief can share so insights with you."
With that, the conversation was passed to Erald.
Erald, who had the conversation passed to her, did not put on airs. She simply grunted and continued from where Zhe Helan left off: "She's telling the truth."
"The truth?"
Erald Sparrow also looked at Erald, "You an as long as there's a Gemstone Scepter in office, becoming the power center of that institute, then she can do whatever she pleases next?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Erald nodded, "Although in practice, many important decisions still require you to make, generally there's little tedious work. Your subordinates can handle these tasks. In fact, for most Magical Girls, working in their agency for years and never even knowing what their own Scepter looks like is quite common."
"Then why do you lock yourself up in the lab like it's a prison every day?" Erald Sparrow curiously asked.
"What kind of unpleasant talk is that, calling it a prison? That's because my hobby is academia, research!"
Erald gave her a sidelong glance, "Activate your brain and think, youngster. If in our Kingdom, the Five Major Institutes had to have the Scepter personally attend to every detail, do you think the Finance Court could still operate as it does now after everything it's been through? Or could that crazy girl, Pigeon Blood Red, manage all the miscellaneous affairs of the Civil Administration Institute? Impossible, right?"
"I understand now, so if I beco the Sapphire Wand, I can choose to go seek revenge at any ti."
Erald Sparrow nodded, "Then, what if you choose , and I die outside? Wouldn't all your efforts be in vain?"
"Then just don't court death, right?"
Erald wore an expression of exasperation, as though striking a parched nail, "You've beco the Gemstone Scepter; can't you bring so subordinates for revenge? Can't you ask the old hag at the Investigation Bureau for so manpower? Can't you have arm your team? Does your revenge have to be a solo mission? Can't others help?"
"I never thought that way; as long as I can have my enemy in my hands, I don't mind using any ans."
Erald Sparrow shook her head, "However, this is ultimately my private vendetta. I believe I shouldn't involve others risking for my private matters..."
"Alright, stop right there."
Erald squinted her eyes, reaching out to stop Erald Sparrow from continuing, "I ask you, is this revenge for your teammates, for Ying?"
"Yes, not just for Ying, but also for those companions who sacrificed to uncover the truth, like Ying's teammate, Tumi..." Erald Sparrow supplented.
"Well, then, whether it's Ying, or Tumi as you said, aren't they Magical Girls, theoretically under the charge of your Magical Affairs Institute?" Erald questioned.
"In strict terms, they are." Erald Sparrow roughly knew what Erald wanted to say: "You want to tell that once I beco the Sapphire Wand, this matter becos public business for , not a personal vendetta?"
"It's always been public business."
Erald chuckled, "The Investigation Bureau initially lost a Patrol Envoy because they rushed the investigation too hastily. During that ti, they were like mad dogs biting randomly in the interworld and Material Realm. Black Ash Dawn even captured an Ash Envoy and got them killed; who dares to say they weren't handling official business? The only difference was their lack of capability, which led to an 'offender already dead' ineffective conclusion in the end."
"Is that so?" This was the first ti Erald Sparrow heard about what the Investigation Bureau had done in the case of Ying's death. Before this, all she heard from Golden Green Cat's Eye was passing the buck and bureaucratic jargon.
"If you really beco the Sapphire Wand, that old witch might not mind telling you more things."
Erald sneered, "You also know, speaking like humans to humans and like ghosts to ghosts is her forte."
"I understand now."
This ti, Erald Sparrow was truly persuaded.
If becoming the Sapphire Wand would really allow her to reopen the investigation into Ying's death, and with the Kingdom's power, help her find the culprit and even avenge, then she might indeed need to do this. Even if it might all just be a sweet bait.
"Then, what about my identity?" She thus raised her final question.
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