"Cipher? What are you doing here? Didn't you go back?"
Liu Yunshuang looked at the graceful figure hanging upside down outside the window, her tone full of surprise.
To tell the truth, Cipher had arrived quite a bit earlier than Silver Wolf and the others.
She had brought five tightly bound culprits, found Liu Yunshuang to claim the tens of thousands in bounty, and as soon as the money was in hand, she vanished like the wind.
Regarding this, Cipher shrugged helplessly.
"Ah, life is unpredictable; plans can't keep up with changes."
As she spoke, she pushed the window open, her body twisting like a nimble little cat. With a light flip, she landed steadily in the office.
"So it's you, Miss Cipher."
After recognizing the newcomer, Firefly gently rotated her wrist, and the emerald-green longsword vanished like a streak of light.
Cipher stretched lazily and waved familiarly.
"Long time no see, Firefly! And Silver Wolf!"
Firefly revealed a gentle smile and nodded lightly.
"Yes, long time no see, Miss Cipher."
Silver Wolf responded indifferently.
"Oh."
Cipher (๑＞＜๑): "It's been a while, Silver Wolf. Don't be so cold!"
Silver Wolf (ᗜ ˰ ᗜ): "There's no need for much warmth between us."
Silver Wolf stood with her arms crossed, her gaze indifferent, looking as if she were keeping others at a distance.
Cipher stuck out her tongue, wisely not moving any closer, and simply spread her hands helplessly.
"Really, I actually wanted to get to know you better."
Hearing this, Silver Wolf, with her arms crossed, nearly rolled her eyes.
"I think you're just eyeing the bounty on my head."
"Hmm~~ I did have that thought, actually."
Cipher stroked her smooth chin and nodded honestly, showing no embarrassment at being exposed.
Then, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had thought of a brilliant idea, and she stared eagerly at Silver Wolf's petite figure.
"Hey, how about we collaborate for mutual benefit someday?
I turn you in to the authorities, and as soon as the money comes, you immediately run away?
We split it fifty-fifty in the end—this deal is a sure win!"
Listening to this outrageous plan, Liu Yunshuang wore an expression of shock that seemed to say, "What crazy talk are you saying?"
But then she saw Silver Wolf nod expressionlessly.
She slowly spoke up.
"...That could work, but it has to be an eighty-twenty split. You get twenty, I get eighty."
"Huh?!!"
"You're not a necessity; take it or leave it."
"Don't be like that, let's talk this over nicely, meow!"
...
Listening to the two seriously discussing "splitting the loot," Liu Yunshuang's mouth twitched violently. She looked back and forth between Silver Wolf and Cipher in disbelief.
"Wait, you can play it like this?"
"Why not?"
Cipher's ears twitched. She patted her chest and spoke with righteous confidence.
"Making money is all about earning it through hard work; there's no shame in it."
Silver Wolf didn't argue. Standing with one hand on her hip, her face expressionless, she spoke in a tone as natural as if they were discussing something completely ordinary.
"What's the big deal? The Stellaron Hunters occasionally use this trick to earn some funds."
Um...
Two top-tier experts, at least comparable to Special Grade Espers, were now discussing how to scam bounty money as if no one else were around?
Liu Yunshuang was completely at a loss.
But on second thought.
Cipher was a thief, and Silver Wolf was a Hacker.
Suddenly, compared to these two experts, her own niece actually seemed pretty good.
Experts all had their own quirks; she could tolerate that.
But still...
Liu Yunshuang (ꐦ°᷄◡°᷅): 'I am, after all, the Director of the Supernatural Ability Bureau of Canglan City! Is it really okay for you to talk about this right in front of me? Don't I have any dignity?'
Facing their blatant disregard, Liu Yunshuang felt inexplicably insulted.
But so what?
She didn't dare offend either of these two.
To be honest, if it weren't for her own girl and that girl's best friend "bridging the gap," she probably wouldn't have had a chance to talk to these two at all.
After all, strictly speaking, she wasn't very familiar with Silver Wolf and the others.
Thinking this, Liu Yunshuang helplessly rubbed her temples, then forced out a standard polite smile.
"Ah, I seem to remember that the bounties in the neighboring Sakura Country are said to be much higher than in our Dragon Country.
Let me think, who else was there...
Of course, I just happened to remember and mentioned it casually; please don't take it to heart."
Liu Yunshuang swore she had no ulterior motives.
She was just "happening" to remark on it.
As for the final outcome? That would be for other countries to consider.
After all, anything to get these two off of our back.
Firefly: (๑•. •๑)
...
After the brief interlude.
The office conversation now included one more person.
Liu Yunshuang didn't specifically try to drive Cipher away; in fact, her arrival was quite timely.
As for why Cipher had returned after leaving, she shrugged, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
"The little princess went to visit her best friend's house, only to find it in ruins.
That little one was so anxious she was almost in tears, begging me over and over to help, so I came running here."
While explaining, Cipher casually pulled out her phone and sent a "Liu Xiyue is safe" message to the little princess.
A reply came quickly, full of relief between the lines, along with several grateful emojis, making Cipher chuckle.
[Thank you, Cat Sister, thank you, Master!]
[I'll treat you to the best dried fish someday!]
...
"What a little girl who knows how to make people work."
After reading the reply, Cipher's lips curled into a helpless yet doting smile.
She discreetly turned off her phone screen, moved it to her side, deliberately avoiding the sight of Liu Yunshuang and the others.
Though full of questions, Liu Yunshuang didn't press further.
But she couldn't help but admire in her heart: That girl Xingyao is really clever!
After all, the better the relationship between Liu Xiyue and Cipher, the easier it would be for her to deal with Cipher in the future.
Liu Yunshuang (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و: ' XingYao, you need to put effort into this friendship; do your best to maintain it well!'
"Alright, time is money, let's get to the main point. Since even I have to stay, it must be something big."
After resolving the little princess's issue, Cipher casually tucked her phone back into her pocket and got straight to the point.
Silver Wolf and Firefly also turned their gazes in tacit agreement, their eyes falling on Liu Yunshuang.
Being stared at by these three experts who knew the depths, Liu Yunshuang would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous.
But as the Director, she took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her mindset, cleared her throat, and began to discuss the interrupted main business.
The first matter.
That was the fact that both Liu Xiyue and Meng Xingyao had been attacked today.
"First, as the Director of the Supernatural Ability Bureau, I hope to discuss this matter with you."