Chapter 22: The Curse Mark

Before this moment, Li Xiaohan still held onto a sliver of hope.

Just as before seeing the second video, she had hoped that the magical girl appearing this time was merely mistaken for Stringheart Stone.

But the watermark on that video clearly read September 5, 2003, and there was no doubt that the magical girl in both videos was the same person.

For those long-retired magical girls, if they had no record of activity for over ten years, the Magical Affairs Bureau tended to consider that they had lost their powers and returned to ordinary lives.

Whether they had willingly or unwillingly abandoned their magical girl identities, the Bureau would no longer trouble them. Therefore, magical girls like Stringheart Stone had long since been placed on a no-watch list.

Yet now, Lily told her that some magical girls truly existed who could ignore the age limit of twenty-four and maintain control over magic for the rest of their lives, which utterly upended her worldview.

If those overlooked for being overage could still transform, and there was more than one mobile warhead like Stringheart Stone, then had they not all been living under a false sense of security?

"The Bureau knew all along?" she asked, staring at Long Yushu in shock.

He replied, "The Public Security Department’s Magical Affairs Headquarters only confirmed this three years ago. To maintain stability, it has not been made public."

"Just like now, your colleagues are unaware," Lily said softly.

Li Xiaohan glanced back. Indeed, even the colleagues seated just across the table showed no reaction to their conversation.

Was it her magic, or some passive effect like filming interference? Xiaohan silently observed Lily but sensed no magic from her at all.

"Why keep it secret? How can you deal with these Stranded if everyone’s kept in the dark?" she couldn’t help but ask. Then realizing Lily had called herself a Stranded too, she turned to Long Yushu and said, "Director, what exactly is her status?"

Long Yushu closed his eyes impatiently. "So many questions at once—what’s the rush?"

"Sorry, this is a lot to take in..."

"Let me explain, Deputy Leader," Lily smiled gently. "Most Stranded no longer engage in their original duty of eradicating magical beasts, as that was deemed criminal by the Bureau years ago.

"Any magical girl essentially doesn’t wish to oppose all humanity, and neither do the Stranded. But due to their special circumstance, they can no longer be restrained from transforming by conventional binders.

"Therefore, after negotiations, the upper echelons of the International Magical Affairs Alliance agreed that as long as the Stranded do not interfere in magical affairs, peace can be maintained. But if any Stranded break the law, the Bureau has the right to act against them.

"Many Stranded still hope for a normal life—their battles against magical beasts were precisely to protect that precious daily existence.

"However, this peace is unstable. Both the Bureau and the Stranded have individuals who try to cross boundaries.

"You know well that during the Bureau’s full-scale assault on magical girls, there were many casualties on both sides. It is not easy to let go of hatred. Moreover, the Bureau still does not trust us."

As she spoke, Lily loosened her choker, revealing a slender neck marked with a ring of crimson cracks. Li Xiaohan recalled training images and quickly recognized the scars as those caused by relic weapons.

The Guillotine of the Queen of Hearts.

Lily gracefully fastened her choker again. "Don’t misunderstand. This is voluntary, to gain your trust and to convince you to accept my help."

"Help?" Li Xiaohan frowned. "Do you mean… help us deal with other Stranded?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because peace is hard-won. Perhaps you don’t appreciate this as deeply as we do." Lily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, eyes fixed on the screen showing Stringheart Stone. "I hope Stringheart Stone’s reappearance is just a coincidence. If not, I will fulfill my duty. But the Director won’t let things end our way."

Long Yushu snorted coldly. "Of course not. None of you Stranded are sane. The longer you live, the more you deserve to die."

A dreadful silence then fell among the three.

Li Xiaohan carefully raised her hand. "Miss Lily, to better understand the case, may I ask some questions about the Stranded?"

"Of course, please."

Recalling Long Yushu’s disapproval of her investigative methods, Xiaohan asked sharply, "Do you transform without using a transformation device?"

"Yes. We use death marks. Stringheart Stone’s death mark is on her left collarbone. As for mine, perhaps you’ve already guessed." Lily tapped her eyepatch with her index finger. "Need a demonstration?"

"Um… no, that won’t be necessary."

Though she seemed capable of avoiding detection, this was still inside the Bureau.

And this form wasn’t even after transformation? Then how exaggerated must her transformed state be…

Li Xiaohan thought for a moment and continued, "What’s the transformation gesture?"

"Touch the death mark."

"So, if one can prevent touching it... say, by covering the mark with something, it could have the same effect as a restraint device to stop transformation?"

Lily smiled apologetically, eyes narrowing. "It’s not that simple. The concept of touching is broader than you think, and it doesn’t have to be done with the hand."

"Alright." She decided to research that further later. Then she recalled something important. "You seem very familiar with Stringheart Stone? You even know where her death mark is…"

"We worked together for a while."

Xiaohan’s heart skipped. She hurriedly asked, "Have you seen her true form?"

To her disappointment, Lily shook her head decisively. "Unfortunately, we are not that close.

"I discovered the location of her death mark by chance. I have never seen her before transformation. Also, not every Stranded’s death mark is as obvious as mine in their normal state.

"She is very cold toward everyone except friends, so I can only guess her magic type based on her performance.

"It is said that only four magical girls know Stringheart Stone’s true identity, two of whom are deceased.

"As for the other two, Black Coral and Requiem, the Bureau has yet to locate them. The Director will grant you access to related files."

Li Xiaohan asked, "Are they Stranded as well?"

"Yes."

"Are there many Stranded?"

"No, the existing Stranded are few, scattered across several countries. I only came recently from France at your country’s invitation after receiving the news."

"So you’re French?" Xiaohan asked, surprised.

Looking closely, Lily’s features were indeed European, though blended with some Eastern traits, and her black hair had initially concealed her origin.

"Your Chinese is excellent!" Xiaohan marveled.

"No, for us, language barriers don’t exist."

Li Xiaohan was amazed. "That’s incredible!"

She had only known that magical girls could communicate telepathically across languages, but not outside such mental links. She hadn’t expected the Stranded to possess this ability.

Then she asked, "Is it difficult to become Stranded?"

Lily smiled, a trace of sadness in her eyes. "No one chooses to become Stranded, Deputy Leader. Stranded are not an advanced evolution of magical girls but a curse—extreme misfortune."

"How so? To have the power to transform for life, to wield magic no one else can touch in a lifetime, how could that be misfortune?"

"Have you ever wondered why we’re called ‘Stranded,’ Deputy Leader?" Lily said calmly. "You, like others, seem to think it’s a blessing.

"But the agony of being stranded on the shore—how could those on land possibly understand?"