Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

An irrefutable fact is, she did indeed do so.

Even under such intense periods of sleep and idling, Emerald Sparrow still maintained the top national speed of invention, whether it was magic-powered equipment or complex magical spell techniques, she was the foremost in her field of study.

And for this very reason, even though she was enveloped in layers of auras, owning countless academic achievements and honorary titles, Emerald Sparrow's favorite title to flaunt was that of Chief Researcher. Hence, most people's term of respect for Emerald Sparrow was "Chief", rather than "Director".

At this moment, the puppet doll before Lin Yun obviously utilized highly advanced and skillful magic drive technology. It highly mimicked a pureblood fairy's appearance, so much so that if one were to ignore the mechanical parts on its exterior, it looked like a real fairy.

To be able to use such technology and possess such strong magic power, as well as to repeatedly use the term "youngster", in Lin Yun's mind, there could only be Emerald Sparrow.

This answer received affirmation from the other party.

"Correct assumption, but it's not that I wish to be here, rather you need me to appear here, youngster."

The fairy doll shook its head, its action appearing somewhat comical given its neckless form: "Of course, as the provider of the materials and equipment, I should come and see for myself the condition of the products I've supplied."

"Products?" Lin Yun inquired.

"Yes, products."

The doll spoke leisurely: "The magical arms you obtained from the Research Institute, the disguised surveillance you've deployed here, even the treatment of that child named Chaoyan, are all inventions from our Research Institute. Who else could you have expected? Could that old lady, whose brain is soaked in tea polyphenols to a pulp, create these things for you?"

"I hope you remember that you're speaking to an inspector of the Research Institute," Lin Yun reminded.

"No one will care about opinions from someone who can't even remember how many years she's lived, who delights in scheming and passing the buck all day long. I sincerely hope that the normal lifespan limit of a mammal could apply to her, so she wouldn't become an endocrine-disordered, witchy old hag from a lack of emotional life, youngster."

The doll's tone, indifferent, conveyed a hint of disgust as it half-squinted its eyes: "Let's put this unpleasant topic aside, how do you find the products supplied by our Research Institute now?"

"The magic arms still require more usage data," Lin Yun replied, showing no particular preference: "But the special surveillance system indeed has proven to some effect, both in terms of concealment and ease of use."

"Hmm... can I take that to mean 'satisfied'?"

"You can," Lin Yun stated impassively.

"Then we can proceed to talk candidly," the doll said as it braced itself on the armrest of the chair, like a fluffy round ball as it struggled to sit up straight: "Do you need any value-added services?"

"...Value-added services?"

Lin Yun raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

"Just as it sounds," the doll extended its short paws, probably attempting to convey a gesture of "provision": "I can provide more products, and they're all very useful to you, do you want to hear more about them?"

"You wish to establish a separate layer of trade with me, outside of the Research Institute?" Lin Yun pondered a while, revealing the doll's intentions: "Why? And I don't think I'm able to pay the price."

"You certainly can pay, there's only one thing I want."

The doll shifted forward slightly, its emerald eyes seeming somewhat profound, "Black Ash Dawn's former Ash Envoy 'Mosi', 'The Origin of Beasts' she left behind is with you, right?"

"The Origin of Beasts?"

Lin Yun was momentarily startled by this unfamiliar term, but he quickly realized what the other party was referring to—it was the purple-black Crystal Stone Mosi used to cultivate the Remnant Beasts, supposedly able to induce mutations in them.

Emerald Sparrow was right, the Crystal Stone was actually in his hands now.

Knowing that this object was one of the artificial roots of the Remnant Beasts' scourge, Emerald Sparrow had consistently used Spell Techniques to seal it in an empty room at the secret base, and had Mosi monitor the state of the Crystal Stone vigilantly. Ever since it had fallen into the hands of a Magical Girl, the Crystal Stone had been stable, so much so that if not for the faint magic power fluctuations, one might even consider it a purely dead object.

"I cannot take such a thing out to trade, Your Excellency," Lin Yun replied, his eyes narrowing slightly with wariness, "especially when I do not know what you intend to do with it."

The atrocities Mosi carried out using this Crystal Stone were hair-raising, with countless lives lost to her cruel "research." Now, the Director of the Research Institute was attempting to trade with him for it, which led him to some rather unpleasant suspicions.

His sense of identification with the group of Magical Girls wasn't particularly weak; he also believed that most Magical Girls in this world had kind hearts. However, regarding the Gemstone Scepter, those who had stayed at the pinnacle of power for too long and had long been removed from ordinary Magical Girls, he couldn't help but maintain a certain level of vigilance.

If he were to hand over the Crystal Stone simply because the other party had the backing of a nation and belonged to the ranks of Magical Girls, he couldn't ensure that the stone wouldn't be put to some vile use once more.

"...It seems that you do not understand my character, which I find somewhat saddening," the doll conveyed Emerald Sparrow's words clearly, though the emotionless tone bore no hint of "sadness": "But no matter, it is you who have obtained The Origin of Beasts, and the decision to trade it lies only in your hands. First, listen to what I can offer you; perhaps then you will change your mind."

"Please, go ahead," said Lin Yun, his tense posture relaxing slightly.

"Well then... where should I start, where did I put my memo?"

As Lin Yun showed his willingness, sounds of the doll rummaging for something could be heard, and soon Emerald Sparrow's voice came again, "Ah, right, the most important thing for you is probably your current situation, isn't it?"

"Even without my mentioning it, you must have felt it, your Heart's Gem is on the verge of complete shattering. Magic power is constantly seeping out, your true form is extremely unstable; even at this distance, I can sense its overwhelming burden."

"Even if you were to release your magic power with all your might, how much combat strength would you still have? Leaf rank? Bud rank? At this rate, your power will only continue to weaken until one day it drops to the very bottom of Seed rank."

Emerald Sparrow's words hit the nail on the head.

The cost of a shattered magical outfit and a damaged true form was bound to be steep. Aside from the Heart's Gem frequently malfunctioning, making Lin Yun unable to control his transformations, a demotion in power was inevitable.

If before the fight with Mosi, Emerald Sparrow's full strength in her normal state was around the level of a Bud; then now, even with all her might, she could no longer touch the level of magic power a Bud rank possessed.

Furthermore, with two-thirds of the magical outfit "Weave of Fate" gone, what remained of the complete magical outfit was now just a third, like a wall riddled with holes, naturally making it difficult to function as it should. The present Emerald Sparrow would probably have a tough time even taking on a Pupa-rank Remnant Beast alone.

"Additionally, due to the leakage of magic power, the barrier between your true form and physical body is gradually eroding, and the magic power unique to Magical Girls is beginning to backflow into your current body. You must have noticed this; in your current state, you can use some of the powers of a Magical Girl even without transforming."

"...Yes," Lin Yun acknowledged with a slight nod.

"That's right, such a state might seem manageable in the short term, perhaps even making it more convenient for you to wield your power; but in the long run, it is only harmful and not beneficial. A male body is unable to accommodate and utilize the magic power of a Magical Girl, and it will eventually shorten your lifespan."

The doll gently tapped the table twice, lifting its head with a sure expression on its comical face:

"If it comes to that, forget about wielding power, your very life will be on its last legs."