Chapter 359 Suspicion
No one had thought that the outcome of this assessment would end in this way.
The candidates in the maze had more or less thought about whether there would be a big race for ranking after the final node was conquered and the exit was opened; or whether many teams would go all out for points and fight with force... Due to considerations of such scenarios, many candidates were originally very nervous.
Therefore, when the examiner announced the fact that "the first place has been announced", many people were unable to react at first.
When they reacted, after the emotions of surprise and confusion, they became anxious.
Perhaps some serious candidates would think about whether the "first place" was not right at this time, but most people have no time to think about these things. Because the opening of the export means that the final competition has already begun.
The teams that suffered the most were probably those still engaged in node-level capture. They had initially believed they had timed the exit's appearance, so they opted for a more conservative approach, hoping to minimize casualties while slowly wearing down the remaining beast. After all, not all candidate teams had the strength to easily handle a Pupa-level creature. However, their battle of attrition was interrupted midway by a sudden announcement.
How did the exit open? Who did it?
This was their first thought.
——Can we still grind slowly like this? Do we have to fight hard?
With similar thoughts in mind, the team members all turned to their captains. The captains then exchanged glances, confirming their next move with just a glance.
"Damn it... I can't put it off any longer, let's do it! Go!"
Filled with resentment and anger towards the "first place" who suddenly appeared, several captains roared and pounced on the crippled beast.
This is just what happens in one part of the maze.
Similar content is happening in almost every corner. Some candidates are still solving puzzles, some are making sneak attacks, and some are even lost... But no matter what they are doing, they will be accompanied by similar thoughts and a difficult decision.
Of course, some teams still maintain their own pace, and their reaction to the "export opening" can even be described as indifferent.
For example, Team 629.
It’s not that Lin Xiaolu doesn’t care about the ranking, but the current Team 629 really doesn’t have the capital to compete for the export ranking - they are still in the node area and have not come out.
In addition, after getting several puzzles and some node rewards, Team 629 can already guarantee a relatively high ranking. So, now Lin Xiaolu is concerned about a more urgent issue:
"You two, what's going on?"
She had to figure out what was wrong with her two teammates.
If Bo He had some grudge against the other party, that's why he was so hostile to her. But what about Bai Jingxuan? Although many of the other party's remarks did make people feel uncomfortable and want to beat him up, there was no reason for Bai Jingxuan to be so irrational, right?
"I have nothing to say. At least in this maze, I can't say anything more." Mint closed his eyes and crossed his arms, like a suspect sitting in an interrogation room but insisting that he would not speak before his lawyer arrived.
She didn't say anything, but Bai Jingxuan seemed to have a lot to say. As soon as Lin Xiaolu asked a question, she straightened up and opened her mouth to explain something.
“That person…”
But just as she uttered a few words, Mint beside her suddenly coughed and said with a reminder: "Don't forget the occasion now."
The occasion she was talking about was probably referring to the magical girl seniors who were watching the ceremony outside the labyrinth. Even though they might not be the ones watching the ceremony, no one could guarantee that no one was watching what they were doing now.
Bai Jingxuan also quickly realized what she wanted to say, and after stammering twice, she stopped talking. Then, she took a step, ran to Lin Xiaolu's side, and whispered a few words to her.
"That person gives me the feeling of a beast."
This was Bai Jingxuan's first words. Afterwards, she quietly gestured in Bohe's direction and added, "This person is also one of them."
Although there were only two sentences, it sounded like a lot of information to Lin Xiaolu.
A human being would give people the feeling of being a brutal beast?
If it were a less knowledgeable magical girl, they might think it was "impossible" or "just an illusion" at first. However, in Lin Xiaolu's view, this is nothing new.
Whether it was the Black Cinder Dawn that she had met before, or the magical girls of Claw Mark, they were all using the magic power of the remnant beasts to a greater or lesser extent, and the magic power of the remnant beasts would undoubtedly carry the breath of the remnant beasts.
"Claw marks?" So she also lowered her voice and whispered back.
A magical girl who uses the magic power of residual beasts is basically equivalent to "claw marks". Bai Jingxuan's words can be said to be pointing out that there is some connection between Arrowroot Potato and Claw Marks.
“…I’m not sure, but it feels different.”
Bai Jingxuan was lying on Lin Xiaolu's shoulder, so Lin Xiaolu couldn't see her expression clearly. She could only hear some suppressed emotions in her tone: "I always feel that the feeling on them is more disgusting than the claw marks. More... like a beast."
It was the first time that Lin Xiaolu heard such a statement.
However, she did not question Bai Jingxuan's judgment, nor did she interpret it as an illusion or misjudgment, but subconsciously chose to believe it.
Because Bai Jingxuan's previous behavior actually proved what she said.
The only thing that could make it lose its mind and express hostility like this, or even want to attack without regard for the consequences...in the past, it was only the remnant beast. The reckless state she had when facing the arrowroot potato was exactly the same as the state she had when she encountered the remnant beast during her patrols on weekdays.
Of course, Lin Xiaolu didn’t think it through that clearly. She just felt that Bai Jingxuan’s words and actions were consistent, and she didn’t feel that there was anything unreasonable, so there was no reason not to believe her.
If this is the case, the true identity of both the arrowroot and mint is highly questionable.
A magical girl with the aura of a beast, isn't it just claw marks? If this is true, then could it be that the other party is...
Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but cast her gaze on Bai Jingxuan again.
To be honest, Lin Xiaolu still hadn't fully grasped Bai Jingxuan's origins. Deeply influenced by magical girl anime, she'd always assumed it was normal for a companion to possess dark powers. Now, with a deeper understanding, she'd gradually realized that the magical power of a crippled beast wasn't something she could easily understand. Rather, possessing the magical power of a crippled beast was far more serious than the "dark powers" depicted in anime.
However, she and Bai Jingxuan lived together, eating, dressing, living, and traveling together, so it was hard for her to think anything bad about her teammates. And when they did talk about the past, they inevitably came up with the heartbreak of Bai Jingxuan losing her parents. Furthermore, neither Cuique nor Bai Jingxuan herself had explained these things to her in too much detail, so naturally, she hadn't tried to delve into what Bai Jingxuan was carrying.
Mint, Arrowroot, and Bai Jingxuan, is there some kind of connection between these three people that she doesn't know about now?
Lin Xiaolu's suspicious gaze swept between the two people, and perhaps because Bo He was a little helpless because of her attitude, in the end, Bo He couldn't help but speak.
"After we get out, you pick a restaurant and we'll go have a meal. You can ask anything you want to ask then."
She waved her hand and stood up. "Of course, there's a condition. That's your treat."
(End of this chapter)
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