But when it comes to personal life expenses, asking Bingtang for money is a different matter.
Back at the funeral, relatives were endlessly chattering, seemingly considerate of him and his sister, appearing to mourn their parents' departure, but in reality, they were discussing how to divide the family's property.
He barely managed to retain half of his parents' inheritance, and three years have passed. He's tried not to seek help from relatives, after all, favors come at a high price.
This has also led to the household running short of money. Both Keke and he would take on part-time jobs during holidays to earn some extra income to help meet household expenses.
Jiang Si even asked Bingtang if her family needed any workers, but Bingtang believed that the Cyan Cloud Sect Leader shouldn't be working part-time jobs.
Sometimes, it's quite difficult to communicate with Bingtang.
Upon hearing that she had to write a task failure review report, Susan immediately held her head, "Lord Zi Yuan and Lord Bingtang will surely be disappointed in me... There's still room to salvage this mission, I don't want to write a failure report so soon."
You're not even familiar with Zi Yuan, so why would there be disappointment?
Jiang Si took a sip of water, "What do you mean?"
The girl presented a photo, "The black Magical Girl, Hyacinth, the third Magical Girl of the Disaster Strategy Bureau, and the former captain of Yin Lian's team, seventeen years old, currently in her senior year of high school. She once had contact with people from the Witch Association and let one of their members escape. Many suspect she is involved with the Witch Association. Later, she resigned from her captain duties, with Yin Lian taking over. She hasn't been to the Disaster Strategy Bureau for a long time, but she reported in once this morning."
"Oh, then she's quite suspicious."
"But she hasn't been near the safe room recently. Many people in the Disaster Strategy Bureau are monitoring her. It's quite hard for her to do anything there, though the timing is too coincidental. She just happened to come today, and the Miracle Seed was stolen."
Jiang Si suddenly remembered, "A black Magical Girl? I remember the Disaster Strategy Bureau held a retirement ceremony once. The black one, that was her, right?"
"Yes, it's her." Susan nodded, "Previously, because she had contact with the Witch Association, the Disaster Strategy Bureau unilaterally held a retirement ceremony for her. Even though she participated obediently to save face, she has continually insisted she hasn't retired and refused to hand over the Miracle Seed."
"The other suspect is Ah Qin, who manages the safe room. She happened to be absent this morning due to family issues, which is also unexpectedly convenient. Then there's you. Before Bingtang informed me, I really thought you were with the Witch Association…"
"When did Bingtang inform you?"
"Right when you were coming downstairs with Yin Luo."
Susan casually tossed her blonde hair, exuding a confident and bold air, "As long as you keep an eye on Hyacinth, I'll watch Ah Qin. Even if the Witch Association were incredibly capable, they wouldn't be able to escape! This time, we must catch them and…"
"I didn't say I'd help, did I?" Jiang Si shook his head, "My mission is just to retrieve the Miracle Seed; everything else doesn't concern me."
Susan was taken aback by Jiang Si's refusal, "You're a disciple of the Cyan Cloud Sect. How can you lack even a bit of dedication? This concerns the future development of the sect! As disciples, we should actively help Lord Bingtang resolve her troubles…"
"Stop kidding around. I joined the Cyan Cloud Sect for a salary, not for free overtime." This phrase was a catchphrase of someone close to Bingtang, which Jiang Si stole for use, "Our Cyan Cloud Sect doesn't have a wolf company culture; Bingtang said we do not promote internal competition."
"This isn't internal competition; it's atonement for work mistakes."
"It wasn't my mistake, so why should I atone?"
Susan was caught off guard by this, realizing it truly had nothing to do with him.
Since they were both disciples of the Cyan Cloud Sect, she subconsciously thought the mission failure was both of their responsibility.
But in reality, stealing the Miracle Seed was her sole task.
Jiang Si waved a hand, "No matter what you say, I won't work overtime. My mission is done. I'll just report back to Bingtang and be done with it; you'll have to figure out the rest yourself."
"Wait a minute."
Susan gritted her teeth, "I don't want this mission's bonus. It's all yours, plus half of this month's salary, from both the Disaster Strategy Bureau and the Cyan Cloud Sect. I'm begging you."
But again, the mission to take the Miracle Seed from the Disaster Strategy Bureau was originally tasked to him by Bingtang.
It was also to better help himself get a promotion, so there's no reason not to get involved.
Jiang Si sat back in his chair, "Being fellow disciples of the Cyan Cloud Sect, I'm not a cold-hearted person. With your sincerity, I'd feel bad refusing again."
Susan snorted coldly, but since he was willing to help, she dared not taunt, fearing he might refuse the money in a fit of anger, "Hyacinth is in her senior year of high school, about to graduate, and she spends most of her time at school, making her easy to find. Follow her and see if there's any trace of contact with the Witch Association. Let me know if you find any clues, and I'll take care of the rest."
It's too troublesome.
Besides, following and investigating wasn't Jiang Si's forte.
Outsource it to Bingtang, then split Susan's half of the salary with Bingtang.
As for high school students, Bingtang knows them best, since many magical girls come from middle and high school. She keeps tabs on all the girls in Beihai City's schools and occasionally notices some promising boys.
After all, with a unique case like Jiang Si, you can't guarantee there won't be another male Magical Girl.
Susan clearly didn't know that the boy before her, who wore a serious expression and nodded earnestly, was already contemplating handing off the task she entrusted to her most revered Bingtang...