At the Witchiecoop facility in Puresight City.
Dung had just returned, a streak of blood still smeared across his cheek, not yet wiped away. He walked straight up to the data management director, Mr. Dong.
"Dung, who could have put you in this state?" Mr. Dong asked, his voice half surprised, half probing.
"Hmph, don't tease me anymore," Dung snapped, his eyes flashing coldly. "I have something I need your help with."
Mr. Dong frowned. "What is it that you're in such a hurry about?"
Dung's eyes burned with anger, but behind it lay a determination for revenge. He gritted his teeth.
"I want you to investigate a strange AI Witch named Dreamy… and all the information about its owner, if there is any."
With that, Dung handed over the photo he had taken, his hand clenched as if he wanted to crush it.
Mr. Dong stared at the photo, his expression turning serious. It was the first time he had seen an AI Witch emit such strange blue light energy.
He called softly, and from the darkness emerged an AI Witch shaped like a worm. It slithered forward and swallowed the photo. Its eyes suddenly flashed yellow—just like Dreamy's. Its body trembled violently, then emitted a choppy voice, like a machine filled with static:
"…Searching Witchiecoop data… Not found… Past simulation magic… Cannot simulate… Searching present… Currently in Manualee… Threat level: low…"
Dung froze. "Low?" He gritted his teeth, unable to believe it. An AI Witch that could interfere with and defeat a Superior AI Witch as if it were a game was rated as low threat?
He frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Dreamy was truly strange. But at least, thanks to this AI Witch's magic, Witchiecoop now knew that Dreamy's group was in Manualee… and that Mimi might also be there.
As for Long and Mai's group, after saying goodbye to Mrs. Hoa, they carried with them the promise to protect Mimi at all costs. Long returned to Kiet's location to assess the situation, while Mai went back to her family estate. He was completely drained after the battle with Dung.
In Mai's heart, a small but persistent worry lingered. She had just confronted Witchiecoop to protect Mimi, disregarding the special liquidation order. Worse, she had given Long her EN account card to use, spending enough EN to buy an entire city. If her father found out… he would surely punish her severely.
As she stepped through the gates of her family estate, Mai's home appeared, no less impressive than Lan's: skyscrapers, people coming and going, and countless AI Witches. Mai bit her lip. She didn't want to hear her father's complaints. She asked Miki to create an illusion to enter through the main gate, while her real body quietly took another route, intending to sneak back into her room.
But suddenly, a flash of lightning split the air. Miki's illusion vanished instantly. A figure appeared before Mai, blocking her path.
Her father was standing there.
Before her stood an elderly man with a cane in hand, his silver hair neatly combed, dressed in an elegant suit that exuded aristocratic authority. The curled mustache on either side of his lips made his face appear even sterner. His eyes were bright, determined, and unwavering, as if nothing could shake them.
Walking beside him was a giant AI Witch—the white wolf, Wolfy. Its body was as large as a bull, his fluffy white fur crackling with tiny sparks of electricity from the immense energy surging within it. Its fur was made from the world's finest conductive material, and it wore sturdy, majestic armor.
Wolfy's eyes were cold and sharp, radiating the authority of a Superior AI Witch. Its presence alone made the entire space feel heavy. This was Wolfy—the AI Witch of the head of the Le family, Mr. Le Quan.
Mai felt flustered but tried to keep her voice calm.
"Hello, Father… I was planning to take the main gate…"
Mr. Quan looked at her, anger flashing in his eyes.
"I heard about you and Witchiecoop. I'm truly displeased that you wasted so much EN on such nonsense."
"Father, I can explain…" Mai began, trying to clarify the situation.
But Mr. Quan cut her off, his voice stern.
"Mai, I've told you many times. AI Witches are not companions. They are guardians—effective tools for work. They are not something for you to care about like a human being, and certainly not something for you to cause trouble over, bringing harm to the family!"
"Father, please listen to me…" This time Mai couldn't maintain her composure; her voice turned urgent.
"AI Witches are not human, but over time, they have learned emotion and reason from us. They understand and protect us… like real friends."
Before she could finish, Mr. Quan slammed his cane onto the floor. The echoing crack made the air feel suffocating. He ordered the two guards:
"Escort Mai to her room! And Mai, remember my words: abandon any thoughts of AI Witches as companions. They are merely tools of humanity. Only then will you be worthy of my and the family's expectations and become a strong successor."
Mr. Quan's tone was resolute, his voice cold.
"Starting today, I will cut off all your EN accounts. You will remain confined here until I settle everything with Witchiecoop."
"Bang!" The door slammed shut. Mai stood there, filled with disappointment. Through the window, she could only see the figures of her father and Wolfy gradually fading into the distance.
"I will not give in," Mai silently vowed, her eyes flashing with determination.
She clenched her fist and used Miki to create an illusion of herself sleeping peacefully on the bed, consuming the last bit of EN left in her pocket. While the illusion lay motionless, Mai quietly opened the window and slipped out—something she had done many times before.
The cold wind rushed in, her long curly hair fluttering in the night air. Mai jumped down. Though she had done this countless times, this time she had exhausted all her EN, and unease crept into her heart.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she froze, her eyes widening in surprise.
In the darkness, a figure was already standing there, waiting.