Everyone fell silent. The image of the gentle teacher, Ms. Phan, vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp-tongued woman. She turned to Director Dong, her hair neatly tied back, her voice edged with irritation.
"Director Dong, you're ruining my work!"
Dong curled his lips into a faint smile. "Oh, come on. Let me apologize. You know, if you lose your job, the Group will always welcome you back."
Ms. Phan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing, her laughter echoing as if tearing through the purple space. "Hahaha… fine. I agree to return to Witchiecoop and participate in the experimental projects. Isn't the Group always complaining about a lack of talent?"
Long, Mai, and Uncle Lam were stunned and indignant. Dung blurted out, "You're clever!"
"But on one condition…" Ms. Phan's face turned cold again. She walked slowly toward Director Dong, a faint smile on her lips, and whispered softly in his ear.
Dong nodded, his voice decisive. "Okay, I agree! Scobby, release everyone—just keep Mimi. Purple Hair, use the electric bubble to trap Mimi, paralyze it, and don't let it use magic to interfere with our nervous systems."
The butterfly AI Witch fluttered its wings, and the frozen space dissolved. Mai, Long, and Dreamy fell to the ground, but a small purple space the size of a hand bound Mai's and Long's limbs, as well as Dreamy's. Mai gritted her teeth and cursed, "Damn it!"
Purple Hair blew out an electric sphere, enveloping Mimi. The white cat AI Witch resisted, struggling violently, light flashing around its body. Director Dong suddenly remembered something, his eyes flashing.
"Ah… there's also your master's mission. I've read that diary page. It's truly a rebellious mission."
Dung snapped out of his daze and shouted, "Someone! Use the AI Witch to create Lan's image—and cancel the mission so Mimi becomes more obedient!"
The snail-shaped AI Witch in the hands of a Witchiecoop employee glowed, its eyes flashing as they reflected the image of a frail girl sitting in a wheelchair.
"Lan!" Long exclaimed in shock. "Isn't that the Lan Miki recreated in the room? Why is Lan's image here? Is she still alive?"
Mai pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes blazing with anger.
"They don't respect the dead. It's all an illusion created by that snail… I'm starting to understand their intentions."
Lan's illusion spoke, its voice gentle yet resonant:
"Mimi… my companion…"
Inside the electric bubble, Mimi, which had been struggling, suddenly froze. It looked at the illusion, its eyes brightening, then let out a trembling "meooo."
The illusion continued, its voice earnest:
"Mimi… it's okay. Let's go home. I gave you a mission: to escape and run away from Witchiecoop at all costs. And only I can cancel that mission. Now I'm here. You can relax. Let me cancel it… you've worked hard enough."
Mimi stared for a long time, its eyes flashing gold, then let out a heart-wrenching "meoo," as if tearing through space itself. Then it relaxed and floated inside Purple Hair's electric bubble.
Dung curled his lip, his voice contemptuous. "That's a rebellious mission, opposing Witchiecoop. It could cause the Tran family to break their agreement with the Corporation. Lan was too insolent."
"Shut up!" Long's voice rang out, furious. "There's nothing wrong with wanting a companion to survive after you die!" His hand clenched tightly, trembling with rage. He slammed his fist against the rock beside him, trying to shatter the purple sphere binding his hand.
Mai burst into tears, her voice choked. "How cruel…"
Director Dong spoke coldly and calmly. "Enough. Let's go. The mission to capture Mimi is complete."
He turned to Ms. Phan, his voice low but sharp, just loud enough for the two of them to hear.
"Ms. Phan, don't think I don't know why you returned to Witchiecoop. This time, I'll let it slide because of my promise to you and the support of Mr. Le Quan, Mai's father. But Mimi still had to be captured to uphold the rules and serve a greater purpose. If they act recklessly again next time… things will be different."
Ms. Phan closed her eyes slightly, a half-smile appearing on her lips. She turned to Mai, her voice light yet distant.
"Mai, thank you. I have been very happy since the first day I met you and Lan in the basement of my house. But our teacher-student relationship… ends here. See you again."
She turned her back, her hand raised in farewell.
Dung snapped, "What about Long and Dreamy?" He spoke while kicking Kiet aside, as the child was clinging to his leg, thinking Ms. Phan had been taken hostage.
Director Dong replied, his voice full of confidence. "We'll come back another time."
Mimi was helpless, floating inside the electric bubble. The crackling sound rang incessantly, its voice weak, as if about to fade away.
"Miss… play with me, please…"
Purple Hair paused for a moment. Perhaps the electric current from the bubble's magic had disrupted the language function of this AI Witch cat.
The thick purple space trembled violently. Scobby, the butterfly AI Witch, gently flapped its wings, opening a swirling purple-black portal. The Witchiecoop group stepped through, their figures gradually fading into the cold light.
Only emptiness remained.
Mimi had been captured.