Breezy. Uneasy.

“What can the MGHN do for you, Mr. Ozone?” Ingrid Stardust was not intimidated in the least by the rotund man’s sudden intrusion into her office. She wasn’t the head of the Magical Girl’s Help Network by chance. It grew from a few magical girls in different parts of the same town to a global network designed for magical girls to share information and help each other. And naturally, that design included her in charge.

She’d been sitting in her magically secured office sorting through paperwork when he walked into the room through a black portal. He was dressed rather dull, with a green Hawaiian print shirt and matching Bermuda shorts, black socks, and gold sandals. He did have green hair, so it was likely he had access to some form of magic; Ingrid guessed it was wind-based when he introduced himself as ‘Ozone’.

“I’m a businessman, and I’d appreciate just a moment of your time,” he replied. “I was hired to look into your little operation. Let’s say I’m here to hear your side of the negotiation.” Ingrid smiled. He was far from the first mercenary asked to do that, but he was easily the most unimpressive.

“I should’ve guessed,” she replied with sparkling pink eyes. “But I would like an idea of where I should start. Tell me, what’ve you learned already?” she asked. Ozone shrugged with a grin.

“I’m not gonna go digging if I don’t have to,” he said. “This was my first stop. Job says you’re a stickler for membership. I represent a certain rebellious group that would prefer to work independently and not be forced to join your magical girl pyramid scheme.”

“Pyramid scheme?” Ingrid giggled. Did he actually know, or was that just serendipitous word choice?

“Your eyes are pink,” Ozone nodded. “You’re overflowing with magic, but that’s not your natural eye color, and the only way to get that much magic is by skimming a little off the top here and there. Getting new magical girls to sign a contract is a pretty straightforward way to go about it.”

“Color me surprised,” Ingrid smirked as she rose from behind her desk. “You’re sharper than you look.”

“Comes with the job,” he nodded. “And speaking of the job, how much are you willing to spend on making sure I didn’t find anything out?”

“Maybe you’re not that intelligent after all,” she said. “You’ve found yourself alone in the office of the most powerful magical woman on Earth. And I daresay I feel threatened.” She raised her arm forward with her hand reaching out toward Ozone, and with a flash of rainbow light, a saber appeared in her grip, the point inches from Ozone’s thick neck.

“I’m not offering you a single penny, but you may leave the way you came; empty-handed.”

“It was actually a two-part job,” Ozone smiled. “The first part was just verifying what I was told. It seems to be true; the second part is to dismantle this organized mob you’ve put together. Care to raise your offer?”

“I have over ten thousand magical girls in this ‘little’ organization,” Ingrid replied. “You’re going to dismantle us? Where’s your army?”

“Never really needed one,” Ozone shrugged. “And I’m not going to ask trained soldiers to attack little girls. Feels kinda overkill.”

“And here I thought you knew the job you were taking on.” Ingrid shook her head in amusement, but the sword tip didn’t waver. “But you’re just like everyone else, underestimating what magical girls are truly capable of. Any one of them could wipe out a large metropolis. A few have,” she laughed.

“I don’t blame you for being confident,” Ozone nodded. “But you are missing some important context here. I guess it doesn’t matter too much, though,” his eyes flitted to the blade for a moment before meeting her pink eyes again.

“Is this going to be your final offer?”

“Yes,” Ingrid said. She was done with the situation and used a stern, cold tone.

“ I guess it’s time to start taking things apart,” he winked first, then made a sudden hand gesture.

Ingrid Stardust was more unnerved than she cared to admit, and the sudden move startled her. She thrust forward with all her might. At the same time, the tip of her saber ignited with magical flame. If he was attuned to the wind element, as she guessed, he would be weak to fire. He didn’t even blink as the sword bounced off his neck like a wooden toy glancing off a steel wall.

“Little bit jumpy, huh?” he chuckled and turned his attention to where he’d raised his hand. Ingrid was further surprised to see another new visitor. This one was a buxom blonde in a star-print housedress. “This is my assistant, Andie,” Ozone said. “She’s not here to do anything except watch; you have my word she won’t interfere.”

“Alright,” Ingrid nodded as she took a ready stance. She wasn’t taking him entirely seriously when she tried to stab him, but she would start. “Then let’s see what you can-,”

“No, no,” Ozone shook his head. “I’m not one to get involved personally. And besides, it’d be a waste of good training if I handled your magical army all by myself. I have students that could stand to get some combat practice. Andie’s only here as a proctor to make sure they complete the mission fair and square.”

“I won’t say a word, Ms. Ingrid,” Andie smiled.

“Students?” Ingrid was genuinely confused now. “What are you talking about?”

“Like I said, you’re missing a lot of context.” Ozone shrugged as a black portal opened beside him. It was exactly like the one he arrived through, and he stepped one foot into it as the emergency alarms went off. The strategic map on her wall lit up to indicate that six of the 15 major Magical Girl hubs across the world were under attack. She made a sharp command gesture with her hand, and the map changed to show six video feeds. Each one had a different giant humanoid mech being swarmed by magical girls. “It’s not important, you’ll be out of business by the end of the day,” he said as he stepped completely into the black hole. “Dock them some points if they don’t finish by sundown, Andie,” he added with a wave as the hole closed.