"Can Takitsubo handle it alone? The moment she activates her ability, the other party will sense it, right? Just thinking about the power of a Level 5 esper gives me chills." Frenda held her binoculars, watching her target casually drinking coffee by the window. She shrugged, but there was no fear on her face. If anything, she looked thrilled.
An assassination targeting a Level 5. What mission could be more exciting than this?
"Tch, they really know how to enjoy life."
"No problem. Locking onto the opponent's AIM diffusion field can be mistaken for natural resonance within the field itself," Takitsubo Rikou said as she opened the car door and stepped out.
"Then it's up to you," Mugino Shizuri said, tapping her leg impatiently, her eyes glued to the monitor with a sharp, almost predatory excitement.
Takitsubo closed the car door behind her.
At first glance, the vehicle looked like an ordinary black Toyota used for daily commuting. But a closer look revealed the abnormal thickness of its outer coating. The body was reinforced with high-durability materials, and beneath the seemingly mundane exterior, numerous concealed compartments housed heavy weaponry.
This was the specialized vehicle used by ITEM, one of Academy City's Dark Side units. The interior was spacious, furnished with a high-end sofa, refrigerator, kitchen, and even a bathroom.
Even the driver was a mercenary, the kind of person fully prepared to die for the Dark Side at any moment.
"Finding the Number Eight Level 5 was almost too easy. Doesn't that feel off? Maybe we missed something in the analysis. After all, we're dealing with a Level 5," Kinuhata Saiai said, frowning slightly, an uneasy feeling creeping into her voice.
"Now that you mention it, something does feel strange. But I can't pinpoint what exactly," Mugino replied, resting her elbow on the sofa, her gaze turning sharper.
Normally, their handler would provide a detailed breakdown of the mission and target beforehand. But this time, there had been no proactive contact after accepting the job.
"This is seriously annoying. Even if we overlooked something, we don't have the luxury to hesitate. Against a Level 5, we're basically just support anyway," Kinuhata said, rolling her neck stiffly.
"Mugino, let's start already! Takitsubo's in position. Hehe, a clash between Level 5s is going to be amazing!"
"Shut up, Frenda," Mugino snapped into the communicator, irritation flashing across her face.
"Geez, Mugino, my bad. So, should I stir things up a bit for the Number Eight while you're fighting?" Frenda whined, then suggested it anyway, clearly not learning from experience.
"This idiot…" Kinuhata muttered under her breath.
Veins popped visibly on Mugino's forehead. Her expression darkened as she spoke in a dangerously calm voice, "Frenda, you remember what happened last time when you mixed up the liquid explosives, right? If you screw around again, I won't let it slide."
"—" Hearing that tone, Frenda visibly shuddered, her voice trembling. "Got it. That one was completely my fault."
Cold sweat streamed down her face. Last time, she had almost blown up their own side while trying to deal with a group of thugs.
…
"Beep beep beep…"
Arata set down his drink and pulled out his phone. The caller ID showed Nunotaba Shinobu.
"Hey, Shinobu. What's going on?"
"It's bad. I've received intel that the Board of Directors has issued an assassination order against you. At the same time, they've begun mobilizing armed forces to seize control of the research facilities under you. More than a dozen have already been taken over," Nunotaba said, her voice tense.
"So decisive. Going straight for a forceful takeover." Arata's lips curved slightly into a faint smile. "Don't worry about the others. Focus on keeping yourselves alive. Someone will come to help."
He ended the call and immediately sent out several messages.
…
Beep beep beep!
Accelerator, who had been resting at home, heard the notification. She picked up her phone, glanced at the message, and her eyes narrowed.
A cruel smile formed on her lips as a violent aura began to leak from her.
The message was simple. The Misaka Sisters were under threat. Their facility was being attacked by forces from Academy City's Dark Side.
"Honestly… it's almost lunchtime. Dragging me out now… whoever's responsible is going to regret it."
She stood up, opened the door, and stepped outside. With her hands in her pockets, she lightly tapped the ground. Instantly, vector control activated, launching her body forward as she shot through the air toward a nearby location.
Ever since the experiment ended, she had made a decision. No one would ever harm them again.
…
"Understood, boss." Shundou Toshizou glanced at the message and immediately dialed his secretary.
"Mobilize all research facilities under DA protection. Also deploy the third-generation prototype clones."
"Oh? Is there a deeper reason behind this?" the secretary asked, surprised.
"Just do it," Shundou replied flatly.
Even though his perception had been altered by Infinite Deception, turning him into Arata's subordinate, his core personality remained unchanged.
"But deploying DA… understood," the secretary said after a brief pause.
DA was a special unit personally trained by Shundou in the past. Its members were former Anti-Skill officers who had been dismissed and imprisoned for excessive use of force against students. Their mentalities had long since twisted. In their eyes, students existed only to obey. Disobedience warranted punishment or elimination.
In the otherwise peaceful Academy City, a massive conflict was now erupting, drawing in countless individuals.
…
…
"What? Arata actually caused something this big behind the scenes? What is he trying to do?"
Tsuchimikado Motoharu, acting as a double agent, stared at the documents in his hands, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
He had seriously underestimated this classmate. Not only was his identity unusual, but his actions were beyond imagination.
Forty-three research facilities had been secretly seized. That directly threatened the interests of Academy City's leadership, prompting the Dark Side to move in and reclaim them by force.
And that wasn't even the worst part. If a full-scale conflict broke out, the number of innocent casualties would be unimaginable. A Level 5 plus a Saint. That combination alone was terrifying.
Wait… could it be that Arata intends to take control of Academy City?
If this were only about rescuing the clones, there would be no need to go this far.
Tsuchimikado immediately called Arata, his tone serious. "What exactly are you planning? Do you realize how much chaos you've caused?"
"This has nothing to do with you, Tsuchimikado. It's not something you can interfere with."
Arata replied with a single sentence before ending the call.
Tsuchimikado clenched his teeth. Just as he suspected. This situation was far beyond simple damage control now.
At that moment, Arata seemed to sense something. His expression shifted slightly as he slowly turned his head.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.