"Kihara-sensei... are you preparing to start the experiment to verify Level 6? But what about the Level 6 Shift Project?" A middle-aged researcher in a white lab coat looked at the hunched, gray-haired old man who was chuckling to himself.
"No, no. We are still a long way from verifying that," Kihara Gensei said kindly, his hands clasped behind his back. "I am merely verifying the properties of the AIM Diffusion Field. That is what is truly related to Level 6. The Level 6 Shift Project... is just a farce."
He squinted, opening his eyes to look at the shadow of the Windowless Building reflecting in the distance. Although he had proposed the Level 6 Shift Project, it was Aleister who had truly provided the inspiration. Gensei suspected Aleister already knew the correct method for creating a Level 6.
However, Gensei had heard rumors of a special Gemstone—a natural Esper whose abilities could supposedly grow to Level 6 organically. If the nature of a Gemstone's evolution could be studied, it might be possible to artificially recreate that miracle.
"But something is still missing," Gensei murmured, turning to the researcher. He spoke of his own student like a rat in a maze. "I need to put more pressure on my student. I want to see what kind of incredible chemical reaction occurs when she tries to integrate the AIM Diffusion Field. If pushed to the point of absolute desperation... she will likely accelerate the development of her 'Brainwave Synchronization' technology. Hehehe."
"I have already rejected all of her applications to use the Tree Diagram," the middle-aged researcher reported dutifully. "She has no official avenues left."
"If a person wants to achieve their goal, they will always find a way. Right?" Gensei's kind expression masked the chilling nature of his words. "She has no choice left. But we can use the Child Errors she is caring for to make her situation a little more... urgent. That will provoke her. For example... if a nurse were to accidentally administer the wrong compound instead of a nutrient solution during their maintenance... the children will be fine, as long as they don't die. But the resulting comas will severely impact my student's 'work,' won't it? Hehehe."
"I understand, Kihara-sensei. You really have a way."
"Just use your brain," Gensei smiled kindly, walking out of the laboratory.
...
"You bastard..." Suzushina Yuriko stared at the glowing screen of her phone, her expression grim. The challenge letter, sent using her digital signature, had actually reached everyone in Academy City.
"Are you an idiot?!" she snapped, glaring at Yuuya. "This entire district will be surrounded by Anti-Skill soon!"
She thought he was just going to post it on a few underground Skill-Out forums. She didn't expect a system-wide broadcast. She could already imagine the chaos. For the sake of stability, Judgment and Anti-Skill were probably already mobilizing tactical units to arrest her.
"Oh, what does it matter?" Yuuya smiled, completely unfazed by Yuriko's murderous glare. "You can just come to my apartment. With my Spatial Teleportation, I guarantee they won't be able to catch you. Besides, I've already fried the surveillance cameras along our route with my electromagnetism. They don't know your current location."
"You planned this from the beginning!" Yuriko gritted her teeth, her red eyes flashing dangerously.
"What? You're overthinking it. Come on, let's go to my house." Yuuya extended his hand, a slightly malicious, triumphant smile playing on his lips.
"Tch!" Yuriko slapped his hand away. She turned and stomped toward her own apartment building, her face dark. 'This scoundrel. He's always making fun of me. He's no different from those Board Directors drinking expensive wine in their warm rooms. The only difference is... those scumbags use me from the shadows. This bastard openly mocks me to my face.'
They arrived in front of a five-story student dormitory. Compared to the towering, modern ten-story complexes surrounding it, this dormitory looked dark, damp, and neglected.
"It's so much worse than my regular apartment," Yuuya commented, looking up at the peeling paint. "Logically speaking, as the Number One Level 5, the City should have arranged a luxury penthouse for you."
"Are you mocking me?" Yuriko asked coldly.
"Don't misunderstand. I just feel that your treatment is terrible compared to the others."
It was true. While Yuriko had a bank account with an astronomical string of zeroes, that was just blood money—compensation for being a lab rat. She had never bothered to spend it on comfort.
"It doesn't matter where I live," Yuriko said numbly, walking into the dimly lit corridor.
"Oh dear. This is a bit bad." Yuuya stopped, crossing his arms. "Your apartment is Room 1 on the first floor, right? My electromagnetic radar says your room is already a complete ruin."
"I didn't need you to tell me." Yuriko's gaze turned ice-cold. She looked down the corridor. The door to Room 1 was broken in half, hanging off its hinges. It looked like it had been battered down with a sledgehammer.
Inside, nothing was intact. The floor was covered in muddy shoe prints. The wallpaper had been peeled off. The television was cracked in two, the bed frame was flipped upside down, and the sofa's stuffing had been completely ripped out. Shards of broken glass littered the floor like snow.
Yuriko clenched her fists. She took a slow breath, forcing her heart rate down.
"Really..." Yuuya looked at her with genuine pity. "Your apartment probably gets vandalized every few days, isn't it?" He sighed. "Hey. This is the result of you hiding your power. So... come to my house tonight."
"Tsk..." Yuriko opened her mouth to argue, but a piercing sound echoed from the main street outside.
WEE-WOO-WEE-WOO!
The wailing sirens of Anti-Skill armored vehicles.
"The police are here," Yuuya smirked, leaning against the broken doorframe. "You literally have nowhere else to go~"
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