In Academy City, aboard a train that never stopped moving.
A secretary handed a phone to a man lounging on a sofa.
"Hm?"
"It's from the Board of Directors!"
"Hello!"
"Underwood, it's me."
"Director? What's the matter?"
"You retaliated against him, didn't you?"
"Though DA is just a pack of disobedient hounds, they're still my hounds. Even beating a dog requires considering its master…"
"So you leaked intel on the sixth-ranked to them? And sent Scavenger to hijack the vehicle?"
"Exactly."
"Be careful."
Beep, beep~
The call ended. Underwood casually set the phone down, a scornful smile spreading across his face. "Hmph~ On this train, randomly weaving through Academy City's underground, never stopping, even the top-ranked can't find me or lock onto my position! Well, whatever. They're just hounds, not worth my further effort…"
Buzz—
Space-time seemed to freeze, the world collapsing from three dimensions into a pseudo-two-dimensional plane.
In Academy City's underground train tunnel, a robot with joints glowing azure stood on the tracks.
Mimetic patterns morphed it into Samuel's likeness.
The train's headlights bore down from afar, its full-throttle speed enough to reduce a human to pulp.
Samuel raised his right hand…
Sparks erupted across the robot's body, torrents of electricity bursting from its joints, clearly pushed into overload.
But it was enough…
The train before him flattened into a paper-thin sheet in an instant!
"Too late, Underwood! There won't be a next time!"
The robot shattered, collapsing into scrap. This body could only handle so much of Samuel's computational power.
Inside the Windowless Building.
"Hm. You'll replace Underwood on the Board of Directors. As for Underwood? Don't know what you shouldn't."
…
"Hm… Esther escaped? Well, that's partly my fault. Whatever… Where's Scavenger?"
"In… in the containment room!"
Kinuhata Saiai answered Samuel's question nervously.
Though she'd been his subordinate for a while and that incident was long past, the terrifying power Samuel had once displayed still filled her with dread.
It wasn't about courage—it was a primal human fear of the unknown.
Of course, Kinuhata was also deeply curious, but she had no desire to be the one to provoke Samuel's display of power.
"Where are Mugino and Frenda?"
"They're out chasing her. They haven't returned yet."
"Hm… Doesn't matter. As long as she's in Academy City, she can't escape my grasp. Let's go check on Scavenger."
…
"Aaah! Let me go! Aaaah!"
Sakuragi Naruha thrashed relentlessly, but with her esper ability sealed, she was a mere small fry, utterly unable to break free from the restraints.
"Naru-chan, give it up. Our abilities are sealed—we can't break out. Save your strength."
Yakumaru Itsuki shrugged helplessly.
If she could still use her ability, no chain or even the sturdiest building could hold her. But now… she was powerless.
"Ugh! Failing this mission's gonna cost us a hefty penalty… Seriously, why did we have to run into a Level 5?!"
Yakumaru Itsuki grumbled, her face sour. Suddenly, she glanced at the silent Iizumi Rita. "What's wrong, Captain? Scared by the fifth-ranked?"
"…I'm just worried about Tsume."
In the deepest part of the room, inside a cylindrical glass tank filled with an unknown liquid, Seike Taroumaru floated with closed eyes.
A fist-sized hole gaped in her abdomen, the flesh entirely gone. She was being kept alive by medical drugs.
Zzt~
The containment room's door slid open.
"Hm? A guy? No value there. Dissect him! Perfect chance to study these kids."
"What did you say? What are you going to do to Tsume?!"
"Hey! Are you a teacher? You jerk!"
"??? Teacher? What? You guys hate teachers?"
"Exactly! You teachers are the root of all evil! Academy City's just one big school, and it's because of you mismanaging teachers that this place is such a mess! If we take you down… someday, some dean or principal will step up! Once we take them out, this place will get better!"
Sakuragi Naruha shouted loudly.
"Oh~"
Samuel understood. They didn't hate the profession of "teacher" but despised all of Academy City, blaming its wrongs on those who managed or assisted in its operations, believing they were the cause.
And in truth, the leaders of Academy City bore significant responsibility—many of the issues were their doing.
But that was viewing Academy City as a school.
To those at the top, Academy City was far from a noble institution. It was merely a research institute.
To them, these weren't problems. They were researchers, directors. Why bother talking to test subjects?
"Hm… A school? Hahaha… Fine, then I'm the 'dean' you're talking about. I'm standing right here—what can you do about it?"
"What?! I'll beat you… Grrr!"
Sakuragi Naruha flailed again, clawing and snarling.
"Damn it! Then you're one of those honor students! The ones hiding behind teachers, stabbing us in the back!"
Yakumaru Itsuki snapped at Kinuhata Saiai, clearly annoyed.
"…"
Kinuhata Saiai was utterly baffled.
"Hahaha, well! Kids like you need a good teacher to whip you into shape."
A pleased smirk curled Samuel's lips.
Since they hated teachers so much, making them learn and become proper people would surely be torturous for them.
And watching others suffer was the easiest way to find pleasure.
But before that, Samuel wanted to thoroughly study these kids.
After all, he wasn't some "dean" or "teacher." Catching someone else's lab rats and not studying them? That'd be a waste!
Scavenger? Those peculiar abilities among them were incredibly valuable!!!
***
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