Like the whisper of a demon, the researcher's pupils shrank to tiny points and his body trembled uncontrollably. Whether it was from fear or from the pain of his broken leg, he himself could not tell.
"If you are an esper and want to survive in this Academy City, the best method is to please the researchers. Do not even think about such ridiculous ideas, or I will personally tear you apart."
At this moment the researcher only had eyes for Arata. He spoke with a smiling expression that looked apologetic on the surface, yet the tone behind it was sinister, like a devil wearing a polite mask.
"Director! Director! Are you alright? The ambulance will arrive soon!" a researcher nearby shouted anxiously.
"No, it is nothing... nothing..." Cold sweat soaked through his white coat as he stared fearfully at the smiling Arata.
Damn it.
How did this ability user learn about the research plan?
There must be a mole.
Damn it.
"I am really sorry. I cannot control my ability well when I go all out." Arata said this with a sincere looking expression.
At that moment Tsukuyomi Komoe rushed over nervously and grabbed Arata's sleeve. Her childish voice was filled with worry.
"Arata chan, are you alright? Are you injured?"
"Arata!"
Fukiyose Seiri ran over as well, breathing heavily.
"Are you alright?"
At that moment she had been truly frightened. The destructive power of a Level 5 esper was simply too terrifying.
"I am sorry for making you worry. I am fine. I just cannot control my full power very well." Arata scratched his temple awkwardly.
"You idiot. Making so many people worry about you." Fukiyose angrily punched Arata in the chest.
Soon afterward the ambulance arrived and transported the injured researchers to the hospital. The school then contacted construction workers to repair the damaged sports field.
Fortunately the research institute paid for the damages. Otherwise Arata would never have been able to repay the enormous repair costs.
Very quickly the accident during the ability test became a major headline throughout Academy City. Once again everyone in the city was reminded of the terrifying destructive power possessed by a Level 5 esper.
...
District 10 of Academy City.
This district once housed the Multiple Ability User Adjustment Research Center. It had originally been a research facility dedicated to studying the abilities of Accelerator, but it had been destroyed during a previous incident when her ability went out of control.
Not far from those ruins, an underground research facility still operated quietly.
This facility was specifically built for research concerning the mysterious eighth Level 5.
"Damn that esper. How dare he threaten me. I will make him pay for this. And who leaked the information about our research plan?"
A middle aged man wrapped in bandages roared angrily through the video screen.
"There must be a mole among us. However do not worry. Even if the Eighth discovers the plan, it will not affect the project. The Board of Directors has already approved the research. All we need is a DNA sample from the Eighth." A young researcher spoke calmly.
"So how exactly are we supposed to obtain his DNA?" another researcher asked.
In Academy City only espers Level 3 and above normally had their DNA maps collected.
The Eighth was an exception.
Before becoming Level 5 he had only been Level 1. No official DNA sample had ever been recorded.
"If he becomes injured, then we can obtain a sample."
"Are you joking? Even Accelerator could not defeat the Eighth. How are we supposed to injure him? With conventional weapons?"
"According to calculations from the Tree Diagram system, the Eighth possesses an ability that counters Accelerator. However the time related ability he currently displays has little offensive capability."
"So what if he is Level 5?"
"You are all making the same mistake. Just because the Eighth once defeated Accelerator does not mean he is invincible."
The young researcher spoke with a dark expression.
If he could make even a small breakthrough in the research of multiple abilities and the world's first time related esper power, he would become famous across the entire world.
At that time no one would dare to underestimate him again.
"You mean... those two monsters..." one of the researchers muttered while swallowing nervously.
"Yes."
"We do not have the authority to command them. But the Board of Directors does."
"Several board members are extremely interested in multiple ability users and time related powers. Certain financial sponsors are interested as well."
...
District 22 of Academy City.
Inside the lowest underground railway that endlessly circles the city.
A deep voice spoke through a communication device.
"You are requesting permission to deploy a Dark Side unit?"
"You may handle the funding yourselves. We will authorize a single deployment. Only once."
"If this operation does not produce new research results, do not contact me again."
"Yes. Understood."
The communication ended.
A low voice echoed through the train.
"Among the Dark Side organizations in Academy City, aside from Aleister's personal unit, HOUND DOG, the groups known as SCHOOL, MEMBER, and BLOCK are all under the control of the Board of Directors."
"The group known as ITEM seems to be dealing with internal problems recently."
"...It does not matter."
"The only one I can truly trust right now is the unit I personally trained."
Within the Dark Side everyone understood one thing clearly.
The Board of Directors controlled every aspect of Academy City.
If they wanted to continue living comfortably within the city, they had no choice but to obey the orders given to them.
Even if those orders sometimes made them extremely unhappy.
...
District 5 of Academy City.
This district was famous for its concentration of prestigious colleges and universities. The entire area carried an atmosphere of maturity and academic prestige.
Inside a certain high rise building.
Click.
The door opened.
Inside was a large hall. Although it was technically a hall, it had been converted into a crude base filled with various daily necessities.
A high school boy with stiff facial muscles and dull lifeless eyes walked inside.
"Oh. I am late."
"The idiots from the Board of Directors assigned us another mission."
A young man with brown hair sat casually on a sofa with his legs crossed. He wore a refined dark purple suit and had a confident smile on his face.
His eyes were slightly gloomy.
The way he spoke carried a frivolous arrogance.
"Oh."
The boy with the lifeless zombie like expression simply responded with a flat sound.
"This mission is quite interesting. Take a look."
The brown haired man tossed a tablet toward him.
"What mission made you laugh like that? That is rare." A blonde girl lazily painted her fingernails while speaking.
The man suddenly burst into laughter.
"Heh. Hahaha."
"Those fools on the Board of Directors actually sent me to fight the Eighth."
"Not to kill him."
"They only want us to obtain a DNA sample from him."
"Hahaha. Do they think we are collectors of rare materials?"
The speaker was none other than Kakine Teitoku.
"Those idiots cannot help themselves. They always want to dissect and study anything unusual."
"Just like they did before."
"What?" The blonde girl froze slightly, her eyes narrowing.
...
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