In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 82

It must be said that while her abilities were almost useless in combat, her "temperature-controlled preservation" ensured that the temperature of the black tea was just right. At least during this time, the temperature of the black tea for both of them remained unchanged, staying within a very suitable range.

"This has been a great help, early spring."

Higashino Yu sat opposite him, a gentle smile on his face, very satisfied with his obedient, cute and capable girlfriend.

"I can get here at this time."

"No, you're welcome. Your affairs are my affairs." Haru's voice was filled with a little excitement, but then she showed a worried expression.

"Index and the others... won't suddenly come back, will they?"

Her senior had said that he didn't want Index and the others to know about the things he was going to help with, so as not to worry them too much.

However, she was the only exception. In early spring, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart. Sure enough, Number One was different from the others.

"Don't worry."

Higashino picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Ruiko took Index and Himegami out early this morning to 'investigate the Academy City food map,' and they won't be back until the afternoon. As for Meiya, she doesn't like bright light, so she's probably resting in some shadow right now."

When Haruharu first arrived home, Higashino briefly explained the new ghost roommate, Mikoto Meiya. Although Haruharu's eyes widened when she heard the word "ghost," she quickly dismissed it with the thought that "my senior needs me."

Compared to Mingya and such, the senior's affairs are the most important.

When Leizi first arrived, she was particularly curious about Mingya and kept pestering him with questions. In the end, Mingya went back to the shadows to rest, and only then did she reluctantly lead the others out.

They arrived at Higashino's place in early spring after they left, deliberately staggering the timing.

Chu Chun breathed a small sigh of relief, then looked up at Higashino with her big eyes: "Um... yesterday on the phone you said you needed my help to look up some information, is it about the people who attacked you?"

When Higashino first contacted her by phone, he didn't intend to tell her the truth. However, considering Haru's amazing hacking skills and the fact that he needed her help with the investigation, it would be troublesome if he kept it from her and she found out about it herself.

"Ah."

Higashino put down his teacup, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"The results of the investigation I asked Huang Quanchuan to conduct last night are in. Those well-equipped guys are professional mercenaries. They seem to have temporarily entered Academy City through some shady channels. Apart from identifying them as professional mercenaries and finding their equipment somewhat suspicious, there's almost no other valuable information. The trail has gone cold."

He tapped the table lightly and looked intently at Chu Chun.

"It's like appearing out of thin air, completing a failed mission, and then disappearing again."

Chu Chun listened attentively, then moved closer to Higashino with some concern, and began to examine Higashino's body closely.

"Mercenary... Senior, are you alright?... That was too dangerous! So many dangerous guys suddenly appeared. Are you hurt?"

"It's alright, Chuchun. Don't you believe in my abilities?"

Higashino leaned forward slightly, and amidst Haru's gasp, pulled her into his arms, looking into her eyes.

“I need you to check the surveillance footage from last night in the area near B-3 Street in District 7. It’s not the security guard’s footage, it’s something deeper—see if you can find any traces left by the people who hired them, such as communication records or possible contacts. The clues might be hidden in those ‘undercurrents’ that are overlooked by the surface surveillance.”

Being held so intimately by her beloved senior, Chu Chun felt a little shy. Her cherry lips parted slightly, but she did not resist. She even twisted her body to adjust to a more comfortable position.

"Huh? Wait... Senior... you mean... you want me to... hack into the library system?!"

Her voice sounded somewhat surprised, after all, secretly hacking into the library was illegal.

"This...this isn't a good idea, is it? The Library System is the core database of Academy City, monitoring every corner of the city. Its defense level is extremely high. If it's discovered..."

"I know this is difficult."

Higashino's gaze remained gentle as he patted Haru's head, making her even more shy.

"The other party can hire top mercenaries, use ability suppressors, and may even obtain false information about me to set a trap. He is lurking in the shadows and ruthless. If we don't find him soon, I am not afraid of any threat, but the people around me, including you, Haru-chan, may also be in danger."

Although Higashino had placed insurance on them, he avoided using it if possible, as he didn't want them to encounter any danger.

"But precisely because the other party is so powerful and cunning, I need the most reliable and capable girlfriend. Haru-chan, your skills are the best I know. And I trust you, just as you trust me, right?"

In early spring, she felt a warm touch on her head and heard a gentle voice. The feeling of being unconditionally trusted by her beloved, and the words "the most reliable and capable girlfriend," instantly shattered all her hesitation and worries.

"...I really can't do anything with you, senpai!"

She exhaled softly, as if she had made up her mind, her voice carrying a hint of shyness yet a firm resolve.

"Since you've said so, senior... and it's for your safety and everyone else's..."

She looked up, her eyes becoming incredibly serious.

"give it to me!"

Chu Chun quickly broke free from Dongye's embrace and took out her frequently used laptop from her cute little bag.

Just when Higashino thought she would sit back down and start working, Haru suddenly sat back down on Higashino's lap and placed the computer in front of her.

"Senior, you don't mind if I take this position, do you?"

Although Chu Chun's smile was shy, it revealed a firm resolve. How could Higashino possibly refuse such an inquiry?

"welcome any time!"

Still sitting in Higashino's lap, Chuchun turned on the computer.

The moment she turned it on, the girl's demeanor subtly shifted, her focused gaze sharp as a blade. She expertly connected to the wireless network, her fingers flying across the keyboard, producing crisp, clear taps. A series of complex commands scrolled across the screen like flowing water.

Higashino sat there quietly, watching Haru enter her unique "Guardian Angel Mode".

Time passed by, and only the crisp sound of the keyboard and the two people's soft breathing remained in the room.

Suddenly, Chu Chun's fingers stopped on the keyboard.

"found it!"

Her voice carried a hint of excitement, her gaze fixed on a hidden user information on the screen, hidden behind layers of data transmission.

"The payment instructions for their operation last night went through seventeen encrypted nodes, ultimately pointing to the employer..."

Chu Chun paused for a moment, then turned to look at Dongye:

"His name is... Tenjo Ayumi."

Chapter 108 Hatsuharu Shiori's Decision!

"Tenjou Ayumi..."

Higashino Yu repeated the name softly, instantly recalling some information about him. This guy was one of the core promoters of the Absolute Ability Evolution Project.

"Oh, it was him..."

Higashino tried hard to recall information about this guy; because he was such a scumbag, he still remembered quite a bit about him. However, a new question arose: he and that guy shouldn't have had any interaction, so why would he hire someone to deal with him? And the communicator was full of hostility towards him.

At the beginning of the day, seeing Higashino deep in thought, she asked softly, "S-senpai? Do you know this person?"

Higashino nodded, suppressing his doubts, and a gentle smile returned to his face: "Just a piece of trash hiding in the gutter, needing to be cleaned up. Hatsuharu, you've been a great help, thank you so much." He ruffled Hatsuharu's hair again, the movement still gentle, but with an undeniable decisiveness, "Leave this to me."

"But..." Before Chu Chun could say anything, Higashino had already picked her up and placed her on the other side.

“It’s getting late, Haruharu.” He glanced out the window. “I remember you were supposed to be working as a disciplinary committee member today, right? It was already difficult enough for you to help me get a day off. You can go home now, and I’ll take care of the rest. Be careful on your way home. As for what happened today…” He paused, looking into Haruharu’s eyes, “it’s a secret between us, okay? Don’t tell anyone for now, including Mikoto and Ruiko. I don’t want them to worry.”

"Yes! I understand, senior!" Haru nodded vigorously, the sense of mission she felt about being given a "secret" task temporarily suppressing her unease. "I won't tell anyone!"

After seeing off Chuchun, who kept turning back with worry on her face, the gentleness on Higashino's face vanished instantly. He walked to the window, gazing at the towering buildings of Academy City in the distance, his eyes cold.

Amano Ayumu… this cancer must be removed as soon as possible. Previously, he deliberately avoided thinking about the Misaka Sisters because he lacked the strength; after all, they were crucial to Aleister's plans. But now the time is ripe. Aleister's attitude towards him seems excessively lenient, and since the other party struck first, even Aleister can't accuse him of reasonable retaliation. He needs to act immediately.

Back home, Haru sat on the living room sofa, clutching her laptop, her heart pounding like a rabbit's. Her senior's aura had been terrifying, even if only for a moment, Haru had felt it while nestled in his arms… What had that guy, Tenjo Ayumu, done? Why did her senior make that expression? And what did he mean by "dealing with" him… Haru didn't dare delve into what that "dealing with" meant. She'd never seen her senior show that expression before, since she'd known him. Although he quickly put on a smile, Haru didn't think she'd imagined it.

Curiosity swelled within her like vines. Tenjou Ayumu… someone Yuuki valued so highly meant he was more than just an ordinary enemy. “Just… just a little research on this person… to understand his background… it should be alright, right? It’s also to better help my senior…” she whispered to herself, as if this would lessen her guilt. After all, her senior had only asked her to investigate the mercenaries’ employers, but hadn’t forbidden her from investigating the detailed information about the people behind them… right?

With this mix of trepidation and barely suppressed excitement, Chu Chun turned on her computer again. Skillfully bypassing the usual methods, she used the disciplinary committee's limited privileges and her own superior technical skills to cautiously begin searching for related information about the name "Tenjou Ayumi" in Academy City's internal database.

Name, job title, vague research direction… not much information, and everything seemed normal. Chu Chun frowned slightly; this wasn't what she had expected. Could he just be an ordinary mad scientist? But why would an ordinary scientist attack his senior?

Just as she was about to give up, a sub-database marked "Special Experiment Project Archive," heavily encrypted, caught her attention. This database had an exceptionally high level of protection, far exceeding that of ordinary research projects. Chu Chun's heart raced; she glanced around like a mischievous child. Although she then realized she was being redundant, she composed herself and focused back on her computer.

Fingers flew across the keyboard, peeling back layers of complex firewalls and disguised protocols. Finally, a striking project name popped up: "The Absolute Ability Evolution Project."

The breath caught in her throat in early spring. This thing, judging by its name alone, was something extraordinary; it must be incredibly important. She cautiously opened the project overview file, and lines of cold text filled her eyes: "Aiming to evolve the number one esper in Academy City into an absolute esper through specific combat environments… Theoretical verification: Requires killing the number three esper 128 times in 128 different battlefield environments… Alternative solution: Given the uniqueness of the target individual, a somatic cell clone will be used as a substitute experimental subject… Planned objective: Accumulate the killing of 20000 clone individuals in actual combat to complete the evolutionary path simulation…"

"Kill...20000...clones...?" Haru murmured these words, each one a jolt to her nerves. Her face turned deathly pale, and her hand gripping the mouse trembled uncontrollably. Clones...Misaka-senpai's clones?! This plan was to evolve another esper by slaughtering 20,000 of her clones?! This was insane! Too cruel! Utterly inhuman!

Haru covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. The cold experimental data, progress reports, and even the destruction records of some "experimental subjects" on the screen transformed into the most terrifying images, assaulting her senses. She could almost see countless girls with faces identical to Mikoto collapsing in despair. "Misaka-senpai..." Haru's voice trembled with sobs.

What should she do? Does Misaka-senpai know about this terrible plan? What would happen if she did? Given Misaka-senpai's impulsive nature, she would definitely stop it at all costs, even at the cost of her life! This is too dangerous! Tell her senpai? Senpai definitely knows something! Otherwise, he wouldn't have stopped her from investigating any further details just now upon hearing the name. His terrifying aura just now was directed at the mastermind behind this plan, Tenjou Ayumu! Senpai doesn't just want to eliminate the mastermind behind his attack, but intends to stop this entire plan? But the test subject is the strongest Level 5 in Academy City. Can Senpai succeed? He only recently became a Level 5; defeating the number one should be very difficult, right?

A tremendous conflict and pain tore at Haru's heart. As a friend, as a member of the disciplinary committee, she felt obligated to tell Misaka Mikoto the truth, not to keep her in the dark. But her senior had just said she couldn't tell Misaka-senpai and the others, and what would the consequences be? Would Misaka-senpai immediately be plunged into immense pain and rage? And then rush off to seek revenge on the strongest esper in Academy City? She wondered if telling Misaka-senpai now would disrupt her senior's plans? Would it make things worse? Her senior must have his reasons for not letting her tell anyone… But should she just let her senior take the risk…?

Chu Chun was torn between a strong sense of justice regarding her friend's right to know, and anxieties about her senior's safety and her commitment to keeping her promise. She didn't want to go against her senior's words. The thought, "If only I hadn't gone to investigate further out of curiosity," flashed through her mind.

Time ticked by. The living room was eerily quiet, and Chu Chun was caught in an unprecedented dilemma. Finally, her trembling fingers slowly moved to a key on the keyboard. She took a deep breath and made her decision.

Chapter 109: Fubuki Toshinobu is a very good tool.

After leaving home, Higashino Yu wandered through the intricate streets and alleys of Academy City. His senses were like an invisible spider web, expanding outward to the maximum extent possible from himself.

He is looking for Misaka's sister.

Based on my memory of watching the anime, the Misaka Sisters are killed by Accelerator every day in one or more specific, hidden "experimental fields" in Academy City.

Once you find the location of the ongoing or upcoming experiment, you can find Accelerator. Defeat Accelerator first, and then deal with Tenjou Ayumu.

Unfortunately, today's experiment was not within the range that his network could perceive.

He searched for hours outside the cognitive network, scouring almost every relatively remote or abandoned corner of the 7th School District and several neighboring areas, factory ruins, underpasses, and the depths of undeveloped greenbelts, but found nothing except a few ordinary groups of delinquent teenagers and a few stray cats.

"Tsk...what a hassle."

Higashino Yu rubbed his head in frustration.

Academy City is too vast, and the selection of the experimental sites was clearly carefully planned, deliberately avoiding areas with regular surveillance and high population density. Using such a cumbersome method is like finding a needle in a haystack.

The sun was rising higher, and it was almost noon.

Higashino walked into a narrow back alley, hoping to calm his mind in the shade and think about his next move.

Using abilities to control people to search a large area? It's likely they'll be detected and evacuated before they even find the person.

Should we let Haruhi continue using her amazing computer skills to hack into the entire Academy City's surveillance system?

But you were so firm in telling her to go back just now, and now you're shamelessly asking her for help. Don't you have any pride?

How about contacting Shokuhou? But she hasn't had any further treatment since she came back, and she seems quite resentful when we chat on the phone.

Besides, having her join the Misaka Sisters' group doesn't seem like a good option...

Just then, footsteps coming from deep within the alley interrupted his thoughts.

A young woman wearing a large white lab coat was walking from the other end of the alley. She was carrying a heavy-looking bag that was labeled "For Waste Only".

A flicker of wariness crossed her eyes the moment she saw Higashino.

Cloth bundles and sharpening.

Higashino immediately recognized this person as one of the core members involved in creating the Misaka Sisters in the original work, and also the key figure who later gave the Sisters emotions.

What a coincidence! It's like a pillow being delivered just when you're about to fall asleep!

Higashino was pleasantly surprised; finally, he didn't have to go back to Haruhi for help like a man who hadn't earned any money after going out to work and had to go back to his wife to ask for money.

She seemed to recognize Higashino Yu as well, and paused slightly, but quickly resumed her expressionless state.

"I know you."

Fubuki Toshinobu suddenly spoke, his voice cold and calm, but his eyes held a feeling that Higashino couldn't quite describe.

It seems like they're expecting something?

"Yu Higashino, the eighth Level 5 in Academy City. The tree diagram designer considered him more likely to become a Level 6 than Accelerator."

Higashino frowned slightly; this news was completely new to him.

Before this, he had only seen some experts make similar comments in the news after he became a Level 5, but he did not have any information that the tree diagram designer recognized his potential.

But the designer of the tree diagram? Wasn't that unfortunate supercomputer destroyed by Index's Dragon King's Sigh? And, more likely to become a Level 6 than Accelerator? This is simply...

"This data is only circulating among some high-level officials and researchers."

Fubuki Teishin seemed to see through his doubts and continued speaking in that flat, monotone tone.