In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 9

He suddenly moved closer, the spot he had just tasted was now within arm's reach.

"If you continue to use your abilities recklessly, you'll get hurt."

Jie Biao jumped back as if electrocuted, her back slamming against a streetlight with a thud. The pain brought her back to her senses.

"Enough with the nonsense! One more word and I'll teleport you into a volcano, and see if all that's left is a mouth still moving after you've burned to a crisp!"

"Yes, yes, I'll shut up."

When the destination building came into view through the rain, the project suddenly froze in place.

"We've arrived." Her voice suddenly became ethereal.

Do you know what you're going to face next?

Higashino didn't directly answer her question: "Want to gamble?"

A single finger traced a silver line in the rain. "I bet you I can walk out of here unscathed. If I win, tell me your phone number."

He knew Aleister much better than his mentor, Teiji Kihara.

Since they chose to let Kihara Akihime, rather than the Dark Side, make contact with them, the danger will be greatly reduced.

"Hmph, you should walk out completely first."

With her earlobes turning pink, Kihara Ayaki followed Higashino's example and didn't answer directly. Instead, she grabbed him and moved him into the windowless building.

Chapter 10: Official Position in Academy City Secured

Jie Biao's figure gradually faded into the distance until it could no longer be seen.

"Hello, visitor from another world."

Synthetic sounds seeped from the walls, creating an eerie chord with the sound of liquid flowing through the tubes. Higashino Yu gazed at Aleister, who was suspended upside down in the life support device, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Actually, he had always been curious when he watched anime about whether the Hanged Man needed to go to the toilet, and why he had to be hanging upside down. Could it be that he really had cervical spondylosis?

Good evening, Mr. Chairman.

Higashino's voice was calm. He wasn't worried about his safety at all, because if Aleister wanted to harm him, he wouldn't have a chance to fight back.

Since I was invited here, I must be of some use to him, right?

"It seems my background is not a secret to you."

“There are no secrets in Academy City,” Aleister said calmly, “especially not to strangers who suddenly appear next to a vending machine in District 7.”

Aleister, completely oblivious to being the biggest voyeur in Academy City, naturally revealed his surveillance of Academy City to Higashino.

Higashino was well aware of the existence of the airborne circuit; unless one possessed extraordinary power before transmigrating, it would be impossible to hide it from this peeping tom.

"So, after observing me for the past few days, you must have gained some understanding of me, right?"

“Cognitive Restructuring, Level 4.” Detailed ability analysis data was suddenly projected onto the wall. “But your potential rating is—unknown.”

"Unknown?" Higashino chuckled. "That does surprise me a bit."

Upon closer inspection, Higashino realized that Aleister's assessment was not arbitrary; it even included abilities he had never demonstrated. Fortunately, some crucial details were not recorded.

Or perhaps he recorded it, but Aleister didn't want to reveal that he knew?

Higashino had to consider more possibilities. After all, the old cunning fellow was ruthless, and he didn't want to be used and then killed.

“Your abilities are incompatible with any existing system in Academy City,” Aleister continued. “Like a true rough stone, uncarved yet containing infinite possibilities.”

Higashino approached the life support device, looked at the floating Aleister, and gently touched the cold glass with his palm: "So, how do you plan to 'carve' this rough stone? You're not planning to put me in the Anbu, are you?"

Higashino was just joking; he didn't think Aleister would assign him to a place like the Anbu.

“The school needs someone with your abilities,” Aleister stated bluntly. “Your cognitive reconstruction ability is perfect for intelligence operations.”

Didn't you notice my little trick?

Higashino was silent for a moment, then suddenly shook his head: "Excuse me for speaking frankly, but I think [tools] are more suitable for me."

Since he actually took his joke seriously, he didn't mind being even more outgoing.

"reason?"

“There’s only one reason,” Higashino said, holding up a finger. “Of course, it’s because the props have a higher concentration of beautiful girls.”

Although the archer tiger and Yuzai Haimi on the other side are also cute, they can't compare to the four different styles of beautiful girls on the prop side. In terms of quantity, they are incomparable.

Even Aleister was silent for a few seconds after hearing Higashino's answer.

“Survival rate decreased by 13.7%.” Five seconds later, the silent Aleister responded, “Tem’s combat style is only 79.2% compatible with your abilities.”

Higashino then raised another question: "If I need to interfere with certain specific experiments, is that permitted?"

The room fell silent again for a brief moment.

"What experiment are you referring to?" Aleister's voice showed a subtle change for the first time.

“Those projects that violate humanity.” Higashino stared directly at the figure inside the device, “such as the Absolute Ability Evolution Project.”

"How did you learn about this project?" Aleister's voice suddenly turned icy. Actually, he had just been wondering how Higashino could have information about the props; none of the people he had contacted during the surveillance should have known about it.

The Absolute Ability User Project is an even more secretive project, and it's highly unlikely that such an otherworldly visitor would know about it.

Even if he has the ability to find out a lot of unknown information sooner or later, it will definitely not be now.

Could it really be that...?

"That's not important." Higashino remained unmoved. Although he was nervous, this was the perfect opportunity to test Aleister's tolerance for him.

Aleister remained silent for a longer time this time, pondering a possibility.

“The transfer is permitted,” Aleister announced, “but on two conditions.”

Higashino breathed a sigh of relief, but kept his face calm: "I'm all ears."

"First, submit detailed action reports weekly. Second, all interference must not have a significant impact on Academy City."

Higashino nodded, completely ignoring Aleister's request. This was already quite indulgent of him; it seemed he was more useful than he had imagined.

"Deal. However..."

"Any more questions?"

"In exchange, I need a legitimate identity as a cover." Higashino smiled. "Like... a public health doctor in Tokiwadai?"

Aleister had never been so speechless in all his years. Are all otherworldly beings so erratic in their thought processes? And is it really appropriate for a man like you to be a school nurse at Tokiwadai Girls' School?

“Approved.” A moment later, Aleister responded.

As Higashino turned to leave, he suddenly stopped: "One last question, why did you agree to my request?"

Higashino thought Aleister wouldn't answer his question, but to his surprise, this time Aleister didn't even remain silent before answering.

“Because of your abilities…” Aleister’s voice carried a rare hint of deeper meaning, “it might bring about the changes I’ve been waiting for.”

Higashino chuckled softly, offering no reply. Suddenly, the emergency lights in the corridor switched on, and Kihara Awaki waited impatiently at the corner.

"Finished talking?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Higashino nodded: "Ms. Kihara, are you worried about my safety?"

"Huh?" The girl's face flushed slightly. "I was afraid you'd anger the chairman so much that he'd order the secret service to kill you on the spot!"

"Hehe, that won't happen. Besides, I can't leave here if you don't come."

"Hmph, hold on tight to me!"

Before initiating the spatial teleportation, Higashino glanced one last time in the direction of Aleister.

Chapter 11 The Unfortunate Boy in the Morning Mist

Back at the hospital, he couldn't rest at all. By the time he finished getting ready, it was almost time for work. Helpless, Higashino had no choice but to go straight to Tokiwadai for work after being discharged from the hospital.

He stood in front of the vending machine, took a big gulp of the coffee he had just bought. The coffee at least gave him a slight boost of energy.

Just then, a piercing metallic scraping sound, like a sharp blade, shattered the morning tranquility. Six thugs in studded jackets, their faces menacing, chased after a spiky-haired boy. The leader, a blond-haired man, arrogantly swung a baseball bat, viciously aiming at the spiky-haired boy.

"Catch that hedgehog-haired guy!"

The thug with the nose ring roared at the top of his lungs, his thick Kansai accent filled with rage. "My motorcycle suddenly got a flat tire! It was definitely this kid's doing! Why does it have to happen whenever he's passing by?"

The spiky-haired boy, Touma Kamijou, who was being chased, was in a terrible state. He stumbled and fell heavily to the ground, revealing a bleeding bandage beneath the ripped back of his sweatshirt. In his panic, the plastic bag he was carrying flew out, scattering three cans of discounted coffee all over the floor.

Higashino raised an eyebrow. That familiar spiky hair, so unlucky to be chased by thugs—who else could it be but Touma Kamijou? He finished the last sip of his iced coffee and quietly activated his ability. In an instant, a security robot appeared in the sight of the six thugs.

"Damn it, it's a security robot!"

The blond-haired man's face turned deathly pale. He frantically turned around, bumping into his companion in the process. The baseball bat also slammed into a fire hydrant, instantly sending a jet of high-pressure water shooting skyward, sending the nose-ringed thug flying three meters into the branches of a locust tree. Even more coincidentally, the asphalt bucket with the "Under Construction" sign rolled right to the feet of the remaining men. Under Higashino's influence, they were now even more unlucky than Touma.

Touma Kamijou stared dumbfounded at the utterly absurd farce unfolding before him. Before he could even react, Higashino dragged him into the back alley of the convenience store. The momentum caused him to bite into a rusty ventilation duct, wincing in pain: "Cough cough... Thank you, kind sir..."

He coughed and mumbled incoherently. But when he noticed Higashino staring at the bandage on his right hand, he quickly explained, "Ah, I accidentally got it caught in the automatic door..."

Just then, a heavy rain warning suddenly broke the silence over the convenience store's loudspeaker, and at the same time, Kamijou's phone went dead. As a crow precisely dropped its droppings onto his shoulder, Higashino couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"That's incredibly rude of you!" Kamijou's face flushed red as he frantically patted his sweatshirt. "By the way, how did you manage that?"

"This is my ability, isn't it interesting?"

After saying that, Higashino pointed to a lottery ticket that was stuck to the sole of Kamijou's shoe and was soaked by the rain. It was obviously a lost item belonging to a passerby, which was unfortunately stepped on by Kamijou.

"What luck..."

Higashino said with a half-smile, "I suggest you stay away from lottery stations. After all, your chances of winning are lower than being struck by lightning."

Just then, a clap of thunder sounded in the sky, startling Toma so much that he trembled, as if he was genuinely afraid of being struck by lightning.

"Let's hide over there for a bit."

Before the words were even finished, a torrential downpour began, and the two hurriedly squeezed under the eaves of a coffee shop that hadn't yet opened for business to take shelter. Kamijou wrung out his wet clothes, looking utterly helpless. Higashino, meanwhile, quietly activated his ability, implanting the instruction to "open early" into the shop owner's mind. Soon, the rich aroma of hot cocoa filled the air.

Kamijou suddenly noticed that Higashino's pupils would occasionally flash with snake-like vertical lines, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is Mr. Higashino a superhuman?"

"That's right."

Higashino casually stirred the hot cocoa in his glass, where undissolved cinnamon powder settled at the bottom. "It's just a mere Level 4, nothing to brag about."

“Level 4 is already very powerful, but Mr. Kamijou is a complete Level 0.”

As for Imagine Breaker? Academy City's rating system won't recognize it anyway.

Higashino stared at the boy's right eye iris, which was wet with rain, and a faint, mercury-like light appeared deep in the pupil.

"Speaking of which..."

Higashino stirred the cocoa, creating tiny swirls, his eyes thoughtful. "Didn't you lose my anatomy atlas three years ago during summer tutoring?"

Kamijou tilted his head in confusion, water droplets from his bangs falling "plop plop" into the paper cup: "Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else? I've never chosen anatomy class..."

As expected… I can't directly implant false memories into him; Imagine Breaker can still affect my abilities. Higashino wasn't surprised, after all, this is the renowned Imagine Breaker. But I wonder if long-term influence would be effective. Or should I deliberately avoid that hand?

"I lied to you."

He suddenly pointed to Kamijou's back, his tone light. "The shirt label is showing."

Just as Kamijou hurriedly straightened his collar, Higashino picked up a lighter and tapped it on the table at a specific frequency, saying, "Think about it carefully, you're waiting for me at your favorite family restaurant to discuss tutoring plans." This was his unique strategy of combining verbal cues with auditory stimulation.

Just like kissing, doing this could slightly enhance one's abilities, though not as strongly. While kissing would be more effective and powerful, he couldn't possibly do that to a man; it was too disgusting.

Kamijou's gaze suddenly wavered for a second, and a look of realization seemed to appear in his eyes.

Cognitive coverage successful?!

Higashino was overjoyed.

"I want that picture book back."

Higashino leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Kamijou. "Where did you hide it?"

Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, Kamijou clutched his head and cried out in pain, "It hurts!"

He slammed his right hand into his temple, and at the same time, the modified cognitive program vanished without a trace, like stardust swallowed by a black hole.

"What happened?"