Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Although Fang Zheng could directly give an answer, even tell them who the mastermind was, after some consideration, he decided to conceal part of the truth. After all, he really couldn’t be bothered to explain why he knew so much...

”Heard about it a bit, didn’t pay much attention.”

”Huh?”

Fang Zheng’s answer left Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai a bit surprised.

”You’re not interested in it?”

”Not interested. Things like ’Fantasy Manipulator’ or ability enhancement tools, in my view, are nonsense, just something cooked up from this unreliable superpower theory in Academy City. If you ask me, it’s best not to take unofficial stuff too seriously. Generally speaking, things that haven’t circulated through proper channels are either scams or harmful, or both.”

At this point, Fang Zheng yawned.

”After all, aren’t there most Non-Ability Users here in Academy City? Throw out a rumor, play some music, and claim that listening to it can upgrade abilities, give it a discount price of 99,999 yen. With something like this, as long as one out of a hundred people gets deceived, wouldn’t it be a big profit?”

”But what if it actually works?”

Faced with Kuroko Shirai’s question, Fang Zheng rolled his eyes.

”Stimulants are quite useful to athletes, but do they allow its use in the Olympics?”

”Hmm...”

Upon hearing this, Kuroko Shirai fell into deep thought. Fang Zheng had provided two ways of thinking, but no matter which one, it was clear that if the Fantasy Manipulator wasn’t just a rumor, then the situation would be complicated.

Misaka Mikoto, on the other hand, focused more on Fang Zheng’s previous remarks.

”You said Academy City’s superpower development theory is unreliable?”

”Exactly, in my view it’s fooling children and the illiterate.”

Fang Zheng scoffed, and upon hearing this, Misaka Mikoto immediately became displeased.

”How can you say it’s deceptive? This is clearly the foundation of superpower development! According to Schrödinger’s theory...”

”Don’t bring up Schrödinger’s cat, just mentioning it gives me a headache.”

Fang Zheng waved his hand, interrupting Mikoto’s argument.

”Schrödinger’s theory is about quantum mechanics, what does it have to do with superpowers?”

”...Huh?”

Confronted with Fang Zheng’s retort, Misaka Mikoto was left dumbfounded and speechless.

”What annoys me the most is that people try to fit Schrödinger’s cat theory into everything as if it applies universally. Schrödinger’s cat describes the principle of quantum superposition and uncertainty in quantum mechanics. But what does this have to do with superpowers? Not talking about superpowers here, if I build a car, design a plane, manufacture medicine, do I need to learn quantum mechanics? Oh? Is it that if I construct a car but don’t observe it, it doesn’t exist? Or if I don’t take medicine, as long as I believe I’m not sick, I become sparkly?”

”This...”

”The world is unified in its material nature; all specific circumstances in the world are different expressions of material movement. Material influences spirit, whereas spirit is the reflection of the objective material world in people’s brains, which in turn affects material.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng picked up an apple.

”Look, this is an apple, an apple meant for eating. To people, it’s just a simple food. But under what circumstances does this apple hold special significance for people? Unless it’s the one that fell and hit Newton, suddenly it’s surrounded by aura, right.”

”...”

Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai stared at the apple in Fang Zheng’s hand in silence, mulling over his point. However, soon Kuroko Shirai began to question.

”But according to the superpower development theory, isn’t brain development the key to improving Ability Level, due to quantum theory?”

”Nonsense, left hand... no, the brain is just an aid. True, improving your brain’s computational ability can enhance superpower strength. However, isn’t it the same for other things? If you’re smart enough and react quickly enough, you could accomplish many things similar to superpowers. Have you watched the movie ’Rain Man’? Doesn’t the protagonist seem superpowered with his skills? That’s just a form of brain computational expression, and mental math is similar. Often, when things take us ages to compute with computers or calculators, some people can turn their brains and instantly get the answer— isn’t that quite superpower-like?”

At this point, Fang Zheng chuckled and began drawing on a piece of paper.

”In my view, while Academy City’s superpower theory foundation is nonsense, there’s practical accumulation, as Shirai mentioned. Brain development can enhance superpower strength, but brain development isn’t the foundation. We can compare the brain to a CPU, but when does a CPU become effective? Only with suitable hardware and external devices can a CPU realize its value; otherwise, it’s waste—perhaps only useful as a stack in Jenga.”

Upon hearing this, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai’s expressions grew more serious. Misaka Mikoto could no longer contain herself, turning a wide-eyed gaze toward Fang Zheng.

”But Mr. Fang Zheng, according to your theory, then superpowers...”

”Exactly, by my theory, superpowers are actually a special talent. You ability users have abilities because your genetic makeup suits superpower expression, while some people’s do not. It’s like blood types; some people have type A blood, others type B, and type A and B can’t donate to each other. This is material reality, it’s not something changeable by sheer willpower and hard effort.”

Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”That’s also why there are so many Non-Ability Users here in Academy City. You wouldn’t think all of them are dumb, stupid, foolish, lazy idiots, would you?”

”Not at all...”

Hearing this, Misaka Mikoto lowered her head, defeated.

”Are you saying... I became LV5 because of this? Just because I can do it while others can’t?”

”Sister Dear...”

Hearing Misaka Mikoto’s words, Kuroko Shirai looked pained watching her companion, while Fang Zheng reached out toward Misaka Mikoto’s forehead and snapped his fingers.

”Ah, what are you doing?!”

”Stop being so sentimental, do you think you’re Lin Daiyu? Talent is talent, effort is effort; you haven’t really not heard the tale of ’The Tortoise and the Hare’, have you? It’s like athletes. Million run sprints worldwide, but only one stands on the Olympic podium with the gold medal. How did they do it? Oh, was it just drinking, singing, dancing every day and they got the gold? Isn’t it the same for you? Becoming LV5 wasn’t by lying around upgrading, was it?”

”But, I still feel...”

”That’s just a fragile heart. Africans are eating grass; you might as well not eat at all. Spare me the uselessness, as one of Academy City’s few LV5 ability users, you just need to show the demeanor of LV5. You aren’t a deity; whether others can use superpowers isn’t up to you, nor can you decide it. That’s the responsibility of us researchers; you just need to be a good example. Wasting time thinking about it is pointless.”

”Exactly right, Sister Dear.”

Upon hearing this, Kuroko jumped up.

”As long as Sister Dear stays Sister Dear, that’s enough. Whether LV5 or not, Kuroko will always follow Sister Dear. But as the exemplar ability user, Sister Dear shouldn’t wear such childish underwear in the future...

”Kuroko————!!”

Zap, zap...!

Watching Kuroko twitch from the shock, Fang Zheng shrugged.

Self-inflicted problems, can’t blame others.

”Thank you for your guidance today.”

Standing at the door, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai respectfully bowed to Fang Zheng. Each conversation with him seemed enlightening—well, perhaps he thought they should learn about Marxist worldview and material dialectics...

”No need to be formal, I was just casually speaking. You’re always welcome to visit.”

After a brief farewell, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai turned to leave the research institute. Walking on the path, Misaka Mikoto’s brows were furrowed.

”Kuroko, do you think... Mr. Fang Zheng’s words are true?”

For Misaka Mikoto, everything she heard today nearly overturned her understanding. She had always believed her promotion to LV5 was purely due to her own effort. But today... although Fang Zheng said not to let it weigh on her mind, Misaka Mikoto couldn’t just dismiss it completely.

”Though it’s hard to accept, there’s some truth in what the gentleman says.”

At this point, Kuroko also wore a serious expression, contemplating more as a Discipline Committee Member. Perhaps Academy City’s senior officials had known all along but chose to conceal it? If Fang Zheng’s assertion that their superpower development foundation is rubbish proves true, it would mean that the tens of thousands of Non-Ability Users in Academy City are victims of deceit.

Should this spread...

Thinking about it made Kuroko shiver; if this happened, the fury of these Non-Ability Users could potentially destroy the entire Academy City...

”But, I feel as if we’ve forgotten something?”

Mikoto tilted her head, suddenly stopping in her tracks.

Ah! I forgot to ask him how he managed to block my powers!