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

”Martial Investigator Bureau?”

Hearing this name, Kuroko’s expression was not very pleasant.

”The Martial Investigator doesn’t have investigative rights in Academy City, right.”

The martial investigator profession is like a detective, not welcomed by official departments. Just like no matter how brilliant Sherlock Holmes is at solving cases, he’s not appreciated by the London Police Department. People get annoyed by those who meddle with their work unnecessarily.

Whether I can solve the case is my problem, but if you butt in, that’s your problem. Just because you solved the problem doesn’t mean we’ll worship you like a god.

If anyone could easily deduce and solve cases, then what would be the point of us police? You might as well catch, lock up, and guard the criminals yourself, and just abolish the role of the police. From now on, let the detectives handle law and order while we do nothing. After all, in detective novels, the police are only there to clean up and wrap things up.

Besides, in modern times, there’s hardly any room for detectives anymore. Advanced scientific technology ensures the capture of criminals, making the detective’s only value to appear and solve cases in some closed spaces.

”I’ve already received permission from the higher-ups in Academy City.”

However, Arya remained quite calm, while Kuroko grew even more displeased.

”Then let me verify it first.”

As he spoke, Kuroko turned back and sat down at the chair to start the computer, ignoring Fang Zheng and the others. This was clearly a local showing the dragon crossing the river who’s boss. Though he’s a Martial Investigator, Academy City is an independent region and not under the jurisdiction of Martial Investigators, nor would they accept their assignments. Security in Academy City is maintained by the Discipline Committee Member and Guard Officers. Having a Martial Investigator making a fuss here with such arrogance naturally upset Kuroko Shirai who’s part of Academy City.

But... what is Arya doing here?

Fang Zheng curiously glanced at Arya and then squinted his eyes.

Could it be because of Riko and Frenda? Thinking about it, that’s highly likely. It’s only been a few days, yet Arya has managed to find her way to Academy City. This suggests the issue wasn’t from Riko, meaning...

Frenda, you idiot! I’ve already warned you to be careful!

Thinking this, Fang Zheng sighed inwardly. He had previously reminded Frenda not to let anyone discover the existence of Academy City. And now, barely a week later, they’ve directly approached! How could you mess up like this, you fool!

We’ll settle this when I get back!

Though these were his thoughts, Fang Zheng wasn’t worried about Arya finding anything. After all, Academy City is vast, and besides, he’s directly connected to the Tree Diagram Designer. If need be, he could have them delete some data, sending Arya floundering about like a headless fly.

But for now, since he was free anyway...

Thinking this, Fang Zheng focused his spirit.

Time stopped flowing.

”Alright, let’s get to work.”

He looked at Arya in front of him, rolling up his sleeves. Since she came on her own, let’s find where the Mystery Substance 312 is on her and take it. It couldn’t be more effortless to find what you seek without even trying. Now I truly understand the joy of a hunter waiting for the rabbit to crash into the tree.

So Fang Zheng started humming a song as he began the investigation, yet...

”No... No... Still no?”

He searched Arya thoroughly, scanning even her hairpin and wallet with a personal terminal, but couldn’t locate the Mystery Substance 312.

Could it be inside her clothes?

Thinking this, Fang Zheng looked at Arya again, pondering for a moment.

Well, nothing to worry about. Just looking.

Yet...

”Still not here.”

With a defeated shake of his head, Fang Zheng turned the skirt in his hand and looked at Arya again.

Could it be tucked inside her underwear?

This is getting a bit perverted.

But it’s not impossible. After all, Riko mentioned that the substance allows her to use certain abilities, so it would make sense to carry it closely.

Since it’s come to this, let’s continue.

But...

”It’s not here either.”

Dropping the undergarment in his hand, Fang Zheng shook his head and stood up again, turning to Arya.

There’s hardly anywhere left on her to hide things, yet the personal terminal still shows the wavelength on Arya.

Could it be... inside her body?

This is getting a bit spooky.

Fang Zheng was well-aware that Mystery Substance 312, being inorganic, shouldn’t blend into the body without any abnormalities. Besides, normally, if something were lodged inside the body, it would be detectable during a physical exam. Even if the instruments couldn’t detect it, the person should at least feel it, right?

But based on how Fang Zheng watched Arya manage the parachute before, it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with her body.

Or could it be her brain?

Scratching his head and looking at Arya in front of him, Fang Zheng was a bit troubled. Stopping time to undress someone was still relatively normal, but stopping time and then cutting someone open was a bit perverse. He was only relatively familiar with the human body, but that was about it.

Moreover, Fang Zheng was in management, he hadn’t studied surgery, nor had he performed any operations. In the past, when treating others, Fang Zheng mostly used purification or healing, and for more serious cases, he’d directly apply medical gel... Who still does surgery? With Fang Zheng’s status, he obviously didn’t need to deal with these bloody tasks, and if it came down to it, wasn’t there still the Third Magic and the Swarm?

And there’s also information left by the Goddess of Order in that thing. If Fang Zheng wanted to extract it from Arya’s body, it wouldn’t be a small matter, even though he could open the seal, it wouldn’t be easy to cover up in this situation. Fang Zheng also didn’t want Arestar’s bunch to see anything, if it really turned out that way, it might be even more troublesome.

Forget it, let’s talk about it next time. There’s plenty of time and opportunities. Since Arya is investigating them, then at a suitable time, I’ll defeat her as Professor Moriarty, and then seize the opportunity to find out what that 312th material is in her body.

Thinking of this, Fang Zheng shrugged once again, dressed Arya back in her clothes, and snapped his fingers.

Time started flowing again.

Afterwards, Fang Zheng left the Discipline Committee Branch together with Elisa Minori.

”Well, I’ll be off then.”

Elisa Minori respectfully bowed to Fang Zheng, who waved his hand dismissively.

”No need to be so formal. By the way, would you like me to give you a lift? You have a lot of things with you that might be hard to carry.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng pointed to the keyboard and other components Elisa Minori was carrying. They weren’t exactly light; at least when Fang Zheng held them earlier, he thought these things were quite heavy for ordinary people. And he himself also had a car, a very high-end type.

After all, it wasn’t his own money being spent.

”Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

Elisa Minori was not pretentious and nodded boldly. Then she placed the instruments in the trunk, and the two got in the car and drove away.

Meanwhile, Kuroko had also completed the review on this side.

”... Yes, indeed, then please have a seat, Miss Kanzaki. Is there anything you’d like us, the Discipline Committee, to cooperate with?”

”Well, it’s like this...”

As Arya spoke, she found a chair and sat down, but as soon as she sat, her whole body trembled, instantly jumping up stiffly like a puppet. She then turned pale, reached towards her back to feel, and her eyes were filled with a mix of surprise and fear.

”Miss Kanzaki?”

Looking at Arya with confusion, Kuroko furrowed her brow and inquired, while Arya pressed down on the hem of her skirt with one hand and forced a dry laugh.

”Hahaha, um... I just suddenly remembered I have some urgent business, so let’s talk next time!”

Saying this, Arya then turned around like the wind and swiftly left, leaving Kuroko and Hatsuharu staring in shock at her back, at a loss for words.

Clearly you came to us on your own, and now you’re running away? What’s the meaning of this?

What on earth is going on?

The car sped along the road, and when Fang Zheng hit the brakes, Elisa Minori almost stumbled down from the passenger seat.

”Ugh... Mr. Fang Zheng, your driving skills are indeed impressive...”

”Really? I think it’s pretty normal.”

Fang Zheng shrugged; he couldn’t understand why many people who rode in his car were like this, from his initial driving instructor to now... To be fair, he had practiced with Need for Speed several times, and wasn’t his driving fast and steady?

”All in all, it’s a memorable experience for me.”

After taking out the instrument and checking it over, then taking some deep breaths, Elisa Minori finally returned to normal. She couldn’t have imagined someone could drive like that, making her think she might die on the road a few times... But thank heavens, maybe her luck was good enough that she ultimately arrived at the destination alive.

”Thank you, Mr. Fang Zheng.”

”No need to be formal. If you need anything in the future, feel free to call me, or find me at the Quantum Neural Research Institute.”

Nodding to Elisa Minori, Fang Zheng got back into the car, then casually reached into his pocket...

Hmm? What’s this soft thing?

Fang Zheng took it out of his pocket, unfolded it, and took a look.

Triangle-shaped, with little animals on it, hmm? Why does this look familiar?

Oh, isn’t this what Arya was wearing earlier... How did it end up in my hand?

...........

Forget it.

Thinking carefully for a moment, Fang Zheng then silently put it away.

Let’s just keep it as a souvenir.