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

When I returned to the lounge, Index had already fallen asleep. She had been utterly exhausted earlier. Though known as the Forbidden Index, her physical strength was even weaker than the trained Ruiko; she’s probably only at Hatsuharu’s level. After a whole night of chaos, she lay on the sofa, deeply asleep.

”What do you intend to do with that child?”

Kaori stared fiercely at Fang Zheng, and asked sharply, while Fang Zheng yawned.

”Nothing much... High-Level Dispel Magic.”

While saying this, Fang Zheng extended his hand and pointed at Index, and the others watched as a dim light beam shot from Fang Zheng’s fingertip, hitting Index’s body. Subsequently, a strange symbol, similar to the Arabic numeral ”4,” silently appeared on Index’s forehead, followed by a ”click” and completely disappeared.

”Alright, done and dusted.”

Fang Zheng clapped his hands, yet everyone else was still in shock.

”Fang, Mr. Fang Zheng, is it over just like that?”

Watching this scene in astonishment, Ruiko grabbed Fang Zheng’s sleeve and asked, while Fang Zheng turned and looked at her.

”Otherwise? What do you expect? Think I must conduct a grand ceremony and make quite the spectacle, perhaps even something unexpected... ”

”Warning!”

But before Fang Zheng could finish, Index, lying on the sofa, suddenly opened her eyes. However, unlike before, Index now spoke with a flat, emotionless voice, as if she were a computer-controlled robot.

”Chapter three, section two, confirming penetration through barriers one to three, preparing for regeneration... failed, unable to regenerate independently.”

”What is... this?”

Upon seeing this, Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl’s eyes widened in disbelief as they looked at Index. They could even see the blood-like red magic circle shimmering in the girl’s eyes.

But it’s impossible; Index shouldn’t be able to use magic!

However, before the two could respond, Index slowly turned to look at Fang Zheng.

”Currently, to protect the library of 103,000 volumes, prioritize countering intruders...”

”Mr. Fang Zheng!”

Seeing this, Ruiko also shouted in unease, but Fang Zheng just glanced at Index.

”Lie down.”

”... ... Understand, set as the highest command, Forbidden Index will enter sleep mode.”

With the words spoken, the blood-red magic circle in Index’s eyes slowly vanished, and she collapsed back onto the sofa, falling asleep again.

”... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...”

Watching this scene, no one knew what to say.

”I can’t believe it was this simple to...”

Back in the study, Ruiko still wore a bewildered look.

”I thought it would be really difficult!”

”It might be difficult for you, but for me it’s just that. If I hadn’t considered that the automatic Secretary had fused with Index’s personality, I would’ve deleted even that thing.”

Fang Zheng returned to his chair, stroking a kitten while answering Ruiko’s remarks. Meanwhile, Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do. Fortunately, Ruiko noticed it and alleviated their awkwardness.

”So, Mr. Fang Zheng, what about them?”

”These two?”

Fang Zheng teased the cat, squinting at the two.

”Keep them here for work, the tall one can move some goods or something, as for the exhibitionist woman, she can be a maid for now, serving tea and water. Once English Puritanism pays up, we can let them go.”

”Uh... What money?”

”Mental damages!”

Fang Zheng gave Ruiko a look.

”You fought with them, look at how they’ve beaten you, isn’t it fair to ask for some compensation?”

”No, no, that’s really not necessary...”

Scared by this, Ruiko shook her head frantically.

”Look, I’m fine now, right? Mr. Fang Zheng? Thanks to your treatment...”

”Yeah, but for hurting my little girl like that, ’I’m sorry’ won’t cut it. If an apology worked, what would we need the police for? Not to mention, they haven’t even apologized.”

”Ugh...”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng say ”my little girl,” Ruiko’s face turned beet red, lowering her head and not daring to speak further.

”Are you keeping us here? Do you understand what this means?”

Facing Fang Zheng’s words, Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori’s expressions changed.

”You could provoke major issues with this; it could lead to an all-out war between the Magic Side and Science Side.”

”Oh.”

Despite Kanzaki Kaori’s ominous warning, Fang Zheng’s response clearly showed indifference.

”So?”

”Do you... Don’t you understand the issue at stake?”

”No, because it’s irrelevant to me.”

The two people were momentarily at a loss for words upon hearing this.

”It doesn’t matter...?”

”That’s right, you said the Magic Side wants to declare war on the Science Side. I truly want to ask, how do you plan to do that?”

Fang Zheng reclined in his chair, stroking a kitten and grinning at the two.

”What? Can the Magic Side stop people from using computers and TVs? Or prevent them from riding cars and planes? Maybe dismantle all the supercomputers and rockets worldwide? That would be too troublesome. You might as well kill off all of humanity. As long as humans can calculate, think, and spread ideas, science will continue to develop. And as for modern human civilization...”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng pointed at the lights on the ceiling and then at the floor.

”It has developed on the foundation of science; you want to declare war on the Science Side? Sure, go ahead and kill off all of humanity.”

”...........”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s response, Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori were again at a loss for words, but soon Stiyl also asked.

”Aren’t you worried that Academy City might be destroyed? It’s crucial for your Science Side, isn’t it?”

”Heh.”

Fang Zheng chuckled and then turned to Ruiko.

”Ruiko.”

”Eh? Ah? What’s up?”

”Has the World Mathematics Congress ever been held here?”

”Um... Never heard of it.”

”The World Physics Congress then?”

”........... Seems like it hasn’t either?”

”How about semiconductor, organic chemistry, AI design?”

”............???”

”See?”

Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms wide.

”Don’t say you want to destroy Academy City, even if you flatten all of Japan, it won’t affect the progress of human scientific civilization by even a millimeter, I’m afraid. Academy City itself is a closed island; it hardly influences global technological civilization. It represents nothing... If you destroy Academy City, those elsewhere might not even blink and will continue doing their own things.”

”This......”

This time, Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori simply exchanged glances, speechless. They had always thought that Academy City, with its cutting-edge scientific achievements, must be the strongest authority of the Science Side. But they overlooked the fluidity of knowledge; only knowledge that is spread can be fully utilized. Academy City is independent of mainstream research, much like the Spirit Vulture Palace in martial hero stories: it’s impressive, and its skills are potent, but it doesn’t affect the broader Jianghu.

Even if you eliminate Spirit Vulture Palace entirely, the Jianghu will continue as before; who’s going to care about some place unknown?

Conversely, if you take down Shaolin or Wudang, the impact will be huge. Why? Because their disciples are worldwide, and martial arts is a form of knowledge that only has an impact when it’s circulated widely. Therefore, after any incidents, its influence will spread.

But Academy City?

No matter being thirty years ahead of the outside world, if they keep their secrets so tightly, without partaking in standard setting or monopolizing markets, nor acting as standard bearers or promoters in scientific domains. If they dominated various research fields, then the destruction of Academy City would indeed be a devastating blow, as many studies would be forced to halt or restart.

However, the truth is that to protect their secrets, not even a mouse can leave Academy City at will, and knowledge exchange is remarkably scarce.

Does their existence or demise affect the world?

Certainly not.

It’s possibly better if they die; this way other forces might be able to glean some valuable insights from Academy City’s research gains.

Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori evidently mistake Academy City for the technological Jerusalem, thinking that destroying Academy City could deal a heavy blow to the Science Side. But even if they were beaten to death, they’d never realize Academy City’s technological standing isn’t even as impactful as the Beggars’ Sect.

At least if the Beggars’ Sect falls, the lack of oversight for beggars could be troublesome.

If Academy City falls, aside from Japan, other countries might just be eager to watch the drama.

And if they could extract something good from Academy City’s corpse, even better.

So in Fang Zheng’s view, the purported war between Magic Side and Science Side is a joke.

Unless mages can kill off all humans, otherwise eliminating the Science Side? Dream on.

Moreover,.......

”If they dare to give me trouble, I’ll take down each one that comes at me, and two if two come, they’re welcome if they aren’t afraid to die.”

Fang Zheng snorted coldly, then rose with the kitten in his arms.

”Alright, remember this: starting tomorrow, you two will work 24 hours a day, no room and board included, seven days a week. Feel free to contact whoever you wish, but if you try to escape, I’ll break your legs and then mend them again. Break them once for each escape, understood? If you understand, get lost. I’ll give you a day to go to your English Puritanism leader to ask for money, report tomorrow morning, now off you go.”

After saying this, Fang Zheng waved his hand, and the next moment they saw the door open automatically. Then Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori felt an overwhelming force, impossible to resist, hit them and send them flying out, perceiving only a flash before heavily crashing down. When they got back on their feet, they found themselves somehow tossed to the flower bed at the main entrance of the research facility, while the door before them closed slowly and then locked with a ”beep”.

”...........”

The two stood up silently and exchanged a glance.

For a brief moment, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

After a while, Stiyl sighed.

”What do we do now?”

”There’s no choice.”

Kanzaki Kaori shook her head.

”At this point, we can only report to the Highest Bishop.”