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

”Eh? Konoha Mitsuko was attacked too?!”

Saten Ruiko widened her eyes in surprise and shouted.

”Yes.”

Upon hearing Saten Ruiko’s inquiry, Hatsuharu nodded.

”But it’s not a big deal. I heard that a mysterious person swiftly defeated those attackers.”

”Oh... A just partner who acts bravely for the righteous cause on the streets.”

Upon hearing this, Saten Ruiko couldn’t help but feel emotional, but... someone clearly had a different opinion.

”That’s not it!”

Kuroko Shirai slammed the table heavily.

”Neither a Guard Officer nor a Discipline Committee Member should use violence so arbitrarily; that’s nothing but an outright criminal! People like this should be... Hmm? What’s wrong with you both?”

Seeing Saten Ruiko and Hatsuharu’s stiff expressions, Kuroko Shirai blinked in confusion. Just then, another voice came from behind her.

”Go on, why did you stop?”

”Uh... Mr. Fang Zheng.”

Kuroko Shirai turned around and indeed saw Fang Zheng standing behind her with a playful smile, teasing a kitten while looking at her.

”Your Discipline Committee couldn’t make it in time, and the Guard Officers are useless, yet you don’t allow others to act bravely? There’s no such logic, right? Don’t you agree, Misaka?”

”Ah, yeah yeah!”

Hearing this, Misaka Mikoto, who was a bit embarrassed earlier, nodded hurriedly, while Kuroko Shirai helplessly reached out to press her forehead with a sigh.

”Sister Dear and Mr. Fang Zheng too, you’d be better off not being so... proactive.”

”Can’t help it, you see.”

Fang Zheng spread his hands.

”When you see it, you have to do something, right? Or what else can you do? Your Discipline Committee is always late after the event, by the time you arrive, the harm has already been done, right? Encouraging brave actions is also for a harmonious society. I say, you should reward those who stand against aggressors with certificates and bonuses every time. In no time, security would greatly improve. After all, there are Ability Users in Academy City. If you encourage them to take action, those Armed Powerless Groups would have long been intimidated.”

”That’s what I’m saying.”

Misaka Mikoto joyfully patted Fang Zheng’s arm, then looked at Kuroko.

”You keep saying I provoke those delinquents, but in fact, those delinquents are just rampant. Look, they bully girls in broad daylight, and others act like they don’t see it, that’s why these bastards get more daring!”

”Uh.........”

Faced with Misaka Mikoto and Fang Zheng’s counterarguments, Kuroko Shirai was momentarily speechless.

”Moreover, those Armed Powerless Groups are so rampant because the people meant to act don’t do their job. Counting on them is worse than counting on a bunch of pigs.”

With this, Fang Zheng snorted coldly, and Kuroko Shirai didn’t know what to say. Although technically, Guard Officers are the primary force maintaining peace in Academy City, their freedom of action isn’t as high as the Discipline Committee. Conversely, the Discipline Committee lacks the impact of Guard Officers’ authority for action.

Like Fang Zheng’s earlier suggestion, the Discipline Committee actually doesn’t have the power to do such things; only Guard Officers can. But... after the Fantasy Manipulator event, Kuroko Shirai had considerable doubts about Guard Officers’ handling abilities, especially after learning from Mokuyama Haruo about the dark side of Academy City. She also felt helpless.

Kuroko Shirai isn’t simple-minded nor naive; she can guess that many times the lack of action from Guard Officers might be intentional by the high ranks of Academy City, yet she can’t do anything about it, as she’s merely a Discipline Committee Member and can’t influence high-level decisions.

”Forget it, but you all should still be careful.”

Fang Zheng wasn’t looking to hassle Kuroko Shirai; he casually complained then shifted the topic.

”Be careful?”

”That’s right, that Konoha Mitsuko... isn’t she your friend? I remember she’s a LV4 Great Ability Holder. Although not every Great Ability Holder is good at fighting...”

For example, Frenda, if she doesn’t have bombs, her ability is basically useless against an enemy.

”...But generally, even if a Great Ability Holder can’t win, escaping should be easy. In these circumstances, yet being surrounded and attacked by delinquents, I advise you to investigate, maybe you’ll find something.”

”Mr. Fang Zheng, what are you implying?”

At this, Kuroko Shirai frowned a bit.

”I’m implying they might have acquired something that can counter Ability Users.”

”Eh? How could there be such a thing...?”

”Why wouldn’t there be? Didn’t the Fantasy Manipulator enhance abilities too? This time it might be a Fantasy Killer.”

”.........”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s reminder, Kuroko Shirai fell into deep thought. Indeed, with the Fantasy Manipulator’s precedent, it’s hard to rule out similar possibilities...

”I understand, I’ll investigate immediately.”

Upon receiving Fang Zheng’s prompt, Kuroko Shirai, Hatsuharu, and Misaka Mikoto, as well as Saten Ruiko promptly took action — as for Index, she’s basically staying at Ruiko’s place now, though every day Ruiko hands her over to Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori at the lab when she goes out.

Initially, Index was wary and fearful of Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori, but after Fang Zheng told Index he sealed their abilities, forcing them to obediently act as servants, Index relaxed a bit.

That’s another reason why they could endure the grueling work regime.

After all, even though Index had forgotten them, being able to temporarily return to the days of taking care of Index like before was also a pretty good choice.

And all of this was part of Fang Zheng’s pre-planned strategy, the so-called ”give a slap and then a date”... How could you get employees to willingly work overtime if you don’t have even a bit of skill?

If you could even make them work without overtime pay, that would be even better.

If you could get employees to pay the company instead... that would be impossible, right...

According to Fang Zheng’s suggestion, initially, Kuroko Shirai and the others wanted to find Konoha Mitsuko, but they were told that Konoha Mitsuko seemed to have been transferred to a hospital for examination and was currently unreachable. Left with no other choice, they had to contact other victims to ask about the situation, and after going around, Kuroko and the others obtained some information.

The reason why the Armed Powerless Group could defeat Ability Users was not only because they had numbers on their side, but because they had guns!

Guns!

Hearing this, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai were shocked. In East Asia, guns were quite rare. They could believe Americans had one in hand, but in Academy City...

Upon receiving this news, Kuroko felt she somewhat understood why these Ability Users were being attacked. Even as Ability Users, they were ultimately just middle and high school students facing the pitch-black barrels pointed at them. Not even Misaka Mikoto or Kuroko Shirai could claim to remain completely calm, let alone ordinary Ability Users.

After this, Kuroko Shirai immediately contacted the Guard Officers, informed them of the situation, and hoped they could be deployed to arrest these Armed Powerless Individuals. However, the Guard Officers stated that there was no evidence and the current situation didn’t warrant large-scale deployment...

Upon hearing this, Misaka Mikoto couldn’t hold back any longer.

”If that’s the case, then let’s find the evidence to show them!”

This time, even Kuroko Shirai didn’t stop Misaka Mikoto. She too had somewhat realized that the Guard Officers were unreliable, though she was reluctant to think so.

Following this, Hatsuharu investigated and found the location of the Armed Powerless Group known as ”Big Spider,” and Misaka Mikoto, Kuroko Shirai, and Saten Reiko hurried over. Tracing the clues, they quickly found the organization’s hideout.

”I’m a Discipline Committee Member!”

Looking at the delinquents surrounding her, Kuroko Shirai showed no fear and proudly displayed her armband.

”I’m arresting you under the charge of masterminding the assault on Ability Users, Kuromisome Minori.”

”Arrest me? Just a few brats like you?”

Confronting Kuroko’s words, the man in a black jacket leading them showed a smug smile.

”I don’t have time to play house with you kids. I advise you to leave immediately.”

”You sure talk tough, do you think I would let you bullies who attack others at will get away?”

Hearing this, Misaka Mikoto also clenched her fist in anger, electricity emanating before her, and upon seeing this, the man squinted his eyes.

”Judging by your uniform... you’re students from Tokiwadai, so you’re the high and mighty Ability Users then?”

As he spoke, the man’s voice became more passionate.

”Bullies who attack at will? If we’re bullies, then what are you Ability Users?!”

”Huh?”

Faced with the man’s roar, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai were taken aback.

”Are Non-Ability Users just defects? Do we deserve to be abandoned? To you Ability Users, are we Non-Ability Users so insignificant?”

At this point, the man clenched his fist.

”That’s right; this city belongs to the Ability Users. We’re nothing more than ants, but ants can bite too. So what if you’re an Ability User? Don’t you still kneel, cry, and beg before us? Do you think you’re so great, standing so high, that we Non-Ability Users are just a bunch of pigs? But now, let me tell you, we Non-Ability Users also have our own power, a power not inferior to Ability Users!”

At this moment, the man suddenly raised his hand and pressed a button.

”———————!!!”

Suddenly, a piercing noise rang out. Hearing it, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai shivered all over.

”What... what is this sound...?”

The sharp noise seemed to pierce their brains directly, causing immense pain, and Kuroko Shirai gritted her teeth, trying to teleport instantly. However... her body just swayed slightly before coming to a stop.

”Ability nullified?”

”With this thing, you Ability Users are nothing but pigs, pigs to be slaughtered.”

With a twisted face and a cold smile, the man approached the three of them.

”Watch, kids. Attacking Ability Users is just the beginning. We’re going to start a revolution in this city, a revolution for us Non-Ability Users, to overthrow those Ability Users and Academy elites who see us as waste and burdens! I will show you that the power of us Non-Ability Users is not something you can ignore at will!”

Having said this, the man extended his foot, kicking fiercely at Kuroko.

However...

”Whoosh———!!”

Before the man could kick Kuroko Shirai, a strong wind suddenly rose, forming a Wind Wall in front of Kuroko Shirai and Misaka Mikoto, blocking the man’s attack. At the same time, Saten Reiko also tightly gripped a Longsword, standing in front of the two of them.

”Are you okay, Classmate Misaka, Classmate Shirai?”

”Saten, classmate?”

Seeing Reiko, holding a Longsword and manipulating the Wind Wall, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai were stunned.