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

”How is this possible?”

Looking at Ruiko in front of him, the man across the way also turned pale.

”That person clearly said that by using this thing, ability users wouldn’t be able to control their abilities! How did this happen?!”

”Who knows? But now, I’m not going to let you succeed. Surrender peacefully!”

”Grr... everyone, go!!”

Upon hearing Ruiko’s reply, the man roared, and then saw various men with knives and iron bars rushing at Ruiko.

”Careful, Classmate Saten!”

Watching this scene, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai’s hearts jumped to their throats. They had done special training with Ruiko before, so they knew a little about Ruiko’s ability. But back then, Ruiko’s ability didn’t seem strong, and they didn’t consider her to have strong combat power. Given the current situation, seeing those armed delinquents charging at Ruiko, they were quite worried.

However, what happened next made them both stare in surprise.

Facing the attacking delinquents, Saten Ruiko seemed quite skillful. She bent down, tightened her grip on the longsword, and dashed through the crowd like a leopard. Accompanied by cries of pain, those fierce delinquents were soon howling and collapsing to the ground.

Since when did Classmate Saten become this powerful?

Watching as Saten Ruiko easily knocked over a dozen hooligans, Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai were dumbfounded. No doubt, the current Saten Ruiko seemed entirely different from the impression they usually had of her. However, at that moment, Kuroko Shirai saw the man from before reach into his coat and pull out a gun, aiming it at the battling Saten Ruiko.

”Classmate Saten, watch out!”

”Bang!!!”

The gunshot rang out.

Yet surprisingly, Saten Ruiko didn’t dodge at all; she merely swayed slightly but showed no sign of being hit. Seeing this, the gangster was stunned and hastily aimed again—but by that time, Saten Ruiko was already in front of him, holding the sword with both hands, raising it high.

”Face!”

”Bang!!”

The longsword struck the gangster’s face heavily, knocking him to the ground instantly.

”Phew...”

Saten Ruiko quickly sheathed her sword, glanced around, then walked briskly to the nearby car blasting music, and shut off the bizarre machine. Only then did Misaka Mikoto and Kuroko Shirai breathe a sigh of relief.

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

Turning off the machine, Saten Ruiko hurried over to the two to inquire, and they nodded.

”I’m fine, just a bit drained...”

”Me too... nothing serious. But Classmate Saten, those people... you didn’t kill them, did you?”

”Eh? Of course not, of course not!”

Facing Kuroko Shirai’s query, Saten Ruiko quickly waved her hand.

”This sword hasn’t been sharpened yet; look, Mr. Fang Zheng said it’s mainly for hitting people. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have acted so decisively...”

”Really...”

The two reached out to touch the blade, finding it indeed as Ruiko said—it wasn’t sharp like a real sword but more like a wooden sword. This relieved Kuroko Shirai. Earlier, she was concerned seeing Ruiko act so decisively; now it seemed Ruiko knew the sword couldn’t kill before she acted fiercely.

”But what now?”

Looking at the delinquents knocked down by Ruiko, Misaka Mikoto frowned and queried, while Kuroko Shirai pondered briefly.

”Technically, we should report this to the Guards, and then let them handle it, but...”

Saying this, Kuroko Shirai glanced towards the car with the strange device.

”I have a bad feeling that if these things are taken by the Guards, the clues might be completely lost.”

”Is it the academy higher-ups again?!”

Misaka Mikoto also hit her fist angrily, remembering how during the Fantasy Manipulator incident, they realized the academy higher-ups likely allowed things to escalate intentionally. If the current attack on ability users was also orchestrated by the academy higher-ups, even if they handed in the evidence, it might not lead to any action.

”Let’s find Mr. Fang Zheng; surely he’ll have a solution.”

Ruiko clearly had her own idea, trusting Mr. Fang Zheng more than the Guards.

”We can transport that strange machine away and leave only the guns. As long as we have weapons, the Guards can still arrest people.”

”But none of us can drive.”

”Then let’s get someone who can drive to help, right?”

Saying this, the three exchanged a glance and then, their eyes fell on the unconscious gun-wielding gangster that Ruiko had knocked out. They smiled.

”It’s decided!”

Meanwhile, over at the laboratory...

”So bored, so bored, so bored, so bored, so bored!!!”

Riko rolled around listlessly on the couch, back and forth, back and forth.

If you’re idle, then go do something. How’s the investigation going?”

Fang Zheng looked at the newspaper in his hand and asked casually.

”Ah, that matter is currently being investigated by Arya and Kintsu. I heard that the Armed Detective Killer seems to have some connection with Iyu, so I won’t act for now, but Kintsu asked me to investigate some intel... Hehe... Right!”

At this point, Riko seemed to think of something, flipped over, climbed up, and then sat on Fang Zheng’s lap, looking at him face to face.

”I’ve discovered something particularly interesting.”

As she spoke, Riko reached out her hand and took out a piece of paper from her chest—this was a skill Shana could never master in her lifetime.

Kurumi might still have a chance.

”Kintsu’s brother, Toyama Kinei, was once a famous Martial Investigator, but he disappeared in a cruise accident. Although the police declared him dead, Kintsu seems to think that his brother’s death was the work of the Armed Detective Killer... Moreover, the Toyama Clan has a generational mode known as HSS. In this mode, they are particularly gentle towards women, and can exert 120 percent of their strength for them...”

”What kind of weird setup is this...?”

Fang Zheng rolled his eyes upon hearing this.

”So do you suspect Arya is interested in this?”

”Of course, otherwise, how could Arya team up with an E-rank Martial Investigator? Maybe she was also drawn to Kintsu’s HSS mode.”

Upon saying this, Riko chuckled softly.

”If that’s the case, then you should stay put for now, let Arya and the others search, you just wait to catch them in the rear.”

”Aha, this is good, I like it.”

Hearing this, Riko happily hugged Fang Zheng and rubbed against him.

”By the way, Mr. Fang Zheng, I have good news for you.”

”Oh? What’s the good news?”

”Hehe... Do you want me?”

Halfway through her words, Fang Zheng heard Riko’s voice suddenly change. When he looked up again, he saw Arya, dressed in the Armed Detective Academy uniform, sitting on his lap, grinning at him.

”How about it, Mr. Fang Zheng? I’m Arya, huh? The previous me was really too rude to you, master, why not let Arya repay with her body...? Or maybe...”

In the next moment, Arya silently changed again, becoming Saten Reiko.

”Is this better, Mr. Fang Zheng? Or perhaps...”

Misaka Mikoto blushed slightly, her eyes moist, reaching out to hug Fang Zheng’s neck.

”Do you like this version of me?”

”...Let’s pass on this, it doesn’t seem right.”

Fang Zheng held Misaka Mikoto’s shoulders, pulling her away.

”You know, seeing Misaka Mikoto show me this expression, it feels weird.”

”Really? I thought it was quite cute.”

As her voice fell, Misaka Mikoto looked at Fang Zheng with a grin.

”So you’ve already mastered transformation?”

”Yes, according to Frenda, I’m almost fully LV4 now.”

As she spoke, Misaka Mikoto reached out her hand and then turned into Frenda.

”It’s not just the appearance, Mr. Fang Zheng. As long as you give me the target’s DNA map, I can guarantee to be identical inside and out...”

”So, what about abilities?”

”About abilities... they don’t seem to work.”

Upon hearing this, Frenda lowered her head slightly in disappointment—turning back into Riko.

”I’ve tried it, abilities are just barely usable, but only at LV1 or LV2 level. In fact, calculating this alone is already substantial... I might only fully mimic her abilities at LV5.”

”That’s unavoidable. You’re basically running a simulation in a simulator... CPU limitations are indeed a weak spot.”

From this perspective, Riko’s ability is already quite strong.

”But you should avoid using this ability in front of others, it might cause trouble.”

For safety, Fang Zheng still advised gently. Fortunately, unlike those dedicated to dark side fighting, Riko is a Phantom Thief, doesn’t fight often, so she naturally won’t need to use this ability often.

”Hehehe, understood, Mr. Fang Zheng. So, your answer? I think you should know my intentions, Mr. Fang Zheng. Riko has also mustered her courage, okay? If you accept Riko, you can enjoy all sorts of girls in the future, right? Arya, Reiko, Hatsuharu, Kuroko, or Misaka Mikoto, Shihou Souki, Rem and Ram can all be possibilities. Oh, and there’s Mel and Meiyin...”

”Let’s pass on the last one, but this is really an attractive proposition... So, then...”

”Knock, knock.”

However, Fang Zheng’s words were interrupted by a knock at the door, and then Ram’s voice came from outside.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, Misaka Mikoto and the others are here.”