"Miss Nunotaba, you should be grateful you still have value. Having you control 'Janie' is far more suitable than using a whip."
"If your performance satisfies , I might just hand this over to you."
He pulled a storage device from his pocket, Aritomi Haruki bent down, squinting at Nunotaba Shinobu who was slumped on the floor.
"What is this?" Nunotaba Shinobu asked.
"This is the neutralizer data you've been searching for. What was left at the unmanned factory was just an incomplete version. If you're willing to cooperate with us and see the plan through on the day of the Academic Assembly, I'll give you this data. I just wonder if Febrie can hold on until then."
Aritomi Haruki said with a stern expression.
"Since the data the #3 and the others took was fake, that ans there's still a chance they might interfere with our plan for Febrie's sake," one researcher said hesitantly.
"We don't have the luxury to worry about that now. As long as that neutralizer data can buy us a little ti, that's enough," Aritomi Haruki replied expressionlessly.
Even though they had abandoned the experint plan targeting the #3, they couldn't guarantee she wouldn't get involved.
"Speaking of which, is everything handled with the Anti-Skill squad?" Aritomi Haruki turned to look at the group behind him.
"No problem. Using our latest proposal, Anti-Skill headquarters has withdrawn the personnel originally assigned to the Academic Assembly. They've also punished so of the more stubborn mbers with confinent and reflection."
"Once the plan is initiated, the Powered Suits stationed within the Assembly venue can imdiately deploy into the main streets of School District 7."
"To avoid encountering other Academy City security forces too early, we've also installed electronic jamming equipnt around the venue. It should buy us plenty of ti," a slightly chubby researcher answered.
The ultimate goal of all their plans was simply to conduct a large-scale public experint, with the star being their creation, 'Janie.'
Driven by their resentnt towards Academy City, they had invested over twenty thousand Powered Suits into this experint, gradually escalating it into a terrorist attack designed to make Academy City feel so pain.
'Even a fleeting mont of brilliance is better than living as a nobody on the fringes of this city. It's ti Academy City witnessed our power.'
"That's good. After all, I'd prefer not to use the final protocol and reduce this pathetic city to ashes," Aritomi Haruki said with a cold laugh.
Hearing his words, everyone present couldn't help but shiver slightly. This was the power of their intellect, sothing they took great pride in—power capable of destroying Academy City in an instant.
-- --
It was another fine and sunny day.
Academy City was facing yet another crisis that threatened its destruction, though it was unclear exactly where this one ranked among the city's many problems.
In any case, after finding the relevant neutralizer data at the unmanned factory, Misaka-san hadn't stopped her own work, having begun attempting to recover the various files deleted from the factory's computers.
"The other side is indeed very cautious. A lot of the data has been wiped," Misaka-san said, frowning slightly.
"Misaka-senpai, can all the deleted files be recovered?"
Natsu Sonoko sat idly atop the fra of a Powered Suit, asking with so concern.
The thods these Dark Side organizations used to delete files definitely weren't as simple as emptying the Recycle Bin, right?
"As long as the hard drives storing the data aren't physically damaged, I have a way."
Misaka-san gave a reassuring look and plunged back into the great task of data recovery, leaving a certain bored girl with her bun-hair to her own devices.
The number of automated program files generated by a single unmanned factory was imnse, as the entire internal operation of the factory relied on these computers.
Finding files deleted so ti ago from within this ss was a task only possible for soone with cheat-level hacking skills.
After just over ten minutes, Misaka-san finally made so progress.
"'Chemicaloid' Project, and a biochemical test subject codenad 'Janie'."
Having discovered sothing within the chaotic data stream, Misaka-san suddenly stopped what she was doing, her expression turning grave.
Judgnt 177th Branch Office was crowded with people.
"Father has finally agreed to provide so information. Judging from the shipnt quantities of Powered Suit components sent to 'STUDY' Corporation from various companies, it's enough to manufacture over twenty thousand Powered Suits."
"The stated reason for the orders was to produce unmanned Powered Suits to assist Anti-Skill with their daily patrols."
Kongou Mitsuko's voice carried a hint of urgency.
While she didn't understand why such a vast number of Powered Suits was necessary, rembering the words spoken by the company's director, Aritomi Haruki, gave Kongou-senpai a bad feeling.
"Twenty thousand Powered Suits? Is Anti-Skill's personnel shortage really that severe?"
Saten Ruiko rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
"Actually, the number of Powered Suits this company has supplied to Anti-Skill is only a little over five hundred. Most of those are currently deployed around the Academic Assembly venue."
"Furthermore, to test the practical performance of these Powered Suits, they've withdrawn the Anti-Skill personnel originally stationed there and replaced them with unmanned Powered Suits for the Assembly's security," Uiharu Kazari added imdiately.
"Testing Powered Suit performance? Just how unimportant is this Academic Assembly?" Shirai Kuroko couldn't help but smirk.
"I think it's possible they are planning to launch a large-scale terrorist attack."
At that mont, Misaka-san pushed open the door to the Judgnt office, imdiately drawing everyone's attention.
Natsu Sonoko trailed in slowly behind Misaka-senpai, nodding emphatically in agreent.
"Saten-san and I just went to that unmanned factory. We found the neutralizer data there, along with so other things," Misaka-san said, slightly out of breath.
"Misaka-senpai, you found the neutralizer data? That's great news!"
Hearing this, Saten-san imdiately broke into a smile, and the others also sighed in relief. Only Febrie tilted her head, not understanding what was going on.
Misaka-san nodded, pulled out her phone, and transferred the newly acquired neutralizer data to Uiharu's computer.
"Uiharu, can you get it made in ti?"
After catching her breath slightly, Misaka-san asked with sudden concern.
"So of the ingredients listed here aren't very common, but we should be able to find them by investigating Academy City's logistics network."
Uiharu hesitated for a mont, then her hands flew across the keyboard.
"That's good," Misaka-san nodded.
"And about the terrorist attack I ntioned earlier... We discovered that Aritomi Haruki and his group created Janie and Febrie, whose ability is 'Diffusion Ghost'."
"It allows for the materialization of AIM diffusion field pseudo-matter. Using a dium, they can fill and control the Powered Suits. The goal is to cause mass chaos in Academy City. This is the dium."
As soon as she finished speaking, Misaka-san pulled a familiar purple container from her pocket.
"Given that Aritomi Haruki and his group control over twenty thousand Powered Suits, the terrorist attack Misaka-san described is certainly possible."
Konori Mii, having sorted through the information everyone had found, spoke thoughtfully.
"Anti-Skill being pulled from the Assembly, Aritomi Haruki and the others withdrawing from this year's Academic Assembly selection, plus the fact Febrie was attacked there once before..."
"If we put it all together, the most likely location for the terrorist attack is the Academic Assembly venue itself."
Shirai Kuroko reasoned, her brow furrowed.
"But if it really is the Assembly, how did they hide such huge Powered Suits?" Misaka-san asked.
"I rember the last ti we went to the Assembly for a eting, the vehicles transporting the sponsor goods containers seed unusually frequent," Uiharu said, as if rembering sothing.
"Uiharu, quickly check the number of those sponsor containers and the sponsoring companies," Shirai-san agreed with a nod.
"Found it."
The mont Shirai-san finished speaking, Uiharu-san had the results.
"Records show that personnel from 'STUDY' Corporation moved a large number of sponsor goods containers into the Academic Assembly venue."
"They moved containers into the venue?"
"Yes. Because there were multiple power outages around that ti, the staff records are rather vague."
"And if you calculate based on the number of these sponsor containers and their capacity, it just happens to match the figure of twenty thousand Powered Suits that Kongou-senpai ntioned," Uiharu said in one breath.
-- --
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.
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