As the sole top-tier institution of higher learning in Binhai City, Binhai University was massive, covering a total area of over 9,000 acres. The campus where Kaito Shirogane was located was a smaller, 3,000-acre section built right on the coast. Just outside the school gates was the city's famous coastal highway, offering picturesque scenery and a humid sea breeze.
This year's military training for the new students had just ended. As Kaito walked through the campus, many first-years cast curious glances his way. A few of the bolder girls even approached him to say hello.
"Hey, senpai, what's your major?"
"Senpai, can I get your number?"
These girls, fresh into university life, were full of expectations for their future and for campus romance.
But before Kaito could respond, their own upperclassn would give him an awkward nod, then quickly pull the girls away.
"Stop swooning! That's not soone you can afford to ss with!"
Kaito just smiled, unconcerned. He walked across the campus and out the main gate. The sea breeze hit his face, carrying with it a sense of freedom. His muscle injuries were too severe for the school's infirmary to handle, but there was a good private hospital on the street next to the university, likely built there to capitalize on the college town's pri location.
Kaito noticed that the strange black bird was still circling in the sky behind him. He was now even more certain that the bird was part of his surveillance.
After a simple registration, an orthopedic surgeon re-bandaged and set his injuries. The doctor was astonished by the severity of his muscle contusions. He used a needle-knife to repair and adjust Kaito's muscles. The intense pain of the procedure was morable, but Kaito insisted on not using any anesthesia. In a way, he was perfectly adapted to the life of a Reincarnator: cautious in the details, but completely insane in the grand sche of things.
By the ti it was all over and he ca out with fresh bandages, the sun was beginning to set. The red sun sinking over the ocean was an exceptionally beautiful sight.
A red sports car was parked on the side of the coastal highway, near the hospital.
Mizuki Akiyama sat nervously inside, constantly talking to Sato through her Bluetooth earpiece.
"Inspector, what do I do? He's coming out!"
This was Mizuki's first ti handling a mission like this alone. Due to her family background, she had almost no field experience. If not for the special circumstances of the current era and the protection of that treasured item she wore—which made her completely immune to cognitive interference abilities—her father would never have allowed her to join this departnt.
Sato's low, steady voice ca through the earpiece. "Mizuki, you don't need to be so nervous. Kaito Shirogane is just an observation target. He's not a bad person in the strictest sense…"
"You just need to interact with him normally. We don't even need you to dig for any specific intelligence. Our goal is just to de-escalate the situation, to let him know that our 'monitoring' is not a hostile act."
Sato felt a sense of helplessness. Not everyone in the bureau supported his actions. To the leaders who had never been in the field, operational standards were always rigid and inflexible. They would never understand that in a place like the Infinite Space, talent was the scarcest and most valuable resource. The things a single powerful Reincarnator could accomplish were truly terrifying.
And so, Sato had been forced to send out this young girl. Mizuki's status was special; even the bureau's leadership couldn't order her around.
Mizuki thought about it. It was true that Kaito Shirogane only seed strange on paper. When she had t him in person, she hadn't felt anything unusual at all. She touched the pendant around her neck. It had been a gift from a great master. Inspector Sato had told her it was a rare treasure that could ward off evil influences.
After giving herself a silent pep talk, she opened the car door. But by now, Kaito had already walked so distance away. She cursed under her breath, her carefully planned "chance encounter" scenario now ruined. Mizuki jogged to catch up.
"What a coincidence, Kaito-kun! It really is you," she said, her smile a little stiff. She knew how awkward she sounded.
Sure enough, Kaito turned around, saw her, and teased, "Weren't you just jogging over here? This doesn't look much like a coincidence."
As Mizuki's face started to turn red, Kaito's tone suddenly changed. "But I know I probably broke your rules by leaving campus without permission. I was actually getting worried." He smiled. "I'm just relieved it's you and not Inspector Sato."
In the orange glow of the sunset, his smile looked genuinely warm.
Hearing this, Mizuki found her opening. She laughed, relieved. "Right? My inspector always has such a grim look on his face, even I'm a little scared of him. That's why I volunteered to co and ask if sothing happened to make you suddenly leave the school."
She was quite pleased with herself for how naturally she had steered the conversation. On the other end of the line, Sato's face darkened. He couldn't believe his own apprentice's idea of building rapport was to badmouth him with the target.
Kaito knew what Mizuki was really doing, so he gave her the "truth." "I have a habit of working out. I was at the gym across from the school yesterday and must have pulled a muscle."
He pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing his bandaged chest. Mizuki's eyes were instinctively drawn to it, and she noticed that his muscle definition was incredibly sharp, as if carved from stone. Is he a little too fit? she thought. Can you really get a body like that at a gym?
Kaito held his shirt open, but the female officer just kept staring. He cleared his throat and pulled his shirt back up. Mizuki blushed and quickly explained, "Don't get the wrong idea! I was just confirming your injury. And, uh, confirming your story…"
Kaito could tell this police officer ca from an unusual background. The car she was driving was a rcedes-Benz AMG SL63, an incredibly expensive sports car that no ordinary law enforcent officer could afford. So, he didn't think her naive act was just a pretense. Dealing with soone like her was always better than dealing with a veteran like Sato.
He smoothly invited her to get a drink on the shopping street, a convenient way for her to continue her "monitoring."
Mizuki felt her operation was going exceptionally well. She had not only figured out Kaito's whereabouts for the past two days but had also successfully established a good relationship. She was pretty sure he had a good impression of her. But hearing her inspector's cough in her earpiece, she declined.
"A drink won't be necessary, Kaito-kun. I just ca to see if you were in any trouble. If you have similar issues in the future, you can call directly. I can bend the rules for you within my authority."
She handed him her business card, then jogged back to her car and drove off with a flourish.
Kaito smiled and waved, then turned and walked toward the shopping street, heading for the gym located above yesterday's bar.
Katsu, his hand wrapped in a bandage, instinctively lowered his head when he saw Kaito approach. For so reason, his fear of Kaito had grown even deeper.
"Katsu, did you get the iron sand I asked for?"
Katsu nodded. "It's all ready." He didn't dare ask what it was for.
Kaito waved him off and walked into the VIP area. New equipnt had been installed there, just as he had requested. He walked over to a heavy basin filled with black sand and, without hesitation, plunged his hands deep into it.
Scrape!
The coarse iron sand instantly abraded his skin, the friction burning like fire. But as if he felt nothing, he continued the act of "damaging" his own body.
anwhile, Mizuki, listening to the roar of her engine, suddenly rembered.
She had forgotten to ask Kaito Shirogane about his parents.
She had rembered it so clearly before, and Sato had even said he would remind her. But the mont she had started talking to Kaito, both of them had completely forgotten about it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Bruhh Haha We did it! 600 Power Stones—SMASHED!
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From now on, the Official Fanfiction Goals:
Every 5 new reviews = 2 extra chapters
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
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