"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 me, 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 means 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 time, that's enough," Aritomi Haruki replied expressionlessly.
Even though they had abandoned the experiment 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 Using our latest proposal, Anti-Skill headquarters has withdrawn the personnel originally assigned to the Academic Assembly.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 some of the more stubborn members with confinement and reflection."
"Once the plan is initiated, the Powered Suits stationed within the Assembly venue can immediately 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 equipment around the venue. It should buy us plenty of time," a slightly chubby researcher answered.
The ultimate goal of all their plans was simply to conduct a large-scale public experiment, with the star being their creation, 'Janie.'
Driven by their resentment towards Academy City, they had invested over twenty thousand Powered Suits into this experiment, gradually escalating it into a terrorist attack designed to make Academy City feel some pain.
'Even a fleeting moment of brilliance is better than living as a nobody on the fringes of this city. It's time 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, something 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?"
Natsume Sonoko sat idly atop the frame of a Powered Suit, asking with some concern.
The methods 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 immense, as the entire internal operation of the factory relied on these computers.
Finding files deleted some time ago from within this mess was a task only possible for someone with cheat-level hacking skills.
After just over ten minutes, Misaka-san finally made some progress.
"'Chemicaloid' Project, and a biochemical test subject codenamed 'Janie'."
Having discovered something within the chaotic data stream, Misaka-san suddenly stopped what she was doing, her expression turning grave.
Judgment 177th Branch Office was crowded with people.
"Father has finally agreed to provide some information. Judging from the shipment 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, remembering 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 immediately.
"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 moment, Misaka-san pushed open the door to the Judgment office, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
Natsume Sonoko trailed in slowly behind Misaka-senpai, nodding emphatically in agreement.
"Saten-san and I just went to that unmanned factory. We found the neutralizer data there, along with some other things," Misaka-san said, slightly out of breath.
"Misaka-senpai, you found the neutralizer data? That's great news!"
Hearing this, Saten-san immediately 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 time?"
After catching her breath slightly, Misaka-san asked with sudden concern.
"Some 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 moment, then her hands flew across the keyboard.
"That's good," Misaka-san nodded.
"And about the terrorist attack I mentioned 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 medium, they can fill and control the Powered Suits. The goal is to cause mass chaos in Academy City. This is the medium."
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 remember the last time we went to the Assembly for a meeting, the vehicles transporting the sponsor goods containers seemed unusually frequent," Uiharu said, as if remembering something.
"Uiharu, quickly check the number of those sponsor containers and the sponsoring companies," Shirai-san agreed with a nod.
"Found it."
The moment 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 time, 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 mentioned," 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.