Here, 'water' naturally refers to the rain.
No matter how heavy the downpour, or how severe its impact, a rainstorm is ultimately just a common natural phenomenon.
Under the cover of this ordinary natural occurrence, Natsume-san's plan found its opportunity.
At least until the flooding became serious, Academy City wouldn't mount any extreme response internally.
But pulling off such a fantastical plan and achieving the desired effect wasn't as simple as Natsume-san made it sound, relying solely on the lower elevation of the Academic Assembly venue.
"As expected of Natsume-san. The idea of flooding the Powered Suits reminds me of ancient military strategies."
Kongou-senpai lowered the fan she held before her slightly, revealing her delicate features.
"Military strategies? Natsume-san really knows a lot," Uiharu-san blinked, looking curiously at Natsume-san, which prompted a faint, smug look from the girl with the bun.
However, the gravity of the situation soon sobered her up, and Natsume-san's expression shifted to one of focused concentration.
"The most difficult part of this plan is generating a sufficient volume of rainwater and ensuring it falls precisely on the Academic Assembly site."
"But leave that part to me. My temperature control ability is well-suited for altering weather patterns. It won't be difficult for me."
Natsume-san's declaration was firm, almost taking full responsibility upon herself.
She planned to utilize the lower-level clouds; just grabbing one would be enough for over ten minutes of rain, as clouds are essentially collections of tiny water droplets or ice crystals.
Gather seven of them, and you could probably summon a dragon.
But the water content of an average cloud was still somewhat lacking. Natsume-san intended to bring in some real heavyweights when the time came.
"Even if the rainwater problem is solved, there are still many issues with flooding the Assembly venue and creating a significant amount of standing water," Shirai-san interjected softly, clearing her throat with a frown.
Her serious demeanor carried a rare, resolute air as she paced back and forth, carefully considering Natsume-san's proposal.
Shirai-san often enjoyed giving Natsume-san a hard time, but she was undoubtedly someone you could rely on when it counted.
"Exactly. While the Assembly venue is low-lying, that area isn't just the venue itself. There are also shopping streets and student dormitories nearby," Konori-senpai agreed, nodding.
"If we truly cause flooding on such a large scale, the consequences, while not as severe as letting those Powered Suits run rampant in the streets, would still be quite negative."
"Perhaps the situation would be better if we could confine the flooding strictly to the Assembly venue grounds," Misaka-senpai added.
"Furthermore, the area around the Assembly venue has a comprehensive drainage system. Even during that heavy storm a few weeks ago, Academy City's drainage system wasn't overloaded," Konori-senpai recalled, adding to the point.
"Maybe we could try to affect the drainage system within the Assembly venue itself," Uiharu-san suddenly mused, as if struck by an idea. "That way, we could ensure a certain level of flooding while preventing it from spreading to unrelated areas."
While speaking, Uiharu-san's fingers flew across her keyboard. A complete schematic of Academy City's drainage system soon appeared on her computer screen.
The city's entire drainage network was incredibly complex and impossible to grasp quickly, but the area near the Assembly venue only had specific pipes and pumping stations.
"If we temporarily disable these specific pumps and pipes, we can create the conditions for flooding within the Assembly venue in the short term. And since the drainage systems outside the venue will be functioning normally, the water level should stabilize at a manageable depth."
"And once we restore operation to those pumps and pipes, the accumulated water should be completely drained within an estimated hour." Uiharu-san pressed one final key and turned to face the group.
Having seemingly resolved the most worrisome problem, thoughtful expressions appeared on everyone's faces.
"So, the last problem remains: how do we erase the ability medium from all twenty thousand Powered Suits before that Dark Side organization can react?" Misaka-senpai murmured, almost to herself.
Deactivating these dormant Powered Suits wasn't the hard part; the only issue was doing it before the enemy noticed.
"That's where we'll need everyone's strength. I will mobilize every Judgment member I can reach," Konori-senpai stated firmly, exhaling with determination.
"But the neutralizer for Febrie here is also crucial," Saten-san suddenly spoke up.
"Then we have no choice but to split into two groups," Shirai-san responded immediately.
"Febrie will stay with me. If the Dark Side activates that 'Diffusion Ghost' ability, I'll handle it. I'll be the one to retrieve Janie," Misaka-senpai said, half-kneeling to pat Febrie on the head.
"Febrie, are you willing to come with us to save 'Janie'?"
A gentle smile graced Misaka-senpai's lips.
"Janie?"
Febrie's large, dewy eyes blinked rapidly, pika pika, before she nodded her head vigorously.
--+--
One day remained until the opening of the Academic Assembly.
Weather: Cloudy turning clear. No Rain — From the Tree Diagram.
Through the combined efforts of Judgment Branch 177, nearly two hundred Judgment members had already been assembled within the Academic Assembly venue.
Bearing their orderly shield insignias and carrying disassembly tools, they entered a building at the venue under the guise of holding a temporary meeting.
The group also included some unrelated individuals, such as Tokiwadai's Kongou Mitsuko, and the 'script reader' from Sakugawa Middle School, among others.
Holding onto Shirai-san's hand, which was slightly larger than her own, Natsume Sonoko was currently moving rapidly through District 7.
It wasn't the first time Shirai-san had carried her like this, but it was the first true, proper collaboration between Natsume Sonoko and Shirai-san—and all to prevent an impending attack.
"Konori-senpai's group has sent word. The shipping containers placed at the Assembly venue definitely contain a large number of unused Powered Suits," Shirai-san reported, her tone laced with a sense of gravity, like the tense calm before a storm.
Perhaps it really would take a rainstorm to stop those monsters from emerging from their containers.
As for Natsume Sonoko, being teleported by Shirai-san, her face wore a somewhat dazed expression, lost in who-knows-what thoughts.
"We're here."
Shirai-san finally came to a stop. They had arrived at the shores of a wide, expansive lake in District 7.
--+--
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.