"Arata-senpai, did I hear that correctly? Those researchers just called you boss?" Saten Ruiko asked in shock.
"Yes, Ruiko, you heard correctly. I am the owner of this research facility." Arata replied with a smile.
"Ah!" Uiharu Kazari let out a small cry, her eyes widening and mouth slightly open in disbelief.
"Ah... Arata-senpai, do you mean that literally?" Saten Ruiko asked carefully.
"Alright, calm down. No need to be so shocked by my identity. I am technically a scientist. Just one who entered the field a bit later than others. Come with me."
Arata looked at their stunned expressions and spoke with a hint of pride.
Although he was not particularly outstanding in conventional academics, his understanding of esper development far exceeded the norm. If one had to describe it, he was a complete fanatic when it came to this field.
"Arata-senpai is really hiding his abilities. You must be the heir of some major conglomerate." Uiharu Kazari said, her eyes sparkling.
"Ahem. Let's first go over the details of esper development. This is a method that has never appeared in Academy City before. It has a one hundred percent success rate and no side effects."
Arata led them toward the development area. Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko looked around with excitement and curiosity, like children seeing something entirely new.
"Wow, this is incredible. It's my first time inside a research facility. Is that the legendary treatment pod?"
As they entered the esper development area, the glass door opened automatically.
The dense arrangement of experimental equipment and instruments instantly created a heavy, clinical atmosphere.
Nunotaba Shinobu walked over expressionlessly and handed them two test forms.
"I am the researcher in charge of your development. My name is Nunotaba Shinobu."
Two girls?
Nunotaba Shinobu glanced at Arata with a look that clearly conveyed what kind of person she thought he was. Arata simply shrugged, fully understanding her meaning.
"Hello, my name is Saten Ruiko." Saten said politely.
"Hello, my name is Uiharu Kazari." Uiharu said softly.
"Do you have any questions? If not, we will begin the development process." Nunotaba Shinobu said indifferently.
"Um... we've already undergone esper development before. Would doing it again even have any effect?" Uiharu asked cautiously.
Esper development normally relies on drug stimulation and psychological conditioning. Once completed, further repetition usually produces no changes.
"Yes." Saten Ruiko nodded, feeling slightly uneasy. Even though she trusted Arata, the unknown nature of the experiment still made her nervous.
"This development process is different from what you have experienced before." Nunotaba Shinobu said calmly. "Our director, Arata, discovered a unique substance within comet debris. It can directly induce a 'Personal Reality' with perfect accuracy, thereby granting esper abilities."
She glanced at Arata as she spoke.
"This substance has been named the 'Charlotte Factor.' Repeated testing has confirmed that it produces no harmful side effects on the human body."
"I see." Arata nodded with a faint smile. "However, the induced Personal Reality is unstable and can only exist temporarily. That is why we use 'Ability Crystals' to stabilize it. This allows us to achieve a complete and guaranteed development."
"Fully developed abilities!" Saten Ruiko and Uiharu Kazari exclaimed simultaneously.
"Charlotte Factor? Ability Crystals?"
"I don't fully understand it, but it definitely sounds incredible." Uiharu said, suddenly serious.
"Ruiko, Uiharu, do you know why I asked you to bring the Kongming Lock?" Arata asked with a mysterious smile.
"Could it be... that the Charlotte Factor is inside?" Saten Ruiko asked in shock, holding the puzzle carefully with both hands.
She suddenly remembered what Arata had said when he first gave it to her.
"The thing inside is something even espers would dream of."
"A substance that guarantees esper development... that's way too valuable. I just left it in a drawer..." Uiharu Kazari looked like she was about to cry.
She had never even heard of such a thing before. In Academy City, despite its population exceeding two million, less than half had developed abilities. The rest remained Level 0.
"It's not that exaggerated. It's just an Ability Crystal. Consuming it can raise your level to around Level 3." Arata said, shaking his head.
"An item that enhances abilities..." Saten Ruiko's heart began to race, her breathing becoming uneven.
Recently, there had been rumors about items that could raise esper levels. She had once thought how incredible it would be to obtain one.
She never imagined that the gift Arata gave her would be exactly that.
"So Academy City really has something like this. That's amazing, Saten." Uiharu said happily, genuinely delighted for her friend.
Even though Saten always appeared cheerful, she cared deeply about being a Level 0.
"Senpai... the first gift you gave me is something this precious..." Saten's cheeks flushed red.
"Alright, enough talking. This is the first time Charlotte Factor development is being used in practice. There are no more questions, correct?" Arata interrupted before she could continue.
"No... no more." Saten Ruiko said, her face turning even redder.
Esper powers.
She could really obtain them.
Before, she still had doubts. But now, she believed it completely.
"Traditional development relies on psychological guidance. My method begins directly from Personal Reality." Arata said as he took the Kongming Locks from both girls.
With a slight movement of telekinesis, the locks opened instantly, revealing two small, glass-like crystals about the size of peanuts.
"In my view, Personal Reality is simply the manifestation of a person's inner desires and imagination. Now, let's begin."
Nunotaba Shinobu opened a metal case on the laboratory table.
Inside were several tubes of blue liquid and a painless injection device.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.