Chapter 31

Back at home, Saten Riko looked at Tsukino Tsukiko and raised her question: "Tsukiko, if that piece of music really can boost levels...?"

Tsukiko turned around and stroked Riko's hair, "You're wondering why we don't make it public to boost everyone's abilities? And why we don't use it ourselves, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"That's because: first, is this external, unknown power really harmless? What are the intentions of the person spreading it? These are all things we need to consider." Tsukiko explained carefully to Riko. "Go to bed early. Unfortunately, three days ago, I was called to the security office." Tsukiko harbored a deep grudge against the security officers for ruining her good deed.

Riko's face turned red upon hearing this: "How many times have you mentioned this! No more talk about it! Otherwise... otherwise, no more in the future!"

Seeing Riko's flustered state, Tsukiko just smiled, "Riko is so cute." This left Riko completely flustered.

The next day, Shokuhatsu Shizuri contacted Kusanagi Motoharu and told him about the synesthesia-related findings, "I see, I overlooked this point. If that's the case, the approval for using the Tree Diagram Designer should also be granted."

For Shizuri, who wanted to visit Kusanagi Motoharu today, this was the best news. "The Tree Diagram Designer! If it's the top supercomputer in Academy City, it should be able to produce results immediately. Can I come to your place now? I want to see how you use the Tree Diagram Designer!"

"Sure, no problem."

With Kusanagi Motoharu's approval, Shizuri happily headed to his location, completely unaware of the harsh reality she was about to face.

Meanwhile, Misaki Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko went to the hospital to look for any clues, where they encountered Index.

"Index!"

"No, Onee-sama, you're mistaken." Index was also helpless; she couldn't control her appearance.

In Index's office, Index showed the two her findings. "Brain waves vary from person to person, and it's impossible for them to be identical. However, the victims of the Imagine Breaker have the same brain wave pattern. Forcing a person's brain to operate according to someone else's brain wave pattern can have very negative effects on the body."

With the brain wave samples obtained from Index, Mikoto and Kuroko returned to Branch 177, where Tsukiko was also present. "Cousin, we found a clue about the culprit."

"Good, you find the person, and I'll take action. My hands are itching~"

"Brother, who would dare let you take action with that attitude..."

"Regardless, let's find the culprit first. Mikoto, the application to connect to the Library is a bit slow. Can you...?"

Mikoto was prepared for Tsukiko's behavior. "I understand, I'll use my ability." Although she was somewhat against openly breaking the rules, to uncover the truth of the incident, some "small rules" could be ignored... probably...

Using the network port of Branch 177, Mikoto directly hacked into the Library. The defenses of ordinary hackers were no match for a Level 5. Soon, Mikoto found a person whose brain wave data matched and displayed it on the computer. It was a familiar figure to Mikoto and Kuroko—Kusanagi Motoharu!

Thinking of Shizuri's visit to Kusanagi Motoharu's residence today, the two felt a sense of unease. "Shizuri!"

Kuroko immediately called Shizuri, but couldn't get through.

"Kuroko, notify the security officers. I'll go first." Tsukiko quickly ran out, and Mikoto, worried about Shizuri, followed. Kuroko wanted to go too but was stopped.

"Kuroko, do you want to use that body to act?" Mikoto just lightly touched Kuroko, causing her immense pain. "You're my junior, so rely on your senior in times like this. Besides, you have your brother, right?"

"But..." Thinking of Tsukiko, Kuroko felt a headache. He was a real problem child, but... "Yes, with my brother, the problem will definitely be solved."

On the other side, Shizuri saw Kusanagi Motoharu's research papers and related materials on synesthesia and immediately realized she had been deceived. Clearly, the lying Kusanagi Motoharu was involved in the incident and might even be the mastermind!

However, before Shizuri could send a message, she was subdued by Kusanagi Motoharu and taken in a car.

In the car, Kusanagi Motoharu handed the last remaining treatment program of the Imagine Breaker to Shizuri, "Everything will be over soon, and no one will be sacrificed." Kusanagi Motoharu knew she didn't have much time left and would likely be caught soon.

Finally, in the suburbs, Kusanagi Motoharu was intercepted by security officers led by Aogami Aiho.

"Retribution has come. What do you plan to do?" In Shizuri's eyes, the powerless Kusanagi Motoharu had nowhere to run.

However, "The Imagine Breaker is a program that turns the human brain into a computational machine, but it also brings certain side effects to the user." Kusanagi Motoharu, standing in front of the security officers, was not at all flustered. Then, something surprising happened.

"Kuroko, what's going on? What happened?" Mikoto finally arrived but didn't see Tsukiko, who had left earlier. Hearing the explosion, she could only contact Kuroko.

"Kusanagi... is fighting the security officers... and using abilities... multiple abilities..."

"What?" Mikoto was also surprised. She had never encountered such an opponent. "Each person only has one ability, with no exceptions, right?"

Kuroko had her own explanation: "Could it be due to the Imagine Breaker? The system that connects 10,000 espers through a network of synapses, in other words, a giant brain. If you can control that brain, you can do things a human brain can't... If this hypothesis is correct, Kusanagi Motoharu is now the legendary, impossible existence—a 'Multi-Ability User.'"

Finally, Mikoto arrived at the battle site and was stunned. In just a few minutes since the explosion, all the security officers were defeated! Though they were only temporarily incapacitated, the fact that a researcher had defeated them was unbelievable!

At this moment, Mikoto saw Shizuri, who was unconscious in the car. "Shizuri!"

"Don't worry, she just suffered from the shock of the battle and is unconscious. She's not in danger," Kusanagi Motoharu's voice came from behind. "Mikoto, one of the eight Level 5s in Academy City, even you haven't fought an opponent like me. Can you stop me, who commands 10,000 brains?"

At that moment, Kusanagi Motoharu's left eye turned a strange red. Mikoto looked at her, "Do you really need to ask if I can stop you?" With that, Mikoto charged at Kusanagi Motoharu. "Even if you are a 'Multi-Ability User,' I will stop you."

"My abilities are different from the theoretically impossible operation. I should be called a 'Multi-Talent User.'" A gust of wind pressure attacked Mikoto, but she easily dodged it.

"The name doesn't matter. What I have to do is the same!" With a bolt of electricity from Mikoto, the battle between the 'Multi-Talent User' and the Level 5 began.

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