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"W… what…?"
In that instant, even Misaka Mikoto couldn't help but freeze, her jaw slightly dropped.
"What's the big deal? If it's you, you should be able to modify part of the Tree Diagram's functions without leaving any trace of operation, right?" Fang Li spoke as if he hadn't just handed her the keys to Academy City's nuclear launch codes.
He casually continued, "Since we already have the entry ID, even a simple line connection would be enough to access the Tree Diagram's main system. For most people, the physical operation might be a huge hurdle, but with your Electromaster Ability, you can easily handle that anytime, can't you?"
He was right.
If it were Misaka Mikoto, there was no need to worry about operating difficulties. As long as she had an entry ID, she could directly connect to the Tree Diagram's host computer with nothing more than a simple data cable and manipulate it freely using her electricity.
But…
"That's not the problem!" Misaka Mikoto hurriedly burst out. "The problem is, how did you even get this entry ID!? Even some members of the Board of Directors might not have access to something like that!"
The Tree Diagram's computing performance was said to be unmatched in the entire world. Its entry ID was held only by the select few who managed this supercomputer, no one else should have been able to obtain it.
After all, countless research projects within Academy City depended on the Tree Diagram's computing power for their establishment. The research facilities commissioned its calculations constantly, and the fees alone had made the company that developed the Tree Diagram the most powerful financial force in the city.
So it was easy to imagine just how important that entry ID was. It would be perfectly reasonable if only one person in the entire city possessed it.
And yet…
Fang Li had just casually edited the entry ID into a text message and sent it straight to Misaka Mikoto.
How could she not be shocked?
The question of how Fang Li got his hands on it burned in Misaka Mikoto's mind.
However, Fang Li merely shrugged, offering no explanation.
Even without an explanation, Misaka Mikoto had already started putting the pieces together.
"Could it be… the reason you've been going out every night lately is because…"
Lately, Fang Li had been a constant presence on the streets after dark.
Misaka Mikoto knew this firsthand.
In fact, when ITEM had attacked, Misaka had been right there beside him and fought Mugino Shizuri herself.
Thinking back now, Fang Li hadn't shown the slightest surprise at the sudden appearance of the Dark Side operatives, it was as if he had expected it all along.
In other words, Fang Li had knowingly gone out at night, fully aware that he was being watched, deliberately leaving himself open to attack.
Why?
The answer was now blindingly clear.
"You did it to use those incidents as bargaining chips, to trade with the masterminds behind the people who were sent to attack you?"
Exactly.
That was Fang Li's true purpose.
Since those masterminds had commissioned assassinations, the blowback would be immense if such deeds were exposed.
And so, relying on his strange powers and sheer audacity, Fang Li had deliberately lured out the hired attackers, then used various methods to obtain concrete evidence of their employers' crimes. Those secrets became his bargaining chips for negotiation.
The contents of those trades varied widely.
Some benefited Fang Li personally. Others aided the development of Scorpius.
Otherwise, after triggering an incident that engulfed the entire Academy City, both Fang Li and Scorpius would undoubtedly become the targets of everyone's ire, and face endless trouble from all sides.
To ensure that he and Scorpius could safely enjoy the fruits of their labor once their goals were achieved, Fang Li had schemed against every single person with an ulterior motive.
And the Tree Diagram entry ID was merely one of his spoils of war.
"The Tree Diagram once calculated that killing twenty thousand Little Sisters would allow Academy City's Number One to become a Level 6, an Absolute Ability user." Fang Li explained calmly. "If you can use this entry ID to access the Tree Diagram's main system and alter that result, tell those researchers that the conclusion was wrong, then what do you think will happen?"
He cast a sidelong glance at the stunned Misaka Mikoto.
"If this were before," Fang Li continued, "the masterminds behind the plan would've just ordered the Tree Diagram to recalculate, to verify the result. In the end, this little trick of ours would've only served to delay the plan a bit, nothing more than a minor nuisance."
"But now, things are different."
Fang Li turned the laptop on the table toward Misaka Mikoto, letting her see the map of Academy City displayed on the screen.
On the map, more than eighty percent of the city's sectors were already glowing red.
That red signified territories once belonging to armed, non-Ability organizations, now all brought under Scorpius's control.
"Right now, the plan can't proceed because the necessary facilities can't even be prepared or used." Fang Li went on, his tone even. "The only reason it hasn't been canceled is because the potential of the Level 6 experiment is simply too tempting."
"But if the experiment's key result is proven to be a false calculation, then even if they tried to continue, it would only waste time and resources. At that point, those desperate researchers will lose all hope."
He smiled faintly.
"In other words, while this may seem like a small trick, it could become the final straw that breaks the camel's back."
Fang Li's tone was firm and confident.
"When that happens, the plan will be terminated, and your Little Sisters will finally be saved."
His words shone like rays of light, piercing straight into Misaka Mikoto's heart.
She stood there in silence, her hand gripping the cell phone tighter and tighter.
Only Index, who had been tilting her head in confusion from the start, finally furrowed her brows and spoke in obvious dissatisfaction.
"What are you two even talking about? Experiments? Plans? Tree Diagram? Is that some kind of new magic spell development or something?"
Her disgruntled tone didn't surprise Fang Li in the least.
After all, this gluttonous nun, though a walking encyclopedia of the Magic World, was a complete science idiot, it was no wonder she couldn't understand a word of what was going on.
Just as Fang Li was about to casually brush her off (and hopefully avoid getting bitten again by the unreasonable nun out of irritation), Misaka Mikoto finally spoke.
"Hey."
Mikoto looked straight at Fang Li and said softly:
"Come keep me company for a bit."
As she spoke, a gentle smile spread across her face.
That smile was warmer, softer, than any expression she had ever shown before.
Both Fang Li and Index froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
In the end, as Index's eyes widened in surprise, Fang Li hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
(End Of This Chapter)