For the next two days, Shokuhou Misaki did not give Ren a single good look.
However, Ren shamelessly stuck close to her.
After realizing she could not chase him away, she could only let him follow her around.
This directly led to an awkward scene during lunch.
Shokuhou Misaki looked gloomy, her face turning red from time to time, as if she had recalled something embarrassing.
"Teacher Ren, what happened between you two?"
"Well, it's like this. It's her first time being seen na—"
Shokuhou Misaki rushed forward and covered Ren's mouth without hesitation, completely ignoring her image as a refined lady.
"Oh my, so that's how it is."
Hokaze Junko was older than Shokuhou Misaki and had experienced it earlier.
Thinking of her own first time and the awkwardness back then, she immediately understood.
It must have been that Shokuhou Misaki came to Ren in fear, asked him about it, and after being properly educated, felt embarrassed instead.
She had clearly just recalled that dark history.
Seeing Hokaze Junko lost in her own imagination, Shokuhou Misaki was certain she was overthinking it.
She immediately used her ability to read Junko's thoughts.
After seeing what Junko was thinking, Shokuhou Misaki's face turned pale, then red.
She quickly erased that memory and turned her head toward Ren.
Only then did she realize how close his face was.
She had instinctively pounced forward earlier and had not adjusted her position.
Now, staring directly at his handsome face, she could not help but recall what happened yesterday, and her face flushed red again.
"Um… Misaki, aren't you a little too close to Teacher Ren?"
Hokaze Junko looked at the scene before her.
Shokuhou Misaki was practically hanging onto Ren, her face red as she stared at him.
Anyone would misunderstand this scene.
Hearing Junko's words, Shokuhou Misaki quickly pulled away from Ren.
She erased everyone's memories of the scene once again and glared at the culprit.
This guy relied on the fact that her ability did not work on him and was acting far too boldly.
He was just as annoying as Misaka Mikoto.
"Um, Misaki, what just happened?"
Hokaze Junko was only curious.
She did not mind Shokuhou Misaki using her ability on her.
"It's nothing. Just some unpleasant things."
Shokuhou Misaki brushed it off, only wanting to finish her meal quickly and go back.
After a full day of classes, Ren brought the still sulking Shokuhou Misaki home.
"Misaki, Big Brother Ren, welcome back."
Dolly stood at the door holding a doll.
"I'm back."
Ren reached out and patted Shokuhou Misaki's honey-colored hair.
"I know, Dolly. I'm back."
Only then did Shokuhou Misaki's expression improve.
She swatted away the hand messing with her head.
She no longer wanted to scold Ren.
After all, he had already admitted that he was a lolicon.
Scolding him now felt more like rewarding him, especially since she perfectly matched his preferences.
Without saying anything else, Ren went into the kitchen to prepare dinner for the two of them.
Only two portions.
He had an appointment tonight.
He had already agreed yesterday to accept the invitation and take part in the Level 6 Shift Project.
"Um, Big Brother Ren, aren't you eating with us?"
Dolly sincerely treated Ren as family, something she had learned from watching TV.
"I have some things to take care of. This incident isn't over yet," Ren explained with a smile.
"Not over? What do you mean? What are you going to do?" Shokuhou Misaki felt uneasy. She couldn't read Ren's thoughts and right now, her mind was blank when it came to him.
"Misaki, spend some time with Dolly. I'll explain when I get back. Your phone isn't safe," Ren said, not intending to hide anything.
"All right," Shokuhou Misaki replied and didn't ask further.
"Dolly, I'll bring you some sweets when I return, and during summer vacation, I'll take you to the beach," Ren sweet-talked Dolly, completely distracting her and ensuring she wouldn't worry too much.
After leaving, Ren headed straight for the location specified, his brows furrowed. He feared he might not even see Kihara Gensei; that old man was extremely cunning.
He arrived at a tall building with almost no windows, likely ventilated through exhaust fans or similar methods.
"You must be Researcher Ren. Welcome," said a brown-haired girl in a white lab coat, her gaze intimidating.
"Have you started already?" Ren asked.
"Not yet. They are still in the growth phase. I'll show you," Kiyama Harumi said, leading Ren inside the building as the door closed automatically.
Inside, the place was brightly lit and extremely spacious. Kiyama Harumi brought him to the center of the culture dishes. Hundreds of machines were operating here, meaning they could produce this many Misaka clones at once.
Standing in front of the corresponding culture dishes, Kiyama Harumi explained, "These are all clones of Misaka Mikoto. We use ZID-02 to catalyze them. In two weeks, they grow into teenage girls. Having interacted with the first-generation clones, you should have some understanding of them."
"Catalyzing them this way means that, even if left alone, they only live two to three years," Ren noted.
"Yes. That's where I come in. I can instill the thoughts of lab mice into them, turning their self-awareness into one that accepts being disposable experimental subjects," Kiyama Harumi said, growing increasingly excited, completely oblivious to Ren's changing expression.
It wasn't entirely her fault. After all, these clones were created through rapid artificial growth, beyond normal human understanding. They couldn't perceive the clones as their peers.
Especially with so many Misaka clones, in their view, even if they died, it was insignificant. The cost was simply too low.
"No need to say more. You can tell me your purpose now." Ren spoke bluntly.
"Ranked first among Level 5s, Accelerator. He is the one most likely to reach Level 6. According to the Tree Diagram's calculations, he only needs to kill the third-ranked Level 5 one hundred and twenty-eight times to evolve into Level 6. Of course, Misaka Mikoto is unique, so the experiment can only be carried out using her clones."
"The conclusion of the simulation?" Ren asked.
"By killing twenty thousand Misaka Sisters, he can advance to Level 6. The total cost is only 3.6 billion yen." Kiyama Harumi even felt that this experiment was extremely cost-effective.
"Is that so? Do you know that Number 0, the original individual, was not implanted with the thoughts of those lab rats, so she is more like a real human? Do you understand what that represents?" Ren looked at the girl, but her reaction disappointed him.
"That only interferes with the experiment. Researcher Ren, do you really want to participate? You're not one of those people who believe clones are humans too, are you?" Kiyama Harumi looked at him strangely.
If one had seen the process of how clones were created, they would never regard them as the same kind. They were completely beyond normal understanding.
"Sorry. Our ways of thinking might not align." Ren shook his head.
"Researcher Ren, if you don't wish to participate, I will have someone escort you out." Kiyama Harumi's tone grew distant.
"Since I've agreed, I'm already prepared." Ren took a deep breath. He couldn't act recklessly.
Aleister Crowley's plan, and Kihara Gensei's plan. As long as they did not step in personally, even if he destroyed this place, it would be meaningless. They could easily build another base.
So there was no point. Unless the Absolute Level 6 Shift Project was ended in advance, unless the true objective of Aleister was forced out early, and the twenty thousand Sisters were sent across the world.
That was something that could not be done.
So, all he could do was to deny Accelerator's absolute, undefeated premise, and shatter the very foundation of the experiment.
**********
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