Chapter 1886: Chapter 1884: Reforging (What to Do When You’re Too Lazy to Type After Catnip)
With Hio and Alisa’s help, Fang Zheng finally completed the last step of his ability enhancement plan, but it was only at this moment that he realized another problem.
Namely, with Ruiko dropping out, Fang Zheng could no longer find a suitable test subject.
Fang Zheng didn’t know many Non-Ability Users to begin with. Originally, because he had always designated Ruiko as his number one test subject, he’d never really paid attention to this issue. But now that Ruiko had withdrawn, trouble naturally followed.
You have to know, someone like Ruiko is really hard to find.
Not only did she need to be a Non-Ability User, Fang Zheng valued Ruiko because of her personality and character as well. Otherwise, he could just grab any Non-Ability User and be done with it; there was no need to hang himself on Ruiko’s crooked tree.
But now... who should he pick?
Among the Non-Ability Users Fang Zheng knew, Flemia was the simplest choice, but the problem was that she was too young, and Fran would never agree. Fang Zheng himself also didn’t think a child that small could control this kind of power.
Other than that, there was Elisa Minori, but Elisa Minori actually wasn’t a Non-Ability User either. She was at least a Saint, so she couldn’t be used as a normal control target.
By the same logic, Kamijou Touma was naturally excluded as well, not to mention that Fang Zheng and Kamijou Touma didn’t really know each other.
If Hatsuharu Shirori were a Non-Ability User it would be fine, but unfortunately she was an Ability User as well. Even though she was only LV1, an Ability User was still an Ability User, and she likewise couldn’t be used as an experimental subject.
After running through the list like this, Fang Zheng realized that someone as reassuring as Saten Reiko... there wasn’t a single one!
So...
"This really is a headache of a problem, what do you think?"
Fang Zheng finished the coffee in his cup and looked at the girl sitting opposite him as he asked. However...
"What’s this got to do with me?"
Shihou Souki gripped her juice in annoyance, glaring at Fang Zheng. No need to ask, she’d been spotted by Fang Zheng while out shopping again, and dragged over.
"It’s true it has nothing to do with you, but since you’re Tokiwadai’s Queen, you should at least have some insight in this area, right?"
"So sorry, there’s no one in my Faction that fits your criteria."
Shihou Souki rolled her eyes helplessly and took a sip of juice. But to be fair, everyone in Shihou Souki’s Faction was at least an LV3 Ability User... in fact, there basically couldn’t be such a thing as a Non-Ability User in Tokiwadai.
"What really surprises me is that Mr. Fang Zheng would actually come to me to discuss this sort of problem. If it’s Non-Ability Users, aren’t there tons of them in Academy City?"
"This is a technology that can give Non-Ability Users abilities. Of course I’d like to use it first on someone I trust and who’s suitable. Randomly grabbing someone off the street is no big deal, but what if they really do gain an ability and then come back to cause me trouble? Half those idiot Superheroes in American comics turned out that way, didn’t they? I’m not stupid enough to dig my own grave."
"That’s true... but I really can’t help you with this."
"Then it can’t be helped. Keep me company for another drink."
"Mr. Fang Zheng, you sound just like those drunk salarymen in bars..."
"You’re drinking juice and I’m drinking coffee; we’re not going to get drunk. What’s the problem? Or are you afraid I’ll get you drunk and then try something on you?"
"You wouldn’t?"
"Of course I wouldn’t. If I wanted to try something, you wouldn’t be able to refuse me in the first place."
"Hmph, what a joke."
Hearing this, Shihou Souki snorted lightly.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, your joke power is really low. Do you seriously think you can pull that off?"
"Looks like you don’t believe me. Then seeing is believing."
As he said this, Fang Zheng put down his coffee, then reached out his hand and pressed it against Shihou Souki’s chin, staring at her.
"Look at me, little Shihou."
"Haah? What are you—"
However, before Shihou Souki could finish her sentence, she just stared blankly at Fang Zheng in front of her, unable to say a word.
In Shihou Souki’s eyes, those Pitch Black pupils reflected her figure, deep as the night, as if they were about to swallow her whole. For a moment, Shihou Souki even felt as though she were completely drawn in by those Pitch Black eyes, unconsciously leaning closer.
Wanting to get a bit closer, closer still...
"Mmh..."
By the time Shihou Souki noticed the warm, moist sensation in her mouth, she had already plastered herself against Fang Zheng, her arms wrapped tightly around him... as if... as if she had thrown herself into his arms of her own accord!
"Mmm... mm...!"
Realizing this, Shihou Souki’s eyes flew wide open, but it was already too late. Fang Zheng made a Straight Charge, directly breaking through Shihou Souki’s final resistance, tangling with and teasing her. That sudden, unfamiliar sensation turned Shihou Souki’s mind completely blank, and only when their lips slowly parted did she barely regain her senses.
"You, what did you do to me?"
"I didn’t do anything to you at all, you know?"
Watching Shihou Souki wiping the corner of her mouth while glaring at him, her face burning red, Fang Zheng spread his hands with a grin.
"You’re an LV5 Superpower User. If I had manipulated your Spirit, you should be able to feel it, right?"
"........."
At this, Shihou Souki’s expression changed slightly. Indeed, although her reaction just now felt like she’d been under Mental Manipulation, Shihou Souki knew very clearly that she hadn’t been controlled. She had simply acted in accordance with her own instincts. For some reason, when Fang Zheng’s eyes locked onto hers, Shihou Souki felt her whole body go weak, her heart pounding wildly, her brain turning completely blank.
Her mind, usually quick and sharp, had no response at all just now. How should she put it... it felt like something even worse than Mental Manipulation.
"Mm... the shot came out pretty good. Look."
Fang Zheng fiddled with his phone and then held the screen up in front of Shihou Souki. She looked up to see the video showing Fang Zheng reaching out and lifting her chin, while she herself, cheeks faintly flushed, gazed at him like a girl in love. Then, in the next moment, she suddenly threw herself forward, diving straight into Fang Zheng’s arms, hugging him tightly, and even... kissing him of her own accord!
"W-wait, I was the one who took the initiative?!"
Seeing this, Shihou Souki’s face went completely pale, while Fang Zheng only shrugged.
"Who else, then? Was there a third person pressing your head down?"
"But... huh? Wait, who filmed this?"
Staring more closely at the video on the phone, Shihou Souki finally realized something was off. If Fang Zheng had been holding the phone for a selfie, then this distance was way too far. On the contrary, it looked more like... it had been shot by some passerby...
Thinking of this, Shihou Souki hurriedly exited the video, and in the next instant, her vision went dark.
Displayed in the BBS discussion board in front of her, above that video, was a huge title: "Shocking! Tokiwadai Queen’s Boyfriend Revealed."
Seeing this, Shihou Souki felt like dying.
"I-I didn’t... it wasn’t me! I was being controlled!"
"Go on, tell them that. See who believes you."
Hearing Fang Zheng’s cheerful tone, Shihou Souki fell into utter despair.
Indeed, if it were someone else, they might still be able to use "being charmed or controlled" as an excuse. Even Mokuhara Genki back then had only seized control of her ability from Shihou Souki; what he used was still Shihou Souki’s own ability. But right now, Shihou Souki herself hadn’t been controlled at all...
"Aaaaahhhhhh!!"
Thinking of this, Shihou Souki clutched her head and collapsed onto the table.
"What are we gonna do now, aaaaah?!"
"Relax, I’ll take responsibility."
"Mr. Fang Zheng, don’t you already have a fiancée?"
Jokes aside, Shihou Souki’s information network was still operating just fine.
"Of course I do, but it’s not like I only have one fiancée in this world."
"......What’s that supposed to mean?"
Hearing this, Shihou Souki narrowed her eyes and looked at Fang Zheng, while Fang Zheng just chuckled.
"I’ll tell you after you agree to be my fiancée. Of course, you can also try reading other people’s memories if you want."
"............."
"Don’t worry, when the time comes I’ll be very gentle. All you need to do is stare at the stains on the ceiling and count them."
"That’s not the problem here, okay?!"
Shihou Souki slammed the table in anger.
"This is a crime, Mr. Fang Zheng! I’m still a middle schooler!"
"It’s fine. If things ever come to light, during the interrogation I’ll just claim ’I didn’t think she was underage judging from her figure’ and muddle through."
"All right, that’s it, I’m sure of it now, you came here today looking for a fight, didn’t you."
By now Shihou Souki was practically losing her mind.
"That’s right. Fairy fight, you joining or not? I’ll book the room for us, okay? Do you prefer something more primitive, or something with a bit of flair? I can cater to your tastes—classroom, train car, interrogation room, you name it."
"......Forget it."
Hearing this, Shihou Souki instantly calmed down. No need to throw herself in just because she got mad for a moment, right?
"In that case, let’s call it a day."
Looking at Shihou Souki in front of him, Fang Zheng chuckled, then stood up.
"But to be honest, I really do hope you can join us. Actually, I don’t mind telling you: we’re working on something very meaningful. If you could come aboard, I’d be really glad."
"Something very meaningful?"
"Yeah. Like, say, saving the world."
"......?"
"Anyway, if you’re interested, you can come to the research institute and find Kurumi. Just say I sent you, she’ll understand."
After saying that, Fang Zheng casually left a business card on the table. Shihou Souki picked it up and looked at Fang Zheng suspiciously.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, why do I get the feeling this sounds like a farewell?"
"More or less. My business over here is about to wrap up, and after this I’ll be putting my time into other things... I might not be able to see you for a while."
Having said that, Fang Zheng let out a sigh, then turned and left. Watching his back, Shihou Souki’s expression flickered between light and dark. After a moment, she finally slipped the business card into her shoulder bag.
At the same time, Fang Zheng had already returned to the research institute’s underground Great Hollow.
There, Kurumi had been waiting for quite some time.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, have you decided to place the coordinate point in this world?"
"Yeah. It’s safer here, so your workload might be a bit heavier."
Looking at Tokisaki Kurumi in front of him, Fang Zheng nodded. Thanks to the "enthusiasm" of those players, he had now collected enough data to recast the Third Coordinate Point. The last step was to fix the position of the Third Coordinate Point—Emilia’s world was a no-go, Louise’s world was also out, and the Wasteland World was still too chaotic for now. By comparison, only Academy City could barely be considered "normal."
"Let’s begin."
Staring at the enormous hollow before him, Fang Zheng took a deep breath and spread his arms. The next moment, a dazzling golden Radiance emerged from between them. Immediately after, the system prompt of the Dimensional Codex appeared before his eyes, and a string of code popped out.
"Man, even in Another World I still have to write code... Let’s just hope it doesn’t bug out."
Looking at the interface in front of him, Fang Zheng sighed, then placed both hands on the keyboard.
After that, he began typing again.
Fix the Order Coordinate Point, rearrange and recombine.
"Mm... //main()..."
Add comments, fix Order units, set variables.
Reference Order Node parameters, start loop control, supplement standard logs, predefine object analysis.
The Sun, the Moon, time, location, living beings, non-living matter—every fragmentary unit that had once been scattered was being recombined and reclassified.
Read the original coordinate point file, Input a brand-new sequence, capture exception errors.
Even though he had collected all the backup information, Fang Zheng himself wasn’t entirely sure whether he could successfully reboot the Third Coordinate Point. But no matter what, by the time the city lights were on and the night fully set in, he finally finished typing his last line of code.
"All right, let’s do this."
Muttering under his breath, Fang Zheng reached out and gently tapped the Enter key in front of him.
The next instant, the sun and moon began to turn, time began to Accelerate, and everything started to fuse and regroup once more, trying to return to its original—......
"Bee-dooo—!"
The next second, the entire sky suddenly flashed. The previously Pitch Black night sky turned into a sheet of blue, with a gigantic [error :C++ requires a type specifier for all declarations] floating on it.
"......Mr. Fang Zheng?"
"It’s fine, it’s fine."
Compared to Kurumi, who was a bit flustered and at a loss, Fang Zheng looked quite calm. He glanced at his watch—right now, it was exactly midnight.
Well then...
"Zero Hour Resurgence..."
"—————!"
With Fang Zheng’s murmur, a Zero Hour Resurgence suddenly appeared before him, spinning rapidly. The next moment, the Zero Hour Resurgence began to whirl like crazy, and as it spun, those bizarre scenes outside vanished in an instant, everything returning to normal.
"Phew..."
Fang Zheng let out a breath and rubbed his hands together.
"Onward, onward. Having an automatic system recovery really is convenient."
As far as Fang Zheng was concerned, the night was still far from over.
