“That’s simply absurd.” Hearing Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s explanation, Shinkanzaki Kaori frowned and shook her head vigorously.
“It’s not absurd at all.” Tsuchimikado Motoharu revealed a mysterious smile. “As far as I know, twenty years ago, Our two families did conduct similar research—attempting to unify the two power systems.”
“There was such a thing?” Shinkanzaki Kaori asked in surprise.
Counting the time, that happened before both of them were born, and with the information blockade, it was normal for Shinkanzaki Kaori not to know.
“Well, there are such records in the top-secret archives,” Tsuchimikado Motoharu said. “Or you could ask the older seniors in the church; you should be able to find out some things.”
As a spy, one of Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s primary duties was to collect various intelligence, so he could always find out some inside information and confidential news.
Moreover, just as Tsuchimikado Motoharu said, for insiders, verifying such a thing was actually very easy—just ask an older senior, and as a “Saint,” Shinkanzaki Kaori certainly had that much influence.
So, after receiving Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s testimony, Shinkanzaki Kaori no longer questioned it and looked down at the memo again: “But how am I supposed to test this? I can’t just fight Lin Wuming, can I?”
Shinkanzaki Kaori was very reluctant; her relationship with Lin Wuming was quite good now, and she really didn’t want to start a fight with him.
Especially for this somewhat inexplicable mission.
So, Shinkanzaki Kaori glanced back at Tsuchimikado Motoharu: “This is a mission for you.”
“Spare me, I’m a spy, I can’t easily expose myself!” Tsuchimikado Motoharu quickly said, “And my strength is weak; I can’t test Lin Wuming’s true strength at all!”
In fact, the rapid spread of this rumor was partly due to Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s efforts.
So Tsuchimikado Motoharu naturally knew best—Lin Wuming couldn’t use magic at all! He had tried to learn some magical knowledge, but he quickly gave up.
As the spreader of false information, Tsuchimikado Motoharu wanted to “avoid suspicion” both emotionally and logically, trying to distance himself from this rumor as much as possible.
Only then could the vitality of the false news be maximized…
—He also didn’t know what Aleister was planning.
On the surface, Tsuchimikado Motoharu continued to persuade: “Big Sis, don’t put too much psychological pressure on yourself. It’s not asking you to fight Lin Wuming, just to gather information. Didn’t you take on a disciple? Find an opportunity to ask her when you have time.”
“Hu Feng is not my disciple.” Shinkanzaki Kaori corrected, “But is that really all it takes?”
“What else?” Tsuchimikado Motoharu shrugged, looking indifferent. “This rumor sounds fake from the start, why waste too much effort on it? Honestly, in my opinion, just reply to headquarters that it’s false news… But I suppose that won’t be accepted, right?”
Shinkanzaki Kaori showed a look of realization: “No wonder you want to push the mission to me; you want to use my name to add credibility to your judgment, right?”
Shinkanzaki Kaori had also heard about Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s situation—the fact that he was a “multi-faceted spy” was no longer a secret.
Under such circumstances, the intelligence Tsuchimikado Motoharu sent back would definitely be met with some skepticism. That’s why he wanted to use Shinkanzaki Kaori’s identity as a “Saint” to endorse his judgment.
However, as a companion she had actually worked with, Shinkanzaki Kaori trusted Tsuchimikado Motoharu completely.
So she also breathed a sigh of relief: “It seems Lin Wuming really has no problems, and there’s no need to specially test anything.”
“Well, it’s really good that Big Sis trusts my judgment so much.” Tsuchimikado Motoharu said with a smile, “But are you really not planning to test it yourself? Your expression doesn’t seem to think so.”
Shinkanzaki Kaori turned her head away in a slight panic, pulling out Seven Heavens, Seven Swords and using its smooth, shining blade as a mirror.
In the reflection, a pair of eyes radiating strong fighting spirit quietly looked back.
“Heh heh,” Tsuchimikado Motoharu chuckled, “Even as a despicable backstabber, I can understand—Big Sis’s samurai soul is burning fiercely. A true friend is hard to find, and a suitable opponent is even rarer.”
Shinkanzaki Kaori remained silent, not refuting, effectively acknowledging Tsuchimikado Motoharu’s statement.
Since “fighting side by side” and jointly confronting “God’s Power” not long ago, Shinkanzaki Kaori had become increasingly aware—Lin Wuming might truly be a “evenly matched opponent.”
For a natural “Saint,” an “opponent” is a more cherished and rare existence than an “enemy.”
“If the opportunity is right,” Shinkanzaki Kaori said softly, “I will go and spar with Lin Wuming.”
Tsuchimikado Motoharu said: “Big Sis, you are always calm and composed, so you can decide this kind of thing yourself~ It’s getting late, shouldn’t we head back soon?”
Shinkanzaki Kaori nodded, then followed Tsuchimikado Motoharu into the dark shadows.
…
Meanwhile, in an unremarkable alley in Academy City.
This alley was featureless and very secluded; usually, even during the day, few people came, let alone after nightfall.
On both sides of the alley, the original streetlights had long been damaged for various reasons, so now only a sparse two or three light bulbs still emitted intermittent, dim light.
But the effect they could achieve was also very limited—rather than illuminating the road, it was more like a perfunctory effort, merely proving that the public facilities here were still being maintained.
However, tonight, this dark and deep alley welcomed a new light.
And what emitted the light was surprisingly a human body, or more precisely, a girl in a uniform—her body surface emitted a hazy glow, looking from afar as if moonlight had gathered on her.
The light was not strong, but it was just enough to illuminate the ground around her, seemingly making it easier for her to walk through this alley at night.
However, Kazakiri Hyouka actually didn’t need visible light to illuminate the road.
The halo overflowing from her body was more like a “natural phenomenon” rather than a special effect actively controlled.
After separating from Lin Wuming, Kazakiri Hyouka seemed to have her emotions and individuality sealed along with her, wandering expressionlessly. Coming to this secluded alley was also a completely random result.
Because she feared “Imagine Breaker,” Kazakiri Hyouka instinctively did not want to approach Kamijou Touma.
And because she feared Chairman Aleister himself and the building he was in, Kazakiri Hyouka was even more unwilling to approach there.
That’s why she was easily stopped by Shokuhou Misaki and Hu Feng Toumi just now and didn’t get into the car with Lin Wuming.
