From the records and intelligence Aleister possessed, Fang Li had actually been in Academy City for several years.
He had gone from elementary school through junior high and was now in high school, a span of roughly seven or eight years.
Yet, for all those years, Fang Li had remained nothing more than a Level 0, a non-Able esper, completely ordinary, with no special traits whatsoever. This lasted until just one year ago, when he suddenly captured an armed non-Able group, formed Scorpius, and became a gangster leader.
Then, just as suddenly, this boy had acquired Mystic Eyes, abilities normally seen only in myths, and his combat power had skyrocketed to the point where he had unleashed forces with nationwide impact just last night.
The question lingered: How had Fang Li, for the past seven or eight years, managed to cause no ripples, arouse no suspicion, and never do anything that would draw attention?
Surely, anyone would wonder this, and Aleister was no exception.
The possibilities were split:
Concealment: He was someone concealing their true intentions, deliberately hiding for years with a purpose.
Replacement: Something accidental or unexpected had occurred, and the "Fang Li" known to the public might have unknowingly been replaced. The current one could be nothing more than a fake.
Speculations like these were inevitable. After all, Fang Li clearly knew about UNDER_LINE and must have had a deep understanding of Academy City; otherwise, he could never have hidden or infiltrated so flawlessly.
This was why Aleister had presented the Battle Suit, an item embedded with numerous advanced technologies and esper abilities.
Its purpose was simple: to test Fang Li's reaction.
If Fang Li were tempted by it, much could be inferred:
Was he an agent from some secret organization outside Academy City, trying to steal technology? Or was he simply someone desperate to obtain power? From his choices and responses, Aleister could also gauge his personality and character, perhaps even establishing a degree of control.
It was entirely possible that the room was equipped with instruments monitoring heartbeats and blood flow, essentially devices capable of observing his psychological activity.
Conversely, if Fang Li remained unmoved by this priceless item, it would indicate that he likely had other objectives, or perhaps he didn't even understand the Battle Suit's value. In that case, he might be a spy sent by a magical faction, since no one indifferent to science would ignore such a technological marvel.
Moreover, based on the earlier conversation, whether Fang Li agreed or refused, Aleister would form judgments: Could Fang Li be used for his purposes, or would he become an obstacle?
Every action here carried layers of meaning.
(This old fox…)
Fang Li appeared calm on the surface, but his mind was racing. At this moment, any choice he made would allow Aleister to gain some information or form judgments.
At least, that's what Aleister believed.
Yet Aleister could never have guessed the actual, far more ridiculous truth:
Fang Li was neither a scheming infiltrator nor a magical spy. He was a Main Divine Envoy from the Main God's Dimension, traveling across worlds, whose presence in Academy City had zero to do with Aleister's grand schemes.
Fang Li had only one purpose in this world: to complete his Main Quest and Promotion Quest.
He was also aware of the original story, holding a clear knowledge of many things to come.
Because of this, no matter how cunning Aleister was, he could never fully uncover Fang Li's true nature. His probe was, in fact, hitting only air, nearly ineffective.
No, there was some effect.
Fang Li was genuinely interested in the Battle Suit Aleister presented.
Its abilities were incredibly tempting. If he obtained this Third-Rank gear now, his equipment problem would be solved outright, granting his power a major leap forward the moment he reached the necessary Rank.
Aleister liked to guess, did he not?
Let him guess.
No matter how far he stretched his theories, he wouldn't get it right. Fang Li could simply decide according to his own plan, and that would only make Aleister's future guesses more and more absurd.
"You really intend to give this Battle Suit to me?"
Fang Li asked Aleister with a trace of amusement. "Aren't you worried the tech and the espers' abilities inside will be reverse-engineered and stolen?"
"It's fine."
Aleister replied softly. "Even Academy City, with technology twenty to thirty years ahead of the outside world, cannot reproduce a second Battle Suit. If people outside were to decipher its construction and secrets, that would only happen twenty to thirty years or more in the future."
In other words, Aleister still had confidence that even if this Battle Suit were exposed to the outside world, the immediately obtainable technology would be extremely limited.
Fang Li reached out and slid his finger across the projected screen as if tracing a physical object, smiling inwardly.
"Payment?" Fang Li smiled at Aleister. "The reward for resolving the Aureolus incident?"
"If it were only that, the reward I've offered already far exceeds the cost."
Aleister floated in the solution, his tone devoid of emotion. "I want you to do something commensurate with this reward."
"Oh?"
Fang Li showed no surprise, his tone unreadable. "For example?"
"I haven't decided yet." Aleister said. "When I do, I will tell you."
As expected.
Aleister's intention was clearly to make use of Fang Li's power.
Conveniently, Fang Li could use the opportunity to further his own goals.
"I have three preconditions."
"Speak them."
In that situation, Fang Li declared his terms to Aleister.
"One: I won't do something I don't want to do."
"Two: Whatever you ask me to do will be limited to a single task; once it's completed, we owe each other nothing."
"Three…"
Fang Li fixed his gaze on Aleister.
In his eyes, the ice-blue Mystic Eyes flashed suddenly, sharp and cold.
"Do not touch Sylvia-Lyyneheym."
"Otherwise, I will kill you."
The cold declaration dropped the temperature of the space below freezing, bone-chilling.
For the first time, Aleister reacted to such a direct, deadly threat.
The Superintendent, suspended in the fluid, slowly raised the corner of his mouth into a cryptic smile.
Finally, he gave two words:
"Agreed."
With that, the conversation, full of dangerous probes and invisible, gunpowder-scented tension, came to an end.
After Fang Li left that silent space, Aleister's voice sounded again in the chamber.
"Preliminary confirmation: this individual will not cause major disruption to the Project, but too many uncertain factors remain; this conclusion could be overturned at any time."
"In any case, the primary objective of this negotiation has been achieved."
"Next…"
A screen unfolded in front of Aleister.
Displayed on it were the profiles of two people.
One was a chestnut-haired Tokiwadai girl.
The other was a slim, white-haired boy.
"Proceed to the next step…"
(End Of This Chapter)
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