Chapter 11: Conditions and Bargaining Chips
After a moment of silence, Su Xiao continued:
"There is only one clue to the Codex. There is a Level 0 powerless named Motoharu Tsuchimikado in Academy City. Find him, and I can obtain the subsequent clues. That is my purpose for coming to Academy City."
Su Xiao revealed some information that would inevitably be exposed during his actions, such as a Codex of unknown name and the lead to Motoharu Tsuchimikado. All of this was truthful information.
The attitude Su Xiao displayed was to disguise himself as a member of some organization. He only showed his combat prowess. As for Alchemy, that would need to be revealed 'unintentionally' later—it might serve as a life-saving opportunity.
"As for that Codex, based on available data, it is extremely dangerous. If it cannot be safely taken away, I suggest destroying it."
After explaining his intentions, Su Xiao began waiting for Aleister's response.
"You... where do you come from?"
Aleister spoke, the question was tricky. Answering it poorly could very well lead to a breakdown in negotiations.
"An organization for cleaning up and investigating magic and aberrant creatures. You can think of my organization as a demon-hunting family, specializing in eliminating mages and their creations. By my generation, I am the third."
Su Xiao extended his palm flat, and Cyan Steel Shadow Energy surged forth.
"My power is neither suited to magic nor considered science. It is the power of an inherited system."
Su Xiao was certain that Aleister could detect the peculiarity of Cyan Steel Shadow Energy. It was an energy extremely targeted against spellcasters. It was precisely because he possessed Cyan Steel Shadow Energy that Su Xiao chose to contact Aleister. Aleister hated magic, and Su Xiao was gambling that Aleister could not analyze Cyan Steel Shadow Energy.
"Is that so? Your words need verification, but the power you possess could indeed be called the natural enemy of mages."
Aleister's attitude remained unclear. Noticing this, Su Xiao threw out an enticing bargaining chip.
"As thanks for stepping onto your territory to find the Codex, I can do work for you during my search for the Codex. As for the specific tasks, I don't need to know the reasons. Time, location, target characteristics or photos—whether it's killing or rescuing, I can do these things while searching for the Codex."
If Aleister had been hesitant before, Su Xiao's words above began to make him tempted.
Imagine it: a powerful subordinate, who doesn't ask about the reasons for the mission, is ruthless enough, and is stronger than over 99% of the subordinates Aleister could directly deploy. When Aleister commands his 'subordinates,' he mostly does so through manipulation, unable to give direct orders. This includes Accelerator, the protagonist Touma Kamijou, and others.
Su Xiao's statement was different. With a mission, there was no need for beating around the bush. Time, location, target—he wouldn't ask about anything else.
However, Su Xiao's performance was too perfect, perfect to the point of being suspicious. Su Xiao was also aware of this, so when he had previously contacted Ayu Mitsuishi, he showed an imperfect side: irritability and suspicion. Through the Kihara Surveillance Network, Aleister must have discovered this aspect of Su Xiao's personality. This was what Su Xiao wanted Aleister to see.
"You are very sincere. Since that's the case, you temporarily have the right to act within Academy City. As a return, you need to do one thing first."
As soon as Aleister finished speaking, Su Xiao received a notification.
[Notification: The Hunter has joined the Science Side Faction: Academy City.]
[Due to the Hunter joining the Science Side Faction, the Faction Store has been opened.]
[Faction Store Location: Unknown, must be found independently.]
[Notification: Completing commissions from Science Side Leader Aleister will grant corresponding Faction Contribution Points.]
[Notification: When contacting Motoharu Tsuchimikado, Faction Contribution Points will play a crucial role.]
Seeing these notifications, Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. His choice was very correct. Joining the Science Side not only made future actions more convenient but was also related to the Third Rank Promotion Mission. If he couldn't move freely within Academy City, he would never complete the Third Rank Promotion Mission.
"Before you go to see Motoharu Tsuchimikado, do one thing first. Also, Motoharu Tsuchimikado is an important pawn of mine."
Aleister's meaning was clear. Seeing Motoharu Tsuchimikado was acceptable, but he couldn't touch him.
The huge room was silent. Bubu Wang beside Su Xiao looked at the various metal pipes in the room, its canine teeth itching.
Su Xiao stepped on Bubu Wang's front paw. Bubu Wang's dog face scrunched up, its little eyes seeming to say, "Master, don't worry, I'm just looking, definitely not biting. Bubu isn't stupid."
Not long after, Ayu Mitsuishi teleported into the windowless building and then teleported Su Xiao outside.
The night wind blew, and Su Xiao took a deep breath. Although it hadn't achieved the desired effect, his goal was initially accomplished.
"So, we're partners from now on?!"
Ayu Mitsuishi received the order and looked utterly resigned to her fate. She didn't want to be Su Xiao's partner.
"Probably. So, what is that mission?"
Su Xiao remembered Aleister's earlier words: before going to find Motoharu Tsuchimikado, he had to do one thing for Aleister first.
"Mission?"
Ayu Mitsuishi looked confused.
Squeak~
The sound of brakes came. A black car stopped near Su Xiao. The door opened, and a man in a white trench coat with yellow hair and a tattoo on one side of his face got out.
"Is this the place? Hmm, it should be right."
The man looked at Su Xiao and Ayu Mitsuishi. Sensing the man's gaze, Ayu Mitsuishi turned her head away, seemingly very disgusted by him.
Through information from the original work, Su Xiao recognized who this was. The man was named Kihara Numata, the leader of the Hound Dog Unit, a direct subordinate of Aleister. He had a violent personality but a genius-level mind. He had assisted in developing the esper ability of the strongest Level 5, Accelerator, possessed all of Accelerator's data, and had developed a method to counter Accelerator's ability.
"Here are the materials. As for what to do, do as you please."
Kihara Numata tossed over a dossier. Su Xiao caught it but didn't look at the materials in his hand. Instead, he looked through the car window at the vehicle's interior.
In the back seat of the car sat a tea-haired girl wearing a military-style visor. Seeing this girl's appearance, Su Xiao thought of one person: Level 5 esper, Mikoto Misaka.
Of course, the girl in the car was not Mikoto Misaka herself, but her clone.
Kihara Numata didn't say anything more and directly got back in the car to leave, seemingly in a hurry.
Watching the departing vehicle, Su Xiao showed a contemplative expression. He could roughly deduce the current point in time.
Opening the dossier in his hand, the content was simple. A girl with a very special identity was being hunted and had fled into Academy City. Her name was Index. The specific information wasn't detailed in the materials.
The content on the materials only stated that Index fled into Academy City, then 'accidentally' met a boy named Touma Kamijou. The two became acquainted and friends.
Touma Kamijou was the protagonist of this world. Whether he was a Child of the World or something similar remained to be verified.
After that, a magician appeared in Academy City and fought Touma Kamijou. Although Touma Kamijou was a powerless, he had a seemingly invincible ability called Imagine Breaker. Any esper ability or magic his right hand touched would be nullified and eliminated. In principle, it was the elimination of all 'supernatural powers.' This incident happened last night.
Touma Kamijou used Imagine Breaker to defeat that magician. However, the magician had a companion, and that companion was not something Touma Kamijou could handle.
According to the materials in Su Xiao's hand, Touma Kamijou had already encountered that magician's companion tonight and was currently in a standoff or battle. Su Xiao's mission was to repel or kill that magician's companion.
"Really treating me like hired labor. Let's go, bandage-chest girl."
Su Xiao walked towards a small alley. Hearing this nickname, Ayu Mitsuishi's mouth twitched.
"I'm just preventing female characteristics from hindering combat! They bounce when I run. If it weren't too unsightly to remove them, I would have had them cut off long ago."
Ayu Mitsuishi followed. Although she was gnashing her teeth in hatred, she was helpless.