An Accidental Encounter

After finishing dealing with the trash, Luo Yifang suddenly discovered that his superpower seemed to have a major side effect, forcing him to abandon the idea of going home to relax and instead head to a fast-food restaurant.

"So, the 'side effect' you're talking about is... you get hungry too fast?" Pa Qi felt the corner of her mouth twitching.

"Ahem, pay attention, it's that after the enhancement, the energy consumption is too high, and I get hungry again. It doesn't happen during combat..." Luo Yifang buried his head in his food, trying to ignore the waitress's monster-like gaze.

He had already eaten five servings of the set meal. Considering Luo Yifang's not-so-burly physique, this was an astonishing number. Even some customers around him had stopped eating and were looking at Luo Yifang. Fortunately, after hastily swallowing the fifth set meal, Luo Yifang finally felt his hunger subside.

So, under everyone's watchful eyes, Academy City's NO.1 fled in embarrassment. But what Luo Yifang didn't expect was that his berserk consumption actually made this restaurant's business boom in the future.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Luo Yifang walked down the street, listening to Pa Qi's mocking laughter in his mind, "You didn't see just now, that waitress looked at you like you were a pig!"

"If I ate slowly, I would have been there all afternoon..." Luo Yifang was speechless. He had subconsciously ignored the massive energy consumed by the enhancement. Since he hadn't completely figured out his abilities yet, he could only rely on basic eating to replenish his body's consumption. However, Luo Yifang did notice something: based on the food he ate, it was completely insufficient to replenish the energy consumed by the enhancement. So, where did the remaining energy come from?

While pondering the various anomalies of his new ability, he didn't forget to activate his Vector Shield. It was precisely because of the spread of this superpower that he possessed nearly invincible reflection abilities. However, with Luo Yifang's current abilities, it was no longer simple reflection. Luo Yifang's superpower had further improved, turning vectors into his "eyes" and even "ears." Even if he closed his eyes now, it wouldn't affect his normal actions.

But Luo Yifang activated this Vector Shield not for anything else, but because this thing had an air-conditioning-like ability, and it was even more versatile. It could control not only temperature and humidity but also light, keeping them at the most comfortable level for the human body. After all, it seemed to be May or June, and the weather was still a bit hot.

After withdrawing some cash from the bank and keeping it on hand for emergencies, Luo Yifang turned into a deep alley without looking up. The scorching sunlight outside was blocked by the tall buildings on both sides. The temperature in the alley was very cool, but the environment seemed excessively quiet. Luo Yifang was still absent-minded until Pa Qi's reminder sounded in his ear.

"Hey, Luo Yifang, it looks like two people are coming towards you from the front... Hmm, now there are two behind you too."

"Oh." Luo Yifang maintained his usual nonchalant demeanor. In fact, he had already noticed the tails following him. Entering this alley was just to deal with them conveniently. He didn't want to bring a few thugs back to his dorm. Although he had vector manipulation, his house didn't. A single "physics holy sword" would likely be enough to pry it open.

"It seems I was targeted when I withdrew money from the bank just now. Tsk, what a hassle!" Luo Yifang rubbed his hair, his expression impatient. Who told him his physique was nowhere near robust, and he even looked a bit thin? After all, the muscles on his body weren't like those of bodybuilders; he looked like a standard thin student. Going to withdraw cash alone, it was hard not to be targeted.

Unfortunately, today, the unlucky one definitely wouldn't be him.

The two thugs approaching from Luo Yifang's front had scruffy appearances. One was smoking, with an expression that screamed "I'm the greatest," making people want to slap him. "Yo, kid, you look pretty rich. Need some pocket money, bro?"

Luo Yifang glanced at the two people behind him who were trying to block his escape route. He swept his gaze over the two in front of him with an expression as if looking at an idiot. "You guys are pretty experienced, huh?"

"Heh, you little brat, you're a bit tough. I'm in a good mood today, I'll loosen you up for you. Just ten thousand." Another person grinned, clenching his fist, and was about to throw a punch at Luo Yifang.

Just as his fist was about to enter his reflection range, a blue light flashed at the alley entrance. Luo Yifang remained unmoved, but the idiot who rushed up to punch him convulsed all over as if electrocuted and collapsed on the ground.

"Disciplinary Committee!" The one smoking exclaimed, dropping his cigarette butt on the ground. However, with his lack of environmental awareness, he didn't pick it up. Instead, he angrily shouted, "Damn it, is the Disciplinary Committee that amazing!" He then moved past Luo Yifang, charging towards the figure at the alley entrance with the remaining two thugs. At the same time, a ball of flames erupted in his hand.

Luo Yifang, raising an eyebrow, had already seen the face of the person standing at the alley entrance and their distinctive tea-colored short hair. A memory instantly appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help but feel sorry for the three idiots who charged forward. "The one with Fire Control seems to be a Level 3... but they're still too unlucky."

Nodding thoughtfully, another matter piqued Luo Yifang's interest, so he no longer cared about the tragic fate of the three thugs. He kicked away the one lying on the ground and walked away on his own, disappearing at the other end of the alley. "Speaking of which, this guy's luck is pretty good. If that punch had landed just now, it wouldn't have been as light as just getting shocked."

Less than half a minute after Luo Yifang left, the remaining three thugs also collapsed, smelling of burnt flesh. This included the Level 3 esper.

"Hmph, a Level 3 esper is out doing this kind of thing?!" Misaka Mikoto looked at the thug on the ground with disgust. "Honestly, has Academy City's control over espers become this lax?"

Misaka Mikoto patted the dust off her hands, faint blue arcs of electricity still dancing in her hair. Even when facing three thugs who looked physically stronger than her, she had resolved them in less than thirty seconds, without even messing up her clothes much.

"Good thing I arrived in time, otherwise that guy... Huh? Where did that boy who was surrounded go?" Misaka Mikoto was stunned for a moment, appearing quite surprised by Luo Yifang's departure. "That guy... he didn't just quietly run away, did he..."

Thinking that her hard work in saving people and fighting crime had gone unthanked, even though Misaka Mikoto didn't work for the Disciplinary Committee for a thank you, she still felt inexplicably displeased. Well, this kind of situation had happened a few times before, but those people had at least hesitated or warned her to be careful. But this time, the guy left very cleanly.

"Well, why do I feel so unhappy?" Looking at the downed thugs around her, Misaka Mikoto felt no sense of accomplishment this time. Instead, she complained about Luo Yifang's sneaky departure.

However, Misaka Mikoto didn't know that she hadn't actually saved the person she thought had "slipped away," but rather these four thugs lying on the ground. Otherwise, these four unlucky fellows would have faced more than just a beating; it would have been considered light if they weren't carried to the hospital to get disability certificates!

--But these four guys are really unlucky as hell. First, they tried to rob a Level 5 NO.1, and then they were beaten up by the arriving Level 5 NO.3. Well, it has to be said, this is truly something others can't learn in a lifetime!