Manifest Manufacturing

[Ding--]

[Cultivation: Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's Obedience Level +1.]

[Received Obedience Level Boost Reward: Tiny Bell.]

[A tiny bell crafted using Azkanan techniques. Its clear chime possesses a special effect that can hide the source of its sound.]

[Received compensation for cultivation material costs.]

["Beginner Combat Record" * 2.]

[...]

Unlike the affection point increases with regular Operators.

For Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, whose affection points with Su Youzi were negative, the increase was... an attribute called Obedience Level.

However, Su Youzi looked at the reward for Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's Obedience Level increase.

This... wasn't this a tool she herself had used in her dream last night?

Hiss--

How strange.

Ever since Su Youzi realized that the rewards for Operators' affection point increases were closely related to the Operators' attributes.

Either they were things the Operators liked.

Or... things that could be used in their future happy lives.

Su Youzi sometimes found it difficult to look directly at the affection point increase rewards of certain Operators.

She walked out of the ward.

She had obtained quite valuable information from Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi.

For example, the dark purple "Eye of Insight" totem that had disappeared from the man's chest.

For example... the equipment the man wore to resist Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's "Mental Interference."

Su Youzi handed the drawing of the "Eye of Insight" totem, which the girl had sketched, and the schematic of the Technology Department equipment that looked like earphones to Kujo Ryuko, who was waiting at the ward entrance.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi was a legitimate Mental Ability User.

When "Mental Interference" was active, everything within its range was imprinted into the girl's mind as if it were 3D modeling.

Therefore... the "Eye of Insight" totem she drew and the Technology Department equipment had considerable reference value.

Kujo Ryuko frowned as she looked at the earphones on the schematic.

"Epiphany..."

"What?" Su Youzi looked at Kujo Ryuko.

Beside them, Soga Ishikawa Irube, who had also heard Kujo Ryuko's voice, interjected to explain to Su Youzi.

"Manifest Manufacturing."

"That's a very mysterious Technology Department group."

"Almost every piece of groundbreaking Technology Department equipment born has their shadow behind it."

Su Youzi nodded, indicating she understood.

The most representative work of "Manifest Manufacturing" was the "Medical Unit" that brought Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi back from the brink of death--

A medical consumable with almost no flaws, except for its price.

Besides that, various Technology Department equipment in the game, and even... some of the items used in last night's dream, were filled with the presence of "Manifest Manufacturing."

"Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi is right," Kujo Ryuko said, looking at the earphones on the schematic.

"Equipment directly released by 'Manifest Manufacturing' is very special."

"It's not something you can buy with just money."

"Following this lead, we might actually discover something."

Hesitantly, Kujo Ryuko handed the schematic in her hand to the young female police superintendent. "Hayabusa..."

"Investigate these earphones."

"And..." Frowning slightly, Kujo Ryuko looked at the dark purple eye-shaped totem on the other schematic.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi said that the "Eye of Insight" insignia had lit up on the man's chest.

But when they salvaged the taxi and the man's body from the sea, they hadn't seen the "Eye of Insight" insignia.

"Check that guy's chest."

"See if there's anything unusual."

"Yes." The young female police superintendent nodded, indicating she understood.

"Oh, right--" As if suddenly remembering something, Kujo Ryuko added.

"Send someone to Guangzheng District..."

"Inspect all the recently crashed bodies near the entire Tokyo area that are related to Anomalies."

"See if you can find any commonalities."

"Understood, Lord Kujo." The young female police superintendent, known as 'Hayabusa', turned and left.

"Aren't you coming along, Senior Kujo?" Seeing Kujo Ryuko's commanding demeanor, Su Youzi stepped forward slightly and asked.

Based on Su Youzi's understanding of Kujo Ryuko in the game.

Kujo Ryuko always rushed to the front lines when it came to matters related to Anomalies.

Furthermore, this was a... wicked cult that implicated innocent people and forcibly turned them into Anomalies.

Kujo Ryuko should have been eager to dig them out from three feet underground by now.

Her current state seemed very abnormal.

Kujo Ryuko looked at Su Youzi.

Honestly... she did want to rush out, find the hideout of that "Eye of Insight" cult, and wipe them all out.

But... she looked at Su Youzi.

"You are also in danger right now."

"You are their primary target."

"By staying by your side, I can also track those guys."

Kujo Ryuko almost said directly, 'I want to stay by your side to protect you.'

Su Youzi shook her head.

"As long as I don't leave the academy, I'm actually very safe."

Since the incident with Sakai Miho, no member of the "Eye of Insight" cult had directly appeared near her.

Besides the academy's decent security measures, Su Youzi felt there was a bigger reason.

For example... this might just be the calm before the storm.

Or perhaps... Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's words—when she mentioned 'rats', it instantly seemed to hit a nerve.

Su Youzi felt that things might not be that simple.

She looked at the "Operator Cultivation" interface, where Soga Toyura was holding a life-sized dakimakura while sunbathing on a lounge chair.

It probably... had something to do with this person.

"Senior Kujo, please go work with peace of mind." Su Youzi smiled at Kujo Ryuko.

Su Youzi had a feeling.

The sooner this matter was resolved, the better.

She didn't want to see another girl fall into the Abyssal Anomaly and enter an anomalous state.

"However..."

"Please be careful."

Su Youzi took out two dark red movie tickets from her pocket and put them into Kujo Ryuko's hand.

"These are movie tickets for next weekend."

"Please accompany me then, Senior Kujo."

"Mhm." Kujo Ryuko forced herself to maintain a cold and strong facade in front of Su Youzi, her face tense.

Kujo Ryuko carefully tucked the movie tickets, which still seemed to carry the warmth of a young girl's pocket, into the inner lining of her clothes.

"While I'm investigating."

"Youzi..."

"Do not leave the premises of Shiritsu Megumi Garden Academy under any circumstances."

"Okay~" Su Youzi agreed with a smile.

Kujo Ryuko's scarlet eyes carefully observed the girl's reaction before turning to leave.

She watched until Kujo Ryuko was out of sight.

Su Youzi gracefully bowed to Soga Ishikawa Irube, "Uncle Irube."

"Then I'll head to class."

Besides Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's and Kujo Ryuko's "Combat Records".

She had several more 'dishes' to collect today.

"Mhm." Soga Ishikawa Irube nodded, indicating he understood.

The burly man carefully turned the doorknob of the hospital room and squeezed inside, hunched over.

In the room, the girl curled up in the blankets still had red-rimmed eyes.

The two of them listened to the sound of the girl's footsteps fading away outside.

"Father..."

"Father..." the girl choked out, her eyes red.

"I... I want to transfer schools."

Her hospital gown lay in a messy heap to the side.

The girl's hands, clutching the bedding, were clenched tightly.

She didn't want to see that demon anymore.

No... didn't want to?