Unexpected Situation

Okay, the twenty-first will resume double updates...

"Good, good, the students' abilities this year are much better than last year's." The second brown bear met the same fate as the first. The middle-aged man who had been watching the area said to Jiu Ming beside him.

There was a faint difference in his tone. Doing this kind of thing at such a young age?

He wondered if the genius students from various academies would be discouraged if they knew about Jiu Ming's existence.

"But it's also their luck. If mutated bear creatures develop special abilities, they're basically related to the Earth Element. Trying to trap them to death this way is playing with fire."

"Luck is also part of strength." Jiu Ming smiled. Wasn't there a large element of luck in him becoming the shopkeeper of the Mysterious Shop?

"Why are you doing this at such a young age?" The middle-aged man fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He wanted to take one out but hesitated, then put the pack back.

"There are many reasons." He shrugged. How could he say that he was a ghost and couldn't possibly go to school?

"I'll consider it my fault for prying. Well, let's part ways here. If we keep chatting here, perhaps some unlucky students elsewhere will suffer." The middle-aged man shook his head, waved goodbye to Jiu Ming, and flashed away, seeming more eager than Jiu Ming.

A man with a story.

Taking out his wristband, Jiu Ming also left his original position and headed towards a red dot deep within the Death Forest.

"Huh!?" While on his way, Jiu Ming paused slightly. His body immediately rippled as he walked through some waves. There was a new customer.

--New Customer--

Jiu Ming looked at the girl standing at the entrance and found her strange in every way. First, he sensed very little emotion from her, almost like the Three-No Girl he had met last time... no, even less so. Her eyes revealed an inorganic luster.

She was wearing a school uniform... he assumed. However, she had a pair of Military Night Vision Goggles on her head. Where did this girl come from?

"Hoo, what would the customer like to buy?"

"This is a shop...? Misaka 1 states that she cannot see any connection to a shop here." The girl, who called herself Misaka 1, tilted her head in a dazed manner and looked around. "This is an excuse, right? You kidnapped Misaka 1 here."

"Misaka 1 feels she has guessed the truth. Will you get angry?"

"..." He scratched his head, a strange, tangled emotion swirling in Jiu Ming's chest. It was clear that this customer, once again, belonged to the 'abnormal' category.

Generally speaking... no, it was almost certain! Customers categorized as 'abnormal' rarely brought him any profit because there was no room for negotiation!

Just like now, Jiu Ming found it difficult to even recite the declaration of the Mysterious Shop. Judging by her reaction, it seemed like saying it wouldn't be useful?

"Hmm, this isn't exactly a kidnapping. Coming here is entirely due to your luck. So, is there anything you can't solve yourself that you need to entrust me with? Of course, there will be a small price..."

"Can I also see Onee-sama? Misaka is a little excited."

"Onee-sama?"

Jiu Ming immediately thought of a sister complex, and then... could it be that this girl was separated from her sister for some reason?

"Okay." Since that's the case, I definitely have to help!

"Then, do you want money?" Misaka 1 said with a faint tone, "Since it's a commission, you'll definitely need something like money, right? Misaka is starting to worry about not having any money."

"Uh, cough!" Jiu Ming was choked, can you not mention money?!

Bringing up money hurts feelings! Has the meaning of money's existence broken through the barriers of all dimensions!!?

"Cough, cough, other things are fine too. What do you have then?"

"The cost of cloning Misakas is only 180,000 yen... Misaka has nothing."

For some reason, there was an unexpectedly desolate feeling. Jiu Ming scratched his cheek and reluctantly recalled the dark history in the Labyrinth--Damn it!

Clone?

"In that case, I'll take my leave," Misaka 1 said with disappointment, while hoping the mysterious person in front of her would change his mind.

"Wait! You don't have to pay anything, I accept the commission!" Jiu Ming quickly said as he watched Misaka 1 turn to leave.

"Thank you very much." Misaka 1 glanced at the watch here, still with a indifferent expression, "Misaka 1 has been here for 5 minutes, and the experiment is about to begin. Misaka regrets not being able to see Onee-sama."

"Experiment?" Jiu Ming raised his eyebrows slightly and walked over, "No matter what experiment it is, since I've accepted the commission, I will definitely help you achieve it."

The formula of clone + experiment?

Ha~, aren't there many examples of madness? Since there's Number 1, what about Number 2, Number 3?

Even though the girl in front of him lacked necessary emotions, Jiu Ming could still sense the weak soul's existence in her body. Having a soul means having life. In fact, the conditions for the birth of a soul are both harsh and simple.

Even for a clone, the moment they open their eyes and see the world, and come into contact with this world, a soul will be born. No matter how weak that soul is, Jiu Ming is a ghost, and his perception of souls is quite high.

"Strange person, forcing himself to accept someone else's commission? Misaka is a little worried he'll come looking for me for payment later."

"...Tsk, then this thing will be your reward."

With a slight tsk, Jiu Ming directly took off the Military Night Vision Goggles the girl was wearing, "You give me this, and I'll help you find your 'Onee-sama'."

"Misaka 1 expresses concern for your safety. Outsiders should not approach the experiment."

"You are the employer now, and I am naturally not an outsider. Besides, I am already dead, how can I die a second time?"

He smiled carelessly. Compared to the outside students' internships, this was less than the first day, and there were still many hidden external aids. It would be fine without him for the time being. He had to prioritize and see who was behind this unknown 'experiment'.

At the same time, this could be considered his first transmigration experience. The Mysterious Shop valued his energy-saving. When accepting commissions from employers in other worlds, he often had to go in person. Transmigration consumed energy, and physical transmigration consumed even more. He only had his soul, so the consumption was reduced by nearly half...

And there were energy savings in other aspects. The most stable way for normal people to improve through training was the synchronized improvement of body and mind. Jiu Ming only needed to improve his soul, and the improvement of his soul would lead to improvements in all aspects.

"Come on, let me see who the experimenter is..."

"Misaka 1 refuses. The experiment cannot proceed with an outsider present."

"I'm not an outsider! Besides, I've already received the item, so I'll naturally complete the commission. This is my first 'official' task."

"Misaka 1 feels a deep sense of helplessness towards the awkward good Samaritan acting shamelessly before her."

Misaka 1 glanced at the time again, "There are 48 seconds left until the experiment begins..."

"It only takes one second to get to your place, let's go!"

As the Military Night Vision Goggles became Jiu Ming's property, the rules of the Mysterious Shop began to take effect. The transaction was complete, and the commission officially commenced!

"Subject 1 is missing, suspected interference from a Space Ability User attempting to disrupt 'Level 6 Shift'... Wait! The subject has reappeared and is heading towards the experimental site." Inside a Research Institute, an experimenter reporting Misaka 1's disappearance saw the girl suddenly reappear on the monitor and was stunned.

Subsequently, a very strange semi-transparent shadow appeared on the monitor. The shadow slowly became clearer, still eerily transparent, but its appearance was distinct. The moment the shadow appeared, the surveillance footage turned into a mess of static.

"There's an intruder!!"

An intruder?

Never mind, even if they reacted, it would be too late. Misaka 1 had already entered the experimental area of the Research Institute.

"Well then, let me see what kind of person would use you as a test subject..."

Unexpectedly, truly unexpectedly, standing in the experimental area was a young man in ordinary clothes, with white hair and skin, red pupils, a slender build, limbs lacking muscle, and an androgynous appearance. He had clearly been waiting impatiently...

Alright, let's call him a young man for now.

"This... are you kidding me?" Seeing Misaka 1 about to speak, Jiu Ming waved his hand to interrupt her, "Never mind, it should be correct."

He moved his limbs slightly. His Soul Body was completely normal. Perhaps due to the transmigration, he felt his consumption was slightly higher than normal. He just needed to be mindful of it. For now, he should focus on the White Hair in front of him. The other party gave Jiu Ming an extremely dangerous feeling!

"Tch! You actually made this great me wait so long. There was no one like you in the arrangement. Who are you! Which bastard are you from here, coming here... want to die?!"

A cold, viscous killing intent instantly permeated the air. Jiu Ming took a step forward, completely blocking the killing intent. When it came to killing intent?

He had no idea how many times he had fought opponents conjured by the Mysterious Shop. His killing intent was no weaker. Those opponents were indeed 'virtual,' but to Jiu Ming, they were completely real.

Misaka 1, standing behind him, showed no abnormality. Lacking emotion, killing intent had little effect on her. Killing intent mostly affected the mind, but what use was it to release it on a block of wood?

"...Although you insulted me, why would I stoop to your level? Right? Come on! Girl! Show me your weapon, I want to fight you one-on-one!"

"This is what Misaka needs to do... Is Accelerator a girl? Misaka says with surprise."

"This is my business now. What are you going to do? Die?" Jiu Ming raised an eyebrow slightly. He could already tell that the two parties were not on the same level. If they fought, Jiu Ming wouldn't be surprised if Misaka 1 was dealt with in one move.