Are You Kidding Me?

Speaking of top-tier biological research companies and world-renowned laboratories, there was naturally...

Rhine Lab.

Ch'en first thought of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, but rather than a pharmaceutical company, Rhodes Island was more like a bunch of terrorists gathered together. She had heard that their security personnel were fond of jumping off buildings. Did that look like a legitimate company?

Rhine Lab, now that was a proper research institute.

All relevant personnel could be found in Lungmen's archives. Everyone there had titles and was a talented individual who spoke pleasantly.

Chief Ch'en trusted an organization like that.

"Help us contact whoever's in charge at Rhine Lab. Have them come study this."

"I'll make the arrangements."

Hoshiguma had heard that Rhine Lab had ties to Columbia's military. Given Lungmen's unique nature as a city-state, any dealings with such an organization were dangerous. No matter the premise, it would inevitably end in a contest of interests.

Hoshiguma slapped her forehead.

Rhodes Island had all sorts of people. Maybe there were former Rhine Lab researchers among them?

"Hoshiguma, remember: issue the invitation in a personal capacity. Don't let it carry any official affiliation. If that doesn't work, have Swire pay to hire them."

"Ah, this..."

Ch'en had really given Hoshiguma a difficult problem.

Though Swire was wealthy, she was also famously stingy. Good steel had to be used on the blade's edge; she had all the shrewdness of a merchant.

"I'll make the arrangements."

In the office across the hall, Swire sneezed.

"Meow~"

Hoshiguma and Ch'en both turned to look.

After leaving the office, Hoshiguma lowered her head in thought for a moment, then pushed open the door to Swire's office and walked straight in.

"Ahem, ahem."

Swire was wiping her nose. Startled by someone suddenly barging in, she jumped to her feet.

"Swire, I need to tell you something."

Swire sat back down. Embarrassed at having her unbecoming state seen, she sounded less booming than usual, though her voice still carried the authority of a young lady.

"What is it?"

"Ch'en is sick."

"Huh?!"

"Yes, she's sick, and she's been forcing herself to hold on. She hid it deeply—I only just found out myself." Hoshiguma wore a pained expression. "Only medical operators of Rhine Lab's caliber can cure her."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Swire folded her arms across her chest. "She's sick? I couldn't be happier!"

"Really?"

Hoshiguma asked mournfully, "Is that truly what you want?"

"..."

"..."

Swire turned her head away, her face hidden in shadow and devoid of any visible expression. "That idiot really can't manage without me..."

"That's what I was waiting to hear."

Hoshiguma gave her a thumbs-up. "Don't just sit there. Get up, we're heading out. Destination: Rhodes Island."

"Heading out, huh... Then I need to touch up my makeup. We'll talk afterward."

Swire was relieved.

Only after a while did she react. Frowning at the open doorway, she saw that Hoshiguma was already waiting downstairs. It seemed this field assignment was happening the moment it was mentioned.

Was Hoshiguma pulling my leg?

"Ha!"

Sky Ranger's white hair fluttered in the wind, her eyes like a Persian cat's, one gold and one blue. A Spatial Spear appeared in her hand—an elegant white lance that looked less like a human weapon and more like divine punishment cast down by a god.

She jabbed it toward a rock.

Without a sound, the rock and the space it occupied were annihilated together, as though they had never existed.

Dizzy.

This was an ability similar to projection. The projected Spatial Spears had a strict time limit. After projecting just two, Hoshino was already feeling dizzy.

"Tsk—if only I could transform directly into the Herrscher of the Void."

Hoshino stood still, rubbing her forehead. Her body swayed slightly as she struggled against the vertigo in her mind.

"It's an intermediate form, after all. In Kamen Rider terms, it's an incomplete enhanced form. After padding out four or five episodes, it'll never show up again."

Hoshino muttered to herself. Through tireless experimentation, she had discovered that the Spatial Spears could be thrown across space, landing anywhere she wanted. Perhaps this was a manifestation of the Herrscher of the Void's incomplete authority.

"At this stage, Lightning Empress still feels more comfortable to use..."

Once the dizziness subsided, Hoshino quickly switched forms. Light flashed, and thunderclouds once again covered the skies above Yae Shrine.

Rumble...

Hoshino looked up. It was not her first time seeing it, but it still shocked her every time. An initial S-rank could actually alter the weather, letting her walk forever amid thunderstorms. Lightning Empress truly was the pinnacle of prestige.

But then she thought about it. Other characters unlocked as initial A-ranks, while Mei's character was directly an initial S-rank. Could it be...

Mei's initial S-rank = other characters' initial A-rank?

Hoshino instinctively went there, then smiled and shook her head, not daring to think further.

She stretched out her palm. An invisible electromagnetic storm raged through the air, like extensions of Hoshino's senses, resonating with people through bioelectricity.

Hoshino had gained control over lightning.

"Gale, submit to me!"

No storm rose. Lightning Empress was still not a genuine Herrscher of Thunder.

She stared at the metal tachi embedded in the ground some distance away.

Electromagnetic force slowly began to flow.

"Come, sword."

The tachi shot out of the earth and hovered in the air before Hoshino. She gently grasped its hilt with a reserved motion, as though a roaring sea of people stood around her, watching the coronation of their queen.

"I'm so cool."

Hoshino tossed the tachi back into the ground, then played at summoning it again.

Lightning Empress had many uses beyond combat.

She could sense electromagnetic waves in the air and infiltrate specific radio frequencies. If necessary, Hoshino could even make every radio in the city ring with the voice of the Queen of Thunder.

That sounded pretty awesome.

But for the time being, she did not want to do anything so attention-grabbing. She only wanted to make private contact with someone.

Lungmen Guard Department.

Ch'en was thinking as she looked through the case files in her office. What had Hoshiguma done to make Swire obediently follow her to Rhodes Island?

It was rather strange.

Her communications earpiece suddenly filled with harsh static.

"Hello."

Ch'en heard a gentle, timid voice hidden beneath the snow-like interference.

After several adjustments, the static finally vanished.

"S-Sorry. You looked so fierce that I accidentally shocked you unconscious."

"It's you?"

Listening to that soft voice, Ch'en could never connect it with that dignified image. It had taken her a long time to get used to it.

"This is my innate ability. I can control electromagnetic force, including the electromagnetic waves used for communication."

That voice felt strangely healing to Ch'en.

"Don't worry. I got you a doctor from Rhine Lab. They can ease the pain of your late-stage Oripathy."

"Huh?"

Hoshino had been putting all her effort into acting cute when she suddenly received this terrible news. Her whole mood collapsed.