"So, did you find anything?" Kei asked.
"I've investigated the matter in general, and sure enough, a third party was involved," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"As expected of you, Shiba. You work fast," Kei said.
"But this is more difficult than we anticipated."
"Kei, what's going on?"
Kanon, who was standing nearby, didn't quite understand the situation, so she asked.
"Just as you know, Kanon, to prevent unauthorized magical interference from outside during the Nine Schools Competition, the magicians sent to each venue as competition committee members are all fairly skilled at countering magic, and they carry plenty of surveillance equipment," Kei explained.
"I thought someone had acted from outside the surveillance perimeter, but judging by the results of Shiba's investigation so far, the magic was activated from within the water. That rules it out, so the only possibility is that someone hid in the water and activated the magic."
"Knock, knock."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Miyuki." Tatsuya Shiba motioned for Miyuki Shiba to open the door.
"Yes."
Miyuki Shiba answered, then turned to open the door.
"Bai Feng, you're here."
When Miyuki Shiba saw that it was Baifeng Uesugi, she immediately greeted him happily.
"Mikihiko, Mizuki, you're here too."
Seeing the two behind Baifeng Uesugi, Miyuki Shiba greeted them as well.
"Let me introduce everyone. Bai Feng needs no introduction; everyone knows him. These two are our classmates, Yoshida and Shibata."
Tatsuya Shiba made the introductions.
"I asked Bai Feng to bring them here so we can investigate who was tampering with things in the water."
"Nice to meet you," Mizuki Shibata said with a bow.
"Pleased to meet you," Mikihiko greeted them as well.
"Yoshida, Shibata, you probably know these two. They're our second-year seniors, Isori and Chiyoda."
Tatsuya Shiba introduced them to the pair.
"Hello," Kanon greeted them.
"Likewise, pleased to meet you," Kei said.
"We're investigating Watanabe's accident and the possibility that a third party interfered with her using magic."
Tatsuya Shiba explained what they were currently working on.
"Before Watanabe lost her balance, an unnatural depression appeared on the surface of the water. That almost certainly means there was magical interference from within the water. It would have been impossible to cast magic on the waterway from outside the course without anyone noticing, and delayed activation is also highly unlikely."
"If that's the case... then something hiding in the water must have used magic. But the idea is a little absurd. Neither Modern Magic nor Ancient Magic can achieve such perfect invisibility."
Just as Tatsuya Shiba had said, someone concealed by Ancient Magic in the water would have been easy to spot as a faint, indistinct figure. The waterway had also been exposed to sunlight at the time, and the refraction of the sunlight would have made someone submerged while invisible even easier to notice.
"Tatsuya, do you suspect someone used Spirit Magic?" Baifeng Uesugi asked.
"Yes. That's why I called Yoshida over. He's quite skilled at Spirit Magic, after all," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Yoshida, given the circumstances at the time, do you think it would have been possible to use Spirit Magic to cast magic on the waterway?"
Baifeng Uesugi asked.
Baifeng Uesugi knew about Mizuki Shibata's ability: she had an exceptionally sensitive perception of quantum light.
"Bai Feng, it's possible. As long as the person was familiar enough with the terrain, they could dispatch spirits through the ley lines. But magic cast that way would be so weak as to be almost pointless. Even if it could disturb the water's surface, that alone couldn't have created a wave big enough to make Watanabe lose her balance."
Yoshida explained.
"If not for the Seventh High School contestant's speeding accident, this could have been dismissed as a child's prank."
"Bai Feng suspected earlier that someone had tampered with the Seventh High School contestant's CAD. After repeated tests, we found that it was indeed possible. Take a look."
Tatsuya Shiba then showed everyone the process of the repeated tests.
"This is the first bend where the contestant needed to slow down. If someone swapped the deceleration Activation Sequence for an acceleration one, that would explain the Seventh High School contestant's mistake."
"I think that's more likely too. Everyone participating in the Nine Schools Competition is among their school's elite. There's absolutely no way they would use an acceleration Activation Sequence instead of a deceleration one."
Kanon said.
"Although that's certainly possible, could someone actually tamper with a CAD?" Kei asked.
"If someone really did tamper with it, who was it?"
"A technician from Seventh High School?" Kanon ventured uncertainly.
"We can't rule that out, but I think the chances are extremely slim," Baifeng Uesugi said.
"I think there's a mole on the competition committee."
Tatsuya Shiba said.
When Tatsuya Shiba voiced this idea, everyone looked shocked.
"But, brother, when and how could they have tampered with the CAD?" Miyuki Shiba asked.
"Bai Feng told me before that there is one occasion when the CADs leave each school's custody and are handed over to the competition committee," Tatsuya Shiba said.
"Although it's very likely now that someone on the competition committee tampered with it, we still don't know who did it. That's going to be difficult."
Baifeng Uesugi said.
In the meeting room.
The Student Council members were discussing the upcoming matches.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in," Rin-chan said.
"Excuse us."
Baifeng Uesugi bowed.
"Please, sit down first."
Mayumi Saegusa motioned for the three of them to sit before they talked.
"We asked the three of you here because there's something important we need to discuss."
Mayumi Saegusa said.
"Rin-chan, could you explain?"
"Yes." Rin-chan nodded.
"You probably know today's results. Although things happened rather suddenly, our school's score is basically what we expected. But Third High School scored more than anticipated, and the gap between us is much smaller than we originally estimated."
"If Third High School takes a substantial lead in the newcomers division tomorrow, they may very well overtake us depending on the final results of the regular division's Mirage Bat. The regular division is worth twice as many points as the newcomers division, so our team decided to sacrifice the newcomers division a little and send our strongest competitor to the regular division's Mirage Bat."
"You mean you want Miyuki to withdraw from the newcomers division's Mirage Bat and compete in the regular division instead, right?" Baifeng Uesugi asked.
(PS: Keep sending power, and happiness will never end! As a new author, thank you all for your support. I hope you'll tap the update reminder and send some power.
Give this new author a little more encouragement and motivation. First, I wish you all happiness and joy!)
"Yes, that's right, Bai Feng. And we believe that with Miyuki's abilities, she'll definitely be able to win in the regular division."
Mayumi Saegusa said.
"In that case, it should work. With Miyuki's abilities, the regular division's Mirage Bat should be a sure win. What do you think, Miyuki?"
Baifeng Uesugi looked at Miyuki Shiba and asked.
"I can do it."
Miyuki Shiba knew that Baifeng Uesugi agreed to her competing in the regular division's Mirage Bat, so she nodded and accepted.
"But wasn't there still a Surfing Race in the newcomers division that hasn't been held yet?"
Baifeng Uesugi asked.
"The Surfing Race starts tomorrow, but it might be difficult to find a suitable top competitor to take her place."
Rin-chan explained.
"Then according to your plan, we have to win both the regular division's Mirage Bat and Monolith Code, right?" Baifeng Uesugi asked.
"Yes. If we want to win overall, we have to win both events," Mayumi Saegusa said.
"In that case, who are you planning to send out for Monolith Code?"
"As far as I know, the person Third High School is sending out is Masaki Ichijo of the Ichijo family, right?"
Baifeng Uesugi asked.
"That's right, Bai Feng. As you said, we're planning to have you compete in Monolith Code. Would you be willing?"
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Baifeng Uesugi expectantly.
She was actually a little worried that Baifeng Uesugi would refuse. If he did, they could only send Tatsuya Shiba instead.
"Actually, you missed the points from one event."
"What?"
Rin-chan looked at Tatsuya Shiba in disbelief. She and the Student Council members had gone over the scores several times. How could they have gotten them wrong?
"Did you include the regular division's Surfing Race in your calculations? Watanabe and the Seventh High School contestant didn't place in that event, but Third High School seems to have taken first.
"If you count that, even if we win both Mirage Bat and Monolith Code, we'll still be a little short of an overall victory," Tatsuya Shiba explained.
"This..."
Rin-chan was somewhat stunned. She really had forgotten to count it, and the entire Student Council had put that event out of mind.
"You're right, Tatsuya. We didn't include Third High School's points from that event," Rin-chan said with a wry smile.
"Rin-chan, how could you make such a basic mistake at such a critical moment? If we include the Surfing Race points, how many more points do we need to win overall?"
Mayumi Saegusa only gave her a brief scolding. She also knew that Rin-chan had subconsciously forgotten about the event because Mari Watanabe had been injured.
For now, the most important thing was to have Rin-chan recalculate the scores and see whether First High School still had a chance at overall victory.
"All right, President, I'll calculate it right away."
With that, Rin-chan recalculated the scores with all the Student Council members behind her.
"We really have you to thank, Tatsuya. Otherwise, we'd still think we could win as long as we took Mirage Bat and Monolith Code."
Mayumi Saegusa sincerely thanked Tatsuya Shiba for the reminder. If he hadn't pointed out their oversight now, they might have missed their chance at a third consecutive championship.
"President, you're too kind. Besides, I'm a member of the Student Council too, aren't I?" Tatsuya Shiba said with a smile.
"Bai Feng, why don't you compete in Monolith Code for us?"
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Baifeng Uesugi and asked coquettishly.
Baifeng Uesugi was a little surprised that Mayumi Saegusa would act coquettishly toward him in front of so many people.
Baifeng Uesugi was a little surprised that Mayumi would openly flirt with him in front of so many people.
"So does that mean you agree, Bai Feng?"
Mayumi Saegusa said happily.
"Can I even refuse?"
Baifeng Uesugi said helplessly.
With Mayumi Saegusa acting coquettishly and the injured Mari Watanabe glaring at him from the side, he couldn't refuse even if he wanted to. If he did, he was afraid he wouldn't make it out of the classroom.
Half an hour later...
"President, we have the results," Rin-chan said, walking over with the revised calculations.
"Rin-chan, just give us the results."
"Yes. After recalculating, even if we win Mirage Bat and Monolith Code, we'll still be a little short on points. If we can place in tomorrow's men's Surfing Race, anywhere in the top three will give us the overall victory," Rin-chan said.
"But I'm afraid the contestants in tomorrow's men's Surfing Race don't have much of a chance."
Mayumi Saegusa said worriedly.
"Um, Bai Feng, why don't you compete in the Surfing Race too?"
Mayumi Saegusa looked at Baifeng Uesugi as though he were her savior, her sparkling eyes looking very cute.
"Um, Mayumi, do you think I know how to surf?"
He'd never even tried surfing. How could he compete in an official event? Mayumi Saegusa was really asking too much of him.
"Then, Tatsuya?" Mayumi Saegusa looked at Tatsuya Shiba.
"President, I don't know how either," Tatsuya Shiba said helplessly.
"Bai Feng, why don't you give it a try?"
As for Baifeng Uesugi, Mayumi Saegusa believed in him from the bottom of her heart.
But when she saw that Baifeng Uesugi didn't seem to want to pay her any attention, Mayumi Saegusa grew a little annoyed. She immediately took out her terminal and sent him a message.
Baifeng Uesugi heard his terminal sound and wondered who was contacting him at a time like this. But when he picked it up and looked, he was instantly dumbstruck.
The message was from Mayumi Saegusa. She had sent him a picture, and a very alluring one at that: a photo of her in black stockings and pajamas.
There was also a message attached: "Win the competition, and I'll let you see the real thing."
Mayumi Saegusa had to be given credit for knowing exactly how to whet his appetite. She knew what he liked.
"Ahem. Um, how about I give it a try?"
Everyone looked surprised when Baifeng Uesugi suddenly changed his mind, though they were rather happy about it.
"Bai Feng, why did you suddenly agree?" Rin-chan asked.
"Ahem. It's for the school's honor, after all. It's my duty," Baifeng Uesugi lied without batting an eye.
Hearing Baifeng Uesugi's words, Mayumi Saegusa rolled her eyes at him.
For the school's honor? I think you just want to see me in pajamas and black stockings in person.
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