Chapter 1780 - 1778: Get Lost (Nothing Tastes Better Than Dumplings, Nothing’s More Fun Than...)
Chapter 1780 - 1778: Get Lost (Nothing Tastes Better Than Dumplings, Nothing’s More Fun Than...)
"Well then, the treatment officially begins... Mokuyama, are you okay?"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Mokuyama Haruo nodded vigorously.
"No problem, Mr. Fang Zheng, leave it to me."
"Alright, let’s start."
Fang Zheng didn’t waste words, making the decision directly. Mokuyama Haruo took a deep breath, then walked to the console. Everything was ready; she just needed to hit Enter...
Yet, at the moment Mokuyama Haruo reached out her hand, a nightmare from years ago resurfaced in her mind.
Everything that happened back then... it felt like it was just yesterday.
"...??"
Seeing Mokuyama Haruo maintaining the position with no response, Misaka Mikoto and Hainara Kuon exchanged puzzled glances, not knowing what was happening. Fang Zheng sat on the chair next to them and pressed the microphone for communication.
"Mokuyama, ten-second countdown. If you don’t act, I’ll do it."
"Huh? Ah...!"
Upon hearing this, Mokuyama Haruo snapped out of it as if waking from a dream, and hurriedly looked towards Fang Zheng.
"Wait, Mr. Fang Zheng, please give me a bit more time..."
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five..."
Fang Zheng wasn’t interested in hearing Mokuyama Haruo’s talk further. When will this sentimental dragging end? Everything that needs doing is done; now it’s just waiting for the result. What’s the point of hesitating now?
"Three, two, one..."
Upon hearing this, Mokuyama Haruo didn’t hesitate anymore, reaching out and pressing the Enter key in front of her.
"———————"
Soon, the light strip outside the medical chamber began flashing, and then the chamber door slowly lifted. Seeing this, Mokuyama Haruo hurriedly ran to the children’s side, watching them closely.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, can we go in too?"
Seeing this, Saten Reiko couldn’t wait and urgently asked Fang Zheng. Fang Zheng nodded.
"Go ahead."
With Fang Zheng’s answer, the girls didn’t hesitate any longer, quickly passing through the nearby passage into the medical room. Fang Zheng then saw Hainara Kuon and Eri Kami come to a child’s medical chamber, looking at her worriedly. If he guessed correctly, that girl should be Hanasaki Banri.
One minute passed, two minutes passed...
"Why is there no response yet?"
Hatsuharu nervously looked at the children still in a coma and couldn’t help but ask worriedly, while Saten Reiko looked aside.
"Did something go wrong?"
"Mm..."
Just when everyone was anxious, suddenly, a low moan sounded. Then, under everyone’s gaze, Hanasaki Banri, who was originally asleep, slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Hainara Kuon and Eri Kami in front of her and smiled.
"Kuon... Kinui..."
"Banri, I’m so glad you’re okay...!"
Holding the girl’s hand tightly, Hainara Kuon and Eri Kami looked like they were about to cry, while Hanasaki Banri struggled to turn her head, slowly opening her mouth upon seeing Mokuyama Haruo.
"Teacher Mokuyama..."
Hearing this voice, Mokuyama Haruo could no longer hold it together, collapsing to the ground in tears.
Though these children have awakened, the matters didn’t end there. They’ve been in a coma as vegetative states for years; naturally, their muscles have atrophied. Rehabilitation is required — of course, Fang Zheng wasn’t bothered by this. It’s rehab anyways; hiring some nurses will do. Problems solvable by money aren’t true problems, right?
Of course, after this, explaining the entire situation was left to Mokuyama Haruo herself to talk to Eri Kami and Hainara Kuon — it’s their responsibility to bear their own faults, that’s basic.
Also, it was then that Fang Zheng learned of the background of the girl named Hainara Kuon — it turns out she grew up in the same orphanage with Eri Kami and Hanasaki Banri, and was later adopted by the Chairman of Tokiwadai... No wonder her relationship seems special to them.
This revelation surprised not only Fang Zheng.
"I really didn’t expect that Classmate Hainara was Child_Error in the past..."
Hatsuharu murmured, looking quite shocked.
"I thought she was a Young Lady since childhood..."
"What does it matter, no matter who Classmate Hainara was before, she’s our friend now, isn’t she?"
Saten Reiko evidently takes it more lightly.
Everyone clearly didn’t intend to dwell on this issue, just as Saten Reiko said, regardless of the past, the present and future are what’s important.
In the following days, everything appeared normal. Fang Zheng hired nurses to assist the children with rehabilitation, and when Misaka Mikoto and the others were free after school, they would often visit the institute. Previously, there were mostly four of them visiting the institute, but now there are six — Eri Kami and Hainara Kuon joined them.
As for Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori, they’ve had bad luck. Even though the children’s consciousness has recovered, many issues couldn’t be solved alone, leaving the two running back and forth, busy and overwhelmed. During the day, things are better; at least there are nurses to help, but at night...
It’s important to note Fang Zheng scheduled them in a 007 shift!
Thinking of slacking off? Impossible!
Anyone daring to slack off would face a bracelet emitting a current twice as strong as Misaka Mikoto’s electric shocks on Kuroko Shirai, leaving them unable to manage daily life. Moreover, wearing the bracelet nullifies their powers entirely, leaving Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori with no option but to grit their teeth and endure, hoping the English Puritanism would ransom them back soon.
In the days following, everyone enjoyed a few days of peace.
Index and Saten Reiko stayed together and visited the institute frequently — it also served as a rare chance for Stiyl and Kanzaki Kaori to relax.
Because outside, the Government of Japan is aggressively trying to capture Lupin IV, Riko and Frenda obediently stayed put without causing any more trouble. However, according to Riko, Lei has been missing for a few days, and no one knows where she went, so the investigation into Lei’s disappearance has temporarily come to a halt.
As for Mel and Meiyin — they ultimately decided to confess, but Mel was a coward after all; she didn’t dare tell her parents and only confided in her sister. Meiyin, on the other hand, was quite frustrated; she confessed the truth to her parents. Of course, just speaking wouldn’t convince anyone, so Mr. Fang Zheng opened a Teleportation Gate for them, allowing both parties to take their family on a tour to Another World.
As a result — Mel’s sister quickly accepted the fact that her sister had reincarnated in Another World, whereas Meiyin’s situation was more complicated since she had parents from both her past and present lives. The negotiation was evidently more challenging than Mel’s Cinderella-like status in this world.
However, in the end, the outcome was reasonable.
Yet, the external calm didn’t last long.
"Armed Powerless Group?"
Fang Zheng put down his coffee and looked at Kuroko Shirai, who nodded slightly, looking a bit fatigued.
"That’s right, recently several incidents involving attacks by the Armed Powerless Group on Ability Users have occurred in succession. Honestly... right after the Fantasy Manipulator incident ended, where do these people get so much energy from... Oh, we also had classmates who were attacked."
It must be Konoha Mitsuko.
Hearing Kuroko Shirai’s words, Fang Zheng chuckled. It must be said, Konoha Mitsuko is quite unlucky. She’s a victim in almost every incident; in the anime, her involvement in events is as frequent as others, yet she always appears as a victim, which is indeed quite unfortunate.
"But it’s really strange, why don’t those Ability Users resist?"
Saten Reiko seemed genuinely interested in this topic.
"I’m not sure, the Guard Officers are still investigating..."
At this point, Kuroko Shirai paused, perhaps remembering what happened during the Fantasy Manipulator incident, but she quickly shook her head.
Maybe she was being too sensitive; such things shouldn’t occur consecutively.
Nevertheless... perhaps it’s still better to investigate personally.
"Lord Fang Zheng."
Just then, Rem appeared again.
"There’s a woman calling herself the captain of the MAR Rescue Squad, named Tyrestina, who wishes to meet with you."
"Tyrestina..."
Upon hearing the name, Fang Zheng frowned, then stood up.
"You all continue eating; I’ll go and take a look."
"Okay, Mr. Fang Zheng."
Ruiko and the others weren’t surprised. After all, Fang Zheng, as the head of the research institute, surely has many matters to attend to, so they paid no further attention. Shortly after, Fang Zheng, along with Rem, returned to the entrance and saw in the hall a woman in an OL uniform with curly hair.
Tyrestina.
"Hello."
Seeing Fang Zheng approaching, she smiled and extended her hand.
"Are you Mr. Fang Zheng, the director of the Quantum Neural Research Institute? I’m Tyrestina, the captain of the MAR Rescue Squad. It’s a pleasure to meet you, I look forward to your guidance."
"What do you want?"
Fang Zheng completely ignored her extended hand and asked. Tyrestina frowned, then resumed smiling.
"Actually, it’s nothing major. We’ve learned that your institute has recently housed a group of Child_Error, and we’re here specifically to handle this matter."
"Oh?"
Fang Zheng crossed his arms and stared at Tyrestina.
"Your reason?"
"Your institute is merely a research organization; it doesn’t have the necessary documents or qualifications..."
"We definitely do."
Fang Zheng sneered and waved his hand.
"We possess the qualification documents for Child_Error care institutions. This institute is fully capable of housing Child_Error, so it’s unnecessary for you to interfere. Anything else?"
In response to Fang Zheng’s answer, Tyrestina’s expression didn’t change. She kept smiling, attempting to explain further.
"But we received orders from the council..."
"Get lost."
However, before Tyrestina could finish, Fang Zheng interrupted her, and upon hearing this, her expression immediately changed.
"What did you say?"
"I told you to get lost, did you hear me? I find you Mokuhara Clan bunch disgusting. That old undead Mokuhara Genki is scum, and you’re no better. Get out quickly, or next time I see you, I’ll kill you, understood?"
After saying this, Fang Zheng turned to Rem.
"Rem, throw her out. If she doesn’t leave, then kill her."
"Yes, Lord Fang Zheng."
Upon receiving Fang Zheng’s order, Rem nodded and faced Tyrestina, looking coldly at her. Witnessing this, Tyrestina’s expression shifted several times, and she ended up leaving silently.
If it weren’t for Ruiko and the others being at the institute, I would have killed you right now.
Watching Tyrestina’s departing figure, Fang Zheng sneered. He knows Tyrestina’s intentions as well as the fact that she definitely won’t give up so easily.
But it doesn’t matter; by then... she’s doomed.
NovelKBC