30

Saten Ruiko and Frenda successfully awakened their Items using Imagine Breaker, unaware that Shirai Kuroko and Haruue Erii were on the other side, painstakingly searching for the true nature of Imagine Breaker.

"I haven't seen Saten-san much lately?" Misaka Mikoto, at the 177th Branch of Judgment, asked, puzzled, while drinking coffee.

"Cough, cough, Saten-san seems to be busy with something," Haruue Erii replied, coughing with a mask on.

"Seriously, I told you to go home and rest if you have a cold, there's no need to force yourself," Shirai Kuroko grumbled, pulling Haruue Erii's cheek in annoyance.

"Hehe, it's fine, cough, cough, Shirai-san, it's just a common cold. I'll be fine after a rest. Besides, now is not the time to rest," Haruue Erii smiled, indicating she was fine, then her expression turned serious as she looked at the screen.

Cases where the Rank recorded in the Library did not match the damage caused.

"Aren't these the cases that happened not long ago? The fire-wielding Item user in the bank robbery and the eyebrow-girl who attacked Tokiwadai," Misaka Mikoto asked, puzzled, upon seeing familiar figures.

"Yes, these two cases, along with several others, all have the same situation," Shirai Kuroko said with a solemn expression, tapping the screen. When Misaka Mikoto looked at her in confusion, she continued,

"Their Ranks previously registered in the Library did not match the actual Item Ranks they displayed. At the time, that fire-wielding Item user's Rank was enough to be judged as Level 3, but the update record less than a month ago showed that their original Item was only Level 2. The same goes for that eyebrow-girl."

"What's going on? A collective Level Up?" Misaka Mikoto tilted her head in confusion, asking.

"It's not just these, cough, cough, there are also missing person cases..." Haruue Erii pulled up a photo of a pale, thin high school student.

Just as she was about to explain, she was interrupted by Kogawa Mei's cough from the side.

"What's wrong?" Misaka Mikoto asked, puzzled.

However, Kogawa Mei adjusted her glasses, waved her arm, and pointed at Misaka Mikoto, saying with dissatisfaction,

"Don't over-explain to unrelated personnel, and don't act like I'm not here just because I'm not talking. After all, I am the Senior of this Branch."

Seeing a certain area begin to shake up and down due to the vigorous movement, Misaka Mikoto lowered her head in frustration, not refuting.

"Uh, you're right, Onee-sama, we Judgment will handle this matter," Shirai Kuroko finally reacted. She had unknowingly dragged her Onee-sama into it, and without Senior Kogawa's reminder, she had subconsciously started explaining the more in-depth aspects of the case.

"Eh? No, I can help too, especially since I was a Judgment member not long ago," Misaka Mikoto immediately protested. Being someone with an overflowing sense of justice, she naturally couldn't let the case go unaddressed.

"You really dare to say that, Misaka, impersonating a Judgment member back then."

"That wasn't me impersonating; Senior Kogawa dragged me into it, didn't she?"

"What did you say!?"

Just as the two girls were about to continue bickering over past grievances, Haruue's words pulled the conversation back on track.

"I tracked down information about Imagine Breaker and found a group of people on a forum who gather and sell Imagine Breaker at a family restaurant called JONAGARDEN."

"Oh! Thank you, Haruue Erii," Misaka Mikoto's eyes lit up at the news. She picked up the cup beside her and drank the coffee in one gulp.

The bitterness of the coffee made Misaka Mikoto squint her eyes and stick out her tongue.

"So bitter!"

She then grabbed her handbag and ran out of the 177th Branch, closing the door behind her, leaving the three girls behind looking at each other. Shirai Kuroko immediately reacted, activating her Item and chasing after her, shouting,

"This is my job! Onee-sama! Onee-sama!"

Leaving Haruue Erii and Kogawa Mei in disarray...

"Is everything alright?" Haruue Erii asked, worried.

"It's fine. That child is a Level 5, after all. She should know how to act with discretion," Kogawa Mei said helplessly.

"Heh~ I thought Senior Kogawa didn't like Misaka-san," Haruue Erii teased.

"I... I just treat her as a junior, so of course, I have to be stricter," Kogawa Mei's face flushed as she retorted.

Night,

In front of JONAGARDEN family restaurant,

"This must be the place. Alright, let's go!" Misaka Mikoto looked eager to try.

"Onee-sama is doing it again~" Shirai Kuroko reluctantly prepared to dissuade her once more.

"You're a Judgment member, aren't you? Compared to me, you're more likely to be recognized," Misaka Mikoto winked playfully, analyzing the pros and cons.

"But..." Shirai Kuroko hesitated slightly at her words.

"It's fine, leave it to me. You just sit far away from me and wait," Misaka Mikoto handed her handbag to Shirai Kuroko.

Shirai Kuroko silently took the handbag and watched Misaka Mikoto enter the restaurant, expressing her unease,

"I don't know why, but Kuroko has a very uneasy feeling."

Inside the restaurant,

Misaka Mikoto began searching for the group. At this moment, there were few people in the store.

Just as Misaka Mikoto successfully locked onto a group of delinquent punks, her peripheral vision caught sight of an all-too-familiar figure, and she gasped out,

"Old... bastard old man!?"

Misaka Mikoto's voice attracted the attention of everyone in the store. Rhode also looked towards the door and, seeing Misaka Mikoto's arrival, raised a hand to greet her, signaling her to come and sit.

"Why is that bastard old man here!?" Shirai Kuroko also lost her composure the moment she saw Rhode, asking in confusion.

Misaka Mikoto swallowed hard, turned around, placed both hands on Shirai Kuroko's shoulders, and said solemnly,

"Kuroko, the plan has changed."

"What do you mean, Onee-sama?" Shirai Kuroko asked back, looking bewildered.

"You're going to use a honey trap to extract information!" Misaka Mikoto had originally intended to go herself, using a honey trap to get information from these punks and teach them a lesson. However, this plan was completely shattered the moment she saw Rhode.

Who would sell their looks in front of someone they cared about? She wasn't crazy!

"Eh? Me? Eh eh eh eh eh!!!" Shirai Kuroko exclaimed in surprise. Seeing Misaka Mikoto's serious expression, Shirai Kuroko showed a look of utter despair.