63. Mobilizing Childhood Friends, Sharing Black Technology

"Akira!"

Jabami Yumeko pouted angrily, looking extremely displeased.

All her years of pretending had been completely exposed.

"We never asked—how did you even meet Yumeko?"

"When I was ten, Yumeko was being chased by an energetic social organization after winning too much money at an underground casino. I saved her."

"Ten years old? Isn't that a little too ridiculous?"

They had always thought Yumeko was a well-behaved girl. Who would have guessed she was so outrageous?

As expected, their childhood friend Akira always seemed to attract abnormal people.

One after another, each hiding their true nature.

"Akira, what exactly is an energetic social organization?"

"A.K.A., the Yakuza, my dear little sister."

Hahahaha!

Eriri turned red with anger, puffing up like an annoyed golden retriever.

"Wait a second, Akira, you didn't try to stop Yumeko?"

"Isn't gambling a bad habit?"

Kashiwazaki Sena asked with a puzzled look.

"Yumeko has been playing poker since she could talk."

Akira pointed at Yumeko, who playfully stuck out her tongue without any sense of remorse, and sighed.

"How exactly do you expect me to stop her?"

"If Chisato was born for combat, then Yumeko was born for gambling."

"Winning money doesn't interest her."

"Her view on money is simple: just have enough to spend."

"She purely enjoys the thrill and excitement of gambling."

"My introduction to psychology came from Yumeko's teachings."

"Gambling is, at its core, applied psychology and game theory, combined with micro-expressions, memory, perception, acting skills, intelligence, and more."

"Anyone who believes gambling is purely luck is an idiot."

"They deserve to be slaughtered like pigs."

"And yes, cheating is a part of gambling too."

The girls suddenly lowered their heads, looking a little guilty.

They had always assumed gambling was just about luck.

"Unfortunate for them, Hyakkaou Private Academy is full of idiots like that."

"In that school, Yumeko is basically a savior for those 'livestock' students."

"And the funniest part? Yumeko's enemies in that academy either become her best friends or her closest allies in the end."

"That's the unique charm of Yumeko."

"Can any of you achieve that?"

"I sure as hell can't."

"If I recall correctly, there was an unlucky guy who lost ten billion yen to Yumeko."

"And guess what? He still ended up becoming her friend."

Akira recounted Yumeko's legendary deeds, shaking his head in amusement.

Hiss!

This was too insane!

"Yumeko is flawless in every aspect."

"She punishes the strong and rescues the weak, pulling people out of despair."

"My worldview aligns closely with hers."

"Even if Yumeko weren't my childhood friend, I'd still like her."

Akira's words immediately earned jealous, dissatisfied glares from the other girls.

"Akiraaa~ you're making me blush!"

Yumeko covered her face with both hands, pretending to be shy.

"That was too exaggerated."

Akira knocked her lightly on the head and turned to address the group.

Now was the time to put his childhood friends to good use.

"Arisu, are you still planning to attend Advanced Nurturing High School?"

"I'm having second thoughts."

"Why? Do you want me to go as originally planned?"

"Don't forget, your father is still working under Ayanokoji Tokuto."

"If you suddenly refuse to go, it will definitely make him suspicious."

"Even though, in my eyes, Tokuto is just a complete clown."

"I never underestimate the cunning of a clown who thinks he controls everything."

"People like that often meet the most tragic ends."

"I need you to design the plan that will detonate this bomb."

"Do you have the confidence?"

"Idiot! Don't look down on me."

Even though she knew Akira was just provoking her, Arisu still accepted without hesitation.

"My only request is that, once the Byakuya scandal is exposed, it shakes the entire political stage of Japan."

"I want not only the Jina faction to be scapegoated."

"I want the prime minister and as many corrupt politicians as possible to be dragged down with him."

"Now tell me—doesn't that sound way more interesting than playing house at Advanced Nurturing High School?"

"Ryoko, prepare a satellite phone for everyone."

"We'll use an encrypted network for all communications regarding this operation."

Ryoko Yakushiji made an OK sign.

"No problem."

"Arisu, you can ask us for any assistance you need."

"Everyone, I expect full, unconditional cooperation with Arisu's plan."

"Manpower, finances, whatever she needs."

"For now, forget about personal morals."

"Only by destroying Byakuya and Advanced Nurturing High School can we stop more students from becoming test subjects."

Akira spoke sternly, looking each of them in the eye.

"Understood."

"To our parents, uncles, and aunts—thank you in advance for your support."

"Akira, don't worry. We will go all out. We won't let you down."

"Chisato, Takina, if Grandpa Fujiwara takes office, DA, Lycoris, and Lilybell will finally receive fair treatment."

"You won't just be disposable pawns anymore."

"Once Academy City is built, we'll move your training base there."

"We'll run it ourselves, free from government control."

Akira's promise filled Chisato and Takina with hope.

Their biggest wish was to prevent their juniors from becoming cannon fodder like them.

"Until then, stop taking private requests."

"Got it. We'll stay on standby."

"And don't forget Walnut. She's one of the world's top hackers."

"She'll be a huge asset in gathering intel."

Chisato patted her chest confidently.

"And you? What's your role in all of this?"

"I have my own matters to handle."

Seeing their curious eyes, Akira scoffed.

"Are you guys a bunch of interrogators?"

"What could possibly be more important than overthrowing the prime minister?"

"Aren't you the one who said founding Academy City was only the beginning?"

"Looking at your serious expression, I bet you're planning something insanely dangerous."

"Seriously, you all caught the curiosity bug from Eru?"

"This matter is just as important as founding Academy City."

Akira's eyes flickered with determination.

Before Shiho Miyano became Haibara Ai, he had to find the Black Organization's research site in Tokyo.

He would take both her and the APTX4869 research for himself.

There was only one chance.

"I plan to 'share' a certain criminal organization's half-century worth of black technology."

His words made the girls' eyes light up with excitement.

"'Share' my ass—you're clearly going to steal it!"

"What kind of black technology?"

Akira sighed.

"A drug that slows aging—or possibly even reverses it."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Then—

Hiss!

Everyone collectively gasped.

Akira smirked. "Look at your faces. So much for 'not being shocked.'"

Akira teased sarcastically.

"Akira, y-you're serious?"

"Can this drug really help people regain their youth?"

The female elders in the room felt their hearts pounding, their voices trembling as they asked.

It was well-known that the greatest cruelty for women was watching their beauty fade day by day,

While being powerless to stop it.

"Ahem, aunties, don't get too excited. It's not fully successful yet."

"It's only halfway there."

"There have been test subjects who successfully regressed from adults to children."

"But the success rate is extremely low."

"So low that it's almost negligible."

"Unless you're willing to bet on whether you're favored by God."

"Taking this drug has only two outcomes: instant death or rejuvenation."

This reality poured cold water on the excited elders.

But it still couldn't extinguish the fire in their hearts.

"It's fine. The hardest part of any scientific breakthrough is going from 0 to 1."

"Since there's already a chance of success,"

"As long as we keep researching, it'll succeed someday."

Karen Kujo and Shion Soryuuin comforted them with rational words.

"Exactly. The reason I want to build Academy City is to have a safe place to research this drug."

Because he had seen hope, Akira believed that APTX-4869 would eventually succeed.

"Akira, all of this was part of your plan from the start, wasn't it?"

Sawamura Sayuri said, suddenly realizing something.

She then thought to herself with delight: Having such a capable son is truly amazing.

He was the greatest blessing of her life.

Whether it was saving Arisu's life, destroying the White Room and Advanced Nurturing High School, or helping the Fujiwara family rise to power,

All of it was just one part of his grand plan.

The ultimate goal was to build Academy City and research this mysterious rejuvenation drug.

"Mom, can you stop overthinking things?"

"I'm not that amazing."

"Other than saving Arisu, everything else was just something I came up with on the spot."

"It all came together into this grand plan."

"A plan is always better when it's simple."

"Order—execute—complete."

"The more steps there are, the more variables and unexpected issues can arise."

"Luckily, we're all childhood friends, so we can trust each other unconditionally."

"There's no room for personal agendas in this."

"Otherwise, a plan this big would have a much higher chance of failing than succeeding."

"So, tell me, was it worth it for me to gather so many childhood friends over the years?"

"Can you see the benefits of having so many childhood friends now?"

The childhood friends decided not to engage with Akira's self-satisfied rambling.

This was clearly a chicken-and-egg situation.

"But Akira-chan, the fact that you came up with this plan on the spot,"

"Just shows how amazing you are, doesn't it?"

Akira: "..."

His mom's words were so logical that he couldn't refute a single one.

As for Akira's habit of downplaying his abilities, they were all speechless.

"Sawamura Akira, everyone knows how capable you are now."

"There's no point in hiding it anymore."

Eriri said with a gleeful tone.

"My silly little sister, haven't you heard the saying?"

"Stay low-key as a person, but be high-key in your actions."

"That's what smart people do."

"Would you go around telling everyone that you're a genius doujinshi artist with a huge fanbase online?"

Pfft—

The girls couldn't help but burst out laughing, their eyes fixed on Eriri, who looked like she was about to erupt.

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