"Eh?" Tessou Tsuzuri exclaimed in surprise. "What operation? I didn't receive any notice!"
"It's an emergency op. I'm notifying you right now!" Yomikawa Aiho snapped back irritably, then added with a scowl, "That idiot really has a knack for getting tangled up with illegal experiments!"
Even though it was only Kobayashi's side of the story, Yomikawa Aiho believed him without hesitation—and immediately began mobilizing support on his behalf.
During the previous 'Dark May Project' illegal experiment incident, Kobayashi's actions had left an unforgettable impression on everyone involved.
As a result, when word spread that he had moved again, almost no one in the Anti-Skill system questioned his motives.
After all, being summoned by an unknown caller to rescue an unfamiliar experimental victim—that was exactly the sort of thing Kobayashi would do.
Because of this, Yomikawa Aiho's efforts to gather reinforcements went smoothly.
Ten minutes later, a line of patrol cars blared their sirens and roared out onto the streets.
"The police convoy behind us has already departed," Torahachi Toumi reported casually. Since she was riding along in the wheelchair and didn't need to move on her own, she even had time to scroll through her phone while acting as navigator and staying in contact with Yomikawa.
"She says you should stay calm and stop killing people at random."
While accelerating the wheelchair with telekinesis, Kobayashi retorted, "I've never planned on killing anyone! And last time, wasn't you the one who struck first?"
"No, Nana-Kun," Torahachi corrected him seriously. "I know how to hold back. I only beat them half to death."
Kobayashi let out a dry laugh, clearly unconvinced.
But there was no point arguing further, so he wisely chose to drop the topic.
They tore through the streets at breakneck speed. In truth, the wheelchair was practically flying just above the ground—the wheels, lifted by telekinesis, never once touched the pavement. Its speed was literally beyond common sense.
In barely five minutes, they crossed nearly an entire school district and arrived at the Talent Workshop research building in District Two.
On the surface, Talent Workshop was a legitimate, lawful research institution, so its main building was openly accessible to the public.
"So, what now?" Torahachi asked as the entrance drew closer. "I don't see the girl you said we're rescuing. Or are we charging in like last time?"
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with excitement. There wasn't the slightest hint of nervousness—if anything, she looked eager, fingers brushing the ribbon tied to her ponytail.
"Calm down," Kobayashi said, forced to rein in the battle-hungry girl behind him. "We probably won't need to fight this time."
Even though it was Keisaku Mitori-san who had called for help, Kobayashi never forgot that Shokuhou Misaki was also inside the Talent Workshop.
In his eyes, while this place was undoubtedly an illegal research facility, it had already become something like half of Shokuhou Misaki's personal territory.
She might not have complete control over Talent Workshop yet, but with her acting as an insider, things shouldn't escalate into a large-scale battle… right?
"Damn it," Kobayashi suddenly muttered. "I forgot to call an ambulance!"
More than brute force, what this operation truly needed was a doctor to treat Dolly.
"That's covered," Torahachi replied. "Anti-Skill already called one."
As they spoke, they reached the front entrance of Talent Workshop.
Immediately, they noticed the chaos inside the building—something serious had clearly broken out.
Kobayashi didn't have the patience to wait and was just about to rush in—
When two figures in security uniforms suddenly came tumbling out, rolling across the floor like bowling pins until they stopped near the entrance.
The internal disturbance had finally escalated into outright combat.
From outside, Kobayashi could see it clearly: a nimble, silver-white figure rampaging through the crowd, cutting down opponents with overwhelming force.
In moments, dense clusters of people fell, and the rest scattered in panic.
Then, a group emerged from the center of the chaos, escorting a gurney straight toward the entrance.
Running at the very back was a purple-haired girl, commanding silver humanoid forms that struck down anyone who dared to give chase.
"Keisaku Mitori-san," Kobayashi said instantly, recognizing both the girl and her ability—Liquid Shadow.
As for Dolly, she had to be on the gurney.
At this point, Kobayashi's mission was practically complete.
Once they passed through those doors—into the "outside" world—Dolly and Keisaku would be safe.
But as if sensing that things had reached their most critical moment, waves of people began pouring out from all corners of Talent Workshop.
Security personnel, researchers, ordinary staff—nearly everyone working for the facility had been mobilized, all to block Dolly's escape.
The crowd surged in from every direction, even threatening to force Kobayashi back into the building.
"So, it really came to this, huh?" Torahachi let out a long breath instead—almost relieved—as she jumped off the wheelchair and pulled the ribbon free from her hair.
Facing the two children blocked at the entrance, most of Talent Workshop's employees wore expressions of sheer confusion.
"Why were we suddenly told to gather at the entrance?"
"I heard someone's causing trouble. They said we're just here to make up the numbers, show some presence."
"No way. I can't fight. Besides, who would even come here to stir things up?"
The majority were ordinary staff who knew nothing. They were simply following orders, with no idea what was happening—and no combat ability to speak of.
But as a human wall, they were more than sufficient.
For the Talent Workshop, the top priority was preventing the existence of "Dolly" from being exposed to the public. To that end, any method was acceptable.
Even one as desperate and clumsy as this.
Within the crowd, only a small core group truly understood the situation—mid to high-level researchers and members of the security forces.
Likewise, they were the ones who knew about Kobayashi.
As an illegal research institution themselves, they were painfully aware of their position—and had followed the fate of their peer, Black Moon Technology, with particular interest.
They had gone to great lengths to collect as much information as possible about the sealed underground training grounds.
And everyone who had read those reports remembered one thing vividly
The fearsome duo of Kobayashi and Torahachi Toumi.
Now, these key figures were mixed in among the crowd, ready to incite chaos and seize their chance to subdue and capture the intruders.
A boy in a wheelchair, and a blonde girl beside him.
That combination…
An intense sense of déjà vu struck every informed member at once.
"Ko… Kobayashi-san?" someone couldn't help blurting out.
(End of Chapter)
"I only beat them half to death." — Torahachi Toumi. 💀
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