Multiverse: Why does the world show a health bar? !

Li Mo set aside the matter of Kanou Shinka and Aihana Etsu for the time being. According to Kanou Shinka's account, when he claimed to be "Aihana Etsu," he seemed to gain abilities that didn't originally belong to him. The strength of these abilities appeared to be at least on par with a high-level esper. 

From the information gathered, it seemed that Aihana Etsu could grant abilities to others. 

However, information about the #6 was scarce, and Li Mo couldn't make a definitive decision. With other espers, he could come up with a plan of action, but Aihana Etsu was an exception. 

"Doctor, doctor, help me!" 

"Why are you here again? Is it really appropriate for a board member to visit me so frequently?" 

"I want to ask you something. Is Aihana Etsu a good kid or a bad kid?" 

Only a few people knew about Aihana Etsu, and Li Mo had ways to inquire with all of them. The most likely person to provide answers was Heaven Canceller. 

This veteran figure probably knew a lot of things. 

"Is he your opposite?" 

"He came to me, offering his help." 

Heaven Canceller nodded. "I see. Don't worry, that kid, while mysterious, is a good one." 

"Good, then I won't disturb you further." 

Li Mo was decisive. Once he got the information, he turned and left without hesitation. 

The doctor called out, "You've done well with the dark side situation. No wonder the #6 sought you out." 

"Well, someone from the dark side bombed my house. I'm a very petty person." 

Li Mo left those words behind as he walked away gracefully. 

Heaven Canceller's aged face broke into a smile. His success meant fewer patients in the hospital. Most of the serious patients in Academy City were casualties of dark side operations. 

Not long ago, the #4 had used his previous research to treat injuries, which were the aftermath of dark side conflicts. 

As a doctor, he loved two things: patients recovering and the number of patients decreasing. Since when had the majority of patients in this city stopped being victims of experimental accidents and instead became casualties of dark side conflicts? 

"Aleister, what are you trying to do?" 

Li Mo, of course, had no idea what Heaven Canceller was thinking. The doctor and the Board Chairman had known each other for decades. Who knew how many grudges and favors lay between them? 

After leaving the hospital, Li Mo walked through District 7. He didn't take a car. As a board member, he was supposed to have bodyguards and ride in bulletproof vehicles wherever he went—just like Oyafune Monaka. 

But Li Mo was different. 

He dressed like a student and mostly traveled by taxi. He avoided unmanned public buses to prevent innocent bystanders from getting caught in the crossfire. 

How many assassination attempts had he faced since becoming a board member? 

He couldn't remember. Most of the attackers had been stripped of their combat abilities and sent to prison by Li Mo, to the point where the Security Officers' prison beds were now in short supply. 

"If this keeps up, Miss Tsuchimikado is going to complain to me about the lack of prison space." 

Li Mo glanced around. It was inherently unreasonable for him to move around alone, but he was doing it to lure out his enemies. He was playing the role of Jiang Taigong fishing—waiting for the fish to bite the hook willingly. But the fish in Academy City weren't very clever. Even with such an obvious hook, they still took the bait. Were all the elites really sent to the front lines by Aleister, leaving only the incompetent behind? 

Sensing that another fish had taken the bait, Li Mo quietly changed locations. In a place filled with skyscrapers, dark alleys were never in short supply. These alleys, shortcuts between major streets, were often gathering spots for thugs. 

They were natural ambush points and escape routes. The best way to deal with being followed was to make the pursuers expose themselves. And what could make them more agitated than their target suddenly disappearing? 

Li Mo waited for a moment in the alley, and soon his pursuer arrived. It seemed to be a tall man, likely a sniper. The moment they met, the man pulled out a gun and, with practiced ease, pulled the trigger. 

However... not a single bullet came out. 

"Ah, you're the most disappointing dark side operative I've ever met. Do you need me to help you with the safety lock..." 

"Y-you, stay back!" 

"Do I look that scary..." 

Li Mo smiled as he walked toward the man. The tall sniper panicked and fumbled with his weapon. 

Just as Li Mo estimated it would take about ten seconds for the man to even figure out how to unlock the safety, he suddenly felt a sharp pain. 

His right shoulder exploded, flesh and blood flying everywhere. 

"A sniper?" 

A shrine maiden shikigami flew out from the shadows, heading straight for the sniper. With the "Imaginary Number District: Five Elements Institution" inactive, any magic-based methods could move freely within Academy City. 

The tall sniper in front of Li Mo was knocked unconscious. A rookie who had been manipulated wasn't much of a threat. The real concern was the sniper. Why hadn't they aimed for his head? Lack of skill? But hitting him at all suggested some level of competence. Could it really just be luck? 

*Thud—* 

The shikigami moved quickly, and it returned just as fast. 

She dropped a man on the ground, nodded to Li Mo, and then disappeared back into his shadow. 

"I hit your shoulder!" 

The man had too many questions. Why could that girl float in the air? Why could she emerge from the ground? But none of that was as shocking as the fact that the person in front of him was completely unharmed. 

"A mercenary from outside Academy City? No wonder. A mercenary teamed up with a student—just the two of you?" Li Mo said. "You did hit me earlier. But have you forgotten where we are? In Academy City, anything can happen, right?" 

Li Mo rubbed his shoulder, where the clothing had been destroyed, revealing his skin. He used magic to immobilize the man and stepped forward to ask, "Tell me, do you know who hired you?" 

The mercenary remained silent. 

Li Mo: "Let me guess, you were paid regardless of success or failure, right? That money probably wasn't meant for you personally. What a hassle. I'll just take a look myself." 

Li Mo didn't know memory-reading magic, but that didn't mean he couldn't use hypnosis! There were plenty of magic spells that could manipulate the mind. Even if he didn't have a ready-made spell, he could easily create one based on myths or legends related to charm. His system inventory was filled with all sorts of strange items, enough to perform various rituals. 

The mercenary fell into a dazed state, his mind completely disoriented. Ordinary people, especially those without spy training, had no defense against magic. 

As expected, the man provided no useful information. The person who hired him only gave him the mission and a way into Academy City. Payment was made through an anonymous bank transfer. 

"Better hand him over to the Security Officers." 

Li Mo knocked the mercenary unconscious as well and walked out of the alley. He stood by the roadside, preparing to notify the Security Officers or Judgment to clean up the mess. 

The next second. 

He looked up. 

The surrounding skyscrapers were instantly cut in half. The sky was obscured by the collapsing buildings, which fell at an unnatural speed, far exceeding the acceleration of gravity, and came crashing down toward where Li Mo stood.