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

"You're still carrying Kakine Teitoku with you?" 

In District 13, the most bustling area of Academy City, filled with all kinds of entertainment venues, Li Mo and Yakumi Hisako were scheduled to meet. 

Kihara Yuiitsu was also there. She looked at Li Mo, who hadn't come alone, and asked, "Why are you still carrying him around?" 

The young board member was still holding the unconscious Kakine Teitoku. Strangely, this didn't seem to draw any attention from the people around them. 

"What else can I do? He's barely even human at this point. I can't predict when he'll wake up. What if he wakes up and starts wrecking the place? It's also my fault for mentioning that name," Li Mo explained. 

Within his faction, there was no one who could reliably suppress Kakine Teitoku. Reluctantly, he had no choice but to bring him along. 

"I thought you brought him here to pressure Yakumi Hisako." 

"I'm not good at using threats. When I swing my stick, it's usually to kill. Besides… Yakumi Hisako isn't an easy opponent, is she? Thanks to you." 

Yakumi Hisako's mind had been implanted with Kihara Yuiitsu's "way of thinking," making her half a Kihara. This was why she was so obsessed with becoming an AIM being. 

—Of course, Kihara Yuiitsu's goal was to turn Yakumi Hisako into her personal ATM. 

Kihara Yuiitsu said, "Are you implying that I'm easy to deal with?" 

"Your Kihara way of thinking is much simpler than that of politicians. Anyway, let's not keep Board Member Yakumi waiting. Are you coming in? If not, could you keep an eye on Kakine Teitoku for me?" 

"Sure." 

What followed was a negotiation between two board members. Even as a "Kihara," Kihara Yuiitsu couldn't get involved. 

To be precise, it wasn't that she *couldn't*, but that she *wouldn't*. 

Li Mo entered the room and saw a woman in her thirties with curly brown hair and painted nails, looking like a fashionable urban professional. 

"Nice to meet you, Board Member Li." 

Her voice was sweet, and combined with her appearance, she seemed less like an elite and more like a pop idol. 

"Nice to meet you, Board Member Yakumi." 

Li Mo wasn't surprised. Not looking like an elite was normal. His own attire didn't scream "corporate executive" either. Even the Board Chairman floated in a life-support tank, so for people like them, dressing casually was fine. 

"I wasn't sure about your tastes, so I chose this Western restaurant. I hope it's to your liking." 

"I'm not picky about food. Board Member Yakumi, shall we get straight to the point?" 

Li Mo sat down across from Yakumi Hisako. 

The woman before him, who looked to be in her thirties, was actually over seventy. Anyone who knew Yakumi Hisako's true age would be amazed. The idea of eternal youth had become a reality. 

But, thinking about it, it wasn't that strange. 

This was Academy City, after all! 

Monsters who could affect the Earth's rotation existed here. Eternal youth wasn't that far-fetched. 

"Board Member Li, you're quite straightforward, aren't you?" 

"Kakine Teitoku is right outside. To be honest, your choice has caused me quite a bit of trouble… I still don't have a safe way to contain him." 

"Why not just implant a nano-bomb in his head?" 

The woman spoke the coldest words in the sweetest tone. To her, the #2 esper was no different from an ordinary student. 

Li Mo said, "I thought you'd be more radical, like suggesting we just kill him outright." 

"If you were willing to kill him, we'd only be seeing his corpse right now." 

"True, but I don't like using such methods," Li Mo replied. "It's not that I *can't*, but that I *won't*. It's not that I'm soft-hearted, but doing something like that wouldn't make me happy. I don't like doing things that don't make me happy." 

Yakumi Hisako paused, then raised her glass and said, "When I think about it, I've been working in Academy City for over fifty or sixty years. I've dedicated my youth to this city. Over such a long time, I've accumulated quite a bit of connections and resources. Aside from supporting your actions against the dark side, I can also share my network and resources with you." 

"In exchange, I have to participate in your experiments, right? Board Member Yakumi, out of personal curiosity, I'm very interested in your desire to become an AIM being. Can you tell me why?" Li Mo asked. 

Yakumi Hisako replied, "Sorry, it's a personal reason. I can't tell anyone." 

"That's a shame… As for this deal, I'm sorry, but I don't have a clear understanding of the scope of your resources and connections," Li Mo said with a smile. "So, could you give me a demonstration, Board Member Yakumi?" 

"Of course, no problem." 

Yakumi Hisako nodded. 

The conversation between the two board members lasted only as long as a meal. Soon, Kihara Yuiitsu, who had been dining next door, welcomed her guests. 

As a "Kihara," Kihara Yuiitsu adhered to the principle of not interfering in board members' discussions. But now that it was mealtime, she naturally wouldn't let herself go hungry. 

"Did it go well?" 

"It went well. I understand why you chose Yakumi Hisako. She's really… loaded." 

What business is the most lucrative? Without a doubt, it's healthcare. In capitalist societies, doctors are undoubtedly high-paying professionals, and the profit margins in the medical field are enormous. 

Yakumi Hisako, in her seventies, had accumulated an absurd amount of resources over the years. 

Li Mo had originally planned to use Kakine Teitoku to pressure Yakumi Hisako. But he had to admit, what she offered was simply too much. 

"By the way, how did Yakumi Hisako know that I used AIM fields to create an angel's body?" 

"The commotion that day was so big. Did you really think the board members wouldn't find out?" 

"Fair point." 

Li Mo said, "Yuiitsu, I have a proposal." 

"When you use such an intimate nickname, I know you're about to ask for a favor. What? Do you find me attractive?" Kihara Yuiitsu smiled. 

"I won't deny that you're beautiful, but I'm a married man. What I value is your brain. Yuiitsu, let's create **'Anti-Magic Powered Armor'**!" Li Mo declared. 

Kihara Yuiitsu's interest was piqued. The so-called **"Anti-Magic Powered Armor"** was the powered suit her mentor, Kihara Gensei, had piloted. She knew it was a combination of many weapons, but she also knew that the suit, which appeared to be a pinnacle of technology, had been imbued with "magical" power. Piloting that suit, her mentor had been nearly invincible in Academy City. 

"Developing that kind of powered armor? Do you have a plan?" 

Li Mo pointed to his head and said, "Let's just say, there's a library in my brain. It contains knowledge of almost every magic in existence." 

"Pleasure doing business with you," Kihara Yuiitsu extended her hand. 

Li Mo shook it. 

"By the way, Yuiitsu. That nurse who escorted Yakumi Hisako earlier… was that Rensa?" 

"Yes." 

"Good." 

One of the conditions Li Mo had proposed was that he wanted access to Rensa and her data. Yakumi Hisako had agreed to part of it.