Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Sitting on the sofa, Frenda felt incredibly tense all over. She timidly raised her head, looking at the woman opposite her, and tried hard to squeeze out a smile.

The woman, with her arms crossed, glared at her.

”Are you Frenda?”

”Y-yes...”

Frenda swallowed a mouthful of saliva and nodded. She was also surprised when she received a message from the Dark Side. As a great ability user with friends all over the world, Frenda knew a bit about this dark organization within Academy City. But to be honest, she had never imagined she would get involved with the Dark Side.

Frankly, she wanted to refuse. After all, she and Flemia were living quite comfortably. The work at the Institute was not heavy, even considered easy. The subsidies given were enough to cover both of their living and education expenses, and Frenda wasn’t willing to risk joining such a dangerous and potentially deadly industry.

But unfortunately, she had no choice.

Especially when the other side hinted that if she didn’t obey, Flemia would be in trouble. Frenda had no choice but to agree. She and her sister relied on each other to survive in Academy City, with no other family. If they upset the Dark Side, they wouldn’t be able to stay in Academy City anymore.

Where could they go then?

Mr. Fang Zheng was a good person, but Frenda didn’t believe he could change the decision of the Dark Side. Especially after seeing the woman in front of her and hearing her name, Frenda completely gave up resistance and excuses.

Because standing before her was none other than the fourth ranked in Academy City’s LV5s, Atomic Collapse—Mugino Shizuri.

She had no courage to resist in front of her.

”I think you know the situation by now, you have to join our Dark Side, no problem, right?”

”N-no problem...”

Frenda forced a dry laugh as she looked around. Beside Mugino Shizuri, there was a girl with short black hair, and on the other side, a girl wearing a hoodie who looked very young.

These must be their members.

Thinking that she was becoming one of them, Frenda couldn’t help but sigh internally.

Who knows what the future will be like...

Meanwhile, Fang Zheng also learned from Flemia that Frenda hadn’t come to the Institute.

”She told you she was going out for a bit?”

Fang Zheng twirled his pen while picking up his phone, and on the other side came Flemia’s somewhat uneasy voice.

”Yes, big brother, sister said she had something to do, but I always felt like she was hiding something from me. I think it’s probably not a good thing, meow, big brother, do you know what sister is doing, meow?”

”You’re not a cat, what’s the point of meowing all the time?”

Fang Zheng rolled his eyes and reached out to rub the little kitten that had flipped on the table in front of him.

”It’s nothing, just some things I need her to do for me. After all, she’s working for me, right?”

”Eh? Meow? I thought big brother might have taken a liking to sister, meow.”

”... Huh? What did you say?”

”Isn’t big brother going on a date with sister? Using your power to force her to do something shameful, that’s usually the plot... Isn’t that what TV shows depict now, meow?”

”... I think Academy City needs a broadcasting regulatory bureau, and by the way, this is simply an insult to me. With my looks, do I need to force anyone?”

Fang Zheng snorted lightly.

Those Young Ladies from Tokiwadai, if Fang Zheng wanted, wouldn’t they be easy to get?

”Okay, don’t imagine those things, stay at home obediently. If Frenda comes back and sees you’re not there, she might freak out. And... ease up on the sweets.”

”Eh? How could you...!”

Ignoring the girl’s wails from the other end, Fang Zheng decisively hung up the phone and got up with the little kitten in his arms.

”Rem, I’m going out for a walk, you’re in charge of the house.”

”Yes, Lord Fang Zheng, safe travels.”

Time ticked by.

Frenda felt as if she was sitting on pins and needles. This was supposed to be the time she went to the Institute for experiments. If they noticed she wasn’t there, who knows what Fang Zheng would say. Although he’s usually easy-going, Frenda had a premonition that if she upset him, it would be very, very bad.

”Hmm? What’s wrong with you?”

Frenda’s restless look caught Mugino Shizuri’s attention, and she frowned, asking. Frenda hesitated for a moment, then replied with a nervous smile.

”Um... I... have a contract with the Institute, and I should be there for an experiment at this time...”

”What’s there to join in those lunatics’s experiments?”

Mugino Shizuri scoffed at this, glaring at Frenda coldly.

”Or are you not interested in our group and planning to sneak away?”

”No, no, of course not...!”

Frenda shook her head desperately. She didn’t dare to relay Fang Zheng’s previous words in front of Mugino Shizuri. This LV5 was not easy to deal with, and Frenda was sure if she dared, the other party would kill her the next moment.

If she had known, she should have made an excuse to text Mr. Fang Zheng beforehand... But unfortunately, Frenda’s phone was confiscated when she was brought here...

Then, as if to validate Frenda’s ominous premonition, the originally shut door suddenly slammed open, and a figure stepped in with large strides.

This unexpected scene startled everyone, and Frenda jumped off the sofa in fright. When she turned to the doorway and saw who had come in, she was stunned.

”Mr. Fang Zheng?”

”You’re forty-five minutes late, Frenda.”

Fang Zheng gently petted the kitten in his arms, staring at Frenda, and under his gaze, Frenda bowed her head.

”Well... no... um...”

”Who the hell are you?”

This time, Mugino also came rushing over, glaring at Fang Zheng and asked harshly.

”Do you know where this is?”

By now, Frenda was trembling in fear, almost collapsing to the ground, while Fang Zheng just glanced around casually.

”Your Dark Side’s den?”

”What did you say?!”

Hearing this, Mugino Shizuri’s eyes widened in anger, and even the other two girls frowned. Yet Fang Zheng ignored them, just waving at Frenda.

”Let’s go, we’re leaving, Frenda. Didn’t I tell you not to mingle with people from the Dark Side?”

Fang Zheng’s tone was casual, as if he was lecturing an honors student hanging out with delinquents, leaving Frenda speechless in fear.

”N-no, Mr. Fang Zheng, sh-she’s a LV, LV, LV5...”

”You’re really pissing me off!”

At that moment, the girl in shorts on the other side suddenly charged at Fang Zheng with a punch.

”This isn’t your place, get out!”

However, facing the girl’s punch, Fang Zheng swiftly dodged, then reversed his hand to grab her neck, lifting her up directly. Meanwhile, the kitten in Fang Zheng’s arms jumped onto his shoulder, as Fang Zheng raised his right hand.

”So young, yet choosing to learn bad things like joining the underworld!”

The right hand raised high and then came down.

”Smack!”

”Aah!”

With Fang Zheng’s palm coming down, the girl screamed immediately.

”Do you think being in the underworld is cool? Is it stylish?”

”Smack!”

”Aah!”

”Here’s a lesson for you, stop brandishing weapons all the time, and behave more like a quiet girl!”

”Smack!”

”Aah!”

Frenda watching this scene was completely dumbfounded and speechless, and the other two girls’ expressions also changed drastically. Unlike Frenda who had just joined, they had been with the girl for a long time and naturally knew how unusual this situation was.

In fact, the girl being spanked by Fang Zheng now is an ability user like Frenda, her name is Nunotaki Saiai, with a LEVEL4 ability ”Nitrogen Armor”. Nunotaki Saiai can manipulate nitrogen in the air to form thick armor, and her body can even resist sniper rifle attacks from all angles.

Normally, Fang Zheng’s slap on Nunotaki Saiai should be painless, as her nitrogen armor thickness is comparable to tank armor, a slap shouldn’t cause any reaction. However, Nunotaki Saiai now is crying like an ordinary little child from Fang Zheng’s spanking!

”Who exactly are you?”

Makino Shen Li’s face also sank, staring coldly at Fang Zheng.

”I am the director of the Quantum Neural Research Institute, Fang Zheng. You’ve taken my employee without my permission, which is considered kidnapping.”

”Hehe.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s reply, Makino Shen Li sneered coldly.

”This is the order from the Dark Side, besides, what qualifications do you have to make decisions for her?”

”Nonsense, at least I am her guardian.”

”Eh?”

Upon hearing this, Frenda looked at Fang Zheng in surprise.

”Guardian?”

”Hmm? Have you forgotten? When you initially signed an agreement with the research institute for funding support, you obtained guardianship rights, right? Later when it came to me, this clause didn’t change, so in Academy City, I can make decisions as your guardian.”

”Ah...did that happen?”

Frenda couldn’t recall this, but hearing Fang Zheng, it seemed... indeed, initially when the institute funded them to develop abilities in Academy City, there was a similar clause, but Frenda didn’t pay much attention then...

”Okay, admit your mistakes and change, you’re still a good kid.”

Putting down the tearful Nunotaki Saiai, Fang Zheng beckoned to Frenda.

”Alright, what are you waiting for? Let’s go back to the institute.”

”Ah...yes!”

Frenda quickly nodded and tried to run to Fang Zheng’s side, yet suddenly, a green light beam shot out between them, hitting the wall on the other side. The wall exploded with a ”boom”, creating a big hole.

Frenda stopped her steps, nervously turned around, and saw Makino Shen Li standing behind her, looking gloomy, raising her right hand and staring coldly. Beside Makino Shen Li, several light orbs emerged from thin air.

”Do you think this place is where you can leave whenever you want? I want to see what you are capable of!”

As Makino Shen Li roared, several green light beams shot out directly toward Fang Zheng. Seeing this scene, Frenda was startled, but the next moment, a more unimaginable thing happened.

Facing Makino Shen Li’s attack, Fang Zheng didn’t move an inch, the green light beams she fired simply... disappeared!

Yes, they disappeared!

How did he do that?!

At this moment, even Frenda had her eyes wide open, after all, the opponent was LV5! And she had a rough idea of Makino Shen Li’s attack power just now, she originally thought Fang Zheng would block or dodge, yet he did nothing, and her attack vanished by itself?

What kind of ability is this?

”You...!”

But this only made Makino Shen Li angrier, the next moment, dozens of green light orbs appeared beside her, constantly expanding and growing, seeing this, Frenda’s face turned pale — she was going to blow up the entire base!

Yet facing Makino Shen Li’s attack, Fang Zheng just looked at her coldly, then snorted lightly.

”Hmph.”

Just a sound.

Instantly, Makino Shen Li seemed to be blown back by an invisible whirlwind, crashing heavily against the wall. Then her whole body stuck tightly to the wall, unable to move. Simultaneously, the light orbs around her extinguished like candles in the wind, disappearing completely.

”Damn...damn...!!”

Even so, Makino Shen Li still glared at Fang Zheng with bloodshot eyes, gritting her teeth, growling like a wounded beast. Seeing this, Frenda moved away from Makino Shen Li, right now she looked less like a human, more like a beast that had lost consciousness.

Meanwhile, green light orbs once again emerged, this time, there were hundreds!

But facing this scene, Fang Zheng only glanced at her.

”Ignorant.”

As soon as he spoke, everything changed instantly.

Makino Shen Li’s eyes suddenly turned white, her body twitched, then with a ”squelch”, smelly excrement flowed from between her legs, and she then fell to the ground like a ragged doll, making no sound.

”Mr. Fang Zheng, you wouldn’t have killed her, right...?”

Watching this scene in shock, Frenda nervously asked, while Fang Zheng shrugged.

”Just taught her a lesson, wild dogs need a good beating to learn to behave.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng walked towards Nunotaki Saiai, seeing Fang Zheng come by, Nunotaki Saiai shivering while rubbing her bottom, another girl beside her curled up and stayed silent.

Kidding, he could instantly defeat an LV5!

”What are you going to do?”

”Pass a message to the Dark Side for me, if Mokuhara Genki wants to live a few more days, if the Coordinating Council doesn’t plan to leave, if Arestar still wants to enjoy being the chairman, stay away from me and my institute. I’m giving them a choice, next, they’ll decide their fate.”

After speaking, Fang Zheng didn’t even glance at the unconscious Makino Shen Li, and turned to leave, beckoning.

”Alright, back to the institute, Frenda.”

”Ah, yes!!”

Upon hearing this, Frenda seemed to come to her senses, nodded vigorously, then followed alongside Fang Zheng skittishly.

This time, her figure seemed much lighter.