Simulation: Starting from Under One Person

Kinuhata loves to hold up a tablet computer. Even if no one present knows anything about it, she can find out by searching online. After all, the power of silly netizens is very strong.

Then, Kinuhata Saiai quickly rattled off a bunch of shop names and phone numbers. Fang Rui had excellent hearing and memory, and could remember the phone numbers after hearing them only once.

After that, I made phone calls and ordered takeout.

Fang Rui was quite direct, announcing that he wanted the restaurant's best-selling set meals, as well as other specialty dishes he had learned about from other sources, such as eel rice, tonkotsu ramen, tempura...

As Fang Rui recited the menu, cold sweat gradually spread across the foreheads of the people standing nearby.

Is that a bit too much?!

With so few of us, how could we possibly finish eating?!

There's no doubt that it's impossible to finish it all, but if the workers delivering goods are coming here later, you can invite them to have a meal together.

"Wait a moment! All the dishes will be delivered within half an hour."

As Fang Rui spoke, he looked at the empty room and said to the others, "Move the dining tables from the other rooms over. I think one dining table isn't enough."

'It's not that it's not enough, it's definitely... not enough!'

The group thought to themselves, "The takeout you ordered earlier was probably enough for sixteen people, if not six."

While waiting for the food to arrive, the group looked at each other for a while, and eventually, feeling a bit bored, they started talking about something...

The things they were talking about were recent events in Academy City.

"Recently, some rumors have been circulating in Academy City, saying that there is a 'Imagine Mage' that can enhance the strength of abilities."

Frenda said this, after all, she knew Saten Ruiko, who was very fond of urban legends. She already knew about the "Ghostbusters" rumors when they first came out, and then shared them with Frenda during a casual chat.

"Hmm?" Fang Rui was a little concerned upon hearing this. Had the Fantasy Master already been released at this stage?

Accelerator became interested upon hearing this. He had been tricked into believing that his abilities would be "enhanced," but after experimenting for so long, his strength had not increased at all. Instead, his emotions were getting worse and worse!

Mugino Shizuri was also somewhat interested; even at Level 5, he still wanted to improve his abilities.

Takitsubo Rigo and Kinuhata Saiai weren't particularly interested, since it didn't sound very reliable!

How could one's abilities be improved so easily?

"It sounds a bit... strange!" Frenda couldn't find a suitable adjective, so she just picked one and began to recount her findings.

"Then I did some investigation and found that there were no corresponding items in Academy City. The rumors... are just rumors."

"But I discovered that the rumors broke out on a specific day, and there seems to be only one person spreading them..."

Although Flanda's hacking skills are mediocre, she has friends, some of whom are quite skilled hackers. After all, they make a living in the shadows, and without a special skill, they can't last long.

"You mean someone is deliberately spreading rumors?" Accelerator asked.

"Why would that person do this?" Mugino Shizuri followed closely behind. Spreading rumors deliberately must be for some purpose.

But what was the purpose of spreading rumors about tools that could enhance abilities? It was something none of them could guess.

'Looks like this is just a warm-up.' Fang Rui thought to himself, wanting the information to ferment for a while, so that when the 'Fantasy Master' actually appeared, it would be ignited like dry tinder meeting a raging fire.

In other words, someone's research has yielded results.

With that in mind, Fang Rui decided to act as soon as possible, as he was somewhat interested in the Fantasy Master.

After all, a tool that integrates the consciousness of everyone and then shares computing power is something that makes people curious.

The problem is that the side effects of "Fantasy Master" are quite high, making it unsuitable for widespread use.

'It feels somewhat similar to the magic networks and crossover networks in games and novels; you connect to the network and then draw power from it…'

'But the difference is quite obvious; after all, things like the Comprehensive Network and the Magic Network don't have such severe side effects.'

Then, Fang Rui's thoughts drifted in another direction. He wondered if it was possible to eliminate the side effects and turn the Fantasy Master Network into a facility similar to a comprehensive network...

It's very challenging, but given his current status as a demon god, he should be able to do it...

perhaps!

Fang Rui couldn't be sure, but he had no intention of using the power outside this world, since the power of the Demon God was sufficient.

In the world of A Certain Magical Index, demon gods have the authority to modify the world at will, without needing to use other powers.

"There must be a purpose behind it..."

Frenda added a pointless remark, but the others didn't say anything because they had no better guesses and therefore wouldn't question Frenda's statement.

While the group chatted, the food was served, so they stopped talking and started eating...

Later, the furniture delivery workers arrived one after another and were invited by Fang Rui to have lunch together, further increasing the number of people eating...

The food Fang Rui bought was enough for everyone; there would be no shortage of anything.

Perhaps because they had received some bribes, the workers were exceptionally careful and quick when assembling the furniture...

In less than an hour, all the furniture in all the rooms had been installed. As for the subsequent arrangements, Fang Rui and the others took care of them themselves.

"Let's rest first! We can talk about it tomorrow."

So everyone went back to their rooms to rest. Fang Rui sat on his bed, playing on his phone...

He was searching for information about Kiyama Harumi. The AIM Analysis Research Institute was already in a semi-abandoned state, after all, Kiyama Harumi was researching "Imagine Manipulator", something that could not be known to others.

"Then in what capacity should I meet her?" Fang Rui thought for a moment and finally decided to get straight to the point.

Sometimes, it's better to say things directly.

………………

The next day, early in the morning.

Fang Rui woke up from a deep sleep, stared at the ordinary ceiling, gazed at it quietly for a while, then quickly got up, pushed open the door, and left the apartment.

Considering that Accelerator and others might come looking for him, he left a note in the living room, and the door to his room was also left open.

As for the issue of thieves...

If any thief dared to steal from the demon god's house, the consequences would be predictable.

Fang Rui doesn't need to leave his home to have the thieves return the items.

After leaving the apartment, Fang Rui went straight to Kamijou Touma's residence and told him about his plans to start a company and his intention to invite Kamijou Touma's father, Kamijou Touya, to serve as a member of the company's management team.

"I will tell my father." Touma Kamijou did not make any promises, only that he would pass on the message.

"As soon as possible," Fang Rui instructed before leaving. As for inviting the other person, there was no need to rush.

After all, Misaka Mirei's current focus is on returning to student life, and she won't give up the university she just got into to work for Fang Rui, but she'll probably agree to serve as an advisor.

After leaving Touma Kamijou's residence, Fang Rui headed to the AIM Analysis Research Institute.

There's a saying: "You can run away from the monk, but you can't run away from the temple."

Therefore, Fang Rui chose to stay at the research institute and wait for Kiyama Haruo to come to him.

Fang Rui didn't wait outside the research institute, but went inside. Access control and the like were useless to Fang Rui.

The research institute was somewhat messy, clearly having not been cleaned for some time. Even in one of the rooms that had a more lived-in feel, things were still a bit cluttered, suggesting that the person living there wasn't very good at handling household chores.

Sitting in his standard office chair, Fang Rui picked up the files on his desk and began to examine them. There were no files related to "Fantasy Master," only ordinary AIM parsing files...

As for the computer being encrypted, Fang Rui had no intention of cracking the password.

As for the sense of home life, Fang Rui drew that conclusion from the clothes scattered around the room...

“It has no taste at all…” he said, looking at the plain, unremarkable underwear.

"It is very impolite to casually comment on someone else's clothing."

A mature woman with a somewhat gloomy expression entered from outside the door. She was dressed in a standard white shirt, black skirt, black tights, and high heels, with a white coat resembling a trench coat over it...

"Is that so?" Fang Rui didn't feel awkward about being caught by the person involved while talking about someone behind their back. Instead, he calmly changed the subject.

"I heard you were spreading rumors about 'ability enhancement,' so I came to see what you're really up to."

Upon hearing this, Kiyama Harumi's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately denied it, "I don't know where you got this information from, but it's undoubtedly false. I haven't spread any such rumors."

"Do you think that now that I've come to your door, I wouldn't have any relevant evidence?"

Fang Rui retorted, "Kiyama Harumi's stubbornness is really quite poor; it's easy to tell she's acting."

Upon hearing this, Kiyama Harumi clenched his fists, his expression one of gritted teeth, "...Since you have evidence, why are you asking me?"

Judging from his attitude, he has no intention of giving up. People who are determined are not so easy to give up.

"I want to talk business with you." Fang Rui ignored Kiyama Harumi's attitude and chose to get straight to the point. "I'm somewhat interested in 'Imagine Master.' After you successfully develop it, I'll want a copy..."

"The computing power you crave, I can also get it for you."

Misaka Networks' computing power can be used by others, through the aid of machines and equipment...

Given the level of Misaka Networks, it should be sufficient.

If the computing power is still not enough, Fang Rui will directly hack into the tree diagram designer and give it to Kiyama Haruo for a period of time.

Those who care about this matter cannot confirm that he did it.

Knowing that he was the one who did it, he wouldn't care about it.

"So...shall we make a deal?"

"You know what I want?" Kiyama Harumi narrowed her eyes, her attitude very wary. This person seemed to know her too much, something was not right.

“I have my sources of information.” Fang Rui still didn’t care about the other person’s attitude and took the initiative to show his sincerity. “I can provide you with computing power first, but you have to complete ‘Fantasy Master’.”

Upon hearing this, Kiyama Harumi frowned and asked, "What do you intend to do with 'Imagine Mage'?"

"Let's conduct an experiment to see if we can eliminate the side effects of 'Imagine Master' and transform it into a device that assists in calculations."

Fang Rui's explanation was vague, and Kiyama Haruo did not completely believe Fang Rui's words.

Give me some time to think about it.

"Of course, no problem. Once you agree, I will give you what I promised."

Fang Rui said this, and then left.

Chapter 597 Training

Kiyama Harumi looked at the note on the desk, and an email address came into view.