Tokyo: Magical Girl Shatters My Dream of Going Public

Chapter 79 The butterfly flapped its wings and stirred up a hurricane (3/5)

Kanzaki Jin frowned: "What video?"

As he approached, Utsuho also came closer.

Hachiro clicked to play.

The footage is shaky, and the camera angle is clearly that of a handheld device.

The video begins with a lively narration by a young girl, set against the backdrop of a nighttime scene in a mountainous area.

The title reads: "Late-night exploration of the highway legend of the old woman! Unexpectedly, a mysterious battle was captured on camera!"

At first, Kanzaki Jin thought it was just a regular paranormal video.

But soon—

The scene shifts to the distant mountains.

Blinding golden lightning flashed continuously there, turning the night sky as bright as day.

Even through the lens, you can feel the violent energy fluctuations.

Immediately afterwards, the drone took off, its overhead view cutting into a charred, cracked surface, molten craters, and large swathes of soil scorched into a glassy state.

The traces left on the battlefield were clearly recorded.

Kanzaki Jin remained silent.

Utsuho looked confused: "What does this video mean? Is there a new vengeful spirit that hasn't been contained?"

To an uninformed bystander like her, this inexplicable video was indeed baffling.

Hachiro lowered his voice: "This video has already gone viral in our old special forces chat group."

He paused, then added, "And I have received confirmation that the magical girl [Sky Flash] is still in the hospital undergoing emergency treatment; her injuries are very serious."

Utsue's eyes widened: "A magical girl? Seriously injured?"

She didn't participate in the Xiapu Lake operation, but she heard that a magical girl was involved.

Even she knew about the existence of the magical girl [Sky Flash].

"Aren't magical girls supposed to be strong? Who hurt her like this?"

Kanzaki Jin remained silent throughout.

He stared at the chaotic battlefield on the screen, quickly piecing together clues in his mind.

In the mountainous suburbs, lightning flashed, a severely damaged lightning bolt.

If it weren't for vengeful spirits, and magical girls fighting amongst themselves—

There's only one answer left...

It's the president of the company above him.

When Kurokawa said he "didn't believe in magical girls" last time, Kanzaki Jin simply assumed it was a difference in ideology between Kurokawa and magical girls.

Although he agreed with the other party's assessment of magical girls, magical girls now have irreplaceable advantages.

He neither could nor was he able to agree with Kurokawa's ideas...

Now it seems that it wasn't just empty talk.

He really intends to replace them.

Kanzaki withdrew his gaze and said to the two, "Let's go back to the company. We still need to tidy up the company tonight. We'll officially open in a week."

'

"yes--!"

The soldiers' habits were ingrained in their bones, and the two immediately obeyed orders.

Get on the bus and head back to the company.

Yagi Heavy Industries, Department of Magical Application Technology, Core Research Lab.

Momotomo Otsuka was practically glued to the screen.

Her long gray hair was haphazardly piled up, and her black-rimmed glasses had slipped down to the tip of her nose.

She bit the end of her pen, her fingers flying across the calculation paper next to the keyboard, filling it with strings of messy formulas and parameters.

On the screen, a drone-captured aerial view of the battlefield is displayed.

Scorched earth, cracks, and molten pits.

drop.

The airtight door to the research lab slid open.

Sakura walked in silently, carrying two cups of coffee.

Seeing that Otsuka was completely absorbed in his calculations, she quietly placed a cup of coffee on the corner of the table, took another cup for herself, and stood a little distance away to wait.

The soft scratching of the pen on the paper, the gentle tapping of the keyboard, occasionally punctuated by Otsuka's irritated smacking of his lips.

Sudden-

"Aaaaaah—!"

Otsuka threw down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and grabbed his hair with both hands.

"I can't figure it out! It doesn't match at all!"

The chair slid backward abruptly due to her movement, bumping into Sakura behind her.

"—!" Otsuka was startled, turned around and saw Sakurako, "Sakurako, when did you get here?"

"Just now." Sakura smiled and pushed the still-warm cup of coffee on the corner of the table closer. "I saw you were very focused, so I didn't want to disturb you."

Otsuka grabbed a coffee and took a big gulp, letting out a long sigh of relief: "Saved—this data is simply counterintuitive."

""

Sakura looked at the screen: "Is it still that video?"

"Hmm." Otsuka poked the scorch mark on the screen with the tip of his pen. "I tried to fit it with various models—none of them were right."

She switched between several analysis charts: "The energy concentration is too high, and the decay method is too clean," as if it had been absorbed by some extremely efficient conversion system.

Sakurako's gaze sharpened slightly: "Not a vengeful spirit, nor a magical girl?"

"Absolutely not." Otsuka said firmly, "The residual energy of vengeful spirits would be even dirtier," and "the magical girl's would be even brighter." But this—"like a meticulously prepared battlefield."

The two exchanged a silent glance.

The same answer arose in their minds.

Night watchman.

"So they really do exist—"

Otsuka bit the end of his pen, his eyes shining.

"And this combat suit technology—it's outrageous. With such high energy efficiency, how did they solve the problems of heat dissipation and load on the carrier? It simply doesn't make sense from a materials science perspective—"

She fell into the mutterings of a tech geek.

Sakura coughed softly to draw her attention: "Doctor, I've come here for something else."

"Um?"

"After seeing this video, the government and major investors became very interested in the potential of the combat suit," Sakura said calmly. "They decided to increase their investment and accelerate the development of the [Shadow Warrior] project."

Otsuka's eyes lit up instantly: "Could it be—!"

"Yes," Sakura nodded. "Your previous proposal for the [prototype] combat suit has been approved. Resources will be prioritized, and it can be activated immediately."

"Very good--!"

Otsuka sprang up from his chair, nearly spilling his coffee.

She grabbed Sakura's hand: "Let's go to the lab right now!"

"Doctor, coffee—" Sakura quickly steadied the cup and was pulled by her to walk outside.

In the corridor, Otsuka walked quickly, the hem of his white coat fluttering.

Sakura quickly followed beside him.

Halfway there, Otsuka suddenly remembered something and abruptly stopped: "That's right! There's also the [Puppet Project]!"

'

She turned around and clasped her hands together in front of Sakura.

"We don't have enough materials! — We need to request at least three times, no, five times the budget! to move on to the next stage!"

Sakura pondered.

The company's original target was the vengeful spirit codenamed "Maiko".

However, when they tried to carry it out, they found that someone else had beaten them to it, so they had to settle for second best and use a less powerful vengeful spirit to start the "Puppet Project".

The technology of "Battle Puppet" is indeed crucial, as it relates to automated combat.

"I understand." Sakura nodded. "I will compile the report and apply for additional budget."

Otsuka breathed a sigh of relief and continued walking briskly towards the laboratory.

As she walked, she suddenly turned her head and looked at Sakura.

"Speaking of which, how are things going with your guy, Ye Jun, lately? Are you still sending him lunchboxes?"

Sakura paused for a moment, then resumed her normal pace.

"Same as always. But lately—he seems really busy. I don't even need to bring him lunch anymore."

"Very busy?" Otsuka raised an eyebrow. "So busy you don't even have time to eat lunch? Could it be... you're cheating on me?"

Sakura chuckled: "Doctor, we're not dating, so how can you say we're cheating?"

"Tsk, how boring." Otsuka curled his lip. "Aren't you worried? Men, once they start saying they're busy, there's usually something wrong with them."

Sakura gently shook her head, her voice soft yet calm: "I believe him. Besides—if he were really dating someone else, he would have just told me directly; he wouldn't have needed to use 'being busy' as an excuse."

Otsuka stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly leaned closer, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with gossip.

"You spoil him too much. If you ask me, you should just go to his company and see what he's really up to." What—"

"Doctor," Sakura gently interrupted her, pointing ahead, "We've arrived at the laboratory."

"Ah! Yes!"

Otsuka's attention was instantly drawn back, and he pushed open the laboratory door, shouting as he rushed inside.

"New research funding has come in. Everyone's working overtime tonight! We must get the [prototype] ready within two weeks!"

Step out of the lab!

Sakura stood outside the door, watching her cheerful figure as she walked away, and smiled gently.

Then, she lowered her head, took her phone out of her pocket, and hovered her fingertip over the screen for a moment.

In the end, I turned off the screen and didn't dial that familiar number.

She put away her phone, composed herself, and stepped into the laboratory.

"Doctor, should I contact the materials department first?"

7