On how PhDs become human evil

"That's not all, Ritsuka, Mashu."

The communication device on Fujimaru Ritsuka's wrist rang, and Roman's voice came into their ears.

"I have observed parallel worlds similar to yours and found that they are all technology-driven worlds. Although there is a phenomenon called Honkai, they are still technology-driven overall."

“Wait, Doctor, you said this is a world dominated by technology?” Fujimaru Ritsuka frowned. “But I’ve seen traces of magic everywhere I go.”

Yes, even though she only walked down one street, Fujimaru Ritsuka was certain that magic existed everywhere here.

The building materials were magically processed, the interior of the house had everyday protective barriers, and the park had invigorating spells... It can be said that magic has permeated every corner of this area, and it is also clear that the technology of this world is quite advanced.

In other words, this is a world where science and magic coexist, but Roman says that magic doesn't exist in the other parallel worlds.

“This is also an effect of that beast, causing the world's development to deviate from its original course,” Mash said.

"That's true. In terms of its nature, this world has already begun to transform into a Lostbelt. I'm afraid it will become a Lostbelt completely in a few hundred years."

Lostbelt.

Upon hearing this word, Ritsuka and Mash's faces both darkened. Having traversed seven Lostbelts, they could better understand the tragedy of Lostbelts—worlds not recognized by the correct history, worlds whose very existence was abandoned.

This world appears prosperous, but it is actually heading towards collapse step by step. Although it is unknown how long it will take, this world will eventually destroy itself. This is the end of every Lostbelt.

Just as Ritsuka and Mash were feeling sorry for the Lostbelt, the communication device rang again, and this time it was Leonardo da Vinci's voice: "Don't be so pessimistic, Ritsuka, Mash. Although it is turning into a Lostbelt, Romani also said that it will take hundreds of years. That means we still have time to stop this world from becoming a Lostbelt."

"If our speculation is correct, the source of the Lostbelt should be that newly appeared beast."

The newly emerged beasts, a world that is gradually becoming a Lostbelt.

With these two things on her mind, Fujimaru Ritsuka said, "Doctor, Da Vinci-chan, will this Lostbelt be the same as the ones we've experienced before?"

Lostbelts are branches not recognized by human history; they are superfluous. Like a gardener pruning trees, Lostbelts are things that need to be cut off. Once cut off, they can only be destroyed, and everything within a Lostbelt will be destroyed along with the Lostbelt.

Fujimaru Ritsuka has experienced seven Lostbelts and witnessed seven destructions, but even now, she still resists this ending. Perhaps this is the last bit of innocence in her heart as she gradually becomes inhuman.

But no matter what, what Fujimaru Ritsuka wants to do remains unchanged.

"Let's go, Mashu."

Fujimaru Ritsuka stood up, her amber eyes flashing with determination.

"The other side has exposed their location without any attempt to conceal it, so there's no need for us to search blindly like before. Let's go straight to their headquarters!"

"Understood, senior!"

Hearing Fujimaru Ritsuka's ambitious words, Roman couldn't help but say worriedly, "Ritsuka, don't be careless. No matter what, the opponent is Beast. Once a battle breaks out, use the device we gave you to retreat, understand?"

"You mean this sublimator? The same model as Xiao Lu's."

"Yes, with this you can borrow the power of the Heroic Spirits to some extent. If necessary, don't hesitate to use the power of me and King Hassan."

Grand Magician Solomon, Grand Assassin Old Man of the Mountain.

The combined power of two Grandmasters, even if only a portion of it, can rival that of the Beast to some extent, making it perfectly suitable for strategic retreats.

Touching the equipment at her waist, Fujimaru Ritsuka took a deep breath and led Mash toward the direction radiating immense magical power.

Section 332, Chapter 25. Tsukasa Kadoya: I passed by today too.

"Dong dong!"

A knock came at the door.

"I am Zuikaku, may I come in, Commander?"

"Okay, come in."

The door opened, and Ruihe walked into the command center carrying a stack of documents. However, when she went in, she didn't see Bai Jie writing furiously at his desk, but rather Bai Jie standing with his back to her by the window, looking outside.

After putting down the documents and coming behind Bai Jie, Zuikaku asked, "Are you looking at the scenery outside, Commander?"

"No, I just sensed something that's been bothering me."

Bai Jie's brows were tightly furrowed.

He woke up exceptionally early today, around midnight, not because he couldn't fall back asleep, but because he suddenly sensed an extremely powerful magical fluctuation appearing in the Sakura Empire's territory during his sleep.

Of course, Bai Jie wouldn't be so concerned if it were just a huge fluctuation of magic power, but the problem is that he can't sense the source of that magic power.

Every magical fluctuation has its source, just as a river has a source, a building has a foundation, and a tree has a trunk. Everything has its origin, and the law of conservation of energy applies to everything.

However, Bai Jie could not find the source of the enormous magical power that appeared in the Sakura Empire area at dawn. All he could do was track the movement of that magical power. After finding the existence of that magical power with his clairvoyance, Bai Jie was even more surprised, because the holder of that magical power was actually just a young girl around twenty years old!

(If we can't detect the source of her magic in this world, does that mean the source of her magic is in another world... a dimensional rift?)

Bai Jie felt things were getting complicated. Since the other party could cross the dimensional rift to come to this world, it meant that the other party was the most troublesome type in every sense. After all, no one who could cross worlds was simple.

"Zuikaku, pass on the word: if you see two people in a row, not dressed in Sakura Empire uniforms, saying they want to see me, just bring them here without reporting them," Bai Jie said. "I have a feeling something interesting will happen today."

Although she didn't know why Bai Jie gave such an order, Ruihe was already used to Bai Jie's capriciousness. In fact, compared to what he had done before, this was already quite restrained—Ruihe would never forget the time when Bai Jie moved her panty space on a whim!

But that's not the point. The point is that she originally thought she would be pounced on by Bai Jie, but Bai Jie actually did nothing. To be honest, Ruihe is a great beauty, okay? He wasn't even a little bit unmoved?!

"Huh? I sent your panties? I probably did it unconsciously. Sometimes I do really bad things on a whim. Sorry." — That's how Bai Jie explained it afterward, and Rui He was furious!

Fortunately, Bai Jie eventually treated Ruihe to a buffet until she was stuffed, which barely made her forgive him.

Ahem... Getting back to the point, after understanding Bai Jie's meaning, Zuikaku left the office to inform the ship girls below.

After Ruihe left, Bai Jie did not return to his desk to handle official business. Instead, he continued to look at the scenery outside, a complex expression appearing in his red eyes. The direction he was looking was the direction of that magic.

"What an unpleasant magic, it's like encountering a nemesis."

"Wow? I never expected to hear such words from him. That's quite a surprise."

A second voice rang out in the office. After a slight pause, Bai Jie recognized the voice and a nostalgic expression appeared on his face. He smiled and said, "Did you just happen to be passing through this world this time, Shi?"

Wearing a black suit and a magenta shirt, Tsukasa Kadoya approached Hakuge: "Well, I heard you came back to this world, so I came to see you, and then I heard something interesting from you."

"I really didn't expect that you, the pacifist who would never fight unless someone came to your doorstep, would say such hostile things. You've really changed a lot."

With a smile, Bai Jie said, "Well, there are a few things I don't want to encounter either, just like how you don't like sea cucumbers."

"That's what Kaito hates, okay?" Tsukasa Kadoya rolled his eyes at Bai Jie, annoyed. "So, what are you planning to do this time?"

"You're already sure I'll cause trouble before I've even said anything? Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Bai Jie rolled his eyes at him. "Besides, when it comes to causing trouble, we're about equal."

Upon hearing this, both the former leader of Dai-Shocker and the current Human Evil fell silent.

"...Alright, let's stop with the banter. Since you're here, you can do me a favor."

"Let me make this clear first, I don't do anything that hurts people." Tsukasa Kadoya declared that he is the most loving Kamen Rider.

"I'd have to be out of my mind to believe you. If you had any compassion, I'd be a saint," Bai Jie laughed. "It's nothing serious, just asking you to pretend for a bit. You have plenty of identities, right? Just act as my secretary for now."

Upon hearing this, Tsukasa Kadoya immediately knew what Bai Jie was up to: "You really have a twisted sense of humor."

"We're in the same boat, okay?"

----------------------

At noon, after having lunch on the road, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu arrived at the Sakura Empire's headquarters with the help of kind strangers along the way. Along the way, they also learned about the current state of this world.

"I never imagined the world would face such a crisis. A monster from the sea?"

"You wouldn't guess it just by looking at the bustling streets; it's all thanks to Azur Lane." Mashu said, glancing at the command center before her. "Is that beast here?"

Nodding, Fujimaru Ritsuka said, "Although I don't know why he would impersonate a commander of Azur Lane, he's definitely in here. Let's go, Mash."

Touching the equipment at her waist, Fujimaru Ritsuka took a deep breath and approached the two ship girls guarding the door: "Hello, we'd like to visit the Commander-in-Chief here. May we ask—"

"Oh, so you're the two the Commander mentioned would be visiting, right?" Before Fujimaru Ritsuka could finish speaking, one of the ship girls said, "The Commander already gave the order that you should go see him as soon as you arrive."

"Huh?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu were immediately stunned. They had been prepared to be stopped at the outside, but now they were being told they could go in directly? Could it be that the beast had already noticed their presence?

P.S.: I'm thinking about what to write for the next volume. Does anyone have any good suggestions? How about JoJo?

Section 333, Chapter 26. Bai Jie: Weber, you little brat, you freeloaded my stuff?

"Shi, I'm getting a little excited right now."

Bai Jie suddenly said that the stack of documents on his desk had already been put away, and now his desk was spotless.

Incidentally, Bai Jie is currently wearing a pair of non-prescription glasses, with his back to the sunlight, and a serious expression on his face.

"I feel like the big boss waiting for the protagonist to arrive in the final room."

“It’s not that you look like it, but in terms of nature, you are the final boss.” Tsukasa Kadoya, now dressed in a uniform, pushed up his glasses, which were also non-prescription. “Besides, don’t you think you look a bit low right now? You don’t have the aura of a final boss at all.”

"Then could the former leader of the Great Shocker please enlighten me on what a qualified final boss should do? Should he walk with an arrogant and domineering gait, exuding a cool and domineering aura, and sporting a hairstyle that looks like he offended his hairstylist?"

Bai Jie remembers clearly what Kadoya Tsukasa looked like when he became the leader of Dai-Shocker. Even now, when he thinks back on it, Kadoya Tsukasa himself feels ashamed.

Look, the destroyers of this world have turned their backs.

"Ahem, back then I was young and reckless, I didn't know anything, let's not talk about it." Tsukasa Kadoya coughed twice and said, "Besides, I think that Tendo guy was even more outrageous than me."

"Ah... that guy, I feel like you two are not that different, okay? You even kicked him to pieces in a parallel world, didn't you? When I brought it up with him back then, his face obviously stiffened for a second."

Bai Jie's words only made things worse, as Kadoya Tsukasa became even more agitated: "You're the one who told him? No wonder he suddenly came to me earlier and demanded that I return his card, threatening to kick me if I didn't! So it was you who leaked the information!"

"Really? Are you still stuck?"

"It hasn't been returned."

Sure, he's not intimidated even when the king of arrogance comes knocking on his door. That's very much in line with Tsukasa Kadoya's style.

With a sigh, Bai Jie smiled and said, "By the way, Shi, you'll be going back, right? Remember to tell Shotaro and Philip to make some rooms available for me."

His eyes flickered slightly, and Tsukasa Kadoya couldn't help but laugh: "So you're finally planning to go back?"

"Well, I haven't seen my old friends in a while, so I thought I'd go back and see them, and while I'm at it, I'll bring my wives along to show them off. Let's see who dares to say I'm unwanted!"

Bai Jie remembered that when Terujiro and Tomari Shinnosuke got married, they ridiculed him relentlessly, saying things like, "Why aren't you married yet? Don't wait until our kids are all grown up and you're still single!" Bai Jie was so angry that he pinned them to the ground and gave them a good beating.

Now that Bai Jie has two wives, there's no reason not to fight back!