Challenge: The Fool with the Surname Okayamine

Chapter 106 The Great Attack: The Plan Begins

After being sent out of the AST underground base by Origami, Mikie sat alone and forlorn on a park bench, lost and unsure of what to do next.

Miki sat quietly on the bench, looking at the ground with a somewhat confused expression. At this moment, the girl's heart was filled with mixed feelings. A frantic shout came from behind.

"Aaaaaah! Danger! Danger! Danger!"

Hearing the shouts, Miki instinctively turned her head and saw that Tohka Yatogami, a classmate from the next class with whom she had played soccer in school PE class yesterday, was riding her out-of-control bicycle at high speed towards her!

Without the slightest hesitation, Miki reacted instantly, quickly turning to the side to avoid it.

As Tohka turned around, she lost her balance and fell off the bicycle, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Ouch, that hurts..."

Tohka rubbed her head and sat up from the ground. Seeing this, Mikie immediately stepped forward and asked with concern:

"Ah...are you alright, Yatogami-kun!"

"It's okay, I'll be able to learn to ride a bicycle in a little while." With that, Tohka casually brushed the dirt off her clothes and picked up the bicycle.

"Hey! By the way, why are you here?"

Then, Tohka, who had just realized what was happening, carefully examined the newcomer. She looked at Mikie with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Tohka's eyes were filled with a blank and confused look. When Miki heard Tohka's question, she slowly lowered her head, as if she was deep in thought, and tears quietly slid down her cheeks.

"...Well...actually, I've always been told that I'm a useless person. I want to change that about myself, and I'm finally able to do the job I've always dreamed of."

"But... I kept failing. It seems I'm a useless guy no matter where I am. Nobody ever needs me..."

Miki's head slowly drooped, and tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls. Her eyes were filled with self-loathing, as if shrouded in endless pain, which evoked pity in people.

After speaking, Mikie raised her head, gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and sincerely apologized to Tohka:

"I'm sorry... I was being strange, wasn't I? I just made you hear so many nonsensical things."

Hearing this, Tohka's expression slowly turned serious, as if she too were recalling some painful memories. After a moment, she spoke softly to Mikie:

"Miki...actually, I've also constantly had my existence denied by others. I desperately resisted, turning my sadness into anger, constantly...constantly...resisting, but I was still denied." Tohka's voice was tinged with sadness...

But then the girl smiled again and continued:

“But… one day someone said to me, even if the whole world is against you, I will stand by your side and affirm you.” Tohka put her hand to her chest, her face showing nostalgia.

"Because of those words, I am able to live in this world. He is my benefactor... someone who allowed me... to be an important person to myself..."

"Miki, you'll definitely find someone like that too, so do you?"

Tohka stared blankly at Mikie, her head slightly tilted, like a beautiful flower that had been wounded but was still radiant, as she asked Mikie a question.

Hearing Tohka's words, Mikie's eyes sparkled, and she calmly grasped Tohka's hand, replying:

"Yes! Of course I do! I also have someone very important to me."

At this moment, Mikie wanted to say the name of her beloved origami senior, but was interrupted by Tohka, who was excited to find a kindred spirit.

"That is……"

Excited, Tohka's eyes sparkled, and she immediately inquired about Mikie's name:

Oh! You too!

Just as Tohka and Mikie were chatting away, a girl in a black nun's habit was watching everything from mid-air, her eyes covered by red and blue beast eyes.

"Looks like it worked out. But... I really have to thank Tohka for helping my niece temporarily overcome her inner turmoil, just like in the script." A gloomy male voice came from the girl's mouth.

Miki and Tohka were completely unaware of the strangeness above them, still immersed in sharing their innermost thoughts.

Soon after, Mikie bid farewell to Tohka and confidently walked into the street, while Nibekol, who was watching from the air, turned back into a piece of paper and slowly floated down.

...tick-tock transition sound effect

'Clang~'

The gate to the stronghold that SSS had prepared in advance was opened, and Ming and Bai Muzhong were led inside by Sai Xier.

Bai Mu curiously surveyed the interior of the stronghold. The surrounding area was extremely spacious, consisting of a single-story room with only a barely usable table, a few chairs, and at most a kitchen.

"This is our SSS's temporary base," Ashley proudly announced.

Ming and Baimu exchanged a glance, then spoke simultaneously:

"good."

"I feel like this apartment must have cost less than my boss's wheelchair."

Bai Mu said this, completely ignoring Ashley and Cyril's increasingly gloomy faces, because in his eyes it was the truth.

Ming and Bai Mu exchanged a silent glance, and in this rather awkward atmosphere, the four of them sat down.

“Ahem, these two gentlemen Ashley have come from afar. We haven’t had much to offer them since we just defected from the SSS. Let’s go buy them a couple of drinks,” said Cyril.

"Huh!? Why me? You're clearly the one... Fine then."

Ashley looked at Cyril and suddenly remembered that she was disabled from the waist down and blind without wearing the display device. Although she was somewhat reluctant, she still stood up and walked towards the door.

After Ashley was sent away, the three of them began to have a serious conversation.

"Now that you two are here, if you're going to cooperate, shouldn't you reveal your identities?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Mu was the first to step forward, hand over his business card, and then spoke:

"Nice to meet you. I am Hyakumo Ottinus, a staff member of the famous American display device company Asgard, and also a world-ranked magician. This is my friend Klein."

After speaking, Bai Mu finally made a standard gentleman's bow, although this was practically invisible to Sai Xier, who wasn't wearing the display device.

"I see. So the only person who could easily restrain Ashley and me is the World Magician. But I'm also a little curious as to why you came after us?"

“Because it’s a good thing that we can cut a piece of DEM’s flesh, which is entirely beneficial to companies that also manufacture display devices, isn’t it?” Ming explained.

"That's true, but DEM isn't so easy to deal with. So, do you two want to use us to obtain Ashcroft and keep it for yourselves?"

Hyakume smiled confidently:

"No, I would say I have absolutely no interest. A manifestation device created from magical information in a person's mind to deal with a magician is far too superficial."

Sahir frowned, thought for a moment, and then said:

"So what exactly do you want?"

"It's not possible to say right now, but rest assured we have no interest in Ashcroft and your [lover]."

After a moment of silence, Sehir slowly spoke, "I hope you will keep your promise. So, what should we do next..."

"Just stick to your original plan, and we'll secretly give it a push."

“Okay,” Hyakume said cheerfully.

A moment later, after Cyril acknowledged her and said, "I'm back," Ashley entered the room carrying a bag of drinks.

"Saihir, you two should have already reached an agreement, right? Shall we discuss our plans now?"

Ashley asked Cyril the question, and Cyril nodded to indicate that it was alright.

Seeing that their leader, Cecilia, had not expressed any objection, Ashley calmly announced the plan:

"According to the plan, Leonora is leaking false information to AST. Although they may have some doubts, they certainly won't sit idly by."

"This way, the AST team can send more guards, and then the base will be almost empty..."

Ashley was explaining the plan when, just then, a frightened girl fell to the ground, and the two of them immediately looked outside.

"what?!"

"Looks like I overheard your plan while you were buying drinks," Bai Mu Zhong said, before disappearing in a flash.

Hyakume suddenly appeared in front of Mikie, grabbed her and lifted her up. Mikie was covered in cold sweat and struggled in terror.

"Little girl, it's not good to know too many secrets." Bai Muzhong had a half-smile on his face.

"Y-you...hello..." Miki, trembling all over, stiffly turned her head and met his gaze.