In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 45

The man elegantly adjusted his tie.

"I have been ordered to... assess your qualifications."

Index peeked out from behind Higashino: "What qualifications do you have?"

"Miss Index, you are qualified to become a guardian of the Catalogue of Forbidden Books."

Wells smiled slightly, a smile that reminded Higashino of a snake eyeing its prey.

"After all, we can't hand over our national treasure to someone with scientific abilities of unknown origin."

Higashino narrowed his eyes: "I thought this was already decided."

"Procedures are procedures, and strength is strength."

Wells took a pen from his pocket and drew a complex rune on a napkin.

"It's just a little test, you don't mind, do you?"

Before Higashino could answer, the rune suddenly flashed a blinding red light. The surrounding passengers froze in place as if a pause button had been pressed, and even the coffee pot in the flight attendant's hand stopped in mid-air.

"Time stands still?"

Higashino raised an eyebrow; he hadn't expected an ordinary magician to possess such an ability.

"This is a polite way to avoid affecting unrelated people."

Wells stood up, and a magic wand suddenly appeared in his hand.

"Let's see what Level 5 on the science side is capable of."

Index gripped Higashino's sleeve tightly, looking at him with some worry: "Yu..."

"Close your eyes and count to ten."

"I said softly, snapping my fingers at the same time," Higashino said.

"Magic is ineffective here."

Wells's wand, which he had just raised, suddenly went completely unresponsive, and the rune fell to the ground. He stared in shock at the wand in his hand, now just a regular wooden stick: "This is impossible!"

“There are even more impossible possibilities.”

Higashino took a step forward, his pupils gleaming with a silvery-blue light.

"You will forget what magic is."

Wells suddenly clutched his head and crouched down in anguish.

"Stop...stop! Please...please!"

He managed to squeeze out a few words, all his previous arrogance vanished.

Higashino snapped his fingers again, and everything returned to normal. The passengers continued their conversations as if nothing had happened. Wells slumped in his seat, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Are you satisfied?"

"I asked calmly," Higashino asked.

Wells wiped his sweat, trembling: "As expected of... a Level 5 ability user."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his shock.

"But London has more to offer than just this small test. The Grand Master of the Knights, the High Archbishop, and those old fogies... they won't easily accept someone from the scientific side as the guardian of the Index of Prohibited Books."

Index suddenly jumped out from behind Higashino and made a face at Wells: "Yu is the best! And you guys were definitely up to no good when you invited us to England!"

Wells gave a wry smile: "I'm sorry, but you are quite important to us after all. Have a pleasant journey."

"Yes, thank you. But if I ever need your help in the future, I hope you can lend a hand."

I was just worried that no one could provide me with information from the magic side, and here it is! Mr. Wells, you'll have to work two jobs from now on.

But don't worry, there's no salary here, so you won't feel guilty about receiving double pay.

"Well, since it's Mr. Higashino's request... I, I will do my best."

Somehow, he felt he should help this young man who didn't seem to care about offending him. These days, there aren't many good people like him; he had to repay him properly.

With that in mind, Wells took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over.

"If you need anything in the future, you can call me at this number. I won't bother you any longer."

He got up and left the business class cabin, his back looking much more hunched than when he arrived.

Index waved her little fist triumphantly: "We won!"

Higashino frowned. Although they had this mole for the time being, it was clear that he was just a minor character and wouldn't be of much use in this trip to London.

His role is actually to provide him with some information about the magic side in the future, since most of the others are in Academy City, and it is quite troublesome for them to get access to information about the magic side.

"Yu?"

Index tugged at his sleeve.

"My ice hasn't melted yet!"

Higashino snapped out of his reverie, looking at the girl's radiant smile, and the gloom in his heart eased slightly. No matter what, he would protect her, whether as her guardian or as...

What is it for?

He wasn't quite sure himself. It might be a feeling he once had, but hadn't experienced in a long time.

But at this moment, watching Index happily licking the ice that never melts, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

"We still have eight hours to go before we arrive in London."

He ruffled Index's silver hair.

"Would you like to take a nap?"

Index shook her head and pulled a deck of cards from her pocket: "Let's play a game! The loser gets their forehead flicked!"

Higashino smiled helplessly: "Where did you get those playing cards?"

"I brought this from home. Ruizi taught me how to play it when you weren't home last time!"

Index waved the playing cards in her hand triumphantly.

"And I'm a force to be reckoned with!"

For someone with Index's exceptional memory, poker is indeed a huge advantage. It's really tough on Ruiko and the others, having to play poker with such a cheat-like player. The experience must be terrible.

Higashino sighed and started shuffling the cards. Anyway, the cheater was fearless, so he decided to try to beat the Poker Nun first.

Their transoceanic journey has only just begun, and an adventure in London awaits them.

Chapter 60: Loras Tuat and the Duel!

The arrival hall was bustling with people.

Higashino led Index by the hand through the streets. After arriving in England, she became unusually quiet, her little hand tightly gripping Higashino's palm, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"Kanzaki should have arrived by now."

Higashino glanced at the time on his phone. The flight arrived at its destination smoothly on schedule, and no further incidents occurred.

As for the person who arranged for their protection or surveillance, he remained quiet throughout the journey and did nothing unnecessary. After getting off the plane, he disappeared without a trace.

Index suddenly stopped, her small nostrils twitching slightly: "Yu, I smell scones!"

It was obvious that Index's bottomless stomach was protesting again; the food provided on the plane was simply not enough to satisfy her.

Following the direction she pointed, Higashino saw that the airport café window was indeed displaying freshly baked English pastries.

Just as he was considering whether he should buy some, a familiar figure walked out from the crowd.

Kanzaki Kaori was wearing her usual outfit today: a simple white shirt paired with slim-fit jeans, and her long black hair tied into a neat ponytail.

Her beautiful face and asymmetrical jeans, paired with her perfect figure, made her stand out in the crowd, attracting the attention of many travelers.

Welcome to London.

She nodded slightly, her gaze lingering briefly on Index, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

"Was your trip smooth?"

"It's alright, nothing unexpected happened."

In Higashino's view, the magician was not an accident at all; on the contrary, it made Higashino understand magic a little better.

However, the silver-haired nun didn't seem to think so, and raised her hand angrily.

"There's a nuisance causing trouble on the plane!"

It was obvious that Index had absolutely no goodwill towards the guy who dared to attack Higashino, even though he meant no harm.

"But Yu defeated him in no time!"

Kanzaki raised an eyebrow at Higashino, who simply shrugged: "John Wells from the Magic Advisory Group. It must have been a small ability test they arranged."

"You're not hurt, are you?"

Kanzaki's voice carried a concern that she herself was unaware of.

"I've received word that the Grand Master of the Knights has spread the word that he's going to personally 'welcome' the Level 5 from the Science faction. Do you need my help?"

Index suddenly squeezed between the two, tilting her small face up: "The Knight Commander could never be a match for Yu!"

"Yeah, I guess so."

Thinking of Higashino's strange abilities, Kanzaki smiled, a rare occurrence.

Although she was careless at the time and did not use her full strength from the beginning, it is an undeniable fact that Higashino was able to defeat her.

Index, now that Kanzaki had given her approval, also quieted down. Kanzaki led them through a special passage, where a low-key black Land Rover was already waiting, with a driver wearing black sunglasses in the driver's seat.

What's the situation here now?

After getting in the car, Higashino asked in a low voice.

Kanzaki sat to Higashino's left, her ears slightly reddening as if she were sitting too close: "The Roman Catholic Church has sent an envoy to protest the Puritans' actions, arguing that Index should not be allowed to follow you."

She paused, her gaze involuntarily drifting towards Higashino's profile.

"The Supreme Bishop insists on proceeding according to the original plan, but you need to prove your strength in front of everyone."

"The Roman Catholic Church? Index has absolutely nothing to do with them, what a busybody."

Higashino chuckled softly and leaned back in his chair, relaxing slightly.

"But the fact that they actually got this news means they have quite a few people in the Puritan Church."

As he spoke, his arm brushed against the back of Kanzaki's hand, which was placed at her side, intentionally or unintentionally.

Kanzaki's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, but did not move away.

"Well, so their protests are just lip service."

She tried to keep her voice steady.

The London street scenes rushed past the car window. The interior wasn't cramped, but the three of them sat side by side in the back seat, feeling remarkably close.

Index, to Higashino's right, was pressed against the car window, curiously watching the London street scene. Higashino noticed that at least three cars were following them at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

"Guard?"

He asked softly, tilting his head slightly toward Kanzaki.

“The Puritans and the Knights.”

Kanzaki gave a brief reply, feeling his warm breath brush against her earlobe, making her heart skip a beat.

"They're just monitoring each other."

Just then, the driver in front slammed on the brakes, seemingly to avoid a taxi that suddenly changed lanes!

"what!"

Index gasped in surprise.

The immense inertia propelled everyone forward. Higashino Yu's body leaned uncontrollably to the right, while Kanzaki Kaori, sitting to his left, was thrown forward as well.

The next instant, an amazing softness and elasticity slammed into Higashino Yu's left arm and shoulder!