Private rooms in cafés are usually quiet places. Whether it's students or adults, choosing a private room means seeking a space for confidential conversations.
Leaving aside the content of their discussion, the mere fact that Kihara Noukan was speaking was enough to cause a stir. After all, even a simple cleaning robot could attract the attention of many children, let alone him.
Of course, the conversation between Li Mo and Kihara Noukan was far more significant.
One was a magician from another world, and the other was Aleister's trusted confidant.
"Alright, I've taken some precautions. Now we can speak freely. No one except Aleister will hear this conversation."
Li Mo didn't answer Kihara Noukan immediately. Instead, he remained silent for a while before speaking.
The private room had been isolated from the outside world. The magic inherited from Medea worked surprisingly well here. Connecting to the different phases of the *Toaru* world was remarkably easy. In this regard, this place was practically the Age of Gods!
Kihara Yuiitsu asked, "Are you using magic?"
"Yes, this is magic. Are you interested in magic, Miss Kihara Yuiitsu? As far as I know, anyone who hasn't undergone esper development experiments can learn magic."
Magic in the *Toaru* world was relatively simple. Unlike the *Type-Moon* world, where one had to painstakingly gather mysteries, magic here was based on **Idol Theory**—as long as you could mimic the right elements, you could cast spells. Kamijou Touya's accidental triggering of **Angel Fall** was a prime example.
"We'll talk about that later. I'm quite interested in magic as a different set of laws from another world. But let's finish your conversation with my teacher first," Kihara Yuiitsu said respectfully.
She held great respect for her teacher.
Li Mo answered Kihara Noukan, "How should I put it? After being approached by Kumokawa Seria and the others, I was tempted. Since a seat on the Board has opened up, why not let me take it?"
"And the real reason?" Kihara Noukan had already figured out Li Mo's personality after observing him for a few days. The young man named Li Mo wouldn't do something so meaningless.
"The real reason? I want to access the database. To be precise, I want to see the accumulated knowledge of Academy City over the past fifty years. I'm very curious about the principles behind esper development," Li Mo said honestly.
There was no need to hide this. Li Mo believed in being straightforward. He would eventually take this step, and being evasive would only make things worse. He preferred open strategies over underhanded schemes.
"I see… Although I don't understand why you brought an angel to the human world, the fact that your first target was the **Index Librorum Prohibitorum** shows how strong your thirst for knowledge is. In that regard, you're quite similar to my Yuiitsu."
Kihara Yuiitsu smiled, feeling her teacher's assessment was fair. The Kiharas were a group of researchers with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. If one didn't meet that standard, they didn't deserve the Kihara name.
She said, "If you want to become a Board member, you can collaborate with me."
"You?"
Li Mo said, "I know the Kihara family has significant influence, but what do you bring to the table, Miss Yuiitsu?"
Kihara Yuiitsu replied, "That's precisely the question I wanted to ask you. But as a gesture of goodwill, I can tell you that Kusuriya Kumiko won't refuse my requests."
"The Board member who controls **Rencha**?" Li Mo thought for a moment before speaking. He remembered this Board member for a simple reason—she had ended up as a writhing mass of flesh.
—Such a pitiful existence was hard to forget.
Kihara Yuiitsu glanced at Kihara Noukan, who was sitting on the ground. The golden retriever said, "See? I told you this guy knows all sorts of strange things."
"Yes, teacher, you're right. My opinion of you has risen a notch. As far as I know, **Rencha** has never been used by Kusuriya Kumiko. How did you know about her existence?"
*I'm very curious.*
Kihara Yuiitsu didn't say those words out loud, but her youthful yet intellectual face conveyed the message clearly.
Li Mo took a deep breath and then smiled. "Sorry, that's a secret."
"Is that so? What if we make that the condition of our deal?"
"Then the deal is off," Li Mo said. "Everyone needs secrets they can't tell anyone."
Kihara Yuiitsu said, "Sorry, I don't have secrets like that. I can't empathize with your feelings, so let's change the condition. Would you be interested in becoming my teacher?"
Li Mo asked, "What kind of teacher are we talking about? If you mean a cadaver for dissection, I must decline. I don't have the habit of letting others cut into my body."
Given that Kihara Yuiitsu was Kihara Noukan's disciple, she might know about his terrifying regenerative abilities—after all, he had absorbed Ladylee Tangleroad's "immortality" right under Kihara Noukan's nose.
"No, I just want you to be my magic teacher," Kihara Yuiitsu said.
"Alright. Mr. Kihara Noukan, do you have anything to add? Although I have the support of a few Board members, I still feel it's not enough," Li Mo said with a serious expression.
The one making the deal with him was Kihara Yuiitsu, not Kihara Noukan. What did the latter think?
"Isn't that enough? You already know the answer, don't you? Sigh, it's wartime, and I, an old man, have already done you a favor by coming out to chat. Plus, Yuiitsu is helping you."
Kihara Noukan seemed to have anticipated Li Mo's next move.
Li Mo said, "What I'm about to do might be a little… unconventional."
"It can't be worse than what happened on September 30th, right? That day, three Board members died," Kihara Yuiitsu seemed to guess what "unconventional" meant.
Nothing more than threats to life.
Li Mo rubbed his temples. "Don't make me sound like a terrorist! Do you think all I can do is threaten people? Can't I persuade them with reason and emotion? Right now, with the war between Russia and **Fiamma of the Right**, this city needs a professional like me to ensure its safety."
"You, a professional?" The golden retriever looked skeptical.
Li Mo said, "Mr. Kihara Noukan, you don't protect the Board members, do you? Isn't it reasonable for them to seek my help?"
The matter was practically settled.
Although it seemed like a lot of nonsense, Li Mo had accomplished two things. First, he had struck a deal with Kihara Yuiitsu. She would use her influence to assist him, and in return, he would teach her magic.
The second thing was…
Aleister isn't opposing my becoming a Board member? He's staying silent?
Silence meant consent.
As Li Mo walked out of the café, he looked up at the strip of sky framed by the concrete jungle. The sun had set, and the stars were beginning to appear.
Night had fallen.