Chapter 128: The Secret of St. Sakura Girls’ High School

"Ice Style!" Haku Yuki said indifferently. A slender ice needle appeared in her hand, which she threw, piercing through the wooden board.

"Water Style: Water Whip!" Yun Xuan performed a hand seal, and the water from the pond transformed into a whip, binding Haku's body.

"Greetings, my lord!" the group of Mist ninja said in unison.

"Haku, come inside with me." Yun Xuan released Haku and swept his gaze over the Mist ninja. Although he could not fully trust them yet, there were tasks he could delegate to them.

"Yes." Haku looked at Haku Yuki. If Yun Xuan hadn't told her the truth, she would have believed that Haku Yuki was truly alive. That’s right; standing before her was none other than Haku Yuki Number Five.

...

After leaving the Mist ninja's encampment, Yun Xuan contacted Haku directly to issue missions. He went to a warehouse, retrieved 500,000 cans of food, locked the warehouse tight, and headed for the Senkyo Shrine.

"Yun Xuan-kun..." Igarashi Hanayuki received him personally. The healthy shrine maiden possessed extraordinary strength. According to reports from the Mist ninja, the other faction present at the Senkyo Shrine had completely vanished, and the shadow of the Special Operations Unit was involved.

"This is what Xue'er asked me to give you—her diary." Yun Xuan took out the notebook and handed it to Igarashi Hanayuki.

"Thank you, thank you." Igarashi Hanayuki’s body trembled as she opened the notebook.

...

1.1.
Mom? Do I have a mom too?

2.1.
Xue'er's mom must be very busy, that's why she hasn't come to see Xue'er.

3.1.
Sister Xun'er said that as long as Xue'er behaves and listens, Mom will definitely come to see me.

4.1.
Why hasn't Mom come yet? Is it because Xue'er hasn't been good enough? Xue'er will be very, very good.

5.1.
Big brother said Xue'er is very cute. Xue'er is so happy. I must marry big brother in the future.

6.1.
Today is Children's Day. Xue'er learned many words. The director bought delicious food, and Sister Xun'er came to pick us up.

7.1.
Sister Xun'er is so amazing. Xue'er can't lose to her. Xue'er plans to become a writer so that I can work with Sister Xun'er.

8.1.
Mom... Xue'er misses you...

...

Reading the simple diary, Igarashi Hanayuki covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Yun Xuan handed her a tissue.

"Thank you." Igarashi Hanayuki wiped away her tears, feeling an even deeper longing for Yun Xuan.

"Don't wander around aimlessly from now on. We will handle Xue'er's affairs. My task is complete. Goodbye." Yun Xuan stood up.

"Yun Xuan-kun, please wait a moment. Actually, there is something I would like to trouble you with," Igarashi Hanayuki said hurriedly when she saw he was leaving.

"What is it? If you want me to take action, there is a price," Yun Xuan frowned.

"Five million yen. Help me investigate the Holy Sakura Girls' Academy. A girl from our Senkyo Shrine disappeared there, and the school insists that she left the academy," Igarashi Hanayuki said earnestly, producing a photograph.

"Do you think there is a problem with Holy Sakura Girls' Academy?" Yun Xuan had visited the academy once, but he had only encountered Lily and nothing else.

"Over the past three years, twenty-five girls have disappeared from Holy Sakura Girls' Academy. They were all top students. I suspect they are being held somewhere, being exploited or used as magical artifacts," Igarashi Hanayuki said gravely.

"You mean sacrifice." Yun Xuan understood the crux of the issue after a moment's thought. The existence of shrine maidens cannot be judged by common sense; the research of a single shrine maiden can make science itself seem unscientific.

"Yes," Igarashi Hanayuki nodded.

"Fine, I agree," Yun Xuan said after a moment of hesitation.

"Thank you." Igarashi Hanayuki bowed.

...

Leaving the Senkyo Shrine, Yun Xuan had originally planned to return home, but it seemed he would have to check out the Holy Sakura Girls' Academy after all.

Infiltration was not particularly difficult; he only needed to wear his power armor. If there was nothing on the surface, the focus must be underground.

"Holy Sakura Girls' Academy gathers the daughters of many of the world's wealthiest people. Moving one part affects the whole. The most dangerous place is also the safest place." Yun Xuan studied the architectural blueprints of the academy. It actually had a basement level. He had stolen these blueprints from relevant sources; the intermediate AI, Zi, had done an excellent job.

In his hotel room, Yun Xuan stared at his computer, a plan forming in his mind.

Nighttime.

Above the Holy Sakura Girls' Academy, Yun Xuan, clad in power armor, dove toward the grounds. As he approached the surface, the armor’s thrusters engaged, and he landed securely.

Yun Xuan entered the old school building. The power armor scanned the surroundings; even if there were traps, he would be able to spot them. He stopped before a room, staring at the security camera.

"I didn't expect there to be surveillance here. It seems I've found it." Yun Xuan grabbed the doorknob, and the electronic components inside were instantly fried. There was no need for fingerprint authentication; he simply twisted it, and the door opened.

Inside, there was no one, only a staircase leading to the basement. Yun Xuan activated his stealth mode and descended. As he turned a corner, he stopped in his tracks, stunned by the scene before him.

The basement was brightly lit and vast. Girls in white lab coats were conducting experiments. The girl from the photo Igarashi Hanayuki had given him was one of the researchers.

"What on earth is going on here?" Yun Xuan watched their experiments—some were mixing potions, others were drawing symbols on the floor, and several were gathered around an experimental table observing something.

"Combat Mode!" Yun Xuan summoned Snow White from around the corner and ordered her to initiate combat mode without hesitation.

Time froze for five minutes. Yun Xuan rushed into the laboratory and looked first at the experimental table.

"This is... an elf?!" Yun Xuan stared in disbelief at the beautiful creature with pointed ears.

Glancing at the documents nearby, he was struck with horror: Shrine Maiden Summoning Arts, the scientific version!

After reading the files, Yun Xuan could no longer remain calm. There were twenty elves and ten dwarves in the culture vats. The owner of this facility was a descendant of a shrine maiden. By combining experimental potions with the drawing of summoning formations and using the blood of elves, they could summon creatures from other worlds.

A genius mage! Whoever came up with this was an absolute genius! With such a simple method, as long as one learned it, even an ordinary person could perform a summoning.

They were researching the secrets of the elves, cracking their DNA to allow humans to possess elven power. Once they reached the level of an elf, they would then draw a teleportation circle to send these "elf-humans" to the other world, seize its resources, and return via the summoning circle.

These were all parts of the plan, and they had already reached the first step. Once they cracked the elven DNA, within a few years, they would possess the power of elves. Then, they would become "elf-humans" and pass through the portal.

"Wait, what about the return coordinates for the teleportation circle?" Yun Xuan thought for a moment, and realization dawned on him—the latter part was complete nonsense.

"In other words, this is just a one-way ticket to another world?" Yun Xuan had a strange expression on his face. Could it be that the mage who created this just wanted to go to another world?