The duel between Lin Luo and Kanzaki Kaori was merely an interlude. Though this brief scene opened many eyes and left countless others utterly bewildered, the interlude had concluded, and the main event was inevitably approaching.

In the subsequent matches, Shirai Kuroko, Accelerator, and Kakine Teitoku secured a three-win streak for the Science side. This was due not only to their own formidable strength but also because their opponents were not strong enough; none of them had faced a Saint.

While there were more than a dozen Saints in the entire world, if they had all gathered, only a few seats would have remained empty on the sidelines for this competition. However, not all Saints possessed a combative nature. Some Saints were naturally easygoing and peace-loving, refusing to involve themselves in meaningless battles. Others were arrogant and refused to be gawked at like monkeys. Still others were reclusive, whom even major powers like the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church could not persuade to participate.

Therefore, the actual number of Saints who would deign to enter this competition was quite small.

To take a step back, even if the Magic side could muster twelve Saints, they absolutely would not do so.

Firstly, everyone knew that the Level 5 Misaka Mizeru was an anomaly and did not represent the strength of all Level 5s. The Magic side could leverage this exception, Misaka Mizeru, to entice Saints into the competition; even Aleister would have difficulty objecting. But if all twelve competitors were Saints… well, even if Aleister continued to turn a blind eye, the Magic side would not be so shameless.

That naked cheating was something even a sly fox like Laura Stuart would not attempt.

Originally, the Magic side held some expectation for Accelerator and Kakine Teitoku, which is why they had sent Saten Ruiko to participate. However, Saten Ruiko ran into the bug-like Misaka Mizeru first, and with no Saint present to hold the line, those two initial defeats were within the Magic side's expectations.

Of course, Kakine Teitoku turning into Kakine Teiko surprised everyone… It's worth noting that Kakine Teiko, initially quite resistant to being gender-swapped, seemed to have finally accepted the change. She paraded her figure on the stage and flirted openly with her subordinate, "Mental Out," suggesting their relationship had rapidly deepened.

Toaru Majutsu no Index, indeed—in this world, "grinding mirrors" (a term for same-sex attraction) is paramount. How can one have romance when the genders differ?

Then came the dark horses, like Shirai Kuroko. Based on the power Kuroko had initially displayed, she shouldn't have warranted such concern from the Magic side. But unfortunately, after being bound and restrained by Lin Luo several times, her computational ability had far surpassed even Mikoto's initial level. Coupled with the uniqueness of her spatial ability… the Magic side ended up losing a match they should have easily won.

However, as the saying goes, fortune turns like the tide—thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west bank. Starting from the seventh match, the Magic side began to show its strength.

The first to fall was Kengan Ashira, another spatial ability user. Her luck was terrible; she faced a Saint. Even though Kengan Ashira had become a true Level 5, she was still no match for a Saint wielding divine power and was tossed out of the ring within a few minutes.

Next was Hazama Kuuhou, the only Gemstone to reach Level 5. His opponent was not a Saint but an elite magister from the Roman Catholic Church. Before the magister’s mysterious and unfathomable magic, Hazama suffered his second consecutive defeat.

Then came Saten Ruiko, whose opponent was Princess Kiaralisa, the second princess of Britain. This golden-haired princess, clad in a crimson formal dress, who would willingly become a tyrant and bear a lifetime of infamy to save Britain, was known for her military prowess. In both her actions and personality, Lin Luo could faintly see a shadow of Nero.

And Kiaralisa’s strength was considerable; in terms of close combat, blade work, or arcane magic, she was no inferior to the Saint Kanzaki Kaori.

Facing such an opponent, Saten Ruiko, despite giving her all, was ultimately defeated… Kiaralisa wore a tight, form-fitting suit that even a mass-undressing maniac wouldn't dare touch.

At this point, the Magic side also achieved a three-win streak.

Afterward was Takitsubo Rikou’s fight. Although she possessed the potential to reign over all espers, the burden of her overwhelmingly powerful ability was substantial, and she had not yet fully mastered it. Furthermore, her opponent was a magician who could not be disrupted by her ability in any way.

This battle was naturally a loss. With this, the Science side and the Magic side each held five victories, leaving the final outcome to the last two matches.

The main event was set to feature Misaka Misei. Misei often stayed close to Misaka Mizeru and, being her sister, received the most rigorous training because Mizeru felt deeply indebted to her. Most importantly, their brainwaves could synchronize to the same state; although there was a gap in raw power, Misei could employ almost any combat technique Mizeru used.

In terms of combat effectiveness, Misaka Misei was infinitely close to the level of a Saint.

And her opponent was precisely a Saint!

Misaka Mizeru could defeat two Saints without taking a scratch. Therefore, it was thought that her sister, Misaka Misei, could at least manage a one-on-one victory. Before the match began, the leaders of Academy City were extremely hopeful. If Misei could win this closing battle, they would be in an unassailable position.

But alas.

Infinite closeness and actual attainment are two different concepts. Although the fight was fierce and extraordinarily intense, the final result was still a defeat.

The Magic side secured six victories, establishing their unbeaten status.

The Science side was actually quite satisfied with this result. After all, even with Aleister’s budget, the Science side was only expected to win three matches at most. This result was far better than anticipated, and losing the final match wouldn't significantly change much.

The Science side reached an unspoken consensus, causing the very last match to lose the intense scrutiny it had initially held. When Uiharu Kazari stepped onto the stage, looking so fragile and delicate, nine out of ten observers did not believe she could win.

But the result nearly blinded them… As soon as the battle began, the elite spiritual magister from the Magic side hadn't even managed to launch an attack before his body turned into an ice sculpture.

In that single instant, a powerhouse ranked among the Magic side’s strongest was frozen solid. Most people couldn't believe it, but it was fact.

Although he possessed great power, without his spell formation deployed, he was no different from an ordinary person. Deploying a formation required time. If he had deployed his formation before stepping onto the stage, the outcome might have been different. But he did not understand Uiharu’s ability; he had underestimated her. When the command "Start match!" fell, it was clearly too late for him to deploy his technique.

Thus, the victory and defeat were clear.

Fortunately, the rescue was swift, or this magister would have earned a spot in a museum exhibit.

And after this match, Uiharu Kazari finally caught the eye of the major players… The "Constant Temperature Reaper," as people began to call her.

…

The friendly match between the Science side and the Magic side concluded with a score of six to six. It could be said that neither side gained an advantage, but both sides were content with the outcome.

"I think you all have too much time on your hands!" As the major figures from both sides debated the distribution of benefits in the peace treaty—which remained exactly the same as before—Lin Luo appeared silently beside them and stated bluntly, vanishing on the spot amidst their stunned gazes.

If nothing changed before or after the competition, what was the point of the match? Utterly meaningless. Hence, Lin Luo could only conclude they were bored out of their minds.

Of course, from a political standpoint, the competition held great significance. Its greatest utility was providing an excuse to maintain the original agreement. Politics, after all, is often like this: the outcome is frequently predetermined by the leaders, and all that is lacking is an excuse, a pretext.

Therefore, from this perspective, Lin Luo was not a qualified politician.

Naturally, Lin Luo didn't wish to be a politician anyway. In his view, the match was meaningless… Oh wait, it wasn't entirely meaningless; at least he had acquired a Saint!

Only two days remained until the Daihaisei Festival concluded. Since all the serious business was finished, the remaining time was dedicated purely to celebration. This was true for others, but Lin Luo could not relax yet.

In a certain location in Europe, a group of three—one man and two women—were walking down an ancient street. The man appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, clearly Oriental, while the two young women shared identical tea-colored short hair, identical clothing, and even identical appearances—not just similar, but exactly the same.

Indeed, these three were Lin Luo and Misaka Sisters.

After walking for a while, they stopped at a square where the surrounding old buildings and the cracked flagstones suggested the area had been uninhabited for a long time.

"Brother, is this place truly suitable? Misaka 13072 asked seriously."

"A city abandoned by society; there is no better place, Misaka 14458 affirmed confidently."

The two Misaka Sisters spoke expressionlessly. Lin Luo smiled slightly and nodded. "Yes, just as you said, this place is perfect. Not only do the coordinates match, but it's also highly concealed. I don't even need to set up a barrier… Then, without delay, let's begin setting up. This task must be completed manually and will likely take quite some time."

"Understood," the two Misaka Sisters nodded simultaneously.

Several hours later, a magic circle, over fifty meters in diameter and immensely complex within, lay across the square. Lin Luo looked at the formation with a sense of accomplishment. "World Game Field. Hmph, that should really shock those guys when the time comes."

"Brother, shouldn't we activate the magic circle now? Misaka 13072 inquired again."

Lin Luo shook his head. "I already mentioned this; this is just one small section. We have to wait until all the other locations are set up before we can activate the formation when the enemy steps inside."

"Then we have to stay here the whole time? Misaka 14458 asked."

Lin Luo stated plainly, "Yes. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll have to stay here for about ten days minimum." As he spoke, he took a capsule from his body and tossed it a short distance away. The previously empty square instantly gained a small, luxurious villa.

"Alright, you two, come inside with me," Lin Luo beckoned.

The two Misaka Sisters exchanged a look, then abruptly sped up, rushing past Lin Luo into the villa before slamming the door shut with a bang.

"…" Lin Luo stood frozen, wondering what game they were playing by locking him out.

Lin Luo paused for a few seconds, then reached for the doorknob. Finding it unlocked, he pushed the door open, only to see one of the Misaka Sisters already inside, having changed into revealing attire and kneeling by the doorway.

"Darling, welcome home. Do you wish to eat first, bathe first, or perhaps… eat me first? Misaka 10372 asked, mimicking a devoted housewife character from a drama, her heart fluttering."

"…" Lin Luo stared at this Misaka Sister, tilting his head with a bashful, shy demeanor, completely speechless… Come on, please stop imitating housewives; if you keep this up, my own heart will start fluttering.

"Onii-chan, welcome home. I… I definitely didn't prepare to greet you on purpose!" Misaka 14458 said sweetly, imitating a tsundere younger sister character. At this moment, the other Misaka Sister, clad in pajamas, also rushed out from the bedroom, her face flushed red.

Lin Luo broke into a cold sweat.

He finally understood what they rushed in ahead of him to achieve.

After a moment of stunned silence, Lin Luo resisted the popular narrative trajectory of indulging in the housewife and the tsundere, instead lightly flicking them both on the forehead. He walked toward the living room while saying, "Stop fooling around; we still have serious business to attend to."

"Yes… Misaka 13072 (14458) replied reluctantly."

The two Misaka Sisters nodded in resignation and followed behind Lin Luo.

"Although I've told you the purpose of this magic circle before, we don't need to do anything until it's activated. However, to ensure you fully master this array, you must absorb all the knowledge I teach you over the next period. Once you can truly wield this formation, you will be capable of defeating any opponent."

Lin Luo sat down and spoke seriously. "First, let's discuss the principles of this magic circle…"

The two Misaka Sisters sat before Lin Luo, listening intently.

…

At the same time, deep within a primeval forest in Africa, another trio—one man and two women—were drawing a magic circle. The man was an Oriental youth of seventeen or eighteen, and the women were tea-haired girls with identical faces… They were also Lin Luo and Misaka Sisters.

"Brother, the magic circle is complete," Misaka 12053 reported proudly.

"Ours is done too," Misaka 12083 stated competitively.

"Good," Lin Luo nodded, waving his hand. A villa instantly materialized in the forest, and he walked inside ahead of the two Misaka Sisters. "For the period until the circle activates, you must master the knowledge I impart. While I’ve been teaching you other things, the critical points for each magic circle are unique. You must commit them to memory."

"Understood," the two Misaka Sisters nodded solemnly.

…

The Russian snowy fields.

"It’s drawn, Brother. But won't such a large magic circle be covered by the snow? Misaka 10777 asked, reporting while expressing doubt." A Misaka Sister, fully bundled in warm military gear, looking somewhat dull-witted, stood before a massive magic circle, speaking casually.

"You certainly are relaxed," Lin Luo couldn't help but tease, then added, "Don't worry; the objects you use to draw these circles are special tools; no amount of snow can cover them… By the way, 19090, what are you doing?"

Lin Luo looked toward the Misaka Sister squatting on the other side of the circle.

Misaka 19090 suddenly jumped up from the ground, holding several tarot cards, her face alight with surprise. "Great! My love luck for this month is +5! I need to do 19 more readings to aim for 100% love luck!"

"…" Even from a distance, Lin Luo could hear her words and was speechless. Can fortune-telling accumulate like buying things at a supermarket, getting more and more? This was the first time he had heard of such a thing.

"Stop playing around. We are the 108th team to finish the magic circle. If you dally any longer, you’ll end up last," Lin Luo warned.

"Ah! It’s all 19090’s fault for playing with tarot cards while drawing the circle," Misaka 10777 blamed her.

Misaka 19090 quickly ran over. "It’s not my fault! 10777 was secretly napping and slowed us down… Brother, would you like a reading?" Misaka 19090 asked while shifting blame.

"That kind of unscientific fortune-telling is useless," Misaka 10777 said with malicious glee.

"10777 is an idiot…" Misaka 19090 retorted angrily.

"…Sigh." Lin Luo shook his head and sighed deeply. It was a good thing these two Misaka Sisters had rich emotions, but having them too rich was proving troublesome.

…

During that very same day, in thousands of locations across the globe—Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the South Pole, the North Pole, the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and even directly on the equator—there existed a combination of "Lin Luo plus two Misaka Sisters," and every single group was performing the exact same task.

In just one day, over four thousand magic circles appeared on Earth. If the entire globe were flattened into a square, these four thousand-plus formations would be arranged in an exceedingly strange pattern. As for the purpose of these circles, besides Lin Luo himself, no one knew for the time being.

While they were setting up these formations, Lin Luo's main body, accompanied by Yuyuko, began visiting the few magical churches still stationed in Academy City.

His first target was the Anglican Church.

Led by Kanzaki Kaori, Lin Luo met Laura Stuart.

"What are you doing here?" Laura asked irritably, then glared at the gluttonous spirit who had her mouth wide open, sweeping up several plates of fruit from the table. "Hey, don't eat my food!"

"I came to give you a gift," Lin Luo said, stepping in front of her and handing over a thick stack of manuscript paper.

Ten minutes later, facing Laura’s grave expression, Lin Luo chuckled. "I keep my word. So, want to come work for me?"