I Am Honkai

Accompanying the explosion, urgent alarm bells rang out, and the crowd on the pedestrian street suddenly became chaotic.

Seeing this scene, Selene could only shake her head helplessly. Even though her laboratory's twin products—security robots—had been deployed extensively in Academy City, somehow, despite several anti-crime sweeps, the problem with these punks couldn't be eradicated.

It was like a law engraved in Academy City: no matter what the higher-ups did, these delinquents always existed, and after several sweeps, the remaining ones seemed even more "professional."

This situation was unexpected for Selene, and all she could say was—Academy City's punks are impressive!

Here's a joke: besides dedicated professionals (including teachers, dark side operatives, guards, etc.) and students, everyone else in Academy City is a delinquent.

"What... what's happening?" Saten Ruiko muttered, staring blankly at the bank suddenly spewing thick smoke.

"A bank robbery?!"

Shirai Kuroko reacted quickly, immediately putting on her Judgement armband. After eating her crepe in one gulp, her figure, which was sitting on the bench, suddenly disappeared, and the next moment, she appeared on the other side of the road, "Uiharu! Notify the guards first!"

"The nearest guard post should have already received the signal, and the security robots should be on their way. I'll intercept the robbers first."

Security posts were one of the changes Selene brought to Academy City. Besides the guards and Judgement members, each district was equipped with numerous security posts, each with 10 to 20 security robots, dedicated to patrolling and maintaining order within their jurisdiction.

"Okay." Uiharu Kazari immediately took out her phone to send a signal to the security post, "Yes, there is a robbery at the bank in front of the crepe shop in the 7th district. Requesting guard deployment."

Seeing the robbery happening, "enthusiastic citizen" Misaka Mikoto was about to help.

"Onee-sama, please do not interfere this time." As if telepathically, Shirai Kuroko blocked Misaka Mikoto, who was raring to go, without turning her head. "Leave the security of Academy City to us in Judgement."

"...Fine." Misaka Mikoto sighed, and anyone could hear the helplessness in her voice.

"Three people," Selene suddenly spoke from the bench beside her, her calm voice reaching Shirai Kuroko's ears, "two low-level ability users, negligible in combat power, the other one is a Level 3 pyrokinesis user. Be careful."

Hearing this, Shirai Kuroko nodded slightly, then disappeared again.

Shortly after, as the bank experienced a second explosion, three masked robbers carrying large bags ran out of the smoke through the blasted opening.

"There really are three!"

Startled by Selene's earlier prediction, the Sakugawa Middle School duo looked at her curiously, "Senpai, how did you know? Is this also your ability?"

"Her ability is much more convenient than mine," Misaka Mikoto explained before Selene could answer. "She can sense spatial dimensions to accurately capture enemy life signals and even judge ability strength and attributes based on AIM diffusion fields."

"So trying to ambush her is practically impossible."

Feeling the curiosity in their eyes, Selene smiled calmly, "It's nothing, even if I didn't alert them, these three couldn't escape."

Outside the bank:

"Quick! Hurry up! Don't dawdle! We only have five minutes from when the alarm sounded!" The three masked robbers were carrying cash boxes, rushing out of the bank with urgency.

As "elites" surviving several sweeps, they were "professional" in all kinds of theft, fraud, and robbery.

Over the past six months, they had figured out the duty patterns of the security posts. The security robots' patrol routes were predetermined and would not cross districts. The closer to a post, the harder it was to cause trouble, and vice versa.

This bank was carefully chosen by them, located on the very edge of a security post's patrol area. According to their calculations, they had about five minutes to escape once the alarm sounded.

"If we don't hurry, we're done for once those tin cans arrive! Move it!"

"Please stop!" Suddenly, a youthful voice rang out from the air, and then a reddish-brown twin-tailed girl appeared in front of the criminals, blocking their way. Pointing to the Judgement armband on her arm, she said fearlessly, "I'm from Judgement! I'm arresting you for [property damage and robbery in the act]!"

"..."

The air froze for a moment, and the three masked men paused before bursting into laughter as they looked at the girl, who wasn't even as tall as their chests. "Huh? Hahaha! A little brat, is Judgement short on people?"

"Listen up, little girl, we don't have time to tangle with you. Don't blame us if you get hurt if you don't move aside!" One of the robbers, a tall and fat man in the middle, rushed at Shirai Kuroko with surprising speed for his size.

Swinging his fist aggressively, he aimed a punch at her.

"Tch!" Shirai Kuroko's face showed a trace of annoyance at his words, "Such cannon fodder lines..."

Before she finished speaking, the girl's figure flashed past the man's fist, lightly pinching his wrist and tripping him. With a burst of strength, she flung the man, who was a head and a half taller than her, heavily to the ground.

Just as the fat man was about to hit his head on the ground, he braced himself with one hand and drew a spring-loaded knife with the other, slashing at Shirai Kuroko.

This surprised Shirai Kuroko; she hadn't expected him to react, and with a click of her tongue, she dodged his attack with a teleportation.

Seeing this, the fat man cursed under his breath, "Spatial ability user? Damn it!"

The spiky-haired black-haired man beside him also grew anxious, "This cop is tough, don't engage!" With that, a ball of flames erupted from his hand.

"Fight and retreat, we're out of time!"

Hearing this, as Shirai Kuroko prepared to dodge and bait the opponent into launching a flame attack first, she saw something surprising.

In her astonished gaze, the spiky-haired man threw the flame at a nearby building.

Seizing the moment while Shirai Kuroko was distracted, the brown-haired robber took out a grenade and tossed it toward the crowd and nearby shops. "Let's see if you save people or not!"

With that, the three robbers made their escape.

Shirai Kuroko was caught off guard, unsure whether to save people or apprehend the criminals...

Crackling~

At this moment, the sound of electricity buzzed, and the two grenades were deflected from the crowd by electromagnetic force. Seeing this, Shirai Kuroko relaxed; with Onee-sama and Selene-senpai around, there was no need to worry.

She immediately turned her gaze to the fleeing robbers, "Take down the leader first," targeting the highest-level pyrokinetic!

With her target locked, Shirai Kuroko vanished, instantly appearing behind the spiky-haired man, using gravity from her falling body.

"Damn, if it weren't for that damned Judgement, our timing should be..." The spiky-haired man, still grumbling as he ran, was suddenly kicked in the head by a shoe.

Dizziness overwhelmed him, and he could no longer maintain his balance, collapsing to the ground.

Seeing their leader fall, the remaining two robbers exchanged glances, deciding to flee separately despite wanting revenge.

"Ding ding ding ding ding!" As a series of crisp sounds rang out, the man who was kicked senseless was horrified to find himself pinned to the ground by a pile of needles, unable to move.

"If you still want to resist, I'll just transfer these things into your body!" Shirai Kuroko threatened coldly, holding the needles maliciously as she glared at the immobilized robber. "Mr. Robber!"

"..." Hearing this, though unwilling, the man obediently lay on the ground.

Having captured one, Shirai Kuroko set her sights on the next target, the fat robber!

Just then, a cold electronic male voice interrupted Shirai Kuroko's teleportation.

"This is District 7, Station J25."

"You are under arrest for [property damage and robbery in the act]!"

"Lie down immediately! Drop your weapons!"

Perhaps it was just bad luck for the fat robber; he rounded a corner and was confronted by a group of "iron giants," their large-caliber firearms aimed at his face. What could he do in such a situation? He had no choice but to give up, or they would really shoot!

By now, two of the three robbers were captured, but what about the brown-haired one?

"Saten!" Just as Shirai Kuroko let down her guard, Uiharu Kazari's frightened voice suddenly came from the side, followed by a low cry of pain from the girl.

"Damn it! There goes my perfect performance, and I forgot one person." Shirai Kuroko's relaxed expression instantly crumbled.

Turning her head sharply towards the sound, the escaped brown-haired robber was trying to snatch a boy from Saten Ruiko's arms.

This guy, seeing no hope of escape, was trying to take a child hostage!

Even though I knew there were three robbers, how could I let my guard down so quickly? Shirai Kuroko regretted slapping her forehead, realizing her mistake.

Blocked by Saten Ruiko, the brown-haired robber, unable to seize the hostage, grew furious and prepared to kick her.

Suddenly, a purple-glowing door appeared out of thin air behind the brown-haired robber, creating a bubbling effect. The next moment, a huge humanoid figure flew out and grabbed him.

As the light dissipated, it revealed a nearly four-meter-tall knight clad in white-silver armor with four transparent wings spread out behind him.

His face was hidden by a mirror-like mask, one hand gripping the robber, the other holding a sword longer than the robber himself.

Under the robber's terrified gaze, the giant knight began to squeeze.

"Ah!!!"