I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

This slightly 'outrageous' increase in affection made Amamiya realize something.

I suppose... these girls must have talked about some things in private and decided to believe in themselves, which is why they're collectively showing such favor.

“Thank you for your trust,” Amamiya said earnestly, “I will definitely help Abydos resolve its current predicament.”

These words were spoken with great determination and confidence—but none of the girls present doubted whether they could actually do it.

"Then what happens next..."

As Amamiya finished speaking, she glanced at Hoshino, who was pretending to be asleep on the table, and the helmet that she had deliberately placed in the middle of the table.

Upon seeing this, Amamiya noticed the 'rare items' on the table, as did Serika and the other three girls.

"Huh? Is this... a helmet from the Helmet Crew?"

After all, these were items from the 'hostile forces' that had been harassing them recently, so it would be impossible for Serika and the others not to have a deep impression of them.

Bai Zixian leaned closer, took the helmet in her hands, and then did something that surprised Amamiya—she brought her nose close, sniffed it gently, and smelled it.

"...it has a feeling of being a 'precious item'."

Serika, Ayane, and Nomiya also came over and looked at the helmet from all angles.

Once it reached Nomiya's hands, the well-informed "young lady" examined it carefully for a while before speaking with a tone of novelty and realization: "Hey... this helmet seems a lot like a special 'commemorative edition' helmet..."

"A commemorative edition?"

Their knowledge of goods and brands was far less than Nomiya's. Shirako, Serika, and Ayane all looked at Nomiya with curiosity.

"Hmm... I remember this helmet was a limited edition model that was released last month..."

At this point, she smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly: "It's said that on the black market, it's already fetching a high price of 80 credits!"

"……Why?!"

Upon hearing Nomiya's outrageous offer, Serika and Ayane were momentarily unable to accept it.

"How much...?!"

Celery was so surprised that her voice trembled slightly – she truly couldn't believe that such a helmet, which looked somewhat stylish, could be worth almost half a month of her hard work.

"Eight hundred thousand credits..."

Ayane, on the other hand, was slightly moved.

Although this small amount is somewhat insignificant compared to Abydos' total debt of 6235 million.

But I have to say... if such a sum of money really came out of nowhere, Ayane would still be very happy... it would be equivalent to everyone's hard work over a considerable period of time.

Even Bai Zi's eyes were sparkling.

"The car costs 50 credits..."

"A helmet that costs more than a car..."

Was she talking about her road bike?

Amamiya was slightly curious about the words of this girl with her peculiar art style, who always seemed to be out of sync with the rhythm.

"This is just the average price~" Nomiya smiled, and amidst the girls' surprise and curiosity, he delivered a 'soft' yet heavy blow: "This [01 Collector's Edition Helmet], if it could be sold to helmet enthusiasts like the Helmet Club..."

"Perhaps they might use over a million credits to buy it, who knows?"

"Hundreds, millions..."

Celery swallowed unconsciously, at a loss for words.

The impact of hundreds of thousands, or even 99, is completely different from that of "millions"—this is the psychological suggestion that different numbers can create.

From a consumer psychology perspective, you might think a product priced at 1000 yuan is expensive, but what if you reduce the price by one yuan and the product is priced at 999 yuan?

Although it's only a dollar less, you feel like it's "not even in the same price range."

Celery has that feeling now.

Ayane's eyes, behind her glasses, began to sparkle with a look of joy.

Even Bai Zi has started considering whether to find more 'precious items' like these and sell them on the black market to help reduce everyone's stress.

The only student who remained relatively calm was Nomiya, who looked down on the number.

She turned her head curiously to look at Amamiya, who hadn't shown any particular reaction: "Speaking of which... how exactly did you get this helmet, Sensei?"

"This..."

It wasn't Amamiya who spoke, but Hoshino.

Yawning and looking sleepy, she began to tell a "little story" that left the other members of the countermeasures committee bewildered.

"This is a long story..."

"Shall we start from when we enter this 'other world' together?"

Chapter Eight: The Heart Thieves, Let's Go!

Qin Xiang; Bai Zi; Ayane; Nonomiya: "..."

An awkward silence fell over the room.

After a moment, Ayane chuckled dryly, "...Hoshino-senpai, are you still half asleep?"

Celery chimed in, "That sounds unbelievable..."

Nomiya phrased it tactfully: "Hoshino-chan, you don't need to make up outlandish stories about the 'stolen goods'~"

Shirako was very 'straightforward': "Senior Hoshino, even if you resort to robbery because you really couldn't pay back the money, you're still our senior..."

Hoshino was deeply hurt when the other four members of the countermeasures committee looked at him with concern, asking, "Are you alright, senpai?" and even asking, "Are you still half asleep, senpai?"

"Hey...you guys really don't believe what I'm saying, do you...?"

After letting out a wry, ambiguous utterance, she slumped onto the table with teary eyes, feigning pitifulness as she looked at the other four people, all wearing the same "I don't believe it" expression.

After a brief eye contact, Ayane looked away.

"It's not that we don't believe you, it's just that what you said is really too..."

Hoshino then looked to Amamiya for help: "Sensei...please explain for me, who has been wronged..."

"Alright, then I'll clear Takanashi's name."

Amamiya's lips curled slightly, appearing as if she were smiling, but her tone was calm and serious.

"This helmet is indeed 'spoils of war acquired from another world.' It may sound unbelievable... but it's an undeniable fact."

At this point, Amamiya looked around the room, observed the girls' micro-expressions, and continued, "If you don't believe me... I can take you to another world right now."

“Um…” Ayane raised her hand, her expression strained, and asked, “Sensei, what exactly is this ‘other world’ you’re talking about?”

"Hmm... let's start with basic psychology."

After sighing, Amamiya began to craft her words, explaining some basic knowledge about the 'other world' to Ayane and her group.

After all, the members of the Countermeasures Committee are all elites among students, which is completely different from the Phantom Thieves, a makeshift group of 'ordinary high school students'—their 'education' and thinking abilities are relatively superior.

Almost immediately after Amamiya finished explaining some basic information about the other world, some members of the countermeasures committee understood and asked further questions.

Serika raised her hand, looking incredulous, and asked, "So... what you're trying to say, Sensi, is..."

"You took Hoshino-senpai to the 'inner world of others'...and then took out what was in their inner world and brought it into reality?"

Like Hoshino last night, Serika also conceptually understood what Amamiya meant, but she found it hard to believe.

That sounds way too exaggerated...

It's like a phantom thief who claims to be able to "infiltrate the world of the mind" actually going into a person's inner world and even stealing an item as proof...

Amamiya nodded in agreement with Serika's conclusion, which was "hard for outsiders to believe."

"It's like this... If you still hold a negative attitude, I can take you there too, so you can see that 'other world'."

At that moment, Hoshino suddenly raised his hand and asked, "Before that... Uncle, I have a question."

After shedding her previous nonchalance and drowsy state, she appeared exceptionally serious and focused.

“Sensei… Uncle, I’ve seen you fight those ‘monsters’… Uncle, I need to confirm something.”

"If we enter the 'other world' you mentioned and have to fight those monsters... is it safe?"

Amamiya nodded affirmatively: "Based on your performance, there shouldn't be any problems."

These Kiwatos superheroes with their aura buffs mostly possess physical abilities at the level of 'Personality Manipulators'. Even without the protection of Personas, their aura and divine blessing ensure that the shadows of the other world cannot harm them.

Aside from lacking the Persona combat tactic, their other 'qualities' are far superior to those of most Persona manipulators.

After all... Amamiya's "Phantom Thieves" is, to put it bluntly, just a makeshift team put together by some "superpowered individuals".

In terms of tactical coordination and tactical proficiency, how can we compare to these "military-level elites" who have undergone formal training?

Hoshino shouldered his gun and suddenly said with an eager attitude, "Then... Sensei, let's go and see that 'other world' right away."

"I'm quite curious about that 'other world'."

"……senior?"

Ayane was completely bewildered; she couldn't keep up with the current pace at all.

So what exactly is going on? Why are we suddenly talking about another world, and even going on an adventure there?

Is this the beginning of a story in some fantasy world?

Is it really feasible to delve into someone's inner world?

Ayane was bewildered, but she was also the only one on the countermeasures committee who was completely clueless.

Ayane, bewildered, glanced around at her companions' reactions, and then she realized—

Apart from her, the other girls were surprisingly enthusiastic.

Bai Zi also seemed eager to try, and began to check his weapons, ammunition, and other combat resources.

Nomiya has even started stuffing fragmentation grenades, smoke grenades, flashbangs, and other throwable items into his portable bag.

Even Serika had her eyes shining as she made some preparations—perhaps she was curious about the 'way to make money' in another world, and this time she also joined the category of 'abnormal people' for the first time.

After being shocked to discover that everyone on the countermeasures committee except herself seemed eager to try, Ayane fell silent.

She remained silent for a long time, and finally... lowered her head and sighed in despair.

"Hey... okay."

"Then let's go check out that 'other world'..."

Amidst Ayane's subtle expression of 'despair.jpg', the group arrived with great interest near the gates of Abydos's school, in a secluded alleyway.

After leading the girls to the vicinity of the infiltration location, Amamiya turned around and glanced at the girls following behind him, who were carrying various guns.

"Are you ready?"

"Okay, ready."

"Anytime is fine, no problem!"

“I believe in sensei.”

"Hmm... Just how strong are those 'monsters from another world'? I'm really curious."

"There shouldn't be anything else that needs to be prepared..."

The girls, each with their own distinct art style, gave roughly the same answer.

"That's good, let's go."

As Amamiya spoke, she took out her phone, opened the bookmarks of the otherworld app, and clicked on [Impression Space].

'Om—'

The world before his eyes was once again enveloped in a red and black ripple. The dizziness spread synchronously from Amamiya's phone, 'infecting' the girls around him.

"Well……"

"This feeling...?!"

The girls, who were poised to act just a moment ago, were all stunned.