Lin Wuming is a dual-cultivator who simultaneously possesses esper abilitys and magic—such a guess is not unfounded, after all, Academy City and the British Puritan Church had similar cooperative research before.
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was attentive. If Victorio had just casually made an excuse, then in Kihara Similar's view, this conjecture made even more sense.
Combining the recent wave of rumors that suddenly arose in the past few days—that Lin Wuming was defeated by Kamijou Touma—it was clear that this was false information intended to divert attention.
Thinking carefully, wasn't this precisely to conceal the true nature of Lin Wuming's “scientific magic dual cultivation”?
Although Kihara Similar also knew that the previous cooperative experiment between magic and esper abilitys had ended in a disastrous failure, ultimately proving that the powers of the two systems could not be merged; he believed that the existence of a “genius” could overcome such an impossibility.
Lin Wuming was this “genius”.
For scientific researchers, the most difficult step is from zero to one—as long as something is proven feasible, no matter how demanding the conditions for achieving it, from the perspective of scientific experimentation, it is destined to be repeatable for a second, third time…
Therefore, as long as it can be proven that Lin Wuming is indeed a genius of “scientific magic dual cultivation,” then cultivating more “Espers who master magic” will no longer be impossible.
Kihara Similar believed that combining the powers of esper ability and magic systems would yield powerful individuals more easily than solely focusing on esper abilitys.
Anyone who has studied biology knows that cross-breeding can produce stronger offspring.
It was based on this consideration that Kihara Similar had a sudden idea to use this opportunity of Study Group causing trouble to test Lin Wuming.
Yes, Kihara Similar decided to help Study Group, even specifically calling Lin Wuming out… This series of plans was only conceived and formulated on the spur of the moment a few hours ago today.
He used the hundreds of FIVE_Over units painstakingly accumulated by Study Group to tie down Misaka Mikoto and Mugino Shizuri.
At the same time, Kihara Similar took a step ahead, brainwashing the ordinary staff of Study Group, making them confront the girls who came knocking, thereby tying down Shokuhou Misaki.
Then, he sent Black Night Sea Bird to “catch up” with Kinuhata Saiai, indirectly achieving the goal of delaying the other three members of Item to prevent them from interfering.
Adding to that, from the very beginning, he used electromagnetic pulse bombs to destroy all of their mobile phones and other electronic devices…
Thus, the preliminary preparations were complete.
Then he just needed to make a call to Lin Wuming…
After discovering that he couldn't contact those girls, Lin Wuming would definitely rush over himself!
In this Study Group headquarters building, Youfu Chunshu had already set up an “Ability Decline” device, completely modeled after the Juvenile Reformatory specifications.
Theoretically, even a Level 5 Esper, as long as he steps into the domain, will be unable to use his esper ability, completely becoming an ordinary person.
Under these circumstances, if another FIVE_Over is deployed, even if the opponent is that Lin Wuming, it will surely cause him considerable trouble, right?
Kihara Similar's goal was not to defeat Lin Wuming; he merely wanted to verify one thing—how Lin Wuming would respond to this dangerous situation after losing his esper ability.
If it was truly as Victorio, the Roman Church's knight captain, said, that Lin Wuming was a “scientific magic dual cultivation,” then in this situation, the “magic power” he possessed should also be revealed.
Ultimately, after all this Around ing, what Kihara Similar wanted to verify was just this one thing—whether Lin Wuming was a magician or not.
He didn't even want to know what specific magic Lin Wuming mastered; he just needed proof that he indeed used magic, and that would be enough.
As long as the idea was proven feasible, Kihara Similar could then proceed to cultivate his own “dual-cultivation talents.”
Of course, if it was ultimately proven that the rumor was false and Lin Wuming indeed couldn't use magic…
Kihara Similar wouldn't be particularly disappointed—it would simply be the elimination of a wrong path, which is also a gain for a researcher.
However, if that were the case, Lin Wuming's fate would likely be very grim.
Now Study Group was effectively cornered, and having no way out also meant a final frenzy.
In such a situation, if they discovered Lin Wuming had lost his combat capability… Youfu Chunshu and the others probably wouldn't show mercy, would they?
“Well, anyway, what happens next has nothing to do with me. I can only wish them good luck… both sides.” Kihara Similar stood up; he had to leave this troubled place before Lin Wuming arrived.
—This series of events today was all the misdeeds of the Dark Side Study Group; he was merely a partner of Study Group and knew nothing about Dark Sides or anything.
Whether it was FIVE_Over or the “Ability Decline” device, they were all Study Group's own equipment.
Finally, if by any unfortunate chance Our “hero” was harmed, it was all the doing of the deranged Study Group.
“Hmm, that's about it.” After carefully reviewing his plan and finding no omissions, Kihara Similar nodded.
Because it was a plan made by going with the flow, and its ultimate goal was very simple, no one would have thought that Kihara Similar truly just wanted to “observe.”
Even if he did nothing, there was a considerable probability of observing the result he wanted.
While driving away, Kihara Similar opened his laptop and observed the situation inside the headquarters building through the surveillance camera footage.
Not long after, Lin Wuming arrived…
Lin Wuming and Hu Feng Homi arrived in a hurry at the Study Group headquarters building.
Because it involved heavy industry, Study Group's headquarters building was located in a remote area, and along the way, no pedestrians or vehicles were seen nearby.
Or, it was possible that they were scared away by the previous battle here.
On the open plaza in front of the building, which served as the facade, traces of the fierce battle could be clearly seen.
But at this moment, the area in front of the building was silent, not even a single person could be seen. The headquarters building stood with its doors wide open, quietly welcoming Lin Wuming and Hu Feng Homi.
“Where are they?” Hu Feng Homi muttered softly.
The traces left behind were easy to identify: charred marks on the ground caused by high-voltage electrical whips, hideous cracks formed by what looked like a high-frequency vibrating blade…
And most iconic, the molten penetration holes caused by Railgun!
However, Misaka Mikoto's figure was nowhere to be seen.
And the surroundings were silent; they didn't seem to be continuing the battle nearby either.
“Let's go inside and take a look first,” Lin Wuming said calmly. “Since we're already here… maybe Mikoto and Shokuhou have already finished fighting and are searching inside the building.”
“I hope so,” Hu Feng Homi shrugged, then pushed the wheelchair towards the main entrance.
