"Lin Wuming, actually, considering the outcome, it's quite good that you achieved this level on your first attempt," Chairman Aleister added finally. "It seems you have a lot of talent. I expect you'll master this skill much faster than I anticipated."
Lin Wuming was indifferent to Aleister's praise. After confirming there was no other valuable information in the call, he decisively took his leave.
"Well, that's how it is..." Hanging up the phone, Lin Wuming looked at the girls beside him. "The good news is, the general direction is correct, and this kind of backlash can be avoided."
"No matter what," Shokuhou Misaki snorted, "before you get permission from the doctor, you are forbidden from trying to use magic again, Wuming Student!"
"Please rest assured," Heaven Canceller said with a chuckle, "I will formulate a good rehabilitation plan for Lin Wuming."
Lin Wuming shook his head, saying no more—if he could, he would also rest well.
No normal person wants to be in danger, constantly fighting powerful, inexplicable opponents to the death...
"Oh, right," Lin Wuming suddenly remembered the scene before he fainted. "How is that intruder now? Also, what are the casualties and losses from this incident? And how is that girl who accidentally fell into the battlefield at the end?"
After calming down, Lin Wuming's consciousness finally reconnected to the moment before he fainted.
It was Shirai Kuroko who answered. As a Judgment, she had already organized all the information, just waiting for Lin Wuming to ask.
"Please rest assured, Wuming Student, although the damage caused by this incident is very severe—current statistics show that one-third of Academy City's underground district has suffered damage to varying degrees, and the two main underground streets, which were the primary battlefield, are completely destroyed and must be completely rebuilt." Shirai Kuroko pulled up her phone screen and began to report.
"Isn't that very serious!" Misaka Mikoto complained.
"Indeed, Onee-sama." Shirai Kuroko agreed, then continued, "But fortunately, there were no fatalities throughout the entire incident, only two hundred and fifteen people were injured to varying degrees—in fact, Wuming Student and that intruder were the two most seriously injured."
No one died in this incident, and there weren't many seriously injured. Such a result can indeed be called a blessing in disguise.
"As for that intruder—Sherry Cromwell—she has been handed over to Anti-Skill for interrogation." Shirai Kuroko continued, "It is said that she strongly denies causing such severe damage."
When the sorceress was mentioned, Hu Feng Toumi, who had been tricked by her, immediately showed a dangerous aura.
If Sherry Cromwell hadn't been strictly guarded and protected by Anti-Skill, perhaps with Hu Feng Toumi's personality, she might have already started to act, preparing to assassinate her?
At this point, Shirai Kuroko sighed, "Thanks to Onee-sama and the Advanced Situation Rescue Squad's timely intervention, the overall structure of the underground street was preserved. Otherwise, we would probably have to rebuild the underground district from scratch."
Advanced Situation Rescue Squad?
Lin Wuming always felt as if he had heard something familiar, but for a moment, he just couldn't recall the source of this déjà vu.
Shirai Kuroko didn't explain much on this topic, but continued, "As for Haruue Erii—that's the girl who accidentally entered the battlefield—she is also undergoing examination at the Hospital, just downstairs."
"Haruue Erii?" Lin Wuming repeated the name.
"Yes," Shirai Kuroko nodded, somewhat puzzled, "Do you know her, Wuming Student?"
"Haruue Erii... Advanced Situation Rescue Squad..." Lin Wuming suddenly asked, "Who is the leader of that Advanced Situation Rescue Squad?"
"She's a woman, but because she was in a powered suit, I couldn't see her face," Misaka Mikoto said.
"Terestina, the leader's name is Terestina," Shokuhou Misaki suddenly said, her eyes fixed on Lin Wuming. "Wuming Student, you must have heard that name before, right?"
Of course he had heard it!
Lin Wuming nodded silently, but only in the original plot.
—Haruue Erii, Advanced Situation Rescue Squad, Terestina... So, what we encountered at that time wasn't an earthquake either, but... "Chaotic Open"?
—Yes, a very reasonable deduction, I think so too.
Shokuhou Misaki replied in her mind.
"But..." Lin Wuming couldn't help but blurt out, "Did I remember incorrectly—Kiyama Harumi's students didn't they already wake up, around this time last year...?"
"Huh?" The girls, except for Shokuhou Misaki, were all confused, wondering why Kiyama Harumi's name was mentioned.
Shokuhou Misaki also responded, "I've done a little investigation, and it is indeed related to Kiyama Harumi. As for the specifics, perhaps you can ask her directly—what do you think, Heaven Canceller?"
Facing Shokuhou Misaki's direct question, Heaven Canceller did not hide anything: "That's right, Kiyama Harumi is indeed in Our Hospital. If needed, I'll call her up later."
Saying that, Heaven Canceller turned and walked out of the ward, muttering to himself, "I knew it would be discovered, so I couldn't even hide it for a day?"
—Shokuhou.
Watching Heaven Canceller's retreating back, Lin Wuming asked in his mind—Did you really investigate?
—Of course... not!
Shokuhou Misaki's smile remained unchanged.
—Currently, what I know is actually the same as Wuming Student, limited to the relevant plot in the original work.
However, the "Mental Out" investigation process is a black box; what is found depends entirely on Shokuhou Misaki's own words.
So as long as she says she "investigated," then whatever she finds next can be explained away.
—Also, Wuming Student's memory is fine. After the "Imaginary Hand" incident last year, Kiyama Harumi's students indeed all woke up.
Lin Wuming became even more puzzled in his mind—If that's the case, then the "Chaotic Open" incident would be out of the question. Or... was it caused by other events?
"Cough!" Misaka Mikoto coughed loudly, interrupting their contemplation. "Kiyama Harumi—what happened to her exactly? Did she create 'Imaginary Hand' again?"
Shirai Kuroko looked up: "I found it. Kiyama Harumi was granted special parole and released from prison earlier this year—according to official archives—and has since been working as a regular teacher."
Pausing slightly, seemingly receiving new information, Shirai Kuroko continued, "It is said that because of her experience in developing 'Imaginary Hand,' Kiyama Harumi is quite famous in the scientific community. Many Institutes have extended olive branches to her, but all were rejected. Now... she is employed at the educational institution that accepted her students."
