Chapter 850: Shirai Kuroko, the Middleman
“…” Shirai Kuroko looked speechlessly at the man in front of her. “If you want to see Nameless Senior, why don’t you just go find him?”
“No, no, no, Shirai and Lin Wuming have an extraordinary relationship, so you don’t find it difficult,” Takadaira Koryo explained. “But for outsiders, the ‘Nameless Director’ isn’t someone you can just meet whenever you want.”
After a moment of hesitation, Takadaira Koryo lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “Also, I actually have a secret matter I want to discuss directly with Lin Wuming, so I hope it can be kept as discreet as possible…”
“Why me?” Shirai Kuroko asked. In terms of closeness, there were clearly more suitable people than her, unless…
“The one you want to avoid is Shokuhou Misaki?” Shirai Kuroko stared intently at him.
Takadaira Koryo no longer concealed it and nodded decisively: “You guessed correctly, but please rest assured, I absolutely have no intention of harming your interests. It’s just whether this matter should be made public… I think it’s better to let Lin Wuming decide.”
“So secretive…” Shirai Kuroko frowned, also a bit indecisive.
“Please, you must help, Shirai!” Seeing this, Takadaira Koryo quickly bowed his head again and pleaded, “Your family background might not care, but I am willing to pay one million yen as a service fee, regardless of whether the matter ultimately succeeds!”
“That just makes it more suspicious,” Shirai Kuroko said with a straight face.
With a heavy sigh, Takadaira Koryo finally relented and confessed, “Alright, I won’t hide it anymore. Don’t laugh, my goal is actually very simple: I just want to cling to the ‘Nameless Director’s’ coattails.”
As a border administrator with real power, he had often used his position to secure benefits for himself.
Although they were all harmless minor infractions that wouldn't attract the Dark Side Organization's sanctions, making mistakes inevitably left him with leverage.
Once someone held leverage over him, many subsequent matters would be beyond his control. By then, it was likely that the Dark Side Organization would indeed come knocking.
Takadaira Koryo also knew the gravity of the situation, and having been in the game for so long, he was well aware of how terrifying the Dark Side Organization was.
To avoid suffering such a tragic fate himself, he actively took steps to save himself.
“I swear what I’m saying is true!” Takadaira Koryo swore here. “And what is there to worry about? I’m just an ordinary person, but Lin Wuming is an invincible Level 5, so how could I pose a threat to him?”
“So,” Shirai Kuroko’s attitude finally softened, “you really have something important you want to discuss with Nameless Senior?”
“Exactly, absolutely true!”
“Must I help you with the introduction?”
“Shirai is the most suitable person I can think of.”
“I see…” Shirai Kuroko thoughtfully stroked her chin.
—I’ve tried my best to keep my distance, but now there’s a special situation, so I have to meet Nameless Senior.
As for whether this Takadaira Koryo was reliable… Shirai Kuroko couldn't tell, nor did she care. Just as the man himself said, the power gap was immense; there was no way he could hide anything from Nameless Senior and Shokuhou.
“Alright,” Shirai Kuroko nodded, “I can pass on your message. As for whether Nameless Senior is willing to see you, that’s not something I can control.”
“Of course, I understand that.” Takadaira Koryo nodded quickly. “I will offer the reward down to the last penny…”
“Don’t do anything unnecessary.” Shirai Kuroko refused again. “First, tell me what this matter is about, and when do you want to meet Nameless Senior?”
“The sooner the better! To be honest, it’s quite urgent,” Takadaira Koryo hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Actually, someone wants to see Lin Wuming—someone from outside Academy City. Because she kept saying she wanted to see ‘Lord Lin Wuming,’ I thought she might actually know Lin Wuming, so I didn’t dare to rashly expel that girl…”
“Someone from outside wants to see Nameless Senior?” Shirai Kuroko frowned.
As far as she knew, Nameless Senior was an orphan who grew up in Academy City, right? Where would he have “acquaintances from outside”?
“Wait, you just said ‘girl’?”
…
Leaving aside the sudden incident with Shirai Kuroko, after she took her leave, the other girls also got up and left, heading to the park to meet Lin Wuming.
After an afternoon of special training, Lin Wuming put away his pistol and turned to head home.
Since it was his first time walking around the park on his own two feet, Lin Wuming inevitably took a few extra loops. When he reached the exit, he happened to meet up with the girls who had arrived.
Seeing Lin Wuming waving and greeting them, Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki’s eyes lit up, letting out small exclamations.
—Nameless Senior, not in a wheelchair!
A rare state where they didn't need to look down, but had to look up to meet his gaze!
“Nameless Senior, good day.”
The two Level 5s were momentarily distracted, while Hu Feng Toumi was used to it, so it was Hokaze Junko who greeted him first.
“Hello, Senior!” Haruue Erii and Saten Ruiko followed closely with their greetings.
However, because she was hiding something from Lin Wuming, Saten Ruiko felt inexplicably guilty. Her mind went blank for a moment, and then she blurted out: “Nameless Senior, you’ve grown taller, haha…”
Shokuhou Misaki rolled her eyes as she walked towards Lin Wuming. “Hard work with the training, Nameless Senior. Was it smooth?”
“About as expected,” Lin Wuming replied, “but no surprises either.”
Just as she was about to offer a few words of encouragement, Shokuhou Misaki suddenly let out a surprised sound.
—Nameless Senior… also wants to use “Imaginary Hand”?
To be safe, and to ensure a perfect score in the ability Level test, Lin Wuming planned to use “Imaginary Hand” as a backup.
In that case—Shokuhou Misaki suddenly realized—Nameless Senior shouldn’t say anything to Saten, right?
After all, they were both going to use “Imaginary Hand.”
—Saten, get ready and just confess directly to Nameless Senior!
Shokuhou Misaki immediately changed her mind and promptly notified Saten Ruiko.
“Huh?” Hearing the sudden voice in her mind, Saten Ruiko gasped in surprise, then realized something and quickly covered her mouth.
—What’s going on, Shokuhou? Why suddenly…
—Because now is the most suitable time, trust me, Nameless Senior will definitely agree!
Shokuhou Misaki urged, then said directly, “Nameless Senior, Saten has something she wants to discuss with you…”
“Nameless Senior, I finally found you!” A new voice suddenly interrupted her words.
