Chapter 868: An Unexpected Discovery
“Lin Wuming can definitely help, but…” Kamijou Touma looked at Stiyl again. “The taboo between the Magic Side and the Science Side—I remember you are very concerned about Espers interfering with Magic Side incidents.”
“Lin Wuming… he’s already deeply involved in it, isn’t he?” Stiyl couldn’t help but retort. “Besides, why do you think I specifically came here to find you?”
Indeed, there was a clear distinction between the Magic Side and the Science Side; a “taboo” existed.
Therefore, Stiyl would absolutely not ask an Esper for help, nor would he actively involve an Esper in Magic Side incidents.
Kamijou Touma was a special case; he was Index’s Guardian, and also a Level 0 Esper, which was like exploiting a bug that allowed him to reasonably participate in Magic Side incidents.
Then, Kamijou Touma, who was himself an Esper, could naturally seek help through his connections.
Although it took a long detour, the ultimate result was—to obtain powerful support from Lin Wuming, Academy City’s strongest local “big shot”!
Stiyl had some expectations for this, so he naturally wouldn’t stop Kamijou Touma from seeking Lin Wuming’s help.
However, after finally finding his phone, Kamijou Touma put it back down.
“What’s wrong?” Stiyl asked with a frown.
“Please look at the time, it’s already one in the morning,” Kamijou Touma said. “It wouldn’t be good to disturb him at this hour, would it?”
Stiyl, however, didn’t get angry; instead, he nodded in agreement: “Then let’s talk after dawn. Anyway, the Amakusa-style’s goal is to obtain information, so even if they capture Sister Orsola, they won’t immediately harm her life.”
Stiyl also knew in his heart that they had no right or standing to forcefully demand Lin Wuming’s help. After all, he was a Level 5 and an “Nameless Board Member.” It might really cause a diplomatic dispute.
Although Kamijou Touma was still a bit conflicted, he ultimately decided not to disturb Lin Wuming.
“What do we do now?” He couldn’t help but yawn. “We can’t do nothing, right? By the way, I have school tomorrow… no, today.”
“Just take a leave of absence,” Stiyl said. “I checked A Certain High School’s schedule; today is the esper ability Level Test. It doesn’t matter if you, a Level 0, go or not.”
“That’s true, but please also consider my position and feelings!” Kamijou Touma complained.
…
Unfortunately, both Stiyl and Kamijou Touma were wrong.
Not only did Lin Wuming know Sister Orsola’s whereabouts, but at this time, he was also still awake.
Not just Lin Wuming, but Hu Feng Toumi, Misaka Mikoto, and Shokuhou Misaki were also still awake.
However, at this moment, they were not together, but were communicating remotely through a video conference.
Also participating in the meeting were Saten Ruiko and Haruue Erii—in fact, Shokuhou Misaki and Kazakiri Hyouka were currently at Saten Ruiko’s house, with the four of them sharing the same camera.
“…That’s right,” Misaka Mikoto nodded seriously. “I investigated with Kuroko, and there are indeed such signs! Unnamed Senior, you need to be careful!”
“You don’t need to worry too much about that,” Shokuhou Misaki said. “Unnamed Senior has already prepared for it. And didn’t we also prepare the ‘Imaginary Hand’? So there’s no need to worry about this. What we need to do now is to find the mastermind behind all this and not let him continue to act recklessly!”
Lin Wuming nodded: “You’re right, I don’t know who is so bored…”
In fact, Lin Wuming himself wasn’t particularly worried. Once a conspiracy is discovered, its threat Level will drop sharply.
As long as precautions are taken in advance, risks can be effectively avoided. Not to mention, Lin Wuming had already made various preparations from the very beginning to cope with the upcoming esper ability Level Test.
—Someone intended to use the esper ability Level Test to plot against Lin Wuming.
What Lin Wuming had always been worried about was finally confirmed to be true.
Specifically, this was a “Urban Legend” discovered by Saten Ruiko.
On a forum where Urban Legends gathered, someone suddenly spread a rumor that Lin Wuming’s Incomplete Telekinesis esper ability was regressing and downgrading, and they even explained it vividly as “a side effect caused by a failed attempt to reach Level 6 not long ago.”
Because it involved Level 5 and Level 6, such topics were originally the most popular type of “Urban Legend.” Coupled with the fact that the protagonist of the topic was the “hero,” it quickly spread like wildfire.
When Saten Ruiko went online after returning home today, she discovered this Urban Legend and immediately took it seriously—because she knew that the content mentioned in this “Urban Legend”… was true!
It was also a secret that Unnamed Senior desperately wanted to avoid exposing!
Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Saten Ruiko dared not be careless and quickly asked Haruue Erii, who was staying overnight at her house, to trace the source of the message.
At the same time, she also prepared to notify Lin Wuming.
However, Saten Ruiko’s own phone had been borrowed by Shokuhou Misaki, so she could only use Haruue Erii’s phone.
And just as she was flipping through the contacts, someone rang the doorbell. It was Shokuhou Misaki and Kazakiri Hyouka—they had specifically come to return the phone.
Seeing Shokuhou Misaki, Saten Ruiko immediately felt a sense of reassurance.
It was well known that in the “Unnamed Faction,” there were actually two people who truly made the decisions. Besides Lin Wuming, who was the core of the faction, it was the Queen Bee in front of her. In fact, in most cases, Shokuhou Misaki’s decision-making power would even be greater.
After learning about the situation reported by Saten Ruiko, Shokuhou Misaki also became concerned and chose to stay and investigate together.
At the same time, she contacted Misaka Mikoto, who had returned to her dormitory.
Although Haruue Erii’s technology was reliable, it was always good to have one more person to investigate at such a time.
According to Saten Ruiko, she had not seen this Urban Legend until she went to school this morning.
It should be known that in order to search for clues related to “Kihara Gensei” and “doppelganger,” Saten Ruiko had been online with high intensity these past two days, and had even scoured these Urban Legend-related forums.
But she didn’t expect that after returning home at night and logging into the forum again, she saw news about Lin Wuming rocket to the front page headline!
Saten Ruiko would never believe that no one was behind the scenes. And it could be confirmed that the person spreading and promoting this news was undoubtedly ill-intentioned.
Due to the special nature of Level 5 in Academy City, questioning a Level 5’s strength and esper ability Level obviously couldn’t be as simple as “disliking Lin Wuming.”
There must be a deeper purpose hidden within.
While the girls were investigating in two separate groups, Shokuhou Misaki contacted Lin Wuming, and then convened this remote meeting via phone and computer…
