A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 1159 The Girls' Questioning
It is widely known that "Academy City is the safest place in the world"—and now it turns out that this is not an exaggeration!

These parents originally planned to transfer their children to schools outside Academy City, but now they have to change their minds.

With everything so chaotic outside, where is there a safer, more reassuring place than Academy City?

“…If it weren’t for Academy City’s strict household registration management, even those students’ parents would probably have moved in,” said Haruharu Kazari.

For both Academy City and the students' parents, this can be considered a blessing in disguise.

Lin Wuming knew that Academy City would never allow students to transfer schools midway through their studies, because the biological information of the students—the superpowered individuals—was Academy City's most important asset.

Lin Wuming also knew that in order to "retain" students, Academy City was completely willing to do outrageous things.

In the original story, they tried to harm Misaka Mikoto's mother—just to stop her from letting Misaka Mikoto leave Academy City.

Thinking of this, Lin Wuming looked at Misaka Mikoto: "Mikoto, how is your mother?"

"Mom?" Misaka Mikoto looked helpless. "She's having such a good time here, she doesn't want to leave."

Lin Wuming nodded. With so many people protecting Misaka Misuzu, she shouldn't be in any danger. Besides, she had already given up on letting Misaka Mikoto leave. Academy City was too busy protecting her to let her get hurt.

As Haru Kazari just mentioned, many students' parents have changed their minds, and some even want to move into Academy City themselves, but they are not allowed to.

This problem doesn't exist for Misaka Misuzu, who has now effectively obtained the right to reside in Academy City.

“Mom’s life is very fulfilling; she’s always visiting her sisters,” Misaka Mikoto said. “I don’t know what she’s been doing these past few days; I haven’t been able to find her.”

“It’s just that you can’t find your aunt, Misaka,” Misaki Shokuhou said bluntly. “You’re a rather unfit daughter.”

Misaka Mikoto was somewhat unconvinced: "Do you know what Mom is doing?"

“Of course I know,” Misaki Shokuhou nodded matter-of-factly. “It was Kuroko and others who helped Auntie with the paperwork, and Tiger Bee even went to the kitchen to help out.”

"Huh? Even Kuroko..." Misaka Mikoto looked at Shirai Kuroko beside her in shock, "So what on earth is my mom doing?"

“My aunt owns a bakery,” Shirai Kuroko said.

"Eh?"

“A bakery that makes bread and cakes,” Tiger Bee Honey added.

“No need to explain, I know what that is…” Misaka Mikoto held up her palm. “No wonder Tiger Bee went to help… but why?”

Misaka Mikoto already knew that Toumi the Tiger Bee was skilled at making strawberry cakes, but why did her mother open a bakery? Did she really intend to stay here permanently?

"Because Auntie saw that my sisters couldn't buy the cakes they wanted," Shirai Kuroko explained, "so she decided to open her own shop to supply my sisters."

"So that's how it is..." Misaka Mikoto chuckled dryly. She had to admit that her mother really cared about her "sisters" and truly treated them as her own daughters.

While she wouldn't be jealous, Misaka Mikoto still felt there were many things to complain about.

Why am I the only one who doesn't know?

—No wonder Misaki Shokuhou criticized me earlier; I'm definitely not qualified to be her daughter.

It was Shirai Kuroko who spoke up to defuse the situation: "Because my sister has been busy with important matters lately, she didn't want to bother you."

"..." The important thing is to improve one's strength.

Having missed two opportunities to fight in Europe, Misaka Mikoto harbored considerable resentment.

Especially in the latter case, when a full-scale war had already broken out with the Roman Catholic Church, there was no longer any restriction on superpowered individuals going out to fight. The reason why Misaka Mikoto was unable to join the battle this time was simply because she could not get to the battlefield in time.

At that time, Lin Wuming and Accelerator traveled in a rocket, flying at hypersonic speeds throughout the entire journey, and then parachuted into the battlefield.

Everything else is fine, except for the overload during the rocket's acceleration, which Misaka Mikoto's body cannot withstand; but if she were to use other methods to get to the battlefield, the battle might have already ended halfway there.

It was because of this reason outside of the battle that Misaka Mikoto missed the opportunity to fight alongside Lin Wuming.

This bothered her, so from that day on she began to dedicate herself to finding ways to improve her own abilities.

To avoid being left behind for the same reason again, Misaka Mikoto is determined to find a way to improve her physical abilities or enable herself to travel long distances at high speeds. In short, she must keep up with Lin Wuming!

Of the girls, only Misaka Mikoto was truly persistent about this; Shokuhou Misaki lacked direct combat ability, so she didn't care; Tomiguchi Tohru certainly wanted to fight alongside Lin Wuming, but she decisively gave up when she first saw the means of transportation, so she didn't harbor much resentment; Shirai Kuroko was even more self-aware, knowing that with her strength, forcibly following would only make her a burden...

Misaka Mikoto, having already touched upon a higher level, is indeed qualified to participate in this war, and she truly has the potential to solve the problem of "traveling".

It is precisely because they saw hope that they became even more unwilling to accept defeat.

Misaka Mikoto's diligent study over the past few days has been evident to all. Her companions and her mother, Misaka Misuzu, have all seen it, which is why they haven't bothered her with trivial matters like "opening a shop."

After learning the truth, Misaka Mikoto felt even more ashamed.

The more anxious I am, the less I'll do. Will I end up accomplishing nothing?

Misaka Mikoto grew increasingly anxious, and this anxiety was evident on her face, even to the point that Lin Wuming noticed.

"Mikoto, don't put too much pressure on yourself," Lin Wuming advised. "You're already very strong..."

As soon as he spoke, he was met with almost unanimous stares from all the girls present.

“Only the nameless senior has no right to say such a thing,” Shirai Kuroko said softly.

Misaka Mikoto wholeheartedly agreed and nodded vigorously.

He then raised his eyebrows and began to question Lin Wuming, adopting a posture of interrogation.

"Put my business aside for now, Nameless-senpai. Now, let's talk about your situation—" Misaka Mikoto said with a straight face, "Yesterday afternoon, Kamijou Touma-senpai and Index returned."

"Oh, they're finally back too?" Lin Wuming said.

“So, we also learned the specifics of the battlefield three days ago from Kamijou-senpai,” Misaka Mikoto continued. “Kamijou Touma apologized to us.”

"Apologize? Why?" Lin Wuming began to sense something was wrong.

"Kamijou-senpai said that it was because of his encouragement that you, Nameless-senpai, attempted to lift the 'Star of Bethlehem,' which resulted in your injury and hospitalization." Misaka Mikoto looked over expressionlessly. "Originally, this injury could have been avoided."

"So, Nameless Senior~" the girls questioned, "Why risk doing something like that to single-handedly support a city?"

(End of this chapter)