A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 725 No More Surprises
Just as Lin Wuming was preparing to go home, on the other side, Aizali, still sporting the appearance of Kaihara Mitsuki, staggered along a secluded and deserted alley.

What should we do next?
He felt lost. He had originally planned to betray the organization and stay in the city; but now it seemed that perhaps... he should just honestly complete the organization's mission, then leave and go home.

"You still want to leave now? You underestimate this city."

Behind him, another Kaihara Mitsuki—that is, himself—blocked the only exit.

This is a dead end.

“The genetic information of high-level ability users is the most important intelligence in Academy City.” Mitsuki Kaihara raised his left arm, which was wrapped in bandages. “Before we settle this, give me back my skin.”

……

Lin Wuming led Tiger Bee Tomi and Shokuhou Misaki back.

Because of the series of events and unexpected developments that had just occurred, the three of them remained silent for a moment—not knowing what to say.

The atmosphere was a little awkward... Thinking back, it was perhaps the most awkward and helpless time they had ever been since they met.

Misaki Shokuhou felt helpless and inexplicably tired, as if she had just gone through a fierce battle. All she wanted to do was rest, and she didn't even have the energy to activate "Mental Control".

From this perspective, Misaka Mikoto, as an "opponent," is actually more troublesome than those real "enemies"!

Unfortunately, the culprit slipped away first, which was truly...

—Huh? Isn't this great? Misaka Mikoto gave up her current favorable situation, so at least now... we're back to the same starting line.

Lost in thought about these complicated matters, Misaki Shokuhou forgot that her personal car was nearby; in fact, she could easily take a ride home whenever she called, and there was no need for her to walk here...

Misaki Shokuhou only remembered this when her body began to protest.

“Oh right, my car…” Misaki Shokuhou immediately pulled out her phone.

Lin Wuming and Hu Feng Toumi also stopped. With their stamina, they wouldn't mind walking all the way home. However, they simply weren't in the mood for such a stroll today.

All parties involved in today's series of events are experiencing the same level of mental exhaustion. Even Hu Feng Toumi, who appeared calm throughout, now just wants to get home as soon as possible, take a shower, and then get a good night's sleep...

What should have been a nice date ended up leaving everyone physically and mentally exhausted—Lin Wuming had lost count of how many times he had let out a silent sigh.

Sometimes, Lin Wuming even felt that Aizali was utterly useless, completely unqualified as an "enemy." If he could fight the "angel" for another three hundred rounds... it would be better than this situation where he was completely at a loss.

"Anyway, let's go home first," Lin Wuming echoed, repeating the same nonsense he had said earlier.

So the three of them stood by the roadside waiting for a car.

However, the special vehicle summoned by Misaki Shokuhou was delayed in arriving.

"Could it be that there's something wrong with my senses?" Misaki Shokuhou muttered to herself. "It seems like I've been waiting for quite a while."

Because Misaki Shokuhou had previously experienced a "slowing down of time," she was somewhat unsure about her perception of time in front of Lin Wuming.

“That is indeed a bit long,” Lin Wuming agreed. “Ten minutes? Did you really park the car that far away?”

It's really hard to believe. Given Misaki Shokuhou's stamina, and with a car available for her, would she really walk such a long distance on her own?
"No way? It should be nearby." Misaki Shokuhou recalled, "I should have known better than to let Junko go back first." In order to support the Queen's date today, the Shokuhou faction even specially set up a "Date Support Countermeasures Headquarters", and Junko Hokaze made time specifically for this purpose, ready to respond to the Queen's summons at any time.

However, due to Izali's sudden attack, the "date" was canceled halfway, so Junko Hokaze no longer needed to wait on standby.

—As for searching for the attackers, there's no need to involve the Shokuhou faction yet.

Misaki Shokuhou announces the disbandment of the "Dating Support Countermeasures Headquarters," allowing everyone, including Junko Hokaze, to resume their free activities.

As a result, after losing the important assistance of Junko Hokaze, they couldn't even get a car...

“Speaking of which,” Tiger Bee Honey frowned slightly, looking around, “where exactly is this place? Could it be that the driver went to the wrong place?”

Misaki Shokuhou is not good at using machines, so when she summoned the car earlier, she verbally told the driver where to wait.

Trusting Her Majesty the Queen, no one raised any objections at the time.

But now it seems...

"Honeybee, are you really sure you gave the right coordinates?" the tiger bee asked.

“They got the location by asking passersby,” Misaki Shokuhou said. “It shouldn’t be wrong, right?”

As she spoke, Misaki Shokuhou lost her confidence: "Nameless Senpai, you... never mind, forget I asked."

Seeing Lin Wuming's helpless look, Misaki Shokuhou immediately realized her mistake—she had actually tried to ask a directionally challenged person for directions...

No matter how reliable the nameless senior may be in other aspects, he is completely unreliable when it comes to finding the way!
Otherwise, Misaki Shokuhou wouldn't have needed to randomly select passersby to determine her location.

"Let them ask the driver again." Misaki Shokuhou took out her phone again.

“Your phone should have an automatic location function. As long as you turn on coordinate sharing, the driver will be able to find you on his own,” Lin Wuming said as he leaned over to help him operate it.

"No signal?" Lin Wuming was immediately taken aback and looked around.

The area is filled with buildings, clearly a metropolis within an urban area, so there's no reason why there should be no signal!
Unless there is human interference—it can't be Misaka Mikoto playing a prank, right?
“Think about it again,” Misaki Shokuhou put away her phone and took out the remote control instead. “It seems like it’s been a while since we’ve seen any passersby other than us.”

Is it a method like "dispersing bystanders", or have they entered a special "area"?
Lin Wuming looked to the left and right. Misaki Shokuhou gripped the remote control tightly, and Toumi the Tiger Bee also grabbed the ribbon—they had already entered battle mode.

Faced with such a sudden event, all three remained extremely calm and naturally took their respective countermeasures.

“I’m not surprised anymore,” Misaki Shokuhou said. “No matter what happens, I won’t be surprised anymore.”

“Nameless,” Tiger Bee Honey also said, “you are not allowed to stop me this time.”

“If they are indeed enemies,” Lin Wuming said.

Then, a figure suddenly appeared on the other side of the road.

(End of this chapter)