A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 829 A Special Gift

After watching the car drive away, Lin Wuming turned around, picked up his backpack, and walked directly into the target research institute.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the operation, nor was there any "surprise attack." What Lin Wuming did was very simple: he directly revealed his identity and "requested" the research institute's cooperation in the investigation.

—If Saten Ruiko really accompanies him on this mission, he might be very disappointed, right?
Lin Wuming thought silently in his heart.

With official status, the so-called investigation is basically a routine matter, without much excitement or thrill—unless something is actually found.

"Really?" After a moment, Lin Wuming couldn't help but gasp, because the information provided by Saten Ruiko was true.

According to the institute's internal investigation, a middle-aged female researcher did indeed suddenly disappear today—the very person mentioned in Saten Ruiko's information.

When checking the surveillance footage, it was discovered that the female researcher named Hirata Koto did indeed come to the institute today, and the access control system also had her attendance record.

But now, she can't be found anywhere in the research institute, and we can't reach her by phone either; she seems to have vanished into thin air.

The institute's director immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He was not only worried about being held accountable by this "nameless director," but the thought that such a dangerous individual was hidden within his institute was terrifying.

"Call the police," Lin Wuming said, not blaming them, but instead reminding them, "Just gather information about Hirata Koto and give it to the security forces."

Regardless of whether Hirata Koto is related to Kihara Gensei or not, her sudden disappearance at this point in time is certainly suspicious.

Even if she really is related to Kihara Gensei, or even one of his "stand-ins," there's no hope of catching her now.

Rather than searching for a needle in a haystack on his own, Lin Wuming felt it was more reliable to hand the search over to the professional team of the guard unit.

After finishing up at the research institute, Lin Wuming rushed to the school, but he was still late.

……

As for the other side, Saten Ruiko and Tomi Torabe were not late because they were picked up by a private car.

Tiger Bee felt that she was half the owner of this car, so she chose to take the guests to school first, and then go to the Academy Garden.

Before getting off the bus, Saten Ruiko seemed to hesitate for a long time before speaking, "Tiger Bee, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell Mumei-senpai, so I'd like to tell you first and ask you to help me decide."

Tiger Bee Tomi looked surprised. She didn't have much of a relationship with Saten Ruiko, so she couldn't figure out what important thing Saten Ruiko had to discuss with her, especially since it involved Mumei.

However, since it involves the nameless...

"It's alright, go ahead and say it." Tiger Bee looked at her with a perfect smile.

"..." Saten Ruiko subconsciously touched the skin on her arm—suddenly feeling a little prickly.

“Actually, I think I might have met Hirata Koto.” But without thinking too much about it, Saten Ruiko said, “Someone who is suspected to be Kihara Gensei.”

"When?" Tiger Bee Honey asked immediately, as things were not unfolding as expected.

“Uh, about twenty minutes before you arrived…” Saten Ruiko recalled.

"You're here really early," Tiger Bee exclaimed in surprise.

Saten Ruiko chuckled twice, then began to explain in detail.

Not daring to act on her own, Saten Ruiko lingered outside the research institute after finding it, observing the area. During this time, she suddenly saw a brown-haired female researcher carrying a large cardboard box walk out of the institute and then prepare to cross the street.

Seeing that she had difficulty moving around, Saten Ruiko kindly stepped forward to help. The two of them carried the cardboard box to the other side of the road and then carried it to the female researcher's private car.

“The researcher said she was leaving today, so she had to take her personal belongings home,” Saten Ruiko said. “When we parted, as a thank you, she installed an app on my phone…”

“This is already suspicious enough, isn’t it? A strange app from a stranger,” Tiger Bee Honey said immediately. “It would be better if you had Haru Shiori check it out for you later.”

“Of course I know it’s suspicious, but I don’t think it’s the kind of suspicious that you think it is…” After hesitating for a moment, Saten Ruiko said softly, “It’s ‘Imagine Mage’.”

"Huh?" The tiger bee tilted its head and looked over.

"The application that the researcher installed for me is 'Fantasy Master'," said Saten Ruiko, taking out her phone as proof.

Theoretically speaking, "Fantasy Master" has been completely banned, and it is impossible to find any copies of it on the entire internet.

However, such a useful tool cannot simply be allowed to disappear.

I believe that those well-established institutions will definitely be able to obtain a copy for research or as a technical reserve.

Even so, this kind of thing is definitely not something that ordinary research institutions or ordinary researchers can get their hands on.

Regardless of whether the female researcher was actually Kihara Gensei, the fact that she could offer "Phantom Master" as a thank-you gift proves that she is extraordinary.

“So,” Tiger Bee looked at her seriously, “you’ve been bought off by this gift?”

"Of course not!" Saten Ruiko quickly waved her hand and raised her hand to swear, "I swear, I will never betray the organization! Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to you to discuss this."

Tiger Bee Honey thought for a moment and said, "You want to use the Illusionist to increase your strength?"

Saten Ruiko nodded. Her experiences over the past few days reminded her once again that without sufficient strength, let alone participating in the actions of the "nameless forces," even observing from the sidelines was a luxury.

Saten Ruiko had used the first-generation "Illusionist" before and knew that the system was indeed effective. She just needed to ask Kiyama Harumi-sensei to solve the aftereffects problem and everything would be perfect.

This was the only way she could think of that could actually improve her ability level.

Having understood the girl's thoughts and awareness, Tiger Bee Honeycomb did not stop her any further.

Not having enough strength and worrying about not being able to keep up with Wuming's pace—don't I have the same problem?

"Forget it." Tiger Bee Toumi shook his head. "Since you've already made up your mind and know the consequences and side effects of doing this..."

"Can you keep this a secret, Tiger Bee?" Saten Ruiko asked quickly. "I think it's best not to let Nameless-senpai know—he definitely won't agree to me using this."

“You guessed right, but just convincing me won’t be enough.” Tomi shook her head. “You also need to convince Shokuhou and Misaka; and you’d better not keep it from Uiharu Kazari either.”

"Huh? Didn't everyone already know that?" Saten Ruiko said in surprise.

"Otherwise what?" Tiger Bee shrugged. "At least you'll never get past Shokuhou. The most important thing to do to fool Wuming is to get Shokuhou under control."

(End of this chapter)