A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 988 Accelerator's Voice Transmission

Looking at Misaka Mikoto, who insisted on her opinion and refused to back down, Shokuhou Misaki sighed and shrugged: "Whatever, it's your decision anyway, I don't care."

Misaka Mikoto hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded vigorously: "It's decided!"

But the girl was still a little worried, so she turned to ask, "Senior Wuming, what do you think?"

“I support your decision,” Lin Wuming replied immediately.

"Nameless senior!" Misaka Mikoto complained somewhat discontentedly, "I'm genuinely troubled, so please take it seriously!"

Lin Wuming's expression of complete support was tantamount to saying nothing at all, which obviously could not satisfy the girl.

“I didn’t mean to be perfunctory,” Lin Wuming quickly explained. “I also think Shokuhou has a point. In the long run, we will definitely have to tell your parents about your sisters’ situation; we can’t keep it a secret forever—that’s not fair to your parents or your sisters.”

"Huh?!!" Misaka Mikoto exclaimed in surprise, "How could this be..."

“Don’t rush me. As I said, I’m looking at it from a long-term perspective,” Lin Wuming said with a wry smile. “At least right now—during this Great Star Festival—I don’t think it’s a good time to be honest. So, I think it’s better to choose another time.”

"I see..." Misaka Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief. "That's right, that's what I thought too..."

"In the end, isn't it the same as the nameless senior not making a statement at all..." Misaki Shokuhou complained.

"You could say that," Lin Wuming nodded.

Even if you were to ask Lin Wuming what he really thought, the result would be the same; in Lin Wuming's opinion, it would be best to postpone everything else until next year.

He doesn't have the extra energy to pay attention to those things right now.

Keep in mind, World War III is already imminent! If things develop as they did in the original story...

—I think you don't need to be so nervous, Mr. Nameless.

Misaki Shokuhou reassured her, "Now that things have come to this, you've admitted it, haven't you? The so-called 'original plot power' is just for reference only; and even if World War III really happens, it doesn't necessarily mean we need to do anything."

Although it is called a world war, it is not a massive war like World War I and World War II in history, which was fought on the basis of sovereign states and resulted in hundreds of millions of casualties.

The so-called "Third World War" in the original storyline is more accurately described as a war between two "worlds": the "magical world" and the "scientific world."

It may seem grand in concept, but in reality, from a secular perspective, the scale and intensity of war are actually quite ordinary.

At least within Academy City, aside from news reports, one basically doesn't experience the "war" phenomenon.

On this level, it is indeed true that "Academy City is the safest city in the world".

In Misaki Shokuhou's view, even if World War III really broke out as in the original work, as long as they stayed in Academy City and didn't go out, they probably wouldn't be involved in the war.

Given Lin Wuming's current status and position, apart from the chairman of Aleister Group, probably no one else could force him to participate in the war.

The real question now is what Lin Wuming himself wants to do...

—It's not what I want to do.

Lin Wuming shook his head, explaining with a hint of helplessness, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. Many times, even we Level 5s are not in control of our own destiny." Misaki Shokuhou was right; the original plot is indeed "for reference only," as the real world has changed significantly since then.

But this statement can also be interpreted in reverse—who knows if things that seem unrelated to you will eventually happen to you?
It's always better to be prepared, so Lin Wuming prefers to prepare in advance to avoid being caught off guard later.

—Well, what the nameless senior said isn't wrong...

Misaki Shokuhou also admitted that what he said made sense, so she didn't try to persuade him any further.

Lin Wuming nodded, about to say something—after Misaka Mikoto's repeated complaints and protests, he also paid special attention not to neglect her, who was not allowed to participate in the "secret meeting," because of his mental dialogue with Shokuhou Misaki.

But just then, Lin Wuming heard a new sound.

It wasn't a voice that echoed directly in my mind, but one that I actually heard with my ears, and it was a male voice.

Looking around, there was no one else nearby besides the three of them.

The two girls in front of them... seemed not to have heard the voice.

"Nameless, stop looking. You can't see me from where you are."

Although the voice was slightly distorted, it was still vaguely recognizable as Accelerator. It seemed that he had somehow managed to transmit his voice directly to Lin Wuming's ear.

In the past two years, Accelerator has not stood still. His application of "vector manipulation" has become increasingly sophisticated, and he can now achieve things like "transmitting sound over long distances" or "transmitting sound in secret".

“Nameless,” Accelerator seemed to be able to see the scene unfolding before Lin Wuming. Seeing that he had responded to his words, he continued, “If you’ve finished your urgent business, then come and talk to me about what I care about.”

Lin Wuming stopped his wheelchair, a subtle expression on his face: "Sorry, Misaki, you can go ahead first. I... I still have some things to take care of. I'll go back later."

"Something? Will there be trouble?" Misaka Mikoto asked.

"Troublesome? Not really." Lin Wuming shook his head. "It's just meeting someone."

"I see." Misaka Mikoto nodded. "Then shall we meet at Yomikawa-sensei's house?"

Because Lin Wuming always adhered to mysticism and wouldn't explain things directly, Misaka Mikoto had gotten used to it to some extent and agreed without digging deeper.

Watching Lin Wuming's wheelchair disappear into the distance, Misaka Mikoto suddenly asked, "Who is Wuming-senpai going to see? He's so mysterious, even we're avoiding him."

"If you care so much, why pretend to be generous and let your senior leave?" Misaki Shokuhou retorted.

“Because I know you definitely know the truth,” Misaka Mikoto said. “Since you didn’t object, then of course I didn’t stop you from leaving, senpai.”

"Why should they tell you?" Misaki Shokuhou asked.

"Alright, let's stop bickering now," Misaka Mikoto said. "Could it be that Nameless-senpai is going to see a side story..."

"Stop overthinking," Misaki Shokuhou said irritably. "It's Accelerator."

(End of this chapter)