Lin Wuming's superpower level inexplicably jumped, leading to an assessment that it might be related to the "Dark May" project—even if it was only a "possibility." However, the researchers present instantly became invigorated.
Regardless of the truth, even if only to secure more future funding, such a valuable test subject could not be let go!
—Upon realizing this, everyone in the conference room started breathing heavily.
The middle-aged man rubbed his temples and spoke again: "So, let's carefully and thoughtfully conduct the final vote—how should we deal with subject '007'?"
Was there even a choice to be made?
The project director explicitly used the term "subject" to refer to individual 007—he had, in fact, already signaled his intent.
All the researchers present were core members of the project. Whether for academic research or other personal interests, they were deeply tied to the "Dark May" project.
"Well then, let's begin the vote," the middle-aged man clapped his hands and said with a smile.
...
After a week in the hospital, Lin Wuming was discharged. He was escorted in Teacher Yomikawa Aiho's police car back to what would be his home from now on.
Lin Wuming's injuries were stable. Although he still needed a wheelchair to move, with the aid of his psychic ability, he was almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person, at least in terms of daily life convenience.
Since the day the "case was solved," he hadn't seen Heaven Canceller again, which disappointed Lin Wuming somewhat.
However, it was also true that his minor injuries weren't serious enough to warrant disturbing the great Heaven Canceller; or perhaps, Lin Wuming's self-healing ability eliminated the need for Heaven Canceller to intervene.
After taking a look in his room that day, Heaven Canceller had decisively left to treat Dr. Sakurai.
In contrast, Dr. Sakurai was truly on the brink of death. Due to excessive blood loss and the delay in receiving optimal emergency care, she had not shown any signs of waking up, even when Lin Wuming was discharged, although she was out of life-threatening danger.
Torami Toumi visited Dr. Sakurai every day, and while she was there, she would also stop by to see Lin Wuming.
"Bye-bye. I'll come visit when I have time," Torami Toumi said as they parted ways at the hospital entrance.
However, her words seemed directed more toward Yomikawa Aiho than a farewell to Lin Wuming.
"You're welcome anytime!" Yomikawa Aiho replied cheerfully.
...
Shokuhou Misaki woke up and left her room, following the already familiar route towards the laboratory.
Because she was a talented chosen one, she enjoyed certain "privileges" within the research facility. For example, no one required her to wake up early; she could sleep in as long as she liked.
The time was 8:30 in the morning. At this hour, the other children in the research facility had long since gotten up and started a new day of learning or cooperation with their respective research projects.
Although the distance was considerable, Shokuhou Misaki could already hear loud noises emanating from the annex building next door as she walked down the corridor.
"So dedicated..." Shokuhou Misaki yawned, sighing silently.
She knew who was responsible for the commotion: the child from the neighboring Second Laboratory's "Ideal Ability" project team, Hokaze Junko.
Hokaze Junko was currently the highest-level Esper in the entire "Talent Development" facility—she had recently been promoted to Level 4 Great-Level Esper.
Considering that Shokuhou Misaki herself had concealed her true ability level, Hokaze Junko was superficially the only Level 4, and had thus been receiving considerable attention from the researchers lately.
"That girl is naturally diligent, so she's probably working even harder to meet that expectation?" Shokuhou Misaki strolled leisurely, a hint of cold mockery surfacing in her heart. "It's a shame that no matter how hard she tries, she's destined never to advance further and become a Level 5."
Shokuhou Misaki, who could easily read the researchers' inner thoughts, already knew that due to issues with resources and funding, the adults had long given up on the plan to continue fostering Hokaze Junko, leaving her capped at Level 4.
Indeed, superpower development was the main objective of any research facility, but this objective was also constrained by factors of practical benefit.
Ultimately, it came down to resources, primarily funding. When resources were limited, choices inevitably had to be made.
The "Talent Development" facility was backed by the "Kihara" family, making it financially robust among the various research institutions. Its three subordinate laboratories each possessed the resource quota required to cultivate one Level 5.
But even so, it couldn't cover everything; resources were perpetually insufficient.
Just like in Shokuhou Misaki's own Third Laboratory, "Internal Evolution," once they decided to fully cultivate Shokuhou Misaki, they abandoned another talented girl, Ayu Mitsuari.
Hokaze Junko's situation was similar. Her Second Laboratory, "Ideal Ability," as the name suggests, primarily focused on developing an "Ideal Universal Ability," which was completely unrelated to Hokaze Junko's "Mantle Clad" ability.
Hokaze Junko's rapid progress was actually an unexpected bonus for the institute, an event that was outside the plan from the very beginning.
This destined her to receive extremely limited cultivation resources.
In fact, the researchers directly responsible for Hokaze Junko had long known this fact, but for various reasons, no one had yet told her the cruel truth.
"What a pitiful girl," Shokuhou Misaki said. "Should I go tell her the truth now, so she doesn't overdo it anymore..."
She suddenly stopped, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Now... why did I say that? It's as if... I've already seen the future."
In fact, Shokuhou Misaki knew the reason—Lin Wuming. In his memory data, she had also seen Hokaze Junko's figure.
In the future... in the future inside Lin Wuming's mind, Hokaze Junko would be her best friend and subordinate. Although she had a great personality, she was a very tough girl, arguably the combat power pillar of the future Shokuhou Faction!
"Hmm... Shokuhou Faction..." Shokuhou Misaki muttered. "Why would I do something so troublesome?"
Just like how Misaka Mikoto would appear whenever she was mentioned (though it was actually the other way around), the girl with the curled hair, Hokaze Junko, was also almost bound to her existence; they were practically inseparable.
Although she still couldn't be certain whether Lin Wuming's memory information was true or false, since the thought had occurred to her, Shokuhou Misaki decided to go check on her potential future sidekick.