"What's wrong, Shokuhou?"
The girl beside her with two braided pigtails, Hanou Ruriko, asked with concern.
Shokuhou Misaki hadn't lied. She really was visiting Hanou Ruriko at the moment, deliberately creating an alibi.
Her sudden muttering naturally drew the attention of the other children nearby.
It wasn't just Hanou Ruriko. Over the past period of time, Shokuhou had intentionally spent effort visiting the Second Research Facility, building fairly good relationships with the other children there as well.
Once I enter Tokiwadai Middle School, these people will be the foundation of the Shokuhou faction!
Facing the curious and worried gazes around her, Shokuhou didn't explain much.
"There's been a problem with my research project," she said apologetically. "Sorry, but I'll have to leave here for today. I need to hurry back!"
With that, she turned and ran off in the direction of the Third Research Facility.
The corridors inside the research institute were filled with surveillance cameras.
Shokuhou didn't deliberately look at them, nor did she attempt to avoid their coverage—even though the complete layout of the building's surveillance network already existed in her mind.
In fact, she wanted the cameras to clearly record her movements.
Logically speaking, I should already know about the existence of the "Exterior," but not too much about it.
So, I can't overreact… but I can't show any reaction either.
While casually playing with the remote control in her hand, Shokuhou gradually slowed her pace. She lowered her head slightly, using her hair as cover while carefully adjusting her facial expression.
It's time to show my acting skills. Come on, Shokuhou Misaki!
Gathering her resolve, she rushed into the laboratory of the Third Research Facility and shouted:
"This is bad! There's something wrong with the 'Exterior'!"
"Don't panic. Take it slow. What exactly happened?"
A male researcher stepped forward to ask.
Including this man, every researcher in the laboratory was wearing an oval-shaped metallic headgear. The sight was extremely ridiculous, but this was standard equipment for the Third Research Facility—mental defense devices designed to block Shokuhou Misaki's Mental Out.
Of course, such things had never actually worked.
From beginning to end, Shokuhou's ability had always exceeded the researchers' expectations. The mental defense equipment they had painstakingly developed and deployed had failed to block Mental Out from the very start.
The researchers in the lab who were, naturally, already under Shokuhou's control were perfect actors, cooperating with her to put on this performance.
"Just now, I suddenly felt the 'Exterior' start running on its own," Shokuhou said anxiously. "But I didn't give it any commands at all! Wasn't that device supposed to only work for me?"
"Don't worry, Shokuhou," the researcher replied, visibly relaxing—because they knew the truth.
The "Exterior" had never been meant for Shokuhou Misaki in the first place.
Rather, its true purpose was to be used by someone else.
It must be that the Exterior has begun formal testing, right?
The researchers began speaking one after another, trying to reassure her.
"Don't worry, it's probably just a normal phenomenon during calibration."
"It could also be a hacker attack on the control system, but it's nothing serious. Their technical team is very strong—they'll definitely resolve it quickly. Please rest assured, Shokuhou."
Shokuhou lowered her head, pretending to accept the adults' explanation, barely suppressing an expression of boredom.
So, this is their real reaction…
How utterly disgusting in its hypocrisy.
Although Shokuhou had completely taken control of the Third Research Facility, she didn't maintain twenty-four-hour, nonstop control over the researchers.
In fact, most of the time, the researchers were "free." She didn't interfere with their thoughts or actions.
The only ability she kept active at all times was her mind-reading.
Once you know what people are truly thinking, controlling their actions becomes much simpler—often without even needing to rely on Esper abilities.
Just like now…
The researchers smugly believed they had fooled Shokuhou Misaki and successfully concealed the truth of the "Exterior."
Each of them acted with great dedication, even pretending to conduct a real investigation.
"No!"
Shokuhou gathered her emotions and suddenly looked up, shouting excitedly.
"I won't allow malicious people to use my power! We have to drive that person away!"
As she spoke, Shokuhou directly connected her brainwaves to the "Exterior," deliberately unleashing mental power at a Level 4 intensity to confront the intruder.
While carefully controlling her output, she observed the surveillance cameras in the laboratory through the eyes of others.
You're watching, aren't you, Kihara Gensei?
If you didn't see my brilliant performance, that would be troublesome.
At moments like this, Shokuhou couldn't help but think of the Mikoto Misaka she had yet to meet.
If she had an ability as convenient as Railgun, she wouldn't have to work this hard acting.
Just like how she deceived people's hearts—using Railgun would probably make it easy to deceive machines as well, right?
"Oh my, how capable you are, Shokuhou-kun."
Inside another building, Kihara Gensei couldn't help but praise her.
"Logging directly into the 'Exterior' without any equipment… As expected of Mental Out."
But this result had long been within Kihara Gensei's expectations. He did not attempt to confront the genuine Mental Out head-on and immediately withdrew from the "Exterior."
After all, the verification was complete, and all the data he needed had already been collected. There was no need to expose the backdoor program prematurely.
As Kihara Gensei withdrew, the large-scale psychological suggestion imposed on the crowd was lifted as well.
At the entrance of the Talent Workshop, the crowd surrounding Kobayashi and Torahachi Toumi once again fell into chaos. More and more people began to waver and retreat.
This time, no matter how much the ringleaders tried to incite or even threaten them, they could no longer unify the crowd's will to continue pressuring Lin Wuming.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the human wall, Dolly and Keisaku Mitori, trapped inside the building, were confronted by a far more dangerous force—professional security personnel armed for violent enforcement.
They intended to forcibly seize Dolly and destroy her.
Under no circumstances could she be allowed to be exposed to the public eye!
Within mere dozens of seconds, the situation took a drastic turn. Keisaku Mitori was both shocked and furious.
They had been just one step away from escaping—so why had so many people suddenly appeared?!
Worse yet, these uniformed, powerfully built men clearly looked ready to use force, filling Keisaku Mitori with panic.
—Shokuhou Misaki isn't here.
—Kobayashi is blocked outside.
—Now, only I can save Dolly!
Keisaku Mitori's expression hardened as she made her decision in an instant.
(End of Chapter)
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