A Scientific Urban Detective

“Teacher, here are the materials you requested.” A young woman in a professional suit knocked and entered, holding a file bag in her hand.

“Ah, it's Kiyama-kun. Thank you for your hard work.” Kihara Gensei turned from the experiment table, “I made you come all the way here.”

“No, it's no trouble at all.” Kiyama Haruue quickly said, “Besides, I have an experiment planned for today anyway, so I was coming to the institute regardless.”

“So diligent, Kiyama-kun.” Kihara Gensei looked at his prized student with a kind smile, like a benevolent old professor, “Now that you have a job, you don't have to be so serious about the institute.”

Kiyama Haruue said earnestly, “My profession is first and foremost a researcher, and then an elementary school teacher, so I cannot neglect my research work.”

“So serious,” Kihara Gensei said with a smile, accepting the file bag, “But it's not a bad thing for young people to be energetic. Among the recent newcomers, I only have high hopes for you, Kiyama-kun. You have unparalleled talent and will achieve accomplishments beyond everyone else!”

“!” Kiyama Haruue's face flushed red with excitement, “I, I will work hard!”

Kihara Gensei is a symbolic figure in the scientific field of Academy City, enjoying extremely high prestige in the scientific and academic communities. He is also the person Kiyama Haruue, who aspires to become a scientist, admires the most.

Receiving Kihara Gensei's personal praise was enough to make Kiyama Haruue happily change her personality, transforming from a gloomy and depressed person into a smiling beauty.

After the change in mood, Kiyama Haruue was also in the mood to consider other things. She noticed the file bag she brought, and her curiosity as a researcher took over.

“Teacher, is this file a very important research report? Why were you in such a hurry to have me bring it over personally?”

“No, it's not a research report.” Kihara Gensei opened the file bag, “It's just an ability test report.”

“A Level 5 test report?”

“No, just a Level 3 'Telekinesis User'.” Kihara Gensei began to look through the test report.

“Eh? Just Level 3? And it's 'Telekinesis'?” Kiyama Haruue was surprised.

In her impression, her teacher Kihara Gensei only seemed interested in Level 5s. Kihara Gensei is a top expert in the field of 'Ability Development', and only Level 5 espers, or even the higher Level 6 'Absolute Power', could attract his attention.

Yet, she didn't expect that the file she was specially asked to fetch today was just a Level 3 ability test report.

“This has nothing to do with research; it's just my personal interest,” Kihara Gensei said with a smile, waving his hand, “So I can only privately ask Kiyama-kun to run errands.”

I see… Kiyama Haruue frowned, but didn't believe things were really that simple, “What's so special about this esper that even you, Teacher, are paying attention to him?”

Kihara Gensei chuckled and handed over the documents in his hand, signaling her to read them herself.

“Huh? Is it really okay?”

“Although it has a certain level of confidentiality, Kiyama-kun is my research assistant and also has a teaching license, so your level is high enough to read it.”

Taking the file, Kiyama Haruue quickly skimmed through it.

“…It really is just a normal Level 3…” Then she muttered in surprise, “Ordinary, mediocre, other than the ability activation speed being fast, there's nothing else special about him. Why would Teacher be interested in him?”

Kihara Gensei explained with a smile, “I'm not interested in his telekinesis, but in the esper himself.”

Kiyama Haruue looked at the beginning of the test report, the test subject's identity information.

“Lin Wuming, male, 14 years old…”

He just looks like an ordinary boy.

“I feel like I've heard this name somewhere…” Kiyama Haruue frowned, thinking.

“Kiyama-kun,” Kihara Gensei said with a kind smile, “Besides work and research, you should occasionally pay attention to things happening around you and in society. Being too tense will affect the activity of your brain.”

“Yes, Teacher!” Kiyama Haruue subconsciously responded, then suddenly exclaimed, “I remember! Lin Wuming is that young hero who suddenly became popular recently!”

“That's him,” Kihara Gensei nodded, “Since Kiyama-kun is a member of my institute, you must have heard the rumors about Lin Wuming, right?”

“Are you referring to the incident that happened in the basement of 'Black Moon Technology' that was blocked by the Anti-Skill?” Kiyama Haruue didn't like to gossip and had no interest in urban legends, but she couldn't stand the many people around her discussing it, so she had heard some related content more or less.

Now, seeing Kihara Gensei take the initiative to bring up the topic, Kiyama Haruue immediately reacted, “I didn't expect the rumors to be true?”

“Yes, it's true,” Kihara Gensei nodded, “The ability level of this Wuming-kun is not in line with the strength he actually demonstrates, so I am interested in it.”

“But, the ability test report doesn't show any abnormalities.” Kiyama Haruue said, “It's just an ordinary Level 3 'Telekinesis User'.”

“You're right.” Kihara Gensei said with a smile.

“Could it be that the ability test wasn't comprehensive enough?”

“This was a test conducted specifically by the Anti-Skill, and its professionalism is beyond doubt.”

“But why…” Kiyama Haruue frowned, falling into thought.

Kihara Gensei walked to the side and found a chair to sit down, “Kiyama-kun, your thinking must be open-minded, don't be constrained by habitual thinking.”

“Yes, Teacher!” After habitually answering, Kiyama Haruue came back to her senses, “Don't be constrained?”

“You, and those Anti-Skill members, have had your thinking limited by 'esper abilities'.” Kihara Gensei's eyes flashed with wise light, “Compared to ordinary humans, the espers of Academy City are indeed a special and more powerful force; however, the possibilities of human beings are far more than just 'esper abilities'…”

Saying that, Kihara Gensei took Kiyama Haruue to the computer and showed her more information about Lin Wuming.

The focus was on that video of less than thirty seconds.

The screen repeatedly played a thirty-second video clip, as well as slow-motion close-ups played frame by frame.

Kiyama Haruue felt that this was a test given to her by her teacher, so she stared at the screen with twelve thousand points of spirit.

“How is it, Kiyama-kun? What are your thoughts?” Kihara Gensei asked with a smile.

“I think…” Kiyama Haruue said cautiously, “Lin Wuming's reaction speed is very fast.”

After speaking, she immediately added, “I don't know much about telekinesis, so this is just my subjective impression…”