A Scientific Urban Detective

"What's wrong, Misaki?" asked Runko Kazari, the girl with two braids next to her.

Misaki Shokuhou wasn't lying. She was indeed visiting Runko Kazari to create an alibi.

Her sudden monologue attracted the attention of the other children around her.

Not only Runko Kazari, but recently, Misaki Shokuhou had been spending time and effort visiting the Second Research Lab, building good relationships with the other children.

—After entering Tokiwadai Middle School, these will be the foundation for me to build the Shokuhou Faction!

Faced with the curious and concerned gazes of the girls around her, Misaki Shokuhou didn't explain much: "There are some problems with my research project. Sorry, that's all for today. I have to go back quickly!"

With that, she hurried away, running towards the Third Research Lab.

Inside the institute's corridors, surveillance cameras were densely packed.

Misaki Shokuhou didn't deliberately look at the cameras, nor did she try to avoid the monitoring range—even though the entire building's surveillance network map was in her mind.

In fact, she wanted these cameras to see her movements.

—Theoretically, I should already know about the existence of the 'Exterior Brain,' but not know too much.

—So, I can't overreact, but I can't not react either…

While playing with the remote control in her hand, Misaki Shokuhou gradually slowed down, lowered her head, and used her hair to adjust the expression on her face.

—It's time to show off my acting skills. Go for it, Misaki Shokuhou!

Mustering her strength, Misaki Shokuhou rushed into the Third Research Lab's laboratory in one breath, shouting loudly to the researchers inside: "It's terrible, the 'Exterior Brain' has a problem!"

"Don't rush, take your time, what exactly is going on?" A male researcher in the lab walked over and asked.

Including this man, everyone in the lab was wearing an oval metal helmet on their head, which looked extremely comical and ridiculous, but this was standard equipment for the Third Research Lab—a mental defense device used to isolate Misaki Shokuhou's 'Mental Out.'

Of course, this thing had never worked.

From beginning to end, Misaki Shokuhou's superpower had exceeded the researchers' expectations, so the mental defense device they had painstakingly developed and equipped had failed to block the invasion of 'Mental Out' from the start.

The researchers in the lab—who were of course already under Misaki Shokuhou's control—were perfect actors, playing this drama with her.

"I just felt the 'Exterior Brain' suddenly start running, but I didn't issue any instructions at all!" Misaki Shokuhou said, "Didn't you say that device can only be used by me!"

"Don't worry, Misaki," the researcher said, relieved to hear that, because they knew the "truth." The "Exterior Brain" was never intended for Misaki Shokuhou.

Rather, it was the "Exterior Brain's" mission to be used by others.

—Presumably the 'Exterior Brain' is starting its formal debugging?

The researchers in the lab began to comfort Misaki Shokuhou.

"Don't worry, it's probably a normal phenomenon during debugging, right?"

"It's also possible that the control system was hacked, but it's not a big problem. Their technical skills are very strong and they will definitely be able to solve the problem quickly. Please rest assured, Misaki."

While pretending to accept the adults' explanation, Misaki Shokuhou lowered her head, almost unable to suppress her "bored" expression.

—This is their true reaction, it's so hypocritical it's disgusting…

Although Misaki Shokuhou had completely controlled the Third Research Lab, she did not control these researchers 24 hours a day.

In fact, most of the time, these researchers were "free," and Misaki Shokuhou did not interfere with their thoughts and reactions.

The only ability she had on all day was "mind reading."

After knowing people's true thoughts, it was much easier to manipulate their actions, and often didn't even require relying on superpowers.

Like now…

The researchers in the room smugly thought they had deceived Misaki Shokuhou and successfully concealed the truth about the "Exterior Brain."

Each and every one of them was acting diligently, even pretending to really investigate.

"No!" Misaki Shokuhou brewed her emotions, raised her head and shouted excitedly, "We can't let malicious bad guys use my ability! We must drive that guy away!"

Saying that, Misaki Shokuhou directly connected her brainwaves to the "Exterior Brain," and tried to "burst" out a level 4 psychic power, and confronted the intruder.

While carefully controlling her output, Misaki Shokuhou observed the surveillance cameras in the laboratory through other people's eyes.

The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ say ⊥ is ⊥ at ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ hair!

—He must be watching, that Kihara Gensei… If you don't see my wonderful performance, it will be a headache.

Whenever this happened, Misaki Shokuhou would think of Mikoto Misaka, whom she had not yet met.

If she had a convenient superpower like "Railgun" to help, she wouldn't have to act so hard. Just like she deceived people's hearts, using "Railgun" could probably easily deceive these machines, right?

…

"Oh, you're very capable, Shokuhou," Kihara Gensei, who was in another building, couldn't help but admire, "Logging into the 'Exterior Brain' directly without any equipment, as expected of 'Mental Out.'"

But Kihara Gensei had expected this result, and without trying to fight the real "Mental Out" with mental power, he immediately took the initiative to withdraw from the "Exterior Brain."

Anyway, the verification was successful, and he had collected all the data he needed, so it was better not to expose the backdoor program too early.

Due to Kihara Gensei's withdrawal, the collective psychological suggestion imposed on the crowd was also lifted.

At the entrance of "Artificial Atelier," the crowd surrounding Lin Wuming and Toraybi Hazari stirred up again, and more and more people began to feel like retreating.

This time, no matter how the cadres in the crowd incited or even threatened them, they could no longer integrate everyone's will and continue to put pressure on Lin Wuming.

And on the other side of the wall of people, Dolly and Keisaku Kinuho, who were blocked in the room, encountered a stronger professional security force—they were going to forcibly take Dolly away and destroy her, and absolutely must not let her be exposed to the public eye!

In just a few tens of seconds, the situation took a sharp turn, and Keisaku Kinuho was shocked and angry—she was only one step away from escaping, how could so many people suddenly appear?

Moreover, these strong men in uniforms seemed to be about to use force, which made Keisaku Kinuho even more panicked.

—Misaki Shokuhou is not by my side, Lin Wuming is blocked outside, now only I can save Dolly!

Keisaku Kinuho looked serious and quickly made a decision.