Two figures sprinted down the silent, pitch-black street, crossing the zebra lines, ignoring the brightly lit convenience store, and diving into the narrow path near the department store before pressing into a small alley. They passed an anonymous student dormitory, running, running, running without pause…

Finally, they ground to a halt before a row of colossal structures.

“This… is the research institute you mentioned? It’s huge,” Lin Luo said, looking up at the buildings before him. For some reason, a heavy sense of oppression settled in his heart, making his breathing feel slightly labored.

It wasn't because there was anything terrifying within the structure, nor was it the pressure of some irresistible force. It was purely psychological, stemming only from the fact that before him stood the genesis point of everything.

The Railgun Mass Production Project, the Level 6 Esper Evolution Experiment… it all began here. This was the birthplace of the twenty thousand Misaka clones!

“Yes, everything started here,” Fukuraki stated coolly beside him, her expression as impassive as ever. “What’s your plan? I highly doubt that woman will cooperate with us willingly.”

“Well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Lin Luo exhaled deeply, as if forcing the oppressive feeling out, before asking, “By the way, do you think we can just walk in like this?”

“Don’t worry about it at all. My ID is semi-permanent, although it’s been a long time since I was last here…”

With that, Fukuraki walked ahead. Lin Luo didn't quite catch what she murmured afterward, but he could certainly understand her confidence.

Whether in the Railgun Mass Production Project or the Level 6 Esper Experiment, Fukuraki held a remarkably high position because she was the one responsible for developing the learning devices used to ‘brainwash’ the clones.

It was precisely because of this background that Lin Luo placed high hopes on her theory—that feeding the clones emotional data from the Last Order would enable them to develop self-awareness. After all, she was the expert in this field, lending her words great authority. As for himself, the one who could moonlight as a Level 6 Prophet, well, to put it bluntly, apart from engaging in close combat with Accelerator, he truly had no soft approach to helping the clones achieve self-awareness!

Regarding Accelerator, Lin Luo was quite intimidated. In his current state, facing Accelerator meant instant annihilation. Although he was prepared to wager everything he had, blindly charging in was idiotic. If they could halt the experiment through this gentler method, it seemed feasible for the current stage.

Once the clones resisted the experiment, Yellow Green would likely have the justification needed to stop the board’s machinations. After all, he intended for the clones to pave the way for his Artificial Heaven’s Gate… Although stopping that was also Lin Luo’s eventual goal, one must tackle problems according to the available abilities; confronting Yellow Green head-on was not the appropriate move right now!

Stepping closer, Lin Luo realized the institute was truly vast. Even though it was past nine in the evening, under the bright illumination, it looked almost the same as during the day… Before them stood three massive structures resembling rental warehouses, side by side. Inside these buildings were countless metal platforms, upon which were densely packed rows of cylindrical capsules, stacked high until they nearly touched the ceiling, resembling bookshelves crammed with volumes in a library.

According to Fukuraki’s introduction, these were the clones’ incubation facilities; the twenty thousand clones used in the experiment were all grown here.

Adjacent to this area was a smaller, two-story, square reinforced concrete building. Compared to the three incubation facilities, it was far more modest, yet what astonished Lin Luo was that this smaller building housed the core of the entire research institution.

The experiment was still ongoing, meaning such a large facility could not be unguarded. As soon as the two approached, personnel immediately moved to question, or perhaps, drive them away… It had to be said, Fukuraki possessed real authority. Merely stating her name caused the patrol officers’ expressions to shift instantly, and they even treated Lin Luo with considerable deference.

Of course, this was hardly surprising. Academy City was filled with elites; geniuses were its most abundant resource. Yet, even in such an environment, Fukuraki was hailed as a genius girl, even personally invited to join the experiment by Heaven-Crossing Awi, illustrating the depth of her excellence… Compared to certain self-proclaimed experts and professors, she operated on an entirely different dimensional plane.

The two stopped before the smaller structure. After the iris scan at the entrance confirmed their identities, the heavy door slid open automatically… Tch, such high-tech. Lin Luo muttered under his breath as he followed Fukuraki inside.

Upon entering, Lin Luo was struck by a profound sense of incongruity. The interior resembled less a cutting-edge laboratory and more a computer calculation room. The machinery lining the walls looked, by all appearances, like obsolete, second-hand experimental models—in layman's terms, junk computers. It was unbelievable that such equipment was linked to a high-level experiment like ‘Level 6 Esper Evolution.’

Several researchers clad in white coats were deeply engrossed in their work, initially failing to notice the arrival of the pair… Had they not been engaged in this murderous experiment, Lin Luo might have felt a flicker of respect for them. But now, his heart held only disgust and a cold sneer!

…The one riding the white horse isn’t necessarily Tang Sanzang, and the one wearing a white robe isn't always an angel, or perhaps, a demon!

His gaze swept over the individuals nearby before Lin Luo finally fixed his attention on one specific woman.

She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. Her face bore no makeup, and the clothes she wore were faded and wrinkled, yet the white lab coat draped over her remained as brilliantly white as if brand new. The woman was leaning back in her chair, clutching several sheets of paper, constantly marking them with a red pen, absorbed in whatever she was doing.

Kikyo Yoshikawa.

A distinguished researcher in Academy City specializing in genetics, responsible for managing the participants of the Level 6 Esper Evolution experiment. In this current phase, her primary role was performing physical calibrations on the clones, placing her status second only to Heaven-Crossing Awi, who oversaw the entire project!

She was Lin Luo’s target for this visit!

To grant the clones self-awareness, they first needed the Last Order’s emotional data inputted. This step required the Last Order’s explicit approval. From what Lin Luo knew, approaching Kikyo Yoshikawa was undoubtedly the fastest route to locate the Last Order.

“Hm? Fukuraki! What brings you here?” Kikyo Yoshikawa looked up by chance and spotted the two, a trace of curiosity immediately appearing in her eyes as she stood up from her seat.

Her words startled the other researchers. They glanced over, but quickly lowered their heads to return to their tasks. After all, they recognized Fukuraki. However, Lin Luo drew a second, longer look from them.

“Just a brief matter,” Fukuraki replied apathetically, then shifted her focus to the documents in the other woman’s hand. “Very important data, working this late.”

“Oh, nothing much, just some necessary research,” Kikyo Yoshikawa chuckled, tossing the documents onto the desk and narrowing her eyes. “Speaking of which, you, who never seem to like this place, why come at this hour? And… is this young man your junior?”

Hearing herself mentioned, Lin Luo quickly interjected, “My name is Lin Luo. I am Miss Fukuraki’s assistant. Pleased to meet you.”

“Oh, Fukuraki’s assistant. You must be quite the genius boy as well.”

After a few moments of pleasantries, Fukuraki cut to the chase. “Kikyo, I’ll be direct about why I’m here. I wish to see the Last Order.”

“The Last Order!” Kikyo Yoshikawa looked at Fukuraki with slight surprise. “When did you learn about the existence of the Last Order?”

“Today, while processing files at the Association,” Fukuraki stated plainly, hiding nothing. “When I was helping those people transfer data, I accidentally obtained information about the Last Order. It shocked me, and I wanted to study her. I assume she should be here with you… What, is that not possible?”

“No, it’s not impossible. The Last Order’s existence isn't a big secret…” Kikyo Yoshikawa hesitated for a moment before saying, “Alright, if it’s you, it should be fine. Do you want to see her alone, or should I accompany you?”

“Together, please.”

“Very well, follow me.” Hearing Fukuraki’s decision, Kikyo Yoshikawa visibly relaxed. She was certainly aware of the continuous attacks on research facilities involved in the experiment recently. When Fukuraki first brought up the Last Order, she had worried that she was somehow connected to those incidents. But now, it seemed she had worried needlessly; if Fukuraki had intended foul play, she surely wouldn’t have mentioned it openly. It was likely just for research purposes.

Led by Kikyo Yoshikawa, the two exited that laboratory, entered the central incubation facility, passed through several more rooms, and finally unlocked a sealed metal door…

When Lin Luo saw the scene inside the room, his pupils constricted, and a wave of unconcealed delight flashed across his face.

In the precise center of the room, suspended within a glass cylindrical incubator, a small girl, no older than ten, floated with