Lin Luo was not seeing the back of this twin-tailed girl for the first time; he had seen her in the hospital after passing out from entering the Misaka Network a few days prior, and she had seemed strangely familiar, leaving a lingering sense of déjà vu that he couldn't shake. However, at that time, the matter of the Misaka Sisters was too pressing for him to investigate the feeling, so he set it aside... He never expected to see her again at a time like this.
“What’s wrong? Do you recognize her?” Seeing Lin Luo lost in thought, Kuroko called out.
“Not exactly recognize, just feels familiar... Say, could you entrust the investigation of this person to me?” Lin Luo suggested to Kuroko, a suspicion taking root in his mind that this twin-tailed girl might very well be...
“How is that possible!” Kuroko refused without a moment's hesitation. “This is Judgment’s business; how can I let an ordinary person like you get involved.”
Lin Luo was speechless. Kuroko had lectured Misaka like this many times in the original story, and now he was receiving the same treatment. He sighed heavily, “Alright, alright, I know this is Judgment’s job. Judgment is great, Judgment is the pride of the people, Judgment fights against evil forces, Judgment safeguards world peace... But, no matter how powerful Judgment is, there must be things they can't handle, and regardless, I am the one who defeated Accelerator, Academy City’s strongest esper. I think this task is suitable for me.”
“Are you mocking us?” Kuroko immediately raised an eyebrow. “No matter how powerful your ability is, outsiders cannot be casually involved in Judgment’s work. Besides, who knows what connection you have with that woman...”
At this point, Kuroko’s tone abruptly halted, and in an instant, her demeanor shifted completely. Beaming, she took Lin Luo’s hand, “Then, Mr. Lin Luo, this matter is entrusted to you.”
“Huh... What?!”
This sudden change stunned not only Lin Luo but also Uiharu and Saten, who exchanged shocked glances. They knew how highly Kuroko regarded her role in Judgment, how serious and responsible she was—even Mikoto would have a hard time intervening easily. But now... Uiharu and Saten felt as though they were witnessing a fantasy.
“Um... Kuroko-san, while I’m happy you’ve entrusted this matter to me, please allow me to ask presumptuously, why the sudden, rapid change in attitude?” Lin Luo said cautiously. Kuroko’s eccentricities made him wary; there had to be some trickery involved!
“Of course, it’s because of Mr. Lin Luo’s abilities! As Academy City’s strongest esper, having your assistance is a great fortune for us in Judgment. How could I possibly refuse!” Kuroko declared righteously.
There is definitely a trick!
Lin Luo confirmed internally, but he couldn't decipher Kuroko’s true intentions for the moment. Never mind, he thought. After all, Kuroko was merely one of Mikoto’s dowries, destined sooner or later to be a member of his harem; she likely wouldn't pull any major stunts.
With this thought settling his mind, Lin Luo felt reassured and asked, “Since this matter is in my hands now, do you have any detailed intelligence?”
“We don't have detailed intel, but...” Uiharu pulled up several files from her computer. “Based on when the surveillance system was hacked previously, that person usually operates at night. Of course, she occasionally acts during the day, like today.”
“And now? Can you track her location?”
“Not anymore. I checked just now; the entire surveillance network failed to pick up her trace. She probably realized she was being filmed and left in a hurry.”
“I see... In that case, I’ll have to operate at night,” Lin Luo nodded slightly. Operating at night would avoid drawing attention, which wasn't a bad thing.
After asking a few more specific details, Lin Luo left Judgment Branch 177. As soon as he was gone, Uiharu and Saten immediately surrounded Kuroko, their faces full of confusion. “Um, Shirai-san, why did you hand this task over to Lin Luo?”
“Because of Onee-sama, of course!” Kuroko’s tone carried a trace of resentment. “This wild monkey’s ability to capture hearts is too strong! Not only has he won Onee-sama’s heart, but even Onee-sama’s sister is infatuated with him. I... I can never allow such a thing to happen!”
“Now that I’ve handed this task over to him, my sixth sense tells me that with that wild monkey’s fickle nature, he will definitely get involved with that woman. When that happens, I just need to sow discord in front of Onee-sama, hehehe, hahahaha... That wild monkey will surely meet a BAD END!”
Uiharu and Saten exchanged bewildered looks, then sighed in unison.
...
Leaving Judgment Branch 177, Lin Luo planned to return to the lab first. He needed to ask Awaki and the others about the Zero issue. Also, he needed to check on the few Sisters remaining in Academy City—at the very least, he should repair their genes and brains to boost their strength and provide them with more security.
As for the twin-tailed girl, finding her at night would naturally provide the answers.
“Lin Luo.”
Not having walked far, Lin Luo was called out. Looking toward the voice, a long-haired girl was waving at him... It was Zero—no, now she should be called Misaka Meirei.
Speaking of the devil, and she appears!
Lin Luo muttered to himself before walking over to her. “What are you doing here? Where’s Mikoto? Weren't you just playing chase a moment ago? Don't tell me you beat her?”
“How could that be? Sister is very strong. If we fought head-on, I probably couldn't last even a minute,” Meirei walked alongside Lin Luo, saying with a smile. “But Sister is really childish; I lured her away with a little trick, hehe.”
“You really are quite manipulative.”
“I’m just smarter.”
Lin Luo was rendered speechless. “Speaking of which, when did you decide on this name?”
“Sister suggested it,” Meirei smiled slightly. “Sister said that since I have self-awareness, I shouldn't use a codename; I should at least have a proper name. Since I am Number 0, I chose this name. What do you think?”
“Hmm, it’s good, quite fitting,” Lin Luo nodded, then curiously asked, “And what about this ladylike demeanor and etiquette? I don't think that trash Awaki Izumi would have programmed that in.”
“This question...” Meirei blinked, looking mischievous. “Guess?”
Guess? Guess what! I’m a prophet, not an analyst; how could I possibly guess something like that!
Lin Luo felt rather annoyed, but since Meirei wouldn't say, he didn't press the issue. Whether she was monotone, manipulative, or a proper lady, as long as the Sisters maintained such healthy and sunny mindsets, that was all that mattered.
“Oh, by the way, something very interesting is happening in the Misaka Network right now,” Meirei suddenly remarked.
“Oh? What is it?”
“Why don't you go in and see? I thought it was amusing from how they were discussing it,” Meirei said mysteriously.
“Go in and see? Huh, you can enter the Misaka Network now?”
“Of course, I’m always in the network.”
Lin Luo immediately questioned, “Didn't you say entering the Misaka Network would be a burden on the Sisters? If you do this, won’t the regular Sisters have problems?”
“Three days ago, I forced my way in. Because my ability level is higher than Last Order’s, it was very difficult for the Misaka Network, which uses her as a terminal, to fully accommodate me. But now...” Meirei pointed to herself and smiled brilliantly, a touch of smugness in her voice, “I am the terminal of the Misaka Network, so naturally, there are no problems.”
“It can work like that?” Lin Luo was greatly surprised. “Then who has the highest administrative authority in the Misaka Network now?”
“Still Last Order,” Meirei explained. “I dislike being controlled, and I dislike controlling others, so I didn't seize the control authority of the Misaka Network. Of course, if I wanted to seize it, it wouldn't be difficult.”
“I see...” Lin Luo nodded. He considered this a good thing. In the original story, the man in the upside-down tie was able to put nearly ten thousand Sisters on the brink of death precisely because he captured Last Order, the Sister holding the highest authority in the Misaka Network. But now, with Meirei able to take over that authority—with her Level 5 strength—unless the man in the upside-down tie acted personally, or another Level 5 showed up, no one could easily handle her. It wouldn't be simple for him to control the Sisters anymore...
“Oh, hurry up and enter the network! Those children are starting their discussion again,” Meirei urged in his ear.
Lin Luo was slightly taken aback. What could possibly excite her this much... Touching the login chip, the next second he was inside the Misaka Network, and then, he heard a sound like rolling thunder.
“Misaka has decided that from now on, my name shall be Misaka Haruhi Suzumiya. Misaka 10030 proudly names herself.”
“Pfft!”
Lin Luo almost spat out his drink. Haruhi-sama invading? What the heck is going on? Kōzu, you need to keep your harem in check! It’s bad enough that Haruhi-sama is wreaking havoc in your world; don't come ruin my harem!
“What... What is going on?” Lin Luo looked at Meirei, his mind full of question marks.
“It’s the children. Now that they know I have a name, they’ve started naming themselves too. They’ve been discussing it for a long time, and they finally decided to name themselves after your favorite things... Hmm, Haruhi Suzumiya, that’s a girl’s name. Who is she?” Meirei was equally curious.
Damn it!
Lin Luo was completely speechless. What kind of absurd turn of events was this? And how did the Sisters even know his favorite things? Although he could enter the Misaka Network, they shouldn't have access to his memories.
At that moment, a massive wave of debate was crashing through the Misaka Network over names...
“Misaka decides, Misaka Yuki Nagato will be my future name. Misaka 10031 names herself as well.”
“Misaka 10032 decides to name herself Misaka Nagisa Furukawa...”
“Misaka 10057’s name is Misaka Hatsune...”
“Misaka 10082 is named Misaka Yukina...”
“Misaka 11020’s name is Misaka Kinoka...”
“Decided on Misaka Mio Akiyama, the future name for Misaka 10757...”
“Misaka Kotori Shirakawa confirmed...”
“Misaka Nadeshiko Sengoku decides...”
“Misaka Kagami Hiiragi decides...”
“Misaka Rei Ayanami...”
“Asuka...”
Lin Luo's mouth twitched; he was completely speechless. But what shattered him further was yet to come.
Apparently, as they ran out of anime girls, one Misaka Sister stated: “Misaka 16454 decides to name herself Misaka Sora Aoi...”
I’m going to vomit! Misaka Sister, you can’t use that name! Lin Luo groaned in pain... I don’t like Sora Aoi! I don’t like Sora Aoi! I don’t like Sora Aoi...
“Misaka 19090 decides that my future name will be Rina Satō...”
Lin Luo finally broke down completely. Fine, even the voice actress for Railgun is invading the party. Are there any Rie Kugimiya, Satomi Arai, Yui Horie, or not, or not, or not...
“Misaka 20000 names herself Misaka The Queen, Misaka No. 20000 issues her final declaration!”
Uh, who is this one?
P: Asking for recommendation tickets. Are there enough girls in this chapter for everyone? Are you satisfied?