Chapter 63

Just as Misaki Mikoto arrived at one of the remaining two research institutes, the Suibara Institute for Pathological Analysis, Shirai Kuroko also arrived at the hospital where Shirai Tsukumo was staying.

"Brother, how did you get hurt like this? What happened? And... Shokuhou-san and Saten-san, why are you here too?"

Kuroko couldn't help but be surprised. Tsukumo, her brother, was severely injured and hospitalized, and she hadn't received any news about it. Moreover, her two friends had kept it a secret from her.

"Don't blame them, Kuroko. What I'm about to tell you is something you shouldn't hear as a member of the Judgment Committee. If you're willing to listen as a civilian, I'll tell you everything."

"Is it related to Onee-sama?"

"It is."

"Can it help Onee-sama?"

"It can."

Faced with Tsukumo's determined words, Kuroko finally put aside her insistence and nodded. She didn't even know what Misaki Mikoto had gone through, so how could she help her? Besides, although she had asked about Misaki Mikoto first, Kuroko really wanted to know how Tsukumo had been injured.

"Then, what I'm about to tell you is about an experiment, the Absolute Ability Plan."

Next, Tsukumo slowly recounted the details of the Railgun Mass Production Plan and the Absolute Ability Plan to Kuroko.

On the other side, Misaki Mikoto had already entered the Suibara Institute for Pathological Analysis. During the infiltration, she encountered Frenda Seivelun, a member of the dark organization ITEM, who had come to defend the facility. In the battle, when Frenda revealed that she was from ITEM, Mikoto was puzzled, but she couldn't afford to be distracted while fighting.

On this side, after listening to Tsukumo's story, Kuroko impulsively stood up: "How can this be allowed!"

"Quiet!" Shokuhou Misaki stopped Kuroko, "The experiment has already ended, or Tsukumo wouldn't be hurt like this. Don't cause trouble."

"Trouble? This is..."

"Naive, Academy City has always been under satellite surveillance. Do you think the upper echelons didn't know about the outdoor experiments?"

Tsukumo was speechless. Indeed, this was no longer something a member of the Judgment Committee could resolve. Opposing the experiment meant opposing the entire Academy City.

"Wait..." Kuroko suddenly realized the implications of Misaki's words, "Brother was injured because...?"

Saten Ruiko poured Tsukumo a glass of water and said, "Tsukumo defeated Accelerator, so the premise of the experiment was wrong, and it has been terminated." Of course, they couldn't tell Kuroko the truth. The deal between the dark organizations and the upper echelons was something they knew, and they would deal with Kuroko later.

Kuroko was surprised that Tsukumo had defeated Accelerator, which meant Tsukumo was now the No. 1 in Academy City. However, Kuroko still had a question. While she was grateful that Tsukumo had helped Misaki Mikoto and worried about his injuries, she needed to understand the situation. What was the point of coming if she didn't know the truth?

"How did you find out about this plan...?"

"Kazari Mii, you know her, right? The Imagine Breaker she created was based on the 'Sister Network' of the Misaka sisters. After the Imagine Breaker incident, she told me about it. As for Misaki and Ruiko, I had to tell them since I was going to fight Accelerator."

Kuroko fell silent. The word "fight" made her shudder, but... she had seen the video of Tsukumo scolding the security officers during the Imagine Breaker incident. Tsukumo hadn't told her the truth, and Misaki and Ruiko might have been deceived by Tsukumo, but considering they lived together, the possibility of them all hiding the truth was higher.

But what could Kuroko say? An organization or individual with authority higher than the security officers and unknown to the public was deeply involved in Academy City. She didn't have the power to touch it, or rather, she wasn't allowed to.

"So now, Onee-sama..."

"Just venting because she doesn't know the experiment has ended. After today, she should know it has stopped. It's fine."

"Um..." In the end, Kuroko said nothing. She was waiting, waiting for Tsukumo to tell her everything.

At this moment, Misaki Mikoto had defeated Frenda and ran into Maihara Shizuri and Takitsubo Rikou, who had come to check the situation.

That night, another person was also in action. Tsukishima Itsuwa entered the last research institute, S Pharmaceuticals, to terminate the experiment by inputting emotional data into the Misaka sisters. However, she received a shocking message.

"The experiment has already been terminated?"

"Yes, the night before last, Accelerator was defeated by another esper, and he is no longer the strongest in Academy City. The upper echelons decided the experiment was too problematic and terminated it. We are now just doing some cleanup work, so Dr. Tsukishima, the learning device you supervised is no longer necessary."

"Oh... I see."

"Although the experiment has been terminated, what exactly happened? Accelerator was defeated? Then why not let the one who defeated him continue the experiment?"

There were too many mysteries, and Tsukishima couldn't explain. After sending a text message to Misaki Mikoto, she went back. However, on the way, a man stood in front of her.

"Who are you?"

"Dr. Tsukishima Itsuwa? We are STUDY, and I believe our current research will interest you."

"It's none of my business." Tsukishima only wanted to go back and rest. The end of the experiment was a relief for her.

"Regarding the learning device, we have made some improvements."

"You said... what...?" Tsukishima suddenly realized she might not be free yet.

On Misaki Mikoto's side, after barely defeating the arrogant Maihara Shizuri, she received a text message from Tsukishima.

"How is this possible? The experiment ended long ago? Then what have I been doing these past few days... Wait..."

There were only a few Level 5 espers. Who could it be? After infiltrating the research institute's data again, Misaki Mikoto carefully examined the records and finally found this report.

"August 14th, Esper FROZEN·UNIVERSE voluntarily participated in the experiment and defeated Accelerator during the outdoor experiment."

"Accelerator was defeated by FROZEN·UNIVERSE... Wait, isn't that... Shirai Tsukumo...?"