"How's the kid doing?"
Outside the hospital's emergency ward, a long-haired woman in a navy-blue uniform lowered her voice as she asked. She was Judgment officer Yomikawa Aiho.
Standing beside her were two other officers in the same uniform, along with two doctors in white coats.
"The fractures in his arms and legs are fairly serious," the male doctor reported. "There are also ruptures to some internal organs, but nothing critical. Other than that, everything is normal."
"Everything… normal?"
"Considering he fell from a height of over forty floors, suffering only this level of injury is already remarkable," the doctor shrugged. "It's practically a miracle."
"Could it be because that kid intervened?" one of the male officers asked. "After all, he's the Number One Level 5. With his ability, it should be possible to".
"It wasn't him," the doctor shook his head. "If he had stepped in, this boy wouldn't have been injured at all. However, the subsequent treatment did involve his ability. Thanks to that, the child didn't suffer any blood loss."
A female officer sighed. Still, that Level 5 really has a bad personality. He refuses to cooperate with the investigation at all, such a headache.
"Well, he is a Level 5. Having quirks comes with the territory," Yomikawa Aiho said. "In this city, they naturally enjoy all kinds of privileges. I'll think of something."
"As expected of Senior Yomikawa—so reliable!"
Through the one-way glass, they could see the scene inside the ward. The boy involved in the recent "fall-from-building incident" was currently undergoing treatment.
"Have you identified him yet?" Yomikawa asked.
The two officers under her exchanged glances, then answered with a single term:
"Selective Purification Group…"
"I see…" Yomikawa let out a long sigh. "That figures. An abandoned child."
"The files in the 'Library' are almost completely blank," the female officer added. "Even his name is missing…"
"Missing?"
"Yes. The registered surname is Kobayashi, but the given name is blank," she explained. "According to the notes, the orphanage called him Kobayashi NANA."
"Nana? A girl?" Yomikawa frowned.
"No," the officer shook her head. "It means the number seven. He was the seventh nameless abandoned child taken in by the orphanage. As for the surname—it came from the cardboard box he was found in. It had the words 'Kobayashi Fruits' printed on it."
"That's… absurdly careless," Yomikawa muttered.
"According to the notes, the orphanage director planned to let the children choose their own names when they grew up, so the entries were left blank," the officer continued.
"And the orphanage?"
"It shut down a year ago due to poor management."
"So he was probably dragged into some illegal experiment," the male officer speculated. "Cornered while trying to escape today, he was knocked off the building. There are clear signs of blunt-force trauma to the back of his head."
"That building…" Yomikawa frowned.
"We've checked it. It's just an ordinary office building—nothing abnormal," the female officer replied. "At least, nothing suspicious on the surface."
"Looks like we'll have to ask this unlucky—yet lucky—kid directly," Yomikawa said, turning her gaze back to the ward. "Also, assign personnel to protect him. I'm worried someone might try to silence him."
The female doctor, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
"There's some bad news about that. The child may be suffering from amnesia. He doesn't seem to remember anything from before. There are issues with both memory and mental state."
"Due to the head injury?" Yomikawa asked.
"It's a possibility," the doctor replied. "But there's also good news. We tested the strength of his AIM diffusion field, and we can be fairly certain his ability level has reached Level 3. That strong ability is likely the reason he survived the fall."
"Level 3… what type?" Yomikawa pressed.
"Not sure yet. That requires specialized equipment," the doctor shook her head. "Based on experience, I'd say there's a high chance he's a telekinetic."
Yomikawa nodded. "That is good news."
In a city built around Esper Development, ability level meant almost everything.
A Level 3 Strong Ability User and a Level 0 Powerless abandoned child were treated on completely different levels.
At the very least, applying for Judgment's special protection was far easier when one could say they were protecting a Level 3.
"Alright then," Yomikawa said. "I'll go in and have a quick chat."
So he really has amnesia—it's not an act.
Yomikawa sighed inwardly.
As a veteran officer, she had her own way of reading people. Very few lies could escape her eyes.
Softening her expression, she smiled gently at the boy reclining on the hospital bed.
"Don't be afraid. Don't be nervous… Do you remember your name?"
"Uh…" The boy frowned, as if thinking hard. "Code Number 007."
After transmigrating, Lin Wang truly hadn't inherited much of the original owner's memories. He only vaguely remembered being called "007"—and even that stuck mainly because it reminded him of a famous movie series from his previous life.
—A code number?
Yomikawa and the two officers behind her exchanged looks filled with pity.
Just as suspected—a victim who escaped from an illegal research facility. Stripped of his name, left with only a number.
"According to the records, your surname is provisionally Kobayashi," Yomikawa said. "As for your given name… it's currently blank."
"Blank?" Lin Wang's eyes lit up.
In a wuxia world—even a modern urban wuxia setting—what name could be more fitting than Wuming (Nameless)?
He had even started planning to learn the erhu once he recovered…
"No, I mean you don't have a name yet," Yomikawa quickly clarified, explaining the situation. "But you're free to choose one."
"Perfect! Then I'll be Lin Wuming!"
Lin Wang—now Lin Wuming—declared without hesitation.
"No problem," Yomikawa nodded. "I'll handle the paperwork. For now, please rest and focus on recovering."
She had originally wanted him to cooperate with the investigation, but since the boy truly had amnesia, she didn't want to disturb or stress him further.
She decided to return in a couple of days, once his condition stabilized and he could leave the intensive care ward, to see whether any memories might resurface.
Two days passed.
Naturally, Lin Wuming's memory showed no signs of recovery.
Yomikawa could only remind him to rest properly before leaving, somewhat disappointed.
Lin Wuming, however, felt that his injuries were healing quite well.
Perhaps it was because he had awakened "internal energy"—his body's self-healing ability seemed enhanced.
In any case, he was now ready to be transferred to a regular ward.
As Lin Wuming prepared to change rooms, he had no idea that someone was observing him from behind the one-way glass.
It was a strange group.
Two men in white coats who didn't look like doctors at all.
Two men in black suits and sunglasses, their expressions stern, muscles nearly bursting through their clothes. One kept a vigilant watch on the surroundings, while the other focused his attention on a small girl standing in front of him.
"Misaki," the older man in a white coat asked, "is this boy lying? Has he really lost his memory?"
The blonde girl with shining, star-like eyes wore a bored expression.
"He's not lying. But rather than amnesia… I'd say it's a delusion outbreak? He doesn't even remember that this is Academy City. He's convinced this is some world of modern samurai and ninja."
"So his brain really is damaged," the younger man in a white coat nodded in satisfaction. "Looks like we don't need to carry out a silencing operation. Doing that right under Judgment's nose would've been troublesome."
The old man shot him a sharp glance.
"Watch your mouth. With how loose you people talk, I'm already regretting coming to help. Let's go, Misaki."
The blonde girl acted as if she hadn't heard a thing and obediently followed him away.
At the same time, the door to the intensive care ward opened.
A nurse came out, pushing a wheelchair.
Lin Wuming sat in it, passing right by the old man and the girl in the hallway.
In a situation like this, it was hard not to notice such a delicate, beautiful girl.
—So starry eyes really do exist in real life!
Lin Wuming thought to himself.
—Idiot!
A crisp, sharp voice rang out.
Startled, Lin Wuming hurriedly turned his head—but no one else seemed to have heard anything.
He frowned in confusion.
Was that… just a hallucination?
(End of Chapter)