12:36 PM

Kuroko Shirai hurriedly teleported down a path of streetlights lined up a city block. She pressed her index finger on the inside of the headpiece in her left ear. On the other end was fellow Judgement member and friend Uiharu Kazari, a middle school girl of about twelve.

"So," Kuroko began. "*FWISH!* Light skin. About 5'9. Wearing a ridiculous magician's outfit with a cape. *FWISH!* Any other *FWISH!* details *FWISH!* I should know about?"

"Ummm… No, that's everything that's been reported."

"Do you *FWISH!* have a visual on*FWISH!* his current location ? *FWISH!*"

Two computers sat in front of Uiharu on top of her desk in a Judgement office. There were several video feeds of different locations in Academy City. There were several cameras hidden discreetly across Academy City, making it easier to locate crimes. This doubled as a countermeasure against criminals who attempted to flee. Unless the had an ability that obscured their visibility or knew which routes to take to avoid being spotted, escaping unnoticed was nearly impossible. However, the cameras aren't so densely dispersed that they provide omnipresence to anybody monitoring them.

Earlier Yomikawa sent out a call to Uiharu's Judgement branch informing them to look at the video feed located across the street from the MocRonall's where she was robbed. Since then, Uiharu and fellow Judgment officer Konorii Mii had been observing at all of the cameras within the next three districts.

Normally, the search would have covered the just district where the crime took place but due to his inexplicable ability to steal Yomikawa's panties just by touching her and disappear from sight within seconds, it was assumed that he was a teleportation esper like Kuroko. This is further supplemented by the recording in front of MocRonall's that showed Abicus walking into a crowd of people and then appearing on the opposite side of the block a few minutes later.

Kuroko mentioned to Uiharu earlier that Abicus could have used his teleportation ability to cover more ground so they were also vigilant in the neighboring districts as well. She also suggested that they can limit the search to the closest districts surrounding the one where the incident took place since even a Level 4 like her can only cover a few meters per teleport. That and even if a Level 5 may have a little more range, it wasn't likely that he would be able to reach any districts further branching out.

It had unanimous that Kuroko would be invaluable in tracking down Abicus since she can sympathize with the enemy's ability and better pinpoint where he could possibly go. However, there was one issue.

Abicus was already several miles away from Tokiwadai Middle School at the time of the crime and possibly even further since he disappeared from Yomikawa's line of sight immediately after he walked away from her. Additionally, the direction he walked was opposite the direction of Tokiwadai.

Assuming Abicus is a Level 1 or 2 teleporter, catching up would be a bit of a challenge since he already had a massive head start. But if he is a Level 3 or higher, he could keep a considerable distance between them indefinitely or long enough to escape. Regardless, Kuroko actually catching up to him wouldn't be an easy task alone.

But she was not alone.

Anti-Skill, along with various other members of Judgement, provided cover starting from the districts that Kuroko can't reach. So even if he manages to illude Judgement and Anti-Skill, Kuroko would constantly be updated about the path he's travelling by the operatives observing the cameras and/or the on site Judgement and Anti-Skill members.

Since the crime occurred in District 7, that along with Districts 15 and 8, located east and west of District 7, were also being monitored by members of Judgement from different branches. Since Abicus was heading away from Tokiwodai, observing Districts 10 and 2 would be pointless.

The crime occurred approximately one hour before so even if he was a high level teleporter that even exceeded Kuroko, there's a possibility that he could have reached Districts 15, 9, 8, 5, or 18. In order to box him in, several members of Anti-Skill and Judgement were deployed to the edges of District 7 that connected it to those other districts.

An army of armed adults in high tech vehicles and powered suits along with ability wielding esper students of various talents surrounded District 7. Additionally, there were many high tech security bots and attack drones that aided in the search.

It was Abicus vs The Academy City security forces.

Uiharu looked at the two computer screens revealing different corners of District 7. Her eyes ran through each screen at lightning speed as she switched to a different camera seconds at a time. As fast as she could process information on a screen, Uiharu wasn't a machine nor did the vast amount of cameras provide an omnipresent perspective. There were still blind spots in the Academy City surveillance system.

Just as she contemplated that, some thing black flapped on the edge of the screen of the computer on her left. Her eyes lit up upon immediately recognizing that location.

"I've found him!" Uiharu shouted in her prepubescent voice as she stood from her rolling chair, slamming her hands on the computer desk in front of her. "He's on Diabase Street!"

"Diabase Street? *FWISH!*" Kuroko repeats. "But that's barely on the northeastern edge of District 7. *FWISH!* Even a Level 1 could have easily *FWISH!* left the district altogether given the amount of *FWISH!* time that passed."

(Wait a sec.) Kuroko thought as her eyes widened.

"Uiharu, did you say he was running?"

"Yes! And he's kind of fast too!"

(Running…)

Kuroko knelt on top of a street light. She squinted as she pinched her chin with her right index finger and thumb.

(Why would a teleporter be running on foot? Did he run out of stamina? It has been an hour since the crime… but still, it shouldn't be that to keep up even at a lower level and given his possible experience due to his age…)

Kuroko's eyes opened wide again.

(...How old is he?)

Academy City is populated by 2.3 million residents. 80% students of that population were students. 40% of the population had abilities. Usually, the oldest university students were 22, sometimes 23. Adults usually left Academy City upon graduation, hence why adult espers within the city that aren't students are almost completely unheard of.

And then there was this old man who seemingly had teleportation abilities.

Was it possible that a former resident had returned? And for what reason? To exact revenge on the higher ups of the Governing Board? But then how does stealing panties factor into that? Is it just some prank?

Kuroko teleported to the next street light and continued to do so until she reached the end of the block. She then changed her path to the right.

(I could be overthinking it. Perhaps he's just tired from using his ability for an extended period of time. I was also informed that two Tokiwadai students were attacked earlier as well so the string of crimes could have started at least as early as 11:25 and possibly before then if they weren't his first targets.)

*FWISH!*

Kuroko continued to teleport down a path of street lights.

(Regardless, it's a waste time thinking about it right now since I can't draw any conclusions at the moment. We'll question him once he's detained. I have to keep moving.)

*FWISH!*