A Scientific Urban Detective.

Chapter 476: A Person Clinging to Power

"Although I haven't had the opportunity to directly perform mind reading on Director Sherbin, through personality profiling, I can still somewhat discern what kind of person he is—he doesn't just rely on psychic abilities, you know~" Shokuhou Misaki said proudly. "In short, Sherbin is a pathetic fellow who clings to the lifeline of 'power' and is constantly afraid of losing his position."

"What does this mean?" Lin Wuming asked.

"Compared to the other directors who appear publicly, Sherbin is the most obsessed with status and position," Shokuhou Misaki explained. "A closer analysis of his various decisions and policies reveals that all his actions seem to point to the same ultimate goal—to maintain his current position and power."

"Director?" Lin Wuming said.

"Yes, it's the role of director." Shokuhou Misaki nodded.

"So? What's the point of saying so much?" Misaka Mikoto asked with a confused look on her face.

"Misaka-san, you should know that the thing a person lacks the most is what he or she will care about the most." As she spoke, Shokuhou Misaki looked Misaka Mikoto up and down.

Misaka Mikoto was confused by her look and couldn't help but look down at herself: "What's wrong? I have everything I need right now, so there's nothing I particularly care about!"

Indeed, ever since the "Misaka Sister" incident was successfully resolved, Misaka Mikoto was in a state of contentment and desirelessness. She didn't even care much about Shokuhou Misaki's deliberate teasing.

"Tsk!" Shokuhou Misaki shook her head and looked away.

It's a pity that Shokuhou Misaki is still in her growth phase and doesn't have the capital to mock Misaka Mikoto yet. Wait until next year...

Shokuhou Misaki snorted twice, her voice unclear, and continued, "As a director who already holds a high position of power, second only to Chairman Aleister, don't you think Sherbin takes the title of 'director' a bit too seriously?"

"Shokuhou, what you mean is..." Lin Wuming finally understood.

"A secondary industry alone wouldn't be enough to support a director in a place like Academy City, right?" Shokuhou Misaki said. "That's why Sherbin is trying so hard to invest in new projects, even going so far as to create something so outrageous as a machine that mimics psychic powers!"

If Shokuhou Misaki's series of inferences are correct, then everything Director Sherbin did can be explained.

Whether it is promoting the "unmanned" reform of the secondary industry or investing in "super-powered mechanization and universalization", in the final analysis, it is all his efforts to maintain his position as "director".

"Indeed," Lin Wuming pinched his chin thoughtfully, "Think carefully, from this perspective, among all the directors, the one who is most likely to be squeezed out and replaced is really that guy Sherbin."

As I said before, the secondary industry, although important, is by no means indispensable to Academy City.

"I see," Misaka Mikoto nodded. "So that's why he prioritizes the FIVE_Over project so much and is willing to go to great lengths to gather information on your abilities?"

"I think FIVE_Over isn't the most important thing," Lin Wuming's thoughts suddenly broadened. "As I said earlier, he's not the only host of FIVE_Over. This project is probably just a platform for Director Sherbin to connect with other high-level figures. For him, the real foundation of his career is probably the 'Unmanned Reform' plan."

This is the culprit behind the current large-scale demonstrations.

Using a more conspiracy-theoretic approach, it could be speculated that Director Sherbin's decision to lay off almost all of the workers at once is likely intended to force Academy City's secondary industry to proactively upgrade to "unmanned" operations.

By then, Director Sherbin, who has mastered the ultimate "unmanned" technology, will have an unshakable position!
"What Wuming-senpai said is correct, but it's not comprehensive," Shokuhou Misaki corrected. "In fact, before the 'unmanned' technology matures, the lifeline that Director Sherbin truly values ​​is the 'mechanization and generalization of capabilities' project."

"After all this talk," Misaka Mikoto couldn't help but complain, "No matter which plan it is, Director Sherbin is the bad guy." "There is still a difference," Shokuhou Misaki said with a smile, "It has nothing to do with us, but it is very important to Shadanshan-san."

At this point, Shokuhou Misaki suddenly paused, then corrected herself, "No, now it probably has something to do with me."

Since Director Sherbin has been promoting the "Mechanization and Generalization of Capabilities" project in the past few years, where do the experimental subjects needed for the experiment come from?
Combining the known information, it is not difficult to infer the source of the experimental subjects - the juvenile reformatory.

Coincidentally, that period was the time when “disappearances” from juvenile detention centers were most frequent.

Sha Danshan's sister Wulin Yexiao also disappeared in the juvenile reformatory at that time.

On the other hand, since neither of the two main projects he was promoting had achieved effective results, Director Sherbin's position must have been even more precarious during that period.

In order to keep his seat, Director Sherbin will of course use all the resources and power at his disposal to suppress and eliminate anyone who may threaten him.

Of course, this includes "Eternal Princess" who has the opportunity to become a director...

……

Director Sherbin finished his day's schedule and returned to his office.

"Phew...wasted my entire day!"

Recalling the recent negotiation process with the workers' representatives, Director Sherbin showed a look of disgust.

"I wasted my precious time and energy on such worthless things!" After cursing for a few times, he finally calmed down, leaned back in his chair, and reviewed his plan again.

——Today’s meeting and negotiation were just a show to shut up the old woman in the ship.

As long as all the worthless workers can be fired as soon as possible, then his plan will be half successful.

Director Sherbin is confident that no one is more proficient in the field of "unmanned" technology than himself.

——By then, Academy City won’t be able to do without me!
Until then, these little humiliations were bearable.

Just when Director Sherbin was immersed in a bright future, some untimely bad news came to disturb him.

"Sir! There's something going on at the juvenile reformatory." His closest secretary walked into the office and whispered the bad news.

"The security forces have completely taken control of the juvenile detention center, causing our intelligence to be delayed by over thirty hours."

　Thanks to Gungun Leiyun for the monthly ticket support!

　　Thanks to the Masked Fool who is passing by for his monthly ticket support!

　　Thanks to Mo Yi Wuhen for the monthly ticket support!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)