Chapter 373

The train team gathered before the statue of the Clock Kid, held a simple memorial for the "deaths" of Zhigengniao and Liuying, and then began discussing their next goal, such as… finding the culprit.

Jizi and San Yueqi had previously dealt with family representatives in the Realm of Recollection; the other party invited them to help the family investigate the deceased's identity… Of course, the deceased referred to Liuying. Jizi now recalls, noticing that those representatives' expressions were somewhat evasive, and they also kept silent about another matter that should have happened earlier.

A few people also guessed that Zhigengniao's death would have a huge impact, the family would definitely conceal it, and this matter clearly exceeded their expectations, so they had to go with the flow and seek help from outsiders.

Simply put, the Liuying and Zhigengniao cases are fundamentally different in nature… What the family must first guard against are still those ill‑intented visitors, such as Shajin.

"Shajin, however, is wary of Huangquan," Xing added.

"Indeed, he is especially attentive to that sea‑patrolling ranger," Walter nodded.

San Yue Qi felt that Shajin's accusation was very subtle and didn't know whether to trust him. Jizi said that by now the family and Shajin have both extended an olive branch of cooperation, but considering Pinokangni's current situation… the only ones they can truly rely on are probably their own people.

"Then before the investigation begins, how should we respond to the family and Shajin?" San Yue Qi asked.

——

A certain scientific railgun.

Morning light streamed through the curtains into the room; Mikoto Misaka and Kuroko Shirai were tidying up their school uniforms to get ready to go out. While fixing their hair, Misaka also kept her eyes on the screen on the ceiling, checking Pinokangni's latest situation.

"Big sister~" Kuroko Shirai suddenly pounced from behind, wrapping both arms around Misaka's neck, her cheek affectionately rubbing her shoulder. "We're about to leave, Big Sister, stop looking at that, and if you have the time, please give me a little more of your attention~"

"Whoa! Shirai!" Misaka was startled by Shirai's sudden attack, flailing to push her away, a faint blush spreading on her face. "Don't just jump on me like that!"

"Big Sister, you're so concerned—does that mean Pinokangni's intel was updated while we were sleeping?"

"Mm." Misaka adjusted the disheveled collar of her uniform and said lightly, "Now Zhigengniao is also dead, and both the family and Shajin have simultaneously thrown an olive branch to the Starry Train, inviting cooperation."

"These two sides… neither can be trusted, so we might as well reject them outright."

"If we really followed your approach, the Starry Train would probably have already been blacklisted by other forces, right?" Mikoto Misaka sighed helplessly, "At the very least we should keep some contact with Shajin; his current stance is clear—he's at odds with the family. Compared to the ambiguous, potentially flip‑flopping family, he's actually a lot more reliable..."

"Clarity doesn't equal reliability," Shirai crossed her arms over her chest, forming a big "X" sign, "Big Sister, you're too naive! If the family's trust score is 20, Shajin's is 40… It looks a bit higher than the family's, but it still doesn't reach the passing mark of 60."

"... If you ask me, we should immediately locate Miss Huangquan; right now she's probably the most trustworthy person."

"Huangquan…" Mikoto Misaka mused, "but she has also concealed a lot…"

"Living out in space, who doesn't have some secrets?" Shirai spread her hands, "Even the Starry Train, its members' identities are all somewhat concealed, to varying degrees, aren't they?"

"For example, someone who appears ordinary but is actually Dan Heng of the Luofu Dragon Lord; someone who looks like a middle‑aged uncle but is actually Mr. Walter, who can command gravity and manipulate Black Hole; and someone who is usually frivolous yet has a star core lodged in their belly…"

"Dan Heng looks ordinary?" Mikoto Misaka was startled for a moment, then let out a long sigh, "Shirai, do you have some misunderstanding about 'ordinary'?"

——

Regarding the family, Jizi's view is that they bear no ill will toward the train, since it involves the whole Pinokangni 'scandal'; if they were untrustworthy, they wouldn't have commissioned the train crew for assistance.

Moreover, Pinokangni is within the family's territory, so cooperating with them should provide considerable convenience for subsequent actions.

The key lies with Shajin; Jizi wants to hear Walter's opinion.

Walter pondered and said, "This person isn't simple; during our negotiations he deliberately lowered his stance, and throughout his words he kept surrounding and blocking us… Both logically and emotionally, he offered a convincing explanation. He claims he's not forcing anything, but his intent is already quite clear."

"However, while the situation remains unclear, establishing more connections isn't a bad thing. Shajin, in just a few words, displayed his skill; as long as interests align, he could become a reliable ally."

"We must also handle our distance from the family cautiously; we cannot get too close. Cooperating with the corporation is a viable means of balance—if either side harbors ulterior motives, we will have a chance to withdraw."

"So, you suggest we first accept Shajin's cooperation?" Jizi looked at him.

"Yes. The hidden risks certainly exist… but we can only wait until everyone's intentions become clear before making further judgments." Walter nodded.

——

New Aelidou.

"Playing both sides? That's interesting…"

Within the Anti‑Zhigengniao Organization, Hugo was watching the ceiling with great interest; he found this kind of decision—allowing the train crew to maneuver deftly between the corporation and the family—quite fascinating.

"In this chessboard of intertwined interests, each additional option equals an extra escape route. Vivian, what do you think—"

He halted halfway through his sentence, as he realized the other side hadn't been paying attention to this at all.

The girl sat on the sofa with her knees drawn up, her chin resting on Bonburobin's head. She pouted, seeming sulky, while her fingertips absentmindedly tugged at Robin's two ears.

"Unhappy? Who made you angry?"

"No one made me angry." Vivian buried her face in Robin's soft back, her voice muffled, "It's just that lately I've seen the rope‑craftsman going in and out of the cinema with many different girls..."

"So... you're jealous?" Hugo squinted.

"Vivian is not that kind of boring woman!" The girl, like a frizzed cat, not only raised her voice but also her neck began to flush with a faint pink.

"But didn't you also watch a movie with Faetong not long ago? I remember that morning you even trimmed your nails on purpose..."

"That's the problem! I suspect Lord Faetong—"

"Having feet in multiple boats?"

The girl blushed and nodded.