Chapter 1241: with translation of chapter title

NO. 145: Which odd couple is chatting intimately about serious matters?

Unlike the girls who will be taken up by school tomorrow, Aomo Lindun is capable and must work as a mercenary making swift trips between districts.

His cooperation with Rhodes Island has not yet ended, and his recently updated workstation happens to be in the Netherworld District.

After finishing his shift as a trainer, he carves out evening time here to idle (referring to research and training related to monster cards) or to open a branch mine; at first glance it seems far-fetched, but actually, due to the time difference, even if he arrives late it doesn't count as a delay.

Although the lighting in the Netherworld District is less than ideal, thanks to the stability of artificial light sources, it is actually in the same time zone as Blanc District, being seven to eight hours ahead of the Gate District; Aomo's evening time after his trainer shift ends is exactly the normal working hours here, requiring no further adjustment.

Stable and ample, even if he is actually stationed only three to four hours, that still counts as being stationed; he ought to have plenty of opportunities to steal leisure amidst his busy schedule, with no need to rush the present.

But obviously, there are many moments when Aomo Lindun can be patient, yet the hidden danger lurking before his eyes is not one of them.

「Aomo, what's wrong? 」

Cheetri Nya, who had popped her head out of the pool, asked, the triangular ears pressed against her head first shaking off the water.

「Hololisa just left early, didn't even have time to say goodbye here. 」

「That's perhaps not strange either, after all she doesn't seem like someone who would fuss over details. 」He moved his finger aside the light screen, then looked up at the girlfriend approaching, overly sharp, and Aomo's gaze instantly turned helpless.

Although not intending to undertake the 'Don't Look Challenge', the fact is that Texas's body fat percentage is the least ideal, yet it is a position that draws countless fantasies, obstructing their mutual gaze.

So he raised both arms, causing the other to freeze for half a second, then she looked left and right, and subsequently brought a round of challenge to the beach lounge chair that had no sand.

「She really is like that, but she also treats you quite specially, 」 said Cheetri Nya, made slightly stiff by the gaze of occasional passersby, her tone still fairly steady: 「Tea thinks you're like this because of that, so you came up early… uh, come up. 」

「Still can't get used to it? 」 Feeling the tremor in the person in his arms, Aomo regretfully turned his finger, which was twirling wolf-ear fluff, toward her hair strands, combing her soaked long hair.

「…This isn't that easy to get used to, 」 Texas flicked her own ears, which were no longer soaking wet under her boyfriend's little trick, and muttered bb, 「Usually you'd touch the tail, why do you like fiddling with the ears so much? 」

「Usually? 」

「…」

「Ahem, let's get back to the original topic. 」 Aomo gave a light cough, collecting the half-smile on his face.

At this physical distance right now, it's not wise to investigate what the other has done in private; the biggest difference between Cheetra and Xiao Tea is that, although she is mature and steady, her defenses against such topics are extremely low.

For a she-wolf still bearing the vestiges of mafia ways, the combination of that contrast and her shyness brings a three-part possibility that violence could solve everything.

This violence is the second difference.

Miss Tea's pink fists really do no harm, but Texas's indignant punch could actually bring Aomo real pain.

In this situation where the clothing reveals quite a lot, Aomo also doesn't want to walk around with any red marks, just as Cheetri Nya chose a one-piece swimsuit not because her fashion sense is conservative, but to conceal the medals that her fixed-team comrades have no chance to earn.

Seeing through but not speaking, the demon remains silent; even compliments upon meeting revolve around the swimsuit's layering and the charm shown by its extreme clinginess.

Especially since Miss Tea is clearly one of the parties involved, her clueless-like demeanor and speech at the time didn't seem like acting, which made the other party feel all the more astonished and further strengthened their resolve not to mention it.

Incidentally, he felt grateful for his body's ability to recover from minor skin injuries.

「Then are you willing to say what it is? 」

Texas, still unaware of where the person before her thoughts have drifted, could for now divert attention with a serious topic. Once she enters a focused state, she can avoid letting her mind wander from intimate contact, and these days Texas has been relying on work to suppress those thoughts she's shy to voice.

It can be said that this is the endearing aspect of encountering adolescent worries only after reaching working-age.

「You still remember that doujin exhibition attack I told you about earlier, right? 」

「Yes, you said you handed that matter over to the authorities because it involved overseas… is this here? 」 She reacted quickly.

「Yeah, the attack on Aachen's rocket launch shaft; local news also indeed pointed out that this rocket launch center had a mishap not long ago. 」

「This case should have been handled by the local Teqiju, but so far there's been no word; instead, Hololisa, who was supposed to be a newcomer conducting an investigation, has had poor results because of their presence. 」

「Wait, Hololisa hasn't just joined the investigation recently, has she? 」

「This is the key point, 」 Aomo said, sitting up and letting her sit up as well to listen, 「We've only just started investigating here when we ran into resistance from the other side; although the current intelligence results do indeed show that Miss Feather Serpent's abilities are outstanding, the level of investigation at which this result stands is far insufficient to warrant a warning. 」

「They're overreacting. 」 Texas mused.

「It's either that a big shot is involved, or they themselves are involved; whether they can't or won't, they definitely hold evidence. 」

「So you want her to investigate this Teqiju here? 」

「That's just going too far…」 Aomo looked speechlessly at the astonished Cheetri Nya and lightly patted her head.

「Penguin Logistics work should give you a chance to come across this kind of information, right? 」

「We have more contact with local police stations and the Metropolitan Police Department, rather than the Teqiju. 」 Texas said expressionlessly.

「You're clearly a Penguin Logistics employee too, yet you seem to have more misunderstandings than everyone else. 」

「Alright, my bad, 」 Aomo immediately realized he was in the wrong and promptly admitted fault, 「It should be that I've teamed up with colleagues too little. 」

「You know this yourself, right? Angel has held a grudge over your repeated refusals to invite her. 」 Texas, in this matter, sided more with her old partner, because she also wanted to team up with Aomo to deliver a package or two, but ended up finding no opportunity either.

They say they'll come run errands when they have time, but some people are really good at finding work for themselves, so genuine free time is scarce.

On the other hand, his memory is quite good.

「Isn't that all from half a month ago? 」

「You also remember it quite clearly. 」

I rely on crystal cores; what does she rely on? Empathy?

Aomo fell silent for a moment, then stopped speaking and sighed: 「In short, although the various departments of the police system differ in ability, the technical backing for data blockage is relatively unified; criminals usually prefer to assault and interrogate officers rather than deal with their databases. 」

Having said that, he didn't forget to add: 「Later, also tell Angel and the others. 」

「…She really isn't that wild. 」

「They, 」 Aomo emphasized the object of his words, 「doesn't Lapland's guy often mix into your work as well? 」

「That's actually true…」 she had to admit.

「Regardless of truth or falsehood, we've already gone off track. 」 Aomo wearily raised his hand, reactivating the terminal screen that had dimmed slightly as the explanation went on, which of course still had no news of Hololisa.

It's been less than an hour since they left; if there were to be results this fast, one wouldn't know whether to reassess Hololisa's ability, the attitude of the Teqiju there, or the rag-tag nature of those organizations.

「In short, there's no need to confront them head-on; I've given Miss Feather Serpent plenty of connections to gray organizations in both the Netherworld District and Aachen. 」

「That sounds especially dangerous. 」

「If it were anyone else, that would indeed be the case, but compared to danger, she might instead be more familiar with those circles. 」