Chapter 128

The mission target is a foreign gang.

The client had their goods seized by them, so they posted a commission, which the Edge Runners Agency took on. But recent intelligence indicates the gang is involved in raising monsters, causing the mercenary outpost's assessment of the commission's rank to fluctuate.

That's why Mann later changed the action plan.

The scouting team wasn't just one unit; the Edge Runners Agency is a small mercenary office with no more than ten people, yet it can still split into two groups.

But no matter how you look at it, Aomo's side's lineup is somewhat thin.

A mercenary in recovery, David; a veteran of firepower support positioning, Rebecca; and, as a specially invited consultant to the agency, Aomo, whose combat power rank is Model Lake……

Compared to the other side, which has long been coordinated and is more accustomed to this place for several months—Mann, Lucy, and Dollyeu trio—this side's lineup feels noticeably lacking.

Even though there is an auxiliary staff member called Qiwei serving as a liaison here, it hasn't added any points to the notion of "stability."

Because Aomo listened to their conversation, he always felt somewhat off.

"David, you guys head toward Third Ring Road; there's not much visibility there." "Okay… thanks, Qiwei." "... No need for that."

The report voice, rough like an unstable signal, together with the obviously stiff thanks, and the reply that one can tell is emotionally complex—none of it fails to reveal a story.

When it came to Rebecca, she said: "Yeah, it's just what we should be doing. I said to Qiwei, any new news?"—such a casual, seemingly careless remark, yet her tone was quite serious.

This contrasts sharply with her earlier display of carefree self-expression, as if she were deliberately changing the subject.

Excellent, excellent……

In this tiny four-person team, aside from myself as an outsider, each of us actually has our own conflicts and entanglements; Aomo began to suspect Mann was a melon farmer, having planted me here just to sell this "custom-tailored" melon.

What does "custom-tailored" mean?

If someone else were substituted, they might not be able to pick up on the specialness from these people's communication as efficiently; only someone exceptionally observant, who subconsciously gauges others' intentions, would notice the subtlety in their atmosphere so keenly.

But this is completely off-topic—aren't we here to carry out the mission?

Moreover, by doing this, you make me seem superfluous.

Oh… I really am superfluous, then it's fine.

Just thinking that I was originally only a monster consultant, Aomo relaxed a bit.

He even stopped paying attention to the three people's conversation on the comms channel.

—That conversation had originally been about the commission briefing, but it had evolved into occasional small talk.

One obvious point: compared to the approach of fully investigating all information before acting, the Edge Runners' style is clearly more casual and free.

Get the basic intel sorted, then improvise the rest.

Such a plan is either a ragtag bunch of cannon fodder, or they genuinely have skill; Aomo tentatively believes it's the latter.

Although the Upper Gate District's foreign zone has a very high combat power ceiling, its essential floor is actually quite low—low enough that it's not much different from the outside world.

After all, the distinction between surface and interior isn't a difference in actual combat strength, but a contrast in atmosphere.

Here there are also ordinary people, no different from an average middle-school horse girl, except they aren't as gentle as the surface suggests—just the fact that there are gang organizations here shows that the surface laws don't provide any space for those gangs to exist.

Although the surface Upper Gate District isn't stagnant water, it's at most a relatively calm lake; the foreign zone, however, is constantly experiencing tides and whirlpools.

Opportunists seeking profit here are never lacking; they dislike peaceful, gentle lifestyles and are more accustomed to conflict, friction, and even bloodshed, so they gather in the foreign zone—even a seemingly ordinary resident might turn around and plunge into violence, their violence still within permissible bounds, but facing greater violence would also be natural.

For the Upper Gate District, the foreign zone representing the interior is more like a cultural exhibition area:

【Exhibiting the gray culture of another world】

Precisely because of this freedom and danger, the vast majority of mercenaries have been to the foreign zone, and they also know it isn't the exaggerated danger that ordinary people imagine—"you go there and don't even know how you'll die."

Society has never been composed solely of the elite; any region with enough people will develop strata, and the middle and lower layers of the foreign zone are naturally numerous.

As long as the commission's rank you encounter is suitable, even if your combat power isn't top-tier you can still accomplish it through skill—Aomo thinks that the Edge Runners Agency, lacking top-end combat power, can steadily build reputation and experience precisely by relying on this ability.

【Frankly, I've been reading via Yeguo Reading lately, switching sources, multiple read-aloud voices,. yeguoyuedu works on both Android and iOS.】

However, when it involves monsters, the commission rank can't really be called stable.

Mann and company's scouting this time likely also stems from whether to abandon the commission, and the monster consultant Aomo's opinion will be a major basis for judgment.

The pressure is still pretty great… Aomo, thinking that, was looking at the armored vehicle's window.

Today the foreign zone is overcast, making the skyscrapers flashing past outside the window appear even more splendid.

And when the armored vehicle reached the overpass, the steel-reinforced concrete forest adorned with neon converged into a wall, like a cascading waterfall of flowing light.

The foreign zone is far more colorful than the surface Upper Gate District; the most common buildings here are corporate structures, which to some extent match the cyberpunk vibe of the city where David and company live, but that's only a stylistic resemblance—the laws here are merely slightly relaxed, allowing a considerable gray zone, yet they still cannot accommodate true blackness.

The armored vehicle's thick bulletproof glass blocked light transmission, and its special anti-peeping reflective film diluted the strong light, merely outlining the clear contours of the skyscrapers outside and the solid shape of the bridge's stone piers.

Even what's projected on the light screen can't be seen clearly; I can only judge from the outline that it's some kind of non-human host, but the outline beside the host looks twisted like a fire scene, making it extremely eye-catching.

This prompted him to switch the terminal and drag out the light screen, linking to the foreign zone's network to run a search for accident news.

【Here here, that wanted criminal】The electronic vampire is trying hard to attract the foster child's attention.

He moved the link that Morrison had 'lifted' to one side as an alternative, then dragged the Sirius symbol and the sighting news of a few famous sky-horse girls from the Sky Divine Palace into the backup column; Aomo then tried searching for Jin Gu Bridge, and although it turned up a few more webpages than last time, opening them revealed nothing more.

By contrast, the information Morrison dug up about the wanted criminal who drugged Bi Ze is clear—even which district they fled to is known—and searching the movements of the anti-terror mobile unit and the special operations team lets one track the progress of the manhunt.

Compared to the slightly delayed suppression by the Heaven's Gate City garrison, which still requires estimating specific public schedules, here there actually is an official livestream—rows of fully armed operatives active on the screen, with many citizens above sending tips and SC comments, all of them wholly positive cheering fans; it's unclear whether it's internal hype or genuine support.

As for the raging fire incident, some familiar-looking figures' photos also appear in the report, and a large paragraph below explains that a logistics company's clash with a gang caused massive property loss, with Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Company announcing responsibility for it.

So how does this company look like a pharmaceutical company at all?

The reality fully matches the "memory intelligence" description—this sort of thing should have reassured him, but fitting it to this degree only makes people feel complicated.

But then… Aomo flipped through his contact records from the past few days, found the contact information for Penguin Logistics in the logistics intermediary's data.

Recalling that not long ago he had thought there was nothing to do with it and thus hadn't given it weight, he drifted off a bit.

"Aomo, we've arrived—get ready, I and Rebecca are heading out first." "Hey, stop fiddling with the terminal, get ready~"

In fact, Aomo had already anticipated this when the vehicle began to decelerate; he just remained silent, paying attention to both sides, appearing obviously spaced out, so much so that David greeted him and Rebecca teased him.

That mechanical prosthetic hand, whose size is disproportionately large compared to his body, seemed to want to pat his shoulder like David does, but he subconsciously prepared to dodge it, yet subjectively brought it to a halt.

The large prosthetic hand, about the same size as Mann's palm, if avoided would later likely draw some retaliation, but if accepted——

——"Pretty sensible, kid! I've got your back from now on!"

She would break into such a pure, happy smile.

Translation: She would show such a pure, happy smile.

We need to keep it concise: "She would show such a pure, happy smile." That's fine.

Thanks to the other's talkativeness when chatting with David, Aomo even built a personality model of them; harshly speaking it's inexplicable, but nicely speaking it's quirky and lively—usually decided by looks. Since the other is a pretty cute girl, Aomo leans toward the latter.

Let's break: "Thanks to the other party's talkativeness when communicating with David, Aomo even established a personality model for the other party; hard to say it's inexplicable, nice to say it's lively and mischievous; deciding this is usually based on looks; considering the other party is a rather cute girl, so Aomo leans toward the latter."

We need to keep same meaning, not add.

We'll produce: "Thanks to the other's talkativeness when communicating with David, Aomo even established a personality model for them; hard to say it's inexplicable, nice to say it's lively and mischievous; deciding this is usually based on looks; considering the other is a rather cute girl, so Aomo leans toward the latter."

the other

That evaluation turned out clever and quirky, yet also straightforward and righteous.

Translation: "That evaluation thus became lively and mischievous, yet also unrestrained and righteous."

We need to keep: "That evaluation thus became lively and mischievous, yet also unrestrained and righteous."

She likely kept all her secrets for David, yet in front of him she had no secrecy—an endearing contradiction.

Translation: "Her concealment was mostly left to David, yet in front of David she lacked concealment, which is also somewhat of an endearing contradiction."

We need to keep: "Her concealment was mostly left to David, yet in front of David she lacked concealment, which is also somewhat of an endearing contradiction."

Are you living in a youth comedy, David?

Translation: "Are you living in a youth comedy? David."

We need to keep: "Are you living in a youth comedy? David."

Aomo thought as much, then linked up with the informant who had warned the two—Qiwei—and a moment later the light screen showed a first-person view of swift parkour, leaping over a barbed-wire fence.

Translation: "Aomo thought so, connected the communication of the informant who had reminded the two, 'Qiwei', and the next second the light screen showed a first-person view of swift parkour, the scene of climbing over a barbed-wire fence."

We need to keep: "Aomo thought so, connected the communication of the informant who had reminded the two, 'Qiwei', and the next second the light screen showed a first-person view of swift parkour, the scene of climbing over a barbed-wire fence."

the informant who had reminded the two

All right, an action‑youth comedy……

Translation: "Alright, action youth comedy……"

We need to keep: "Alright, action youth comedy……"

Aomo thought to himself and rephrased it.

Translation: "Aomo corrected himself in his mind."

We need to keep: "Aomo corrected himself in his mind."

You should be able to see it clearly, right? I've synced the optic nerve signals from David's prosthetic eye to your screen; you can switch to Rebecca's view by pressing the side button. Of course, she might yell at you to stop staring—her sense of privacy has really increased lately.

Translation: "【You should be able to see it clearly, right? I synced the optic nerve signal of David's prosthetic eye to your screen; fiddling with the side button can switch to Rebecca's side, of course, she might yell at you not to look randomly, her privacy awareness has increased a lot recently】"

We need to keep brackets and content. We'll output: "【You should be able to see it clearly, right? I synced the optic nerve signal of David's prosthetic eye to your screen; fiddling with the side button can switch to Rebecca's side, of course, she might yell at you not to look randomly, her privacy awareness has increased a lot recently】"

David's prosthetic eye

The female cyber hacker named Qiwei, who is also an informant, has a slightly tired neutral voice, though you can still tell she is a woman.

Translation: "The woman named Qiwei, a cyber hacker and also an intelligence officer, had a slightly fatigued neutral voice, but one could also tell she was female."

We need to keep: "The woman named Qiwei, a cyber hacker and also an intelligence officer, had a slightly fatigued neutral voice, but one could also tell she was female."

At this moment she displayed a series of explanations unlike her usual chatty self when communicating with teammates, almost as if she had teaching experience.

Translation: "At this moment she displayed a series of explanations different from her earlier talkativeness when communicating with teammates, which seemed to indicate she had teaching experience."

We need to keep: "At this moment she displayed a series of explanations different from her earlier talkativeness when communicating with teammates, which seemed to indicate she had teaching experience."

After many experiences and unresolved conflicts with teammates, the main conflict lies with David's side, while Rebecca seems no longer bothered, plus there appears to be a lingering style from teaching habits.

Translation: "Having experienced many things, and having had conflicts with teammates that were hard to let go of, but the main conflict lay with David's side, while Rebecca seemed to no longer care, plus a residual style suggestive of teaching habits……"

We need to keep: "Having experienced many things, and having had conflicts with teammates that were hard to let go of, but the main conflict lay with David's side, while Rebecca seemed to no longer care, plus a residual style suggestive of teaching habits……"

Aomo listened and replied, "You can see it clearly."

Translation: "Aomo listened and replied: 【You can see it clearly."

We need to keep: "Aomo listened and replied: 【You can see it clearly."

But I still hope Miss Rebecca can restrain herself from looking at private spots.

Translation: "but still hope Miss Rebecca can restrain herself from the idea of looking at private parts】"

We need to keep: "but still hope Miss Rebecca can restrain herself from the idea of looking at private parts】"

Maybe, but if she says she'll cover you, just call her by name—that'll make her treat you better.

Translation: "【Perhaps, but if she says she'll cover you, just call her by name; then she'll also treat you better】"

We need to keep: "【Perhaps, but if she says she'll cover you, just call her by name; then she'll also treat you better】"

Did she have a brother?

Translation: "【Did she have an older brother?】"

We need to keep: "【Did she have an older brother?】"

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme. As an intelligence worker, one shouldn't easily show surprise; Qiwei wasn't surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion. Màn'ēn didn't bring you here to have you fix her psychological issues, so just get ready.

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme. As an intelligence worker, one shouldn't easily show surprise; Qiwei wasn't surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion. Màn'ēn didn't bring you here to have you fix her psychological issues, so just get ready.

Let's translate: "【Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme,】 as an intelligence worker one should not easily show surprise; Qiwei was not surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion, 【Mannen didn't have you come over to let you solve her psychological problems, so get ready first】"

We need to keep brackets and punctuation.

We'll output: "【Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme,】 as an intelligence worker one should not easily show surprise; Qiwei was not surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion, 【Mannen didn't have you come over to let you solve her psychological problems, so get ready first】"

Màn'ēn

Thus line: "【Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme,】 as an intelligence worker one should not easily show surprise; Qiwei was not surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion, 【Màn'ēn didn't have you come over to let you solve her psychological problems, so get ready first】"

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme. As an intelligence worker, one shouldn't easily show surprise; Qiwei wasn't surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion. Màn'ēn didn't bring you here to have you fix her psychological issues, so just get ready.

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme. As an intelligence worker, one shouldn't easily show surprise; Qiwei wasn't surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion. Màn'ēn didn't bring you here to have you fix her psychological issues, so just get ready.

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme. As an intelligence worker, one shouldn't easily show surprise; Qiwei wasn't surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion. Màn'ēn didn't bring you here to have you fix her psychological issues, so just get ready.

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme. As an intelligence worker, one shouldn't easily show surprise; Qiwei wasn't surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion. Màn'ēn didn't bring you here to have you fix her psychological issues, so just get ready.

Thus: "【Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme,】as an intelligence worker one should not easily show surprise; Qiwei was not surprised by Aomo's sudden conclusion, 【Màn'ēn didn't have you come over to let you solve her psychological problems, so get ready first】"

Yes, but your personality is the complete opposite extreme,

Is that the horse-eared monster......?

Translation: "【Is that the horse-eared monster……】"

We need to keep: "【Is that the horse-eared monster……】"

But "馬耳怪獸" we translated as "horse-eared monster"? Actually literal: horse ear monster. Could be "horse-eared monster". We'll output "horse-eared monster". Or "mare-eared monster"? We'll keep literal: "horse-eared monster". We'll output: "【Is that the horse-eared monster……】"

【Horse-ear monster, is it...?】

The hacker didn't reply right away to his self‑directed comment, leaving Aomo in the car watching the screen as gang members gradually drew near, their silhouettes becoming visible.

Translation: "The hacker did not immediately respond to his more self-directed words, leaving Aomo still in the vehicle watching the gang members on the screen gradually approach, revealing their figures."

We need to keep: "The hacker did not immediately respond to his more self-directed words, leaving Aomo still in the vehicle watching the gang members on the screen gradually approach, revealing their figures."

They approached step by step, with a frivolous, carefree attitude, mainly focusing on Rebecca beside David.

Translation: "They were step by step approaching, with a frivolous, smug demeanor, mainly directed at Rebecca beside David."

We need to keep: "They were step by step approaching, with a frivolous, smug demeanor, mainly directed at Rebecca beside David."

Aomo hesitated, then didn't switch his view to Rebecca.

Translation: "Aomo hesitated for a moment, not switching the view to Rebecca's side."

We need to keep: "Aomo hesitated for a moment, not switching the view to Rebecca's side."

Three seconds later, the facts proved him right—David was still trying to negotiate and struggle, but Rebecca had already punched him, sending blood and teeth flying in a strikingly alluring spray.

Translation: "Three seconds later the facts proved him right; David was still trying to negotiate and struggle a bit, but Rebecca had already punched straight up, blood and teeth splattering together in an especially alluring way."

We need to keep: "Three seconds later the facts proved him right; David was still trying to negotiate and struggle a bit, but Rebecca had already punched straight up, blood and teeth splattering together in an especially alluring way."

Even from David's perspective as an onlooker, the scene feels overly violent.

Translation: "Even from David's bystander perspective, the feeling is overly violent."

We need to keep: "Even from David's bystander perspective, the feeling is overly violent."

【Hmm. Our previous internal discussion concluded: as long as the destruction is sufficient, we can force the other side to release that monster; then it will be your time to work.】