Chapter 1378

NO. 282: Like a Dream (4K)

The sense of smell is a perception derived from sensory reception; it is not only a prerequisite for many organisms' external hormonal communication but also undertakes certain alert duties, and even in the field of criminal investigation, it is not lacking in performance.

In ancient times, criminal investigation departments would specially prepare animals with keen sense of smell to facilitate on-site inspections, while nowadays the Federation has both advanced technological products capable of analyzing gas composition,

and there are also not-so-rare demi-humans who can directly demonstrate their advantages in physiological capabilities.

Aomo does not know whether those small animals still have room to be active, but he is indeed clear that Bureau Chief Shihuaiya is a demi-human possessing some feline traits.

Of course, only a part.

If this part were more, it would become furry/furry, and further still would be purely beastly; for Bixiketuxe·Shihuaiya, whose traits are quite mild, Aomo can only observe that she has inherited the keen hearing (ears) and balance control (tail) of feline animals.

As for whether she has received talent bonuses in physical strength and power……

In the premise where supernatural power exists for cultivation, this information can only be understood through physical examination reports; in the past, Aomo merely obtained information through observation and is not certain, only knowing that her strength is indeed astonishing, as seen from the Rhodes Island basic files and the earliest records of the Special Investigation Bureau.

Looking at her current delicate and exquisite technological weapons like meteor hammer work photos, it is hard to imagine her brutal choice in early weapons.

Of course, if the information were merely like this, you could still think that the supernatural power is plodding along under burden, but in the Rhodes Island basic files that Aomo initially consulted, the record even clearly stated that at that time, Bixiketuxe was not skilled in Originium Arts.

At this point, seeing that even with a hollow-set inlay design, the meteor hammer weighs at least 30 catties or more, it is hard not to size up her arms, which are always concealed by the uniform sleeves.

Actually, he has seen it, just during the last meal.

At that time, the temperature was not as low as it is now; Bixiketuxe wore a uniquely designed off-shoulder dress, very fitting the restaurant's style, alluring yet solemn, and moreover revealed arms that were smooth and warm, making it hard at first glance to discern the muscles.

Judging solely by this contrast in appearance, it could already be considered no different from that of a horse girl.

Terrans (specifically referring to those from Rhodes Island) indeed largely have talent…… When browsing the basic files, Aomo occasionally sees familiar figures appearing within, and often thinks this way.

While his own physique has become somewhat bulky from long-term training and frequent combat, these girls, who are equally engaged in high-intensity exercise and display astonishing strength, still always appear as either slender, or full-figured, or petite.

The greatest change is merely the addition of some mermaid lines and abdominal muscle definition differences; this is purely a matter of physiological talent.

As for whether talent can extend beyond just the ears and auditory nerves to also cover the olfactory nerves and trigeminal nerve system……

Aomo has obtained some reference from Chena.

There is enhancement, but not much.

The sense of smell of the Rupert (Chena's species) people is far from reaching the level of canine animals, which is about 1200 times that of humans; even just from her ability to endure the air quality after late-night battlefield engagements, this conclusion can be drawn, but even if not sensitive to that degree, she can still smell out some odor molecules left by people Aomo contacted that day and identify those that appear more frequently.

This point still exceeds the range of ordinary people and already counts as the type of demi-human that the criminal investigation department is willing to recruit.

Then, compared to Rupert, as a Phelin, how much of the feline animals' extraordinary sense of smell can Bixiketuxe inherit?

Aomo once indeed considered this question, and the trigger for this thought was their discussion of a dismemberment case at that time.

At that time, Bixiketuxe mentioned that the case breakthrough had achievements from the sense of smell of demi-human members, and Aomo had a comparative imagination in his mind.

Just that such a mental train of thought running wild is naturally inconvenient to speak of, but now he has again picked up the original track, only because of this person's subtle behavior before him.

Although the first reaction directly points to the collapse of image, Aomo's second reaction, which follows closely, is to try to remedy—attempting to argue from Bixiketuxe's work habit of 'discovering what'.

Although this itself is like Lipiya in the past sniffing out shallow see Hiroko (in New Ultraman), even if the reason is noble and grand, it is hard to cover up the shrimp-head operation, yet it can somewhat recover a friend's image.

But this is largely just Aomo's own wishful thinking; the millet beside him does not think so.

"Well, just like that." The millet, whose expression is indeed calm without a ripple, merely glanced at Bixiketuye's closed-eyed side face, then looked toward Aomo, who finally could not hold back.

"I'll go tidy up first."

"Uh……"

She said so, and indeed went to tidy up the recent plates, leaving the fiend who wanted to call her but didn't know where to start only able to watch her receding back, then immediately turn back and lower his head.

Previously, Bixiketuye was always seen wearing a hat when appearing.

Either it was a uniform cap, or a sun hat, or a hat; it was rare to look down upon that blond long hair's crown and those tiger ears, which felt somewhat novel.

"Miss Shihuaiya."

"... Hmm……"

The vague, muffled reply had a few points of numbness like a drunkard's, but who again drank little?

Aomo, whose head still felt a bit queasy from the wine, himself also silently took a deep breath, then only after, in that complex composition of smells, belatedly turned his head:

"Do I have any smell on me?"

"... Wine."

"It's hard not to have, besides that?"

"You shouldn't be doing this for no reason, right? Do you still recognize who I am?"

"……" Upon hearing this, she did lift her head, revealing a face already flushed and even pressed out a red patch.

Like a classmate's face after napping on the desk…… even the dispersion of gaze is so similar……

Aomo, whose thinking was not numbed by alcohol but instead accelerated into greater scatter, thought this way.

"……Aomo…"

"Remarkable."

Even without being able to focus his gaze, Aomo still gave her a round of applause, provided he could pull his arm out from under her arms.

"Then could you tell me why you did this?" he asked softly.

"... Why……" The little tiger's ears twitched in doubt, then buried her head again into that vague, muffled expectation, "Need… need a reason……?"

"……Still need it." Aomo, after a moment's hesitation, said haltingly.

If not needed, it would make the reason I just gave you to make up for seem foolish, but no matter how it is said……

"I was rude."

He said this, directly vanished from the spot, and in the next second appeared beside her, supporting the Bixiketuye who was about to fall from imbalance.

Although he did not want to make such a fuss, during the banquet when encountering Ishamara's 'assault', he only let Ling handle it, but now the banquet has already ended, Ling……

No, must go find Ling.

Thinking that the two girlfriends might be in a state of swords drawn and bows bent on each other's side, Aomo, though he does not think he can easily intervene in women's battles, also at least wants to insert an eye, to understand some local situation.

For some things you can refrain from interfering, but you ought to know, right.

Observers cannot accept an incomplete perspective; Aomo, who has always adhered to this principle, has always strived to share clear information, a practice that even extended to his emotional life—Chelenina's confession he would tell Xi, and Ming's explicit words would be shared by him, Xi, and Chelena, literally treating them as his own, leaving no room for the slightest misunderstanding.

Perhaps to balance their relationship, the only way is to retain some information and some leeway, but that tests morality and adds countless variables, a choice Aomo considers more and more, yet finds himself increasingly unwilling to make.

So on the other side at that time.

The technique of isolating sound and voice took effect due to the tightly closed doors and windows; Ling, casually sitting by the bedside, was demonstrating the result of Aomo Lindun's choice alongside Xi on the chair and Chelenina leaning against the wall.

Ishamara was also there, but in the form of deep sleep on the bed—this was originally the bedroom Ling had sent her to.

Being in deep sleep, there was naturally no worry about waking her, so Ling could speak freely and at length about the horse-girl idol he had long admired, the horse-girl student who once dreamed of him, and the current temporary contractors who were unwilling to relinquish their excessive possessiveness over him.

Setting aside these horse-girls, there were also the distorted believers who mixed sincerity with greed.

There were those who, having spent little time together, could not yet distinguish fondness from love.

There were those who, due to lack of opposite-sex interaction in their work environment, gradually developed feelings.

She understood this very clearly.

No one could understand it more clearly than she.

Even though her time knowing Aomo in reality was just as short, she had little right to say "badger," but in the dream world, time was the most insignificant thing.

She could even be said to be the opposite of the badger, and more fitting the definition of love growing over time than Shi Huaiya.

Meeting by chance, meeting again out of curiosity, meeting often because it was interesting...

After that, each unexpected encounter became someone's carefully laid plan, and they always went with the flow, making him forget upon waking, leaving only impressions and habits.

She once thought to just let it continue like that.

Thinking that she did not even pursue long-term companionship based on appearance, nor did she care about being a wife and teaching children, the time in the dream and the person in the dream belonged forever to herself, so naturally she did not care about his real-life relationships.

But that would be too selfish.

Although people often say love is selfish, it must also be built upon the other's happiness; otherwise, you are merely loving yourself.

Aomo's real-life undercurrents were turbulent, only in dreams could he truly relax.

But everything in the dream vanishes upon waking, which is of no benefit to reality, forcing Ling to make a change.

No longer restricting, opening memories, letting him know and also letting him heal—but this premise must also be built on her not becoming part of his pressure.

So she formally took action.

Always watching Aomo the idler, she had the ability to survey everyone around him, and even more the ability to meet them in their dreams, easily blurring the dream's temporal boundary, becoming their utterly trustworthy friend in dreams.

Ling thus came to know their characters, listened to their worries, and even gave them comfort and advice, just as Aomo once did for those around him.

She imitated him very well, having once observed him "demonstrating" from such a close distance, watching again and again.

This process was also not laborious, nor was it boring.

In reality she was very idle, and in dreams even more so, leisurely Ling, even able to draw from her interactions with these girls the conclusion that "Aomo will attract more interesting people."

This allowed her to gradually let go of utilitarian motives in seeking these people to "broaden their horizons" and "help solve problems," and finally she made up her mind.

"Drawing the sword to cut the water, the water flows more; raising the cup to dispel sorrow, sorrow grows more—do you two think these people can still wait much longer, and do you think he can achieve his ideal?"

Having already drunk too much wine at the banquet, yet her face flushed even more deeply, Ling still spoke with a clear, melodious tone, declaring that drunkenness is a lie, while Xi, sitting opposite her, having not touched a drop of wine because her boyfriend was staring at her, appeared especially angry.

"You just need to push them out?! Let them completely break the Little Snake's social circle balance, making him nervous about everyone!"

In the unnoticed corner, Ishamara silently turned over, murmuring Aomo in her sleep.

The whale's hearing is very strong and good, its sense of smell is not bad, but when numb, it's just very pitiful. jpg

"Nervousness is built upon the premise of the unknown—don't you understand him? Little Xi." As she spoke, a shadow of that person already appeared in her words; this version of Ling made Xi stare blankly.

She began to feel a sense of familiarity.

"Aomo only gets nervous about danger and the unknown; his nervousness and anxiety stem from lifelong uncertainty. He believes he can understand many things, but uniquely cannot understand us, because he never thought he could earn such favor."

"He unexpectedly has some inferiority complex." Texas said lightly.

"Abandoned by his parents, relying only on his adoptive father, having to strive for everything himself, such a person naturally cannot believe in pure goodwill," Ling sighed, "even his adoptive father's love, he took many years to realize, and then several more years to digest."

"Perhaps his thinking is also not wrong." Texas said, glancing at Xi's not-so-good expression.

"He has already broken down once; even if he can self-heal, it does not mean we should continue suppressing the emotions that will inevitably erupt, as we did before."

"Chelena, you won't..." Xi looked doubtfully at this teammate who had long seemed indifferent to other women showing favor to Aomo.

Then she looked at her nodding calmly:

"Although I'm sorry, but I have always believed our approach all along has been wrong."

"We all know he lacks security; his initial motive for considering multiple girlfriends was fear of loss, inability to bear the destruction of existing relationships, so to maintain those bonds, he always gave, believing benefit-bound relationships are eternally stable."

Texas could fully understand that feeling, albeit from a different angle, that of an extreme restrained one who was once pursued by the past.

"This is the problem," Ling spread her hands, "he will not refuse, he has even prepared himself, and as those people's feelings continue to develop, what do you think the future will be like, and in that future, what will you do? Little Xi."

"..."