Chapter 1470: NO.86: Invisible Battlefield

NO. 86: Invisible Battlefield

"Is it okay to meet here? Even I heard that Miss is going to compete in the Canaan Cup."

"I don't know if you happen to know some industry common sense, such as not to train too hard before a race, and even less to increase training."

"I seem to have heard of this… but you guys…"

Watching the Sirius symbol gallop ahead, at high speed on a route with uneven elevations unlike a horsegirl track, and frequently triggering phantom images resembling monsters on the swift course, the Gray Raven Director squinted for a while before barely making out…

"Those seem to be cards hanging in midair; when the opponent comes within one meter, they enlarge to show the card face."

"Looks pretty intense…" After a long silence, she managed to utter such a sigh.

With her unaided eye, unaltered by machinery and hardly affected by source energy, she could barely see the runner's position, only catching those cards flashing one after another with enlarged faces, and occasional bursts of clear light on the opponent's route.

Sometimes orange, sometimes red, sometimes blue—these are the light effects of the Three Goddesses' source energy techniques.

It is surging at an uncommon frequency.

"However, I don't know much about horsergirls; is this considered a rather intense type of training?"

"It's the kind of training that those media wouldn't believe even if you told them."

"And why is that?"

"Just like when I asked you to lend that precious item again, there are times when we have no choice but to use it."

"Actually, this isn't that particularly precious; after all, it's just a simulation of higher dimensions, not a true entry into higher dimensions."

"But the existence that entrusted this creation to you should have you look after it and keep a record each time you use it, right?"

"I also understand that it's necessary to set a threshold, just like the cooperation promised by Director Lin Dun this time; please take good care of it later."

"That's fine; I just meant that the precious thing I spoke of isn't only this device, but also time."

"Time?"

"Time becomes splendid because of its value; I borrowed your time, and someone who wants to spend time with you thus indirectly loses time."

"Ah… you mean Lucia? How should I put it…" the female commander scratched her head embarrassedly, "I heard Director Lin Dun has four girlfriends; it's not surprising to see that, but it's still quite rare where we are."

"No problem, it's not uncommon in the Federation, and I believe she actually made a schedule for spending time with you."

"Uh, how did you figure that out?" the woman gave a wry, helpless smile.

"What mountain lakes, bustling streets, couples' shops, even the cultural center that first promoted friendly mechs—she marked many places I haven't had time to visit lately."

"It's only recent; I suppose it'll happen eventually. You should know Dr. Luo Xia—even someone as busy as him has run into me at a couples' shop."

"Uh… you didn't take on an adultery‑catching commission, did you?"

Also being an office director, even though the Gray Raven Office is essentially just for convenience and actually functions as an embassy rather than an office, this director also became alert, though this alertness is rather subtle.

Rather than thinking of the usual clients deceived by shell‑company offices, it feels more like having a guilty conscience.

"No, you haven't said how you figured that out just now!"

Suddenly changing the subject also feels like a guilty conscience; it seems not only did I see the invisible battlefield, but she herself is quite self‑aware.

"Dissatisfaction, a visceral dissatisfaction, yet with extraordinarily fine expression—one cannot help but marvel; although I heard your office's members are highly cybernetic beings, their emotional expression details are no different from ordinary people's, making this simulation achievement truly astonishing."

"I think Director Lin Dun's keen eyesight is even more worthy of awe."

"Really? I thought that Mr. Li, with whom I previously cooperated, could also do something similar."

"Uh, this should be a self‑awareness issue; although there are similar performances, it seems not deliberately used except at work."

"I'm also working right now, Director Miss; a simple example: when you see a heart and names carved on a tree, and the names come from different handwritings, what would you think?"

"Pretty, pretty romantic?"

"I usually think that way too, but when I hear this at work, I worry that those two people going on a date, one or even both of them, might be carrying a knife for some reason."

"Uh… a very straightforward example."

"You're laughing, but actually it's not that work‑mode thinking can't accommodate romance; rather, for many administrative tasks, the romantic elements we encounter are mostly extra expressions from victims or perpetrators."

"Extra expression?"

"For example, the strange patterns left by a victim before death, or the excess traces left by a perpetrator at the scene—this falls under criminal investigation, so if you're interested, you can look into it later."

"You can't really say you're interested, but chatting this much hasn't bothered you, has it?"

Looking at the instrument placed on the palm by Aomo, the Gray Raven Director, who had seen it hanging there for several minutes, inevitably wondered whether they were wasting the other's time.

"No, in fact, I've already conducted four rounds of contact with its assistance."

"Has it been useful?"

"It eliminated a variable."

"?"

"Thank you for your generosity," said Aomo, handing back the instrument, raising a hand to trace the black vortex that brought the other here, "The promised cooperation will be sent to your office's email as an electronic contract shortly; please let me send you back now."

"Oh oh, okay, but did you really help?" Gazing at the black mist gate, the Gray Raven Director looked back and said, "If we later ask you for help, it'll surely be a troublesome matter~"

The implication is clearly that if they hadn't helped, they could have this side do something else; otherwise, having the Gray Raven Director summon Aomo later would feel somewhat guilty.

Although this director doesn't formally run an office, they certainly have the warm hospitality typical of an excellent office.

As an embassy representative, this is somewhat embarrassing; they're bound to suffer losses both in their homeland and in the upper echelons here.

"Understood, looking forward to the contact then."

"So I'm really leaving now? Wishing you smooth training and success with your matter."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"No need to follow me!"

With an especially reassuring demeanor, she bade farewell to Aomo, who had originally thought of however to pick up and send off; the enthusiastic, efficient female director, largely still caught in a massive emotional whirlwind like the Rhodes Island doctor, strode straight into the black mist and vanished from Aomo's sight.

It also caused Aomo to dispel the black mist, silently gathering his smile, watching the trainee horsergirl who became especially clear once the mist cleared.

"You… and her… were… talking about… what…?"

Aomo's description of the director's training was no exaggeration; even if the run was just one lap, it still amounted to the exercise level of a person's sprint test, enough to make the Sirius‑symbol adult horsergirl pant incessantly.

Some horse girls will intentionally train to adjust their condition at this time; whether it's a composed demeanor or greeting the audience, it's all part of image building. Sirius could also take that path, but she obviously doesn't have that idea now—her posture, hands braced on her knees, breathing to recover, is completely unreserved, even showing a hint of color.

However, the trainer only thinks: the time is indeed about right……

He glanced at the precise timing marker, Aomo conjured a thermos out of thin air and handed it to her: 'Naturally, it's about the noon work.'

'Is there... any progress?' Sirius, having just unscrewed the cup, took a sip and frowned.

Although the taste is quite strange, it's also familiar—a sports drink that replenishes water and electrolytes; if not adjusted for flavor, it's always the same bland thing.

But this guy can obviously adjust it—when he first cooked for those little girls, he considered so many things!

Is saying that one should just obey and go along merely a better way of fooling oneself?!

'No, it just proves that even a simulated high-dimensional state can't reach Him; previously being able to connect was likely not just entering the simulated high-dimensional state, but also because He briefly came to the baseline dimension—conditions are somewhat strict, though it does rule out one option.'

'This... what are you talking about?'

Hearing this series of things, Sirius forgot to breathe.

'In other words, I should give up simple, clear means of contact; what I should think about next is probably how to help the other party establish a connection with the world.'

'Is this about the transmigrator?'

Such mystical nonsense, in Sirius's understanding, if it's not chuunibyou, then it literally concerns beings from another world.

'That's not wrong either; it's just more inclined toward a parallel universe than another world, and it makes me wonder whether His inability to gain the world's acknowledgment is also because I exist here.'

'You're not thinking of yielding to the other side, are you?'

'Not that extreme; I'm not that generous—I just wonder whether it's necessary to put effort into a field I'm not good at, or maybe just let the universe try to contact Him directly.'

'Universe? New universe?' Sirius did know that child's unique background, and also knew that the child probably had some extraordinary abilities.

'Yes, Jie Si Ti Si once tested her elusive ability and found that it seems not merely explicable by so-called quantum mechanics; perhaps she, like her name suggests, can appear anywhere in the universe.'

'Then let her give it a try.'

'The premise is guaranteeing safety; who knows where that Beast King guy is, or maybe we should contact Gulite instead.'

'Another unfamiliar name popped up—does Gulite refer to that animation Xin Tiao made two months ago?'

'That's right, but frankly you don't need to remember these; since your breathing is even, you should keep running—can you stay focused?'

In the course of speaking, contact with Gulite had already been completed; Aomo turned his head to look at her, and a visible data stream still flickered across his eyes.

That was proof he was still paying attention to another 'battlefield'.

'Of course! Do you think I'm a girl running for the first time?!'

Sirius, while recycling the water cup, also did two wide side leg stretches, then sprang up directly; her lithe, agile form made a flash of surprise cross Aomo's eyes.

In terms of flexibility and agility, Sirius doesn't seem like a twenty-three-year-old who just plays around all the time; rather, she's not far behind Qianming, Bai Ren, and Rudolf.

'Then, please.'

'You really still want to get kicked, huh?'

'Show me the condition of the second run, Sirius.'

'Hmph, get ready to retime me!'