Chapter 170

Half an hour later, Aomo did not return to the training field to review Bai Ren and Qianming's educational progress.

But he notified Pipa Chen Guang, who was resting and waiting not far from the Dangan Room, to bring Dazhenhan to the Student Council to file an incident report.

The negative-energy humanoid that reflected a corner of Dazhenhan's past is itself unusual; the only thing we can confirm is that it is directly related to Dazhenhan.

Fortunately, the person involved is also a researcher of this field, and together with several professors from the College's Mental Department, they will likely determine the cause soon.

Before this, the question of whether such an abnormality would recur was something the Student Council needed to consider.

Either suppress the ghost rumors, or issue a notice explaining that the humanoid's source is even more eerie than ghosts……

But this is not something Aomo needs to consider.

What he naturally needs to consider is the commission itself, so for him, his busyness has not ended.

Thus he did not say to Suzi and Bopang over there, "It's settled, I'll be there soon."

Right now he is walking on the forest path northwest of Telesen, once again setting foot on the mountain trail to the rear mountain.

Beside him, the light screen still showed Dazhenhan's message:

【Miss Zhouri Ningjing, are you alright?】

That guy who, after finishing a cigarette, says a few words and then speeds off naturally didn't give Dazhenhan any contact information.

Thus Aomo could only grumble while acting as a messenger.

After all, Dazhenhan, who might provide follow-up information, is someone we must stay in touch with.

As for whether she might be giving herself an opportunity to obtain contact information for another Triple Crown horse girl—impossible, absolutely impossible!

Aomo thinks anyone who would think that is a bit of a masochist, unless 'Zhouri Ningjing' is also claiming to be some sort of four souls.

He clearly knows Zhouri Ningjing is undergoing some self-repression, so this person's emotions are built on a simple, clear dual-line logic program.

This dual line is mostly parallel.

Her anger, her dissatisfaction, her frenzied actions lie on one side, while her reason and intellect lie on the other line.

This makes her appear young, impulsive, and hot-tempered, yet occasionally she reveals a deep, solemn chill.

Just as it had been twenty‑six minutes earlier, he had Dazhenhan wait a moment and then went himself to look for Zhouri Ningjing, who had said she was going to smoke a cigarette but hadn't returned for several minutes; he saw her standing smoke‑free at the side of the road by the eucalyptus room, looking up at the thick leaves casting shadows.

At that moment her golden eyes were just as distant.

He had already seen several girls with golden eyes, and they all happened to be horse girls, and they all happened to be so‑called sisters.

The eyes of the two sisters, Narita Hakujin and Biwa Morning Light: the former's were cold and aloof, the latter's full of intellect; but when they fell on Mancity Chazuo and Zhouri Ningjing here, they seemed overly changeable.

So changeable that it raised doubts about her mental state; perhaps she could try becoming an actress.

Those who like to suppress themselves tend to have somewhat sub‑healthy minds.

Just like him.

Generally speaking, a mentally ill person shouldn't urge another mentally ill person to seek treatment quickly.

So he had nothing to say; he could only watch her toss out a few lines telling him to keep observing and waiting—such meaningless words—then he lifted his terminal, allowing her to leave swiftly.

She was clearly busy again.

On one hand he tried to be patient, on the other he himself lacked patience, so he couldn't be a role model; instead he was a decent mirror.

It could let Aomo see how nervous he appeared in others' eyes.

Everyone is good at setting rules for themselves.

Especially Zhouri Ningjing, who stands on both sides.

Yuehuanshe: 【It's just a guess that the two events connect; you understand this premise, right?】

Zhouri Ningjing: 【So I went to verify the guess.】

「…」—is that what this feels like?

Although he immediately responded to his own remark, the content was firm and left no room for extra persuasion.

In Morrison's eyes, he himself was probably like that.

Life is impermanent; suddenly he felt he ought to reflect on his actions.

But he couldn't just give up struggling like that:

【How confident are you?】

Zhouri Ningjing: 【Eighty percent.】

Well, at least the person is stronger than him.

Although he wanted to doubt the other's judgment, after thinking he decided against it.

Yuehuanshe: 【Then keep going; I'll wait for good news.】

Zhouri Ningjing is clearly not just an official of the URA Association; this identity is merely one of the roles she has used, and even in this operation it is a secondary identity——

——otherwise, with the current evidence the URA Association would already have sufficient grounds to directly investigate Yuger Company.

Given the URA Association's power and its transcendent position in the Boundary Gate area, even such high‑handed handling would not be a major problem.

Zhouri Ningjing shouldn't have acted so distressed beforehand; such a big flaw would make even Dazhenhan suspicious, and even if she claimed she was just upset about the horse girls' situation, she couldn't prevent Dazhenhan from truly reporting the result to the URA Association.

She didn't want to use official channels, but tried another way, which left her feeling troubled.

Think back to the commission she originally sent him; it was also said to be a request from a 'person'.

But her earlier reaction didn't look like merely accepting someone's commission; it seemed like a personal anguish, either from direct experience or from the experience of someone close.

In that case it would turn into some kind of personal grudge……

He walked through the forest where the moisture remained heavy, stepping deep and shallow, then he raised the chat box.

Yuehuanshe: 【No problem, her condition is good, even more motivated; if you enrich the clues, you might see news on the net of where the URA Association has blocked something.】

Dazhenhan: 【Then I'll just wait for good news; if needed, I can call on me to help—I actually have some experience in combat.】

「…」 Upon hearing that, Aomo's steps halted.

Now he must redefine what Miss Morning Light meant by 'If it were me, I'd call Hakujin.'

Huh?

Is it a coincidence?

Bairen's shadow—she investigated the demons in the mansion.

Bairen's combat ability—she also achieved success in battle.

Bairen's early retirement—she too retired early……

Yuehuanshe: 【Miss Dazhenhan, are you seeking Bairen's trace?】

Dazhenhan: 【There was a period when I, at that time, thought: if Senior Bairen were still on the field, wouldn't I not be so lonely? ——

——but later I also found my own path】

Yuehuanshe: 【Then I suppose during the time you investigated the mansion's demons, you also felt a long-lost sense of fulfillment, right?】【70】 Dazhenhan: 【Yeah, back then I hadn't debuted yet, but Miss Dongzi really supported me and helped me a lot.】【71】 Dongzi Zhenzi… the relationship only goes as far as using surname honorifics; she really doesn't take up much of Miss Dazhenhan's heart……【72】 Just thinking back to when she passed away, Dazhenhan's competition performance didn't fluctuate abnormally, and the public opinion at the time was also quite chaotic. 【73】 Yuehuanshe: 【She helped you a lot?】【74】 Dazhenhan: 【Yes, she is also a psychic type, and can be considered a senior; speaking of which, the initial research into the mansion's demons was also a direction she first found.】【75】 Origin Energy psychic trainer……【76】 Aomo frowned and lifted his head, gazing into the dark, dense forest, suddenly feeling he should step forward again. 【77】 The temperature has gotten a bit low. 【78】 Yinhuanshe: 【I vaguely remember she was very enthusiastic toward you, although somewhat presumptuous, but please allow me to ask the reason for your distance from her.】【79】 Dazhenhan: 【Distant? I haven't been distant from her; she has always been a senior I greatly respect.】【80】 Yinhuanshe: 【Then in the year she passed away, how did you adjust your condition?】【81】 Dazhenhan: 【…Can you keep this matter confidential, Trainer Lindon?】【82】 Yinhuanshe: 【Of course, please speak.】【83】 Dazhenhan: 【She implanted a psychic suggestion in me, making me accustomed to her absence; only after the Triple Crown ended did I myself realize and break it.】【84】 「？」

Dazhenhan: "Yeah, back then I hadn't debuted yet, but Miss Dongzi really supported me and helped me a lot."

Dongzi Zhenzi… the relationship only went as far as using surname honorifics; she really didn't take up much of Miss Dazhenhan's heart, huh……

Thinking back to when she passed away, Dazhenhan's competition performance didn't fluctuate abnormally, and the public opinion at the time was also especially chaotic.

Yuehuanshe: "She helped you a lot?"

Dazhenhan: "Yes, she was also a spirit-type, and counts as a senior; speaking of which, when we first started researching the demons in the manor, she was the one who found the direction."

Source Energy Spirit System trainer……

Aomo frowned and lifted his head, gazing into the gloomy forest, suddenly feeling he should step forward again.

The temperature was a bit low.

Silver-ringed Snake: I vaguely recall she was very enthusiastic toward you; although it's a bit presumptuous, may I ask the reason for your aloofness toward her?

Dazhenhan: "Aloof? I haven't been aloof toward her; she's always been someone I greatly respect as a senior."

Silver-ringed Snake: "In the year she passed away, how did you adjust your condition?"

Dazhenhan: …Can you keep this matter confidential, Trainer Lindun?

Silver-ringed Snake: "Of course, please go ahead."

Dazhenhan: "She implanted a mental suggestion in me, making me get used to her absence; only after the Triple Crown ended did I myself discover and break it."

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