Chapter 1726: with translation of chapter title

NO. 340: The Complex Adult World

Although Kodala is a legendary monster created by the will of Earth, combining the images of various marine creatures, and bears the mission of purifying the Earth's environment.

But the substance of the 'purification' it is responsible for is destruction.

It is a monster born to destroy civilization, so its abilities are all for death.

Such a creature naturally possesses the ability to alter the environment, especially the marine environment, but the concrete manifestation of that ability is producing a red algae that exists in the gill parts, directly destroying the oxygen contained in the water.

That red algae also has an extraordinary reproductive capacity, able to cover Australia's coastal regions within weeks and infiltrate polluted groundwater systems; its ultimate achievement, naturally, is to spread throughout the oceans and even inland rivers as thoroughly as it once did to ancient civilizations.

It can be called an indiscriminate AOE-style civilizational cleansing that would kill most of the world's living beings.

Thus, with its ability to go ashore and conduct precise strikes on its own, it is truly unstoppable unless Ultraman intervenes.

Yet this biological weapon, more brutal and terrifying than a green-skinned fatty, becomes what in the mouth of this bureau official?

Does the recent environment of the deep-sea zone need Kodala to maintain it?

The puppet Aomo had not yet reacted, but the little Aomo operating the puppet was the first to clam up, instinctively raising his hand to cover his mouth, letting the true spirit that was scrutinizing him first lift his index finger.

"Eh? Brother suddenly smirked! Aizhi sis, did you see that?"

"... A smirk?" Aimu Zhiji exclaimed, turning her head.

She had been gazing at the newly arrived Xintiaoxi, who was being held up by the badger and Qielelina to tread water at the seaside, wondering whether she should also go give guidance, while she and her sister were brainstorming; at the sound of those words, they instantly agreed.

"Master?"

"What what? Is the trainer hiding some fun?"

Simply sitting beside Little Aomo, but Qianming, who was playing on his phone to the left and right of Meipu Bo, leaned down to look, meeting Little Aomo's dissatisfied gaze as he lifted his head.

What do you mean I'm hiding fun? And what does my fun have to do with you? Sigh, you woman down there...

That's how it is.

A ten-year-old who just got into Umastagram has bold thoughts in his heart, but if you add four to his age he wouldn't dare utter even half a syllable.

But you can also see from his having only thoughts in his heart and saying nothing aloud that his bravado is only internal, and in reality he still does not want to ruin the current interpersonal situation.

Especially since those two unrelated sisters suddenly became so close, it's plain to see they are uniting against outsiders, and at this point that 'outsider' probably even includes oneself.

So don't give others ammunition or expose weaknesses; just as his face now shows no trace of a happy arc, he tries to restore his usual calm and aloof persona, after all he has already slipped up several times before.

First it was getting along with this group of horse girls and his girlfriend, then the ear-covering Kodala, and now...

How could this development happen?

He had said before that he would first accumulate contacts, using them when needed; now he takes one of those contacts to get in touch with himself, having the witch beast covertly monitor the data located at the monster ranch.

He sent out inquiry letters containing talent recommendations.

——At this point, it should have been the front desk/administrative supervisor, or even a dedicated etiquette team, accompanying the visit and providing explanations.

But what he waited for was a managing official from the Central Department Bureau.

This is quite abnormal.

Really abnormal!

Because he appeared alone.

Someone of his position suddenly taking over others' work ought to have stirred more staff in the department, especially since his appearance would likely also involve the ranch's true person-in-charge.

But the result was just him alone.

This itself is a message: someone's work has been taken over, but at the same time the information has been blocked.

In other words: this is someone who came prepared, specifically to deal with me.

You can almost be certain he is here to guard against you raising an army to question him, and also to prevent you from uncovering information; thus you decide to respond to their formation.

You prepare to respond with full seriousness, while at the same time having your counterpoints ready in mind and standing by to unleash full computational power to analyze every word they say...

Upon entering, you see a pretentious monster covering its ears.

You laugh in exasperation.

It's exactly like entering the Belial Galactic Empire's giant claw mothership core with twelve parts of vigilance, only to see a baby dragon with a Belial head sitting on the throne—aside from laughing in exasperation, there's nothing else to think.

Of course, if it really were a baby dragon with a Belial head, that would indeed overturn all original assumptions, but the ear-covering Kodala initially gave Little Aomo a feeling that still had some disguise to it.

It's like a set of nested suspicions opening, making you instinctively wonder if this is a deliberately set trap, prompting you to consider perhaps increasing your intensity a bit and adding two more steps of preparation in your counterpoints.

He indeed did that.

Although he has the personality and body of a ten-year-old child, he possesses all the monster resources and will of the twenty-year-old Aomo Lindun.

That is enough.

The results of will-driven capability are sufficient to recreate Aomo Lindun's yesterday; he also remains vigilant of possible situations and scene changes, even reminding the witch beast not to lose footing while focused.

Thus, after a demon and a demon-type digital beast stood ready against a formidable foe for several minutes—

The former couldn't hold back his laughter again.

Your initial hesitation was somewhat lacking, but your next-second calm and composed response made up for it.

When I had already finished sighing over the witch beast's conclusion, you indeed had the qualities a professional negotiator should have...

But your layman's remarks then destroyed all the previous impressions.

What the hell! You came specially to deal with your self-proclaimed professionals, yet you didn't even get firsthand data on the monsters under your command?! You're not going to say you lacked sufficient trust with your partners, causing you to slip up right here, are you?

Or perhaps...

This is still a feigned weakness trap?

Little Aomo never hesitates to view developments through a grim worldly lens, and the memory bank of the twenty-year-old Aomo Lindun further supplies factual basis for this attitude; yet this vigilance itself does not hinder him from making a decision and stepping forward, after all whether it's a genuine fool or a straight-hook fisherman, there is always a plan to handle first and then respond.

The difference is merely that the latter can split into two routes—'passively dealing, not taking the hook and acting from the outside' versus 'actively confronting, taking the hook then setting a trap to turn the tables'—and he, who never misses an opportunity, will take only one of them.

So.

"It's time to come clean with the truth, Official."

He spoke frankly, cut off half a second of recording, and opened the next round.

How did you contact another action team, and how did you forge IDs to pose as their staff, and even now you're still putting on an act with their monster cards?

How much money did they give you, or do you just believe they can create for you a value equal to the risk?

He asked step by step, the puppet drew near step by step, and his words pressed ever tighter.

The other merely glanced away and retreated half a step, then lunged to grab a nonexistent remote button!

——!

Accompanied by a sharp buzz, the dark-red alarm instantly spread along the top of the entire deep-sea corridor; the buzzing continued, and the other party, putting on a self-righteous air, shouted:

What nonsense are you spouting! The scoundrel coveting our ranch's assets is actually that director's recommended talent! You ought to feel ashamed!! Can you live up to the hopes they've placed in you?

Huh? A device for distorting surveillance, and even for distorting retroactive timing?

If unprepared, little Aomo might have wondered why this person suddenly spouted gibberish, but sadly, this reaction was already within his initial expectations.

But that's the most boring kind.

Unbelievable—could all this not be a trap?

What other tricks do you have? Shouldn't you bring them out now!

【Witch Beast! Upload that content straight into their network; the Digital Soul is yours—force a full broadcast】

Received~

Whose voice?

The official, glancing around instinctively, saw only that the puppet before him instantly took on the form of a Mefilas alien, its outstretched hand splitting open to reveal five fingers reversed left‑right.

It's the voice that will end your future, Sir Official.

Perhaps you've been abandoned by them, or perhaps you still have a slim chance to save yourself—can you make a rational choice?

... I… I hear your nonsense! Kodara, Geplasi, attack!!

Ha…

Perhaps we should make the threat more explicit.

In an instant, distant waves surged; the wailing beach alarm, little Aomo, stood where he was, feeling a bit regretful.

One shouldn't notify the Witch Beast via network channels, but should speak directly so the other hears; if so, given the other's cleverness, perhaps this trouble could be avoided.