Chapter 181

Zhouri Ningjing was right about what he said earlier, and the dream marker wasn't mistaken either.

This is a training ground, also a research site, and moreover a product exhibition.

She and Li stood together on a small path; looking back they could see the two giant beasts fighting.

This is the 'product exhibition'.

"I'm starting to think maybe I shouldn't have pulled you just now."

She ought to give an impression of viciousness and delicacy, but the one bearing that name is a tall, imposing demon, making Li somewhat unaccustomed.

Pythons are snakes too, so let it be… Li didn't mind such discomfort, merely listening quietly as he continued.

Letting you directly experience the monster's power is also part of the sales pitch; moreover, as this place is a dream, you can easily revive, and the pain… they always have ways to compensate or deal with it.

"You sound quite familiar with their plan," Li said calmly, not looking at the battle of the two huge monsters.

He seemed indifferent to it, and Aomo felt his proactive contact was a good bet.

Having observed all along, he certainly knew this 'customer' was quite special, and now he could further confirm that this specialness would bring him gains.

Thus he hurriedly replied: "No no no."

"Just speculation, merely speculation, Mr. Li." He raised the back of his finger, an index finger layered with armor-like scales, whose fierce appearance made even a gesture seem threatening.

Aomo actually ought to be grateful that this is a dream, allowing the other to temporarily regain a flesh-and-blood body.

Otherwise, with that otherworldly tech-framework body, as long as Li showed conscious control, it would be as hard to fathom as Morrison on the screen.

Of course, given Morrison's normal performance, there's usually no need to observe pixel points.

And now he could even easily notice that, when he himself mentioned 'Mr. Li,' the other's poker‑like face still betrayed a hint of surprise via micro‑expressions.

Based on your status as a customer, also on the convenience of the dream world, and furthermore on the speculation that there are other buyers besides you—I guess you haven't received any manual service up there, right?

Li was gazed upon by the moonlight within the black flames; he should have felt displeased by this scrutiny‑like treatment, yet he was actually quite familiar with such a look.

He had been stared at like that all along, and his past also wasn't lacking in being gazed upon in that way.

Merely being scrutinized isn't much, and besides, the other probably even gave him directions.

"Robots, or like this one," the demon's fingertip pointed at the quiet phantom of the horse girl nearby, "are merely virtual images existing because of a recording function, capable of only basic reactions."

"Indeed," Li nodded, "I answered that I wanted to confirm the monster's ability."

"So you were just thrown down."

Watching Li nod, Aomo muttered helplessly, turning his head: "They're relying on there being no monster trade on the Terra market, so they think putting customers through trouble doesn't matter. But once you show a genuine purchase intent, someone should show up."

He said this, turning his head to look far off at the negative‑energy monster that had already left Branded Gomorrah scarred and wounded.

The unsold ones are mostly newer editions, quite strong, able to withstand a super shockwave head‑on and slap the opponent.

A slap with spiked gauntlets on the arm, when delivered, truly results in a broken head and blood flowing.

The flowing blood trailed along the terrain, covering a large stretch of land.

This was Aomo's first time viewing a monster bleed from this angle; at that size and height, the monster's splattered blood looked like rain.

It was quite impactful.

But the tester beside him wasn't really bothered.

"I have no intention of buying them," he said indifferently, "otherwise seeing a guy like you with unknown identity would have warranted a report."

"Oh?" Aomo turned his head, "You don't plan to buy, yet you went straight to the end; although I expected it, could your goal be the same as mine?"

"I've already said a lot, and you've guessed quite a bit," Li said, harboring some doubt but never asking; eventually, as the conversation went on, he spoke frankly, "Now it should be you stating your goal."

"Someone commissioned me to investigate this company's monster research," the demon said, seeming utterly frank.

Li guessed the basis for this frankness was likely because the distant monster battle was about to end.

After the product demonstration, a result is needed; if I disdain to drag things out with prevarication, this talk will end soon, and She's illegal intrusion will be discovered.

In observing and speculating, it certainly wasn't only Aomo; this is exactly why Li earlier mentioned the reason for reporting Aomo as an unidentified person.

Being unidentified actually directly points to illegal intrusion.

This tester, walking at the forefront of technology, also noticed some signs of the demon.

Although the latter hasn't bothered to conceal much since making a move.

Still, he found the other rather troublesome, because that face, like a visor, showed no discernible 'expression'.

Even his gaze could only be sensed; the white light point in the eye socket surrounded by black flames—is that his eye?

It's really hard to tell.

Only the black flames in his eyes fluctuate at times, as if that were his expression.

The phrase 'read words and observe colors' is essentially inapplicable to this self‑styled Snake demon.

But even if that reply isn't true, it's not far off; company staff wouldn't need to go through such trouble for phishing, yet they bring along a strange lackey…

Li glanced again at the horse girl clad entirely in black, even wrapped in some dark aura; though in this pose her shape was still discernible, he felt she looked somewhat familiar.

"She is a record provided by a friend," the demon suddenly said.

"... Sorry for the rudeness."

"It's fine; I can understand your curiosity, but I'm still waiting for your answer."

"Please rest assured, this dream scene has no scene‑rollback function; I have still done some homework."

Li, who likewise had done some homework, fell silent for a moment, then said: "On my side I also received a commission to investigate this company's monster trade."

"Buying and selling and research..." the demon mused over the subtle difference, then extended a claw that wouldn't hurt the other, saying, "I think we can cooperate, outside the dream."

"How about leaving a real‑world contact method?"

Yuehuanshe: 【Miss Dazhenhan, your and your friend's provided plan is quite effective, but progress needs to be discussed long‑term】

Dazhenhan: 【Ah, it's fine, but have 'I' been of help?】

Yuehuanshe: 【In the end you saved my life, thank you very much】

Dazhenhan: 【That permission record is standing by; if you happen to catch me when I'm around, I can also come along following the record to help】

Yuehuanshe: "Honestly, I really don't hope the situation will get that bad."

Dazhenhan: "Indeed, then I can only wish you success. By the way, my training officer wants to meet you today."

Yuehuanshe: "Because of yesterday's incident, I can understand."

Dazhenhan: "Hmm, then is Training Officer Lin Dun free?"

Yuehuanshe: "Can it be in the evening? I have to go out this afternoon."

Dazhenhan: "That works out well; actually, whenever my training officer is troubled, they go to a bar at night."

Yuehuanshe: "... Sounds tough, Miss Dazhenhan."

Dazhenhan: "No, it's Xiao Te and the others who have it rough; I rarely get a chance to clean up the mess."

Yuehuanshe: "..."

The next day, Aomo, who had turned back from the line, looked at Suzi as she brewed black tea, thinking about the data of Training Officer Xiqi Feng and the possible frantic expression during the special week.

I just feel a bit unsettled inside.

Why is it that in other teams, the horse girls look after the trainers, but here I'm the one looking after the horse girls?

In the afternoon I'll see Mr. Li, in the evening I'll see Xiqi Feng, and in the morning… morning…

"Alright, have a cup of black tea; it can effectively relieve a headache."

"?"

Aomo lowered his gaze to the black tea before him, whose color and aroma were perfectly fine.

Indeed, he isn't picky about drinks; he just has a particular fondness for black coffee, and he certainly holds no prejudice against black tea because of some unpleasant meme.

"Then what's the price?"

But since this came from Ailisuzhi, it might not be prejudice.

"You'll have to drink it to find out the cost." This person even wore an innocent, expectant look.

In the afternoon I'll see Mr. Li, in the evening I'll see Xiqi Feng.

In the morning I'll just ride the light.