Chapter 1831: NO.446: What are you grinding points for?

NO. 446: What are you grinding points for?

NO. 446 What are you grinding points for?

All in all, in a word, it's that nonsense once used to describe the beast king's call.

—Characters have their own lives.

This is also why he is willing to change, willing to spend effort on socializing that he previously avoided.

The complications of interpersonal relationships bring not only burden but also unquantifiable gains; although spiritual richness cannot be captured by data, what is being discussed here is the more material domain—information.

There are casual pointers, as well as quiet efforts of assistance.

Relying on the spirit-summoning tradition of mutual aid, and also on Qianming's ability, as her own, to conduct detective-style investigative reasoning, she finally locked onto this racetrack.

This racetrack, which has been haunted by rumors for two months.

"The gloom stems from resentment across data divides, and frequent network fluctuations could be suspected as digital beasts harassing the shallow network—well, that's what I say, but I have few net‑detective friends I can call on." Qianming said helplessly.

"There are plenty of cyber hackers, but they don't seem suited for this kind of risky investigation."

"How about hiring the Xiangyu siblings?" Suzi glanced at Aomo. "Isn't that the elite person Guinea Pig‑kun introduced?"

"You know they're also working with trainers, and never mind whether that would let trainers spot me early—they're really focused on the digital world over there~" Qianming waved her hand. "I've contacted them, but they all say they have more pressing matters."

"Even if we tried the hired‑at‑a‑premium route, they'd still refuse—so they really are just busy."

"Because they're the main force investigating conspiracies in the dark‑zone, leaving the more promising digital‑world investigation aside to come check your anomalies here would be difficult." Aomo explained.

Although everyone had been pulled into a chat room to view their own gains report, it doesn't mean that having the conditions for discussion guarantees knowing each other's situations.

What's more, the Xiangyu siblings speak very little in the chat room—meaning they reveal little information. Considering that Ya Mei is similar in extroversion to Qianming, Aomo had hoped these people would each open a side chat for private interaction.

But as things stand now, Ya Mei is truly busy.

"It's fine~" Qianming waved her hand carelessly.

"Anyway, knowledge of the dark zone is in the teaching materials; anything that can be fixed with a bit of expense isn't a problem."

"So how long did it take?" Aomo asked.

He stood before the screen with arms crossed, his right index finger tapping his left arm in a steady rhythm—appearing to be in thought, yet able to pose a sudden question after the other finished speaking, showing he was indeed listening.

"Um… five days?"

"From the initial investigation to now, it's been more than five days, right?" Suzi spoke for Aomo, though it's hard to say if their motives aligned—"Chazuo, what do you say?"

"..."

When the senior was pretending to be a big bad wolf, she was just a gentle little horse girl watching on; even being stared at by everyone didn't change her mind—only when the senior herself saw it did she loosen up: "All right, all right! It's eleven days."

"Ask clearly what help this could be for the investigation?"

"I just don't want you to pretend to be relaxed and carefree while you've clearly put in a lot of effort," Aomo looked at her. "Maintaining that outward image is necessary, but there's no need to wear that mask inside—doing so only creates mental divides and misjudgments."

"Conversely, I also don't think we should complacently accept others' efforts, even if they're offered in the name of friendship."

"Why be so rigid? Why not call it the trainer and horse girl relationship?" Qianming smiled, glancing at the other girls. "In my view this relation still carries a hint of hierarchy—it's just a coach and athlete under a different name."

"If we speak in terms of superior and subordinate, then concealing ability is even less allowable."

At this point, Aomo likewise glanced at the four girls: "Letting superiors know your ability range prevents overly high expectations from imposing overly high goals. This doesn't mean superiors have fully figured you out; it's just to avoid rushing growth, which should proceed step by step, not in a single leap."

Finally, he added: "Unless you took a shortcut."

Immediately, Qianming patted her on the back twice.

"Oh dear, you're over‑worrying, don't be so serious, the topic's gone off track! You really never miss a chance to educate others!"

Having heard all that, he didn't want to be seen as a dad‑like demon, so he shrugged: "The more eager one is to improve, the more one needs this cautious sense of danger—I've always felt the horse‑girl industry is at a stage of over‑intense competition."

"Every girl rushes to beat others and surpass herself, so much so that they often neglect mental adjustment and monitoring their own condition."

"Well… although that's not wrong…" Having seen three generations of juniors and endured that extreme obsessive phase, Qianming, speaking on behalf of those who heard this, felt it deeply in her heart and couldn't help but feel delighted at the thought that "trainers could realize this."

"But that's one thing, that's another." Just as Aomo earlier insisted she not hide her habits and must state the facts, Qianming also felt that Aomo's constant urge to educate horse‑girl trainers was rather extreme: "But who has the time to lecture people with big principles at a moment like this?"

"Um… isn't that okay?" Unexpectedly, the one who usually brushed things off with calm words actually listened this time, and spoke bluntly: "I think this also counts as an opportunity."

"No way, Guinea Pig‑kun—I'm taking that guy's side!" Suzi, who had just walked up to Qianming, pointed and said, "How can there be someone who just blurts out lectures like that!"

"Right." Aimu Zhiji also switched sides and walked to the other side of Qianming.

One key to getting along in the horse‑girl team is to distinguish right from wrong; whenever something would make trainers intensify their efforts, you must quickly help your teammates—don't give trainers a chance to feel good about themselves.

Especially now, the trainers are already quite sly!

Thus, suddenly, only Chazuo and Bofang remained beside Aomo.

"You two not coming over?" Suzi raised an eyebrow, looking at those two who have always been rather sly.

The good‑girl types hanging around Guinea Pig‑kun—don't you realize you'll just spoil him?

Is there spoiling?

As if spoiled.

Bofang shook his head, and Chazuo conveyed doubt with her expressive eyes.

"... Everyone, have we forgotten this is an investigation?"

"Um…"

This question might be too fatal.

For a moment, the three opposite and our trainers here all had their eyes flicker, while that witch beast, who had long watched this scene with a smirk, also sighed and said:

"Actually, just confirming that the digital world connected to this network is the Wall of Sighs is enough to establish a fact."

"It's regrettable that we can't keep seeing our partner's drama continue here, but the witch has been with the demon for a not‑short time; it's clear that meddling pointlessly is useless—better to cut cleanly and, in fact, earn some points in the other's eyes."

"This must be man‑made—who is using this system to add entry and exit points to the dark zone?"

(End of chapter)