Chapter 264: with translation of chapter title

No. 26: Shinjo himself is very worried!

Translation: "NO. 26: Xin Tiao himself is very worried!" Need to keep exclamation. Use colon after NO. 26? The source has "NO．26：" with fullwidth colon. We'll use "NO. 26:" (standard colon). Keep exclamation at end.

The conversation with Mr. Kai ended quickly.

Translation: "The conversation with Mr. Kai ended quickly."

Oumu's proposal was accepted, and thus his communication column gained the title "Red Kai".

Translation: "Aomo's proposal was adopted, so his communication column added another name, Hong Kai."

This is Mr. Kai's federal registration name, but, like Shinjarai, it is clearly a singular name, not a surname "Red" with given name "Kai".

Translation: "This is Mr. Kai's federal registration name, but obviously, like Xing Jialai, it belongs to a single name, not a surname Hong and given name Kai."

For long-lived races, this is always the case: a full name often becomes a burden, restricting their freedom.

Translation: "For long-lived races, it's always like this; a full name often becomes a burden, restricting their freedom."

Rather than the surname, it's the given name that bears all of their identity.

Translation: "Compared to the surname, it's the given name that carries everything for them."

Out of some unease about the topic of "darkness," Oumu did not seize the moment to invite them to his office.

Translation: "Out of some guilt about the topic of Hei'an, Aomo did not, taking advantage of the heat, invite the other party to come to his office as a guest."

After parting ways, he duly reclaimed the Garatron monster card, quickly verified that nothing had been altered, and then resumed talking about the Moon Stride Symbol.

Translation: "After saying goodbye, he duly reclaimed the Jialatelong monster card, simply confirmed that nothing had been done to it, and then chatted about the Moon Slack Symbol."

The main goal was to narrow the range of suspicion.

Translation: "The main goal was to narrow the scope of suspicion."

The Moon Stride Symbol is very likely either someone from the Return to Origin Hall chatroom or someone acting as their public representative.

Translation: "The Moon Slack Symbol is very likely someone in the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang chat room, or perhaps someone's public proxy."

Although the chatroom has only ten members, after excluding the well-known merchant and the involved party Lin ton, the remaining eight are seriously lacking information.

Translation: "Although the chat room members total only ten, removing the well-known merchant and the party involved Lindun, the remaining eight are severely lacking in information."

Including Shinjarai himself.

Translation: "Including Xing Jialai himself."

Oumu certainly would not abandon his suspicions after just one meeting and collaboration.

Translation: "Aomo naturally would not let go of suspicion just because of one meeting and cooperation."

After all, nobody really knows the full background, do they?

Translation: "After all, nobody has ever really known the ins and outs, right?"

But we still need to analyze what ought to be analyzed.

Translation: "Nevertheless, what should be analyzed still needs to be analyzed."

Assuming first that this incident was not orchestrated by Shinjarai himself, we narrow the scope to those few group members who indeed had conflict and hostility toward him—but that yielded nothing.

Translation: "First, assuming this incident was not arranged by Xing Jialai himself, from those few group members who indeed had conflict and hostility with him, we define the scope—but then again, there was no result."

"You really don't even know who you've offended?" Oumu thought this was inappropriate for a business dragon, especially one that's not young.

Translation: "\"You really don't know who you've offended? \" Aomo felt that this was not appropriate for a business dragon, nor for a young dragon."

But Shinjarai's demeanor didn't seem fake: "I usually don't even chat with them much, so how could I have offended anyone?"

Translation: "But Xing Jialai's manner of speaking also didn't seem feigned: \"I usually don't get involved in their chats, so how could I have offended anyone? \""

"Offending someone offline is about the same, and then it just so happens that the other party knows my identity."

Translation: "\"Offending someone offline is about the same, and then the other party just happens to be someone else who knows my identity. \""

This led Oumu to sigh: "Forget it, I'll go ask the merchant if he knows the Moon Stride Symbol; he surely has a motive, right?"

Translation: "This made Aomo sigh: \"Forget it, I'll go ask the merchant if he knows the Moon Slack Symbol; I suppose he also has a motive, right? \""

"It's not that easy," Shinjarai replied with a wry laugh.

Translation: "\"It's not that easy, \" Xing Jialai said with a wry smile."

The merchant is the culprit, etc.; although he told Oumu a past incident—namely, that he had previously approached the merchant seeking research on Garatron, only to be refused.

Translation: "The merchant is the culprit, so to speak; although he told Aomo a past story, a story in which he had indeed previously sought the merchant for research on Jialatelong, but was refused."

But that wasn't meant to suggest the merchant is also a suspect; it was merely a reminder.

Translation: "But that intention was not to indicate that the merchant also had suspicion; rather, it was a reminder."

The merchant does not allow rentals, so Shinjarai must purchase; although he could afford the price, his card requirements are always for giant beasts similar to himself.

Translation: "The merchant does not allow rentals, so Xing Jialai could only buy; although he could certainly afford the price, Xing Jialai's requirements for the card are always for giant beasts similar to himself."

That's why he refused.

Translation: "That is why he refused."

It need not be a dragon, but at least it must be in a fantasy art style, lest it cause spiritual imbalance.

Translation: "It doesn't have to be a dragon, but at least it must be of a fantasy art style, so as not to cause mental imbalance."

By using a dragon's spirit to withstand the dark emotions of other giant beasts, he had exactly this in mind when he applied the secret key to himself.

Translation: "Using a giant dragon's spirit to resist the dark emotions of other giant beasts, he indeed had this consideration in mind when using the secret key on himself."

Rather than using one's own spirit to counter the external emotions of the monster cards, it is better to overlay one's monster-card-formed self with the other monster cards to dilute them.

Translation: "Rather than using one's own spirit to resist the foreign emotions of monster cards, it's better to overlay the self-as-monster-card with other monster cards to dilute."

Whether it's remote control, specific monster types, or stacking one's own drawn cards—these are all methods devised after pondering how to cope with the negative emotions inherent in the monster cards themselves.

Translation: "Whether it's remote control, specific monster types, or stacking one's own drawn cards—these are all methods people devised after pondering how to deal with the negative emotions inherent in monster cards themselves."

Thus, upon learning that Oumu had not considered any of this at all—and even collected cards of any monster type indiscriminately—he was greatly shocked.

Translation: "So when hearing that Aomo had not considered any of these at all, and even collected and used monster cards of any type for his card collection—he was greatly shocked."

At this point, he vaguely recalled that when he had browsed the Return to Origin Hall chat logs, he seemed to have seen someone mention Oumu. Lin ton's compatibility... is that correct?

Translation: "By then, he vaguely recalled that when he had browsed the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang chat logs, he seemed to have seen someone mention Aomo Lindun's compatibility…… Is that so?"

But that was a mistaken thought.

Translation: "That was a mistaken thought."

The person who brought up compatibility had only seen Oumu in his Thunder Slayer form and didn't realize how complex Oumu's card box was—at that time it wasn't complex either, only becoming somewhat diverse after acquiring stock from the merchant.

Translation: "The person who mentioned compatibility had only seen Aomo in the form of a Thunder Slayer, and didn't know how complex Aomo's card box was—at that time it wasn't complex either, only after 'purchasing' goods from the merchant did it become somewhat rich."

A novel app that has been running stably for years, a source-switching app that even the old version of Chase Worms uses, huanyuanapp.

Translation: "【A novel app that has run stably for many years, comparable to the old version of Chase Worms that everyone uses, a source-switching app, huanyuanapp.】"

Nowadays, Oumu's card classification has indeed begun to show some diversity; although he also pays some attention to Shinjarai's hints, he is currently more focused on the case itself.

Translation: "But now, the card categories of Aomo indeed have begun to show some diversity; although he also paid some attention to Xing Jialai's hints, at this moment he is clearly more focused on the case itself."

"I have to ask anyway," he said. "Although it's about your incident, I can't expect them to completely ignore my wrongdoing."

Translation: "\"In any case, I have to ask, \" he said, \"although it's about your incident, I can't expect the other party to completely ignore my wrongdoing. \""

"Then thank you," Shinjarai nodded, then suddenly recalled something and asked, "I remember Mr. Lin ton being a trainer?"

Translation: "\"Then it's trouble, \" Xing Jialai nodded, then suddenly recalled something and asked, \"I remember Mr. Lindun is a trainer? \""

"The Moon Stride Symbol is at least a member of the Symbol family."

Translation: "\"The Moon Slack Symbol is at least a member of the Symbol family. \""

"Yes, but the Symbol family's authority is held by the Speed Symbol, that old lady, right?" Oumu remained calm, "And as the cultivated heir of the household, Rudolf Symbol Miss, she can be considered upright and proper."

Translation: "\"Yes, but the one who holds power in the Symbol family is that old lady of the Speed Symbol, \" Aomo said calmly, \"and as the Miss Ludaofu Xiangzheng being cultivated as the next head of the family, she can be considered upright and unbiased. \""

"Then I can rest easy," Shinjarai, who seemed genuinely concerned for Oumu, said, handing over his business card, "but if you encounter any problems, you can also contact me directly."

Translation: "\"Then I can rest easy, \" said Xing Jialai, who genuinely seemed concerned for Aomo, as he handed over his business card, \"but if you encounter any problems, you can also contact me directly. \""

"This is a private number."

Translation: "\"This is a private number. \""

"... Then I won't refuse."

Translation: "\"…Then I won't refuse. \""

Ten minutes later, on the Jiemen District ring expressway.

Translation: "Ten minutes later, Jiemen Qu Ring City Expressway."

The flamboyantly styled motorcycle was alongside a Benz; the helmeted motorcycle rider looked extremely calm, but the passenger behind him was rather noisy.

Translation: "The flamboyantly styled motorcycle was at a Mercedes-Benz; the helmet-wearing motorcycle driver looked extremely calm, but the passenger behind him was rather noisy."

From the outset, he kept going on and on about the motorcycle's design, basically like a vodka.

Translation: "From the start, he kept chattering about the motorcycle's design, simply like a vodka."

Since he had waited for Oumu for quite a while, Oumu patiently refrained from kicking him out of the car.

Translation: "Since he had indeed waited for him for quite a while, Aomo patiently refrained from throwing him off the car."

Afterward, the passenger kept asking endlessly about the dialogue between the driver and the dragon manager, and then seemed like a particular Zhou.

Translation: "After that, the passenger kept asking curiously about the conversation between the driver and the giant dragon manager, and then seemed like a special Zhou."

Considering the other party was also involved in the incident, even the police had disclosed much information to them, so the driver answered without much concealment.

Translation: "Considering the other party is likewise involved in the incident, even the police had disclosed much information to them, so the driver also answered without hiding much."

Thus, the first passenger of the Beta motorcycle—since he lacked a helmet for wind protection, he directly wielded his staff to give himself a wind‑proof magic spell, an alien infant—then asked:

Translation: "Thus the first passenger of the Beta motorcycle—since he lacked a helmet for wind protection, he directly picked up his magic staff and gave himself a wind‑proof magic enchantment, an alien juvenile, and asked again:"

"So you directly went to get that manager's private contact information?"

Translation: "\"So you directly went to get that manager's private contact information? \""

"You all know him?" Oumu was somewhat surprised.

Translation: "\"You know him? \" Aomo was somewhat surprised."

"Who at the exhibition doesn't know Manager Shinjarai?" Bi Ze said, "He has made significant achievements in innovating the magical essence conversion device of the mage's staff, and my senior in the club highly regards him."

Translation: "\"Who at the exhibition doesn't know Manager Xing Jialai? \" Bi Ze said, \"He has made significant contributions to the innovation of the magic element conversion device on the Magic Staff, and my senior in the club highly regards him. \""

"So that's what the club senior said."

Translation: "\"So it was the club senior who said that. \""

"Don't worry about these details; are you going to keep investigating the Moon Stride Symbol? I think he might be mingling with the underworld in a foreign land."

Translation: "\"Don't worry about such details; do you want to continue investigating the Moon Slack Symbol? I think he might be involved in black-market activities in a foreign land. \""

"You still know about this?" Oumu was surprised again.

Translation: "\"You also know this? \" Aomo was surprised again."

There's a feeling of seeing someone anew after three days apart.

Translation: "There's a feeling of having been apart for three days and now being looked at anew."

The other party, wielding his staff and opening a shield, didn't give him such surprise.

Translation: "The other party, brandishing his magic staff and opening a shield, didn't give him such surprise."

"I looked it up while waiting for you at the door," Bi Ze said, reaching back to hand over his phone.

Translation: "\"I just checked while waiting for you at the door. \" Bi Ze said, reaching out from behind to hand over his phone."

Oumu, who observes traffic safety, didn't even look, and coldly said, "Just put your hand back and send me the screenshot."

Translation: "Aomo, who was observing traffic safety, didn't even look, and coldly greeted: \"Just put your hand back and send me the screenshot. \""

Although the other party's performance at the venue was already brave enough, there's no need to be that brave on the highway either.

"Sure," Bi Ze said, pulling his hand back and making a simple move, "Sent. Can you see it?"

Aomo didn't answer right away, just glanced sideways at the image that lit up on the screen beside him.

It turned out to be a screenshot of the first page after searching for "Moon Slack Symbol": the first row was a public figure wiki, the second row a company profile, and the third, fourth, and fifth rows were discussions mixed with ads, which directly mentioned the word "underworld".

"That's it?"

Aomo felt a bit disappointed, having thought Bi Ze had suddenly become a hotshot information operative, but it turned out the Moon Slack Symbol's underworld exploits were blatant—no need to dig deep to know.

"Has the change been that big? This guy used to be pretty low‑key……"

Aomo still remembered using web‑scraping software in his early years to pull public news about the Symbol family; the name Moon Slack Symbol had shown up many times, but any news about the underworld was still just pieced together from fragments.

In the past four years, he's become blatant, going from a legit company boss to this—basically a state where he needs to avoid most public eyes.

"Life's downhill slide is pretty obvious."

"Is that a downhill slide? I think it's pretty cool—wearing a black windbreaker feels a bit like a big boss," the guy holding his phone commented.

"Pretty good, still feeling that a gang boss is cool at heart."

"How do you feel I'm mocking you?"

"How come? I was still hoping you'd send me resources." Aomo silently steered toward the ramp onto the inner road.

The goal was first to get the guy in the back seat home.

Everyone originally lived in the residential area near Limen Middle School, and Aomo also knew where his house was.

"Speaking of resources, what did Red Kai say to you again?"

Here we go again—curious about everything……

Aomo felt somewhat helpless, but he couldn't very well say he had nothing to say; after all, in the realm of unknown special‑ops fields, Bi Ze truly possessed an extraordinary information edge.

"Let me think…… you can use monster cards and monster powers, and your online handle is indeed Yuehuanshe, right? Yuehuan…… ah, the demon‑person transformation also indeed has moon‑shaped scar patterns, and back then you were holding a katana—uh, can I stand on Red Kai Big Bro's side now?"

In the forest of steel and concrete, things are always complex and changeable.

Stretches involving old‑city‑area labels only show the chaotic fragmentation caused by early urban‑planning mistakes, but fortunately Aomo knows this area far better than Bi Ze, so he doesn't have to circle like Bi Ze's takeout drone, which is delayed over half an hour after every order.

But his mood remained as tangled as being lost, because the guy sitting behind him kept making sarcastic remarks.

"Now isn't the time for you to Q. E. D," he sighed, "and Mr. Kai later said I'm not like that either."

"That's true—you haven't gone crazy training knives to get dark circles or chop buildings," Bi Ze's stance wavered, "your horse‑betting skill far exceeds your obsession with darkness."

"I think you shouldn't be taking Jia Gu La's spot; you're taking Akagi Shigeru's spot."

Aomo fell silent for a moment, the weary sigh beneath his helmet again feeble:

"I don't play mahjong."

"That's Conan, I still remember you saying you saw Officer Megure in Heaven's Gate City but didn't see Conan."

"Others just came and went." As traffic grew heavier and Aomo slowed, he could even lift a hand to steady his helmet.

"Heaven's Gate City's cases don't even need a detective to solve them."

"Where would you need a detective? Only unsolvable cases need one, and in an age of public law you don't need heroes either."

Heaven's Gate City, because it's blowing up every few days, actually speeds up the arms race; there, the methods and speed of cracking cases differ vastly from most earthly districts.

Even a nano‑monitor like his mother's lingering airborne return line had been considered for use there, and although it was soon announced as dismantled, that alone shows the place doesn't really need detectives.

"Well, that's that." Bi Ze, whose head is basically just two‑dimensional anime, racked his brains but couldn't think of another suitable candidate.

At least before he could blurt out anything about Kindaichi, Aomo had already dropped him off at the residential gate.

"Speaking of which, you haven't been back here in a while, have you?"

Bi Ze, upon getting out of the car, suddenly asked, making Aomo blink.

"Indeed not lately—I've been staying at the office."

"Tsk tsk, living with a beautiful girl is awesome—no one wants to go back home."

"……"

Seeing his head‑shake and sigh, Aomo, who had first thought he'd say something about home advice, could only stay silent to mourn his own thoughts from two seconds ago.

Facing Aomo's silence, Bi Ze's expression shifted: "You guys couldn't really have something happen, could you?"

"I think something's up with your cerebrum and cerebellum," Aomo sighed again, remounted the motorcycle's handlebars, and said, "I'm heading back."

"Hold on," Bi Ze hurriedly called out, "next time I come to your office to have a look, you won't mind, will you?"

Maybe he should be looked down on a bit… considering how this guy acts in front of genuine sharpies, Aomo thinks he shouldn't let him embarrass himself in front of Suzi, Bourbon, and Chazuo.

As for Shinjo…… Shinjo probably doesn't need worrying about, right?

Shinjo just holes up in her room playing games or sculpting monster models, and the various figurines in her room can scare off plenty of people.

While he was thinking, Bi Ze's side was still shouting loudly:

"If you look down on me, I'll just team up with David to find you!"

"David, who only gets thought of at times like this, should also look down on you."