Chapter 269: with translation of chapter title

NO. 31: Or perhaps the gospel

Translation: "NO. 31: Or perhaps the gospel". The Chinese: "NO. 31: Or perhaps the gospel". "Or perhaps the gospel" could be "Or maybe the gospel". We'll translate as "NO. 31: Or perhaps the gospel". Keep the "NO. 31:" as is? The Chinese includes a full-width period? We'll output "NO. 31: Or perhaps the gospel". Keep the number and colon.

Numbers two and three have both lost contact; you might be able to clear up my doubts, merchant.

Translation: "\"Number Two and Number Three have both lost contact; you might be able to clear up my doubts, merchant. \"" Keep quotes? The Chinese uses 「」 which are quotation marks. We'll keep English double quotes. So: "\"Number Two and Number Three have both lost contact; you might be able to clear up my doubts, merchant. \""

The Eastern District of Jiemen, the Blessed Gospel Group.

Translation: "Boundary Gate East District, Divine Blessing Gospel Team."

It gathers a large religious building that houses all believers, righteous people, and apostles from this world and other worlds; it also serves as a relief center and law enforcement outpost, and is recognized by the federal government.

Translation: "It gathers a large religious building of all believers, righteous people, and apostles from this world and other worlds, also serving as a relief center and law enforcement function, recognized by the federal government."

Check: It gathers a large religious building of all believers, righteous people, and apostles from this world and other worlds; at the same time it also serves as a relief center and law enforcement function; recognized by the federal government.

When needed, it can muster the vigor of the Holy Crusade, gathering angels, knights, priests, nuns and other members into a force to strike hard.

Translation: "When needed, it can mobilize with the momentum of the 'Holy Crusade', forming a force of angels, knights, priests, and nuns to strike hard."

Note: 'Holy Crusade' we translate as Holy Crusade. Keep quotes? We'll use single quotes.

When there's nothing going on, this place is pretty much like a church.

Translation: "When there's nothing going on, this place is just like a church."

We welcome any believer to come for worship, confession, prayer, to chat with priests, nuns, and some angels, and we also offer services such as appointment baptisms, purification, and door-to-door demon expulsion.

Translation: "We welcome any believer to come for worship, confession, prayer, to chat with priests, nuns, and some angels, and also offer services such as baptism, purification, and demon‑subduing house calls."

During Christmas, one can also come to receive communion and snag an apple, since it's in the Jiemen district; even during Lunar New Year, they give congregants washbasins, rice, instant noodles, and such.

Translation: "At Christmas one can also come to receive communion and snag an apple, since it's in Boundary Gate Area, and even during Lunar New Year they give congregants washbasins, rice, instant noodles, and the like."

Very friendly, very down-to-earth.

Translation: "Very friendly, very down‑to‑earth."

So this place is always bustling with people.

Translation: "So this place is always bustling with people."

Even if many expressionless angels come and go, float around, it doesn't prevent a large number of believers from residing here.

Translation: "Even if many expressionless angels come and go, float here and there, it in no way prevents a large number of believers from residing here."

Even if you have nothing to do, you can come here to chat with handsome priests and beautiful nuns, and meanwhile enjoy the excellent Wi-Fi blessed by tech angels and mechanical priests.

Translation: "Even if you have nothing to do, you can come here to chat with handsome priests and beautiful nuns, and incidentally enjoy the excellent Wi‑Fi boosted by tech angels and mechanical priests."

Wi-Fi that can be connected by over a thousand people at once without lagging while watching videos—how awesome!

Translation: "Wi‑Fi that over a thousand people can connect to without lagging while watching videos—how awesome!"

One can also join the faith to sign up for such awesome network lines; recently the Blessed Gospel Group has newly opened a function to build a business hall.

Translation: "Want to sign up for such awesome internet lines? You can also join the sect; recently the Divine Blessing Gospel Team has added a business hall construction feature."

However, the two humans and elves occupying a corner of the lounge are obviously not here to apply for divine broadband.

Translation: "However, the two humans and elves occupying a corner of the lounge are clearly not here to set up divine broadband."

The distant electronic warfare uses omnipotent angels and mechanical priests, paying no heed here; the mechanical sage who pulls an AI-controlled mechanical type-A hand also walks past the two of them while chatting.

Translation: "The distant electronic warfare uses omnipotent angels and mechanical priests, paying no heed here, and the mechanical sage who pulls an AI‑managed mechanical type‑A hand also walks past the two while chatting."

In the lounge, there are many such people: they have no business to attend to, simply come to sit, and treat the Blessed Gospel Group as a teahouse.

Translation: "In the lounge, there are plenty of such pairs: they have no business to attend to, simply come to sit, and treat the Divine Blessing Gospel Team as a tea house."

This place also indeed offers beverage and snack sales—a business added three years ago, stemming from the Blessed Gospel Group taking in a group of transmigrant angels who call themselves 'Sakota'.

Translation: "This place indeed offers drink and snack sales—this service was added three years ago, stemming from the Divine Blessing Gospel Team taking in a group of transmigrator angels who call themselves the 'Sakota'."

Just as people tend to seek their own kind, so do believers; the current scale of the Blessed Gospel Group results from integrating large numbers of otherworldly believers into the foundation of the native religion.

Translation: "Just as people always seek their own kind, so too among believers; the current scale of the Divine Blessing Gospel Team results from integrating large numbers of otherworld believers into the foundation of the native religion."

Although everyone's doctrines differ somewhat, there are also many more similar and shared aspects; relying on this common ground, as well as the intervention and coordination of the Terra Federation, the vast majority of these transmigrants have integrated into this group that we tentatively let them feel familiar with.

Translation: "Although their doctrines differ somewhat, they share many more similarities and common points; relying on this agreement, and with the Terra Federation's mediation, the vast majority of these transmigrants have integrated into this group that at least feels familiar to them."

Thus we now have the Blessed Gospel Group with its diverse functions.

Translation: "Thus the present Divine Blessing Gospel Team has become functionally diverse."

Moreover, there are believers who come here whether they have business or not, living incredibly fulfilling lives.

Translation: "Moreover, there are believers who come here whether they have business or not, living exceptionally fulfilling lives."

Month's Pace Symbol is just a believer, but his life isn't very fulfilling, and he also doesn't often come here.

Translation: "Moon Slack Symbol is a believer, but his life isn't very fulfilling, and he doesn't often come here."

But what about that?

Translation: "But what of it?"

The priests and nuns here don't really care whether believers come often; the 'angels' are even less inclined to bother with these seemingly ordinary 'mortals'; anyway, this place is always lively.

Translation: "The priests and nuns here don't much care whether believers come often, and the 'angels' hardly bother with these seemingly ordinary 'mortals'; anyway, this place is always lively."

Only investigators would find the two suspicious, but at this moment, such investigators have not yet been dispatched.

Translation: "Only investigators would find the two suspicious, but at this moment no such officers have received orders to be deployed."

"Otherwise I won't be seeing you for the next few days,

Translation: "\"Otherwise I wouldn't meet you again these days, after all the West District police bureau is far more troublesome than the East District police headquarters. \" Moon Slack Symbol said coldly."

The gap between the West District and the East District is undoubtedly the difference between vibrant vitality and a stagnant pool.

Translation: "The gap between West District and East District is undoubtedly the difference between vibrant vitality and a stagnant pool."

Every year, countless people join the law enforcement ranks, but most of them are merely scraping by, occupying positions without merit.

Translation: "Every year countless people join the law‑enforcement ranks, but most of them are merely scraping by, occupying positions without merit."

And those who have the ability and talent to rise higher often have their brains worn down—or their positions stripped—in that grindstone-like police bureau.

Translation: "Yet those with talent and ability who strive to rise higher often end up grinding away their intellect—or their posts—in that grind‑like police bureau."

When they first start their careers, they always harbor dreams, but pursuing those dreams first requires fighting reality, oneself, and even more so the environment.

Translation: "At the start of their careers they all harbor dreams, but pursuing dreams first means confronting reality, oneself, and the environment."

On this basis, the West District police bureau and the East District police headquarters directly manifest the environmental difference.

Translation: "On this basis, the West District police bureau and the East District police headquarters directly manifest the environmental difference."

Together with the Symbolic family head, and also with Central Tresen located in the West District police bureau, it is a surging flow where dreams still churn, and it can even breed madmen who break free from inherent law and dare to establish laws that uphold themselves.

Translation: "Together with the Symbol Family Main House, and with Central Teresen also located in the West District police bureau, this is a surging stream where dreams still churn, capable even of breeding madmen who break free of 'inherent law' and dare to devise laws protecting themselves."

Such people can hardly be called law enforcers anymore, and it's only natural that they are often suspended.

Translation: "Such folks can hardly be called law enforcers anymore, and they naturally often get suspended."

But after being suspended, they only act even more arrogantly.

Translation: "But after being suspended, they only act even more arrogantly."

For Moon Stride Symbol, such people are also the most troublesome—truly like a sticky shoe stain even thicker than a rich honey special drink, something he completely wants to avoid.

Translation: "To Moon Slack Symbol, such people are also the most troublesome—truly stickier than thick, rich honey‑drink, completely unwanted to face."

Right now he has seen news of the exhibition capturing two criminals; the report describes the mages' strength, but this only makes him frown and adopt a doubtful attitude.

Translation: "Right now he has seen news of the exhibition capturing two criminals, reports describing mages' great power, but this only makes him frown and adopt a doubtful attitude."

Perhaps he should wait a bit longer, he thought at that time.

Translation: "Perhaps he thought he should wait a bit longer."

Waiting would let him see reports from other small tabloids, unlike large newspapers that may be filtered and controlled; small tabloid reports, though often baseless rumors, can often sift out nuggets of truth.

Translation: "Waiting would let him see other small‑press reports, unlike the possibly censored big‑press outlets; small‑press reports may be mostly rumor, but they often sift out nuggets of truth."

And at such a time, the merchant's self-proclaimed information-providing cooperative contact comes across as extremely suspicious.

Translation: "And at such a time, the merchant's self‑styled information‑offering contact comes across as highly suspicious."

But taking advantage of the police headquarters' slow progress, meeting this guy before an investigation is no problem; after all, facing a possible investigation, he is not entirely unprepared.

Translation: "But taking advantage of the police headquarters' slow progress, meeting this fellow before an investigation is no problem, after all he's not unprepared for possible scrutiny."

"Doubts? It's a simple principle: if you want to hinder the development of that Magic Dragon guy, two subordinates carrying monster cards are naturally enough, but you obviously haven't considered what kind of people are there."

Translation: "\"Doubts? It's simple: you want to hinder the development of that Magic Dragon fellow, so two subordinates carrying monster cards would suffice, but you obviously haven't considered who exactly are there. \""

"If you also want to talk about those mages, then I don't want to waste time here."

Translation: "\"If you also want to talk about those mages, then I don't want to waste time here. \""

"No, of course not," the elf smiled and shook his head, "Haven't you been looking at the Return to Origin Hall's app too little? Clearly, the Magic Dragon guy invited Linton in front of everyone; the detailed discussion just moved to private."

Translation: "\"No, of course not, \" the elf smiled and shook her head, \"haven't you been checking the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang app enough? Clearly that Magic Dragon fellow invited Lindon in front of everyone, only moving the detailed talk to private. \""

The man sitting opposite him silently fiddled with a light screen invisible to others, then raised his head and asked: "... I heard that Linton and the people from Rhodes Island defeated you?"

Translation: "The man sitting opposite him silently fiddled with a light screen no one else could see, then raised his head and asked: "…I heard Lindon and the people of Rhodes Island defeated you?""

"The news is correct," the merchant shrugged helplessly, appearing rather nonchalant, "I really want to recover my property, but that precondition still requires your cooperation."

Translation: "\"The news is correct, \" the merchant shrugged helplessly, appearing rather carefree, \"I'd love to recover my property, but that presupposes your cooperation. \""

Moon Stride Symbol didn't continue the topic, but suddenly said: "Omer Linton, he's a trainer."

Translation: "Moon Slack Symbol didn't continue the topic, but suddenly said: \"Aomo Lindun, he's a trainer. \""

"Central trainer, and at the same school as your niece; of course, now it's summer vacation, she went back to become the head of the household, right?"

Translation: "\"Central trainer, and you and your niece go to the same school; of course, now it's summer vacation, she's gone back to act as head of the family, right? \""

"She isn't in a hurry; she's still thinking about her dream that doesn't fit the family, even unwilling to go home to handle affairs, still staying in the student council," the man turned his gaze, looking at the tabletop, his eyes beneath silver hair gloomy, "It's exactly that half‑baked awareness that makes the family appear united but divided in spirit."

Translation: "\"She's not in a hurry; she's still dreaming of that dream which clashes with the family, even unwilling to go home to handle affairs, still staying in the student council, \" the man turned his gaze, eyes dim beneath his silver hair as he looked at the tabletop, \"that kind of half‑baked resolve is what makes the family appear united but divided at heart. \""

"To be frank…" the merchant raised his hand, drawing an arc on the table, forming a circle; from that level of skill, he obviously has some magical foundation, even alchemical expertise, "I'm not particularly interested in your household affairs, I'm just curious about what you plan to do with Linton,"

Translation: "\"To be frank…\" the merchant swept his hand in an arc before him, forming a circle; from that standard one can see he certainly has some magical foundation, even alchemical skill, \"I'm not interested in your household affairs, I'm just curious what you plan to do with Lindon. \""

"Confirm the specifics, then make plans."

Translation: "\"Confirm the specifics, then make plans. \""

Moon Stride Symbol stood up, took two steps, then turned to look at him: "If you want my assistance, you also need to demonstrate more value worth my help."

Translation: "Moon Slack Symbol stood up, took two steps, then turned to look at him: \"If you want my assistance, you must also show more value worth my help. \""

"I'm also used to you indecisive clients, take it slow," the merchant resignedly stood up, "Then I'll take off first—I'm being chased by the police even tighter than you, though that's also the police headquarters' side."

Translation: "\"I'm also used to you indecisive clients, take it slow, \" the merchant rose helplessly, \"I'll run off first—compared to you I'm being chased tighter by the police, though that's also the police headquarters' doing. \""

Saying that, he then asked: "Can you help me clean up the loose ends?"

Translation: "Saying that, he then asked: \"Can you help me tie up loose ends? \""

"Did you have that in mind from the start?"

Translation: "\"You had this in mind from the start? \""

"There's a saying in the Dongyan District: 'If a deal doesn't work out, righteousness remains,' right?"

Translation: "\"What's the saying in East Flame District? 'No deal, still righteous,' right? \""

"Get lost quickly."

Translation: "\"Get lost. \""

Fine, you and Lin Dun are just as troublesome.