Chapter 316: NO．78：Even among willfulness, there is a gap

NO．78：Even among willfulness, there is a gap.

A plan.

A plan that, through dream interference with the beast's spirit, provokes it into a rampage, thereby creating an opportunity to craft cards.

Drafted by Yuechi Xiangzheng.

Of course, it won't be signed.

The 'Merchant' received exactly such a plan.

Considering that the beast is a key contained entity in the Blessed Gospel Class Sanctuary, this plan cannot be called anything but bold.

But as the saying goes, fortune favors the bold.

Regardless of language or race, similar phrases generally describe the daring of profiteers, and the 'Merchant' always considers himself a bold opportunist.

Even as a fugitive, daring to meet the mercenary who nearly sent him to prison is itself proof of courage.

This courage is backed by the foresight to recover all the goods; for this he is even willing to proactively serve as the organization's liaison, to ease relations with that mercenary.

Thus he lies in wait, seeking an opportunity to retrieve the cards.

This opportunity ought to be the monster exhibition.

These past few days he has been preparing, aiming to secure a booth at the monster exhibition and then arrange a play to trap Lindun inside.

The preparations for this plan are proceeding steadily, but he suddenly received news from another collaborator.

As mentioned at the outset, the Merchant cannot deny that he is indeed somewhat tempted.

Who in the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang does not know the great name of Behemoth?

Setting aside the king already in hell, the beast still in containment is obviously a commodity of considerable value.

That value even surpasses the total of the several cards Lindun snatched away, making it worth his while to immediately withdraw from the original plan and consider the feasibility of that scheme.

Feasibility exists; moreover, considering the proof information they sent clearly contains Lindun's voice, he immediately realizes he might achieve both goals at once.

Eager to move……

Merchant: 【I'll refine the concrete plan】

These words shone in the communication, and Yuechi Xiangzheng's lips also hinted at an arc.

【You don't have much time to prepare, and——】

Merchant: 【This matter doesn't need your meddling; I understand. You just keep saying the company wants me to make contact myself—why learn from anyone else, you have to imitate that old fogey Moriarty】

【Because monsters aren't the whole of our lives, Mr. Merchant】

Merchant: 【Do as you please; if there's any new news we'll talk later—I'm heading out now】

【Please go ahead, wishing you success】

After typing these words, Yuechi Xiangzheng closed that private message extended from the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang, then turned to the screen showing the magic-circle effect, and from the magic circle appeared a small Bar Beast X.

"He's looking up data on the Yuger Company; it seems he really intends to act."

"He's just that kind of person," Yuechi Xiangzheng said. "In the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang, there aren't many people as pure as him."

"Because monsters aren't your whole?" The Bar Beast X repeated what he had just said.

"Because monsters aren't our whole." Yuechi Xiangzheng answered likewise.

"The bonds of family and the duties of position fill most people's lives; these things are like the data contained in the names of your Digimon, suppressing us from reaching true freedom."

"I think he will fail," the Noble King said coolly.

"Perhaps; letting him try won't hurt either," the man said flatly, calling up the family's internal communication with his fingers.

That was a report from his subordinate; the report contained a photo of his niece Ludaofu Xiangzheng, as well as a candid shot of Aomo Lindun standing on the street, source unknown.

The latter was urging the former to join the competition; the text on it said so, but it provided no photo of the two together in the same place.

But since both were sent by his subordinates, it proves many people accept this fact, to the point that even his own subordinates cannot ignore this possibility.

Is he going to the Telesen Student Union for this reason?

Yuechi Xiangzheng pondered.

He still remembers that in the data-space meeting, the other party insisted he seek out Ludaofu not for him, but for some other reason.

Now the reason has emerged; considering the timing of the message's spread it matches, yet looking at it, there's still something suspicious.

The Bar Beast X's message this time is also like that.

Besides external stimuli, awakening a sleeper can also occur through dream communication; Aomo Lindun's inquiry is not unreasonable, and the timing is not off.

But there is always a voice in his heart saying 'not right'.

Of course, he has actually always thought that young man suspicious.

It's not because of the other's fearsome demonic appearance, but rather a steady rhythm.

That breathing, rhythmically steady calm keeps him perpetually uneasy, making it hard to dispel that doubt.

Precisely for that reason, he forwarded this message to the 'Merchant'.

Let the Merchant give it a try, attempting to let that young man reveal his possible true self, so he can more accurately ascertain the person's danger.

Before the monster exhibition.

But having said that, he sent this message merely to test the waters; what about the Bar Beast X?

He lowered his gaze to the Bar Beast X standing to one side, watching as the magical tome beside it flipped pages on its own, and suddenly said:

"I don't seem to need you to monitor this."

"You think it's superfluous?" The Bar Beast X turned to look at him.

"No…" After a deep look at this silent, taciturn ally, Yuechi Xiangzheng lightly praised, "Not bad."

"But I'd rather you keep an eye on Speed Symbol."

"I refuse, not interested," the Bar Beast X said indifferently, turning to walk toward the magic circle behind him, as if feeling the conversation was pointless—"Call me only when there's something real."

"Really, willful…"

He smiled helplessly; Moon Rush Symbol glanced again at the information file still open on the screen.

He recalled that beside Aomo Lindun there was also a humanoid Digimon, and moreover an old acquaintance of Barbaromon X.

Witches and such… would probably just get even more willful.

Only this kind of place is somewhat similar.

——

"This is what you said this morning you wanted me to organize; this compressed file is common knowledge for tamers, the extraction code? I organized the direct transmission—what extraction code do you need!? Just extract it directly!"

The Witchmon on the desktop seemed amused by Aomo's question, picked up the long black cat beside it, rolled it into a ball, and threw it at him off-screen.

The screen itself was very 'cooperative'; at the moment the black cat group occupied the screen, crack effects appeared.

Then, as the black cat's distorted face slowly slid down and disappeared, the Witchmon's bored expression was revealed.

"What a dull reaction—have you ever been scared by something?" she asked, staring at the young man's face off-screen.

Suddenly pulled like that, his face showed no startle reaction—no wonder the Witchmon would ask that.

But actually…

"I was actually scared just now." Aomo said honestly.

"Liar."

"No, I really was scared—my hairs stood on end."

Seeing the Witchmon's completely doubtful expression, he also felt somewhat helpless: "When scared, some people's reflex is to shout, but others freeze."

"I'll believe you this time," the Witch said, pursing her lips, looking up at the file opened by the cursor above, then suddenly asked, "Did anything happen in that broken church?"

"So much happened—do you want to hear the DJ practice segment or the giant beast turning over segment?" Aomo asked while dragging the file with the mouse to move it away from the 'Ultimate Program: Witchmon. EXE' that was obstructing reading.

He then began to carefully scan the information above about the Behemoth-related news obtained by the Divine Blessing Gospel Class, as well as the list of companies in Boundary Gate Zone related to dreams among publicly listed firms.

"What are those even? I was asking…" the Witch's words trailed off as she saw Aomo not looking at her, his eyes fixed on the files beside him, then she immediately said, "I'm asking whether there's any unrelated-to-file-organizing news coming up that I can help with!"

Coming from her, that sounded somewhat suspicious.

After all, her agreement with Aomo was only about data organization; besides that she could ignore everything, which was the attitude she initially insisted on.

And yet not even a few days have passed…

But Aomo still hadn't looked at her, scrolling through the document with a swipe, answering as if without thought:

"Yes, in three days I need you to watch over the data side for me."

He said, glancing at the Witchmon beside him.

"More precisely, it's to be on guard against a certain Digimon's mischief."

"Will you help?"

"No reason?"

"Two sets of code compilations, provided by the Mechanical Deus Cult, enough for you to research for… a year and a half?"

"Don't you think that's a bit over the top?"

"It is a bit, but after all I still can't make you directly undergo Ultimate Evolution, right?"

"... The last guy with your personality was especially annoying."

"Not hard to understand."

"You understand and yet you're saying that?"

"If I didn't say that, I'd probably be even more annoying, so I decided to be more direct."

"This point, at least, is indeed better than that guy."

"So what's your answer?"

"Don't damage the code." the Witchmon said, arms crossed.

Finally turning his gaze toward her, Aomo gave a slight nod.

"Of course not, lady."