Chapter 342: with translation of title

The review process is unnecessarily strict—who originally made it so complicated? Oh, it was me, so it's fine.

Translation: "The review process is unnecessarily strict—who originally made it so complicated…… Oh, it was me, so it's fine."

We need to keep the tone. Use natural English.

Shang Ren silently continued typing one password after another, access code after access code, verification code after verification code on the keyboard, while behind him several assistants dressed in very stereotypical outfits helped him guard the booth and attend to customers.

Translation: "The merchant silently continued typing string after string of passwords, access codes, and verification codes on the keyboard, while behind him, several assistants dressed in very stereotypical outfits helped him guard the booth and attend to customers."

We should keep "Shang Ren" as "Shang Ren". According to the glossary rule, we must use the provided glossary exactly; since no glossary entry exists for Shang Ren, we treat it as a name and romanize it as "Shang Ren". The glossary only provides Gui Yuan Zhi Tang → Gui Yuan Zhi Tang. For other names, we translate them if they are not personal names, or romanize them if they are personal names. Since Shang Ren is a nickname for a person, we romanize it as "Shang Ren". Thus we replace "Shang Ren" with "Shang Ren". Likewise, we replace "Kan Long" with "Kan Long". For "boss", which is not a name, we keep it as "boss". For example, the phrase "willing to call you 'boss'" should be translated as "boss". Good.

Now line 2: "Shang Ren silently continued typing string after string of passwords, access codes, and verification codes on the keyboard, while behind him, several assistants dressed in very stereotypical outfits helped him guard the booth and attend to customers."

We do not need to keep quotes around Shang Ren; we will just use Shang Ren.

How stereotypical is that?

Translation: "Just how stereotypical is that stereotype?"

A black skin-tight suit with white strips forming the skeletal outline—quite possibly the most renowned cosplay choice here.

Translation: "Black tight-fitting clothes, with a white-striped framework outline—perhaps the most popular cosplay choice here."

They're just missing an eagle insignia on the forehead to resemble the Repair Card battle troops, yet precisely because they lack it, they now have even greater possibilities.

Translation: "They were just one forehead-mounted eagle emblem away from looking like the Repair Card battle troops, but precisely because they lacked it, they gained even more limitless possibilities."

After all, that outfit is already commonplace in various tokusatsu-themed creations, so it fits right in at this exhibition booth, which likewise offers limitless possibilities.

Translation: "After all, that outfit is already commonplace in creations involving tokusatsu culture, so they could attend this booth that likewise offers limitless possibilities."

Of course, they have no affiliation with the evil organization itself.

Translation: "Of course, they have no affiliation with the evil organization itself."

They simply wore this outfit because they needed to attend such an occasion.

Translation: "They wore these outfits solely because they needed to attend such an occasion."

They don't feel much embarrassment, after all, there are always even more outrageous things here.

Translation: "They felt little embarrassment, after all, there are always even more outrageous things here."

Monsters appear not only before adults, but also before children.

Translation: "Monsters appear not only before adults, but also before children."

The subtle magical girl–style outfit, along with the matching evil organization officer uniform, is enough to diversify clothing aesthetics.

Translation: "The subtle magical-girl-style outfits, along with the corresponding villain organization executives' attire, are enough to diversify clothing aesthetics."

It might also be raping your aesthetic.

It might also be raping your aesthetic.

They are not just casual newcomers who have only dabbled in this field, nor merely new people with a passing interest in monsters, nor simply outsiders who happened to tag along; they are forced to undergo round after round of expanding their horizons.

Translation: "Not only casual newcomers to the field, nor merely those new people with a little interest in monsters, nor even outsiders who happened to tag along, but they are forced to undergo round after round of horizon expansion."

Just like a certain tiger-eared plainclothes officer, and even more like the largest red-eared painting in a family of giant beast fragments.

Translation: "Just like a certain plainclothes officer with tiger ears, or like the largest red-eared, blushing painting in a family of giant beast fragments."

Even a Light Star member whose grasp of human culture is still hasty must also accept that there are many more facts they need to learn.

Translation: "Even a member of the Light Star whose understanding of human culture is still rushed must accept that there are still many things they need to learn."

Then remind the friend beside them who suddenly turned their head to keep up with the tour group.

Translation: "Then they reminded the friend beside them who had suddenly turned their head to keep up with the tour group."

Some visitors are here to see monsters, some to seek inspiration, and some to learn about the enemy; everyone always has their own various motives.

Translation: "Some visitors came to see monsters, some to find inspiration, some to learn about the enemy situation—everyone always had various motives."

Among them, those who come seeking conflict are not only Shang Ren.

Translation: "Among them, those who came seeking conflict were not just the merchant himself."

We need to replace Shang Ren with Shang Ren.

Bang!

Translation: "Bang!"

A deafening roar mixed with a few screams and shouts caused every stall owner, assistant, and visitor to turn around, and then they witnessed the explosion's aftermath.

Translation: "The ear-splitting roar mixed with a few startled cries and shouts, causing all the stall owners, assistants, and visitors to turn their heads, and then they saw the explosion's aftermath."

Despite the distance, they could still feel the scorching, towering flames, which still contained the monsters' roars and howls.

Translation: "Even though far away, one could still feel the scorching, sky-high flames lingering, within which the monsters' roars and howls remained."

At first glance, the problem appears serious.

Translation: "At first glance, the problem seems serious."

But here, most visitors and stall owners struggle to tell whether this is a show effect or an actual attack.

Translation: "But here, the vast majority of visitors and stall owners find it hard to tell whether this is a show effect or a real attack."

However, this isn't really a problem, after all, many visitors here are just eager to join the excitement, either as well-meaning folks or as brave souls who act for justice.

Translation: "However, this isn't really a problem, after all, many visitors here are the sort who just want to jump in for the excitement, either do-gooders or those who act bravely for justice."

"We seem to have been beaten to the punch, boss."

Translation: '"We seem to have been beaten to the punch, boss."'

Although Shang Ren has long been at the bottom of the contempt hierarchy in the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang chat room, he is still a formidable individual with considerable combat and financial power.

Translation: "Although Shang Ren has long been at the bottom of the contempt hierarchy in the Gui Yuan Zhi Tang chat room, he is nevertheless a fellow with considerable combat and financial power."

And at one point, together with Kan Long, they dragged the entire Gui Yuan Zhi Tang organization's tone down from a secret monster exchange gathering to the level of an evil organization.

Translation: "And at one point, together with Kan Long, he dragged the entire Gui Yuan Zhi Tang's organizational tone from a secret monster exchange gathering down to the level of an evil organization."

Of course, it's especially notable that the other members living lawful lives didn't kick Shang Ren out.

Translation: "Of course, it's especially notable that the other members living lawfully didn't kick Shang Ren out."

It was originally a secret gathering, so becoming something everyone denounces isn't really different——

Translation: "It was originally a secret gathering, so becoming something everyone shouts at isn't really different——"

The police haven't even directly issued a wanted notice for us; they might as well just let Shang Ren go die on his own——

Translation: "Besides, the police didn't even directly put a wanted notice on us; they just let Shang Ren go die on his own——"

Gui Yuan Zhi Tang was initially just a mutual-help monster exchange group, with only one rule: don't undermine each other——

Translation: "Gui Yuan Zhi Tang was initially just a mutual-help monster exchange group, with only one rule: don't undermine each other——"

It's not very active, huh—looking at it makes this old bone of mine want to laugh——

Translation: "It's not very active, huh—looking at it makes even this old bone of mine want to laugh——"

Similar reactions spread among the still-active chat room members, and Shang Ren also has a thick skin truly capable of doing business, combined with his accumulated wealth and armament, which could also attract some employees to serve as assistants.

Translation: "Similar reactions spread among the still-active chat room members, and Shang Ren also has a thick skin truly capable of doing business, which, combined with his accumulated wealth and arms, could also recruit some employees to serve as assistants."

And they are not temporary workers.

Translation: "And they aren't temporary workers."

You are regarded as a low-ranking member in the chat room, but in certain fields, some people still look up to you and are willing to call you 'boss'.

Translation: "In the chat room you're treated as low-status, but in certain fields there are still people who look up to you and are willing to call you 'boss'."

Of course, the premise also requires that you don't keep ending up in prison.

Translation: "Of course, the premise also requires that you don't keep staying in prison."

The enthusiasm that can be retained after serving several years in prison can generally be found only in the underworld.

Translation: "The enthusiasm that can persist after serving those few years is generally to be found in gangs."

But even that is not guaranteed to be found.

Translation: "But you might not even be able to find it."

So the opportunities left for oneself aren't many either…… Shang Ren thought this, still gazing at the operation screen before him.

Translation: "So the opportunities left for oneself aren't many either…… Shang Ren thought this, still gazing at the operation screen before him."

"Let them start first; the first round is a high-stakes gamble that might encounter the most obstacles, or perhaps it could succeed by betting that no one will react in time."

Translation: '"Let them start first; the first round is a high-stakes gamble that might invite the most obstacles, or perhaps could win by having nobody react in time, thereby succeeding."'

He didn't even look into the distance, and together with his hired staff, he firmly believed that what was happening far away was not a show effect but real crime.

Translation: "He didn't even look into the distance, and together with his hired staff he firmly determined that the distant scene was not a show effect but a real crime."

Indeed, that is indeed the case.

Translation: "Indeed, that is indeed the case."

A real-concept monster fight has already unfolded in the distance, with the mechanical-frame giant KAITEN—FX, under the control of its outlandish-costumed team members, battling the rampaging ancient monster Sphinx.

Translation: "A genuine monster combat concept was already unfolding in the distance, with the mechanical-framework giant KAITEN—FX, under the control of its eccentrically costumed team members, battling the rampaging ancient monster Sphinx."

At the same time, there truly is a monster girl bearing Sphinx features who steps forward to mediate, and moreover, some exhibits near the stalls launch an attack.

Translation: "At the same time, there truly was a monster girl bearing Sphinx traits who stepped forward to mediate, and moreover some exhibits near the stalls launched an attack."

Read as 'assisting in suppression,' written as 'arms exhibition.'

Translation: "Read as assisting in suppression, written as arms display."

Those who trade in monsters mostly proceed through the process of selling arms, and the more chaotic the venue, the more opportunities it gives them.

Translation: "Those who trade in monsters mostly proceed through the process of selling arms, and the more chaotic the venue, the more opportunities it gives them."

Sometimes, to facilitate the display, they even stage and direct attacks themselves.

Translation: "Sometimes, for the sake of convenience in display, they even stage and direct some attacks themselves."

Yet among those attacks, there are no shortage of cases where fake acts turn real, nor of genuine criminals lurking among the false pretenses.

Translation: "And among those attacks, there are certainly no shortage of cases where fake acts become real, as well as genuine criminals passing off as something else."

You should know that the monster enthusiast community itself is already rather 'special,' and within this special group there are also quite a few mental extremists.

Translation: "One must know that the monster enthusiast group itself is rather 'special', and within this special group there are also not a few mental extremists."

They and the monsters attract each other, and their ultimate achievement is destruction itself.

Translation: "They and the monsters attract each other, ultimately achieving nothing but destruction itself."

This is also one of Shang Ren's relied-upon advantages for identifying opportunities—thanks to the monster exhibition's lack of security checks and identity verification, each edition harbors not a few dangerous individuals.

Translation: "This is also one of the merchant's relied-upon advantages for identifying opportunities—thanks to the monster exhibition's lack of security checks and identity verification, each edition harbors not a few dangerous individuals hiding within."

We need to replace Shang Ren with Shang Ren.

Shang Ren has no intention of cooperating with them, but it's undeniable that these fellows scouting the route are quite useful.

Translation: "Shang Ren had no intention of cooperating with them, but it's undeniable that these fellows scouting the route are quite useful."

It also saves a step of muddying the waters, adding a bit more confidence.

Translation: "It also saves a step of muddying the waters, adding several more points of confidence to his mind."

"You also shouldn't just stare over there; check the situation in other exhibition areas—those who dare to cause trouble here are usually gangs."

Translation: '"You also shouldn't just stare over there; check the situation in the other exhibition areas—those who dare to cause trouble here are usually gangs."'

Criminals understand criminals best; even if Shang Ren himself is often criticized by netizens and can't let go, he wouldn't act alone in this exhibition.

Translation: "Criminals understand criminals best; even the merchant himself, often criticized by netizens and unable to let go, would not commit a crime alone in this exhibition."

We need Shang Ren.

"Indeed, Area A has three spots."

Translation: '"Indeed, Area A has three spots."'

"Area B has four spots."

Translation: '"Area B has four spots."'

"Area E has six spots, but the timing doesn't seem uniform, so they're probably not the same group."

Translation: '"Area E has six spots, though the timing seems inconsistent, so probably not the same group?"'

"Who knows? I recall the publicity saying the venue can hold at least 260,000 people; if that many really showed up, I wouldn't even dare imagine how many criminal organizations could be packed in here."

Translation: '"Who knows—I recall the publicity saying the venue can hold at least 260,000 people; if it really were that many, I wouldn't even dare imagine how many criminal organizations could be packed in here."'

"You speak as if we aren't one of them."

Isn't it still necessary to wait for the boss to let Geliza out before we can talk!

"Now we can say, the approval is settled!" The merchant who suddenly chimed in raised his hand and wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead, then turned to look at the previously noisy giant beast battle scene.

There, it had already reached its conclusion.

Its design revealed a crude and cheap mechanical giant, combined with the assistance of digital magical girls, together suppressing that giant beast.

But that wasn't unique; at a point one kilometer to the northwest, an even greater sound wave surged.

"These guys are really active..."

He sighed, not knowing whether he was lamenting the criminals or those 'justice bringers' opposing them.

"What about us?" an employee asked, turning around.

"Scatter to the three zones, contact those few mercenaries, and I also need to get in touch with 'Lindun' and 'Yiren'."

"Yes!" x4

The four fighters of the evil organization were eager to join the activity, each looking like a natural-born criminal seedling.

Yet seeing his subordinates' attitude, the merchant who was the boss also felt a hint of tension, after all... he had let others test the waters for him this time, showing that his rash heart had been worn down by successive failures.

Although the rapidly growing Geliza main body here was his biggest trump card, it might not really be able to stir up a storm amidst this exhibition full of experts.

Fortunately, his goal wasn't to sweep away everything at this exhibition; amidst the current chaos where people are causing trouble everywhere, his chances of success are only increasing.

He turned his head, looking toward Zone B, toward the towering skyscraper located there.

Against the backdrop of the artificial blue sky and white clouds, a faint lofty outline appeared.

The headquarters of the leading company in the monster industry—Jedun Nebula Media Limited Company.

At the same time, a large number of monster capsules for touring display were placed there.

Of course—

That was also the first choice for the idea of 'pulling off a big job!'

Naturally, someone would get there first.