Chapter 364: with translation of chapter title

At present, when the Internet's history has already accumulated for hundreds of years.

The network world has not only been broadened in width, but also been extended in depth.

Besides the direct, complex microscopic world of the digital realm, there also exist many various small spaces opened up with the aid of data domains.

——Deep immersion‑type games.

——A real social venue built using the Super‑Dream functional architecture.

——The dream realm ventured into with source‑energy mechanical devices.

Countless genuine data spaces that could be called small worlds were extensively developed due to various commercial and personal demands, thereby forming a literal metaverse; and while that metaverse thrived and grew, it was also inevitably accompanied by darkness and blood.

When the connection between the Internet and reality grows ever tighter, even to the point of faintly showing signs of invading real space, the Internet turns into a realm far more dangerous than reality.

The earliest batch of mercenaries who mainly took on Internet‑related cases as their commissions were precisely called Internet Detectives.

And in this field, the large, loosely organized group known as the 'Cracking Team' can truly be said to have shone brightly.

The reason it is called 'loosely organized' is because there are many impostors in this group.

But at the same time, this group is also the main force among the perpetrators.

Rather, the name 'Cracking Team' was originally placed upon a dangerous anti‑social force.

In the early research period when the existence of Digital Monsters had just begun to attract widespread attention from Internet users, the 'Cracking Team' emerged out of nowhere and became a world‑shocking cracking group.

At the same time, they were terrorists who exploited Digital Monster crimes while the legal and national Digital Monster safety systems were still undetermined.

After experiencing a series of events such as entertaining guests, beheadings, and taking on dogs (crossed out), the Cracking Team group can be said to have fallen apart.

There were internal directional conflicts, as well as chuunibyou‑type individuals who assumed the name; ultimately, from a fixed‑member team, it became an 'intangible organization' composed of unspecified people—a self‑designation of hackers and crackers in specific fields.

Thus the loosely organized form came into being.

Although there were both good and bad aspects, it is undeniable that their active research indeed laid the foundation for the technology of the Internet Detective industry.

Even the promotion of Digital Monsters' existence, as well as major advances in countermeasures and research directions, involved their participation.

However, this too was likewise an early primary cause of Digital Monsters' expedition into the real world.

Slogans such as 'Humanity is wantonly capturing kin for research—an unprecedented persecution!' also once attracted many neutral‑natured Digital Monsters to join the expedition in earlier years.

But that, too, was all from nearly a hundred years ago.

Although one‑third of the materials that Xiangyu Tuohai organized for Aomo still bear the Cracking Team's signature label, the present Cracking Team is truly a nominal ghost organization.

Commissions involving Internet cases also usually cannot get in touch with a reputable organization of the same name.

But such disreputable ones are everywhere, and they often can fabricate cases, which at one point even became the first choice for the Moon‑Chariot symbol when venturing into Internet business.

And regarding this, the MuHai Detective Agency, which already had some grudges against the Cracking Team, inevitably also had some contact with them.

The initial encounter between MuHai Xingzi and Zhouri Ningjing also occurred precisely when the former noticed a small gesture of the Moon‑Chariot symbol, mistakenly taking it as an action by the Symbol family, and thus launched an investigation into the Symbol family, resulting in their meeting.

MuHai Xingzi did not elaborate on that story, merely mentioning the issue concerning that person of the Moon‑Chariot symbol.

And Xiangyu Tuohai had quite a few complaints about him not coming to commission on this side.

Generally speaking, in the Jiemen District, where the MuHai Detective Agency is located, there is usually no need to seek out any so‑called 'Cracking Team Technical Heir'.

After all, as a well‑known presence in the global Internet‑detective field, the MuHai Detective Agency, although having only three members, each of them is a heavyweight.

As for his sister Xiangyu Yamei, she commands several Digital Monsters capable of evolving into Ultimate forms, and she stands out as a strength‑faction enthusiast, even going so far as to cultivate the heretical Platinum Poop Beast for the sake of strength.

Simply because it inherently carries a buff that increases the data acquisition amount of the Digital Monster troop.

In gaming terms, that is 【Large Increase in Experience Gain】.

Very important, very important. jpg

The reuse of scrap data can be seen in a glimpse from the abilities of the Digital Monsters in the trash heap.

And as for his brother Xiangyu Tuohai, he likewise commands several Digital Monsters capable of evolving into Ultimate forms, and he himself possesses a manifest spirit of exploration and a collecting habit.

He is enthusiastic about going to different Digital Worlds as a drifter, and, like the protagonist of the neighboring Pokémon, he always sets off with a different juvenile Digital Monster each time.

It seems as if he is collecting a Digital Monster encyclopedia, aiming to unlock achievements.

Given that the Digital Monsters beside him all follow willingly, there's really nothing to criticize, after all, a Digital Monster tamer is not a Master from Fate/Grand Order, nor is there any talk of mana burden.

Of course, nowadays the Masters of Fate/Grand Order also rarely consider mana burden.

But that's just going off on a tangent.

The true climax of this introduction is the third member of the MuHai Detective Agency, who is also the agency's chief, MuHai Xingzi—this person is even more pathetic!

You can tell just how pathetic she is from her love of coffee alone.

Even though her hacking skills and abilities are top‑notch, and she has a deep understanding of related occult knowledge, her interest in self‑made mixed coffee is something nobody can bear.

Even her two employees often show resistance—this piece of information that Aomo knows should now be crossed out.

After all, he has already heard that Xiangyu Yamei has defected from the organization.

Truly cruel, Xiangyu Tuohai.

Although it's already bad enough that such a large agency has only three employees, now only you remain as a normal person—you must feel utterly helpless.

"You're the one who drank the coffee, so why can you look at me with such pity?"

Xiangyu Tuohai speechlessly gazed at the brown‑eyed youth who was flipping through the documents.

As mentioned before, MuHai Xingzi's eye color is considered surprisingly plain in the Jiemen District, and Aomo, who is similar to that chief, naturally also falls under that similar evaluation.

But what is probably comforting is that the other party now has a crescent‑moon‑like white streak on their forehead, making Tuohai feel that Lin‑ton brother has started to follow trends.

Even now, they bring a girl along.

Compared to their past image, this can truly be called a remarkable breakthrough.

After all, the last time they met, it wasn't really apparent, but in Xiangyu Tuohai's impression, Lin‑ton was still that little‑suit‑wearing, meticulously speaking little scholar from back then.

Even when discussing Digital Monster data, his tone is like that of someone presenting an academic report.

Back when everyone was still young, this temperament would only elicit two kinds of feedback.

One is annoyance, feeling that they are pretentious stinking idiots.

One is aspiration, another is the handsome charm of a reliable adult.

The Xiangyu siblings are clearly the latter, but as they age and gain experience, they gradually notice the abnormality of Lin Dun's condition itself.

When his younger sister sent a voice message half a month ago saying that Brother Lin Dun had changed quite a bit, he still felt a little surprised; meeting in the digital world also didn't feel particularly special.

Still, it's Sister Xingzi's coffee!

It could make even Brother Lin Dun unable to escape; even if he didn't faint on the spot, he'd still reveal the spirit of peers his age stuck in place——

——referring to his stubbornness.

"Not falling over is my confidence—can you stand after drinking that coffee?!"

That's indeed hard… Brother Lin Dun looks like he's not only undergone datafication, but his physical quality itself is also very solid.

Xiangyu Tuohai sighed inwardly, yet he wasn't angry; instead, he felt somewhat relieved.

It's just this stubbornness; it wouldn't be strange for anyone else, but coming from Brother Lin Dun——he can't help but marvel at Brother Lin Dun's huge change.

Not only does he change, he even squints his eyes to complain about himself:

"What are you feeling moved about all by yourself?"

"No, Brother Lin Dun, are you rushing off already? Yamei got the message and is still heading back."

"There will be plenty of chances to say goodbye; if you want to come early, you can just drop by the office."

His steps upon standing were still a bit wobbly, completely like a drunkard's experience; Aomo had taken just two steps when Bo Pang quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Don't push yourself, Master."

"Ah, thanks—this makes driving a bit inconvenient, too."

"Shall I give you a ride?"

The ultimate culprit showed no remorse, yet on his trembling finger appeared a car key at some point.

Its design is truly classical, far removed from the common USB‑style car key.

It's genuinely classical—the car itself is a black, hard‑core old Alfa Romeo Montreal.

But if you've seen Muhai Xingzi accelerate that car in sync (x), you wouldn't think it's an ordinary vehicle.

Rather, nowadays the office's vehicles are either rock‑solid in quality or specially equipped.

"No thanks, I'll go… just wander around and I'll recover."

I had wanted to say I'd go get a normal coffee, but mentioning coffee in front of him felt like joking with my life, so Aomo still changed his wording.

"Oh, okay then—but next time remember to have the friend hiding in your screen come out and meet me, Lin Dun."

One sentence can make the vampires and witches on the screen shudder together; Aomo isn't surprised that the other party achieves terminal light‑screen perception similar to what Qianming represents.

"If I had those conditions," he replied.

In the turf of net‑detectives who have mastered electronic technology to the point of being akin to contemporary magic, his somewhat outdated terminal truly holds no secrets.

"Ah, Brother Lin Dun, I'll see you off."

"No thanks," Aomo waved his hand, "keep enjoying your vacation—it's not easy for you, who's always running to the digital world, to stay stationed at the office these days."

"I think the same," Tuohai said, Muhai Xingzi crossing her arms.

"It's rare that Yamei's been out playing these days, so the office is counting on you to stay and help."

"That's just overtime…" Aomo muttered, then looking at the stiff‑faced Xiangyu Tuohai, he felt a pang of pity rise again.

During this overtime, there will surely be a lovely female director's caring coffee to reward him.

To let him keep working, it surely won't be something that could make him pass out.

Thinking of that, he strained to lift his hand and pat Tuohai's shoulder.

Then, when the other turned his head, he forced a spirited smile to encourage him.

"Hang in there!"

Quite ill‑intentioned.

"Brother Lin Dun!"

However, the clueless red‑haired youth, eyes brimming with hot tears, was then shoved away by Aomo's hand.

"All right, I'm leaving."

At escape‑like speed, even Bo Pang, who was supporting him, looked a bit startled, slightly quickening his pace to walk alongside him out of the office.

Time to go find a coffee shop!

We must find a drinkable coffee to mask the taste in my mouth that no amount of rinsing can dispel!

Thanks to the tips from Weiting Kai, Kunlong Zaiyuan er, and Ai Lan Akalari.

Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks!