Chapter 735: NO. 104: Nobody Is Anyone

NO．104：Nobody Is Anyone

Although the start was laughable, the later cooperation negotiations went very smoothly.

Ludaofu Xiangzheng asked about project planning, and Guiye Xiaomei responded with a concrete plan; then each side's subordinates supplemented and responded to the details—according to Tianlangxing's 'internal comms,' such exchanges have already happened four times.

It's clear that the original three exchanges were sufficiently inefficient.

Because most of Guiye Xiaomei's side are monsters, with a minority of different species, aliens, and mechanical lifeforms.

So the proposals they put forward are basically biased toward monster power, sorcery, superpowers—functions falling under the source-energy domain—and a few functions and principles are rather niche technological products.

Honestly, these are not considered obstacles to communication efficiency.

After all, even in the relatively 'naturalized' Interface Gate Zone, there are many research teams, and even more source-energy practitioners of diverse subjects and schools.

With the Symbol family's connections—or even just Ludaofu Xiangzheng's influence in the Interface Gate Zone—it's not hard to contact such groups.

But once the label 'transmigrator' is involved, it's easy to encounter the phenomenon where even using the same terms, the substance is often different.

For example, both may be called magic and sorcery, yet regardless of theoretical weaving or practical application, even the mana serving as 'fuel' is not the same kind of component—

—this kind of thing is very common in source-energy communication.

The same goes for research.

The principles of mechanical operation may follow different physical laws; among them are products that fail outright upon arriving in this world, while others retain some homeland rules by relying on certain otherworld coordinates, becoming miniature otherworld cornerstones.

Yet in naming they remain very plain and common devices, fully deceptive.

Facing such things, what's needed more are appraisers from the Two Worlds Safety Bureau.

However, such appraisers are also legally barred from taking private jobs, unless they are retired professionals, or the work is non-profit, merely under the guise of helping friends and family.

But there's no need to go through all that trouble.

If you can't hire those Two Worlds Safety Bureau specialists, you can hire mercenaries who often interact with otherworld people and civilizations, especially those from agencies with cleaner hands on paper—this is also a common choice.

So when Speed Symbol, in a near-retired state, sent a commission to the Lintong Office, the family's survivors—especially those promoted by Ludaofu as upper replacements—had no objections.

The only one with objections was Ludaofu Xiangzheng himself.

Dissatisfied with the other side's interference, and even more dissatisfied with dragging in Aomo the trainer-emperor, the initial contact with Aomo to the student council was made with the intention of persuasion.

But the result was obviously that they were persuaded the other way around.

"Is the energy similar to vital-force transformation? Miss Guiye's clan is actually highly similar to this world's spirit-monster group."

"We didn't expect this either—this world even has the concept of tsukumogami."

"Your homeland actually doesn't have them?"

"Very few, too few—the birth of tsukumogami ultimately requires people to entrust their emotions."

"I understand," said the dignified iron face with a slight nod, his voice calm and peaceful, "In these restless times, people's emotions may be more often placed in weapons."

"Personified weapons—does Mr. Lintong occasionally have such a malicious side?"

"Fear of weapons, longing for weapons, and also the fleeting sentiment imbued in weapons' birth—I sincerely lament this, Miss Guiye."

Although he had been allowed to call her by name at the end of the last party, Aomo still put on a first-meeting guise before Ludaofu, and couldn't help thanking Miss Xiaomei for her flawless cooperation.

Miss Xiaomei is clearly adept at this.

Whether observed in interaction before the bar, or from the other party's story of the fox girl beside the protagonist, this can be proven.

Skilled at disguise, she can take others' appearances from photos for her own use, thus able to play many roles; for such a half-yokai miss, merely pretending to be a first meeting is naturally easy.

"The weapon-type tsukumogami I've seen are precisely because those emotions have taken shape, contemplating their respective 'positions.'"

Even those familiar presences that show outlines under the demon's eye occasionally interject during ability discussions, communicating with utmost respect and distance.

Or perhaps not to that extent?

"You don't think they're just acting, do you?"

A male voice suddenly came from the shoulder, its eye sockets glowing faintly, and as he turned his head, it swept across the broad shoulders of the armor itself.

All that could be seen was a small hand hanging the 'red roly-poly' on the V-flame-shaped chest armor; once steady, it immediately covered its eyes with those tiny hands.

Resembling a Showa-era Poron-chan-style roly-poly doll, yet it had a clearly biological skin sheen, and even its two tiny hands emitted heat under the light's gaze.

"Don't look over here, it's hot!"

"Sorry for the rudeness."

Although from the basic data provided by the Symbol family, Aomo knew this tiny existence had an adult male voice, though he had never actually heard it, he never imagined the speaker would be something small enough to be a hanging accessory.

"Mr. Wulu, right?" he asked, averting his gaze.

Although it's a finger-tall mascot-like existence, it possesses detailed information—looking like a red roly-poly doll, yet it is also the former Demon Realm queen candidate's guide and future vassal.

This corresponds to the assistant of the magical girl in Miss Xiaomei's story.

After the magical queen candidate lost her eligibility, this guide and future vassal, in that story's finale, shifted to the non-human superhuman faction and left that world together.

So it's only natural that he would appear here as well.

Although his combat performance isn't ideal, he still occupies a page in the data.

Because knowledge is equally valuable, especially when one is a transmigrator.

"It's me; looks like you've done plenty of preparation."

"For such a big project, taking the field as an assistant without preparation is irresponsible to anyone." Aomo said, and upon hearing the three voices, he instinctively glanced.

Tianlangxing Symbol's boots, Ludaofu Xiangzheng's leather shoes, and Miss Xiaomei's high heels standing together—looking down from above, the only view one could reap was this.

Furthermore, it could only be a glance; to sweep past without lingering.

Otherwise, a hole might appear in the other's stockings.

One can't gamble on another's clothing material.

From the original blinding brightness to being able to feel obvious heat—the 'scorching gaze'—Suzi's drug side effects have truly worsened, even seeming to replace the main effect.

Going on like this, who knows whether the eyes will fail first or photon-force awakening will occur first.

Surely this can't be her research focus… Aomo sighed inwardly.

After sighing, he also turned his gaze back to the patterns woven by demonic power around him, and brought up the previous topic.

"Mr. Wulu, what did you mean by your words just now?"

"Don't the demons in this world care about status differences?" the other party retorted.

"Most won't; for most native demons, it ultimately comes down to speaking with strength."

"Do they not even respect the gods?"

"... I see, thanks for the reminder."

"Moreover, you're not just carrying that divinity; this kind of emotional conversion and extraction... does this world's demon realm have no queen but only a pure demon king?"

"? I think you're mistaken; the demon realm zone of Earth has no notion of a king, and there has never been a concept of royal lineage."

"No king? But can you draw power from the emotions of the contractor?"

"How could that be; that description is too idealistic—our world operates on science."

"But in my view, you are clearly drawing a steady stream of some emotion-derived nourishment from afar, just like Xingyezi."

"Xingyezi?"

"I originally assisted a demon realm queen candidate, a being akin to a ruler."

"What does she draw upon?"

"She unconsciously forms a contract with those she helps, taking their joy as the source of power."

"Is that a righteous magical girl?" he recalled the story told by Miss Xiaomei.

"That magical girl from the protagonist's team now has a more concrete title at this moment."

"You're not a child anymore; whether it's justice or not, someone will be pleased," Mr. Wulu seemed to have an opinion on this topic, his usually calm tone showing a hint of displeasure, "this world also has people who enjoy watching evil deeds and feel happy when they commit them."

"Then it shouldn't be called a magical girl," Aomo shook his head, "in this era, the term 'magical girl' has become a fixed label with a positive connotation, giving a favorable impression; put simply, it means the side of justice."

"Although there are also character routes developed as antagonists, they ultimately do not disturb the main tone."

"I originally thought you and Renji'erlang were exact opposites as reflections of each other, yet you still like to bring up the term 'justice'?"

"Who is Renji'erlang?"

"Xiaomei's ex-boyfriend."

"Is it former?"

"This question left Wulu silent for a moment, then he corrected himself: '... Probably still is.'"

"That's right, you're almost thirty and still obsessing over justice versus evil, aren't you?"

"Yeah, still a guy who lacks a sense of distance, addressing anyone he meets by their first name—"

"That remark at the end seemed to be aimed at someone, but Aomo directly ignored the jab, saying: 'Treating everyone equally and being as close as friends is a high state of mind.'"

"I thought you couldn't stand to watch him."

"If one lacks experience, they're just a child; but if one is experienced and still acts this way, it's indeed admirable."

"You... are like that too?"

"A red roly-poly floated before the visor, its lively blue eyes fixed on the iron mask still gazing into the distance."

"No, I'm not Miss Xingyezi, and there's no Renji'erlang here either."

"But isn't that person here?" Wulu turned his head, looking at the group that had walked some distance away with Xiaomei.

"Ludaofu Xiangzheng, though clearly different in hair color, hairstyle, and even gender, still gave him an immediate sense of resemblance, to the point where he once wondered if Xiaomei was looking for a substitute."

"So I'm helping her, right?"

"I hope you all can also assist well and perform normally."