Chapter 749: NO.118: Saving the world also requires paying attention to human relations

NO. 118: Saving the world also requires paying attention to human relations.

Have you heard that the folks from Barosa Star leaked the news?

Probably, at noon quite a few people saw the Commerce Group Leader flying into a rage; it's really unexpected—I originally thought it would be those few Earthlings who would cause trouble first.

We've cast a wide net anyway, so it doesn't matter who leaked the news; the point is what happens after it's out.

Ultraman Sai Luo and Ultraman Jie De—there's word that the two came over from Heaven Gate City.

Should I say, as expected? That bunch really are persistent ghosts.

But this fits the expected direction. By the way, did Mosquito‑Incense Face say who first got the news?

Based on the oral traits and the results from that net‑side observation, it should be that innate monster envoy.

The direction of Branch Thirteen, huh—I really don't want to face the option with the most variables.

But the fault tolerance is high, isn't it? The ceiling is also high.

That's true enough, but there are still hidden dangers.

After all, those guys from the Land of Light always send a few after you beat one, then a whole gang after you beat a few… Anyway, I've already sent people to check.

You're that motivated? Barbar.

It's a rare opportunity—the more the seniors fail, the greater the honor for the juniors when they succeed.

You're optimistic, huh.

In this world, if you weren't optimistic you wouldn't be doing this line of work. Anyway… whether it's Ultraman Sai Luo or Ultraman Jie De, they're both the type who can't sit idle, so we'll have an answer soon.

Hope so.

——

That… Mr. Lindon.

Please go ahead, Mr. Chao.

Why are we here… watching the match?

Jiemen Xiqu, in the living room of Lindon Office.

A black‑haired youth in matching denim jacket and jeans sat in the corner of the sofa, his legs pressed together showing obvious tension, his hands having nowhere to go except clutching the teacup.

His gaze also darted left and right, unconsciously toward the glass display case in the direction of the counter.

He is Ultraman Jie De, and under the efficiency work of the Land of Light's office, he has already obtained an Jidong identity and traveler's documents under the name Chao Cang Lu.

Even so, he is clearly not very used to the office's atmosphere.

Even the pretty, cute girls had all sensibly gone up to the second floor.

There lay page after page of monster cards displayed openly in transparent cases, and on the shelves stood Godzilla models, Gundam models, plus a monster model he didn't recognize—its style extremely bizarre, its scale unexpectedly large, placed directly on the counter as a sculpture.

That model was clearly made of clay, yet it constantly gave him a faint pressure, as if it were a living thing, forcing him to pay attention.

Meanwhile, on the opposite wall hung a poster of a horse‑eared girl's race, its cartoonish style totally mismatched with the pile of monsters nearby, looking completely like an otaku's décor—if he had come to Heaven Gate City before, he would have thought so.

But after arriving in this world.

From Heaven Gate City to the Earth Jiemen District, on the road he'd seen several 1:1 scale Gundam‑like bodies that looked like the real thing, and countless videos and promotions about those horse‑eared girls.

If everything truly exists, then we can't call it otaku culture; we should say they're enthusiasts——

——As a practitioner, it's not worth worrying too much……Looking at the wall beside the counter, where several pages of photos and even group shots are fixed with magnets, he couldn't help thinking that.

In those photos are girls with horse ears, their faces as delicately retouched as if heavily Photoshopped—some standing on stage, some on the racecourse, others surrounded by reporters.

These must be the 'Umamusume' that Mr. Kai mentioned in the communication……and Mr. Lindon…looking at the last photo, which shows the young man in a black suit stepping into the frame, frozen like an idol's manager blocking the reporters.

Umamusume trainer……It's hard to imagine that in another world, Mr. Gakura would have this profession.

No, it doesn't seem impossible……Think about how the people in the armory get along with Mr. Gakura, and the youth feels a bit uncertain again.

Just as he was still lost in thought, the person he had just asked opened his mouth: "Hmm, you don't like watching the Rose Stakes? How about the Aster Stakes? Although it's a GIII race, the race grade doesn't hinder the excitement."

This made him hastily withdraw his wandering gaze and thoughts, and he turned back to the huge screen unfolding from the small projector opposite him.

There, girls with digitally lowered horse ears—or horse girls—were galloping wildly, their speed making him break out in a sweat just to watch.

As an artificial lifeform made from the genetic material of Ultraman Belial, his physique also surpasses that of ordinary people, for example showing excellent explosive power in his jumps.

Yet in the practical application of this ability he's rather disappointing—see, for instance, his 'Jie De Ultimate Crescent Slash' in a certain battle against Gilbarlis.

Chao Cang Lu obviously didn't want to talk about that; despite feeling embarrassed from being outdone by the girls, he still voiced his slightly embarrassed doubt: "No, uh, I was wondering… why are we watching Umamusume?"

"What's the problem, Jie De?" Sai Luo waved his hand, having been watching intently all along, "These little girls also run their hearts out, reminding me of that guy Ling—ah, the little fellow named Narita Lu who won the championship."

"…Saying that with that expression really is…" Faced with his senior's nostalgic words, Chao Cang Lu felt nothing but awkward.

Because the other party was sitting beside him in the guise of a gray‑suit office worker, which was exactly the familiar appearance of Mr. Ling, one of his human forms.

Iga Li Ling, that's the name on Sai Luo's Jidong district ID.

Compared to the honest, middle‑parted, slightly askew bangs in his ID photo when he first transformed, his now disheveled, free‑flowing bangs and careless, roguish expression make him look less like the office worker that name originally denoted and more like a suit‑clad thug.

However, Chao Cang Lu has seen that face in this guise plenty of times; his main discomfort comes from the other party using Mr. Ling's face to feel nostalgic for Mr. Ling.

Even though the others haven't even left yet.

"What's up with that look? You'll have to get used to it," Sai Luo shrugged, "And weren't you the one who said back there you were pretty eager to see these Umamusume?"

"Eh! Mr. Sai Luo!" The embarrassed Chao Cang Lu panicked a bit, but his teacup gave him enough restraint.

Aomo let out a helpless smile: "No need to feel ashamed, Mr. Chao—I thought you'd want to see Flash here, but even that kind of resource is hard to find even in this place."

"Huh?! Mr. Lindon also knows Flash?"

"For any potential cooperation target, some basic understanding is always there," Aomo gave a subtle smile, "By the way, shouldn't you all have been given advance notice of some special knowledge? For example, the so‑called 'works' that reflect your own lives."

"Ah, I know," Sai Luo wiped his nose with his hand and tilted his head, "It's really annoying."

"I understand—having one's life filmed into a work for people to view is indeed quite awful."

"Um, no, I think Mr. Sai Luo's dissatisfaction isn't about that." Chao's expression grew subtle, his gaze drifting sideways.

"Oh?"

Even that Zeta brat has his own TV, why don't I have one!

……If you think about it, you've already appeared on many people's TVs, and there are plenty of spin-offs, biographies, and theatrical versions.

But don't they want to film a TV?

Mr. Zeta doesn't even have a theatrical version, Mr. Sai Luo, you have two copies.

"Ah ah, I know!" The face of that Iga Li person still bore obvious displeasure.

It left Aomo feeling somewhat helpless.

Although taking human form can restore observational prowess, only this person's mood is clear without needing observation.

Compared to the work's content, I want to remind you two: you should understand how famous you are.

You mean to say this is the reason you want us to stand down?

Not only that, I also hope you two understand that Mr. Philip commissioned me to lead the investigation, an important point being that I am a local.

This much I and Jie De understand, no need to emphasize.

No, what I want to say is not that I'm familiar with the local area. Aomo shook his head, then looked toward the window where although wind and rain swayed, not a sound came through.

Boundary Gate District is a large composite city; in your world, on Earth it equals a collection of several countries, occupying one-third of Asia. If we rely purely on manpower carpet search, efficiency would be extremely low.

Compared to the half-understanding nodding Asakura, it was Sai Luo who first reacted: 'You mean you have another investigative method?'

"Yes," Aomo said, "As a local, I actually have developed some connections; using these connections would be far more efficient than each of us acting individually following clues."

But you must be clear, the other side is likely dangerous enough; your connections could get implicated. Sai Luo warned, as captain of the Ultimate Sai Luo Guard Team, he is no stranger to heinous criminal organizations.

Indeed so.

Aomo glanced at the communication lighting up on the nearby light screen.

So I am currently selecting sufficiently capable assistants.