Chapter 124 It remained completely silent.

[Anti-fraud expert #26: ...So, this thing is now basically useless?]

Probably, since you can't really study it anyway. Just keep it safe for now, for someday in the future… wait, Anti-fraud expert, does this thing have an expiration date?

[Anti-Fraud Guru No. 11: Shelf life...?]

What kind of reaction is that? Every medicine has an expiration date; don't tell me it doesn't.

[Anti-fraud expert #198: Hmm... If we have to talk about an expiration date, it should have one...]

[Anti-fraud expert #66: But there's a very complicated factor—]

Ah, I see, you guys don't know.

The little alpaca froze mid-air, turned around somewhat aggrievedly, leaving only its short tail for him to see.

[Anti-fraud expert #19: Does it have to be so blunt? I think #198 is about to crack.]

Oh? It can crack?

Not only did Zhu Fujingguang not care, he also went closer to see what was so unusual. He really wanted to know what it looked like when an alpaca split open, even if it was just a virtual, electronic mimicry.

However, his action of peeking out to watch the commotion angered number 198, and the little alpaca still ignored him.

[Anti-fraud expert #214: Okay, given the strange appearance of these blue and white capsules, let's buy a portable medicine storage cabinet and keep them safe for as long as possible.]

[Anti-fraud expert #148: I've checked a few models available on the market and placed an order. In a few days, the items will be delivered to the safe house we just prepared a couple of days ago.]

Numbers 214 and 148 smoothed things over, which was a way of appeasing number 198.

[Anti-fraud expert #11: By the way, now that the medicine issue is resolved, why don't we strike while the iron is hot and arrange for someone to be sent to Shiho Miyano's side?]

Morofushi Kagemitsu casually poked the intangible alpaca number 198. Although he felt nothing at his fingertips, the little alpaca reacted to his action.

He looked at his fingers, then withdrew them, his thoughts turning back to Shiho Miyano.

He still intended to send one of his own people, but he was still hesitant about who to choose. Among the people he could currently send, those who met the criteria and were trustworthy... were actually not that many.

[Anti-fraud expert #66: Really? I think there are quite a few suitable people. You don't actually need to set such a strict cutoff line.]

How so? Shiho Miyano is one of the few researchers he can get connected with in the organization. She is about to take over an important project, so he naturally has to be careful about who he chooses to be around.

[Anti-Fraud Guru #19: Yes, your idea is correct. However, if you look at it from another angle, it's not that simple.]

[Anti-fraud expert #148: The people around Shirley, you can imagine, would be like lab assistants, so they definitely need a certain academic background. That alone eliminates a large portion of the candidates. They also need to meet a whole host of other criteria: trustworthy, capable, and with high emotional intelligence… finding the right people is definitely difficult.]

[Anti-fraud expert #205: But then again, you only want to know the movements of the lab and Sherry herself, not that she'll stab the organization in the back at a crucial moment. So, relaxing the requirements for stance a bit isn't a bad idea.]

[Anti-Fraud Guru #214: That's right, the organization's lab has a very tight personnel structure. If you really want to hope for a decisive role, a mere assistant can't do it. In that case, it's better not to place too much hope on this position.]

...That makes sense. Perhaps he could look among those who have received small favors from him in the past.

[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: I remember a few days ago a batch of background investigation tasks were sent out. Maybe we can tamper with it a bit and have our preferred people infiltrate them...]

Morofushi Kagemitsu nodded silently and began to discuss with the alpacas how to allocate a research lab slot.

This is the first time they've made any underhanded moves against the research department. With everyone's attention focused on Japan, they hope this personnel relocation attempt won't alert anyone and will get off to a good start.

And... Morofushi Hiromitsu's gaze fell on the text message Ethan Hondou had just replied to. Perhaps he could still make use of the script he had tailored for this former detective.

Although the plot hadn't lasted long, he had gotten up late that day, and by the time he finished arranging things, it was already noon. Having only eaten a few bites of breakfast, Morofushi Kagemitsu felt a bit hungry. He thought for a moment, then picked up the brochure the hotel had on his bedside table, intending to try the lunch at this place.

Not only is he busy with what he's doing now, but he also has to be prepared to travel through time at any time.

Given his previous experiences traveling to the future, Morofushi Kagemitsu paid close attention to the details of his life for the next few days. Besides checking the list from the future to make the organization's inflated financial assets appear more prosperous, he also carefully observed the things that frequently appeared before his eyes.

For example, when Shuichi Akai and he were exchanging messages, he would pay attention to the flashing signal lights; when Ethan Hondou left coded messages in the Black Guest backstage area, he would also notice some words or icons that frequently appeared in the comment section; and even when he was browsing forums, he regretted not asking Number 19 from time to time if the newly posted articles had any deeper meaning...

However, despite such close scrutiny, life these past few days has been as calm as flowing water, with no unexpected events occurring. He didn't even fire a single shot during his long-awaited sniping session with Shuichi Akai last night.

There's been too much peace.

This is what Morofushi Kagemitsu, who is used to the daily intrigue and backstabbing, thought to himself.

He wasn't the only one who wasn't used to it; the anti-fraud team also started discussing it.

[Anti-Fraud King #26: What's going on? This time travel has been dragging on for way too long.]

[Anti-fraud expert #66: I don't know. I haven't felt any fluctuations in time or space, or any ripples in fate. It's really strange, even though the post exposing the scam appeared several days ago.]

[Anti-Fraud Guru #205: How about we wait a bit longer? Judging from the description in that post, this task doesn't seem like it can be completed in a day or two. In such a chaotic future, perhaps maintaining the continuity of dates would require some special... um, prerequisites?]

Morofushi Kagemitsu took out the post again and looked at it. Having no experience with this kind of situation, he decided to trust Anti-Fraud Guy—even though they seemed a little confused themselves.

And so, two more days passed. He had even watched America's ridiculous military parade, and Ethan Hondou's script had already begun, and Shiho Miyano had received her transfer order from the organization, but the legendary opportunity to travel through time was still nowhere to be seen.

[Anti-Fraud Guru #19: Forget it, let's not get too excited about this right now. Perhaps it's precisely because we've focused so much attention on it that the event has been delayed.]

[Anti-fraud King #214: It's okay if it's a little later. We can go over after Ethan's business at the main hall is finished, so we can focus on our future missions.]

Morofushi Kagemitsu checked the weapons inventory for the month again, gave Gin two routine monthly inspection tasks, and then finished his work for the day.

Perhaps because he had been living a more relaxed life these past few days, he felt sleepy even though it was only 10 p.m.

He got up, stretched, and sent an email to Zero, briefly explaining Ethan's situation, before leaving the office area and heading towards the small bar in the suite.

He casually opened a bottle of wine, intending to have a drink before going to sleep.

[Anti-fraud expert #148: It seems setting a fixed time for you to sleep every day is effective; you'll gradually develop a sleep habit.]

...I've wanted to ask this for a while now, did Zero install some kind of health program to hack into you guys? Why are you always trying to get me to go to bed early?

[Anti-fraud expert #66: No. I also want to say that you yourself have been invaded by him to the point where you have no space left. You can even think of him when it comes to something as ordinary as telling you to go to bed early. How dare you criticize me?]

[Anti-fraud Guru #198: We're tied to you, so of course we'll act according to your style. Look at yourself, you clearly don't like sweet drinks, yet you still unconsciously opened a bottle of bourbon. Why don't you have a drink with your own code name on it?]

The alpaca pointed to the liquor cabinet behind it, which was filled with many fine wines, including Scotch whisky.

...It's late at night, and I don't need to drink such strong liquor.

[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: ...Fine, we won't interfere with your childhood friendship. Just don't let the organization see how close you two are.]

I know what I'm doing.

He glanced at the time and silently added in his mind, "I know you all hope I can withstand the pressure from time and space for a little longer. I'll go to sleep after I finish this drink."

Look, I've actually only filled this cup a little bit.

The alpaca circled the glass of bourbon whiskey.

[Anti-fraud expert #214: Alright, no rush to sleep now. Shuichi Akai texted me; it seems to be about the combination lock.]

Upon hearing this, Morofushi Kagemitsu immediately put down his wine glass, now he could legitimately delay going to sleep a little longer. He didn't need to use the anti-fraud tactic; he simply picked up his phone and checked it himself.

[Ray: The safe has been recovered. We can meet again sometime.]

[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: Has it finally been found? It's been several days already, the FBI's actions are so slow!]

[Anti-fraud expert #205: Anyway, it's good that it's been found. We're still waiting to see what was left inside.]

Morofushi Kagemitsu thought so too. Seeing that Akai Shuichi didn't mention anything else about the problem with the combination lock, he felt relieved and arranged a time and place with the other party.

[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: You actually arranged to meet on a mountain road, Jing? Are you planning to test if you can travel through space at that time?]

yes.

Since there's no opportunity, we can only create one ourselves. Hopefully, this arrangement will work.

Morofushi Kagemitsu finished the little wine he had left in his cup and went to bed without hesitation.

The next day, Morobushi Kagemitsu woke up from a dream filled with more than 200 alpacas. When he opened his eyes, he was stunned and almost jumped out of bed.

[Anti-fraud expert #11: Calm down, calm down, this is the house we'll be renting five years from now.]

Huh?!