Chapter 228 (Chapter 228) A Premature Recovery
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Hmm... the atmosphere in the car is a bit too quiet, so let me liven things up a bit. Jing, when we get back, let's spend some time thoroughly investigating that medical center of ours; who knows what tricks Rum might have used this time.]
That's natural.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Alright, now that everything's clear, let's get out of here. I think that since Zero already knows the whole story, the mission won't be difficult to complete once you leave this area. Besides, it's time for us to head back anyway.]
Huh? Are we going back so soon?
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Ah, why don't you take a look at the spacetime energy we consumed this time? Besides, we finally managed to control our return time; if we used it wisely, wouldn't that be a fair comparison to all the hardships we've endured on these journeys?]
this……
Morobuchi Kagemitsu glanced at the energy tank, then at Zero.
That's true, but didn't you say you were extending my time here? Why are you suddenly going back now?
[Anti-Fraud King No. 66: But I also said it would shorten your stay here by 90%, and with that protective shield from earlier, we don't actually have much energy left.]
Ah, so that simple formation can only buy such a short time?
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: What else? You said it was just a simple standing punishment. Reciting the incantation a few times can only make you stand for a short while; it's impossible for you to stay like that for that long. The energy expenditure isn't even proportional. Besides, we've already done a great job of accidentally uncovering this "invisible killer." We not only protected Zero, but we also learned the organization's secrets. What's wrong with that?]
That's what they say, but...
[Anti-Fraud King #66: If we stay any longer, I can't guarantee I can protect both of you. This time travel situation was already precarious, and then there's the ambiguous stance of Vermouth, who keeps using our power. This move was somewhat predictable, but if we escalate the situation further, it will only become more covert, and we might attract something else, which would be a net loss.]
That's true, hopefully there will be fewer obstacles when they take action.
By the way, could I send Hasegawa's butler over to help? That would be one way for Black Guest to participate in the final battle.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: It was a backup plan you arranged, so it's your decision. I know you're worried about this, so let me do the math... Seven minutes, I'll give you seven minutes to explain everything, that should be enough, right?]
That's enough.
Actually, I don't have that many things I can't let go of. Zero and they will win, and I believe in them.
Morofushi Kagemitsu glanced at the time, sorting through the various information on this time-space phone, and said, "Just drop me off at the crossroads ahead. I left something with Butler Hase, which should be of some help to you."
Rei Furuya's eyes flickered slightly, but his gaze remained fixed straight ahead as he said, "...I owe you a favor for what happened today, so why are you the one handing me something?"
Morifushi Kagemitsu shook his head and said, "...Do you really think there are public security officers like you who would willingly offer themselves up? I've already achieved my goal and even obtained a lot of intelligence from you. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, so why are you doing me a favor?"
Rei Furuya gripped the steering wheel tightly and turned right.
When Morofushi Kagemitsu heard that the person next to him did not continue speaking, he looked up and, relying on the strong tacit understanding they had developed over the past ten years, he discerned something.
After Zero realized that the corpse belonged to Morofushi Kagemitsu, his attitude changed drastically, especially today.
[Anti-fraud King No. 66: Isn't that great? Otherwise, he would always feel guilty about his meal replacement behavior. In this way, 'Midori Osamu' or No. 234 also has his own independent personality in Zero-kun's eyes.]
That sounds really good. But it's not so simple to ask Zero to completely sever ties with this body. Besides, we probably won't be able to come back here again, right? Although you didn't say it explicitly, I can vaguely sense that this time travel is different.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: ...After all, our main focus is on infiltrating anti-fraud apps, so we don't force users to complete the game in one go, especially when everyone has already revealed their cards.]
That really was the last time we met.
“I haven’t experienced these futures, and I’ve even been absent from a part of your past, so I really don’t have the right or any status to speak on,” Morofushi Kagemitsu said carefully. “I just want to say that I want to help you as much as I can, not only from the will of this body, but also from my own desire.”
Rei Furuya gritted his teeth silently, and after driving through the intersection, he silently stepped on the brakes.
Morofushi Kagemitsu said earnestly, "Next, I'm going to Black Guest's headquarters. This is a promise between 'him' and me."
[Anti-fraud expert #66: That's fine too. Since he can't let go, he can only keep his distance. It'll save him from constantly being reminded that Morofushi Kagemitsu is dead, and in the end, no one will be happy. Oh, listen up, there are three minutes left.]
Knowing that his actions were somewhat drastic, Morofushi Kagemitsu reached for the car door after saying these words, preparing to retreat immediately.
As a result, he opened the door once, but it wouldn't open.
[Anti-fraud expert #66: ...He locked it. No problem, luckily the lock is connected to the central locking system, opening it is a piece of cake.]
"Clatter".
Before No. 66 could finish speaking, the car door clicked open.
Morofushi Kagemitsu's heart started racing. He didn't dare look back at Furuya Rei's expression, and rushed out of the car, taking three steps at a time to shrink into the shadows of an inconspicuous alley.
[Anti-Fraud Master No. 66: ...I just started, and your heart is already beating a little too fast. Anyway, do you still remember the "spell" I had you recite in the warehouse earlier? If you experience any pre-transmigration symptoms later, close your eyes and silently recite this to avoid time-space perception pollution from this dimension.]
good.
Morobuchi Kagemitsu closed his eyes slightly and very carefully began to chant the "incantation".
As some noises began to appear around him, a sense of fear arose, along with the feeling that he was bound by an invisible electronic net. The net trembled slightly, and the electrical signals flowed to all parts of his body with the "wave" that was stirred up, making him shiver as if a cold wind had blown by.
Suddenly, an alarm clock rang out, and the rapid ticking of the mechanical clock continued relentlessly. Each pause was different, as if the cracked clock was being torn to pieces in a temporal storm. The urgent ticking sound was like the last cry of someone who had been pushed to the end of time.
[Received]
[Loading...]
The familiar electronic voice seemed to be slowly calling back his consciousness, relieving the discomfort caused by prolonged dizziness.
After an unknown amount of time, Morifushi Kagemitsu opened his eyes and found that he was no longer in that narrow, dark alley. The faint glow of the computer screen was quite conspicuous in the unlit room at dusk, reminding him that he had returned to his familiar study.
"Clatter".
The study lights turned on automatically.
[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: It's Jing! No mistake! She's back, she's back! This time Jing is coming home very quickly!]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #19: I told you this time it wouldn't go wrong! Look, Jingyi came back, and even Number 66 re-established communication with us.]
[Anti-Fraud King #214: It's good that you're back. You almost got possessed during those three hours you traveled to the future, you know that?!]
Morofushi Kagemitsu's mind had just been pulled out of the chaotic and crazy world, and before he could even catch his breath, he was shocked by the news brought by the Anti-Fraud Army King.
What did you just say? What possession? Are you sure you're not reading some fantasy novel from across the ocean?
He blinked, his gaze falling on the computer in front of him. The screen still displayed his chat with Mr. Jin Quan, and even his action of canceling the file submission had been recorded.
How did I get possessed? Could it be that Number 234 was briefly swapped into my body?
[Anti-fraud expert #148: Wait, what's #234? Ah, Jing! Did you really meet #234 in the future?]
Oh? You can hear number 234 in my heart?
[Anti-Fraud Guru #11: Yeah, I heard you. You're not specifically blocking us anymore.]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #66: Hehe, not only did we encounter them, but we also conveniently refuted #205's hypothesis. Look at this, here's the evidence that Jing and #234 were once in the same timeline!]
[Anti-fraud expert #214: ...So this #234 was erased for violating the rules? I thought he was a consciousness forcibly torn out by Jing while he was alive... Thank goodness he wasn't!]
...Ah.
[Anti-fraud King #205: You guys... So all those actions by #234 in the future were just to fool me? I wasn't really going to destroy the world, I just wanted to transform it, was that really necessary?]
[Anti-fraud King No. 19: Well done, No. 234! We never wanted our will to be so easily erased. And don't think we don't know that you pulled off this whole thing to shut down that binary path, but now that Jing has proven No. 234's existence with memories and facts, the program engraved deep within your will should have started by now.]
[Anti-fraud expert #66: I knew it! Jing and I went on a business trip, and when we came back, we found that #205 had become much more polite. Turns out, his code had these kinds of forks.]
[Anti-fraud expert #205: ...It's alright.]
[Anti-fraud expert #198: Yes, yes, it's alright~ Anyway, we're no longer on the path that will be transformed into fate, so keep being stubborn as you want. You can only accept your fate.]
[Anti-fraud expert #205: Ha, you'd be better off using that time to run around setting up ambushes and acting a few more times.]
...Your identity has changed too quickly, and it seems like you're trending towards becoming like number 26?
[Anti-fraud expert #205: Stop using him to insult me.]
[Anti-Fraud Guru #26: Huh?! What did you say?!]
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Author's note: Why did I suddenly swallow so many words...?
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