Yang Zicang took a handbook of intelligence that Luo Bin handed him, which documented various details of C-level and B-level intersecting zones and extradimensional spaces.
杨子藏接过洛宾递来的一本情报册，上面记录的各种C级与B级交错地与异度空间的各项资料。
“Now that you have become a quadrilateral, what level has your ability been elevated to?”
“那你现在成为四边形，能力提升到了什么程度？”
“Let me give it a try.” Luo Bin took a few deep breaths and then closed his eyes; the quadrilateral model on his chest expanded slightly.
“我试试。”洛宾深呼吸几口后闭目，胸前四边形模型展开。
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.
数秒后，他张开眼。
“I have gathered some information about this time acceleration.”
“我收集到了关于这次时间加速的部分情报。”
“What?” Yang Zicang’s hand twitched.
“什么？“杨子藏手一抖。
The difference between a quadrilateral and a triangle became evident instantly.
四变形与三角形的区别霎时就体现出来了。
“That was… terribly fast.”
“居然这么迅速。”
“Don’t be surprised. I’m just like you—I slightly upgraded my position and expanded my intelligence utilization rate.”
“别惊讶，我只是如你一般提升了点格位，扩展了点情报利用率。”
“Oh, I see—that’s really impressive too. What is it?”
“原来是这样，也很厉害了。是什么？”
“According to the model’s feedback, the core figure behind this time acceleration is hidden within this city. After the model synthesized the intelligence derived from my existing knowledge, it filled in some gaps for me, granting me insight into certain pieces of information I otherwise wouldn’t have had.”
“模型反馈，时间加速的核心人员就隐藏在这座城市中。这是结合我的已知信息所推导出的情报后，模型为我做了点补完，让我凭空多获得了某些消息。”
What a formidable ability. Yang Zicang thought for a moment and then asked,
真是强悍的能力，杨子藏想了下问。
“Are you going to tell the people at headquarters about this information?”
“你要把这个信息告知给总部的那些人吗？”
“Tell them? Do you think that wouldn’t be a terribly good thing under these circumstances?”
“告诉他们？你不觉得在这样的条件下，是件很好的事吗。”
“Good thing? In these two hours, I’ve already lost over ten days of my lifespan.”
“好事？这两个小时我都少了十来天寿命了。”
“My little brother, why not take this opportunity to train your gun skills? Lifespan? Merely drifting clouds.”
“我的小老弟，你何不趁此机会好好锻炼下自己的枪技。寿命？浮云而已。”
Yang Zicang sighed. This statement wasn’t wrong.
杨子藏叹了口气，这话也没说错。
Liang Xi also tagged along and came in. He downed an entire half box of bottled water, drinking until he vomited without feeling quenched, and showering almost left him collapsed on the ground unable to get up.
梁喜也跟着沾光进来了。他喝掉了整整半件矿泉水，喝吐也不觉得解渴，冲澡更是让他差点趴在地上起不来。
So comfortable. In this entire month, he had never seen this much water cumulatively.
太舒服了，这一个月总共都没见过这么多水。
Following Yang Zicang, Luo Bin also became the idol of this half-grown boy, who had never seen another person collect so much food and drink.
继杨子藏之后，洛宾也成为了这半大少年的偶像，这小子就没有见过第二个收集到这么多食物和饮料的人。
But when he entered the alternate dimension, the silver long spear in his hand attracted many glances. However, under his control, it would no longer be recognized as a Chrono Weapon.
只是在他进来异度空间时，手上银色长枪吸引了不少人的目光，不过被人所掌控的它，不再会被人发现是时序战器。
……
……
Before the den of the rat-men monsters, several squads in this area had gathered here, discussing countermeasures to defend the entrance.
鼠人怪物巢穴前，这片区域的数只队伍集结于此，商量着防守入口的对策。
“He’s just a newcomer; we can’t let him keep messing around.”
“一个新人而已，不能让他再乱搞了。”
Dozens of people cursed Yang Zicang, who had caused this unprovoked disaster, and envied the hundred-year-old Chrono Weapon in his hands.
数十人咒骂着引动这场无妄之灾的杨子藏，和羡慕他手上的百年时序战器。
“No matter his abilities, it’s time to teach that kid a lesson, get him to learn some rules.”
“不论他的能力如何，该让那小子好好接受点教育，懂些规矩。”
Several people discussed that the clueless Yang Zicang should be taken to register at headquarters early, so he could be made to hand over this weapon that countless people coveted—maybe they could even apply to use it for their own squad.
几人商议应该让什么都还不懂的杨子藏早点去总部登记，这样就能让他上缴这把令无数人垂涎的武器，说不定能申请给自己队伍使用。
……
……
The light was dim, the atmosphere secretive, with faint murmurs echoing from outside.
光线昏暗，气氛隐秘，微弱说话声在外回响。
After sleeping soundly, Yang Zicang put on the old jacket Luo Bin gave him and planned to go out for some fresh air.
饱饱的睡了觉后，杨子藏换上洛宾给自己的旧外套，打算出去透透风。
The elderly, weak, and disabled people in the hall were all in the corners, some chatting softly, using the light from oil lamps or magic stones to read collected magazines, novels, and other books—most of which, including those used as toilet paper, could be found not only in their hands but also in the restroom.
大厅中的老弱残疾之人们都在角落里，有些人低声闲聊，用油灯或魔石的光芒来看收集来的杂志小说等书籍，实际上不光他们手上，连厕所里都有被用来当厕纸的书。
Crude people like Luo Bin would occasionally spout a couple of literary-sounding phrases, probably picked up while squatting on the toilet.
洛宾那种俗人不时崩两句充满文学风情的句子，估计大多都是在蹲坑的时候看来的。
“Hello, I just heard you’re quadrilateral? How should I address you?”
“你好，我才听说你是四边形？怎么称呼你？”
A spirited boy of about seventeen or eighteen walked out from a corner; he was the same one who managed to shut Wang Yu’an up earlier.
角落中走出来个看上去很是精神的十七八岁少年，正是之前能让王育安闭嘴的那位。
“My name is Yang Zicang. ‘Zicang’ means ‘to hide things.’ What’s yours?”
“我叫杨子藏，藏东西的藏，你呢？”
“You can call me Wang Chijian. It’s not my real name—just a nickname.”
“你可以叫我王迟剑，这并非是我真正的名字，算是花名。”
This boy looked like a jock; apparently, he exercised here regularly, always keeping fit.
这个男孩看上去就像是个体育生，看来他在这里随时都在运动，锻炼着自己。
“So you all like using aliases. Is ‘Boss Wang’ also a nickname?”
“你们都喜欢用代号。内个‘王总’呢，也是代号？”
“No, he really is a boss.”
“不，他真的是老总。”
Wang Chijian chuckled, probably amused by the connotations of that title.
王迟剑笑了下，估计也是被自己说的这名头给逗笑了。
“Want to go check out a Grade B Intersection with me?”
“有兴趣跟我去B级交错地吗？”
“For now…”
“现在的话…”
Yang Zicang didn’t fully trust this person.
杨子藏不是很信任这个人。
“I’d really like to see your quadrilateral ability. Before that mission, pick whatever time you want; anyway, Boss Wang hasn’t shown up for now, so I wouldn’t be able to go anyway.”
“我很想见识下四边形的能力，在办那件事以前，时间你选就好了，反正这会王总也没有在，我没办法去。”
“What do you mean?”
“什么意思？”
“Because everyone’s lifespan rests in his hands.”
“因为大家的寿元都在他手上。”
……
……
So that’s the reason? The lifespans of these people lie in that man’s grasp.
这就是原因吗？这些人的寿命都在那家伙的手里。
“And you all go along with this willingly?”
“你们心甘情愿？”
“Exactly. Because he is a professional investor. Those who cannot acquire time-sequences through their own ability hand their lifespans over to him for management, and use the earned time-sequences as their expenses. That’s how it works.”
“没错，因为他是职业投资人。这些没办法用能力获得时序的人，把自己的寿命交给他代为打理，赚到的时序用来开支，就这样。”
“Heh, haha.” Yang Zicang shook his head. “I should have known such people would exist.”
“呵呵，哈哈。”杨子藏摇摇头，“我早该想到会有这种人的存在的。”
He looked at the young man before him:
他看向身前的年轻人：
“So you managed to secure a substantial investment from him, didn’t you? You’re a combatant in this team.”
“所以你能获得他不菲的投资，对吧！你是这只队伍的战斗人员。”
Those elderly people are not actually old; rather, they have entrusted their entire lifespan to Mr. Wang for him to manage and allocate. As for the main combat personnel, it is the person before me!
这些老人们并非是老人，而是将自己的寿命全部给王总，由那家伙来支配。而主战人员，就是眼前之人！
The boy nodded.
少年点点头。
“Anyway, if you’re really taking on this job, we need to see your skills—hope you understand that.”
“反正，如果真是你来接这单生意的话，我们是要看下你的能力的，希望你能理解。”
“We’ll see about that when the time comes.”
“到时候看吧。”
Yang Zicang couldn’t be bothered to continue this conversation. He was only doing this to pay off debts, forced into it against his will.
杨子藏懒得继续跟他说这些话。自己只不过是因为欠债而被迫营业罢了。
……
……
He walked out all the way to the top floor of the Technology Museum.
一路外出上了科技博物馆的顶层。
The young man, now wearing a dark green shirt of middle-aged and elderly style along with gray-brown casual trousers, rolled up his sleeves and stood with hands on his hips on the spacious curved balcony.
换了中老年款暗绿衬衫，以及灰棕色休闲长裤的青年，挽着袖子叉腰，挺立于弧线形的宽敞阳台。
The setting sun had already sunk halfway below the city’s distant edge.
远处城市边缘，夕阳才落下去了一半。
“How many hours has it been?”
“几个小时了？”
In the gentle breeze, Yang Zicang asked the similarly refreshed boy beside him. Liang Xi, his face tinged orange by the glow of the sunset, yawned.
微风中，杨子藏问向旁边同样整洁一新的少年。被霞光映得橘红的梁喜打着哈欠。
“Slept about six hours.”
“睡了差不多六个小时啦。”
“So that means, by our usual schedule, it should be midnight right now. Can it really be this slow?”
“那也就是说，按我们的作息时间，此刻应是半夜了。居然这么慢吗。”
Yang Zicang’s thoughts strayed back to the key figure mentioned in the intelligence Luo Bin had gathered.
杨子藏又想到了洛宾收集的情报中，所提及的那个关键人物的事。
Surely, that monster camp member who happens to be nearby—just like him—must have been selected by something akin to an ‘Alderman’ in their own camp, investing in abilities or items to accelerate time in this area.
想必恰巧在附近的那怪物阵营之人，也如自己一般，被其阵营中类似“议员”的存在选中，从而投资了加速区域时间的能力或道具。
He wondered if the pace inside might get even faster.
不知道这里面的速度会不会变得更快。
Yang Zicang unexpectedly thought of Director Huang, who had wandered off somewhere. Those hairy legs in flip-flops, posed with a bow stance, flashed before his eyes again.
杨子藏没来得想到了不知蹓跶到哪里去的黄主任。那双穿着人字拖叉着弓字步的毛腿又浮现在眼前。
Yang Zicang quickly shook his head to banish these images.
杨子藏赶紧摇摇头，甩掉这些画面。
Liang Xi spoke with a hint of lightness: “Brother Yang, it’s actually fine if things speed up here. At least for us, the days deducted from the three-hundred-year span are stretched out longer.”
梁喜略带轻松的道：“杨哥，其实这里变快也很好，至少对我们来说，扣除三百年时间的天数被拉长了。”
……
……
Hearing this, Yang Zicang smiled slightly, then continued his silent thoughts. The main fighters of the monster camp should still be on their way here.
听闻此言的杨子藏笑了下，随即继续沉默的想到，目前怪物阵营的主战人员应该还在进入这里的路上。
He looked into the distance, hoping those seasoned veterans in the city could hold down the leaky entrance to the monster nest.
他看向远方，希望城中这些老油条们能守好那四面漏风的怪物巢穴入口。
If some random person got in and killed a rat, everyone would be in for quite the laugh.
要是随便进去个人杀掉只老鼠，大家就有大乐子了。
“Now is actually the best time to deal with them. But Luo Bin clearly doesn’t want any part of this mess.”
“此刻实际上是最好的解决对方的时机。可洛宾是明摆着不愿意淌这趟浑水。”
Yang Zicang muttered to himself and shook his head. He picked up the silver spear leaning at his side and made a few careless swings.
杨子藏自言自语，摇摇头，他提起斜放在一旁的银色长枪，试着随意舞了几下。
Without using any acceleration ability, the movements were utterly chaotic and without form.
不运用加速能力，这动作根本就是毫无章法。
“Brother Yang, are you practicing with the spear? Want to use that thing I found to stimulate your body?”
“杨哥，你要练枪吗？要不要用我找到的那个东西刺激体魄？”
“I still feel like this is last-minute cramming.”
“我始终有点临时抱佛脚的感觉。”
“Hehe, who isn’t?”
“嘿嘿。谁不是呢。”
As they were talking, the sound of fluttering wings echoed from the sky.
正说着，天空响起煽动翅膀的噗噗声。
Looking up, a fat carrier pigeon, silhouetted against the sunset, was laboriously flapping its wings, struggling to climb high into the sky from afar.
抬头看去，夕阳下一只肥胖的信鸽正摇摇欲坠的从远方吃力煽动翅膀爬向这高空。
At the first sight of it, Yang Zicang felt something was off about this creature. When it got close overhead, he finally made out that the pigeon was not real.
看到它的第一眼，杨子藏就感觉这生物有点奇怪，当它靠近头顶后，他终于分辨出来，这鸽子不是真的。
After the cold-ice cartoon figure, this was the second simulated life form he had encountered that was constructed by modeling abilities.
继寒冰卡通形象后，他见到了第二种由模型能力所构建的模拟生物。
Pop! The fat pigeon’s form dissipated, and a rolled piece of paper fell from inside.
啪~胖鸽子的身形消散，体内落下卷曲的纸张。
[Dispatching ability activated.]
[调度能力发动。]
The trajectory of the falling paper curving shifted several meters away. Yang Zicang stood ready with his spear, watching it land on the ground. Its curled surface was scribbled vertically in crooked Chinese characters: “For Yang Zicang.”
卷纸坠落的轨迹变幻向几米之外，杨子藏提枪严正以待的看着它落在地面，它曲卷的表面歪歪扭扭竖写着“杨子藏收”几个汉字。
“Brother, this fat bird actually managed to find you.”
“哥，这胖鸟居然能找到你。”
Liang Xi, with no hesitation, ran over to pick it up and held it out. “Shall I open it?”
梁喜没啥心眼的跑去捡起，扬了扬道：“我拆咯？”
“Give it to me. I’ll open it myself.” Yang Zicang activated the Amplified Chrono and tore off the fine thread.
“给我吧，我自己拆。”杨子藏展开增幅时序，撕开细线。
“Ha, fine. I admit the headquarters here has some use after all.”
“呵，好嘛，我承认这里的总部还是有点作用的。”
—We will not forcibly claim the weapon of a camp member, but if you do not register at headquarters within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, we will consider you no longer a member of the Monster Hunter Camp.
——我们不会强行索取阵营成员的武器，但若你自收信起的二十四小时内不于总部登记，我们将视你为非猎怪者阵营之人。
This was part of the contents of the note.
这是纸条上的部分内容。
Register, then hand over the century-level Chrono Weapon according to the rules. Or refuse, and be hunted down.
登记，然后按规矩上交百年级时序战器。或者拒绝，再被人追杀。
This is their goal—their final ultimatum.
这就是这些人的目的，这是他们的最后通牒。
“A-Liang, can you activate your force field?”
“阿梁，你能展开力场吗。”
“Of course I can.”
“当然啊。”
The boy nodded excitedly. This ability was his favorite; it made him feel like a superhero.
少年兴奋的点点头，这个能力是他最喜欢的，这让他有种自己是超人的感觉。
Just stretch out his hand, and with a radiant force field, he could block anything heading his way. How cool was that?
只需要把手一伸，光芒力场就能挡下进攻的所有东西，多酷啊。