Digimon: I really didn't want to be the Digimon Emperor!

Cheng Yuan and Zhao Lu stood in a long queue at the security checkpoint of the digital center.

The little dog squirmed restlessly in Cheng Yuan's arms, clearly uncomfortable with the tight security measures around it.

"It seems the association is moving quickly," Cheng Yuan said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the newly installed detection devices.

Each security gate is equipped with a flashing blue scanning beam, and fully armed staff stand beside it.

It is likely that after the Beastmasters Association obtained the Dark Gear sample, they worked overnight to mass-produce a large number of security inspection devices, and quarantine work targeting the Dark Gear has been launched throughout the city.

Digital centers, with their high density of people, are naturally a key area for quarantine and prevention.

"Security check passed, welcome to the Digital Center."

After passing through multiple security gates, the two put away their Digimon.

There are rules in these places that prohibit the summoning of Digimon except in designated areas, such as battle rooms and medical rooms.

The doors of the digital center remained closed, and some people were already queuing outside.

Several Digimon were confined in specially made isolation cages, and their trainers were anxiously negotiating with staff in protective suits.

One of the mineral beasts had a faint black, oily substance visible at its joints, and it was numbly banging its head against the iron cage.

"Should we just isolate those who fail quarantine?" Cheng Yuan instinctively hugged the little dog beast tightly, the experience of retrieving the Dark Gear last night still vivid in his mind.

Once the Dark Gears are discovered, removing them isn't too difficult. I tried it last night; divine energy can suppress and expel the Dark Gears. The real challenge lies in how to stop the spread of infection.

"So many people?" Zhao Lu's face turned pale instantly, and her fingers unconsciously gripped Cheng Yuan's sleeve.

Cheng Yuan narrowed his eyes and quickly scanned the line: "Don't rush, they're probably all here to buy ordinary goods. Not many people should know about X Crystal."

Just then, several young men in matching uniforms behind them were loudly complaining. They wore bow and arrow-shaped badges on their chests, and their tone was full of dissatisfaction.

"The Beast Tamer Association is so domineering! They shut down the Savage Valley Digital Space just like that!" a young man with dyed red hair complained indignantly. "What right do they have to suddenly ban hunting? I was planning to hunt a few mischievous monkey beasts yesterday to exchange their digital cores and data for money!"

The companion wearing an earring chimed in, "I heard that the Savage Beasts and the Mischievous Beasts were fighting inside and almost rioted, so the Beast Tamers Association sealed off the Digital Space."

The slick-haired youth leading the group snorted coldly, "Who cares if they fight or not? Our Digital Hunter Guild is no worse than them. Why can they just block roads whenever they want? They can block roads just by showing a permit and get all sorts of tax exemptions. Who gave them these privileges!" another youth said indignantly.

"Oh no!" Zhao Lu exclaimed softly, "It's a Digimon from the Digimon Hunter Guild."

Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Digital Hunter?"

"It's a non-governmental organization independent of the professional Digimon Tamer system, the Digital Hunter Guild," Zhao Lu explained in a low voice. "They mainly hunt Digimon and collect rare resources. Compared to the Tamer Association's 'peacekeeping' and 'integration' principles, they prefer proactive attacks, obtaining what they want from wild Digimon and the Digital World."

"Tsk, to put it bluntly, it's just an unofficial animal trainer organization, lacking a formal establishment."

Zhao Lu shook her head: "It's different. Compared to professional beast trainers, who are all elites, the threshold to becoming a digital hunter is lower, and their quality varies greatly. Their appearance is often accompanied by killing, robbery, and poaching. Moreover... they are frequent visitors to the police department..."

Cheng Yuan understood; it turned out they often "dealt with" Zhao Lu's father, a police officer.

Soon, the doors of the digital center finally opened, and Cheng Yuan and Zhao Lu immediately sprinted towards the No. 3 sales area located in the digital center.

I heard hurried footsteps behind me—those digital hunters were obviously coming from the same direction.

As a girl, Zhao Lu's running speed was slightly slower, and she was about to be caught. Cheng Yuan had a sudden idea: "Zhao Lu, you go first. Pay and complete the transaction as soon as you arrive, and we'll meet at the entrance in a bit."

He stopped speaking, pointed behind him, and shouted excitedly, "Holy crap, a team of professional beast tamers! What a grand display!"

The hunters stopped and looked back as if by reflex, only to find that there was nothing behind them.

By the time they realized what was happening, Cheng Yuan had already stretched out his hand with a grin: "Sorry, you've misread it, you're all fertilized."

Cheng Yuan shook hands with each of them, sincerely apologizing with heartfelt sincerity.

"Damn it! Get out of the way, you brat!" The slick-haired youth shoved Cheng Yuan aside and continued the chase with his companions.

When Zhao Lu rushed breathlessly to the sales area, she immediately shouted, "I want to buy X Crystals!"

"X Crystal is on sale for a fixed price of 80," an employee in the sales area said after tapping the screen a few times.

"Wait, we want X crystals too!" The hunters who had rushed over crowded in front of the counter.

"There's only one." The staff member finally looked up and adjusted his glasses.

"We'll offer a higher price!" The slick-back-haired youth looked at Zhao Lu defiantly.

"I got here first!" Zhao Lu's eyes reddened with anxiety. The money she had scraped together, plus what she had borrowed from Cheng Yuan, was barely enough. If the price was raised, she definitely wouldn't be able to compete.

The staff member said expressionlessly, "According to the Digital Center's regulations, this is on a first-come, first-served basis. Besides..." He glanced meaningfully at the hunters' badges, "Rare resources are prioritized for current animal trainers."

If Cheng Yuan heard this, he would definitely praise the Animal Trainers Association, saying they truly treat us like the flowers of the motherland.

"What kind of bullshit rules are these!" The slick-haired youth slammed his hand on the counter. "This X-Crystal was listed for sale by a member of our Digital Hunter Guild! I demand that the transaction be stopped!"

"Then please come in person to cancel."

The staff ignored her and turned to process Zhao Lu's paperwork.

Having worked at the digital center for many years, he was used to such disturbances—no one had ever dared to actually cause any trouble on the Animal Trainers' Association's territory.

Amidst the envious gazes of several young members of the Hunter's Guild, Zhao Lu trembled as she accepted the specially made container holding the X-Crystal.

She clutched the precious box tightly and strode towards the entrance of the digital center.

After meeting up with Cheng Yuan, Zhao Lu was still immersed in surprise: "I simply can't believe it..."

"Don't be too happy yet," Cheng Yuan said in a low voice, "Let's go quickly!"

Before they could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly arose behind them.

The two looked back and saw that the digital hunters had chased after them aggressively, and the young man with slicked-back hair in the lead had a terribly gloomy face.

"Hand over the X crystal," he said viciously. "That's not something a child should have."

Cheng Yuan's eyes darted around, and he suddenly grinned, then pulled back from stepping out of the digital center.

He deliberately raised his voice: "This is the territory of the Beast Tamers' Association. Who among you dares to touch us here?"

Several young hunters, who were touching their Digimon machines, froze on the spot upon hearing this, their expressions shifting between anger and uncertainty.

The slick-haired youth gritted his teeth: "You brat, you're all in cahoots, aren't you? If you hadn't tricked us, we would have been here already!"

"???" Cheng Yuan blinked innocently. "I'm sorry, I really misread it just now. I've already apologized. I really thought my teacher's team of professional animal trainers had arrived."

"Stop pretending!" another hunter couldn't help but interject. "Hey girl, you bought it for 80, right? We'll pay 90, giving you a free 10 profit. Isn't that generous?"

Zhao Lu hugged the container tightly, her voice firm: "I...I won't sell."

Seeing this, Cheng Yuan deliberately sighed exaggeratedly, "Did you hear that? We're not selling. You're going to keep bothering us, aren't you? Fine, we're not in a hurry to leave anyway." He smiled at Zhao Lu, "Let's browse around the digital center first, and wait for your sheriff dad to come pick you up."

"A sheriff?" The hunters' expressions changed slightly, and they exchanged glances.

Who are these two? One is a student of a professional animal trainer, and the other is the daughter of a sheriff?

"Fine...fine! You won't talk properly, huh? I'll just stay here and wait, and see which sheriff actually comes to pick you up!"

"Whatever you want! Let's go get a room first," Cheng Yuan said.

"Huh? Open, open what kind of room?" Zhao Lu's face instantly turned red.

"The battle room!" Cheng Yuan pointed to the sign on the right side of the lobby. "We've come all this way to the digital center, how can we not have a friendly match?"