As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Chapter 142 New Orga

Shotaro's pupils contracted sharply. He felt as if a ferocious beast with a metal shell was standing before him.

Lin Chen moved his right wrist, his arm claws drawing three scorching trails in the air.

“You’re right.” Lin Chen’s voice came through the mask, carrying a deep, inhuman murmur. “A greenhorn like you is indeed not suitable.”

He took a step, and the asphalt road beneath his feet cracked in patches. Lin Chen felt a power much stronger than the original Earth Emperor Armor, and he couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"So it's my turn."

Skull rose from the shattered wall, his dark red eyes flashing. The fake Narumi Shokichi—no, the thing cloaked in the guise of the dead—tilted his head, seemingly evaluating this sudden variable.

Then it moved.

The black knight transformed into a blur, rushing towards Lin Chen with a surge of blue and white energy. His right fist, enhanced by the power of the Skull Memory, compressed the air into visible white circles wherever it struck.

Lin Chen did not dodge.

He merely shifted his body slightly, the armored blade on the outside of his left arm directly blocking the punch. The resounding clang of metal clashing echoed throughout the street, and the energy shockwave blasted out from the point of contact, shattering the windows of the buildings on both sides.

Skull's fist was firmly wedged between the two blades of armor, remaining completely still.

"that's it?"

Lin Chen's right arm claw slashed diagonally upwards. Three golden blades of light appeared, tearing through the air and leaving three deep, visible claw marks on Skull's breastplate. Amidst the burst of sparks, the black knight was sent flying again, crashing heavily into a car parked on the side of the road, the roof of the car dented into an irregular dent.

Akiko stared blankly at the scene, even temporarily forgetting her sadness.

Philip glanced at the Gaia Driver on his waist through the Bat Camera, his brow furrowing: "That driver... it was Sherrard's design. I didn't expect it to be so powerful!"

Shotaro Zuo remained silent. He was still slumped on the ground, his gaze fixed on Lin Chen's back. Every inch of that armor exuded something unsettling—not fear, but a deeper, instinctive tremor.

It was as if a real beast was lurking beneath that dark golden shell.

Lin Chen raised his right hand, the blade of his energy claw aimed at Skull lying in the ruins. Golden photon blood began to flow faster along the veins of his right arm, emitting an increasingly piercing charging hum.

“No matter whose skin you’re wearing,” Lin Chen’s voice turned cold, “the dead should lie there peacefully.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a bolt of dark golden lightning.

Just before the energy claws were about to tear apart the Skull helmet, the fake Narumi Shoji's figure suddenly became blurry. White mist poured out wildly from the gaps in the armor, and the next second, the entire black knight's body disintegrated into a thick fog, enveloping the white-suited figure as it rapidly retreated.

Lin Chen's claw strike missed, only managing to shatter a few wisps of residual mist.

He turned around, his amber-gold compound eyes tracking the fleeing white mist. The other party was too fast, and its flight path was unpredictable; in just a few breaths, it had retreated dozens of meters away.

“Death…” Sherrard’s voice came through the communicator, “That memory seems to have no fixed physical form, and it’s difficult to really hurt it with conventional attacks.”

"Then let's go after them."

Just as Lin Chen was about to unleash his full power in pursuit, a sudden surge of intense energy emanated from his waist. The pulsation frequency of the saber-toothed tiger memory abruptly increased, and the light from the skull emblem changed from a deep purple to a blinding crimson.

The next second, a sharp burning sensation spread from my waist to my whole body.

Lin Chen grunted and knelt on one knee. The golden patterns on the armor surface began to flash intensely.

"Damn it... what's going on!"

The armor plates began to peel off layer by layer, turning into golden specks of light that dissipated into the air.

He took the Didi phone from his waist and closed the flip cover.

Sherrard's voice came through the communicator: "It seems that memory chip has more than just the function of an amplifier. You're being rejected when using a single memory chip! By the way, what exactly is going on with that memory chip!"

Lin Chen didn't speak. He pulled Zuo Xiangtaro up from the ground. Zuo Xiangtaro looked at Lin Chen in front of him and felt that he had changed. Although he still looked human, the aura he exuded was no different from that of a predator.

Sherrard didn't go back to the detective agency with them. Lin Chen also went somewhere else; Wu Yan found him and said he had been doing well lately, so he would show him the real Fuuto today.

The atmosphere became silent as soon as the door was opened. Akiko spoke first: "Shotaro, what exactly happened to my father?"

Shotaro consistently avoided Akiko's gaze, wanting to escape from her questions about Narumi Shokichi.

Having witnessed Kamen Rider Skull appear in disguise as his master, and then experiencing battles and defeats, all sorts of images kept churning in his mind. Guilt and confusion overwhelmed him, leaving him with no courage to confront Akiko's questions.

He hurried forward, reaching out to open the office door, intending to slip away and find some peace and quiet.

But as soon as the door was opened a crack, two familiar figures blocked the entrance. It was Mikio Renno and Inspector Makura, who had been asked by Shotaro Hidari to deliver Narumi Shokichi's death file.

"Shotaro, we've brought you the things." Renno spoke up, his gaze falling on the restless young man.

Shotaro was completely flustered and had no interest in socializing. As if he hadn't heard what the other person was saying, he turned to walk past them.

"Wait a minute." Renno quickly grabbed his arm, her tone tinged with helplessness. "Ignoring our guests like this is just too impolite."

Shotaro left with his head down, saying nothing. He simply shook off the other person's hand and walked away down the street without looking back, leaving the people and problems behind him.

As Masakura watched his retreating figure, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Honestly, this half-baked detective is always so self-centered."

The two exchanged a glance, then stopped chasing after Shotaro and turned to stand in front of Akiko, who was guarding the office.

Renno gently placed a well-sealed paper file on the table. The cover of the file clearly marked Narumi Shokichi's relevant information.

He didn't say anything more, just nodded slightly to Akiko, then turned and left with Makura, leaving the office filled with a somber atmosphere behind.

Akiko looked down at the heavy death file, her fingertips gently tracing the cover, her eyes slightly reddening. The series of strange events, the sudden appearance of her fake father, and the death record brought by others—the pressure was overwhelming her.

...

The Sonozaki Manor was ablaze with lights. Tonight, a grand gala was being held here, attended by dignitaries from all walks of life. Exquisite crystal chandeliers hung from the dome of the hall, casting shimmering light upon the arriving guests. Melodious music flowed gently through the hall, amidst the elegant attire and clinking glasses; almost every prominent figure in the city had gathered here.

Lin Chen followed closely beside Sonozaki Kirihiko, weaving through the crowd. Guests gathered in small groups, whispering amongst themselves, their conversations invariably focusing on the strange rumors that had recently swept through the city.

"Have you heard? Recently, many people in Fengdu have reported seeing their deceased relatives appear."

"At first I thought it was just a rumor, but I didn't expect that several people around me had encountered it. It's really too strange."

"Could it really be some kind of paranormal phenomenon?"

The murmurs of conversation drifted into Lin Chen's ears, and he silently memorized each word. This incident of hallucinations of the dead, triggered by the Death God's memory, had already spread far and wide within the upper echelons of Fengdu, causing quite a stir.

In the center of the hall, Sonozaki Ryubei held a wine glass, looking relaxed. Sonozaki Wakana and Sister Sonozaki Saeko approached him and brought up the strange incident.

"Father, you must have heard about the rumors circulating in the city about the dead coming back to life, right?" Wakana spoke first, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Ryūbei stroked Mick in his arms, his face showing no surprise and making no attempt to hide anything: "Of course I know about this. I personally gave away that memory. I just didn't expect that guy to use such an interesting method, which has certainly added a lot of excitement to Fuuto."

Upon learning the truth, the two sisters exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with interest.

"I see, that sounds quite interesting," Saeko said casually.

Wakana nodded repeatedly: "This matter has piqued my interest. I really want to see what happens next."

Just then, Wu Yan led Lin Chen slowly to the three of them. Ryūbei held his pet Mick in his arms, looking Lin Chen up and down with interest, a gentle smile on his lips.

"You must be Kimura-kun?" Ryubei asked, his voice steady. "Kihiko often mentions you to me, saying you are exceptionally capable and very reliable. There are so many outstanding young people these days, keep up the good work, and your future is bright."

After a few brief comments, he picked up Mick and turned to walk towards the circle of celebrities chatting on the other side, continuing to mingle among the guests of the party.

Ruocai's gaze fell on Lin Chen, her eyes filled with amusement: "There aren't many people who can receive praise from Father himself. It seems you really do have something special."

As she continued to scrutinize him, a strange sense of familiarity grew stronger. She was certain that she had never had any formal interaction with this person before, but his eyebrows, figure, and even his aura all seemed strangely familiar.

After thinking for a moment, she turned to look at Wu Yan beside her and made a direct request: "Brother-in-law Wu Yan, I really like this subordinate of yours. I wonder if I could borrow him for a few days?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen was immediately taken aback. He silently glanced at Wu Yan, inwardly lamenting that the situation had deviated from his expectations. Originally, he had only come to the manor party with Wu Yan tonight to make an appearance and get acquainted with her, never expecting that Yuanzaki Wakana would actually ask for him in public.

Kirihiko was slightly surprised, but he maintained a calm demeanor and politely declined, saying, "I'm so sorry, Ms. Wakana. Kimura-kun has a lot of important matters to attend to and can't spare the time to assist you."

"Oh, that's a real shame." Wakana shrugged with a hint of regret, no longer insisting, and turned to merge into the crowd.

Watching Wakana's departing figure, Lin Chen silently reviewed his actions. Wakana had frequently visited the detective agency, and he had always deliberately avoided meeting her. Now it seemed that he had still inadvertently been noticed by her.

Saeko Sonozaki, standing to the side, glanced at Lin Chen indifferently, not taking him seriously. In her mind, Kirihiko was a spineless husband, so naturally he wouldn't have any truly outstanding subordinates. She didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.

After the Sonosaki sisters had gone far away, only Kirihiko and Lin Chen remained in a corner of the hall. Kirihiko's polite smile faded, and his tone became serious: "It seems that Kimura-kun has been taken to heart by my father-in-law. This is a good thing. Just continue to work diligently from now on."

As soon as he finished speaking, he took out a laminated photo from his pocket, handed it to Lin Chen, and said in a somber tone, "Now, I need you to investigate someone for me."

Lin Chen looked down at the photo. In the picture, Sonozaki Ryubei was chatting happily with an elderly man with white hair. The moment he saw the old man's face, Lin Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

Koei Jiro!

Lin Chen was both surprised and delighted. It seemed that Tsukasa Kadoya had also come to this world.

Chapter 143 Reunion with Tsukasa Kadoya

Halfway through the banquet, the desire to find Tsukasa Kadoya took over. Lin Chen then made an excuse to say goodbye to Kirihiko, and before leaving, he took the opportunity to inquire about the specific location where Ryubei and Koeijiro met in the photo.

Seeing that Lin Chen took the task seriously immediately, Wu Yan was very satisfied with his proactive attitude. Without hiding anything, he truthfully told Lin Chen the location where the photos were taken.

After bidding farewell to Wu Yan, Lin Chen set off for the location of the ramen stall in the photo.

Meanwhile, deep in a quiet, old-fashioned alley in Fuuto, Koei Jiro strolled leisurely, a contented smile on his face. He was eagerly anticipating meeting his old friend and going to enjoy the ramen he had been longing for. He lightly lifted the curtain of a ramen stall on the street, but after scanning the area, he couldn't find his old friend anywhere. His earlier joy vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of loneliness.

Just as the old man was feeling dejected, the stall owner standing in front of the stall spoke up: "Sir, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The man wore a fisherman's hat and a gray-blue vest, the wide brim of which was pulled low, obscuring most of his face in shadow. As soon as he finished speaking, he brought out a plate of grilled squid and placed a bottle of spirits on the table.

Originally sullen, Koei Jiro looked down at the food and drink offerings, his expression brightening slightly. He casually remarked, "Squid with shochu, that's quite a good combination." But halfway through his sentence, he suddenly froze, his pupils contracting sharply as the keywords "squid" and "shochu" flashed through his mind.

"Squid? Liquor? Squid Demon?!" He suddenly stood up from his seat, backing away as he warily stared at the stall owner in front of him.

"Only realizing it now? Too bad it's too late."

The stall owner slowly raised his head, moved the brim of his hat aside, revealing half of his face hidden in the shadows—it was Narutaki.

Knowing the danger, Kōei Jirō turned to flee the alley without a word. But suddenly a large black cloak flew in from mid-air, falling rapidly like a living thing, and instantly wrapped around the old man's body, completely enveloping Kōei Jirō into a round black sphere.

A series of ripples appeared in the air, the dimensional wall flashed with a faint light, and with a fleeting spatial fluctuation, Narutaki and the black sphere containing Koeijiro vanished into thin air.

The alleyway, which had been filled with the sounds of conversation just moments before, fell deathly silent, leaving only an empty ramen stall, untouched squid and sake on the table. The evening breeze swept a few scattered pieces of trash across the ground, making the entire alley feel desolate and bleak. The evening breeze gently stirred the curtains, as if nothing had ever happened.

Soon after, Lin Chen followed the address given by Wu Yan and successfully found the ramen stall in the alley. However, looking around, the stall was deserted, with tables and chairs haphazardly placed and the cutting board spotless; the entire stall was empty.

Lin Chen was filled with doubts. He recalled the hard-boiled mystery novels that Zuo Xiangtaro had bought, which he used to read regularly.

So he simply followed the investigative approach described in the book, bending down to carefully search for clues around the stall, his eyes sweeping over the ground, the table, and the stove, not letting go of any tiny clue.

Just as he bent down to examine the remaining traces on the ground, a frantic cry suddenly came from the other end of the alley: "Grandpa! Grandpa!"

A clear, crisp female voice approached from afar. Lin Chen looked up and turned his head towards the source of the sound, where a familiar figure quickly came into view. The girl was wearing a blue plaid shirt and ginger-yellow tights, and her features were strikingly familiar.

The moment Lin Chen saw who it was, his eyes lit up. It was none other than Guang Xiahai, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.