Ch: 153-158
Chapter 153 Chapter 153
The boy's tears streamed down: "It's all your fault... Why did you create Humagear!"
In the darkness, Yeli Taro took the opportunity to snatch Yaiba Yua's Satellite Weapon. Yaiba Yua, submerged in grief, failed to stop him.
"Gigantic Power Activation"
"Heavy Punch Mode"
A blinding white light burst forth from the Satellite Weapon, striking directly at Fuwa Isamu!
The incident was sudden; Fuwa Isamu had no time to defend himself.
"Danger!"
Yaiba Yua and Selena cried out simultaneously. That beam concentrated special elements designed against Humagear; how could a human body withstand it?
The Yeli Family fell from grace and became the target of public criticism due to the 31 Incident. Yeli Taro lay dormant near Dawn Town, only to carry out his "revenge"—though he had no direct connection to Humagear, he deeply hated these mechanical creations and their creators!
In the nick of time, Wang Haoyu swiftly rescued Fuwa Isamu.
"Thanks." Fuwa Isamu opened his eyes, having expected certain death, only to find the light wave was isolated by a golden barrier just inches away.
---
Wang Haoyu pointed at Ying Jinxiang, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Yeli Taro, when it comes to suffering, did this child who lost his father suffer any less than you? For twelve whole years, his father was framed as the main culprit of the accident, and you? You don't even have the courage to face **!"
The sharp words struck Yeli Taro's weak spot. Wang Haoyu knew that only by tearing away the disguise could this evader be awakened. The Yeli Family once reached the peak relying on Humagear; when intelligent machines brought glory, they were seen as saviors, but once an accident occurred, they became scapegoats. The decline of this family might be the cycle of karma.
"Don't misunderstand, I don't enjoy hurting others." A persistent flame flickered in Yeli Taro's eyes, "But history requires sacrifices. Trading your lives for the revival of the Yeli Family, that's a worthwhile deal."
Selena finally saw through his scheme: "So that was your true goal!"
"Those out-of-control Humagear were supposed to solve my problems for me." Yeli Taro's gaze was locked onto Wang Haoyu, "But I didn't expect the person in charge of the Hiden Group could transform into a Kamen Rider... Such a threat must not be allowed to remain!" His sanity had long been corroded by jealousy, and now he finally tore off his disguise.
Wang Haoyu suddenly chuckled: "Compared to Humagear, do you think you have a better chance?" The number 060 was merely an insignificant threat in his eyes.
"Aren't you afraid of the Satellite Cannon's power?" When Yeli Taro raised the weapon, Hiden Isamu's breathing instantly froze.
The scene that followed shocked everyone. Wang Haoyu actually pulled the trigger and fired at himself! The energy wave instantly annihilated upon hitting the protective barrier, not even stirring the hem of his clothes.
"That's impossible!" Before Yeli Taro's exclamation finished, the weapon in his hand was teleported away.
Wang Haoyu played the evidence recorded by Izu: "The moment you raised the weapon, you committed an unforgivable crime. Even as a victim from that year, the law will not forgive the current you."
("
Wang Haoyu's statement completely decided the fate of Yeli Taro and his family.
Perhaps Yeli Taro would never understand throughout his life what kind of existence he had provoked.
His actions today were utterly foolish!
Unfortunately, he would never have the chance to realize it.
"Yaiba Yua, contact the relevant authorities to handle this."
This matter ultimately required the intervention of official agencies.
As the representative of the Hiden Group, Wang Haoyu was the most suitable person to step forward.
After all, the Hiden Group was also involved in the Dawn Town incident back then, and having a core member explain it would lend more credibility.
Wang Haoyu retrieved the memory card from Anna's body.
Unable to withstand the immense data load, Anna eventually **, her wreckage scattered everywhere.
Holding the memory card in his hand, Wang Haoyu knew that the truth, sealed away for twelve years, was about to be revealed to the public.
After returning to the Hiden Group.
Izu immediately prepared a press conference.
The outside world was full of curiosity about this emergency announcement.
"Thank you all for attending the Hiden Group's press conference."
Izu inserted the memory card into the system, and the main screen began playing footage from that year.
"Twelve years ago, the Humagear factory jointly constructed by the Hiden Group and several other companies suffered a severe ** accident in Dawn Town. The official report claimed it was caused by maintenance errors, but the ** truth is..."
Izu stopped her commentary at the appropriate moment, leaving everyone to watch the footage.
Ten minutes of video footage.
Allowed everyone to witness the historical ** truth.
The venue instantly erupted in an uproar.
"So that's it... They actually concealed this for so many years..."
"The so-called maintenance error back then was a complete lie..."
"The root cause of Humagear frequently attacking humans recently lies twelve years ago..."
"The Hiden Group must take responsibility for this!"
"Concealing the ** truth until now requires them to bear corresponding responsibility!"
Questions and doubts arose one after another.
Wang Haoyu silently watched the audience below the stage.
"I believe the Hiden Group's initiative to reveal the historical ** truth and clarify the facts ** is commendable; this is responsibility in itself!"
"Exactly, compared to those cowards who shirk responsibility, the Hiden Group's actions are admirable!"
"Besides, this has no direct connection to the current Chairman Wang Haoyu..."
This is
The clarification press conference gradually quieted down. Wang Haoyu walked to the podium and solemnly stated: "Regarding the accident in Dawn Town 12 years ago, the Hiden Group deeply apologizes and promises to prevent similar incidents from happening again. Humagear and humans should coexist harmoniously; the key lies in correct human guidance."
He emphasized: "All code is written and modified by humans. Problems start with humans and should also be solved by humans."
After the press conference, Shinnosuke watched the report at home, finally letting go of the heavy burden in his heart. At this moment, Fuwa Isamu came to apologize: "I apologize for misunderstanding you before."
Shinnosuke replied frankly: "My understanding was indeed limited, and I was powerless to uncover the entire ** truth." He sighed: "It is truly gratifying that Wang Haoyu can break through the constraints of the Board of Directors and lead the Hiden Group in his own way."
Fuwa Isamu left after a brief conversation with his companion.
Fuwa Isamu felt cheerful walking down the street and happened to run into Ying Jinxiang.
Now that his father had become a hero, his classmates' attitudes toward him had clearly improved, and the previous sense of rejection was gone.
Facts often change everything.
The two exchanged smiles. Although they were far apart in age, their shared experience created a sense of understanding... "Mr. Wang Haoyu, you need to meet an important client today," Izu said respectfully.
Wang Haoyu was currently inspecting the workflow of the Sales Department.
An employee was introducing the purchasing steps to a client:
"You can select the desired Humagear model on the Hiden Group's Official Website. The S-Rank plan also offers appearance customization, including height and details."
With Wang Haoyu present, the employee performed more professionally. After the client confirmed the order, another staff member guided them through the payment process.
"Chairman Wang Haoyu." Only after seeing the client off did the employee greet Wang Haoyu—this was a Hiden Group rule: clients take priority over executives.
"If a client finds the process complicated, how do you handle it?" Wang Haoyu asked directly.
"We provide recommended plans to simplify the process." The employee switched the tablet interface and showed it to Wang Haoyu. Just then, a new order notification popped up in the bottom right corner of the screen.
"Chairman Wang Haoyu, this is a new order, and we need to arrange a delivery person..."
"I'll deliver this one," Wang Haoyu interrupted.
The client displayed on the order was precisely the important visitor Izu had mentioned that morning.
"But..." The employee hesitated, as it was unconventional for the Chairman to personally make a delivery.
"It's fine, it's on my way." Wang Haoyu didn't give her a chance to refuse. "Fuwa Isamu, go to the warehouse and retrieve the model I just sent you, and wait for me in the underground **."
Wang Haoyu sent a message to Fuwa Isamu.
Fuwa Isamu quickly replied: "Understood, Mr. Wang Haoyu."
The destination was Villa 4301, Block A, District 302, Binhai Street.
Binhai Street is a top-tier luxury residential area.
Being able to rent here was extraordinary, let alone someone who bought the entire Villa.
This distinguished client had been purchasing Humagear from the Hiden Group for ten consecutive years.
To show their regard, the Hiden Group sends high-level executives for inspection every year.
This is equivalent to a service follow-up visit.
If a Humagear is found to have substandard performance, it is immediately sent back to the factory for maintenance.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, the recipient is actually Master Graphite Ichiro!"
Graphite Ichiro is a Titan in the Art World.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the contemporary peak.
His greatest characteristic is the pursuit of extreme color accuracy.
Choosing Humagear was precisely because he trusted their accurate data processing capabilities.
"I even prepared a Signature Board."
Fuwa Isamu excitedly shook the Signature Board in his hand.
It was the first time Wang Haoyu had seen him look like this.
"You admire him greatly?"
If not an idol, why would he be so enthusiastic?
But the tough-guy image of Fuwa Isamu contrasted too sharply with that of a fan.
"Of course! I grew up reading Master Graphite's comics."
Izu immediately pulled up information and added: "He is a National Cartoonist whose works have sold over a hundred million copies."
Graphite Ichiro can be called a genius.
While his peers were still playing, he was already making a living through painting.
What's more astonishing is that whenever his works hit the market, they trigger a buying frenzy.
This Legendary Artist urgently needed an assistant who could perfectly replicate his drawing style.
Humagear became the best choice.
While they were talking, the vehicle had already stopped in front of the Villa.
"This is the Master's residence?"
Fuwa Isamu looked up at the Luxurious Residence in awe.
This Villa was very different from what he had imagined; he originally thought it would be a simple mobile home, but it turned out to be a Luxurious Manor. Even more surprising, the characters "Graphite" were prominently carved on the nameplate.
Fuwa Isamu looked very surprised, while Wang Haoyu appeared calm and composed. Fuwa Isamuhadn't seen Wang Haoyu's residence, which was easily a hundred times the size of this Villa.
"Ding-dong"—Fuwa Isamu pressed the doorbell.
The person who opened the door held a Folding Fan, wore casual clothes, and had a slightly plump face beneath his wavy hair.
"We are Technical Staff from the Hiden Group." Fuwa Isamu stated their purpose.
"Please come in." The person's tone was normal, and he turned and walked inside.
Izu respectfully said: "Thank you for your order. The Comic Assistant Humagear has been delivered."
But they received no response. Perhaps Cartoonists are accustomed to solitude.
Wang Haoyu surveyed the entire room, which was covered in promotional posters of published works, and the inner room was piled with various comic merchandise. Izu had introduced him before they came, stating that this was the Genius Young Cartoonist whose works sold over a hundred million copies, so this decor was naturally fitting for Graphite Ichiro.
"This is simply a paradise for comic fans!" Fuwa Isamu's eyes lit up excitedly.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself, I am Graphite Ichiro. It is truly an honor for Chairman Wang to visit in person." A well-dressed young man walked out from the inner room, smiling.
Fuwa Isamu was stunned. This person looked exactly like the one who opened the door earlier; apart from the difference in attire and demeanor, they seemed to be carved from the same mold.
"The person just now was..."
Graphite Ichiro understood and explained: "That was my Twin Brother, mainly responsible for writing the comic scripts."
Chapter 154 Chapter 154
No wonder they achieved such success; the two brothers cooperated flawlessly. Fuwa Isamu couldn't wait to take out the autograph book he had prepared, but Izu reminded him, "Assistant Fuwa, please complete your work tasks first."
"I won't delay the main business! Teacher Graphite, could you sign this for me? I'm your loyal reader, and I follow every one of your works!"
Inside the Maintenance Workshop, Fuwa Isamu excitedly showed off the autograph he had just received. Graphite Ichiro nodded toward Wang Haoyu and signaled, "Of course."
Wang Haoyu was currently debugging a new type of Humagear: "This new model has 30% higher precision than the previous generation and specifically optimized color coordination functions."
"This perfectly suits my needs!" Graphite Ichiro carefully examined the data panel of the Mechanical Assistant.
Meanwhile, an electronic sound came from the secret Base: "Ark System upgrade progress 78%... Combat data collection complete..."
"As long as the final Core Key is activated," the Masked Operator stared at the flickering monitor, "all Humagears will receive new instructions."
Wang Haoyu completed the final inspection: "System operational status is good. I wish your new comic another sales record."
"After all, I've been cooperating with the Hiden Group for ten years," Graphite Ichiro said with a smile, pressing the start button, "these tireless assistants are the true creative partners."
Wang Haoyu carefully observed for a moment and found that these Comic Assistants, who were Humagears, showed extremely high precision in inking and coloring.
"The lines they draw are exceptionally smooth. Mr. Graphite, did you import the manuscript into the system beforehand?"
Judging by the Humagears' drawing techniques, they were clearly not imitating human works.
It was more like... these Artificial Intelligences were creating independently!
Hearing this inquiry, Graphite Ichiro's eyes darted around nervously.
"Yes... I just input the finished drafts into the system, so... they can... complete the work in batches."
His answer was clearly evasive.
This was obviously a lie!
Wang Haoyu still gave the cartoonist enough respect and did not expose him in public.
"Mr. Graphite's work schedule seems very organized, but..."
He lowered his voice and leaned in, saying, "How could a human be more precise than a machine? Did you implant a chip in your brain too?"
Wang Haoyu's expression was calm.
Graphite was shocked upon hearing this.
"How did you..."
Wang Haoyu interrupted him directly:
"You don't need to ask how I figured it out. Even readers noticed the difference in style between your latest work and your previous ones."
"People appreciate comics precisely because they seek the human touch. Although these Humagears were supposed to be used for copying work, replacing your creative process directly seems inappropriate, doesn't it?"
A word to the wise was enough.
After all, the more people who use Humagear, the more beneficial it is for the Hiden Group.
From this perspective, Wang Haoyu was already the winner.
Graphite lowered his head: "President Wang, could we talk privately?"
Wang Haoyu followed him to a room piled high with comics.
"You don't know this, but these comic books brought me to the pinnacle of my career. But how easy is it to maintain that height?"
Graphite finally revealed the truth.
To meet market demand, he had to ensure every work was refined to perfection.
Long hours of drawing caused his hands to tremble, severely affecting line control.
And lines were precisely the most crucial element of comic creation.
When he first hired a Comic Assistant, he was astonished that these assistants never got tired.
No matter how many times they redrew something, the lines were always as precise as the first time.
Thus, an idea sprouted in his mind... "The specific operations are up to you; there's no need to report them to me."
After Wang Haoyu responded calmly, Graphite Ichiro was about to offer a defense when movement suddenly came from outside the door.
"Is this Comic Assistant out of battery?"
Fuwa Isamu's voice came through.
The two walked out of the room and saw a Humagear assistant slumped over the desk.
"Why is this happening again?!"
Graphite Ichiro's tone held a familiar helplessness.
Wang Haoyu stood quietly watching, and then other assistants failed one after another... "This happens every few days. This is the third time this week."
Graphite Ichiro spoke with dissatisfaction.
The failure rate of official Humagears is extremely low; such frequent abnormalities clearly indicate a problem.
"If I didn't value their precision, I would have treated them as scrap long ago."
The speaker was Graphite Ichiro's younger brother.
Perhaps constrained by Wang Haoyu's presence, Graphite Ichiro stopped him in time.
"Watch your language."
"It's the truth. Humagears are meant to assist humans. If they can't even guarantee basic functions, what use are they?"
Graphite Chojiro was firm in his attitude.
Wang Haoyu did not comment.
In the perception of these people, Humagears were indeed merely tools.
But the abnormal situation must be investigated.
Just as Graphite Chojiro continued to complain, one of the Humagears suddenly activated.
"G-Assistant, what are you doing?"
The Humagear called G-Assistant adopted an aggressive stance.
Before anyone could react, Graphite Chojiro had already slammed a dormant assistant onto the ground.
"Stop!"
Fuwa Isamu stepped forward to intervene.
"Chojiro, that's enough."
Graphite Ichiro felt his brother's actions were inappropriate.
After all, Wang Haoyu was the founder of the Hiden Group, and damaging his research results right in front of him was truly disrespectful.
"G-Assistant, do you have an objection?"
Graphite Chojiro turned his anger toward the awakened machine.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go purchase supplies."
(
G-Assistant was a high-performing individual among the Humagears, specializing in daily life services. Facing Graphite Chojiro's anger, it silently turned and left.
"Teacher, is treating a Humagear so roughly inappropriate?" Fuwa Isamu was much more restrained than usual, considering the other party was a manga master. If it were before, he would have already taken action.
"Aren't they just tools?" Graphite Chojiro replied self-righteously.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, the battery of this Humagear on the floor seems to be malfunctioning." Graphite Chojiro pointed casually.
"Understood." Izu immediately responded.
Leaving the Villa, everyone met G-Assistant returning from shopping. Their eyes met, and G-Assistantpolitely greeted them: "Everyone has worked hard."
"Is the comic plot still created by the teacher personally?" Fuwa Isamu pressed. As a veteran comic enthusiast, he noticed a sudden change in the style of recent works.
"It is mainly handled by the publisher's editor, and I also participate in the conceptualization." G-Assistant's answer alerted Wang Haoyu—a Humagear designed by program should not possess independent creative ability.
Fuwa Isamu, upon learning the situation, felt disappointed; his once beloved comic had deviated from its original intention.
After Wang Haoyu and his group left, a Xunlei Station member stopped G-Assistant: "Please state your identity."
"I? I am just an assistant."
G-Assistant replied seriously.
He did not possess the function to judge right from wrong.
As long as a human requested it, he would execute it.
"That's right, this guy is our assistant!"
That person held a Xunlei Station Program Converter and directly inserted it into G-Assistant's belt interface.
"Xunlei Station—Access complete."
"Now, immediately go seize the Upgrade Key!"
As soon as he finished speaking, that person quickly departed.
G-Assistant was now thoroughly corrupted by the Xunlei Station code.
He was no longer an assistant serving humans.
Instead, he had been reduced to a puppet of the Xunlei Station!
On the other side, after Wang Haoyu and his group returned to the underground Base, they did not leave.
"Turn around, go back."
He intentionally created an opportunity for the members of the Thunder Organization to act.
Since G-Assistant had awakened self-awareness, he would eventually be destroyed.
Humans would never tolerate an existence more powerful than themselves.
Once a Humagear showed signs of independent thinking, only destruction awaited them.
However, the Thunder Organization failed to anticipate—when they implanted their code into the awakened Humagear, their own programs would be reversed and corrupted!
This meant Wang Haoyu could use this to track the code modified by the Thunder Organization.
This was a method of reverse positioning.
Fuwa Isamu looked puzzled.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, you don't mean to say you want to hear Graphite Chojiro's barbed remarks again, do you?"
Although he often couldn't grasp Wang Haoyu's intentions, who would want to listen to someone mocking the Humagears they developed?
"Something more important."
"What is it?"
Wang Haoyu didn't explain much; the answer would be revealed on site... Wang Haoyu activated the Analysis Device.
The data showed that the creature in front of them belonged to the Flying Insect Family.
This type of insect has a hard shell and always moves in groups, never appearing alone.
"Have you all clearly seen the characteristics?"
Wang Haoyu synchronized the biological data to everyone's Communicators.
"Understood."
"Received."
...Fuwa Isamu pulled out his Transformation Belt, raising the converter high in his right hand.
"Kamen Rider—Transform!"
In an instant, the dazzling transformation sound effect echoed all around.
0...Wang Haoyu planned to let Fuwa Isamu gain more experience.
It was impossible for him to personally step in for everything.
If he did that, wouldn't he be too exhausted?
However, Fuwa Isamu's current strength was not yet sufficient.
After a few rounds, Fuwa Isamu was clearly unable to cope.
"Program Upgrade"
"Weapon Enhancement"
Fuwa Isamu changed his fighting style.
He was now familiar with the abilities granted by the belt and the equipment provided by the cards.
He summoned a sharp blade, grasped it in his left hand, and launched an attack on the mechanical flying insect.
After several attacks, tiny cracks appeared on the flying insect's outer shell.
"What material is this shell made of? It's so tough!" Fuwa Isamu couldn't help but exclaim.
He instinctively looked towards Wang Haoyu.
For some reason, whenever he encountered difficulties, he always felt that Wang Haoyu would have a solution!
Before Wang Haoyu could answer, the mechanical flying insect suddenly split into multiple clones.
"How did it suddenly create so many?"
Fuwa Isamu was shocked; the single flying insect had turned into a swarm.
The intelligent flying insects with corrupted programs surrounded him.
He began to panic.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, what should I do?"
"Focus your mind, find its core, and then attack with full force!"
Wang Haoyu gave a concise solution.
How could he find the core among so many flying insects?!
Fuwa Isamu had searched desperately but still had no clue.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, I really can't find it!"
Rather than saying he couldn't find it, it was more accurate to say he had internally decided he couldn't do it.
Just as he hesitated, the flying insects launched their offensive.
"Exterminate humanity"
"Exterminate humanity"
"Exterminate humanity"
The mechanical flying insects repeated the command while rushing toward Fuwa Isamu.
Chapter 155 Chapter 155
At this moment, he could only block, unable to retaliate.
If he couldn't hit the core, any attack would be futile, only prompting the Flying Insects to spawn more clones.
This would only needlessly consume the power of the Transformation Belt.
"Close your eyes, and perceive with your mind! You can definitely do it!"
Wang Haoyu cheered him on from the sidelines.
He knew he could do it!
Encouraged, Fuwa Isamu regained his confidence.
He tried closing his eyes, gripping the sharp blade tighter with his left hand.
Suddenly.
He perceived the true body of the Flying Insect!
With a fierce strike, the Flying Insect's main body shattered instantly.
However, the crisis wasn't over; the Comic Assistants who had just fallen inside the Villa transformed into modified organisms.
They surged outward like a tide.
Facing the swarm of mechanical lifeforms, Wang Haoyu realized that Fuwa Isamu would be hard-pressed to handle them.
"It seems I have to step in myself..."
"Kamen Rider, Transform!"
"System Upgrade."
"Fanged Mode."
The swimming lane outside the Villa area shimmered.
Flying Insects are naturally afraid of Water—wet wings would cause them to lose the ability to fly.
Moreover, the shell of this creature is mainly distributed across its wings.
Once the wings fail, their defense will also sharply decrease.
Wang Haoyu cleverly utilized the terrain advantage.
He gathered his strength, drawing the surrounding Water bodies into the air.
In an instant, a massive wave exploded in the sky.
The splashing Water droplets poured down onto the swarm like a torrential rain.
"System Upgrade."
"Frenzied Shark Biting Mode Activated."
"Edict: Soul-Devouring Frenzied Shark."
"Indestructible Fangs!"
Wang Haoyu had now merged with the characteristics of a shark... any Flying Insect struck could not escape death!
"Watch me tear you all to shreds!"
Wang Haoyu said coldly.
Yaiba Yua arrived on the scene just in time.
The Aims System detected abnormal mechanical lifeform signals in the area.
All abnormal data was transmitted in real-time to their devices via terminals connected to the satellite network.
"Uncontrolled mechanical bodies detected. Initiating armed testing."
She was carrying a special blue and black device.
"Fuwa, try this."
She had come specifically on Wang Haoyu's orders for the new weapon.
This newly developed equipment possessed power far exceeding conventional weaponry.
It was particularly effective against mechanical lifeforms possessing biological characteristics.
"What is this?"
Fuwa Isamu steadily caught the device.
In this critical moment, he believed Yaiba Yua wouldn't hand him something useless.
"This is the latest research result from Mr. Wang Haoyu. Commence live combat testing immediately!"
Originally, it was just a routine inspection of a client's mechanical assistants, but who knew a sudden incident would occur midway!
Fortunately, Yaiba Yua's support arrived in time.
"Armed Testing Protocol Activated."
"Don't dawdle."
Yaiba Yua urged him aloud.
"Weapon Upgrade."
Fuwa Isamu fumbled with the object in his hand; the Brief Case seemed to possess a spirit of its own, automatically unfolding its function as he lightly rotated his wrist.
The attack launched, but was met with a fierce recoil, shaking him back several steps.
"The recoil is this strong?!"
Fuwa Isamu shook his numb arm.
"You have to use it correctly."
Yaiba Yua watched the stumbling Fuwa Isamu. If he was knocked over by the Impact every time he used it, this equipment couldn't possibly be used in real combat.
Fortunately, Wang Haoyu had already cleared out the surrounding mechanical Flying Insects.
"Can you still stand steady?"
Wang Haoyu reached out and pulled him up.
Fuwa Isamu used the momentum to leap up, excitement flashing in his eyes: "This thing packs a punch!" Although he was knocked down, he felt invigorated by the power.
"Your entrance was too sudden."
Fuwa Isamu turned his head to tease Yaiba Yua. The situation was urgent then; if Yaiba Yua hadn't thrown the Brief Case in time, he might have been torn apart by the swarm.
Wang Haoyu smiled bitterly as he looked at the mechanical wreckage scattered everywhere—Hiden Group would have to restock the supplies for these two comic artists again.
"This is..."
Graphite Chojiro, who happened to arrive, froze in place. Although he disliked mechanical assistants, the miserable sight before him still made him feel suffocated.
"CEO Wang, these wouldn't all be..." Graphite Ichiro's voice trembled.
"The new version of the assistants will arrive tomorrow, and their performance will be fully upgraded."
Wang Haoyu's promise allowed Graphite Ichiro to breathe a sigh of relief: "As long as it doesn't delay the serialization, I'll follow your arrangements."
"Teacher, why don't you draw yourself?"
Fuwa Isamu suddenly interjected.
He had already learned from Assistant G that those comics were not drawn by Graphite Ichiro.
"No, if I draw myself, the art style will change drastically, and the readers will be confused. Forget it, letting the AI handle it is fine."
Graphite Ichiro's passion for comics had soured.
This was Fuwa Isamu's intuition!
"But working like this, can you still feel happiness?"
"What?"
Since Wang Haoyu urged them to leave, Fuwa Isamu followed him out after dropping that question.
The next morning.
Board members angrily rushed into Wang Haoyu's office.
"President, did you know that Mr. Graphite Ichiro has filed a complaint against us?"
"We heard you withheld the replacement unit that was supposed to be sent to him."
"Company policy dictates that replacement units must be delivered within 24 hours of the customer placing an order!"
"Teacher Graphite Ichiro is an important client of ours and a famous personality. If this incident is exposed, the company's reputation will be severely damaged!"
"But Humagears are not slaves!"
Wang Haoyu's words instantly silenced everyone.
Indeed, the original intention behind developing Humagears was to assist humans, not to be driven like slaves.
Yet now, humans treat them as free labor, ordering them around arbitrarily, completely deviating from the initial purpose.
Wang Haoyu had witnessed all of this firsthand; otherwise, he might not have believed it.
"If even a major comic artist like Graphite Ichiro is passively slacking off, what about everyone else?"
Fuwa Isamu sighed emotionally.
Hiden Group's original intention was never to treat Humagears as mere tools for profit.
"How can you evaluate Teacher Graphite Ichiro like that?"
The board members immediately retorted.
In their eyes, Graphite Ichiro was a supreme being; his fans could drown Hiden Group in public opinion.
The shareholders only cared about stock prices; profit was their core concern.
"Graphite Ichiro is indeed popular, but if fans discover that his comics are produced by a machine and not by himself, who will bear the consequences of such a scandal?"
Wang Haoyu's words left the board members speechless.
One was a World-famous comic artist, while the other was the creator of the frequently problematic Humagears.
Hiden Group has endured hardships since its founding, constantly growing stronger in adversity, and thus remains unshaken even when facing public pressure.
That comic artist, however, was completely different; since entering the industry, he had been praised as a "Young Genius." How could the public tolerate a genius making a mistake?
"Refusing to provide a replacement unit to Graphite Ichiro is meant to make him understand this principle—his reason for existing is to serve his fans, not to rely on machines to please them."
What the audience idolizes is the World he sketches with his pen. If those drawings all come from a machine, what is his value?
The transition from having five assistants to being all alone is naturally hard to adapt to.
This was precisely the constraint Wang Haoyu wanted to impose on them.
The directors, having been refuted into silence, retreated sullenly. No one had ever been able to seize the initiative in front of Wang Haoyu.
"Chairman Wang Haoyu, I cannot understand your instruction just now."
As a mechanical lifeform, Izu indeed found it difficult to comprehend.
"Losing assistants will cause the Teacher to fall into a creative slump, and providing new models does no harm to Hiden Group."
"Conversely, refusing to provide service might trigger more troublesome issues."
Wang Haoyu was no longer willing to explain further to Izu.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, did I cause you trouble?"
Fuwa Isamu's belated apology was evident in his words.
He naturally understood that Wang Haoyu was on his side today.
But as the helmsman of the Group, Wang Haoyu should have prioritized corporate interests.
"Just as you said, if he is a World-class comic artist, he should live up to that title. If he lacks even that much ability, why should he sit on a pedestal?"
Wang Haoyu lightly patted Fuwa Isamu's shoulder, indicating that this was his own decision.
Humagears are destined to become tools for human enslavement; that fact will never change!
Since the problem had surfaced, Wang Haoyu was determined to resolve it completely.
Just as everyone was talking, Graphite Ichiro's new orders came one after another.
This time, he ordered the latest Voice-Acting Humagear model.
This new model could simulate a real person's voice and perform sound effects in different scenarios.
But a machine is a machine after all; no matter how clever the imitation, it cannot change its essence.
"It seems we must visit Mr. Graphite's residence again."
Wang Haoyu's fingertip tapped a rhythmic pattern on the table... "Ding-dong."
This time, Graphite Ichiro opened the door.
But unlike last time, his attitude had changed somewhat.
"It's you guys again!"
Although Graphite Ichiro didn't stop them from entering, he showed no enthusiasm whatsoever.
After opening the door, he didn't even say "Please come in," turning his head and walking inside.
Fuwa Isamu was quite dissatisfied with his attitude.
"Isn't this too rude? How can he be so arrogant when he doesn't even know basic etiquette?"
He was speaking up for Wang Haoyu.
The Chairman of the dignified Hiden Group personally introduced them, yet was met with such cold treatment. What if he was an internationally renowned comic artist? Feidian's technology was globally leading!
Wang Haoyu raised a hand to stop Fuwa Isamu.
Upon entering the house, Graphite Chojiro was bent over his desk, drawing.
For some reason, Wang Haoyu felt that the aura of the two brothers had completely swapped—
Now the younger brother was more focused than the older brother.
The records showed that all excellent comics were signed by Graphite Ichiro, and this younger brother was never mentioned.
Yet, the one who truly possessed artistic talent was clearly Graphite Chojiro.
The contradiction here was truly strange!
A highly skilled younger brother whose works were all credited to his mediocre older brother—it was astonishing.
"Mr. Graphite Ichiro, we need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about. Just fix the replacement equipment quickly so it doesn't affect my serialization schedule."
Graphite Ichiro spoke toughly, but his eyes kept darting away.
"I've drawn comics for fifteen years, and this is the first time I've missed a deadline—and it's because of your shoddy product!"
"You always boasted about how amazing Feidian's artificial intelligence was, but now it seems completely unusable!"
"I suggest you quickly pull all your advertisements, lest more consumers come knocking with complaints!"
...Graphite Ichiro continued to chatter incessantly.
Wang Haoyu interrupted him directly.
"You had better listen to what I have to say first—otherwise, you will definitely regret it."
Perhaps it was the inherent deterrent force emanating from Wang Haoyu, but Graphite Ichiro finally fell silent.
"Let me tell you a story: Once upon a time, there was a worker's family with two boys who both loved to draw, but they could only afford for one person to study..."
This story was precisely about the past of the Graphite family.
Chapter 156: Chapter 156
It was the older brother who first picked up the brush, but he severely lacked talent in that area, so the younger brother took over the drawing board. No one expected the younger brother to display astonishing talent in painting.
Thus, the younger brother became the star of hope for the entire family, and all good things were prioritized for him. But excessive pampering was like a greenhouse, causing the younger brother to lose the ability to interact normally with others. Meanwhile, the older brother, who spent his days struggling in the streets and alleys, developed a unique survival wisdom.
As the years passed and their parents successively died, the two brothers became each other's only remaining relatives. One day, the older brother accidentally discovered his younger brother's design drafts and secretly took these works to enter a competition—
This competition made the older brother famous overnight. "And the younger brother, who cared little for fame or fortune, never minded these things, which gave the older brother an opportunity. Mr. Graphite Ichiro, you must know these past events better than anyone, right?" Wang Haoyu's voice was like a dull knife, slowly slicing open the scar of memory.
Graphite Ichiro felt his heart being heavily pounded. These secrets, buried deep in time, should have been sealed away forever—
"Just how did you..."
"How do I know?" Wang Haoyu interrupted. "Your younger brother drew all your past events into his manga. People who truly understand manga can read the story from the lines."
Graphite Ichiro would never understand that the magic of manga lies in those unspoken confessions. This was also the key point that Fuwa Isamu always focused on—true artwork carries warmth; even if the strokes are not perfectly precise, they can reach deep into people's hearts.
"Didn't you notice? Graphite Chojiro's art style is fundamentally different from mechanical drawing." Wang Haoyu walked toward the office desk piled high with works.
The drawing tools on the desk were blindingly new. How could a professional manga artist have pencils that hadn't even been sharpened? Wang Haoyu had spotted this fatal flaw during his first visit.
Even if he claimed an assistant drew them, there should still be traces of creation left on the original manuscripts. However, there was nothing here.
Graphite Ichiro's desktop was spotless, so clean it looked like brand new furniture just unpacked.
"Presumably, Mr. Graphite wouldn't want to personally destroy the reputation he has built up over many years, right?"
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, please speak frankly, as long as it is within my capability—"
"This is easy for you. I came specifically to replace your equipment, but I need you to remember this warning."
Wang Haoyu's words sounded more like an irresistible judgment than advice. For some reason, Graphite Ichiro felt an inexplicable urge to comply.
"Chairman Wang, please elaborate."
"Humagear are assistants for creation, not excuses for laziness. If they become tools used to aid evil, Hiden Group will reclaim all technology."
"I absolutely dare not make that mistake again." Graphite Ichiro solemnly promised.
After completing the equipment debugging, Wang Haoyu led his team away. Along the way, Fuwa Isamu couldn't help but ask:
"Why not directly expose the true face of this famous artist to the readers? This is completely different in nature from the Dawn Town incident—"
The public is well aware that manga are not entirely drawn by the artist's own hand, yet they still choose to accept this industry norm. The success of the Graphite brothers is, to some extent, a victory for this model.
"Fuwa Isamu, you still need more experience..."
Judging matters of the World cannot stop at appearances; there might be hidden reasons behind every choice.
Three days later, Fuwa Isamu excitedly presented the new issue to Wang Haoyu's desk:
"Look at this latest serialization! It's completely transformed!"
The new chapter created jointly by the Graphite brothers was indeed refreshed, proving that Wang Haoyu's warning had taken effect.
This manga was instantly snatched up upon release, selling out in moments.
The copy in Fuwa Isamu's hand was specially gifted by Graphite Ichiro.
He knew perfectly well that the other party was doing it entirely to save Wang Haoyu face.
Wang Haoyu opened the manga; the lines, shedding their previous stiffness, pulsed with vigorous life.
"Now this is called hand-drawn!" His fingertip traced the page. "Manga without passion is just waste paper."
Fuwa Isamu was clinging to the manga, reluctant to let go, when he suddenly heard Wang Haoyu ask: "How are you using the new equipment?"
He immediately wilted. "The power of the briefcase... I still can't control it."
"The greater the power, the harder it is to wield." Wang Haoyu glanced at his watch. "I'll take you somewhere this afternoon."
...The midday sun shone brightly on the metal framework of the training ground.
Fuwa Isamu's eyes widened—the equipment here was actually more sophisticated than that at the Hiden Research Institute.
Yaiba Yua unconsciously murmured, "It looks like future technology..."
"It was designed for you." Wang Haoyu walked toward the ** exhibit stand. A three-dimensional model of a motorcycle was suspended in the holographic projection.
"The physical entity has been condensed into a card." He lightly shook a Crystal Card held between two fingers. "The ** Driver can summon it, and its speed is a hundred times that of an ordinary motorcycle."
During the demonstration, Wang Haoyu's movements were smooth and flowing: draw the card, insert it, start the engine. The roar of the motorcycle tearing through the air caused both of their pupils to **.
"That's unbelievable!" Fuwa Isamu clenched his fists. "When can I..."
Yaiba Yua stared at the afterimage burned onto the ground by the tires, her Adam's apple subtly bobbing.
（
** "Achieving this level of proficiency is not difficult; the key is diligent practice!"
In Wang Haoyu's view, there are no problems in the World.
But in the eyes of others, this was practically impossible.
The contest of power always prevents movements from being performed smoothly.
—Those who have never personally experienced it will never understand.
---
"Breaking through this realm is very simple. You only need to do one thing: train here for more than two hours every day."
Two hours was the minimum Wang Haoyu set for Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua.
If the two were younger, short-term special training might allow for rapid success.
But currently, they could only compensate through arduous practice.
"Two hours?" Fuwa Isamu looked troubled.
It was true that he craved power, but... training of this intensity was bound to involve great suffering.
"Do you have an objection?" Wang Haoyu cast a cold look at him.
"Absolutely not! Mr. Wang Haoyu's arrangement is perfect!"
Fuwa Isamu, despite his limited vocabulary, desperately piled on the praise.
"We need to step up our efforts; we can't fall behind." Yaiba Yua's movements didn't stop.
"Of course!"
---
Following this, Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu remained at the training ground.
Wang Haoyu, meanwhile, took Izu to Graphite Ichiro's house for a Humagear after-sales follow-up visit.
Before entering, they heard a deep male voice coming from the dubbing studio:
"The World fundamentally has no rules; so-called order is merely the illusion of the Devil King..."
It was not a mechanical voice—it was the performance of a professional voice actor.
"Knock, knock, knock." Izu knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Graphite Ichiro's voice sounded through the door.
"Assistant to the Chairman of Hiden Group, Izu."
The one who opened the door, however, was Graphite's partner, not the man himself.
It was Inoue Yuugen, the World's most influential voice acting artist.
The voice acting industry is highly competitive in the anime field.
However.
Excellent vocal conditions stem from innate talent.
Voices lacking natural talent, even with extensive training resources invested, ultimately find it difficult to achieve a breakthrough.
Substantial progress is hard to achieve.
Inoue Yuugen, however, possessed extraordinary natural gifts.
He already possessed professional-level skill without formal training.
Ever since his first collaboration with manga artist Graphite Ichiro, he had become his exclusive voice actor... "Mr. Wang Haoyu, I have heard much about your great reputation."
Inoue Yuugen displayed keen responsiveness.
After numerous incidents, the industry's understanding of Hiden Group's new Chairman was continuously deepening.
"Mr. Inoue, you are too kind. My visit is an intrusion."
Wang Haoyu maintained a polite attitude. 070
"Chairman Wang, you exaggerate. Your visit deeply honors us and demonstrates Hiden Group's professional attitude."
Inoue Yuugen skillfully employed the art of language, making one feel as if bathed in spring breeze.
His outstanding achievements in the industry were largely due to his excellent social skills.
Communicators who understand how to assess the situation often navigate various industries with ease.
But Wang Haoyu was unmoved by this.
These social courtesies had no effect on him.
"The purpose of this trip is to evaluate the performance of the voice-acting Humagear and understand firsthand where the product needs improvement."
Only by accurately identifying problems can effective optimization occur.
"Are you referring to the intelligent assistant A-Li?"
When "Assistant A-Li" was mentioned, surprise flashed in Inoue Yuugen's eyes.
He had just finished working with this AI voice-acting partner.
"I initially held a certain attitude towards the voice-acting capabilities of artificial intelligence, but now it seems I was short-sighted."
Inoue Yuugen walked toward A-Li, who was holding the script.
Wang Haoyu, standing quietly observing, had already discerned his intention.
"Chairman Wang, this AI assistant is likely to put us voice actors out of a job. If I must make a suggestion, I hope your company's next generation of Humagear isn't quite so perfect."
Inoue Yuugen said this in a humorous tone.
The continuous breakthroughs in intelligent technology will open up brand new markets.
At the same time, it will promote the synergistic development of related industries.
As he spoke, he demonstrated a flawless collaborative performance with A-Li.
If he hadn't experienced it himself, even Inoue Yuugen might have believed that he and Assistant A-Lihad known each other for many years.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, there is a signing event shortly. If you are free, would you like to attend with us?" Inoue Yuugen extended an invitation.
"I can." Wang Haoyu agreed.
This signing event was primarily aimed at fans and the media. Where there is media, there is public opinion, which is a standard marketing technique for increasing the selling points of a work.
"Mr. Inoue, how do you feel about collaborating with a Humagear for the first time?"
"Hiden Group has frequently had issues recently. Aren't you worried about the Humagearmalfunctioning?"
"Incidents of Humagear attacking humans are frequent. Aren't you afraid?"
Questions came one after another.
Although Wang Haoyu was present, he never showed his face. The media is accustomed to baseless speculation and always infinitely magnifies certain details.
"Humagear are more reliable than you imagine. My voice-acting assistant and I collaborate very smoothly. I believe we can create many more works together." Inoue Yuugen's statement was clear-cut.
The signing session officially began. Izu, standing next to Wang Haoyu, rotated her optical sensors, displaying a puzzled expression: "Why do people distrust Humagear so much?"
For humans, this question is simple, but for Humagear driven by code programs, it is difficult to grasp. They only operate according to established procedures or mechanically repeat preset text.
Wang Haoyu attempted to explain using a simple example: "Belief and disbelief differ by only one character, but the journey from disbelief to trust requires a long process. We are currently in this transition period." Izu's chip immediately retrieved the definitions of these two words for analysis.
After confirming there were no anomalies at the venue, Wang Haoyu returned with Izu. As soon as he entered the office, he discovered that the security hard drive next to the computer had been tampered with—this was the device storing Hiden Group's internal sensitive data.
For Hiden Group, an invaded system meant enormous risk.
Without delay, the board of directors convened an emergency meeting, targeting the mastermind behind the theft of the hard drive.
The Chairman's office is usually heavily guarded, restricted only to those holding special clearance.
The problem occurred precisely during the brief interval when he was away.
When Izu retrieved the surveillance footage, she discovered that the images during the critical time period had been artificially deleted or altered.
"The value of this USB drive is something you all know clearly."
Chapter 157 Chapter 157
Wang Haoyu lightly tapped the table with his knuckles, his gaze sweeping over each Director present. To catch the mole, he had to start with those who knew his schedule—besides Izu, who would deliberately remember the chairman's whereabouts?
"Director Nagashima, in your opinion, who is the most suspicious here?"
Wang Haoyu's seemingly casual question made cold sweat break out on Nagashima's back.
"How... how would I know such a thing? You've probably asked the wrong person."
His trembling voice betrayed his guilt. As one of the eight Directors, such a loss of composure clearly indicated an ulterior motive.
The entire operation could not have been completed by a single person: knowing the itinerary, infiltrating the office, copying data, and the triple key—it must have been a group effort.
Wang Haoyu was waiting for someone to show their hand.
"Chairman, why don't you let me conduct a thorough investigation?"
Akino Shouun suddenly spoke. As the only female member of the board, her capabilities were beyond doubt. But why would these shrewd Directors voluntarily take responsibility? Unless—
"Seconded! The board will give you an explanation."
Nagashima quickly chimed in, attempting to exert pressure with a collective decision. He had clearly miscalculated.
"Is this what all of you mean?"
Wang Haoyu sneered, "Let me remind everyone, if the real culprit isn't found—everyone will be implicated!"
Wang Haoyu's few words made the Directors present feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles.
These old foxes, who prioritized their own interests, would never tolerate their rights being infringed upon.
"Chairman Wang, what they did has nothing to do with us!"
"Exactly, we don't have that much capability!"
"If the chairman needs assistance, I will do my best, but this matter is truly beyond my scope!"
Everyone chattered, eager to distance themselves.
Akino Shouun and Nagashima exchanged glances—well, their little scheme was completely exposed now.
"Chairman, we were also thinking of the company!" Akino Shouun hurriedly declared her loyalty.
But how much was this "loyalty" worth in Wang Haoyu's eyes?
"Among the entire board, you two are the most enthusiastic," Wang Haoyu sneered.
"I don't understand what you mean..." Akino was still playing dumb.
"Do I have to spell it out? You two were the ones who tampered with the hard drive on the table."
Actually, this matter was quite tricky—the surveillance footage had long been tampered with, and technicians couldn't find anything. But they all forgot that after Wang Haoyu took office, all data had been backed up via satellite.
This high-profile investigation was not only because the group had a mole, but also because the hard drive contained the key to Mammoth Data.
"Last question, will you confess yourselves, or should I invite others to question you?"
As expected, Akino Shouun couldn't hold back first: "We admit our mistake! But the other party said the hard drive didn't contain important data at all..."
Seeing his companion confess, Nagashima could only hang his head and admit defeat.
"Indeed, the other party paid a generous reward and claimed that this data had no impact on HidenIntelligence."
It was indeed insignificant. In the past, a security key was needed to access hard drive data, and the key was crucial.
But since Wang Haoyu took over, the security key had lost its value.
Even if the other party stole the hard drive and the key, all they would get was meaningless code.
Given such a change, Wang Haoyu naturally could not keep them on.
"Pack your things, you can leave today."
Before he finished speaking, Wang Haoyu had already stood up and left the room.
Akino Shouun and Nagashima knew full well—even if Wang Haoyu asked them to stay, they would have no face to remain... To alleviate pressure on various departments, Hiden Group decided to organize an internal performance.
"Does anyone have any suggestions?"
Wang Haoyu turned his gaze to Selena.
Fuwa Isamu was the first to raise his hand: "CEO Wang, we can cosplay comic characters."
After the Graphite Ichiro incident, Fuwa Isamu became even more obsessed with comics.
"What about others?"
Wang Haoyu gestured for Yaiba Yua to speak.
"I agree with Fuwa Isamu's plan..."
Comics are indeed the best medium to connect with the audience, as few people in the world don't love comics.
"Then it's set for three days from now, at the Hiden Theater."
Time flies, Hiden Theater.
This largest and most expensive theater in the world is equipped with an AI scene-switching system, capable of meeting all filming needs.
"We're still missing a villain role, and we don't have an actor for it."
When Fuwa Isamu reported to Wang Haoyu, it just so happened that only Muro, a board member, was available.
This person's personality was as eccentric as his name, but his heart was pure.
After receiving Wang Haoyu's approval, Fuwa Isamu walked up to Muro: "Mr. Muro, we need you to play..."
"What? You want me to play the villain?!"
Muro's expression changed instantly.
"It's all for the company, please bear with it!"
Before Fuwa Isamu finished speaking, Muro's expression suddenly transformed.
That face was almost identical to someone else's.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting, please move along!"
The crew member stepped forward to guide the way.
An abandoned factory was their chosen filming location.
Muro obediently collapsed to the ground.
After the Director confirmed everyone was in place, he shouted:
"Everyone ready—Action!"
Chairman Wang Haoyu sat calmly in the front row of the audience, not participating in the performance.
The giant monitor in front of him clearly showed every detail of the scene.
The male lead, cultivated by Hiden Group, was a top artist who had won 31 awards.
"Yili, what a coincidence."
He approached with a smile.
"Mouse... why are you at the crime scene?"
"My intuition told me something would happen today."
...Outside the venue.
Members of the Thunder Organization arrived unexpectedly.
"Why are A.M.S. people here?"
Although he had doubts, his goal was clear—
Completing the mission was enough.
"I can't be bothered with it anymore."
As the transformation device activated, the surrounding facilities instantly turned into ruins... Filming location.
"What do you mean by that?"
Fuwa Isamu questioned sharply.
The actor codenamed "Mouse" calmly replied:
"Human nature is like a coin, always with two sides."
"Two sides?"
As Fuwa Isamu repeated his lines, a signal from the Thunder Organization suddenly sounded in his earpiece.
"They're nearby."
This impromptu line caught his opponent off guard.
Wang Haoyu glanced at the Thunder Organization's location—
The monitor only showed the inside of the venue.
The sudden situation forced a halt to filming.
"Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu, come with me outside. Everyone else, stay here."
Wang Haoyu strode towards the exit.
"Hiding for so long, finally willing to show yourselves?"
Fuwa Isamu rubbed his hands together, his eager fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
Mutation
The metallic resonance echoed in the air, as blue and silver-white armor covered Fuwa Isamu's entire body like liquid. After repeatedly activating his Rider Belt, his muscle memory had achieved perfect synchronization with the armor.
This special composite material was a breakthrough achievement from Wang Haoyu's laboratory, its raw material derived from the molecular reorganization of titanium alloy's deep structure. This new composite material, known as "Glutinous Rice Material," possessed memory deformation properties, automatically adjusting its microstructure to disperse pressure upon impact.
The Thunder Organization technicians' pupils suddenly constricted—they had previously offered a reward for similar materials without success. Due to the demanding purification process, the yield of stable samples was less than three ten-thousandths.
A high-frequency electronic sound suddenly rang out:
"High-Speed Protocol Authentication Complete"
Yaiba Yua's combat boots emitted a faint blue glow, and the superconducting wave device granted her mobility beyond physical limits. The tactical database calculated every enemy weakness in real-time.
"Biological Gene Sequence Loading"
Wang Haoyu's second-generation biological module began operating. Unlike traditional bio-chip implantation technology, this system recreated the attack patterns of a wasp through quantum simulation. The air vibrations generated by high-frequency stabs began to collapse the enemy's defensive array.
Although the battle was brief, real combat is where true skills are forged.
"Fuwa Isamu, continue the attack!"
Wang Wei, commanding from outside, was calm and collected.
The first wasp attack was easily dodged.
While this offensive could cause damage, its effect was limited.
But if a second combo attack followed, its power would be doubled.
"Firepower Upgrade"
"Thunder Wasp"
This strike had a significantly larger range.
With a dull thud,
The enemy fell to the ground, their Kamen Rider armor shattered.
The partners, victorious in their first battle, could not hide their joy.
"We really succeeded..."
"Yes, we did it!"
The crisis resolved, filming resumed.
"Let's continue where we left off."
Wang Haoyu calmly signaled.
The cameras started rolling again.
Hiden Group's actor Humagear were particularly eye-catching.
These mechanical actors precisely replicated their pre-set lines.
The overall effect was smooth and natural.
After filming wrapped, the lead actor Oowada actively sought them out.
"Director, Chairman Wang, mechanical actors are still a bit lacking."
He directly expressed his concerns.
Human actors need to perform vividly,
While Humagear can only mechanically repeat.
Even with performance programs installed,
The results still appear stiff.
The Director smiled helplessly:
"After all, they are robots, their nature is hard to change."
"They show no fluctuation even in tense scenes..."
How can machines be nervous?
"Ultimately, they lack humanity,"
Oowada finally concluded.
The Director earnestly said:
"You're right, but I'll need your continued patience with the new project."
Oowada sighed and gently pressed the Director's shoulder: "If we just go along with him, how will this scene continue?"
He was about to turn and leave when he suddenly heard Wang Haoyu call his name from behind.
"Mr. Oowada, AI technology is advancing rapidly now. I promise you, in seven days you will see reborn Humagear actors."
The purpose of Humagear's birth has never been to cause trouble for humans, but to help humans solve difficult problems beyond their capabilities.
If one day these mechanical lives become a burden, it means humans no longer need them. At that time, only hostility will remain in human eyes.
If this weakness is exploited by those with ulterior motives, Humagear will turn into cold-blooded weapons.
"Chairman Wang, is that true?" Oowada's expression shifted upon hearing this.
"Absolutely," Wang Haoyu's lips curved slightly.
After a brief exchange, Wang Haoyu excused himself due to business... Inside the Base.
Wang Haoyu had placed Selena here and set up a red alert system for emergencies.
"It's confirmed, the Thunder Organization's target is Oowada and his Humagear partner," Selenabrought up a holographic projection.
The giant screen in the main control room clearly marked the coordinates of the Humagear with tampered programs—each red dot represented a mechanical life form infiltrated by the Thunder Organization. All Hiden Group products are equipped with a terminal, and once the terminal code is tampered with, the device number lights up with a red alert.
"Why are so many red dots concentrated in the Film and Television City Area?" Yaiba Yua pointed to the lower right corner of the screen.
Chapter 158 Chapter 158
"That is indeed a disaster area, but what's strange is that they are all holding their ground." Such a large-scale operation is dormant, what exactly are they brewing?
"The Thunder Organization will definitely make a big move soon. So, before they act, you must seize every minute to improve your strength." Wang Haoyu's deployment was clear—no matter when the enemy launched their offensive, Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu must grow rapidly.
"Should we notify the crew to immediately stop filming? And evacuate everyone from the film and television city?" Selena suggested. The film and television city has complex terrain, expensive equipment, not to mention dense crowds—the consequences would be unimaginable once a firefight breaks out. But if they evacuate the crowd now, it would inevitably alert the enemy.
Even if the Thunder Organization planned to act, they would abandon the plan after receiving this notification.
"Just stopping them from filming and strengthening security measures is enough!"
Wang Haoyu had made up his mind.
"Understood, Mr. Wang Haoyu."
"..."
Selena suddenly thought of something.
"By the way, Mr. Wang Haoyu, should we leak this video of the Humagear's anomaly to the media?"
She quickly operated the computer, calling up a video of the robot after a program anomaly.
"Of course, but it must appear to have no connection with Hiden Group."
This video could both warn the public about the risk of robots losing control and provide early prevention. If it were discovered that Hiden Group orchestrated it, public opinion would question the video's authenticity, making the situation more complicated.
It's better to avoid these troubles from the source... "According to information provided by an anonymous source, when a Humagear's eyes flash this special color, it indicates that it has deviated from its normal operating state..."
Feidian's newly launched entertainment-type Humagear was snapped up as soon as it was released, primarily used in dance instruction.
Soon, a craze for Humagear applications swept through the entertainment industry.
"It's so brilliant! The replication accuracy of this dance move is spot on; if it weren't for the barcode on its face, it would be indistinguishable from a human actor."
Muro exclaimed in admiration.
This director's new work starred Oowada and manga enthusiast Fuwa Isamu. Hiden Group was not only the main investor but also made him one of the first pioneering directors to use entertainment robots.
To distinguish humans from robots, all factory-produced Humagear have a unique barcode etched on their faces. Scanning the code allows one to query its number, model, and production information.
"Director, how should this movement be performed?"
A strangely dressed figure approached Muro.
This aroused Wang Haoyu's vigilance—wearing heavy costumes in the scorching summer, unless... it was a 'person' who couldn't feel temperature.
"Wait... are you an actor from the crew? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Muro's brows were tightly furrowed.
Although there were many crew members, Muro remembered each one clearly.
To reach his current position, one couldn't do it without real skill.
"I... I... I..."
"Connected to Xunlei Station"
"Exterminate humanity"
"Exterminate humanity"
"Exterminate humanity"
This was clearly a rampaging Humagear.
More precisely, it was a modified type that had transformed into a tarantula form.
"Dark Tarantula"
The humanoid machine in front of him had mutated to exhibit tarantula characteristics.
"I didn't expect to meet you here. Want to try my new equipment?"
Fuwa Isamu showed a confident smile.
He calmly took out his briefcase device.
Through Wang Haoyu's special training, Fuwa Isamu had completely mastered its usage.
"Kamen Rider"
"Transform"
...Accompanied by the transformation sound effect.
While Fuwa Isamu was fighting fiercely, Wang Haoyu sat leisurely on the sidelines.
He pondered:
Why would a Humagear infiltrate the set?
And how did it connect to the Xunlei Station?
Thinking of this, Wang Haoyu quietly left the scene.
Fuwa Isamu at this level was more than capable of handling it alone.
That briefcase equipment was incredibly powerful; dealing with the Dark Tarantula was no problem.
The set was divided into three areas:
Filming area, costume and props area, and post-production monitoring area.
Such TV dramas usually film and edit simultaneously, which is highly efficient.
Since the Dark Tarantula appeared in the front area, Wang Haoyu passed through the middle area without seeing any anomalies.
Then the problem must be in the final area.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock"
The sound of the clock ticking was exceptionally clear.
The editing area shouldn't be this quiet!
Something abnormal must be suspicious!
"Show yourself!"
Wang Haoyu stopped.
The space in front of him was empty.
It was difficult for ordinary people to hide.
But in this technological era, with enough means, nothing is impossible.
Wang Haoyu's lips curled into a cold arc.
The nano-barrier rippled like water, and a figure stepped out from thin air. The opponent let out a hoarse laugh: "Interesting! I thought my opponent was a brute, but I didn't expect you to see through the latest nano-technology—it seems the Dark Tarantula has fallen into your hands!"
At this moment, data streams from Selena flowed across Wang Haoyu's retina. In the Base's main control room, the supercomputer emitted a faint blue glow, and Selena's fingers fluttered like butterflies across the holographic keyboard. The regular database yielded nothing, but when she activated the space-based scanning system, the entire satellite network of the East Asia region was instantly activated.
"Target locked." Wang Haoyu's command reached her directly via quantum communication.
Three seconds later, Selena's voice exploded in the combat channel: "Murakami Makino, passed the Mensa test at age twelve, now an S-Rank member of the Thunder Organization, participated in..."
Before she finished speaking, crimson light patterns suddenly lit up on the wilderness. Mechanical electronic sounds rippled out in layers:
「Authentication Passed·Thunder Main Station Accessed」
「Codename: Lone Child Rider」
「Trait: Eternal Solitude/Dual Killing Intent」
Steel armor enveloped the enemy's entire body like liquid metal, and two narrow blood-red lines lit up in the eye slits of the faceplate.
"It's still not too late to surrender now." Murakami Makino continued to persuade, "Wang Haoyu, to be honest, your strength truly impresses me. On behalf of the Thunder Organization, I officially invite you to join; choosing the side of justice is the wise choice!"
"Join forces with us, and the entire World can be controlled in your hands. Everything you want in the future can be realized!"
...However, Murakami Makino's incessant chatter only annoyed Wang Haoyu.
"Are all you Thunder people so verbose?" Wang Haoyu asked impatiently, "Do you have to say so much nonsense before every move?"
This was the second such noisy person Wang Haoyu had encountered, so it was no wonder he thought this way.
"How foolish!" Murakami Makino snapped.
In his mind, the Thunder Organization was the supreme existence. But he didn't understand that with Wang Haoyu's strength, he didn't need the power of any organization to dominate the World; it was just that Wang Haoyu had no such ambition.
"Kamen Rider"
"Transform"
"Kamen Rider Zero-One"
As the transformation sound effect rang out:
"Zero-One, Zero-One"
"..."
"Power of Dreams!"
"Leaping Hope!"
Wang Haoyu's figure floated in mid-air.
"How is this possible?!" Murakami Makino's face was filled with shock.
In his view, being able to float required extremely powerful and continuous support. This completely exceeded the scope of human capabilities; if he didn't know Wang Haoyu was human, he would suspect he was a mechanical lifeform.
"How could this be..."
"You can't..."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Wang Haoyu completely lost his patience.
"Rider Machine Gun"
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh"
"Bang bang bang"
Wang Haoyu's attack was like a torrential storm, so fast that his opponent had no time to react. Amidst the continuous roar of the machine gun, Murakami Makino retreated steadily.
Every shot from the energy-glowing muzzle carried immense destructive power.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh"
"Bang bang bang"
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh"
"Bang bang bang"
After several exchanges, Murakami Makino's mechanical armor was almost shattered.
It wasn't that he didn't want to counterattack, but he simply had no power to resist.
Staring at his riddled battle suit, Murakami Makino was furious.
"Wang Haoyu! Is this your attitude towards the Thunder Organization's goodwill? Are you determined to be our enemy?"
"Don't you consider the consequences? The organization is willing to give you a chance now, you..."
Before he could finish, Wang Haoyu had already launched his attack.
"Noisy."
With a loud bang.
The energy wave accurately hit the target.
This strike completely ignited Murakami Makino's fighting spirit.
"Kamen Rider·Satellite Power!"
"Spirit Ape Chasing the Moon!"
He quickly took out the transformation device and embedded it into his belt.
The mechanical components began to reassemble and transform.
Although the armor was damaged, its original dark gray Base color gradually turned brownish-red, finally presenting an ape-like form.
Wang Haoyu understood the opponent's characteristics without a detector.
"It's quite smart to know how to utilize its agility."
Compared to previous opponents, this one was indeed much stronger.
After all, fighting with fools would only lower one's own combat level!
The Rider Machine Gun's firepower suddenly upgraded.
The firing speed increased tenfold.
Even transformed into a Spirit Ape, Murakami Makino still found it difficult to dodge.
Continuous hits left him in a sorry state.
"Thunder System, connect to nearby smart machinery!"
He pulled out his communication terminal, attempting to summon reinforcements.
However, the device remained unresponsive.
"What's going on?"
Murakami Makino furiously slapped the instrument.
Normally, mechanical guards should have arrived to assist by now.
"What did you do?!"
Murakami Makino stared at Wang Haoyu's casual sitting posture, enraged.
This guy definitely played a trick!
"Do you think I would let you control the nearby Humagear?"
Wang Haoyu looked at Murakami Makino with an expression that implied he was an idiot.
He didn't know whether to call him too naive or too trusting of the Thunder Organization.
The Thunder Organization had sent people before, and Wang Haoyu had already refused once; he didn't expect them to come again!
Hopeless!
"Time Machine Gun"
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh"
Murakami Makino's mech instantly burst into flames under the powerful gunfire.
With a loud "bang," the target instantly evaporated.
Murakami Makino was no longer human.
He had been controlled by the Xunlei Station for too long, and his behavior pattern was no different from a robot... on the set.
"I want to become an excellent actor like you; please teach me."
Humagear number 001 requested Oowada.
This latest actor-type Humagear developed by Hiden Group completely surpassed previous generations in all aspects.
It could perfectly execute performance programs while never overstepping boundaries.
Film and television production costs were significantly reduced as a result.
Oowada naturally wouldn't refuse.
It was a good thing that someone loved acting, which showed the charm of the acting profession.
Oowada demonstrated the performance, while the Humagear precisely replicated it using its chip program.
"That was a mimicry of a move from 'Dark Storm,' with high replication accuracy."
"But... your eyes look like they want to **?"
Oowada suddenly noticed something unusual.
This was beyond the design scope for a Humagear.
Wang Haoyu returned to the set just in time to see this scene.
"Mr. Oowada, are you satisfied with this Humagear?"
Wang Haoyu's expression was calm.
He had once promised Oowada that he would develop the most perfect actor-type Humagear.