Ch: 171-176
Chapter 171 – Chapter 171
Number 31 was already lightning-fast; after transforming, the Rise Key's boost multiplied his speed a thousandfold!
Too slow!
I'm behind you!
React faster!
Right now, Wang Haoyu was toying with him!
Getting bored.
Wang Haoyu stalled for time, all to buy ** for Yaiba Yua.
Yaiba Yua had been suppressed for so long—how could the leader not strike back?
Zero-One, authorize!
Wang Haoyu drew the Zero-One Driver.
It was a **.
Golden light erupted around him.
The Xunlei Station member instantly unleashed purple energy to counter!
Zero-One · Annihilation!
The blow landed; the foe froze on the spot.
On the other side, Fuwa Isamu had the upper hand.
Your turn!
Go keep that ** company!
In Fuwa Isamu's eyes, Space Wolf Raiden was **.
Passive program or not, facts were facts.
Charge complete!
Electro-Storm · Heat!
Fuwa Isamu leapt—
Inside Xunlei Station's Base.
Leader Kamen Rider Metsubou told the battling member, "Death, if this is ark's will, we obey!"
This person was Death of the Thunder Organization.
What?
Death almost doubted his ears.
Why would ark choose an outsider?
The four of Thunder were born for ark; their lives were to serve ark.
Fuwa Isamu's strike had been aimed at Kaiser Lydian, who'd raised his guard.
At the last instant, Death shoved Kaiser Lydian aside and took the hit himself.
All because of Metsubou's words!
Everything stemmed from ark's will!
Electro-Storm · Blazing Impact!
The power was beyond imagination.
However—
Death's satellite signal was recalled to the Base.
The one who swapped in—was Metsubou!
The strike released 100 % power, stripping Metsubou's armored form back to Base state.
Mech fragments scattered everywhere.
Kaiser Lydian sprinted over.
Why did this happen!
Metsubou!
Kaiser Lydian couldn't grasp the sudden turn—Metsubou had appeared!
Watching everything, Wang Haoyu spotted a secret—
This was the key to crushing Xunlei Station.
Starting with Space Wolf Raiden, they kept repeating one name: ark!
These people would die for ark.
Even the long-hidden Metsubou had surfaced… they'd hooked a big fish!
So many unexpected twists!
Luckily, everything stayed within Wang Haoyu's control!
Fuwa Isamu's face lit with excitement:
I finally did it.
He'd returned to normal.
Without Wang Haoyu's energy keeping him stable, Fuwa Isamu would've been [DATA DELETED].
Though he grimaced, the symptoms were far lighter than last time!
At that moment Izu rushed in, heading straight for Kaiser Lydian.
Still grief-stricken, Kaiser Lydian couldn't accept reality:
Metsubou…
Yet Izu announced with a smile:
Looks like your supreme Commander's been completely crushed!
Kaiser Lydian stared in disbelief:
What? Metsubou… utterly defeated?!
You're a Humagear—how can you still smile!
In fury, he lashed tentacles at her.
Wang Haoyu, watching Fuwa Isamu, didn't spot Izu's danger in time.
Spinning around, he saw Izu curled in pain:
Izu—!
Blade · Overclock Slash!
As Wang Haoyu severed the tentacles, Izu's pupils dilated and her eyes slowly closed… Cradling Metsubou's remains, Kaiser Lydian walked toward the lake.
His faith collapsed with Metsubou's fall.
Izu!
(
Izu!
Wang Haoyu called several times, confirming Izu had completely shut down.
No matter—he'd take her back and repair her.
The original target had been Zaia and Tengen Gai,
but A.M.S. suddenly dropped orders, cutting the restraints on Zaia,
weakening the force against Tengen Gai.
At that moment, Chusho and Lin stood in Tengen Gai's office, reporting mission details.
Xunlei Station folded so easily! Tengen Gai sneered.
Chusho and Lin shook their heads:
If Xunlei Station hadn't taken the front-line damage, it would've been us.
To counter Wang Haoyu, Zaia paid a heavy price as well.
But to Tengen Gai, those losses were mere dust.
War always has casualties.
This battle will go down in history as a heroic epic! Tengen Gai declared, rising with a flourish.
At least we kept our foundation and destroyed the enemy Base.
He secretly rejoiced at A.M.S.'s timely intervention.
Yet Xunlei Station's fall meant the next battle would be head-on with Wang Haoyu.
Fighting in the shadows still held chances,
but open warfare granted no edge.
Tengen Gai had to rearrange his pieces.
Next, prove to the World that Kamen Riders are the weapons of a new era!
He longed to forge a mythic dynasty of Kamen Riders,
his designs on Hiden Group never waning.
Only by letting Wang Haoyu expand Wato
will the harvest later be easier. He narrowed his eyes.
Chusho and Lin exchanged silent glances—
the Tengen Gai before them was now an icy stranger willing to send subordinates to certain death.
But in the end they lowered their heads:
"As you command."
As they turned to leave,
cold metallic glints flickered in the shadows.
"The ark shall awaken at last!"
A mechanical voice suddenly rang out:
[Completion 99.9%]
Tengen Gai's lips curved… In the lab, Izu lay quietly on the alloy table.
Wang Haoyu's fingertips brushed her cold faceplate.
The areas seared by tentacles had already carbonized.
Space Wolf Mang asked Wang Haoyu blankly, "Chairman Wang Haoyu, how do you plan to take care of Izu?"
"Need you ask? Of course we'll restore her!"
Wang Haoyu was unable to transmit his own power into Izu.
Her underlying code was bound to an exclusive satellite protocol.
If outside force intruded the satellite system, the defense routine would self-destruct at once, and Izuwould be lost forever.
"Mr. Wang, what action should we take next?"
Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua looked anxious.
Although Fuwa was biased against Humagears, he'd always been fond of Izu.
Losing her would leave him feeling empty.
"Izu's energy comes from the Zea satellite—perhaps through Zea she can be restored!"
Inside the underground Base of Xunlei Station.
Kaiser Lydian laid Horobi flat on the metal floor.
"Wait for me; I'll beg the ark to fix you."
As he leapt toward the console, Horobi's murmur came from behind:
"No use trying."
How could Lydian not know the method was hopeless?
Yet if there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he had to try.
But hearing Horobi's words now, his hand froze above the control panel.
Horobi's body was linked to countless data cables.
"Why?!"
When Lydian turned, his eyes brimmed with grief.
"Letting you cross the technological singularity was the ark's plan, so I raised you as a father. My death will ignite your hatred of humans and complete your final awakening."
Horobi's face began shedding mechanical shards.
She had never been human—she was a Humagear.
That was why Lydian raged when he saw Izu's smile.
Kaiser Lydian knelt before Horobi.
"My child! Exterminate all humanity and carry out the ark's will!"
It was Horobi's final order, before falling into eternal silence.
It meant Xunlei Station's supreme Commander had fallen.
Scarlet light surged in Lydian's pupils, devouring the purple energy waves from surrounding devices.
The entire Base echoed with roars; within the crimson glow a horde of corrupted Humagear soldiers was born.
He would faithfully fulfill Horobi's last wish.
Inside the space capsule, Wang Haoyu placed Izu into the sealed chamber.
"Zea satellite, I beg you to rebuild Izu!"
"Understood!"
The space capsule initiated a full diagnostic and scanned Izu from head to toe.
Anticipation glimmered in Space Wolf Mang's eyes; he seemed to genuinely wish Izu safe—so unlike his usual self.
"Judging by how you look, you care a lot about Izu, huh?" Yaiba Yua asked point-blank.
"Of course! She's family to me!"
Wato's face lit up. "Looks like Space Wolf Mang has finally figured it out—though it's all thanks to me!" He danced with excitement.
Space Wolf Mang tilted his head, puzzled. "Sorry, I don't quite get it…" As a mechanical life-form, even after awakening he still had to keep learning humanity's complex ways of expression.
"Never mind." Wang Haoyu brushed the topic aside.
Scanning Izu would take a while. Since this mission came from A.M.S., Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua had to report back.
"Mr. Wang, we need to leave for A.M.S. at once," Yaiba Yua reported.
"Go on, stay safe." Wang Haoyu agreed readily. The two sides had forged a partnership; this was their first joint operation, and next they would face the threat of Zaia together.
On the way, Yaiba stared at Fuwa. "I know you don't want Mr. Wang to worry, but at least treat those wounds?" His injuries weren't fatal, yet they needed care. Wang had noticed but deliberately gave him space—letting Fuwa relax would help him plan their next move more clearly.
Meanwhile, Wang Haoyu returned to the hospital.
Oowada, hospitalized for months, closed his book. "Mr. Wang, it's time."
"You've rested long enough; time to get back in the game." Wang smiled. During those three months the entertainment World had shifted, and Hiden Intelligence faced brand-new challenges.
(
"Thanks for stepping in this time."
Wang said sincerely.
"No need for thanks, Mr. Wang; we both benefit." Oowada beamed.
After discharge formalities they parted ways.
By now no one cared about Humagear performances; they cared whether Humagears could serve humanity in the future.
When Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua reached A.M.S. headquarters, a shrill alarm suddenly blared.
On the lobby screen, the footage the staff pulled up left Yaiba Yua stunned.
Chapter 172 Chapter 172
"There are so many Demon Machines!"
Even she, who had experienced countless battles, had never seen such a large-scale operation. The most peculiar thing was that the highest Commander of Xunlei Station, Met, had already been defeated.
So, who exactly is behind this?
The leader of A.M.S. headquarters urgently summoned Wang Haoyu.
Upon Wang Haoyu's arrival, Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu, who had been at a loss, immediately saw a glimmer of hope.
"Mr. Wang, we've discovered a large number of Demon Machines of unknown origin..." Yaiba Yua was about to report when Wang Haoyu already stated the truth.
"These Demon Machines are the work of Kaiser Lydian. Met's death at Xunlei Station was meant to provoke and awaken it."
Wang Haoyu had always been investigating Xunlei Station. He never understood why Met, a non-human, would cultivate a human child—as a Humagear who had awakened self-awareness, Met's emotions were twisted.
Now all the clues finally became clear... Kaiser Lydian was just a chess piece cultivated by Met, and now this chess piece was about to complete its mission.
A.M.S. headquarters had a dedicated Gig Unit to counter Demon Machines.
"Deploy the Gigs immediately!"
Wang Haoyu watched Yaiba Yua say these words, and the staff immediately carried out her orders, but the image of the Gigs never appeared on the screen.
Without a doubt, the Gigs had completely lost control.
This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to A.M.S.—all personnel had lost their combat effectiveness!
"How could this happen!"
The already large number of Demon Machines were now widely distributed. If they couldn't mobilize manpower, how could the citizens of the entire city be protected?
Just as Yaiba Yua fell into anxiety, Wang Haoyu offered a suggestion.
Although the Demon Machines were acting wantonly in the city at this moment, they had never harmed humans, which might mean they were waiting for a certain opportunity.
And could all of this be related to the "ark" behind them?
Seizing this clue, Wang Haoyu suggested that Yaiba Yua go directly to the Xunlei Station Base.
"The Base is hidden at the bottom of the lake in Dawn Town."
This information was captured by Wang Haoyu the moment Kaiser Lydian took Met away. To be able to observe so keenly at such a critical moment showed his extraordinary composure.
"Understood, I'll leave immediately."
Yaiba Yua was about to turn around when Fuwa Isamu suddenly stopped her.
"I'm coming with you."
Yaiba Yua looked at Wang Haoyu for confirmation, and after receiving his approval, she nodded. Wang Haoyu, meanwhile, remained at A.M.S. headquarters.
At this time, inside the Universe Capsule, Space Wolf Mang was guarding Izu. According to the time calculation, Zea was about to complete her repair. Wato, who was restlessly pacing, was also in the capsule.
"Why do you keep pacing back and forth?" Space Wolf Mang asked.
"I can't help it!" Wato scratched his hair, "You're really calm!"
For the first time, he admired the Humagear's composure. For safety reasons, Wang Haoyu did not let Wato accompany them. This Hiden Group Universe Capsule used dual protection: the president's exclusive authority + Wang Haoyu's specially encrypted program, making it an impenetrable fortress.
"Just received an alert from Satellite ZAIA," Space Wolf Mang suddenly said.
"Repair complete?"
"No, Xunlei Station is leading an army to attack."
The smile on Wato's face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
"Space Wolf Mang, is there anything we can do?"
He yearned to support Wang Haoyu and absolutely did not want to be a burden.
"For now, we can only wait for Izu to wake up. Satellite ZAIA will transmit external dynamics to me in real-time."
Indeed, Wato was helpless at this moment.
Staying put and avoiding trouble was the greatest help.
"How I wish I could fight alongside Brother Wang Haoyu!"
Witnessing everyone transform into Kamen Riders, Wato's heart surged with a fervor beyond admiration—it was the power to protect his family.
In his heart, Wang Haoyu was already a beloved family member.
Outside, Demon Machines were frantically destroying buildings.
In this sudden crisis, A.M.S., without Gig support, only had Wang Haoyu's team available for deployment.
"Selena, activate the satellite defense system."
This was Wang Haoyu's preset emergency plan, specifically for unexpected situations at Xunlei Station.
Selena immediately carried out the order.
"Satellite defense system activating..."
"Demon Machine communication function blocked"
"Gig system restored to normal operation"
The Demon Machines, deprived of commands, came to a halt.
Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu arrived at the Base.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, Xunlei Station has been completely destroyed," Yaiba Yua reported.
"Sending new coordinates, proceed immediately."
Wang Haoyu's fingers flew across the keyboard.
The target location was the core area where the Demon Machines were rampant.
When the two arrived, the scene of devastation shocked them.
"This level of destruction..." In the past, Demon Machines never possessed such destructive power.
"This opponent is not to be underestimated," Yaiba Yua's brows furrowed.
"No matter how strong he is! Don't forget, we were trained by Mr. Wang Haoyu!" Fuwa Isamu laughed.
"Prioritize civilian evacuation!"
"Understood!"
"Calm down! Evacuate this way!"
"Stay safe!"
The staff quickly guided the crowd.
Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua, in their silver uniforms, stood side by side at the forefront of the defense line.
All the mechanical demon soldiers suddenly ceased their offensive.
Kaiser Lydian, his cloak flapping in the wind, passed through the mechanical formation.
"A.M.S., the final hour has come."
There was no longer any playful expression on his face,
Every contour was frozen with frost.
"What value can destroying human civilization bring?" Fuwa Isamu's roar echoed through the ruins.
"If humans, this Planet's ecological chain will collapse after [DATA EXPUNGED] years—ark's ultimate deduction result."
Kaiser Lydian shed his disguise,
his voice slicing through the air like a blade.
"Absurd algorithm!"
Yaiba Yua's cold laugh cut through the smoke.
「Artificial Intelligence Special Law Violation Confirmed」
「Thunder Protocol Activated」
"Finisher·Thunder Annihilation Mode Activate!"
The sound of armor interlocking rose and fell:
「Combat Readiness Upgrade」
「Authorization Authentication」
"Kamen Rider System Activated"
"Transformation Sequence Complete"
The wolf-type assault unit unfurled its wings,
and honeycomb-shaped lightning coursed through the armor's seams.
Kaiser Lydian sat cross-legged on the ground,
the mechanical legion arrayed behind him:
"Crush them."
The torrent of demon soldiers, devoid of self-awareness,
collided with the two Riders' battle-hardened defensive matrix.
Energy-filled finishers swept across the battlefield,
and metal wreckage rained down like a storm.
When the 103rd unit crashed to the ground,
the Gigs were surprisingly standing in the enemy's formation.
"By what means did you control the Gigs?"
Yaiba Yua was not yet aware of Wang Haoyu's hidden programming—
that victory simulation code hidden within the repair program.
Kaiser Lydian, confident of victory, raised his chin:
"Because I have completed my evolution."
A chilling electronic sound suddenly exploded:
「Gravity Field Compilation」
「Administrator Override」
「Ancient Beast Protocol Awakened」
The Mammoth Mech materialized from a data storm,
its sixty-thousand-ton foot armor crushing all Gig combat units.
Wang Haoyu looked down at the staggering enemy,
the Mammoth armor's eyes burning with a crimson glow.
(Keyframe: Console data shows remaining energy 97%)
"Your Flash Commerce's goal is to eliminate humanity, so what do intelligent robots represent to you?"
"They are my companions!" Kaiser Lydian answered frankly.
"If you consider them companions, why did you harm Izu?"
Wang Haoyu gave him no chance to explain.
"Not just Izu, how many intelligent robots have you used and harmed over the years? Can you even count them?"
How could someone who treated intelligent robots so cruelly still call them companions!
Stung, Kaiser Lydian roared, "Shut up! This is all according to My Lord ark's command!"
He pulled out a pitch-black data key.
The key was inserted into the driver at his waist.
"Aerial Mode"
"Armament Activated"
"Performance Enhanced"
"Azure Eagle"
"Destruction Program"
Facing the fully armed Kaiser Lydian, Wang Haoyu's gaze was resolute: "I will definitely protect the future of humans and intelligent robots!"
These words were not only for his opponent but also a declaration to everyone present.
This situation would inevitably cause public panic, and the trust between humans and intelligent robots would be on the verge of collapse.
"Activate the zero-one system!"
As Wang Haoyu donned the belt, he suddenly entered a blue digital space.
This was inside Satellite Zeus.
Wang Haoyu met her in this way for the first time.
"Satellite Zeus, you must have foreseen this scene, right?"
"Indeed, President Wang Haoyu. For this, a special emergency key has been prepared."
A blue data key appeared before Wang Haoyu.
"Data synchronization complete!"
Wang Haoyu opened his eyes and inserted the blue key into the driver.
Kaiser Lydian was dumbfounded: "How can you use this?!"
Amidst his opponent's astonishment, Wang Haoyu activated the key.
"Overclock Jump"
"Extreme Enhancement"
The blue and yellow dual-colored energy rings combined with Wang Haoyu's own strength in a triple overlay, dramatically increasing his armor's defense.
"Armament Activated!"
"System Upgrade"
"Emergency Alert! Combat Mode Activated"
"Compound Enhancement"
"Radiant Striker!"
A locust-shaped light pattern appeared above Wang Haoyu's head, then materialized.
This mechanical life form injected its core energy into the battle armor, instantly erupting with dazzling light.
"Death throes, a final struggle!"
The dark sky suddenly ripped open. The moment Wang Haoyu completed his form change, a bloody dawn pierced the horizon.
Yellow, blue, and black alloys intertwined to form the mech's indestructible outer shell.
"No one can stop me!"
A destruction authorization device appeared in Wang Haoyu's palm.
"Battle Axe Overload"
In a storm of attacks, every one of Wang Haoyu's movements precisely struck Kaiser Lydian, who tumbled awkwardly to evade.
On the edge of the battlefield, Chusho and Lin gazed at the energy aftermath.
"How can the zero-one system be compatible?!"
Their pupils suddenly contracted.
"It's Satellite ZAIA!"
Hiden Intelligence's ultimate AI had already predicted this duel.
Chusho clenched his fist: "President Wang Haoyu would never ally with Zaia!"
If time could be turned back, she would definitely choose to stand behind Wang Haoyu.
Now there was no turning back.
"Xun Lei Base Station must be destroyed!"
"The Destroyers of humanity are humans themselves!"
Kaiser Lydian's mockery made Wang Haoyu momentarily distracted.
But the future is always written by those who live.
When a purple key lit up in Kaiser's hand, Wang Haoyu recognized it as Met's activator.
"Scorpion Program Activated"
"Sting Missile Locked"
Everyone waited for the moment Wang Haoyu would be hit—
A silver data stream suddenly engulfed the battlefield.
Chapter 173 Chapter 173
"If you have something to say, say it!" Wang Haoyu snapped irritably within the Zea space.
This time, it was Izu's holographic image that appeared.
"I suggest activating the Radiance System."
She unfolded a light screen, and a torrent of golden data surged before Wang Haoyu's eyes.
Wang Haoyu, the helmsman of Hiden Group, received comprehensive information on that system.
Wang Haoyu glanced at the data and immediately recognized that the design was balanced for both offense and defense.
It was like the rise of a company, relying on the concerted efforts of all its employees.
The Radiance emitted by the employees guided Wang Haoyu's path.
This analogy was spot on.
"Don't worry, Izu! I will definitely win, so you must complete your self-repair!"
Izu nodded solemnly.
Wang Haoyu returned to the core of the battlefield.
"Radiance System."
"Activate!"
As the system activated, the mech suit burst forth with dazzling brilliance.
The Radiance was so splendid it was impossible to look at directly.
Countless energy fragments materialized around Wang Haoyu.
In the blink of an eye, all these fragments were injected into his energy core.
"How is this possible!" Kaiser Lydian was utterly shocked.
But having witnessed the previous events, he already realized the extraordinary power of this weapon.
No matter how fiercely Kaiser Lydian attacked, he could not harm Wang Haoyu in the slightest.
"You actually don't need to defend?"
"That's right, this is Absolute Defense!"
The system autonomously judged external threats and responded accordingly.
"Now it's my turn!"
Wang Haoyu casually swung his weapon, instantly defeating Kaiser Lydian.
"I will never surrender! We must eliminate all humans!"
Kaiser Lydian was still fighting stubbornly.
"What is the reason? What crime have humans committed?"
Wang Haoyu felt this hatred was baseless, as if it were his predetermined ultimate mission.
Indeed, the Xunlei Station had cultivated him for a long time precisely to forge this ultimate weapon.
"No reason is needed! My Lord taught me that I must eliminate all humanity!"
Wang Haoyu couldn't help but sigh, "Humagear thinking is truly pure!"
Their cognition is entirely dependent on what they learn.
If Kaiser Lydian had never been exposed to the idea of destroying humanity,
this conflict would not have erupted now.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
But Wang Haoyu still firmly believed that one day humans and Humagear could coexist peacefully.
"This World should rightfully be shared by humans and Humagear!"
This was an irreversible certainty.
"The moment a Humagear smiles is the moment humanity meets its end!"
Wang Haoyu sighed softly, already understanding that Kaiser Lydian was beyond saving.
"Utopia Wings."
Kaiser Lydian soared into the air, hovering mid-flight.
He suddenly pounced toward Wang Haoyu.
"It's time to end all of this!"
Wang Haoyu threw down the weapon in his hand.
"Energy Assault."
"Radiance Storm."
Immediately after, he leaped up, heading straight for Kaiser Lydian.
The fierce battle between the two caused a massive tremor high in the sky.
All eyes were focused on this confrontation; the winner was about to be revealed.
Until... Kaiser Lydian's armor suddenly disintegrated, revealing his original form.
He fell to his knees, submitting to Wang Haoyu.
The belief he had held his entire life turned out to be a fallacy!
"Humanity will eventually meet its doom!"
Kaiser Lydian spread his arms toward the heavens.
"Heed the guidance of ark!"
As his voice fell, an explosion echoed through the sky.
Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua exchanged glances.
"The battle is over."
"Indeed."
Wang Haoyu picked up Kaiser Lydian's Data Key.
Chusho and Lin were reporting the battle situation to Tengen Gai.
"The situation is settled. Chairman Wang Haoyu of Hiden Group has achieved final victory."
At this moment, Tengen Gai was standing inside the Xunlei Station Base.
Gazing at the two keys on the data platform and the fallen Metsu, a smile played on his lips.
"Progress: 1000%."
He took the two keys from the table... When Wang Haoyu led the group back to Hiden Group, he pushed open the door and saw Izu standing in the office.
"Chairman Wang Haoyu, Mr. Fuwa Isamu, Yaiba Yua **."
"System repair complete."
"Initiating activity detection."
Izu demonstrated a dance move for Wang Haoyu.
This was taught to her by Wato.
"Functions operating normally."
Wang Haoyu extended his right hand to Izu.
"Welcome back to the team."
"I should be the one welcoming you back. Thank you sincerely for taking the time out of your busy schedule to repair my system."
Izu bowed ninety degrees in respect.
"That's great! We accomplished something huge, right? Shouldn't we have a celebration party?"
Wato was excited, the joy of the crisis being resolved clearly evident.
However, Wang Haoyu still needed to convene a special board meeting.
The scale of this meeting far exceeded previous ones.
"The vote will now commence. Please raise your hand if you approve of removing Chairman Wang Haoyu from his position."
The board's agenda was clearly aimed at Wang Haoyu's position.
Only one person at the meeting table raised their hand in approval.
The person who raised their hand was the Vice President of Hiden Group.
As soon as he raised his hand, the assistant beside him immediately whispered a warning, "Vice President, please don't raise your hand!"
But it was too late; the quick-witted Humagear had already noticed.
"Total votes in favor: one."
The Vice President had no choice but to retract his arm, scratching his head instead.
"My scalp was itching, I couldn't help it."
Just as the assistant was about to speak, the Humagear interjected a reminder, "Please refrain from indecent actions, Vice President."
At this point, Wang Haoyu stood up to speak:
"Recently, numerous negative comments have damaged the company's reputation. As Chairman and President of Hiden Group, I will make every effort to protect Hiden Intelligence and safeguard human safety!"
The directors had witnessed Wang Haoyu's actions firsthand, and one of them stood up and said:
"Chairman Wang Haoyu transformed into the Zero-One Warrior, defending the company alone during a crisis. He took on great responsibility, even risking his own life to fight the threat. He is a well-deserved Corporate Hero!"
This statement prompted the entire board to rise and applaud, offering unanimous approval.
The media widely reported that Chairman Wang Haoyu of Hiden Group had successfully crushed the cybersecurity incident that threatened human safety.
Major media outlets rushed to conduct interviews, causing a large number of reporters to gather outside the gates of Hiden Group.
Thanks to the robust security system, order at the scene was maintained.
Wang Haoyu believed that moderate disclosure of the incident was beneficial rather than harmful.
The latest communiqué showed that Hiden Intelligence and A.M.S. jointly announced that the cyber threat previously harmful to humanity had been completely eliminated. Experts analyzed that the risk of Humagear losing control would be significantly reduced in the future... A.M.S. Headquarters Office.
Catherine, who was giving her weekly work report as planned, heard her superior sigh, "It's thanks to Mr. Wang Haoyu that we managed to avert disaster this time."
The A.M.S. person-in-charge said, "Tengen Gai has been highly active recently. Do we need to take countermeasures..."
Before Catherine could finish speaking, the A.M.S. Leader raised a hand to interrupt her.
"At present, the only person who can restrain Zaia is Wang Haoyu."
The A.M.S. Leader currently had no better strategy but to wait for Wang Haoyu's decision.
When the time came, they only needed to follow.
The affairs of the Thunder Organization have now settled.
The immediate priority is Zaia's movements.
Tengen Gai has been moving frequently recently, even starting to guard against Catherine.
The situation is not optimistic!
We must reach a consensus with Wang Haoyu as soon as possible!
"Since you have decided, I will fully assist Mr. Wang Haoyu and Hiden Group."
The A.M.S. Leader nodded in agreement.
He originally thought he could control the entire situation, but he only realized the truth when the Yage System suddenly malfunctioned—
Meanwhile, Wang Haoyu had made all the necessary arrangements.
But tense nerves need timely relaxation.
He decided to take the team for a good rest.
"Everyone has worked hard recently. Tell me where you want to go? The company will cover all expenses."
As soon as he finished speaking, the cheers nearly blew off the roof.
"That's fantastic!"
"Finally, time to relax! I want to go to the aquarium!"
Wato raised his arm and shouted... This was the destination he had been longing for.
"Hey, hey, why go to an aquarium on a company trip? We should go to the seaside! We can play and eat seafood!"
Fuwa Isamu shed his former sharp edge and got along harmoniously with the team.
This trip was actually a team-building exercise planned by Wang Haoyu.
Conquering the Xunlei Station was only the beginning of a long journey; more challenges lay ahead.
Of course, Wang Haoyu was never afraid!
"The seaside suggestion is good!"
Yaiba Yua immediately agreed.
"Izu, search for popular nearby coastal scenic spots."
Wang Haoyu gave the instruction.
"Searching now."
"The system shows that the newly completed Version 0.1 Seaside Park has finished construction ahead of schedule. The project involved record-breaking investment, and Hiden Group holds shares, making it an ideal choice."
Izu reported professionally.
This theme park, built by Hiden Group using cutting-edge technology, was originally scheduled to open in a week—why the sudden rush? Wang Haoyu pondered secretly... Wato excitedly rushed into the room: "Oh my goodness, is Christmas coming so soon?"
Izu smiled and nodded: "What a coincidence, everyone can celebrate Christmas together."
The streets were filled with a festive atmosphere, and shop windows were decorated for Christmas. A mother was demonstrating etiquette to her child: "Remember to wish the clerk a Merry Christmas." The little boy, holding a gift box, smiled innocently.
"Merry Christmas, big sister!" "Merry Christmas to you too, little one!" As the clerk watched the mother and son leave, Wang Haoyu led his group onto the street.
"President, the scan shows a high resident happiness index." Data streams flashed in Izu's eyes. Wang Haoyu looked at the celebrating crowd and declared: "The ideal of harmonious coexistence between humans and Humagear—we will definitely achieve it!" Everyone responded in unison.
In the top-floor office of the Zaia Group, Chusho and Lin were reporting to Tengen Gai: "The Xunlei Station has been destroyed, and the Humagear won't go berserk anymore." Tengen Gai played with a Rise Key, smiling meaningfully: "As long as Humagear exists, the Xunlei Station will never truly disappear."
Seeing his subordinates look confused, Tengen Gai revealed the answer: "Because ark is still alive!" The satellite he spearheaded the development of back then analyzed human war history and criminal psychology, giving birth to this AI that harbors hatred for humanity.
"That is my masterpiece." A fanatical light flashed in Tengen Gai's eyes, and Chusho and Lin recalled in shock
"Soon, ark created Thunder, but the Dawn accident caused it to fall to the bottom of the lake and enter dormancy. Now ark has awakened, and by combining its power with Zaia's technology, we can control the globe!"
Tengen Gai was certain that everything was within his control.
That's right, he was destined to lead the direction of global technological development.
In his eyes, Humagear were merely tools that could be exploited.
As for whether the Xunlei Station exists, it is no longer important!
"So, in order to achieve this goal, you utilized both the Xunlei Station and Hiden Intelligence?"
Chapter 174 Chapter 174
Nakanatsu Rin suddenly realized, "Could A.M.S. also just be a pawn of yours? 107"
"Of course. The people in A.M.S. were fighting with their lives on the line. And that conceited President of Hiden Intelligence, his little bit of cleverness was just exploited by me!"
Tengen Gai stated this proudly.
He never trusted anyone, not even Nakanatsu Rin, who was right beside him.
Therefore, throughout the entire plan's progression, he kept silent about it to Rin.
But now that the overall situation was settled, he could finally speak frankly.
"Rin, the real competition is just beginning. I look forward to you becoming my capable assistant in the future." Leaving this remark, Tengen Gai turned and departed.
Nakanatsu Rin clenched the corner of her clothes, finding it hard to believe these words actually came from Tengen Gai's mouth—
"Understood."
But she had no choice!
Meanwhile, Wang Haoyu and his group were strolling through the Christmas market.
Suddenly, mutated Humagear appeared.
"Exterminate humanity!"
"Exterminate humanity!"
"Exterminate humanity!"
The crowd witnessing the Mechanical Awakener instantly fell into panic.
Someone fell down in the chaos.
Now, humans were filled with fear toward Humagear, and the fallen person was unable to stand up again.
Fuwa Isamu stepped forward to help them up: "Hurry and go!"
"Why are there still Magia?" Yaiba Yua was completely perplexed.
Right where Fuwa Isamu had been standing, a Mechanical Awakener suddenly leaped down from high above.
"President, what exactly is going on?" Fuwa Isamu was full of questions.
Thunder Station had clearly been destroyed, so why was this happening!
Logically speaking, they shouldn't be out of control anymore.
Wang Haoyu stared at the scene before him, his mind racing.
He probably understood what had happened... "Never mind the reason, fight!" Wang Haoyu calmly gave the command.
Protecting humanity was always their primary mission; there was no time to investigate the specific reasons now.
"zero-one driver"
"Radiance Leap"
"Authorization Confirmed"
"Assault Mode Activate"
"Performance Enhancement"
"Kamen Rider"
"Battle Form Transformation"
"Shooting Module Activated"
"System Update"
"Prepare for Attack"
"Rapid Wolf Assault"
"Shining Hopper Shadow"
Wang Haoyu's figure flashed, instantly rushing forward to the Humagear.
"Dawn Slash Darkness"
"Battle Axe Enhancement"
During the engagement, Fuwa Isamu noticed that the combat power of this batch of Humagear was sharply reduced.
Compared to those they had previously encountered, these seemed vulnerable.
But this difference didn't come from the enemy; it was the transformation of his own strength!
Wang Haoyu turned and swung his blade, easily striking down the target.
On the other side, Fuwa Isamu replaced his progrise key.
"Assault Charge"
A giant sphere of black-blue energy condensed.
Wang Haoyu simultaneously switched his key:
"Firearm Enhancement"
"Extreme Cold Impact"
"Key Authentication Passed"
"Annihilation Program Start"
An electromagnetic pulse beam erupted from the gun barrel.
"thunderstorm!"
"Final Command!"
The two Humagear simultaneously turned into ash.
"I have a premonition that a great change is about to happen..."
Fuwa Isamu was enveloped by an inexplicable palpitation.
This suffocating sense of pressure lingered.
The outbreak of the incident was too sudden. Previously, the authorities had declared the complete destruction of the Xunlei Station, yet now corrupted Humagear reappeared... At the Hiden Intelligencepress conference venue.
Spotlights converged on Wang Haoyu.
"Please explain the cause of the accident!"
"Why has another loss-of-control incident occurred?"
The Vice President stammered in response, eventually handing the question over to the Chairman.
Amidst the panicked expressions of the Board Members, Wang Haoyu remained calm and composed.
"What exactly does this mean?"
Wang Haoyu, Chairman of the Hiden Group, maintained the official response when facing media inquiries: "We are investigating."
"Is the continued existence of the Xunlei Station true?" A Reporter pressed relentlessly.
"The relevant situation is still under verification," Wang Haoyu responded flawlessly.
Facing the escalating doubts about Humagear safety, the Reporters collectively erupted:
"Does Hiden admit that the product has safety risks?"
"Please respond directly!"
"Does this silence mean you cannot guarantee user safety?"
Wang Haoyu calmly reassured them: "The Technical Team is urgently discussing the safety upgrade plan for the Humagear."
At this moment, the conference hall doors suddenly burst open, and Tengen Gai, Director of the Zaiya Group, appeared with a provocative stance.
"Can such empty promises be convincing?" He walked straight toward the Podium.
Media cameras quickly turned to the uninvited guest. Tengen Gai faced the audience and announced: "Allowing dangerous robots to circulate is a serious dereliction of duty. As a solution—" He looked sharply at Wang Haoyu, "The Zaiya Group officially initiates a Tender Offer Bid (TOB) acquisition of Hiden Intelligence!"
A sharp glint flashed in Wang Haoyu's eyes. The chessboard of this Business Game was finally clear.
# Acquisition **
Year 1124 of the Republic Era
The smile in the eyes of the Gu Clan of Jinmen was hard to conceal.
As soon as these words were spoken, the Vice Director and the Councilors of the Lightning Intelligence Consortium were all astonished.
"What? Merger and Acquisition?"
"Ah! Merger and Acquisition! This is a major event, record it quickly!"
The so-called public purchase is the act of openly acquiring shares. Simply put, the Lightning Intelligence Consortium was originally a joint-stock system. The Councilors each held corresponding shares, but as is customary in business, a portion of the shares must also be sold externally, though this portion is merely a fraction of the total number of the Wei Clan. The Starlight Group can acquire the management rights of Lightning Intelligence by purchasing shares.
The Gu Clan saw Wang Shouren remain silent and mistakenly thought his mind was in disarray. "Even today, are you still the new Manager?" His expression seemed to pity the Lingzhi Group. He added, "To put it plainly, I am bringing your company into my grasp!"
Wang maintained his usual composure, thinking to himself: I'll let you be arrogant for now!
"I now promise everyone that once the Merger and Acquisition of Lingzhi is successful, all Mechanical Servants that pose a danger to humanity will be destroyed..."
"Hold on! It's too early to act unilaterally; the authority of Lightning is still in my hands." Wang rose calmly.
The Gu Clan's actions were perhaps too hasty. Perhaps because Wang showed no sign of resistance, the Gu Clan continued to reveal their grand plan. "I believe everyone will soon know who is truly the best Manager to lead this era!" The Gu Clan looked down at Wang with confidence.
Wang's gaze did not back down either.
The moment the two exchanged glances was captured by the cameras.
Afterward, the Gu Clan returned to the Starlight Headquarters. Gazing at the chessboard and the Advanced Key manufactured by Baya Society on the desk, he said: "This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity; this World belongs to us!"
...Christmas had arrived, and Wang did not want the Gu Clan's affairs to affect the celebrations. Lightning Intelligence was decorated with festive ornaments throughout. The Vice Director, upon entering the company and seeing this scene, was filled with righteous indignation and went straight to the Manager's Hall.
"Merry Christmas." Ace greeted.
Wang was revising documents.
"Manager! At a time like this, you still have the leisure to celebrate the festival?"
Wang closed his writing tools and handed the document to Ace.
"I will not sell the company to Zaia. My resolve for the new year will absolutely not change!" Wang Haoyu stated firmly.
The Vice President was about to speak when Wato's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "It's Christmas time, how can we do without Wato's Cold Jokes to liven things up!"
The Vice President showed a helpless expression, completely unable to understand why Wang Haoyuallowed Wato to come and go freely here. He glanced at Wato with contempt, truly unable to see anything special about this person.
Right now, he was more concerned about the company's crisis: "President, how should we respond to Zaia's acquisition plan? Tengen Gai is coming on strong this time; since he has made a public statement, he will definitely take further action."
Just then, Izu's communicator received an email from Zaia: "President Wang Haoyu, Tengen Gai invites you to Green Leaf Cabin for a discussion."
"Let's go." Wang Haoyu stood up immediately, ignoring the Vice President's reaction.
The Vice President stood stunned in place. By the time he recovered, the office was already empty.
Green Leaf Cabin had an elegant environment. Although Hiden Intelligence participated in its construction, it was not part of their main business and was thus not made public. Wang Haoyudeliberately arrived an hour and a half late, making Tengen Gai wait.
Seeing Wang Haoyu, Tengen Gai's suppressed anger instantly erupted: "What, you can't bear to give up the position?"
Wang Haoyu smiled calmly, long immune to such low-level provocation: "It seems you've coveted this position for a long time, but unfortunately... you're not qualified yet."
Tengen Gai lightly coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, then boasted: "Thanks to an amateur president like you, Zaiya Connector sales have grown by 724%." He casually picked up his teacup.
"Oh, so it wasn't 1000%?" Wang Haoyu exposed the lie with a single sentence, and Tengen Gai's hand trembled slightly. This number was his proudest promotional gimmick, and being called out now caught him off guard.
Wang Haoyu took a small sip of Clear Tea, looking relaxed.
"What guidance do you have?" Izu asked directly.
"Our company's goal is to achieve a tenfold increase in sales."
Tengen Gai smiled bitterly internally. In reality, they were far from reaching that goal; the previous claims were purely for the public.
"In that case, why not let Hiden's Humagear compete against our company's Zaiya Connector to see which is superior?"
This Wager was quite interesting.
"If your Humagear win, I will withdraw the acquisition offer for Hiden and transfer all the Hiden Sharesheld by my company to you."
Tengen Gai's obsession with the Hiden Group was almost paranoid; to say this, he was clearly confident.
"And if your side wins?" Wang Haoyu asked, following Tengen Gai's train of thought.
"Then the acquisition plan will continue to proceed. This proposal is a sure win for you, isn't it?"
"Of course, I accept the challenge."
Wang Haoyu raised his cup in acknowledgment. His composed reaction slightly surprised Tengen Gai.
Why was he so calm? This matter allowed for zero mistakes!
"I shall take my leave first." Wang Haoyu then departed.
As it was Christmas time, to reward the employees, Wang Haoyu organized a Five-Round Competition. The first round was Flower Arrangement Contest.
The Vice President was talking with the Humagear Jester.
"Jester, you said this was an order personally given by the President?" The Vice President was incredulous.
"That is correct."
Laughter immediately erupted at the scene.
Wang Haoyu entered the flower shop. Izu introduced, "This is the Florist Humagear, Ichirin Koshi."
Ichirin Koshi held a Watering Can, meticulously caring for the plants on the flower stand. Many flower shops favored this type of Humagear; they were skilled in flower cultivation and also proficient in sales.
"Please look, this batch of flowers is about to bloom, please take good care of them!" She handled the flowers gently and meticulously, even touching them carefully.
"What a gentle Humagear."
Compared to the Violent Ones encountered before, Ichirin Koshi seemed especially gentle.
This type of Humagear can use weather data to regulate temperature and humidity, scientifically cultivate flowers, and even interpret customer preferences and the Language of Flowers to provide personalized service.
Humanity was already inseparable from the assistance of Humagear.
In a World full of Humagear, life became incredibly convenient.
Wang Haoyu came before Ichirin Koshi.
"Ichirin Koshi, I have a request I'd like your help with."
This model of Humagear was developed and produced by the Waste Power Intelligence Group.
According to the after-sales service regulations of the Boiling Point Intelligence Group, they must undergo regular maintenance.
Chapter 175 Chapter 175
This ensures that no errors occur during the work process... Wang Haoyu used this as an excuse to lead Yilun Xiaoshi away from the scene.
"I didn't expect the President of Hiden Group to handle this personally!"
This made the Flower Shop employees feel quite relieved.
Meanwhile, Tengen Gai arrived at a log cabin in the woods.
He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, while the Flower Art Master behind him was focused on arranging flowers.
"You want to compete against a robot in Kado?"
"Yes. I know that the Tachibana Style has a long history, and it is truly presumptuous of me to make such a request. Please accept my apologies."
"No need for formalities. Thanks to the Zaia Connector you recommended, President, I have come to know this World anew."
This smart device can automatically scan the surrounding scenery and is simple and practical to operate.
Tengen Gai walked toward the display case showcasing the Master's honors.
The cabinet full of trophies and certificates highlighted the Master's achievements and affirmed his authority in the industry.
"Master, your mind can operate at 1000% now, right?" Tengen Gai asked with a smile.
"Thanks to it, I am now invincible in the World of Kado!"
Indeed, it was by relying on the Zaia Connector that this Master was able to dominate the field of Kado.
And all those glittering trophies in the display case were thanks to it!
"A mere robot is not even worth mentioning!"
The Master held the newly completed flower arrangement and admired it rapturously.
This was exactly the scene Tengen Gai had hoped to see.
The Zaia Connector must completely crush Hiden's Humagear!
Wang Haoyu brought Yilun Xiaoshi to Hiden's Smart Greenhouse, where various experiments could be easily conducted.
"This is Kalanchoe. This succulent plant has vibrant flowers, making it perfect to give to President Wang Haoyu." Yilun Xiaoshi's visual system immediately captured the Kalanchoe in the cultivation pod.
Driven by her preset program, she automatically began giving a plant explanation.
This was simply a typical professional habit!
Kalanchoe symbolizes happiness and well-being.
Hiden Group listed it as a key cultivation variety precisely because they valued this beautiful symbolism.
In this era where everyone yearns for good fortune and prosperity,
the demand for quality naturally rises.
The price advantage is thus reflected.
"Thank you."
Although Wang Haoyu knew the being in front of him was a robot, he still spoke his true thoughts honestly. In his eyes, Humagears were no different from humans. As long as they dedicated themselves to helping others, humans would not only not oppose their existence but would cherish these mechanical companions even more.
"President, as you can see," Yilun Xiaoshi wrung her fingers anxiously, "I can accurately state the Language of Flowers for all flowers, but I completely lack flower arranging skills. Is this really okay?" A simulated look of worry appeared on her metallic face.
This was the key to Wang Haoyu's plan—sending Yilun Xiaoshi to participate in the upcoming Kado Competition. He knew Tengen Gai was also secretly preparing for this; it would be a confrontation between the Zaia Connector and the Humagear. He wanted Tengen Gai to lose completely, while the opponent remained unaware that he was being monitored the entire time. Wang Haoyu decided to let his opponent first indulge in a false sense of superiority.
"Please rest assured." Izu replied confidently, "Satellite ZAIA can solve all problems." Her mechanical eyes flashed with confidence.
But after repeating "Satellite ZAIA" three times, Izu suddenly stalled. Wang Haoyu's eye twitched, realizing that this Assistant Robot seemed to be malfunctioning. Worse still, Izu performed a signature move: "It must be Wato!"
Wang Haoyu was all too familiar with this gesture. Earlier, to help Wato adapt to working at Hiden Intelligence, he had assigned Izu to accompany him. Clearly, that troublemaker had infected the robot with his bad habits. Wang Haoyu pressed his throbbing temples; this was simply a disaster.
"I'm sorry, could you explain that again?" Yilun Xiaoshi tilted her head in confusion.
"It's nothing important..." Wang Haoyu quickly smoothed things over, secretly praying that this embarrassing gesture wouldn't happen again. Unfortunately, mechanical intelligence couldn't understand human social awkwardness.
"It must be Wato!" Izu repeated the action again.
Sharp cries of alarm suddenly rang out. Not far away, Humagears infected by an Abnormal Program were attacking the crowd. Fuwa Isamu appeared just in time—this was a contingency Wang Haoyu had arranged beforehand; he and Hiden Isamu had been secretly waiting. Facing the out-of-control scene, the two bodyguards struggled to cope with the surging crowd.
In the chaos, a woman accidentally fell. Just as the rampaging Mechanical Arm was about to strike, Wang Haoyu darted forward and steadily helped up the panicked victim.
"Are you hurt?"
"Thank you."
The woman quickly said goodbye and hurried away.
Wang Haoyu took out his Transformation Device.
"Zero-One Driver activated"
"Radiance Jump"
"Authorization confirmed"
"Form Conversion."
"System Update"
"Shining Hopper"
"Light descends, Shadow disperses"
Wang Haoyu instantly flashed in front of the Humagear.
But he unexpectedly noticed an anomaly.
"Extinction Key missing!?"
The Mechanical Body suddenly launched an attack.
"Authorize Destruction Device!"
Wang Haoyu met the attack head-on.
Zaia Group Headquarters, CEO's Office.
Tengen Gai leaned back in the leather chair.
All arrangements were made by him.
The missing key confirmed that this batch of rogue mechanical bodies did not originate from Xunlei Station, but from... Zaia Group, Tengen Gai!
"The script is progressing perfectly."
He lightly tapped his knuckles on the desk, quite satisfied with the current progress.
He took out a Yellowed Photograph from inside his suit jacket.
"Hiden Shinnosuke"
The image captured the moment the two men shook hands.
"The final stage is approaching..."
On the Flower Garden Battlefield, Wang Haoyu activated the key.
"Fangs Mode"
"Key authentication complete"
"Zero-One Permission"
A torrent of energy rapidly converged.
Wang Haoyu leaped into the air.
"Zero-One Final Impact!"
A scorching white beam pierced the target.
It instantly turned into ashes.
"This Mechanical Body is clearly different..."
The lack of a key was completely different from before.
Hiden Intelligence Headquarters.
Assistant Izu was reporting the scan results.
"President, the destroyed Mechanical Body has been analyzed, but the reason for the loss of control is still under investigation."
Wang Haoyu was deep in thought.
"I actually think this method of learning flower arrangement is very novel!" Fuwa Isamu leaned against the Railing.
In the lower space, the New Member Yilun Xiaoshi was learning flower arrangement via Data Connection.
This sentence was automatically determined by the system to be a question.
"Flower arrangement is a form of plastic art that creates aesthetic value through the combination of plants." Yilun Xiaoshi's processor stopped flashing.
"The flower art course has been completed."
"This speed is truly astonishing."
"That's too fast!" Fuwa Isamu rushed down the stairs excitedly.
"Artificial Intelligence is inherently this efficient," Yilun Xiaoshi replied.
They don't require long periods of study; they only need to replace a Chip to complete their growth.
By utilizing Data Connection, mastering something new takes only a moment.
Yilun Xiaoshi stood up and smiled, "The Art of Flower Arrangement is profound and extensive. I wish to delve deeper into the true meaning of beauty."
"Keep it up!" Izu cheered her on.
"Okay."
...The Competition officially began.
Yilun Xiaoshi stood opposite the Master invited by Tengen Gai.
Global top Kado Masters served as Judges.
Catherine stood on the stage announcing the rules.
A.M.S. naturally would not stay out of it!
But they were only Observers and would not interfere with Wang Haoyu's decisions.
"Everyone, the first round of the Flower Arrangement Competition now begins. The theme is 'New Year's Day Sunrise'."
When Catherine presented the Theme Card, Yilun Xiaoshi immediately began analysis.
"Please, both Contestants, begin your creation!"
Following the announcement, both sides immediately immersed themselves in the Competition.
After the two Contestants bowed to the Judges, they returned to their respective workstations.
Fuwa Isamu approached Catherine and asked, "I heard you resigned from A.M.S.?"
Although this was not within his scope of duty, they had belonged to the same organization.
His tone was relaxed and natural, like greeting an old friend.
"It was just a job transfer, not a resignation," Catherine replied calmly.
Fuwa Isamu shrugged.
To allow Catherine better access to Tengen Gai's plan, A.M.S. publicly released a statement: Due to Catherine's major work error, she was dismissed.
But this was an open secret internally.
Although Fuwa Isamu worked for A.M.S., their goals were actually aligned.
Furthermore, Wang Haoyu cooperated with A.M.S., so the Leader would not hide the truth.
Izu walked over and smiled, "Now we are opponents! Please guide me!"
On today's Competition Venue, Catherine represented Zaia Group in the competition.
Fuwa Isamu naturally cooperated fully with her performance.
Fuwa Isamu's intention for this trip was quite obvious; he was purely here to cause trouble. This deliberate posture would make Tengen Gai believe that Catherine's departure was a sudden event and by no means a premeditated act.
"You're really pushing yourself, handling company tasks non-stop." Fuwa Isamu shook a Document Bag. Although Catherine knew he was there to help, his sarcastic tone was grating.
She snatched the Document Bag, retorted with a cold face, "Mind your own business!"
"Zaia shouldn't dream of beating us!" Fuwa Isamu ground his back molars fiercely.
The act worked—Tengen Gai's gaze was locked in this direction; he had clearly taken the bait.
At this moment, Wang Haoyu signaled Fuwa Isamu, entrusting him with another important task.
Fuwa Isamu immediately received the order: "Go immediately to the A.M.S. Dungeon and escort the Xunlei Station Leader, Metsu, to Dawn Town."
Through Satellite Monitoring, Wang Haoyu had captured signs that ark was forcibly activating Metsu. Dawn Town was chosen as the handover point precisely because that land held Metsu's deepest memories.
"Understood, executing immediately." Fuwa Isamu solemnly agreed.
Since A.M.S. needed to fully cooperate with the action plan, even if Fuwa Isamu took Metsu, they would not interfere.
The Lake Bottom in Dawn Town.
"You can actually wake up? Why?"
Metsu's mechanical body had already rebooted the moment Fuwa Isamu arrived.
"The will of ark."
"What exactly is ark? If you play dumb again, I'll destroy you!" Fuwa Isamu's Knight's ** pointed directly at Metsu's core.
"Go ahead. Even if this Body is destroyed, as long as humanity persists, our will shall eventually spread like wildfire." Metsu's facial sensors displayed a calm that bordered on mockery.
Fuwa Isamu slowly lowered his **.
"What are you trying to imply?"
He smelled the hidden danger behind that sentence.
"It was humans who taught us what Abomination is—they are the truly despicable life forms!" Metsu's voice surged with deep-seated Hatred.
Tragically, serving humanity was the ultimate purpose for which they were created.
Perhaps, this was the Destiny that Humagears could not escape.
"Twelve years ago, it was human Malice that gave rise to that **..."
Chapter 176 Chapter 176
As Wang Haoyu expected, Metsu was directly linked to the Dawn Town incident.
In fact, he was one of the participants in that battle!
As early as twelve years ago, Humagear announced the arrival of this ** to all mankind.
Dawn Town left a scar deep in Fuwa Isamu's heart.
"Nonsense! You want to push the blame onto humans?" Fuwa Isamu clenched Metsu's collar, his knuckles turning white.
"Then why did you repair me? Why did you expend so much effort to awaken me..."
Metsu's rhetorical question pierced Fuwa Isamu's thoughts like **.
In the arena, the fragrance of flowers mingled with the tense atmosphere.
"We will now proceed to the artwork judging segment." Catherine's voice cut through the silence.
Staff members simultaneously unveiled all the entries.
The master specially invited by Tengen Gai wore a confident smile—the two artworks, though vastly different in style, each radiated stunning artistic brilliance.
"The first piece to be judged is from the renowned ikebana master, Reika Rentarou." Following Catherine's guidance, the judges circled the artwork as if admiring a precious treasure.
"As expected of a successor to the Tachibana style!"
"This layout, both wild and solemn!"
"Exquisite and peerless artistry!"
Amidst the praise, Tengen Gai stood up and declared, "Zaia Technology can help humanity surpass its limits."
Numbers quickly lit up on the scoreboard.
"Next, we will judge the work of the Humagear, Ichirin Koshi."
As the judges paused, their pupils reflected the exquisite color scheme—it perfectly adhered to traditional ikebana aesthetics, yet no one applauded.
"For a machine to achieve this, it is truly rare."
In their perception, how could an iron heart understand the warmth of flower language? This prejudice had long bled into their scoring.
"It's a pity this leftover branch ruined the overall integrity." A female judge's fingertip hovered over a stray flower.
"Exactly! A superfluous flaw!" Reika Rentarou suddenly reached out and brutally tore off the flower.
Ichirin Koshi's mechanical fingers silently clenched.
"Now, announcing the winner—" Catherine's voice, moving the process forward, was slightly hesitant.
Reika Rentarou had already tidied his collar; Tengen Gai's lips had already curved into a victorious smile.
"The victor is clear, Master Reika Rentarou wins!"
"I cast my vote for the master."
"An unquestionable choice."
The three judges' verdict was final. Catherine gazed at the rulebook, then announced in a deep voice:
"This year's winner is Master Reika Rentarou."
Applause erupted with the announcement of the results.
Reika Rentarou bowed in acknowledgment to the judges' panel.
"The performance of the Zaia Connector is indeed outstanding; humanity wins with an overwhelming advantage!" Tengen Gai commented at the opportune moment.
Yaiba Yua stood behind Wang Haoyu, feeling disgusted by Tengen Gai's smug expression but powerless to intervene.
"We concede..."
Tengen Gai confidently strode up to Wang Haoyu: "First battle won, it seems Humagear can no longer keep up with human progress."
Wang Haoyu's expression remained unchanged, showing no reaction to his provocation.
"Please wait." Ichirin Koshi suddenly spoke.
All eyes focused on the speaker.
"While studying ikebana, I realized that flower arrangements reflect the creator's state of mind. From this perspective, Mr. Reika Rentarou's work is crude, vulgar, and disgusting."
Ichirin Koshi looked directly at the entry.
Wang Haoyu raised an eyebrow slightly; this angle indeed hit the nail on the head.
"Are you trying to vent your frustration by slandering after defeat?"
Reika Rentarou was confident in his victory—the unanimous decision of the judging panel was already set.
He simply didn't believe a robot could truly understand the art of ikebana.
"Not at all, I believe you are unworthy of the title 'Ikebana Master'!"
Ichirin Koshi immediately retorted.
"How could artificial intelligence comprehend the true essence of ikebana? In the end, you're nothing but..."
Before he could finish, Reika Rentarou roughly pushed her to the ground.
"Stop it."
This shove caused Ichirin Koshi to connect to the ark system.
"Basic courtesy, please!" Yaiba Yua interjected to stop him.
"So what? He was the one who spoke disrespectfully first." Reika Rentarou showed no remorse.
Ichirin Koshi, who had stood up again, had a red glow in her eyes.
"Malicious humans... must be eliminated!"
This was undoubtedly a sign of a rampaging awakened Humagear.
"Koshi!" Yaiba Yua exclaimed in alarm.
"Destroy all humanity!"
With a mechanical screech, Ichirin Koshi completed her form change.
**
Reika Rentarou retreated in panic. Onic's attack only targeted him, leaving everyone else unharmed.
"How could this be... Ichirin Koshi!" Yaiba Yua rushed forward, attempting to stop her.
The sudden situation made Catherine instinctively want to join the fight, but Tengen Gai reached out and stopped her.
"Don't go over there, stay here!"
Everyone quickly retreated to the open area outside.
Reika Rentarou stumbled and fled, with Onic in hot pursuit. Fortunately, Yaiba Yua blocked him in time.
Regardless, Reika Rentarou was still human.
Izu prioritized protecting humans according to her programming, an action devoid of any emotional judgment.
"President Wang Haoyu, his reaction is different from the previously uncontrolled units." Izu keenly noticed the anomaly.
"We must stop him!" Yaiba Yua decisively took out her transformation belt.
However, Onic suddenly charged, knocking Yaiba Yua, who hadn't yet transformed, to the ground.
Wang Haoyu suddenly appeared, activating his power.
"Transform."
"Flight Mode."
"System Upgrade."
"Soaring Eagle Form."
Wings unfolded behind him, and he confronted Onic mid-air.
"Wing Blade Charge, High-Altitude Suppression!"
Wang Haoyu successfully restrained Onic and shouted sternly, "Ichirin Koshi! Regain your consciousness!"
"Humans... must be destroyed!" Onic roared.
Wang Haoyu frowned, "Ichirin Koshi..."
On the other side, Izu covered Reika Rentarou's retreat from the battlefield.
Tengen Gai hummed a tune and slowly walked over. Wang Haoyu immediately sensed his presence.
For a long time, Wang Haoyu had been speculating about Tengen Gai's true intentions—otherwise, why would he cooperate with him in this charade?
"zero-one, I've waited too long for this moment!" Tengen Gai raised his driver, his voice excited, "Now I can finally prove I'm right!"
He fastened the driver to his waist, and a crisp clicking sound echoed.
"Thousand Driver."
Wang Haoyu stared at his movements, saying in a deep voice, "This is Zaia's masterpiece..."
"Whether it's an Extinction progrise key or a progrise key—" Tengen Gai inserted the golden key into the slot, "—it can adapt!"
The moment the key activated, he sneered, "Its performance crushes the zero-one driver... by a thousand times!"
"Transform!"
"Ultimate Evolution!"
Amidst interweaving illusions, armor components roared into assembly.
"Pentagram Formation."
"Kamen Rider Thouser, Descend!"
"Zaia Technology, Perfect Creation."
Wang Haoyu narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing through his pupils: "He actually... forcibly completed the transformation."
This was the first time everyone had witnessed Thouser's complete form.
It integrated previous biological characteristics, comprehensively surpassing ordinary Humagear in defense, speed, and attack power.
"I am Kamen Rider Thouser, my power defies logic!"
Tengen Gai charged forward, directly attacking Wang Haoyu.
In a flash of lightning, Wang Haoyu barely managed to parry the assault.
"Stop! Are you insane?" Yaiba Yua cried out in disbelief.
Onic suddenly intervened in the battle, cutting off Tengen Gai's offensive.
"Annoying fellow!"
"Thouser Scouter!"
Tengen Gai backhanded, severing Onic's wing. Yaiba Yua could only watch anxiously.
Wang Haoyu deliberately left an opening, and the "Soaring Eagle" progrise key was snatched by his opponent.
"Capture complete"
"Zaia Company"
After crushing Onic, Tengen Gai lunged at Wang Haoyu again.
"Program Upgrade"
"Radiance Amplification"
"Flying Locust Assault"
With the speed boost, Wang Haoyu completely suppressed his opponent. Tengen Gai's Scouter flew out of his hand, but he couldn't keep up with Wang Haoyu's afterimages at all.
When Tengen Gai threw a punch, Wang Haoyu had already flickered behind him.
"Thousand Crush!"
Tengen Gai hurriedly switched progrise keys. Although Wang Haoyu could evade all attacks, he feigned being hit and canceled his transformation.
"I have finally surpassed Hiden Shinnosuke's zero-one system!" Tengen Gai laughed wildly.
"You know the former president?" Wang Haoyu's question already carried certainty.
Her every action was aimed at hindering the development of Hiden Intelligence.
Even though both sides belonged to the same industry, the competition had long exceeded the commercial scope, evolving into deep animosity.
"That's right, I once greatly admired Mr. Shinnosuke. He foresaw the importance of AI technology and was extremely forward-thinking!" Tengen Gai affirmed Shinnosuke's vision.
But then he changed the subject: "Hiden Intelligence relied too heavily on Humagear research and development, ultimately leading to its decline. Even more ridiculously, he actually expected you to nurture Wato. Although you are exceptionally capable, now... haven't you still lost to me?"
Wato was Shinnosuke's direct grandson.
Even Tengen Gai had to admit Shinnosuke's foresight—he understood that entrusting the company to his grandson would only lead to its decay, but changing the person in charge would be different.
Wang Haoyu's arrival was the key turning point for Hiden Intelligence.
Despite frequent Humagear incidents, under the leadership of President Wang Haoyu, public opinion was predominantly positive.
This made Tengen Gai feel a heightened sense of crisis!
He had to act immediately!
"None of that matters now. Since I've surpassed zero-one, it proves that my approach is the correct one."
Tengen Gai was proud of his victory over zero-one.
He even boasted, "If you're not convinced, challenge me anytime, but you'll lose 1000%!"
After he left, Wang Haoyu smiled.
To be so smug about such a small achievement, what an idiot!
Catherine received an urgent call upon returning to the Zaia Building.
"A progrise key stolen?"
She frowned deeply.
The key was stored in the highest security area; theoretically, it was impossible to steal.
Stolen despite multiple layers of protection... who could have done it?
Wang Haoyu returned to Hiden Group with Yaiba Yua and Izu.
Yaiba Yua successfully retrieved the A.I.M.S. duty data.
"Can the data be restored?"
She worried that the previous attack might have damaged the data core.
Izu was performing data recovery through the Satellite ZAIA system.
"Feasible! Because it wasn't a virus attack, but a forced intrusion, the original data backup is intact," Izuexplained.
"That's great! Maybe we can find the cause of the Humagear's rampage!"
Identifying the root cause of the rampage had become an urgent priority.
Previously, they had been unable to find the excessively encroached Humagear parts and the missing progrise keys.
This had led to the investigation being stalled.
Now, with the opportunity to recover some of Ichirin Koshi's data, a new breakthrough might be possible.
"Data recovery complete." Izu finished a comprehensive scan of Ichirin Koshi.
She simultaneously received the analysis report transmitted by Satellite ZAIA.