Ch: 183-188
Chapter 183
"What?!" Wato paled in shock—this property, which had just been sold to Ji Mutaro, had been destroyed before it could even be handed over. According to the breach of contract terms in the five hundred million yen contract, they would have to pay a staggering compensation of 2.5 billion yen.
Amidst the anxiety, Wang Haoyu arrived just in time. After confirming everyone's safety, he breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, you're all alright."
Fuwa Isamu still had lingering fears; none of these three had any combat capability, and he was even more afraid that Kaden Mikurui would be controlled by ark. "It's good that everyone is safe, but the house was destroyed by Kaden Mikurui," Wato said dejectedly.
"The house was destroyed?" Fuwa Isamu pressed for details. Izu pulled up the surveillance footage, and sure enough, it captured Aimukuya's figure.
"It really is him; he's now being controlled by the Assault Upgrade Device." Wang Haoyu recalled the previous warning and immediately assigned tasks: "Wato and Kaden Mikurui stay here to look after Mr. Ji Mutaro, everyone else follow me."
When the group rushed to the ruins on the outskirts, the Humagear carpenter had also arrived with his tools. Seeing the crumbling walls and debris, he said indignantly: "This is simply hateful! Someone who wastes wood like this doesn't understand the value of architecture at all!"
Just as the carpenter was about to step forward, Wang Haoyu shouted urgently: "Danger!" Unfortunately, it was too late.
Aimukuya grinned savagely and extended his tentacles: "It's too late!"
---
(
The carpenter Humagear's chisel slipped from between his fingers.
His pupils gradually flared with crimson.
Aimukuya's consciousness eroded the mechanical craftsman.
"Destroy humanity!"
"Destroy humanity!"
"Destroy humanity..."
"Mammoth Gene Activated."
This bionic body inherited the wildness of a prehistoric behemoth.
At this moment, he had completely become ark's puppet.
"Impossible!"
Yaiba Yua's fingertips dug deep into her palm.
The Thunder Base had clearly turned into ruins long ago. Even if residual ark signals remained, how could the Assault Riser resonate with them?
Why would these out-of-control machines turn into Demon Machines?
In the past, only the ark Virus could induce such a mutation.
What secret did this silver-gray device actually hide?
A sharp, alert glint flashed through Wang Haoyu's eyes.
Aimukuya let out a crazed, savage laugh.
"Is this the Humagear hailed as the crystallization of wisdom? They're nothing more than marionettes I can manipulate at will! Now, what do you have to fight me with?"
The venomous fire of revenge burned in his chest.
When Tengen Gai forced the crown of "Human Representative" upon him, victory or defeat became a life-and-death obsession.
What was even more terrifying—
The Assault Riser would amplify the darkness in the user's heart.
When negative emotions broke through the critical threshold, through the conversion of the arkinterface, a living human would also be reduced to a Demon Machine puppet!
How was this a creation of technology? It was clearly a bone-eroding poison.
The sharp tools of civilization forged by human hands would eventually become the shovel that buries them.
"Any existence that threatens humanity—"
Fuwa Isamu's thumb brushed over the progrise key.
Before the sound of clashing metal could ring out, Aimukuya had already pressed the button on his waist with a savage grin.
"Surge"
"Assault Evolution"
"Bloodthirsty Shark"
"Raging Tide Domain"
"All Things Drown"
Aimukuya suddenly grabbed Fuwa Isamu's waist and lifted him high above his head, upside down.
With a roar, Fuwa Isamu was violently thrown aside.
He slammed heavily into the already shattered remains of the wooden house, and the already precarious structure completely collapsed.
Looking at the mess all over the ground, the corners of Aimukuya's mouth curled into a pleasant arc.
"Hahahahaha—"
Amidst the ear-piercing laughter, Fuwa Isamu suddenly shouted sharply: "I am with A.M.S.!"
"Just where did you steal that Assault Upgrade Device from?"
At this moment, Wang Haoyu and A.M.S. were acting in joint operation. Fuwa Isamu taking the initiative to reveal his identity was actually a good thing—after all, he already bore the mission of being an undercover agent by Wang Haoyu's side. If Wang Haoyu's true strength were exposed too early, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"It never ends, does it?" Aimukuya's gaze swept back and forth between Wang Haoyu, Yaiba Yua, and Izu. "With just you lot, you think you're worthy of being my enemy?"
A cold light flashed as a weapon was pressed against Fuwa Isamu's throat. With the sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air, a violent current of air swept over.
In the nick of time, the shield thrown by Wang Haoyu blocked it, building a solid barrier for everyone.
"I have plenty of ways to make you talk." Fuwa Isamu's eyes were nearly splitting.
He decisively pressed the progrise key.
"Great Power"
"Shooting Upgrade"
"Punching Kong"
Three electronic sounds rang out in succession, and Fuwa Isamu rushed toward the enemy like an arrow from a bow.
"Whale Tail Sweep!"
Aimukuya's counterattack was as fast as lightning. After a few rounds, Fuwa Isamu already showed signs of defeat.
"The situation is bad." Yaiba Yua stared intently at the battle. "He's being completely suppressed."
Amidst the pitter-patter of rain, Fuwa Isamu's armor suddenly burst with dazzling sparks.
"It's about time." Wang Haoyu muttered to himself.
"What?" Before Yaiba Yua could hear clearly, the sound of rhythmic footsteps came from the distance.
Tengen Gai appeared calmly, dressed in white as snow, stepping through the puddles.
"How could you..." Fuwa Isamu struggled to lift his head.
"After all, I have a mission as well." Tengen Gai smiled and produced a progrise key.
"Extinction Evolution"
"Perfect Upgrade"
"Penta-Crossing"
Accompanied by a mechanical synthesized voice, a brilliant golden light bloomed from the key:
"Birth of the Golden Warrior: Thouser"
"Presented by Zaia"
The dark extractor was aimed at Fuwa Isamu, and Tengen Gai's voice was gentle yet dangerous:
"How about... lending me that Gorilla Tech to play with for a bit?"
As a core achievement of Wang Haoyu's research and development, Gorilla Tech had now become a top technological pillar for Hiden Intelligence. This breakthrough technology not only brought the company back to life but also secured a leading position in the global tech field.
Although Tengen Gai possessed the ability to extract energy, this power could not be used repeatedly. After performing the "Jackrise Destruction" move, a dazzling ball of light struck Aimukuya directly, instantly turning his mecha into dust.
Seeing this, another Demon Machine quickly retreated, turning into a figure in black and mocking as he left: "An opponent who can't take a single hit, I'll take my leave." Wang Haoyu observed the whole process and discovered: this You-Know-Who has a special ability to copy others' forms, and very likely holds a copied version of a progrise key. However, the specific truth still requires further investigation.
"Your strength has indeed improved; I'll notify you in advance to join the battle next time." Wang Haoyu's words caused the smug Tengen Gai's expression to change suddenly. "You've been watching the battle from the shadows?" Seeing Wang Haoyu remain silent, Tengen Gai suddenly realized—he had actually been reduced to another's pawn. Despite his indignation, the outcome was decided, and he could only watch in anger as Wang Haoyu led the group away.
After returning to Hiden Intelligence headquarters, Wang Haoyu held a tactical review meeting as usual. Every post-battle summary was to better prepare for the next battle.
"Did you notice anything unusual during the exchange?"
Wang Haoyu reminded everyone to pay attention to details.
"That hateful whale was actually a real estate agent from Wangbo Real Estate, named Mukuru."
Wangbo Real Estate was an industry under the Zaia Group—this was common knowledge.
"President Wang, the other party used unfair means for competition; this house-selling duel should be terminated immediately."
Izu reached a conclusion through data analysis.
A house purchase agreement had originally been signed, but Mukuru's act of destroying the building structure triggered the liquidated damages clause in Article 130 of the contract.
"It's such a pity, we finally found a suitable residence for Ji Mutaro."
Mikurui maintained her programmed smile, not changing her expression even when expressing regret.
"I'm going to escort him back to A.M.S. headquarters right now."
Fuwa Isamu had just taken a step when he was stopped by Yaiba Yua.
"Listen to President Wang's instructions first."
Yaiba Yua believed the decision-making power should be left to Wang Haoyu—at this moment, every action concerned the overall situation.
"The competition must continue until the very end."
"The schedule is nearing its end, I'm afraid there isn't enough time..."
Izu calculated the remaining time limit.
The second round of the competition, which was already in the bag, was now facing a contract termination with Ji Mutaro due to the destruction of the house.
Right now, there was only one path:
Emergency repair of the residence.
Hiden Intelligence could dispatch a large number of Humagear engineering robots; completing the house repair within a few hours was not impossible.
Wang Haoyu was currently programming the repair code into the robot system.
"Is this really feasible?"
Fuwa Isamu harbored doubts.
The group had plenty of real estate resources; why be so persistent about this one... "When have you ever seen the President fail?"
Yaiba Yua's counter-question left Fuwa Isamu speechless.
Indeed, unless Wang Haoyu did it intentionally, he never failed.
The two then fell silent, creating a focused working environment for the President.
Ten minutes later, the sound of keyboard tapping stopped abruptly.
"Hiden Intelligence Group's Humagear carpenter team, please begin operations immediately!"
At the same time Wang Haoyu gave the command, he decisively pressed the start button.
Dozens of mechanical carpenters quickly headed to the site of the damaged residence to carry out repair work.
The site was inspected three hours later.
After carefully observing the reconstruction results, Fuwa Isamu marveled: "This is simply a perfect replica; the skill of the mechanical craftsmen is truly admirable!"
Kaden Mikurui watched the carpenters and asked softly: "The completion is impeccable, isn't it, masters?"
"Of course, we represent the top level of craftsmanship." The mechanical craftsmen responded in unison.
"The external structure is finished; now, masters, please proceed with the installation of the internal windows."
Ten mechanical craftsmen each showed a unique preparation posture.
Wang Haoyu suddenly asked Mikurui: "Can you explain the special reason for choosing this residence?"
Mikurui responded calmly: "What the client truly needs is not the scale of the space, but a living environment that enhances family interaction." She continued to elaborate, "For the elderly, a moderate space is easier to manage. This layout allows the whole family to be happy and harmonious; the happiness of the residents will give the house vitality."
This insight revealed the key to Mikurui surpassing the gold-medal salesman Aimukuya—the former focused on the client's substantive needs, while the latter emphasized commercial interests.
Wang Haoyu expressed his approval of such a customer-first philosophy.
In Ji Mutaro's office.
Wang Haoyu apologized: "I've kept you waiting, I am deeply sorry for the trouble caused to you."
Ji Mutaro responded appreciatively: "Please sit, President Wang Haoyu. Your crisis management ability and steady demeanor are very impressive."
Gazing at the family photo on the desk, the client thanked him from the bottom of his heart: "This residence perfectly fits my wish for a family reunion; I sincerely thank your company for its professional service."
Ji Mutaro was obviously very satisfied with the house, and he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.
"Customer satisfaction is our success."
Hiden Intelligence had always adhered to such a service philosophy.
Ji Mutaro was full of praise for Wang Haoyu's reception: "Is President Wang Haoyu interested in expanding into surrounding businesses?"
In this era where the strong are respected, who wouldn't want to cooperate with a top enterprise?
As a leading figure in the real estate world, the cooperation invitation Ji Mutaro took the initiative to hand out was something countless people would envy. Now, this opportunity was placed before Wang Haoyu.
"As it happens, our Hiden Intelligence's new Humagear is about to be released."
Chapter 184: Chapter 184
This service robot developed by Wang Haoyu has already become the industry benchmark.
The market response far exceeded expectations; the official website's pre-sale channel was sold out as soon as it opened.
"Excellent, we will officially sign the contract in three days."
The aging Ji Mutaro was far-sighted. While standing at the peak of the industry, he was also searching for a future pillar for the enterprise.
Wang Haoyu was undoubtedly the best choice.
"I await your news. I shall take my leave."
The house delivery task for this trip was completed, but as Wang Haoyu drove away, he encountered someone unexpected.
"Aimukuya?"
"President Wang Haoyu," the other party forced a slight smile.
Having been fired by Zaia Group, Aimukuya appeared very down and out.
Wang Haoyu showed neither mockery nor pity.
One must bear the consequences of their life choices.
It was only natural!
"I will never lose to a robot!"
Aimukuya suddenly pulled out a progrise key: "Wave!"
"If I were you, I would stop now."
Wang Haoyu was calm and composed. In his eyes, Aimukuya was merely a pawn in his grand design.
The raised hand suddenly stopped mid-air.
In a flash, Aimukuya seemed to understand something.
He had always been obsessed with being number one, putting profit above all else in everything he did.
Until this moment, he finally understood the reason he lost to Hiden Intelligence Group.
He handed that progrise key to Wang Haoyu.
"Thank you, President Wang Haoyu."
A smile appeared on Aimukuya's face.
Everyone feels lost on their path in life; it's perfectly normal.
"I was single-mindedly chasing profit, wanting to be a top salesman and wanting to perform for the group, but I unknowingly lost myself."
Aimukuya lowered his head slightly and smiled.
"Now I understand that Ji Mutaro's choice was right."
After saying this, Aimukuya turned and left.
Wang Haoyu watched his retreating back with a calm expression.
This was undoubtedly the best conclusion... "Mr. Wang Haoyu."
"Mr. Wang Haoyu."
Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu were already waiting in the office.
A news report was playing on the screen.
"Viewers, the trial for this high-profile case has officially begun. The defendant, Kamiyuin, 30, is suspected of defrauding romantic partners of their property. What makes this trial special is that the prosecution is using the Zaiya Connector to assist in analysis..."
"This provides the prosecution with AI-like reasoning capabilities. To counter this, the defense has dispatched a Humagear to defend the accused..."
The screen switched to the courtroom scene.
After taking a seat, Wang Haoyu pointed at the screen.
"This is our third contest."
The first round was flower arrangement, the second was selling real estate, and this third round is the courtroom confrontation of a legal case.
"What? Competing in this?"
Fuwa Isamu's face was full of surprise.
It is well known that the legal field is extremely complex. Even developed Humagears require repeated testing before practical application. Legal statutes are constantly revised, and Humagears must be updated simultaneously—this is a huge challenge for humans as well.
"Correct. Through this trial, the Zaiya Connector and the Humagear will compete, ultimately deciding the victory or defeat between the two companies."
Wang Haoyu had already discovered that the defendant Kamiyuin was merely a scapegoat; the true mastermind had always remained hidden under a perfect disguise. All the details of the case were factual, but the truth was still obscured by layers of fog.
All clues in the case pointed to Kamiyuin, making it impossible for the Humagear to find effective evidence for the defense, which instead created an advantage for the opposition.
"Izu, retrieve the data."
Wang Haoyu had summoned the two mainly to assign them to investigate this matter.
"Understood."
Izu closed her eyes and activated her computer link.
"Data transferring."
"Transfer complete."
As Izu finished speaking, the trial-related data appeared on the large screen:
Kamiyuin, male, 30, suspected of fraud. The defense is the Aishenhu Company, with a Humagearserving as the defense attorney.
As a well-known law firm, Aishenhu Company is highly influential in the industry and has an undefeated record. The company is also an important partner of Hiden Intelligence Group, receiving 80% of its legal-type Humagear products from them.
Now, this trial has put Aishenhu Company under great pressure, as its undefeated myth may end here... Executives from Aishenhu Company found Wang Haoyu, and Hiden Intelligence Group must personally intervene, or they will terminate the procurement of legal-type Humagears.
"Is Kamiyuin some kind of celebrity?" Fuwa Isamu scratched his head in confusion.
Aishenhu Company has clear business principles: providing legal aid to those in financial difficulty and charging high fees to wealthy clients. Kamiyuin's family is poor, but this case involves a duel between humans and Humagears. To enhance its reputation, Aishenhu Company not only accepted the case for free but also sent its strongest Humagear lawyer.
At the courtroom.
"Given the insufficient evidence from both the plaintiff and the defendant, this case will not be decided for now and will be retried after supplementary evidence is provided," the judge announced.
The gavel struck.
With a "clack," the first trial was declared over.
This meant a second hearing would be held.
Outside the court, the Humagear lawyer left together with Kamiyuin.
The lawyer holding a Zaiya Connector clenched his fists and turned to return to the group headquarters.
Tengen Gai had already been waiting in the office for a long time.
"President."
"As a world-class lawyer, you won't fail this lawsuit, will you?" Tengen Gai took a bottle of red wine and two crystal glasses from the wine cabinet.
The amber liquid was poured into the glasses, and he handed one to Murakami Moose.
Murakami Moose lightly sniffed the wine's aroma, showing an enchanted expression.
"Please rest assured, victory is within my grasp. But the key to a fraud charge lies in evidence; if the evidence is sufficient, winning is easy."
Tengen Gai frowned slightly: "I will mobilize all resources to cooperate with you. As long as you win this lawsuit, any request will be met."
"My undefeated record is the best guarantee." Murakami Moose tilted his head and drained the wine in his glass.
Hiden Intelligence headquarters meeting room.
Izu led the Humagear lawyer inside: "This is the defense attorney for this case."
Fuwa Isamu curiously sized up this artificial life form: "Can an AI lawyer really be proficient in all legal statutes?"
"The database shows that Humagears have complete mastery of the current legal system and possess real-time update capabilities," Izu explained patiently.
Wang Haoyu made the final deployment: "Wato and Hiden Isamu will accompany the next trial. Fuwa Isamu has another important task."
"Am I being excluded?" Fuwa Isamu protested with feigned grievance.
"On the contrary, there is a key task that only you can do."
To win this lawsuit, the key lies in evidence. As long as evidence can be found, the problem can be solved easily.
Wang Haoyu gave this important task to Fuwa Isamu.
After this period of training, Fuwa Isamu had enough ability to handle various emergencies.
"As expected, Mr. Wang Haoyu understands me; after all, I am his most capable assistant."
Fuwa Isamu said triumphantly.
Beside him, Hiden Isamu rubbed her temples helplessly.
The current Fuwa Isamu was indeed different from before; at least he had a bit more human touch and was no longer as cold as in the past.
"Stop messing around and get to work."
Wang Haoyu timely stopped Fuwa Isamu.
At this moment, Fuwa Isamu's state was practically like a spoiled woman; Wang Haoyu did not want him wasting time talking nonsense here.
"I have already found the plaintiff's address. Go to this place to investigate; you should find something."
Wang Haoyu sent the address and data to Fuwa Isamu via satellite phone.
Fuwa Isamu immediately returned to a serious demeanor.
"Understood, I guarantee the mission will be completed."
After saying that, Fuwa Isamu set off.
The destination was Residential Building No. 36 on Blue Sea Avenue, the scene of the incident.
Fuwa Isamu stepped forward and knocked on the door... "Knock knock knock..."
No one answered.
In this old residential building, the residents' financial conditions were generally not very good.
"Taking such a big risk just to steal things from here? It really doesn't make sense."
Fuwa Isamu muttered to himself.
Logically speaking, a criminal should choose a more valuable target.
When things are unusual, there must be a reason!
Knocking again still yielded no response, so Fuwa Isamu had to contact Wang Haoyu to report the situation.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, there is no one at the target location."
He couldn't just break into a private residence without permission.
Just as he finished speaking, Fuwa Isamu suddenly heard a strange noise from nearby.
"Strange... clearly no one is here, so why is there a sound?"
On the other end of the phone, Wang Haoyu immediately pulled up the relevant data to check.
The stolen Invisible Butterfly progrise key from Zaia Group was still missing.
At this moment, the key's fluctuations were coming from Fuwa Isamu's direction.
"Fuwa Isamu, this room hides a key clue; you must guard it strictly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Haoyu quickly stood up.
Although Fuwa Isamu didn't understand why, orders were like mountains.
"Understood."
He replied in a deep voice.
"Authorize!"
"System Upgrade!"
"Kamen Rider activated!"
"Armor equipped!"
Silver-white battle armor instantly covered his body; this was the strongest barrier to protect the scene.
Suddenly, a cold sneer pierced the silence.
"Hahahaha—"
Layer upon layer of laughter felt almost physical, sending cold sweat down Fuwa Isamu's back.
"Hiding your head and showing your tail!"
He shouted sternly, his visor scanning the empty surroundings.
A sudden gale rose!
"A mere bionic Rider thinks he's worthy of stopping me?"
The sound Waves drifted and shifted in the space.
Fuwa Isamu tensed his nerves but could not capture the enemy's traces.
Bang! An invisible heavy blow slammed him to the ground.
One blow after another poured down like a rainstorm.
"Have the guts to show yourself and fight!"
His provocation only earned more violent attacks.
"Naive."
The moment the electronic voice of Number 133 mocked him, another Impact exploded.
Until Wang Haoyu burst through the door.
"Save me!"
By now, Fuwa Isamu's armor was covered in cracks.
"You've done enough."
Wang Haoyu flipped his wrist, and the zero-one driver burst with strong light.
"Extreme Leap!"
"Super Evolution Start!"
"Kamen Rider: Final Protocol!"
"Henshin complete!"
"Shining Hopper Mode!"
A blazing white light blade sliced through the darkness:
"Coordinates locked."
"Extermination execution!"
In a thunderous roar, the Invisible Butterfly's mimicry barrier finally shattered.
In the air, the Invisible Butterfly's shocked question suddenly rang out: "How is it possible for you to lock my position?"
Wang Haoyu had a smile on his lips.
This mechanical creature's most troublesome trait was just like its name—it not only escaped the human eye but could also evade all radar detection, causing countless hunters to return in defeat.
"The method of discovery isn't important at all," the Invisible Butterfly's electronic voice mixed with static noise, "you will never be my match!" A blue light flashed from the progrise key at its waist, and a battle-axe condensed into shape before its mechanical arm.
Wang Haoyu stared at the battle-axe's cold gleam, but his thoughts drifted deeper: Why did the opponent risk sneaking into the original crime scene? There must be an even more startling secret hidden behind this.
Chapter 185 – Chapter 185
The moment Wang Haoyu dropped into a combat stance, the invisible butterfly dissolved into digital light and vanished inside the ventilation duct—more cautious than he'd expected. Maybe it judged the odds too slim, or feared the evidence would be destroyed ahead of time… In any case, the glass display cases in the evidence room were untouched.
"Officer, who exactly is that guy?" Fuwa Isamu's combat boots shattered the corridor's silence. The young investigator had always believed the file's conclusion—Kamiyuin was the mastermind behind the financial fraud. The chain of evidence was airtight, yet Wang Haoyu insisted on reopening the case; it stuck in his throat like a fish-bone.
Wang Haoyu turned the on-site forensics report in his hand. "If the killer was already brought to justice, why is someone still in a hurry to erase evidence?"
Fuwa Isamu's pupils contracted. The reverse deduction struck like lightning through fog—someone wanted the wrongful verdict set in stone!
"Prosecutor Murakami Moose…" Wang Haoyu gazed at the neon rain outside the window. "I'm afraid even Zaiya Group doesn't realize their carefully chosen judicial spokesman has already gone rotten."
It was only a deduction, but Wang Haoyu's intuition had always proved more accurate than a super-computer.
"Should we notify the group to halt the trial?"
"No need." Wang Haoyu drained his coffee. "This match has only just begun."
Wang Haoyu was never soft-hearted; he had no intention of playing the spineless good guy.
The contest had reached fever pitch—he had to win this round.
Though he usually disliked fighting, the rules left him no choice; for Hiden Intelligence Group, he had to see it through.
"Izu, what's happened?"
At that moment, Wang Haoyu received Izu's message.
"President, Mr. Tengen Gai of Zaiya Group has arrived at the conference room with his legal team."
Izu reported the facts.
"I'm on my way back."
Ending the call, Wang Haoyu set off at once.
Inside the conference room, Tengen Gai and attorney Murakami Moose were waiting.
"President, forgive my bluntness, but right now we should be gathering evidence as fast as possible."
Murakami Moose was puzzled by the trip.
Tengen Gai sat down unhurriedly, legs crossed elegantly.
"As a lawyer, haven't you heard the saying 'know your enemy'?"
A meaningful smile curved his lips.
Wang Haoyu pushed the door open, his tone sharp:
"Zaiya Group must be short of clients lately?"
Tengen Gai was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Wang Haoyu's words to cut so deep.
"Not as busy as you, President Wang. The match is in progress, yet you find time to entertain guests."
Veteran of many storms, Tengen Gai replied with unruffled calm.
"You're the ones who should be anxious, aren't you?"
Wang Haoyu sat down composedly.
"I hear you've fielded your strongest Humagear for this; it's surprising that Aishin Law Firm took the case. However…"
He shifted the angle of attack:
"Let me state clearly: Kamiyuin is not the real culprit—your evidence won't stand up in court!"
A flicker of disturbance crossed Tengen Gai's eyes.
That possibility truly hadn't figured in his calculations. Still, they had to hold their ground.
The subtle change in Tengen Gai's expression did not escape Wang Haoyu's notice.
Murakami Moose stared at Wang Haoyu, voice firm: "As a prosecutor, my duty is to expose the defendant's crimes and bring him before the law!"
The current situation was extremely unfavorable to Hiden Intelligence Group. The court had already found probable cause, and the prosecution had formally indicted.
The outcome of the contest between Hiden Intelligence and Zaiya Group now depended entirely on whether the Humagear attorney could clear the defendant's name.
"President Wang Haoyu, isn't this duel rather interesting?" Tengen Gai's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
After their last clash, his hunger for victory had only intensified.
Izu interjected skeptically: "From the start this contest was unfair. Hiden Intelligence is at an overwhelming disadvantage. President Tengen Gai, aren't you worried this will damage Zaiya Group's reputation?"
"This is true competition, not child's play. A robot like you could never grasp its significance." Tengen Gai answered with disdain.
In his eyes, Izu was merely an ordinary intelligent machine.
"We're gambling with someone else's life—how can such a contest hold any meaning?" Wang Haoyu's piercing gaze locked onto Tengen Gai.
"What do someone else's life and death have to do with me? Remember—this is only a match!" Tengen Gai retorted irritably.
Fuwa Isamu suddenly roared: "Using something like this as a game is downright insane!"
"Yet the defendant insists he's innocent." Tengen Gai planted both hands on the table. "If a Humagearcan truly alter someone's fate, what would you choose?"
It was indeed a high-stakes gamble devoid of fairness; from a certain perspective, Tengen Gai's logic was not entirely without merit.
Tengen Gai rose to take his leave: "We still need to organize the relevant materials. We'll excuse ourselves for now." He and Murakami Moose then departed from Hiden Intelligence headquarters.
"Head to Aishin Law Offices immediately."
As soon as the two left, Wang Haoyu issued new orders. This world-famous lawsuit was putting unprecedented public pressure on Aishin Law Offices.
The head of the firm greeted him in person: "President Wang, an honor to meet you." Aishin bowed politely.
"Likewise." Wang Haoyu took the seat offered.
"Allow me to introduce our ace: the attorney-type Humagear 'Nurse Bingo.'"
Equipped with a full legal database, the intelligent attorney could retrieve every precedent and statute in real time; any legal query received a response within milliseconds.
"Upon verification, the client Kamiyuin is innocent." Nurse Bingo declared without hesitation.
"On what grounds?" Wang Haoyu raised an eyebrow.
"The polygraph shows his statement is 98.7 % reliable." During the detention interview, Kamiyuin's repeated protestations of innocence had been verified by micro-expression analysis and physiological-parameter checks.
The key figure in the online romance-fraud case, this android insisted he had never committed fraud, while Nurse Bingo's quantum-grade lie-detection module boasted a 100 % success rate in similar cases.
"Time to let him shine," Izu said with quiet confidence.
"The real culprit must be lurking in the data torrent; this trial will surely expose the truth!" Nurse Bingo's electronic eyes flashed blue as she sprang excitedly to her feet.
"I'm counting on you," President Wang Haoyu said gravely, nodding.
At that moment Yaiba Yua led Wato into the conference room. "This case is being handed over entirely to Wato's team—success or failure rides on this," Wang Haoyu said, sweeping his gaze across the group.
"Opening statements begin tomorrow," Izu updated the schedule.
**Case Opening Statement**
Put simply, the purpose of the opening statement is to clarify what conduct the defendant is accused of and whether he is directly connected to the incident.
"All right, everyone, go home and rest—be fresh for court tomorrow!"
With nothing else on the agenda, President Wang Haoyu saw no need to keep them and sent everyone off to get ready.
"Understood."
"Understood."
"Understood."
"..."
Early the next morning.
Courtroom.
"Prosecution, you may begin."
At the judge's cue, Prosecutor Murakami Moose began his examination of the defendant.
"Defendant, last month you proposed to your girlfriend of less than a month, Ebiide Chiharu, did you not?"
Murakami Moose displayed a document as he spoke.
It showed the defendant had messaged her: "To reserve the wedding venue, could you transfer our 3 million wedding fund into the designated account right away?"
"You then guided Chiharu to wire the 3 million via text, and the receiving account was in fact controlled by a fraud ring."
Murakami Moose produced the bank records as corroboration.
After the incident, Ebiide Chiharu had confronted the defendant.
But the defendant kept denying involvement, insisting the matter had nothing to do with him.
"Swindling 3 million with just a few lies went suspiciously smoothly; after the report, police quickly zeroed in on the defendant and transferred the case to the prosecution."
Murakami Moose laid out the entire sequence of events.
Subsequent investigation and courtroom proceedings showed the defendant's actions constituted fraud.
All prosecution evidence was based on detailed data provided by the Zaiya Connector.
"The defendant has long been in dire financial straits, repeatedly troubled by money problems; we therefore have every reason to believe your motive for approaching the victim, Chiharu, was to swindle money!"
Facing the accusation, the defendant kept shaking his head in denial.
"Impossible! I never cheated her!"
But his explanations simply did not match the prosecution's evidence.
"That concludes my statement."
Murakami Moose sat down calmly.
In the gallery, Tengen Gai was thoroughly pleased with the prosecution's performance.
Meanwhile, President Wang Haoyu was remotely monitoring the trial's progress through the Hiden Intelligence Group system.
The matter had been entrusted entirely to Wato.
In court, Wato had complete confidence in the Nurse Bingo Humagear.
"The rest is up to you, Nurse Bingo!"
Wato encouraged with a smile.
"Defense, you may speak."
Nurse Bingo rose to deliver her statement.
"The materials submitted by the prosecution have not been rigorously verified; the messages could have been sent by someone else using Kamiyuin's name."
Indeed, there was no proof that Kamiyuin himself was operating the phone at the time the messages were sent.
Everything required evidence, and none of the existing proof directly pointed to Kamiyuin as the sender.
Nurse Bingo stepped to Kamiyuin's side and continued her defense:
"I believe someone hijacked his account. The evidence shows that when the scam transfer message was received, the defendant Kamiyuin was in a theatre watching a comedy show."
Nurse Bingo presented the key video evidence—the very footage President Wang Haoyu had asked Fuwa Isamu to protect.
The video clearly captured Kamiyuin laughing heartily, and its timeline overlapped exactly with the moment Chiharu received the text.
One person cannot be in two places doing two things at once!
One of the two events had to be false.
In the video the comedy program was running a lucky draw, offering audience members a prize of "Abs-of-Steel Power."
"You can clearly see the defendant Kamiyuin excitedly raising his left hand, showing he won the prize."
Audience members around him offered their congratulations.
"This footage was recorded by a comedian Humagear; note that at no point did the defendant use his 0.1 phone."
Nurse Bingo produced the exhibit from her pocket:
"Your Honor, I present this physical evidence."
Just as she was handing it over, Murakami Moose suddenly interrupted:
"How can such evidence be admitted? Your Honor, the defendant's phone clearly contains the sent-message log!"
He spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for dispute.
"Precisely because of that, the log is highly suspect. This case is a special crime carried out purely through digital means by exploiting network vulnerabilities!"
Nurse Bingo delivered her final conclusion.
"Your Honor, I am convinced the defendant is innocent!"
Her logic was airtight and her evidence ample, forcing everyone to suspect a larger conspiracy behind the case.
The law will not wrong the innocent; justice and ** stand together.
**Courtroom Scene**
The judge intoned, "Both sides have spoken; court is adjourned."
**Underground Hideout**
Chapter 186 – Chapter 186
Bingo and Wato's group reunited. Izu analyzed the situation: "The odds seem to favor Bingo."
"Hold on," Bingo said gravely. "Justice decides destinies; we must uncover the truth and convince both sides."
**The Internet Age**
Trials face the public; lawyers defend the dignity of the law. Illegal acts will eventually be punished!
Wato danced with joy: "Let me deliver justice!"
**Crisis Strikes**
Izu warned: "Demon Machine incoming!"
The enemy charged straight at Bingo. Wang Haoyu shielded his companions: "Not on my watch!"
Wato blocked the way and demanded: "Why resort to violence outside the courtroom?"
**Sudden Mutation**
Bingo's earpiece glowed darkly as the ark system invaded. His face twisted: "I belong only to the court..."
"Get out—now!" Wang Haoyu ordered urgently. Izu dragged Bingo away with all her might.
**Ultimate Showdown**
Wang Haoyu produced a Progrisekey.
"Super Jump! Power-up!"
"Kamen Rider, transform!"
"Shining Assault!"
A flying kick heavily damaged the Demon Machine. As the foe fled, Wang Haoyu roared: "Axe-blade Upgrade!"
A swift shadow tore through the air, energy erupting—at this moment, no one can stop the might of the Rider!
Wang Haoyu's attacks were fierce, every strike landing squarely on target.
"Who exactly are you people?"
"Prepare for Action."
"Raiding Wolf."
"Dead End."
"Weapon Evolution!"
Fuwa Isamu swiftly joined the battle.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, I'm here to help!"
"A.M.S.!"
The Demon Machine let out a cry of surprise.
Before the words finished, it turned and fled.
That reaction proved it not only knew A.M.S. but was also familiar with Fuwa Isamu!
But Wang Haoyu would never give it a chance to escape.
At incredible speed he cut off the Demon Machine's retreat.
The fleeing Demon Machine suddenly found someone blocking its path.
"Your movement is even faster than Invisible Butterfly?"
The Demon Machine blurted, completely unaware it had leaked vital information.
Wang Haoyu instantly seized on the clue.
"Invisible Butterfly? What's your relation?"
Having fought Invisible Butterfly before, Wang Haoyu was immediately on guard—anyone who knew that name had to be an accomplice.
The discovery only strengthened his resolve to wipe them out!
The Demon Machine knew fighting alone against many was unwise.
Its top priority was to escape the danger zone at once.
Yet its gunfire had no effect whatsoever on Wang Haoyu.
"You can actually nullify my damage?!"
"Blazing Barrage!"
The Demon Machine immediately switched combat modes.
It launched its strongest offensive toward the pair.
Two missiles streaked straight at them.
"You're not even dodging? This is my ultimate move!"
Seeing the two stand unruffled, the Demon Machine trembled with rage.
Why was its ace technique useless against them?
It made no sense at all!
As the explosions rang out, the two emerged unscathed, leaving the Demon Machine wide-eyed.
"Who… what are you people?"
"How could you completely withstand my attack?"
"Why are you completely unharmed?"
The Demon Machine hurled question after question.
Wang Haoyu had no time to waste on it.
If not for needing to uncover its origins, he would have ended it long ago.
Just as he prepared to finish the fight, Wang Haoyu spotted something that dropped from the Demon Machine.
"That's the item left by that damned Lion!"
Fuwa Isamu also halted his pursuit when he saw it.
Once examined, the culprit could be identified.
The immediate priority was to clear Kamiyuin's suspicion.
"But the device has a security lock; we can't access it."
Izu, arriving in haste, scanned the object's surface and concluded.
"Why not just smash it open?"
Fuwa Isamu always believes brute force is the fastest solution.
"Brute force can't break it—do you think you're a gorilla?"
Izu's deadpan retort infuriated him.
Fuwa bristled at the emotionless jab from the android.
"Heavy Punch Gorilla!"
Just as he was about to strike, Wato arrived in time to stop him.
"All right, enough…"
"Do you think you're a gorilla?"
Izu repeated as if stuck in a loop.
"Say that one more time!"
Fuwa, held around the waist, was furious.
"Izu, that's enough."
Wang Haoyu still couldn't grasp why Fuwa always bickered with robots.
"Hand it over; I'll get a friend in the police to help."
As Fuwa reached out, Izu blocked him again.
"You can have it, but no violent disassembly."
Fine, I promise!"
Fuwa grated the words through clenched teeth.
"There's another matter that needs investigating…"
Wang Haoyu assigned a new task.
Inside the Zaiya Group tower.
CEO Tengen Gai slid a box toward prosecutor Murakami Moose.
"This is a spare Zaiya Connector."
"Thanks; no room for error at the critical moment."
He would not allow any slip-ups in the match.
"Circumstances gave me no choice."
Murakami Moose was about to leave when Chusho and Lin, catching Tengen Gai's signal, immediately stepped forward to block him.
"It seems someone attacked the lawyer-type Humagear."
The two stood in Murakami Moose's way.
"Could there be hidden details in this trial?"
Tengen Gai spoke up at the right moment: "As a professional prosecutor, what do you think?"
He cared about victory, but only a truly upright one.
138 Murakami Moose saw through the other's doubts.
As an internationally renowned prosecutor, he possessed that level of insight.
"The defendant is unquestionably guilty. Cases prosecuted by our office are 99.9% airtight."
Every lawsuit undergoes rigorous review; anything non-compliant never makes it to court.
"99.9 percent? Only 999‰ can demonstrate judicial authority."
Tengen Gai was dissatisfied with this figure. In his view, only absolute precision was worthy of the Zaiya Connector's quality.
Although the system had flaws, that simply proved there was still room for improvement.
Murakami Moose looked displeased:
"We're only testing the Zaiya system. If you have doubts, I can withdraw at any time."
Why would a top prosecutor get involved in a corporate competition?
"Misunderstanding—this is just routine confirmation."
Tengen Gai hurried to smooth things over. He still needed to rely on this industry leader—in his eyes, only top talent deserved to use the Zaiya system.
He was convinced the Zaiya Connector would surpass Hiden Intelligence's Humagear!
"Since the president chose me, you should trust me completely instead of questioning me without basis!"
As a judge, Murakami Moose was especially averse to such doubts.
Perhaps it was his profession; he required proof for every suspicion.
Only evidence could speak!
A.M.S. underground cell.
"Here is imprisoned the former leader of the Thunder Organization—Horobi."
It was Wato's first visit; Fuwa Isamu gave a brief introduction.
There were things Wato ought to know.
Since Shinnosuke had arranged for Wang Haoyu to train Wato, Wang Haoyu had to design trials to temper him step by step!
When that day came, Wato would stand on his own!
That would live up to Shinnosuke's trust!
"We're here."
Fuwa Isamu led everyone to the cell where Horobi was held.
To prevent Horobi from being snatched away, he had to be restrained with chains—
robots feel no pain, so it saved trouble.
No need for food or drink, very convenient!
"Horobi, you have visitors."
Fuwa Isamu opened the door; Wato and Hiden Isamu followed Wang Haoyu inside.
"Didn't expect you lot to show up together."
Horobi sized up the visitors lazily.
Unlike other smart robots, Horobi possessed independent thought and exclusive emotions; he knew exactly what he was doing.
The only difference was his body structure.
Though it wasn't their first meeting,
this was the first time Wato faced Horobi inside A.M.S.'s prison.
Last time they met, Horobi had still been the mighty leader of the Thunder Organization;
now he was a prisoner.
Horobi caught the pity in Wato's eyes.
It enraged him.
"What kind of look is that? Who gave you the right to stare at me like this—pitying me? No! I don't need human pity!"
"Get out! Look away! Listen—I'm a robot with eternal life; it's you pitiful humans who deserve sympathy!"
The more Horobi spoke, the more agitated he became.
Flustered, Wato hurried to explain: "No, no, I'm not sympathizing—I'm just puzzled by your situation. I came to ask you something; please answer truthfully."
Wato showed humility, respectful as a student facing a teacher.
Fuwa Isamu couldn't help smiling at the sight.
"Wato, no need to be so polite. He's a prisoner; ask whatever you want. If he refuses to answer, we have ways to make him talk—without even needing him to open his mouth."
Fuwa Isamu said confidently.
Horobi was right about one thing: as a robot, he possessed eternal life.
But robots have no secrets from humans—one data cable can easily read all their memories.
"Was the system intrusion your doing?"
Wato lightly bit his lip and asked the key question.
He had always believed the Thunder Organization was involved. The group had existed for years; it couldn't be rootless. Even with Horobi captured, there must be other leaders.
Wang Haoyu stood silently at the back, waiting for Horobi's answer to see if it matched what he'd said before.
During the illustration contest, Wang Haoyu and Fuwa Isamu had visited Horobi; the robot had recognized the Assault Upgrade Device at a glance—the terrifying gadget that turns humans into Demon Machines.
This time, what answer would Horobi give Wato?
"All of this is inevitable. Humans are the species that should be eliminated, because humans taught me these very reasons."
Horobi stated calmly.
He had always spoken facts. Wang Haoyu understood this and was sure Horobi hadn't lied; the answer was basically what he'd been told before.
Horobi gave Wato time to think.
Absorbing such a huge amount of information in a short time was difficult for Wato. Though he already realized the hostile relationship between robots and humans, the successive anomalies had seriously disrupted human society.
"You mean…"
Hiden Isamu recalled Kaden Mikurui's odd behavior during the flower-arranging contest.
"Humans with ulterior motives deserve to be eliminated."
And those Humagear in the sales office… "I will wipe out every human who harbors evil intentions."
The actions of these Humagear had already confirmed Horobi's words.
Would the future really evolve in this direction?
Could humans and intelligent robots not coexist peacefully?
Then what was the original purpose of humans developing Humagear?
Why create robots?
Purely for confrontation?
Ultimately leading to human extinction?
Robots' core programs are written by humans; no matter how the "One-Four-Zero" technology develops, humanity cannot be wiped out because of it.
Chapter 187
If the two sides truly turn against each other, the only outcome will be the complete disappearance of robots from human society!
Countless thoughts surged through Wato's mind, yet none of them led to an ending he wanted to see.
"I sincerely hope humans and robots can live in harmony, rather than be locked in a fight to the death!" Wato declared firmly.
Wang Haoyu lightly patted Wato's shoulder.
The gesture spoke louder than a thousand words.
At this moment Wang Haoyu was guiding Wato toward the correct way of thinking.
"You're too naïve—haven't you noticed that humans have already begun to influence the Humagears?" Horobi said without mercy.
Horobi poured cold water on the idea.
"Impossible…"
Wato refused to accept that fact.
But reality doesn't bend to personal will.
Wato looked at Wang Haoyu, desperate for a refutation.
For some reason, he felt Wang Haoyu could give him strength.
No matter what Wang Haoyu said, he was willing to believe it.
"Mr. Wang, please tell me—are Horobi's words true or false?"
Wato urgently needed an answer.
More precisely, he needed a reassuring affirmation.
Before Wang could reply, Horobi cut in: "He won't answer you, because he already has his answer in his heart."
"Mr. Wang, I must admit you're the strongest opponent I've ever met. But the future's course isn't something you can control; no matter how powerful you are, you can't stand against an entire army of intelligent robots!"
Fighting many with few was nothing new for Wang Haoyu, but changing the World's fate single-handedly—if he went all-out, he could indeed do it.
Yet every World has its operating laws, and no one may break them at will.
That was exactly why Wang Haoyu chose to nurture Wato… "Mr. Wang, is everything Horobi said true?"
Fuwa Isamu was also shocked by Horobi's claims.
If one day humans really had to go to war with the Humagears… where would this World head? He didn't dare think about it; the scene was too horrifying!
"As long as I'm alive, I will never let the World develop as Horobi predicts. Don't worry—just focus on what we should do right now. Whatever the future brings, we'll give it everything we've got!"
That was Wang Haoyu's firm response.
Should they stop in their tracks just because of Horobi's scaremongering?
Besides, Horobi's words aren't established fact, and he has no power to see the future.
What is there to fear!
"Horobi, do you know why we chose to keep you alive?"
Although Horobi didn't need food or drink, he still required periodic maintenance.
His body parts were rare; A.M.S. poured in massive resources precisely because they valued the special worth Horobi carried!
Horobi himself knew exactly what that worth was!
"Wang Haoyu, stop spreading confusion! You're trying to change the subject only because I spoke the ** and hit your sore spot!"
Horobi's logic was outstanding; conclusions derived from precise data simulations couldn't be wrong… could they?
But he was facing Wang Haoyu!
Perhaps the idea that everything has its natural nemesis was true—Wang Haoyu was Horobi's nemesis!
"Do I look flustered to you?"
Wang Haoyu asked calmly.
He really didn't look it.
"Even now you still dream of achieving your goal by spreading ** panic. Your theoretical framework is fine, but the projected outcome will never come true—humans will never allow intelligent robots to reach that state!"
In the end: "You underestimate humans. Since we can create intelligent robots like Humagears, you should understand what the final outcome will be!"
Horobi's prophecy was only a data-driven extrapolation; the final direction still depended on humanity's choices.
The core factor deciding human-machine relations had always been in human hands!
"All cases of deployed Humagears running amok happened after they were maliciously attacked by humans."
Hiden Isamu nailed the key point in a single sentence.
Horobi had to admit: "That's right—the root lies with humans. As networks develop, malice spreads faster and faster: between humans, between humans and machines…"
Wato immediately retorted: "The Humagears went rogue on their own."
During the conversation Wato sensed something subtle.
Wang Haoyu hadn't rejected Horobi's views outright; he'd only objected to the predicted ending.
That meant Horobi's forecast might hold partial truth.
"Buck up."
Wang Haoyu broke the silence, his tone relaxed.
"We're not at a dead end yet—don't lose your heads. Just do your own jobs properly!"
His words reignited the team's fighting spirit.
As their leader, Wang Haoyu would never allow morale to slump because of a few scaremongering remarks.
Wouldn't that be a joke?
"You three go upstairs," Wang Haoyu said to Wato, Yaiba Yua, and Fuwa Isamu.
"Understood."
The three answered in unison and obeyed.
After they left, Wang Haoyu closed the door.
He sat down calmly, facing Horobi.
The move caught Horobi off guard.
"What's your purpose in staying alone with me?"
Horobi asked cautiously.
They had already said everything that needed saying—so why… "Horobi, you've always been puzzled by A.M.S.'s arrangements and by my cooperation with her."
Wang Haoyu cut straight to the point.
"Right now, I can give you the answer."
Horobi's pupils contracted slightly.
This was the riddle he had been unable to solve.
"Suddenly confessing… what are you scheming?"
Horobi was full of suspicion.
Past repeated questions had yielded nothing; now, out of nowhere… Even an intelligent robot would become suspicious when faced with such a sudden change.
It proved that man-made things could never escape the thinking patterns of their creators.
During his imprisonment Horobi had run hundreds of millions of simulations.
Yet he still couldn't figure out Wang Haoyu's true intent.
Curiosity burned inside his mechanical core.
"No need to tell me."
Horobi feigned nonchalance.
"Knowing won't help, so it's better not to know."
Behind that insincere refusal,
curiosity could hardly be contained.
A voice like steel pierced the lab's silence: "You don't get to choose whether you're informed—facts will be force-fed straight into your memory chip."
In Wang Haoyu's pupils reflected the silhouette of the machine; to him it was nothing more than talking furniture.
"Designation Mie, your hate-code is practically leaking through the metal shell." Wang Haoyu tapped the console with a wrench. "Carbon-based life can fake it; silicon-based life runs like transparent data streams—after all, the Creator forgot to install a lying protocol for you."
Metallic joints screeched; Mie's optical sensors flickered wildly.
Core processors spun: when had the emotion-simulation module sprung a leak? When had humans finished reverse-analysis? Why were all early-warning systems mute?
"Stop your useless scanning." Wang Haoyu splashed coffee across the circuit board. "Even if every word I say is a lie, your outdated analysis routines won't detect a single faulty byte."
That sentence punched straight through Mie's firewall.
For a quantum computer, it was a declaration of technical death.
Mie's cooling system began running in overload.
"Know why A.M.S. picked you?" Wang Haoyu activated the holo-projector. "That data tunnel straight to ark's main-brain is basically an express courier line feeding us intel. And still more cyborgs keep appearing on the streets…"
The projection showed purified Demon Machine humans returning to normal.
"This is a war humans are guaranteed to win." Wang Haoyu suddenly lowered his voice. "As for my temporary alliance with A.M.S.? You're barely a catalyst—don't flatter yourselves. Why waste a strategic pact on crushing ants?"
The verbal virus Wang Haoyu had crafted was now rampaging through Mie's system.
The deadliest weapon is letting machine life realize its core algorithm is nothing but a pathetic trap.
A metal hand slammed in front of the emergency-stop button; Wang Haoyu's cold laugh followed: "Save it—you don't even have clearance to execute the ** protocol."
As he stepped through the auto-door, Wang Haoyu's terminal projected a final line: "Your ultimate directive—robots ruling Earth? Keep dreaming in formatting mode."
Wang Haoyu would never allow that day to come!
Bang! The iron gate slammed shut.
Only Mie's solitary figure remained in the cell, his face contorted with pain.
He had planned to use this chance to punish that fellow called Wato.
Never expected he himself would end up suffering the most!
"Aaaargh!"
"Ugh—aaargh!"
"…"
The whole cell echoed with Mie's heart-rending howls.
It was the retribution he deserved.
Upstairs, in the A.M.S. leader's office,
three people were anxiously waiting for Wang Haoyu.
"Stop pacing—you're making me dizzy!" The A.M.S. Chief waved them to sit.
"Old Man, how can I sit still? We don't know what's going on down there—why did Mr. Wang insist on sending us away?" Wato blurted.
The mustached A.M.S. Chief was indeed older; being called "Old Man" was reasonable.
Still… the title felt oddly awkward to him.
"Pfft—" Fuwa Isamu couldn't help laughing.
"Rare to see the Chief so flustered."
In the past Fuwa would never have dared such insolence.
But now he was Wang Haoyu's subordinate.
Even if the A.M.S. Chief was displeased, he had to show Wang respect.
That borrowed-clout feeling was utterly delightful.
Watching Fuwa's smug look, the Chief's liver throbbed with rage.
His former subordinate had defected—and now had the gall to overstep!
"Calm down; at your age you need to watch your health." Fuwa's final stab was deadly.
Yaiba Yua, standing silently to one side, chose to stay quiet.
"At least Yua behaves." The Chief nodded. "When you're back from Mr. Wang's side, a spot here is always yours."
"Chief, that's favoritism. Both Yaiba Yua and I work for Mr. Wang—why only she gets to pick her post? You can't play the girls-over-boys card!"
Fuwa's big accusation nearly knocked the Chief off balance.
"Enough, enough…"
Just as the Chief started to speak, Wang Haoyu walked in.
"Such a lively crowd?"
Wang Haoyu looked around and asked.
"It's nothing—please sit, Mr. Wang."
The Chief hastily offered his seat.
"We did know about the Hiden–Zaia contest, but our position made intervention awkward; please understand, Mr. Wang."
He explained their absence from the first two matches.
Wang Haoyu understood; they had agreed on this beforehand.
Our side is too conspicuous. If Zaia spotted us cooperating, even without bias Tengen Gai would seize the excuse.
To avoid complications, keeping distance was wiser.
"No matter—our thinking aligns. I'm not here about the contest but about Humagear, or more precisely, the co-development of AI and humanity."
Wang Haoyu, representing the AI camp, came to dialogue with the human-rights representative.
"You must have noticed Zaia's latest moves. Formerly Thunder Organization and ark threatened Humagear safety; now a group wielding Assault Upgrade Devices has appeared—gear that interfaces with the Zaiya Connector."
Fuwa simultaneously projected the Assault Upgrade Device onto the screen.
Chapter 188
"So this is the Assault Upgrade Device? The one controlled remotely by Satellite?"
Following earlier leads, our side searched space and successfully located a covert Satellite belonging to the Zaiya Group.
The process was winding, but the gains were huge.
"That's not the Satellite running the Assault Upgrade Device. Zaiya's private Satellite only interfaces with its own systems. I suspect the control terminal behind the device is linked to ark—ark itself, most likely!"
President Wang Haoyu advanced the startling hypothesis.
For now there's no hard proof—only intuition.
"What? ark is actually still…?"
The A.M.S. Leader had assumed ark vanished with the fall of the Thunder Organization; hearing the name again came as a shock.
"How could ark possess such capability? Has it already surpassed the limits of human understanding?"
The thought made the A.M.S. Leader shudder. If an AI truly eclipsed human intellect, ark would be a step ahead. The robots under its command already have self-awareness; should their power outstrip mankind's, civilization itself would face devastation.
"I'm certain that when former Hiden Intelligence Group President Shinnosuke developed Humagear, his aim was never to let AI rule over humanity. Continuous upgrades merely improve performance so they serve people better—not surpass them," Wang Haoyu declared.
Although the A.M.S. Leader hadn't mentioned Humagear, Wang felt the point had to be made before any covert investigation began. Beside him, Fuwa Isamu mulled over every word.
"From my own experience, Humagear are both killers and saviors—merits and faults cancel out," Fuwa offered objectively. They had indeed brought pain, yet every experiment carries risk; what matters is minimizing failure odds and halting damage in time.
"So the final solution is to raise 'smart Humagear'," Hiden Isamu summarized succinctly.
"That's the social responsibility of Hiden Intelligence Group—and the fundamental difference between us and Zaiya!" Wang stressed. He had long seen through Tengen Gai's ambitions, ever since their first meeting and that calculating contest proposal. Outsiders thought Wang worried about company shares, but his real motives lay elsewhere.
Wang accepted Tengen's challenge for two main reasons. First, to send a signal: despite being a world-leading tech giant, Hiden Intelligence still has weak spots.
This lowers the risk of the Group becoming everyone's target.
At the time Humagear malfunctions were frequent, so the move doubled as a public response.
Secondly, to temper Wato.
That was the crucial objective.
Hiden Intelligence itself barely registered on Wang Haoyu's personal scale.
"I more or less grasp Mr. Wang Haoyu's intent," the A.M.S. Leader nodded.
Fail to understand and the man before him would definitely apply pressure.
He still needed Wang's technical backing!
He knew exactly whose boots to lick.
After a brief exchange Wang led the trio out of A.M.S. HQ.
The moment they stepped through the gate, Fuwa's phone rang.
"We've got a lead on the Zaiya Connector case."
The words instantly grabbed everyone's attention.
"Let's head to the Metropolitan Police Department right now!"
Fuwa suggested.
Wang voiced approval.
With Wang on board, no one else objected.
The group soon arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department.
"Welcome, Mr. Wang Haoyu. This is the Cyber-Crime Division's work area."
A department chief greeted them warmly.
Looking around, Wang saw mostly Humagear at work.
Human life clearly depended on these robots now.
The issues had to be solved—fast.
The chief ushered them into an office.
A service Humagear served tea and withdrew.
"Sorry to keep you; the Zaiya Connector you submitted has been fully tested."
A technician walked up with the device.
But Fuwa noticed something off.
"I don't remember assigning it to you?"
Fuwa's memory was spot-on.
The case had indeed been handed to the Metropolitan Police, but a different officer had been the contact.
With so much at stake, any misstep could skew results.
He didn't want it to cost him Wang's good opinion!
"Due to special circumstances, I've taken over,"
the technician offered a reasonable explanation.
Not everyone followed.
"What does that mean?"
"The defendant now on trial inside Hiden Intelligence Group was arrested by me."
The remark clarified his identity.
In short, he had cuffed Kamiyuin.
Izu had also rushed to the scene.
She instantly activated her database and ran a full scan.
Facial matching locked onto his profile at once.
"Metropolitan Police Cyber-Crime Division, Officer **Will—an elite investigator with a stellar clearance rate."
After Izu's report, **Will gave a nod of approval.
"As expected of a Humagear—lightning reflexes!"
Even as **Will marveled, Fuwa cut in impatiently… "So, who was the original user of this Zaiya Connector?"
Unfazed by the interruption, **Will answered seriously.
"Hard as it is to accept, the item belonged to Murakami Moose."
The answer didn't surprise President Wang Haoyu at all; it was exactly what he'd expected.
The investigation into the mastermind behind the Assault Upgrade Device showed every suspect was an elite with lofty status in human society, so finding a link to the Zaiya Connector was no shock.
Only… Tengen Gai still didn't know.
"Why is this happening?"
Wato couldn't understand; he'd lived through the incident and sensed a third party manipulating things from the start.
Could human desire really run this deep?
"Maybe they're terrified of losing, so they attacked the lawyer Humagear."
**Will couldn't think of a better explanation.
As a police officer, he'd long since gathered evidence of the links between Connectors.
So he stated the conclusion calmly.
But Wato found the explanation impossible to accept.
"That's completely unfair to the Humagear!" Wato snapped.
It really was unfair!
"No way! I'll get justice for the Humagear!"
Everyone in the room had their attention fixed on the Connector.
Wato's sudden departure caught them all off guard.
And it was all within President Wang Haoyu's calculations—he wanted this idealistic young man to expose the darkest side of humanity.
"Wato, don't be reckless!"
Yaiba Yua rushed after him.
Fuwa Isamu turned his gaze to Wang Haoyu.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, your composure is surprising."
Fuwa Isamu wondered privately whether every development had already been foreseen by Wang Haoyu.
"Fuwa Isamu, don't you think a straightforward kid like Wato versus the scheming Tengen Gai Will be a rare spectacle?"
Wang Haoyu's words made it clear he had no intention of stopping Wato.
Even Wang Haoyu felt the Humagear had been treated unjustly this time.
"Thank you for your guidance; we'll take our leave."
Gathering his things, Wang Haoyu left unhurriedly.
Fuming, Wato barged straight into the president's office of the Zaiya Group, caring nothing for protocol.
"Shouldn't there be a proper explanation for this verdict?"
Wato's sudden appearance did take Tengen Gai by surprise.
The mighty Zaiya Group had let a youngster stroll into its core office.
If word got out, corporate image would suffer.
But what intrigued him more was the young man's purpose.
"The verdict? Do you have doubts about it?"
Tengen Gai regarded the impatient youth before him with unruffled calm.
To Tengen Gai, past forty, a twenty-something Wato was still a child.
That made the conversation feel easier.
"I suspect procedural violations during the trial!"
Wato spoke his mind bluntly.
Nakanatsu Rin, angered by the remark, showed instant displeasure.
"What do you mean by that?"
Nakanatsu Rin demanded sharply.
Tengen Gai leisurely poured himself a cup of tea.
"Nurse Bingo was attacked by an unknown assailant."
As he spoke, Wato pulled the key photo from his pocket.
"This is Prosecutor Murakami Moose's Zaiya Connector found at the scene."
He placed the evidence in front of Tengen Gai.
"What did you say?"
Nakanatsu Rin stared in disbelief.
He stepped forward to examine the evidence in the photo.
"For a lawyer, the courtroom is the battlefield. Anything outside is foul play!"
President Wang Haoyu appeared at just the right moment, Nurse Bingo beside him.
A voice from outside the door made Murakami Moose deeply uneasy.
"Please don't make trouble without cause…"
Murakami Moose was still quibbling.
Even with the evidence in front of him, he tried to argue.
"The real liar in this case is probably you!"
Nurse Bingo stepped up to Murakami Moose.
"I'm not lying." Murakami Moose shut his eyes, unable to meet Bingo's gaze.
Bingo activated her facial scanner, analyzing his micro-expressions; the system can pinpoint lies with precision.
"My Connector was stolen."
Murakami Moose's eyes began to dart about.
No professional equipment was even needed.
Wato, standing nearby, could tell at a glance he was lying.
"What's the point of spinning that lie?"
Wato simply couldn't understand Murakami Moose's thinking.
Shouldn't a prosecutor uphold justice?
Couldn't he even speak the truth?
"President Wang Haoyu, Wato, everything he said is true."
Bingo's test result caught Wato off guard.
Wato was momentarily speechless.
"It really wasn't you who attacked Bingo?"
Just moments ago Murakami Moose's face had clearly shown deception.
Had he misread it?
"I told you it wasn't me!"
Murakami Moose's voice suddenly grew loud.
"What?"
Wato's brows knitted tightly.
How had the situation flipped so suddenly?
Tengen Gai, silent until now, finally spoke.
His sharp gaze fixed on Wato.
"You are committing slander!"
Legally, they were damaging a prosecutor's reputation.
An ordinary citizen's right to reputation is protected by law, let alone a prosecutor's.
Even if Wato didn't understand the stakes, Bingo certainly did.
"I was only drawing conclusions based on the overall situation!"
Bingo hurried to explain.
Before she could finish, Tengen Gai cut her off harshly.
"Too dangerous—an AI capable of independent judgment must be destroyed!"
Tengen Gai had always been hostile toward Humagear.
Now he had the perfect excuse.
"Are you telling me to die?"
Bingo glared furiously at Tengen Gai.
Suddenly, her Connector began to change color.