"Li, you really need to be careful. If you're alone, it's easy for all kinds of forces to target you—especially since you're of Chinese descent.
Your situation in America isn't great, so it's best to find a reliable ally. That way, they'll think twice before making a move. Tony Stark is indeed a good choice." Elena said to Li Hua.
"But how can we make Tony Stark withstand pressure from all sides for us?" Li Hua's gaze turned to Dan.
"Didn't you save him once before? Tony Stark is someone who distinguishes clearly between gratitude and grudges, which is why I thought it would be good for you two to establish a friendly bond with him," Dan replied.
"Also…" he paused for a moment before continuing, "if someone really threatens your lives, you can prioritize your survival. Just hand over the drivers and game gashats if necessary."
"Boss, you really are a great boss. I'm almost touched," Elena said, a bit emotional, looking at Dan. "But if that's the case, we end up handing over the game cartridges and player drivers anyway.
It would be better to directly cooperate with the government. If we had government support, we wouldn't need to worry about other forces threatening us.
That would also make our operations against the Bugster Virus monsters much easier. Actively seeking cooperation is far better than being forced by them."
Dan shook his head. "Logically, you're correct. But that's only a measure to be taken in a last-resort situation. Once again, if the U.S. government gets hold of the gamer drivers and game Gashats, they will inevitably use them as military weapons first.
Just like with Tony Stark's Iron Man suits—even though the influence of Stark Industries prevents them from directly forcing Stark to hand over the tech, the military has already started holding hearings to pressure him into contributing the suit's technology."
"That's right. Boss Dan is correct. Gamer drivers and game cartridges are meant to fight the Bugster virus and treat patients. We absolutely cannot let the U.S. government weaponize them in war," Li Hua said firmly.
"A surgeon's scalpel is meant to save lives, not slaughter innocents on a battlefield. I will never allow the drivers or game cartridges to be used as weapons by the U.S. military."
"Alright, you're right. I also don't want the drivers and game gashats to be turned into weapons in warfare," Elena said, slightly helpless, but with determination in her eyes.
Hearing this, Dan felt very pleased and smiled broadly. "Good. I didn't misjudge you. You really are the Riders I personally selected to save the world, with your own firm will and beliefs."
Their unyielding attitude in the face of threats and firm stance made Dan extremely satisfied.
Elena rolled her eyes. "Dan, stop flattering us. Say something practical—if someone actually held a gun to our heads, what should we do?"
Dan nodded. "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. You two are very special—you have antibodies against the Bugster virus.
That's why, after the adaptive surgery, you can fully control the power of the game cartridges using the player drivers. The probability of having antibodies to the Bugster virus is one in a million.
Even if others have the player drivers and game cartridges, without adaptive surgery, they can't utilize their power.
Even with adaptive surgery, one might activate the power in the cartridges, but cannot control it, causing severe adverse effects—essentially the same as being infected by a violent Bugster virus.
After all, the power of the player drivers and game cartridges comes from the virus itself."
"Dab, you mean we're natural carriers of the virus antibodies?" Elena's expression shifted slightly.
"Exactly. You two are the chosen ones!" Azu said seriously, with absolute certainty.
Li Hua and Elena exchanged glances, feeling somewhat dazed.
In reality, who gets the Game Syndrome antibody is entirely determined by the Kamen Rider Chronicle—i.e., Dan decides. Whoever he wants to have it, has it; whoever he doesn't, doesn't.
Being "chosen" simply means Dan designated it.
After all, the virus he created comes from the power of real-world gems, connected to one of the universe's most fundamental rules. Humans, as ordinary carbon-based lifeforms with no special abilities, could not naturally develop antibodies to the virus.
So if Dan doesn't want someone to use the player drivers and game cartridges, no human could ever have antibodies to the Bugster virus.
Think of it like a game: the player drivers and game cartridges are the game account and password, and the Bugster virus antibody is the invitation code to test the game. Danis the creator, manager, and operator of the entire game.
"Since we have virus antibodies, can't we make vaccines like with other viruses?" Elena asked. If antibodies exist, theoretically, they could be mass-produced to fight the virus.
Dan shook his head. "If that were possible, there would be no need to create the player drivers and game cartridges to turn you into Kamen Riders against the monsters.
Although I call it a Bugster virus antibody, it's really only to correspond with the virus.
This is something extremely difficult to research using modern Earth science; we can't even be sure if it truly exists as a tangible substance."
"That's true. Strictly speaking, the Bugster virus is unlike any virus or bacteria in human history. A virus is just our definition of its characteristics, and so too with its antibodies," Li Hua murmured thoughtfully.
"Alright… then that method won't work," Elena sighed, slightly disappointed. "But on the bright side, even if special departments get the drivers and cartridges, they still can't fully control them.
So we don't need to worry too much. Even if we reluctantly hand them over, they won't be able to accomplish much, and in the end, they'll have to give up."
"Boss, why didn't you tell us this earlier? I thought that once we had adaptive surgery, we could use the drivers and cartridges. Turns out we need special antibodies too. So the drivers and cartridges can't be mass-produced after all—that's why we were so anxious," Elena said, running her fingers through her hair in relief.
"You're thinking too simply. Do you think they'll give up easily? If they can't control it immediately, would they just abandon using the Bugster virus as a weapon?
Throughout human history, the deadliest weapons—biochemical agents, nuclear arms—have never been fully controllable. No one abandons them easily."
Li Hua sighed. "If they get the drivers and gashats but can't use them, they'll come back. They'll find the only ones who can use them—us—and try everything to extract that ability.
At that point, we'll be like special specimens in their eyes, like lab mice with unique antibodies."
Elena's expression froze. "You mean… we might be treated like lab mice?"
"Not might—definitely. That's why we cannot let the drivers or Gashats fall into the hands of ill-intentioned people."
Li Hua nodded, his expression grave with a hint of self-mockery. "And most of their attention will probably be on me. Your mother is from the Rockfish family, and your uncles have considerable influence."
Elena looked surprised. "Li, what do you mean? You think I'd just care about myself?"
"Elena, don't get angry. Li Hua is just a bit anxious. I completely trust you; after all, you're one of the Riders I personally selected," Dan reassured her.
Elena relaxed slightly and batted her eyelashes. "Dan, you know me well. I'm starting to like you more and more."
"Sorry," Li Hua quietly apologized, realizing he'd misspoken.
"But Li Hua does have a point," Dan said with a slightly serious expression. "Unless absolutely necessary, don't let the drivers or cartridges fall into others' hands, especially those unruly special departments."
"So what should we do? After all, we're just two doctors. If those agents try to act, we probably won't have any means of resistance," Elena said, worry in her eyes.
Li Hua smiled bitterly. "Yes, unless they fear consequences, they won't act directly to seize them."
"So, if you get the chance, you should get in contact with Tony Stark, to redirect their attention toward him," Dan said with a subtle smile, meaning more than he said.
Author's Note:
Regarding the Kamen Rider elements and Marvel Universe settings in the story, there may be interpretations according to the author's understanding or some playful adaptations.
Just like Hyper Muteki, Bugster virus antibodies, and adaptive surgery, further minor modifications may appear later.
(End of Chapter)