The story we started

[She stared at the mysterious totems on the computer, her eyes narrowed slightly.]

[The symbols displayed on the computer screen are exactly the words engraved on the surface of the mysterious stone pillar that appeared at the Jiulangyue ruins in Nagano Prefecture more than a month ago and is now code-named "Alpha Obelisk."]

[The news of the obelisk's appearance at the time shook the entire Metropolitan Police Department. Although after Gurongi's awakening and Graham's excavation, everyone speculated that there might be other things left over from the ancient times, this discovery was still amazing. ]

[No one would have thought that such a huge object could be buried right under the feet where the investigation team passed by every day. If it hadn't appeared on its own, it would have taken who knows how long to find it.]

[After taking photos of the inscriptions, the investigation team sent them to Yukinoshita, who translated them for her, who is perhaps the country's top scholar of ancient civilizations, to see if she could find any useful information from them.]

[Yukinoshita accepted the job without hesitation, but the translation of these inscriptions was more difficult and obscure than she expected. Even with her hard work, it took her more than a month to finally translate the first sentence.]

[Now, it is almost successful. ]

[“Let me see what kind of secrets the ancient people wanted to pass on to us, that they would preserve those inscriptions in this way until this era…”]

[She looked at the progress bar at the bottom of the screen, which had already reached 98%, and reached out to type on the keyboard again.]

……

[“Hang up already? Oh my, you’re still so cute after all these years, Yukinoshita-san~”]

[Listening to the busy tone on the other end of the line, Ebina laughed and turned off his phone, placing it on the table. He turned his head and looked behind him, saying jokingly.]

[“What do you think, Kousaka-kun?”]

[“…You probably shouldn’t ask me this question, but ask Makishima. I believe you two must have a lot in common.”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke, with a bandage on his forehead, closed the door and complained expressionlessly.]

[“Don’t always be so hypocritical. You’re actually quite handsome, but you always have that expression on your face that makes girls afraid to approach you. Oh, isn’t that right? I heard that a rich lady seems to be pursuing you recently, and it seems that she has already offered to support you—”]

[“Ahem! Enough, Ms. Ebina, please stop joking and let’s get straight to the point.”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke, with his eyes twitching, coughed violently a few times, interrupting the topic that was obviously going off track, and spoke with a serious expression.]

[“Before that, please let me ask, where is Yihui?”]

[“I sent Zaimokuza away and told him to go back and wait for further notice.”]

[“Hmm…it seems like you came prepared this time, Kousaka-kun? Okay.”]

[This time, Ebina turned around while pushing his chair, and looked at him with an unpredictable smile on his face.]

[“You came to see me with such a serious expression. You must have something to ask of me, right? Although I have probably guessed it, I will still ask you as usual.”]

【“…”】

【Kousaka Kyosuke slowly walked to Ebina who was sitting on the chair and looked down at her. His eyes met the other's calm eyes hidden behind his reflective glasses.】

[“I came here because I have a request for you, Miss Ebina.”]

[“Hmm~?”]

[“Can you please——”]

【Kousaka Kyosuke took a deep breath and expressed his request with a firm look in his eyes.】

[“——Give me the right to use the G1?”]

It's me

Chapter position: 202 / Chapter price: 20 / Word count: 4315 / Update time: 2023-08-08 00:29:12

22. Weapons That Should Not Exist (4K)

AI drawing: Nianghua wood base

【“…Huh?”】

[Hearing these words from Kousaka Kyousuke, the relaxed smile on Ebina Hina's face froze for the first time. ]

[The corners of her eyes were raised, and the pair of eyes behind the glasses, which had always been peaceful, became so sharp for the first time, emitting an incomparable chill as she stared straight into Kousaka Kyosuke's eyes, as if she wanted to see through his thoughts.]

[It is hard to imagine that someone like Ebina would one day reveal such a look in his eyes. His amber eyes were as cold as an iceberg that emerged from the Antarctic. The exposed part alone was filled with chilling cold and inorganic substances, and the inside was as chilling as the pale blue ice ocean.]

【Kousaka Kyosuke looked into those eyes without fear, and faced Ebina, who was showing hostility, with a calm look without giving in to each other.】

【“——”】

[The atmosphere between the two was so heavy that it seemed to freeze, and neither of them spoke a single word for a long time.]

[After an unknown amount of time passed in this atmosphere, Ebina was the first to speak. ]

[“…I have to say that you really surprised me, Kousaka-kun.”]

[After a long silence, she suddenly sighed and stretched out her hand to rub her temple. The bare coldness that lingered around her disappeared without a trace in an instant, like an illusion.]

[“I roughly guessed that the reason you came to me was probably to ask me for equipment with stronger combat power, so I have prepared this for you in advance.”]

[Beep. 】

[Ebina took a remote control from the table next to him and pressed the only red button on it. ]

[The plain laboratory wall behind her made a crisp mechanical sound, and then the wall slowly opened to both sides, revealing the space hidden behind the wall.]

[When the wall stopped moving, a white light came on, illuminating a piece of armor in the shape of a human being that was held up by chains in that space. The red and white stripes on the electroplated steel shell reflected bright colors under the light.]

[“Gulkiller Generation Zero·Ω, for the sake of convenience, we can just call it ‘GO Omega Type’.”]

[Ebina put down the remote control, turned his back to the Ω armor that was revealed behind him and said expressionlessly. ]

[“This is based on α. ​​Based on the combat data of unconfirmed life forms collected by you, Kosaka-kun, in previous battles, the overall component performance has been upgraded. At the same time, the AI ​​on board has been completely replaced. Even if the various updated weapons are not taken into account, the combat performance of the main body alone is at least about 1.7 times that of the original α.”]

[“The only drawback is that in order to perfectly match the capabilities of the machine, the AI ​​level is too high, so the requirements for the wearer are also extremely high. According to computer calculations, to put it in a more popular way, only those who have reached the so-called ‘selfless state’ in martial arts can use it, so it is not worth mass-producing.”]

[“Of course, I believe this is not a problem for you, Kosaka-kun. Rather, this armor was specially made for you to use, so even if you don’t come to me, I intend to give it to you.”]

[“…But, I didn’t expect to hear the name ‘G1’ from you.”]

[The slender index finger pushed the glasses on the high bridge of the nose, and the reflection at that moment made Ebina's eyes hide. ]

【Kousaka Kyosuke listened to her story silently, not even looking at the Ω armor whose performance was said to be far superior to that of α, but always staring at Ebina.】

[“Kousaka-kun, I know you. You are a cautious person and you will never easily make a conclusion about the truth of a matter. Usually, when you speak in such a certain tone, it means that you are already very sure about the matter and have a lot of evidence in your hands.”]

[“In that case, I won’t beat around the bush with you… How did you know about G1?”]

[“I am very sure of this name. No one except my most trusted assistants would know it. Even on the computer of the institute, it is impossible to find any record about G1, because I have deleted all the data in an irreversible way.”]

[“But they will never betray me. I am absolutely confident in this matter. So I am very confused. How did you know about the existence of G1?”]

[Ebina narrowed his eyes and asked him in a calm tone.]

[“…Ms. Ebina, you should know that the funding applications for the Institute have always been approved and received through the Unconfirmed Lifeform Search Headquarters as a transit point. Therefore, although the account books you submitted are very beautiful, your job is ultimately that of a scientist, not a professional who majored in accounting. It is normal that some areas are not perfect.”]

[“——So, if someone really wants to investigate seriously, some things can’t be concealed at all.”]

【"Well……!"】

【Under Ebina's suddenly stiff expression, Kousaka Kyosuke calmly took out a ledger from the lining of his windbreaker and slammed it on the table next to her with a "snap". She felt that the crisp knocking sound was like knocking on her heart.】

[“For example… the funds for various research projects always lose a small amount inexplicably in strange ways. Although it doesn’t seem to have much impact, when accumulated over the long term across various projects, it is actually not a small amount.”]

[“But please rest assured, I have already solved this problem for you. All the accounts you submitted before were fake accounts that I asked Gogen to forge.”]

[“Even so, can’t you assume that I embezzled that part of the research funds for my own enjoyment? How did you determine that I was hiding something?”]

[Ebina couldn't help but swallow his saliva as he looked at the account book in front of him, and continued to speak stubbornly.]

["...Ms. Ebina."]

[Kousaka Kyosuke glanced at her calmly and said.]

[“Recently, you and all the staff in the laboratory seem to have sallow complexions. Is it because of malnutrition? But I clearly remember that the funding from above should be very sufficient. Even after the Ω armor behind you is completed, it should be enough to greatly improve your meals, right?”]

[“But think about it, after all, you have been eating instant noodles for almost two months, and the garbage bag at the door is full of instant noodle buckets. Does this scene seem familiar? It seems that there was a similar scene a few months ago?”]

[“Oh, by the way, because of my job, I have always been very observant, so maybe you didn’t notice, but even if you use high-end foundation to cover up the dark circles under your eyes, the skin on your face looks very——”]

["Kousaka-kun~"]

[A hand suddenly rests on Kousaka Kyosuke's neck, and Ebina Hina stands up and looks up at him with a smile that is more gracious than ever before, like a doctor looking at a terminally ill cancer patient who has only two months left to live.]

[“After all, I’m a girl, right? So, if you keep talking…”]

[“I can’t guarantee that next time you go to war, people will not put some weird stuff on your weapons?”]

[At the end of her words, her smile was covered by a strange shadow, and her narrowed eyes opened a slit, revealing a pair of emotionless and dead eyes.]

[“…In short, with so many unnatural premises, it is easy to come to the conclusion through logical deduction that ‘Hina Ebina has withdrawn funds and is doing something secretly’. If we investigate and collect evidence based on this speculation, we will definitely find something.”]

[“This materialistic world is not like computer data that can be deleted with one click. Anything you do will definitely leave corresponding traces in this world, and the police’s job is to piece together the truth based on these traces. In addition, considering your habit of naming your scientific research works, Miss Hai Laoming, I have speculated on the possibility of the existence of an anti-Gurongi weapon named "G1". It's that simple."]

[Under Ebina's undisguised death threat, Kousaka Kyosuke decisively skipped the words he was about to say and jumped directly to the end to state the conclusion.]

[“Ha… simple? Kousaka-kun, you are really too modest.”]

[After finally realizing where she was exposed, Ebina Hina reached out to cover her face, and the eye that was exposed through her fingers was twitching slightly.]

[“With just this little trace, he was able to discover the secret I was hiding, and then through his own investigation, he was able to deduce the existence of G1… This investigative ability is, to some extent, a superpower that is close to supernatural powers.”]

[“Kousaka-kun, have you ever considered working for the Special Investigation Department in the future? They like people like you who have excellent investigative abilities.”]

[The "Special Investigation Department" is a special agency under the Japanese judicial system and is affiliated with the Japanese Prosecutor's Office. Its daily work is to investigate cases of corruption by politicians, major tax evasion and economic bribery, and its functions are similar to those of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.]

[In short, it is a department dedicated to fighting corruption. In a political environment like Japan, its notoriety is probably second only to the famous public security department.]

[“In fact, when I was in Nagano Prefecture, they once extended an olive branch to me, but I rejected it. The reason for the rejection was that my ability was still inadequate and I needed to continue to hone my skills in the workplace.”]

[“Huh? They really invited you? But I want to hear your true feelings rather than this made-up excuse.”]

[Ebina raised his eyebrows and asked with interest. ]

[“The real reason for my refusal is that I don’t want to investigate everything in case I find out something.”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke said without hesitation.]

[“…Kousaka-kun, I didn’t expect that you look like a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, but you are actually quite cunning.”]

[After being speechless for a while, Ebina complained. ]

[“Compared to this matter that has already passed, Ms. Ebina… why do you keep changing the subject?”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke stared at her with his deep eyes until Ebina turned her head away unnaturally.]

[“Although I don’t know what kind of weapon G1 is, I believe that your original intention of designing it must be to deal with those unconfirmed life forms. If so, why did you choose to block the information about G1 and then destroy all its data?”]

[“I believe that you named this weapon ‘G1’ because the ‘1’ here refers to the first step from zero, but why did you choose to keep it secret?”]

【“Why? Please give me a reason.”】

【"I……"】

[Ebina's eyes roamed around, but he didn't dare to look directly at Kousaka Kyousuke's face. ]

["——Miss Ebina."]

【Looking at her like this, Kousaka Kyosuke knew that she was already on the verge of hesitation, so he decided to add one last chip. 】

[“Right now, Zaimokuza is still preparing for the battle with No. 30. Don’t you hope that he can get stronger support?”]

[“Do you… hope that he will continue to be injured in battle, or even suffer irreparable damage one day?”]

[This sentence was a sure kill, it completely hit Ebina Hime's weak spot, leaving her unable to resist any longer.]

[“…You are really despicable right now, Kousaka-kun.”]

[Biting her moist lower lip, Ebina Hime looked like a deflated ball, her entire appearance seemed to be hunched over, and she spoke in an unwilling tone.]

[“You are too kind.”]

[“I—Oh, forget it…”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke's nonchalant reply made Ebina furious, but she finally sighed and said weakly after realizing that it was meaningless.]

[“You are right. The reason why I named this weapon ‘G1’ is because it truly took an unprecedented step forward. G1… is fundamentally different from the G0 I created before.”]

[“After computer simulation, it can be said that the performance of G1 is overwhelmingly superior to GO in all aspects, but…”]

[Having said this, Ebina paused, lowered his head with a complicated expression and looked at the high heels he was wearing. ]