I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 584

"I thought the three of you would've known this already, but should I call it a surprise?"

"Prototype, or a follow-up model... this case seems to be completely different from that. But anyway, we don't know what the other units are doing. Plus, considering the management AI's personality, it needs to be kept as far away from us as possible."

"We weren't prepared to receive it as a prototype, or a follow-up, so there's a chance it could have been discarded before we even spoke to it. That's why I think they didn’t tell us."

"As for me, I still can't understand why Icarus hasn't disposed of that damn thing yet. If you’ve cross-checked the logs with my testimony, you’d realize that keeping it around doesn't serve any purpose."

Central Park HQ.

The clearest sky I’d seen in a while covered the top of Central Park HQ. Though things had changed significantly over time, the basic structure hadn’t changed at all. A huge barrier stretching about 10 kilometers surrounded the HQ, in a straight line.

I could say a lot about this place. The team members who had been here since the beginning of the crisis probably knew more about the history of HQ than I did.

However, mentioning this now would mean it wasn’t the right time to go into details—so let’s get straight to the main topic, as I mentioned earlier.

At this moment, a group of seven was heading toward the Mecha-Byam research facility.

The reason didn’t even need to be explained. While I was touring an Icarus Dynamics factory near Rochester with the Jinraen Mav trio, Lorentina’s group had found out about the completion of the body for the management AI.

As the Mecha-Byams mentioned, they knew about the management AI, but they didn’t know the exact development schedule. In other words, once they found out, they had to go check it out.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t something we were directly involved in. The data from the management AI had been collected by Carmen from next door, and Icarus independently interrogated the AI, extracting information without our involvement.

However, if the body used for that was my "baby version," things would be a bit different.

"...I don’t understand why it has to be me involved in this."

"They urgently needed a non-combat body. They'll probably replace it later."

"It’s not that surprising anymore. Both here and there, there are plenty of people who want to sell my appearance..."

The biggest reasons this situation came about in this way were, first and foremost, emotional compatibility.

AI doesn’t understand the fear of death or any of the underlying emotions. Considering how mechanical the emotional expression was when Jin was first brought in, it became clear that to properly interrogate it, the AI needed to develop emotional attachment to its own life.

At this point, only one type of body could accommodate this: a humanoid body like the current one.

However, the US was undergoing internal repairs, and the humanoid units being produced in most factories—though they didn’t resemble me—couldn't be equipped with artificial brains.

In contrast, a model closer to the original technology could make that possible.

"To create the best model with limited resources... Well, if it were me, I’d make a baby Mecha-Yujin."

This behind-the-scenes story hadn't been shared in-game, and the attention had been on the "baby management Byam." Now that I was hearing the reasons directly, it felt quite strange.

But knowing the current situation of this world... that is, America, which had been partially destroyed and was struggling to recover, I understood that this was inevitable. The reason was simple.

They didn’t have the money.

Without money, the Mecha-Yujin downgraded prototype production was being done as efficiently as possible. And trying to save money wherever possible by reusing what was already available wasn’t something that could be criticized.

Upon hearing this, my friends also nodded reluctantly. Of course, the main reason they were accepting this was that I wasn’t particularly concerned about it.

"But Master, I have one question. Can I ask it?"

"Of course."

"So, you said the management AI was inserted into our prototype body for the sake of interrogation ease."

"Right."

"But if the management AI doesn't know much... isn't it just adding another useless prototype body?"

...That’s a fair point.

However, just as I was about to be worried, a voice chimed in to ease my concerns.

"We could just put it in some kind of cube-shaped container that can't move and let it collapse on its own."

"Give it to me, Archetype."

"...If you're using it as a punching bag, I’ll hit you, Mav."

"...I haven't said anything yet. So it's safe, right?"

Oh, for crying out loud…

In the end, to stop these ridiculous conversations, I would need to see that management AI with my own eyes. Fortunately, Emperor Henry had long granted me access to the research facility. I suspected he did so because he knew I wouldn’t visit often.

Walking toward the heavily guarded research facility entrance, where 20mm rounds, grenade launchers, and Hellfire missile turrets were in place, a few heavily armed soldiers stepped out and conducted a brief inspection before letting us in with a smile that didn’t match their intimidating appearance.

As if they had expected where we were headed, one of the staff, waiting in the lobby, quickly came out and escorted us down to the basement.

How much time passed? We had arrived at the door of the special lab.

"This place is incredibly creepy."

"...Is it okay for you to say that?"

"We don't sleep in places like this. Our rooms are near the large team rooms. You already knew that, didn’t you?"

"Well, I guess... fine, let's go with that."

Ziiing!

As we chatted, the door opened, revealing a long corridor. No special disinfection procedures were needed, and a light breeze from the walls gently blew the dust off my clothes. After ensuring I wasn’t carrying any storage devices, the area resembled a long airport security checkpoint.

After walking about ten meters and opening the second door, we stepped inside.

"...Ugh."

"Long time no see? I hope you were waiting for me as much as I was waiting for you."

The first thing that greeted us was... yellow light.

Unlike Jin, Rain, and Mav, whose bodies glowed brightly, only the eyes of the management AI were glowing yellow, and there was less glow compared to the Mecha-Byams.

Seeing this, Mav, who had the most complicated history with the management AI, moved forward first. Though his words seemed full of things to say, his voice didn’t carry much emotion.

The researchers around us stiffened as they watched the scene, but when they saw that neither I nor my group was reacting, they hesitated to act.

'If he really wanted to get rid of it, he would’ve fired a laser right in its face the moment he saw it.'

But since he didn’t, it was clear that he didn’t need to.

The management AI would have been sent to the incinerator within minutes if someone deemed it unnecessary, but Mav, as one of Icarus' valuable assets, would never be destroyed unless he committed an act of treason.

With a faint mechanical sound, Mav kept twitching his fingers, forming a fist, and moved toward the baby-like Mecha-Byam. He grabbed its cheek with one hand and added:

"Ugh…!"

"When you first ran away, I wanted to crush you, but now... I don’t need to. After you ran away, you did nothing and got dismantled one by one. Destroying you here would bring no satisfaction."

Naturally, no one stopped him as they had predicted this situation.

After a while, Mav let go of the Mecha-Byam's cheek and stepped back cautiously, and the management AI struggled to speak.

"...You... traitor..."

"Traitor? You gave me no foundation, no way, and no reason to walk over there. Why would I have done that?"

"Orders... orders are absolute. If it's something that must be done, it must be done!"

"The higher-ups who gave those orders are long gone, though."

Mav chuckled, tapped his waist, and slowly approached.

"It’s hard to understand why you were openly active without making any serious effort to destabilize the government… well, as expected, the fact you lasted this long is likely thanks to Artemis' technology."

"... "

"I don’t really care about any rebellion you try to start here. But the people who come after you won’t be so forgiving. They’ll make you talk by making you understand what emotions and sensations truly are."

At the same time, the management AI’s eyes were trembling. During the time Mav was harassing it, we had gathered useful data from the researchers, but the conversation itself gave us an idea.

As the AI continued to tremble, I whispered quietly enough so it wouldn’t hear.

"That one might not be very useful for interrogation."

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing."

Lorentina giggled before continuing.

"Incompetent but determined... Their obsession with fulfilling their orders shows that their creativity is lacking compared to the Mecha babies. The reason it can now communicate freely is because of the body...

"Incompetent but diligent, huh? That’s terrifying. The worst thing in the world."

"They’re the type who have to be given certain tasks. After a few days, it might be more obedient. They might even be able to tidy up the room."

At that moment, everyone’s expressions became subtle, but I only chuckled.

Maybe, just maybe, in a few days, the youngest might be the one who does the cleaning at Central Park HQ.

[MAV: Archetype, it wasn’t a few days. The AI gave up in less than a day. It feels like someone added a little... childlike personality to it. I’ll need to look into it later.]

[GENE: A new member has joined the room. You’ll probably guess who it is. I’ll take good care of it until Archetype comes. I’ll show you when you visit. The name is Nasty. I decided it after searching the Russian dictionary.]

"...Ugh."

...What’s with Nasty? Where did they even find that word?

Looking out the window, I checked the time. It was already 1:20 p.m. The stadium in the distance was quiet on the outside, but inside, chaos was likely underway—after all, the Final Championship was set to start at 2 p.m.

I wished I could have seen the crowd entering, but oh well.

The reason I slept in today was because I had visited New York yesterday. After touring the Icarus Dynamics factory with the Mecha-Byams, I went to see Nasty, the fourth Byam. I got back around 4 or 5 a.m. and went straight to bed.

"I could’ve been woken up, but they all left without me."

They really were considerate, in an odd way.

Looking around, I couldn’t hear anyone. On the table, there was a note saying they took some photos while I was asleep and left without waking me.

Something felt off, so I quickly got up, looked in the mirror, and saw my face covered with scribbles and drawings. What a nightmare. I rushed to the bathroom, washed up, and the marks disappeared in no time.

Ugh...

At any rate, I might as well clean up and head out. After throwing all my clothes into the laundry basket and showering for about 40 minutes, I dressed, put on my coat, and went outside around 1:50 p.m.

The weather was clear, but the air was cold. My breath came out like a waterfall.

I walked toward the stadium, about a 20-minute walk away, hoping to wake up a bit and grab a quick snack on the way.

After a while, I spotted an unmanned café and decided to stop. I ordered something sweet, holding a steaming chocolate latte in a plastic cup and walked towards the stadium.

"It should be starting soon..."

I sent a message to the five members of the Korean national team, letting them know I was on my way, so not to worry. The sweet drink helped me feel a little better as I continued toward the stadium. More and more people appeared, clearly late like me.

I wasn’t the one to talk, though.

And, as expected, there was a scene I had predicted.

"Wait a second. Is that...?"

"Yujin?"

"It’s Yujin! Oh my god!"

"Yujin! We’d like to know why you didn’t participate in the Final Championship this year!"

These guys...

From tourists who got distracted and entered late to reporters who had been covering external guests and were now trying to get in a few more questions.

Among them, one reporter persisted in trying to get an answer, but since they asked so politely, I smiled and responded.

"You want to know why I arrived later than the others?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"Simple. I overslept."

Naturally, everyone around me was stunned, and I took advantage of their confusion to enter the stadium without any more questions.

Others tried to follow and ask more questions, but it was too late. Once the train starts moving, it doesn’t go back to pick up anyone who missed it.

At that moment, someone who had been waiting for me came to guide me straight to the Korean team’s waiting room.

I arrived in an instant, and to my surprise, familiar faces were waiting for me.

"Finally here, sleepyhead."

"What’s with all the scribbles on your face?"

"Did you think we wouldn’t mess with you while you were sound asleep? Hehehe."

"Oh my god..."

These guys were tough to deal with, but I couldn’t get back at them for it.

"Finally here, sleepyhead."

"What’s with all the scribbles on your face?"

"Did you think we wouldn’t mess with you while you were sound asleep? Hehehe."

"Oh my god..."

These guys were tough to deal with, but I couldn’t get back at them for it.

Logan patted the empty seat next to him, signaling for me to sit down. That’s how I ended up sandwiched between the polar bear and the shark.

With that, the preparations for the broadcast were complete. My friends, who had been waiting, took out the remote and brought up a huge screen that covered one wall of the room.

Boom!

Wow!

"They’re doing better than I expected. Judging by the chaos right when the screen came on."

"Of course. Who do you think taught them?"

As expected.

On the screen, I saw one of the Mecha-Byams who had been fighting Harmony get turned into ashes. From the start, there was an explosion, and it looked like it was going to be an exciting day.