Chapter 266

Sure, here’s the translation of the provided text:

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Now, before getting to the main point, let me clearly establish one major premise.

Every man loves mechs.

I won’t force you to repeat it endlessly, but I won’t accept any vague counterarguments or defenses from a distance. If you disagree, I hope you’ll come to the Neo Haven Memorial Times building and say it to my face.

Even if you don’t have a vague preconception or aren’t obsessively searching for something, the harmony of metal gears precisely fitting together, and the miracle created by electricity rushing through its intricate circuit designs.

If you aren’t captivated by the pure power and output emitted by an engine receiving tremendous energy… I really don’t know what else I could add to satisfy you.

Do I need to throw in a cute female pilot as well? Huh??

…Looks like you’ve got some sense. I’ll let this one slide, but be more careful next time.

Click!

Thus, the perfectly sealed headpiece of Zero Unit 1 opened layer by layer, sliding aside next to the scanner that served as its eyes.

As the central pattern of the Kaleidoscope was pushed outward, the mosaic gloves created a living scale-like multi-inclination, blooming like a new geometric flower.

Shortly after, the auxiliary scanner and additional lens for adjustments revealed themselves, closely examining the surroundings.

Before the launch, the depth scanner, assembled to specifications like a well-maintained weapon, quickly finished its preparations to showcase broad and powerful exploratory capabilities.

Finally, like molten lava erupting from deep within a volcano, the pulsing electric current condensed into a single device’s circuit.

If you only listen to what I’m rattling off now, you could practically consider it an energy weapon. Honestly, when it comes to the output required for activation and the technological prowess involved, this side is superior, so I don’t think that’s an exaggeration at all.

And the price… No, I had resolved to stop bringing that up, yet it keeps popping into my head!

Anyway, regardless of my expertise in engineering, when it comes to electricity, the charges were stirred enough for me to feel it distinctly on my skin… and soon, the completed wavelength aimed at the wall was unleashed.

*Vwoooom…*

“Oh.”

As the emitted light disrupted the atmosphere, a strange vibrating sound accompanied it, and a grid-like light net swept through the indoors like a lighthouse.

I used something that I would normally filter out vehicles at the entrance of Paradise or Enema headquarters or at the city boundary.

To clarify, thinking that Zero could carry and use this makes me feel a bit reassured. Sure, using it immediately is difficult, and the overspending issue persists, but it provides a considerable advantage in spotting unexpected variables in advance.

The building itself is impressively large and expansive. Moreover, being located near the topmost floor of our waiting room, the limitation on distance makes it impossible for one scan to cover all structures.

However, like thick fog being pushed away by a breeze, I could ascertain how the hidden circuits within the walls were interconnected without needing to fumble around looking for connection ports!

Though real-time updates might be impractical, I was happy that it had a function somewhat akin to a minimap, which wasn’t adequately supported even in the original game. Indeed, spending credits makes everything dramatically better.

– Surveillance system confirmed absent. I will continue to share the extracted 3D schematics. If deemed unnecessary, please feel free to block them at any time. –

“This is entertaining even just to watch, so don’t worry~”

As the cyberware superimposed two images, all the various metal substances detected by Zero appeared layered over my naked eye, making it feel like I gained x-ray vision, which was quite thrilling.

However, the lack of extendable connections makes it somewhat problematic that there aren’t many places suitable for hacking.

Why on earth are there no central control systems at all? It might be because this broadcasting station has been extended from an old building repeatedly over the years. With everything so fragmented…

– …Aside from having a wired communication network extending down at least 4 to 5 floors in the intercom, all other facilities are outdated. Nevertheless, I will proceed with the infection operation, even if the transmission speed is slow. –

“Okay~ Sure, go ahead…♪”

Crack!

[Stimulus-Responsive Active Infiltration Virus, uploading the P (Parasite) model. The environmental adaptation process is also underway.]

It’s not that I’m being indifferent. It’s just that when I relaxed my tension in response to the reassurance of trust, I saw the intercom opening to begin spreading the malicious code, and I savored the satisfaction brought by this ‘rational consumption.’

By preparing the virus in advance at home and then handing it to Zero, the likelihood of me panting for calories during combat, not to mention the need to roll around on-site, would surely decrease, right?

In the meantime, I squinted my eyes in anticipation, worried the depth scanner’s brightness would hurt, and I noticed it sensibly avoiding my immediate vicinity.

Whoever this child belongs to, they certainly have a strong sense of discipline. Yes.

Even though Zero has a strong subjectivity in unexpected aspects, it’s admirable how careful they are about these matters.

Huh? If I leave the assessment of circuits and virus administration entirely to Zero, what role do I have, just to act as a pretty face?

Um…

Well, that, I mean…

…Ha! It’s not worth talking to someone who doesn’t understand the importance of supervision and objective observation.

Of course, it’s right to conserve my abilities in preparation for more crucial moments or potential crisis situations. Am I seriously just going to lie around, thinking, “My quality of life is increasing so much that I might become too comfortable and useless…”? Right?

“Ahem…!”

Perhaps I should stop with the jokes and excuses.

I felt a sudden wave of awkwardness, but nonetheless. To avoid showing any signs of fluster, I pulled my limbs together and sat up straight on the sofa.

To be honest, not much would change because of that.

It’s no joke; if I think it through, the modeling work needs an MD to return, and the ambitious secondary goal of infecting the broadcasting network requires an opportunity to access the main system.

Ultimately, the only option left is the embarrassing choice of broadening connections and introducing myself to receive a business card, but given that I don’t know when my supervisor will return, wandering around freely feels a bit… impolite.

…Should I just lie back down on the sofa?

Right when I thought creating a fake account to peek into the broadcasting station’s intranet would be a perfectly entertaining way to pass the time.

– Two figures are approaching this waiting room. How about we maintain our current positions and remain discreet? –

Zero panicked as it detected someone approaching.

Well, the intercom that was dismantled was well restored in no time, so why the sudden fuss?

“Isn’t Mr. Duglas bringing someone else with him? Didn’t he say on his way here that a stylist or something was tagging along?”

– …No. It’s because neither of them matched the recorded gait and weight that I reported. For now, I will keep silent. –

Recalling my request for Zero to act like an ordinary security droid when others were around, the voice output line switched back to wireless communication instead of the external speaker.

Then, with a smooth motion, the door opened to reveal a duo of women.

The first thing that caught my eye was the platinum-blonde in a form-fitting suit dress… Oh, a celebrity. Even a face I recognize. To be precise, an announcer? The other one, appearing more subdued, seemed like her dedicated manager.

“Oh, from my perspective, everything looks flawless. Not a strand out of place in her hair… Do we really have to tweak this just before going live…?”

“Bethany! Can’t you see that the tautness in this fixed part has loosened!? If a person has such poor spatial awareness, they would have been fired long ago if it weren’t for me… Huh?”

“…Hello?”

Seemingly surprised to find someone else in what she had presumed to be an empty waiting room, her sharp expression and makeup faltered, and her eyes widened.

It was none other than Erin Skully, the leading anchor of the news channel I had been keeping an eye on.

She glanced once at Zero Unit 0 near the entrance and then at the modified Unit 1 standing in the center of the room.

Lastly, as I awkwardly rose from the sofa to greet them, she took note of me in sequence, turning her head slightly back to whisper softly to her manager, Bethany.

“…Didn’t I tell you to confirm that 1-A was empty beforehand until I was blue in the face?!”

“I… I checked just ten minutes ago, and it was definitely free!”

Perhaps due to her occupation, her powerful voice meant even her whispering reached me clearly, let alone Zero.

What to do?

What a ridiculous turn of events. And how am I supposed to handle this suffocating awkwardness?

– Indeed. Mr. Duglas left just five minutes ago, so it’s reasonable to conclude that one side might have mistakenly scheduled a overlapping reservation… However, it seems they simply came to inquire. –

‘Now, that’s fundamentally absurd!’

However, I only grumbled internally about the absurd administration without saying it aloud.

It’s silly to introduce ourselves in this situation where there’s mutual hesitation, so according to my principle of yielding first, even if it feels a little annoying and costs me, I resolved to act quite gentlemanly.

I mean, well… If you’re in urgent need of a space to groom, should we step aside for you ladies?

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