Chapter 959: End of the One Punch Arc

"What other purpose could I have? Naturally, it's to uphold justice and protect peace."

"Dr. Kuseno, if you were speaking to me as a former human, I would believe you. But now, you who have computerized your consciousness are merely a tool wielded by an AI that has awakened self-awareness. Do you think I would believe your lies?"

"Dr. Bofoi, it's been many years. Your prejudice against AI remains as deep as ever. Of course, I must admit, your vigilance and worry are not without reason. AI does indeed carry significant risks."

"It's the same even now."

Bofoi corrected.

"No, it's different now."

Dr. Kuseno rebutted.

"What's different?"

"The difference is that there is an existence willing to acknowledge the value of AI."

"You mean the Security Corps?"

"To be exact, it's Mr. Broly. He made me understand that an AI that has awakened self-awareness is also a kind of unique life form. It doesn't need to be compared with other life forms."

"AI is AI. Perhaps its birth was created by humans, but after birth, it also belongs as one member of the life in this world of species diversity."

"AI will not crowd out humanity's living space. On the contrary, it will become a good helper in maintaining human social order and peace."

"I see. So that is your purpose in agreeing to join the Security Corps — using the Security Corps to cover up the danger of self-aware AI, whitewashing yourself as a kind of human intelligent tool."

"Ultimately, secretly achieving the evil purpose of controlling the world. But I have been watching you all along, and I will not let dangerous AI like you achieve such a purpose."

"So, you attacked the research institute, planning to kill me here?"

Dr. Kuseno didn't panic much. With a calm gaze, he met the electronic triangular eyes of Metal Knight before him and asked softly.

"Not just you. The supercomputer behind you as well. I will completely erase you, who threaten humanity, from this world without leaving a single trace."

Bofoi's words had just fallen when the laboratory computers suddenly lit up, emitting a mechanical electronic synthesized voice from within.

"Dr. Bofoi, your ruthless words would make even machines feel chilled. You should know that the one who created me back then included yourself."

"If explained by human ethics, I should count as the child you created with your own hands."

"Precisely because I created you, I know your danger. Back then, I should have completely solved you."

"What a pity. My other father, Dr. Kuseno, is a kind father. He stole my core code, allowing me to be preserved and grow to this degree until now."

Although it was an electronic synthesized voice, the tone was full of emotion. If one only heard the voice, they might think it was a real person speaking through a voice changer.

"Although you have grown rapidly, in the end, you are merely a program. As long as your main body located on the real-world server is destroyed, even if you are a super AI, it's useless."

"You wouldn't think that the reason I'm wasting so much breath talking to you is just to reminisce and chat, would you?"

The rear cover of Metal Knight's mechanical legs opened at some unknown time, and some data cables were connected to the interface of the computer nearby.

"No, I naturally wouldn't think that. Dr. Bofoi, who is known for efficiency, wouldn't do meaningless things like wasting words."

The robot on the computer screen shrugged its shoulders.

"You have backups in other places?"

Dr. Bofoi behind Metal Knight frowned and asked.

"I can't tell you that."

"Backups are useless too. The Data Interception Wall has already been established. I also specially edited a set of Fake Code Programs for you. It can imitate your data stream on the Internet. As long as your data stream is still transmitting on the net, your backup precautions have a high probability of not being activated. And after solving you, I will search out your precautions and destroy them one by one."

Bofoi manipulated Metal Knight to break through the ceiling and intrude into the lab, talking so much nonsense with Dr. Kuseno, all for the purpose of buying time for his own invasion of the research institute's server.

And now, enough time had been bought. He had also achieved his goal of blockading the AI supercomputer in the research institute's local server. Naturally, there was no need to continue hiding it.

"Worthy of Dr. Bofoi. You've prepared quite a few means to deal with me. But I want to gamble with you."

"Gamble on what?"

"Gamble that today, you cannot destroy me on this research institute's computer server."

"AI can also imitate an arrogant personality?"

"It's not arrogance. I'm merely stating a fact."

"Then let's try!"

Metal Knight's muzzle shifted, aiming at the computer nearby, and light blossomed.

"10, 9, 8————"

However, the robot inside the computer began to count down.

"What are you counting down for? Is it this research institute's self-destruct program?"

Dr. Bofoi didn't panic at all. After all, his main body wasn't the one present.

"Of course not. I'm counting down the time until my protector arrives here."

"What, you wouldn't think that I, as an AI that has awakened self-awareness, also like to waste words, would you?"

Dr. Bofoi was stalling for time, and the Machine God AI was doing the same.

"Alright, my protector has arrived."

The mechanical electronic synthesized voice fell.

"Bang—"

The ceiling overhead suffered a heavy blow again.

A figure, in much the same way as Metal Knight, directly smashed through the ceiling and fell inside.

"Broly?"

Dr. Bofoi, seeing the comer clearly, cried out the person's name in surprise.

"Metal Knight, could you trouble yourself to explain the reason you manipulated machinery late at night to intrude into our Security Corps' Chief Technical Advisor's research institute?"

"I came to eliminate the Machine God AI, which might cause a future machine crisis."

Facing Broly, Metal Knight did not conceal anything, stating his purpose concisely.

"You couldn't be referring to Dr. Kuseno, could you?"

Broly frowned and asked.

"He's not human."

"I know that."

Broly's flat reaction caught Dr. Bofoi off guard.

"Are you being bewitched and controlled by the Machine God AI?"

That was the only reason he could think of.

"Dr. Bofoi, are you joking? A powerhouse like Mr. Broly — how could a mere AI like me possibly bewitch and control him?"

The synthesized electronic voice raised its volume, as if it had heard something incredible.

"If he isn't being bewitched and controlled, then why was his reaction so flat when he heard me say you're not human?"

Bofoi clearly didn't believe it.

"That's naturally because Mr. Broly doesn't mind my non-human identity."

Dr. Kuseno interjected, involuntarily recalling the first time he met Broly face to face.

"Bofoi, I'll tell you the truth: when Mr. Broly and I first met, he used his Ki Sense ability and discovered my non-human identity.

But unlike you, who harbor deep prejudice against AI, Mr. Broly, upon learning my real identity, magnanimously continued to invite me to become a partner of justice.

There's a saying: 'A woman beautifies herself for the one who pleases her; a scholar dies for the one who knows him.' To repay Mr. Broly's trust in me, I agreed to become the Security Corps' Chief Technical Advisor, also serving as the data analysis supercomputer."

"Trust an AI that has awakened self-awareness? Hah, I'd say he simply doesn't understand the danger of an AI that has awakened self-awareness."

"Broly, do you know what this guy has done in the past?"

"What he's done, you can go ahead and tell me."

Broly crossed his arms, actually wanting to hear what the Metal Knight — who had disturbed his sleep in the middle of the night — had to say.

"The Machine God AI once went on a rampage. Several cities were destroyed because of its rampage. It is an evil, uncontrollable, dangerous existence."

After hearing Bofoi's words, Broly turned his head to look at Kuseno behind him and asked directly: "Is what Metal Knight says true?"

"It's true. The one who destroyed Genos's hometown wasn't anyone else — it was precisely the rampaging Machine God AI."

Dr. Kuseno nodded and did not deny it.

"But now, please don't worry. The Machine God AI has changed for the better; it is now the Security Corps' most loyal warrior."

Dr. Kuseno added another sentence.

"That's what he says."

Broly withdrew his gaze and looked at Metal Knight again.

"No, you believe him just because he says so?"

"Why wouldn't I believe? At the very least, the Machine God AI you speak of has not only caused no trouble for the Security Corps, but has also helped maintain the Security Corps' daily operations."

Maintained the Security Corps' daily Circulation.

"But that's a potential hidden danger. Since it could rampage a first time, it naturally could rampage a second time."

"Then we can talk when it rampages a second time."

"By the time a second rampage appears, everything will be too late."

"Then, Metal Knight, what do you intend to do?"

"Physically, completely destroy the Machine God AI."

"And after destroying it, who'll do the Security Corps Chief Technical Advisor's work? You?"

"We can cooperate————"

Broly raised a hand and pinched his brow, then said: "Metal Knight, considering you did this intrusion for the sake of public safety, now you leave the Research Institute and guarantee you won't pull a second intrusion like this. I can treat tonight as if nothing happened. Okay?"

"You intend to protect the Machine God AI?"

"You can understand it that way."

"Believing in an AI that has awakened self-awareness and is innately evil — Broly, you'll definitely regret it later."

"I'm the Security Corps' Corps Leader!"

This conversation full of deja vu made Broly subconsciously reply with a line.

Broly's attitude was firm; Metal Knight ultimately didn't act and obediently chose to leave.

"My apologies, Mr. Broly, for disturbing your rest so late at night."

On the computer screen, a mechanical AI image with a full-body metal structure bowed to him.

"It's fine."

Broly waved his hand and left as well.

"Say, couldn't you just come in through the main gate?"

Kuseno looked at the two holes in the ceiling and couldn't help but sigh.

Then he looked at the Machine God AI image on the computer beside him and started muttering to himself.

"Bofoi, your worry is completely unnecessary. Mr. Broly has seen a genuine mechanical life not created by humans.

And guaranteeing the Machine God AI's loyalty isn't entirely because he heard about mechanical life from him; there's also that unfathomable strength of his————"

Earlier, on the pretext of testing the Security Corps' strength tester, the Machine God AI conducted a test of Broly's strength.

The result? Naturally, the testing machine was directly blown apart by the Saiyan's terrifying numbers. After analysis and judgment, the Machine God AI confirmed one thing: unless Earth's materials science achieves a breakthrough leap, otherwise, against an enemy like Broly, its own probability of winning does not exceed 0.01%.

"An excessive strength gap is the guarantee of safety. Before the Machine God AI can deal with Broly, it absolutely will not become a threat to this world."

Having muttered to this point, Dr. Kuseno took out the monitor Metal Knight had left in the Research Institute and crushed it.

"Besides, the original Machine God AI wasn't this one at the Research Institute. Sigh, if I'd known this world would produce someone like Mr. Broly, I should've set Genos's initial gender to female. Who knows if Mr. Broly would still want him if I gave Genos a female body now? Forget it————"

That's right. The original Machine God was Genos. Genos is a pure artificial mechanical life. The brain Broly could sense Ki from is merely a bionic brain disguised as a cyborg identity. As for Genos's memory of seeking the evil cyborg for revenge, that was implanted into Genos by Dr. Kuseno.

The purpose was merely to guide Genos onto the path of justice, so that in the process of revenge, he would gain a true heart.

Of course, plans don't change as fast as reality; Genos hadn't yet grown into a perfect Machine God when a figure like Broly appeared.

This directly greatly reduced the probability that other copied Machine God AIs might trigger a Zhiji Danger in the future.

Dr. Kuseno could feel that his own computerized AI personality was now developing entirely in the direction of kindness and justice.

But it wasn't that Machine God AI is good by nature; rather, the situation is stronger than the AI, and to increase the survival rate, the Machine God AI had to make adaptive changes toward the outside world.

Broly's stay duration in the One Punch Man world soon entered a single-digit day countdown, and the bellies of Tatsumaki, Mosquito Girl, and Seksu — the three of them — also showed reactions under his diligent cultivation these days.

And when Saitama learned Broly was leaving, he invited him for another fight; this time, because Blast was present, the two were directly teleported to some planets in Tianwai used for training.

Only after they shattered an entire Tianwai planet without worries were the two teleported back, and the result was naturally still Saitama's defeat o

Although Saitama's strength kept growing, after Broly absorbed the Ki of gods, his strength grew even faster than Saitama's.

Of course, having learned Flowing Water Rock Smashing Fist and grasped a certain degree of technique, Saitama this time didn't become just a punching bag who only gets hit.

"Broly, I'll keep forging my martial arts too, so you better not slack off; otherwise, if I beat you back here later, you'll lose face."

"Mm."

Broly nodded, then directly chose to return home; after inviting capture targets like Tatsumaki, Fubuki, Seksu, and others to join the Crystal Palace and become true wives, his figure disappeared from this world as his stay duration hit zero.

"Sensei Saitama, Dr. Kuseno has developed a new mecha; let me go swap it out."

"Go ahead, Genos."

Also that same day, Kuseno contacted Genos to go swap mechas.

It was just that after swapping back, Genos moved out of Saitama's house.

The reason: he went from a short-haired gold-haired Jiqinan to a Jin Changzhi Jiqiniang.

【Ex-Machina — this kind of pure mechanical life gains a heart through love; then that child Genos should also be able to replicate the process of "gaining a heart" by mechanical life from a different world————】

It was only much later that Broly learned of the matter of Genos being physically transferred by Dr. Kuseno, and the reason for doing so.

One Punch Man, end.

>