Chapter 559: Simulated Universe: Gold and Machinery (7)

"His business will be taken over by someone." Farnsha said, "It won't affect our friendship with inorganic life."

After saying that, Farnsha disappeared from everyone's sight without looking back.

"While the internal conflict of the company intensifies, aside from the Border Star Trade War, the Technology Department's De·Wein and the Loading Department's Korapau are also pursuing their own ways of…… 'exploring' the inorganic world."

"De·Wein? Isn't he using his own mechanical mercenaries to suppress the rebels?" Xing asked curiously.

"That's only part of it." Black Tower placed the empty wine glass on the table; in the next second the glass turned into virtual data and vanished. "Now, let's change the scene so you can see what the other half of the mercenaries are doing."

……

It felt as if after a deep sleep, countless memories simulated by data surged into the mind, spinning and colliding, finally piecing together into a blurry focus. Xing felt as if she had just struggled out of deep water, jerking upright from a seated position.

Before her eyes was not the crystal chandelier of the banquet hall, nor the familiar observation car, but a low ceiling that was cold and gleamed with metallic light.

She lay on a simple fixed bed, inside a narrow but fully equipped cabin. Clearly, this was a small starship in flight.

"Oh? You're awake?" a voice with a hint of teasing came from beside her.

Xing took a deep breath, seeing a man in a gray-blue uniform seated beside her, fiddling with a disc-shaped electronic device. Others in the cabin, similarly dressed, were busy, their expressions mostly focused and weary.

"Where… am I?" Xing shook her still somewhat dazed head and asked instinctively.

The man didn't lift his head, his fingers flying over the instrument panel: "The research vessel of the Armed Archaeology Faction, third cabin. You kid really can sleep—even the violent shaking when passing through the star ring didn't wake you; I almost thought your neural coupling had gone wrong."

"Armed Archaeology Faction? Research vessel?"

More memories surfaced, and she finally recalled——she was a mercenary recruited by De·Wein, aiming to infiltrate the Armed Archaeology Faction of the Erudite Society to venture into the inorganic realm and investigate.

De·Wein told her she must not reveal who employs her. On this mission, her sole objective is to steal the 【Anti-Organic Equation】 from the inorganic world.

——

One-Punch Man.

"Anti…… Organic Equation?!"

Upon uttering that term, Child Emperor was shocked by the latent threat within it.

He is also an inventor, regarded as a genius by countless people; as the hero who invented countless combat machines, he began to envision a scene: the fearless giants he created would start implanting the Anti-Organic Equation into their thought modules, regarding all organic life on Earth as enemies and launching indiscriminate attacks…

"Why would such a thing exist? What kind of malice toward organic life would one need to harbor to create this?" Child Emperor puzzled over it.

Drive Knight, who was watching the sky alongside Child Emperor, was noticeably more composed, he said lightly: "I suspect this thing is perhaps the trump card inorganic life uses against organic life; if inorganic life also repeats the fate of being exploited at the border stars…… this equation would activate, unifying all the sentient machines on this planet and regarding organic life as the enemy."

"You mean this is equivalent to a virus?"

Drive Knight nodded: "A virus capable of merging the thought processes of all sentient machines on a planet—no, 'equation' is more appropriate. Although it's unclear how this equation was derived, it can be confirmed that it is extremely dangerous…… if placed on Earth, the disaster level could be above Dragon-level."

"... That would be God-level."

"God-level is a crisis that could lead to human extinction; it has never occurred, existing only in theory. But looking from another angle, whether it's the long‑missing Metal Knight or the giant he himself deployed in space…… once united by the Anti-Organic Equation, the eventual consequences are unpredictable."

"By then…… we might have to beg KING to personally step in."

"But fully integrating a planet's sentient machines isn't the frightening part of the Anti-Organic Equation; the point is that the equation itself can be easily copied and transmitted remotely……"

Drive Knight lifted his head to gaze at the sky; whether it was Child Emperor's illusion or not, the mysterious machine knight's "eyes" dimmed slightly, and he let out a faint sigh that was barely there.

"All it takes is a tiny transistor…… the equation can be instantly copied to other inorganic worlds, then spark a universal crusade against organic life."

——

"The ship docked smoothly at a pier. The hatch opened, a blast of cold, dry air rushed in, and Xing followed the crew down the gangway; the sight before her made her hold her breath instantly."

"This is a machine empire that cannot be described in words."

"Towering geometric structures pierce the clouds, their surfaces flowing with azure energy lines. In the sky, variously shaped sentient units move like a beehive in orderly, ceaseless traffic—some resembling birds, others like Star Rafts in droplet form."

"Xing's gaze stretched forward until it was blocked by a colossal Future Beast—these massive constructs, blending biological form with mechanical structure, stride forward with heavy steps, transporting unimaginably heavy cargo; their metallic limbs strike the ground, emitting a rhythmic roar."

"Xing felt for the first time like a country bumpkin just arrived in the city, curiously taking in this beyond‑imaginable spectacle, almost forgetting why she had come."

"But just then——"

""Warning! Unauthorized organic lifeform carrying an attack signal detected! Highest threat level! Execute extermination protocol!""

""The sharp, piercing alarm blared suddenly across the entire city!""

""What's going on? An attack signal?""

""Who used a weapon?""

""The members of the Erudite Society instantly fell into chaos, panicking as they tried to find cover.""

""Just landed and already wanted again? Wait…… why did she say 'again'? Anyway, Xing immediately shifted into combat mode, instinctively reaching for her weapon.""

""Hehehehe——!""

""Suddenly, a laugh full of mirth and successful mischief rang out in the ranks; seeing that, the crew member who had always kept his head down and looked timid somehow produced a mask from somewhere and put it on his face.""

""It's the Masked Fool!""

""That laugh made Xing unconsciously recall a certain twin‑tailed girl who loved pranks, except this Fool's 'fun' had gone a bit too far.""

""He sprang up like a spring, laughing loudly at the crowd thrown into chaos:""

""Whether organic or inorganic, none of it is any good!""