Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 587 - 499 Ninja Hunter

Chapter 587: Chapter 499 Ninja Hunter

Hosoda Yoshiyuki tested the toughness of his cybernetic body.

He deformed his arm, with most of the machinery densely folded inside his modified body. Fully extended, it assumed an astonishing size—a single arm stretched out into a mechanical structure four to five meters long, covered with an integrated array of firearms that looked terrifying. As the metal gears turned and the pneumatic system hissed, his skin split and shifted aside.

Besides the core frame that was company-issued, the rest of the guns were mounted by himself. He had removed most of the useless structures, leaving only the barrel and ammunition chamber—essentially different caliber pneumatic gunpowder devices. The more barrels, the more firepower, and that was Hosoda Yoshiyuki’s pursuit. He wanted to transform his own body into a one-man weapon of destruction to take down the company, and he was willing to pay any price for it.

Nidelaide was grinding his teeth.

"There are too many design problems!" Nidelaide suddenly stood up angrily.

With his expert eye, he spotted at least twenty flaws in Hosoda Yoshiyuki’s body at a glance.

"I don’t need your meddling," Hosoda Yoshiyuki scoffed scornfully.

"According to my design, you can mount 10 more guns," Nidelaide explained.

"Quick," Hosoda Yoshiyuki said as he folded his metallic arm back inch by inch to its human form.

His greatcoat was designed for this purpose, capable of concealing the grotesque traces of modifications on his arms.

While Nidelaide was redrafting the implant blueprints, Rinne and Lu Jing exchanged a glance, as they both seemed to have something to say but held back.

"Have you already installed Digital Mind?" Rinne asked first.

"Yes," Lu Jing replied softly, "They partially modified my brain, preserving my Magic Circuit and intelligence. It’s a lighter design, but still very effective. My consciousness has turned into photoelectric signals, allowing me to interact directly with network terminals from now on."

"If you learn from Mr. Web Monitor at Nestor Corporation, he will teach you some..." Rinne stopped mid-sentence for some reason.

Seeing Rinne like this, Lu Jing stood up and walked across the room.

As Lu Jing approached, Rinne moved back, retreating until she was pressed against the wall of the booth.

When Rinne could retreat no further, Lu Jing pressed his hands on Rinne’s shoulders, leaning forward with an aggressive stance as he looked down at her from above.

Then, Lu Jing leaned in further, embracing Rinne and resting his head on her shoulder.

"I’m still the same as before," Lu Jing whispered in her ear. "It’s okay, I’m sorry, I meant to bring this to you. Rinne, I want to have the ability to protect you too. I want to be smarter and be able to handle all troubles, so I took the liberty of doing it. Can you forgive me?"

"Forgive you..."

Rinne could hardly muster the strength to respond, gently nodding with her eyes closed. Lu Jing hugged Rinne tightly then let go.

"I will go to see Mr. Web Monitor at Nestor Corporation," Lu Jing said, "After all, my long-cherished wish is to see with my own eyes that Cyber Specter who once inspired me. Now that I have the Digital Mind myself, I hope, Rinne, that one day I can dive with you, together, to see the Cyber Specter in the Helis Sea."

Rinne’s heart fluttered, and she took a deep breath.

"Okay," she said.

The two of them truly had a good relationship. Seeking Shadow watched Lu Jing and Rinne from one end of the room.

On the other side, after the adjustments, Hosoda Yoshiyuki still needed more time to reconfigure his layout. He looked out at the torrential rain, seeing a group of people dragging their suitcases, wearing company uniforms, braving the rain as they hurried to the city’s other transportation hub to leave Shangjing.

Hosoda Yoshiyuki was all too familiar with this scene: the unemployed.

In the tide of economic downturn, factories and corporate sectors collapsed one after another. People were forced to fend for themselves, with tens of thousands of jobless individuals added each day. Fortunately, Nestor Corporation now provided new opportunities. These people left Shangjing in agony, eager to find job positions on the outskirts, to find a means to sustain themselves and their families.

As Nidelaide adjusted Hosoda Yoshiyuki’s implants, many of which involved reoperation, he realized that, given the ruthless extent of self-modification, Hosoda Yoshiyuki did not have many years to live. Many areas featured dangerously personal styles of self-installed enhancements. Nidelaide had to deeply consider how to extend Hosoda Yoshiyuki’s lifespan.

Looking at those unemployed people braving the downpour, Hosoda Yoshiyuki could not help but curse, "Look at these people abandoned by Shangjing! They built the houses they have no place to live in; they produced the medicine they have no access to; they made the cars they can’t drive; they gave their youth to companies in exchange for a lifetime of physical and mental pain. They create the most wealth but live the most miserable lives!"

"Ranting like this is no different from you catharting in bed, it’s just an emotional outburst," Chiyuki Sajou said coldly.

"Yes, I’m venting my emotions! So what? Are you going to stop me?" Hosoda Yoshiyuki sneered continuously.

"Based on the leads," Seeking Shadow suddenly started the mission report, "the shadow of the mysterious ’Ghost Warrior’ is behind a recent series of events. He once provided New Xisheng with the design for a capturing barrier; bribed Nestor employees to steal items; hired a mercenary codenamed ’Evil Beast’ for the premiere of ’Siphon!’ and gave him additional Human Enhancement Technology. Ya Kou Liu Li has remained hidden, and Kano Masato has revived from near death, which is also likely to be related to this Ghost Warrior. So, this Ghost Warrior is our Secret Front’s biggest adversary right now. Everyone must be careful and continue to search for clues until we unearth the Ghost Warrior, only then can Nestor Corporation truly eliminate a major threat in the intelligence sphere."

"Oh!"

"Got it~"

"Make sure to kill him!"

Seeking Shadow eased the tense atmosphere from before, and Hosoda Yoshiyuki received the new wiring design strategy provided by Nidelaide. He nodded, his mood improved, and he apologized to Chiyuki Sajou.

"I am a monster," said Hosoda Yoshiyuki, "This world turns normal people abnormal, you can understand, right?"

"No problem," nodded Chiyuki Sajou, relieved that her brother Jiro had not yet returned to the squad. Otherwise, he would certainly have engaged Hosoda Yoshiyuki in battle using advanced Moonlight Spells. She focused on support and healing, while Sajou Jiro was a researcher of Destructive Spells.

"Let’s go find that Monk Soldier, dig out Ya Kou Liu Li from the mountains, shoot Kano Masato dead, find the ’Ghost Warrior’ and kill him, then we can go back to the city and drink in peace," said Hosoda Yoshiyuki, seeing that the rain had lessened. He put on his overcoat and left with a stern face.

The torrential rain passed quickly and they boarded the Shuttle Machine, heading toward their predetermined destination.

It is said that the Monk Soldier is named Chikuma Jiro, and most monks have already secularized, leaving only a few to resist the temptations of the consumer world. The Monk Soldier was currently wandering in the mountains outside Akasumi City and still resided in the monastery there, which was a landmark of sorts for the otherwise desolate mountain, called Mitzu Temple. Kano Masato and Ya Kou Liu Li were probably nearby as well.

If such a Monk Soldier were involved, he should be willing to help deal with Kano Masato. Moreover, the man was steeped in cultural knowledge, well-read in classic literature, familiar with a variety of secret monastery techniques, and skilled in diverse combat skills, capable of filling the current team’s weaknesses.

"Go together or split up? Ah, this monastery is truly beautiful; I’d want to live here too," Hosoda Yoshiyuki remarked as they approached Mitzu Temple. Built atop a mountain, it was surrounded by walls with a guarded mountain gate, three gates in succession, white walls, and black tiles, preserving the appearance of ancient architecture. Several aging pine trees provided cover, marking the supposed location of the Monk Soldier.

"I will park the Shuttle Machine in a concealed spot, keep in contact," Rinne set the parameters for Anonymous.

"Scanned anything?" asked Chiyuki Sajou.

"Nothing at all, it’s empty," frowned Hosoda Yoshiyuki. "I don’t think it’s my problem. Ninjas and Monk Soldiers rarely carry implants. We’ll have to get closer and use infrared to detect."

"Combat team, jump down; support team, hide the Shuttle Machine," Seeking Shadow said as she leapt toward the mountain path as Anonymous flew close to the ground. Hosoda Yoshiyuki and Lu Jing followed closely behind.

"Who in the world can stop the three of us," chuckled Hosoda Yoshiyuki, setting off up the mountain path. Hidden under his overcoat, his bloodthirsty expression was eager to bring about more carnage, starkly out of place compared to the tranquil monastery.

However, they all sensed that something was off—Mitzu Temple was too quiet, not even a bird stirred in the woods.

Hosoda Yoshiyuki entered the temple first and detected the scent of blood with his nasal analyzers. He came upon a man in black formal wear, clutching a Short Katana, squatting on the ground, carefully examining a monk’s corpse. The body was decomposing, having been dead for some time.

Chikuma Jiro’s body? Hosoda Yoshiyuki recognized the monk’s robes, identical to those Lu Jing had shown him.

"Kid... did you kill him?" Hosoda Yoshiyuki approached.

"It wasn’t me," the man stood up and turned around—a young man with a handsome but serious face and indifferent expression, dressed in black from head to toe, with black leather boots, the epitome of professional attire, as if he were from a corporate security team.

"Where is the head?" Hosoda Yoshiyuki noticed that Chikuma Jiro’s head had been chopped off.

"I’d like to know that myself," sighed the man in black.

Seeking Shadow heard the wind whistle; the temple doors were suddenly closed by someone, and at the same time, her enemy detector started marking more and more red dots.

"Enemies incoming," Seeking Shadow said swiftly.

Hosoda Yoshiyuki turned around, hearing more and more footsteps as well.

"Must be Kano Masato and his disciples," Hosoda Yoshiyuki frowned, "sneaky and not willing to show themselves. And you? What’s your name, kid? What are you doing here?"

"Masasuke Hazuki," he was just as puzzled, "...the enemies are coming for you? Please, don’t bring trouble my way."

Hosoda Yoshiyuki heard footsteps on tiles and looked up to see Ninja Master Lukano Masato appearing at the highest point of the monastery. Arriving so quickly meant he must have already planted spies nearby. Hosoda Yoshiyuki became on guard.

Kano Masato searched and then from afar, tossed the Monk Soldier’s bald, battered head into the courtyard, the jagged cut matching the headless monk’s body—it was a provocation.

Hosoda Yoshiyuki sneered.

There would be killing today.

Kill the Ninja Master, kill all ninjas, kill the ninja among ninjas!