The girl named Hanami could still feel her own destiny. After enduring the painful and tormenting torture, she had "died" in one sense, only to be "resurrected" in another form.
In Kivotos, this could be considered a "major event" that could shake the city.
In Kivotos, "death" is a topic that is almost entirely avoided. Aside from a few schools that have briefly mentioned it in their courses, the concept of death is only associated with "ghosts" — because Kivotos really does have ghosts.
Aside from that, Kivotos is seen as a "paradise" and a "pure land." It is home only to "students," countless animal citizens, and hyper-intelligent robots.
"You are someone who has experienced death. What do you think?"
Kuroto Dan looked at Hanami with interest, while the brown-haired girl simply felt her body. "It feels... nothing particularly real."
"If I had to say, the sudden pain is the most memorable."
Hanami stood there respectfully. After transforming into a Bugster, her body was now entirely controlled by Kuroto Dan. Even her life had been reshaped by him. For Hanami, as long as it was an order from Kuroto Dan, she could not disobey. This was the absolute suppression between Bugsters.
"When I woke up, I had a lot more knowledge in my head," Hanami recalled her experience. "It only took a few seconds to fully understand the reality of being a Bugster."
"The knowledge necessary for the identity of a Bugster is transferred to your head once you become one," Kuroto Dan explained. "One of the advantages of a data life form is how conveniently knowledge can be transmitted. It's so convenient that you can download data anytime as long as you're connected to the internet — and you don't have to worry about being poisoned!"
The Bugster itself is the most powerful electronic virus, so there's no risk of computer viruses. However, if the life of an electronic virus encounters a program attack, and if its strength is insufficient, it may face greater danger than an ordinary life encountering a life-threatening situation. After all, data deletion happens much faster than blood loss.
Ayane who had been listening was still confused. "Mr. Kuroto Dan, why did you bring Miss Hanami out?"
"It's to increase our manpower," Kuroto Dan replied, his gaze lingering on the distant desert. He had a feeling something thrilling and exciting was hidden there. "It's also to analyze the essence of this world."
This was another plan of Kuroto Dan. If 'God Maximum X' inside him needed to understand the essence of this world before being extracted, then the students he observed everywhere were the research subjects he needed.
Since noticing these students with halos on their heads, he had not stopped his analysis. Kuroto Dan was certain that the mystery he sought was hidden in the bodies of these students. After all, no one had ever seen a normal person with a halo on their head, let alone wings or animal ears.
However, the real challenge was how to analyze the mystery within these students. Transforming Hanami into a Bugster and gaining information from her was a side effect, and in his plan, it was the first step in his mysterious analysis program.
Moreover, the characteristics of the Bugster's data life form allowed him to force everything into data for analysis. For Kuroto Dan, this was the most suitable method for uncovering the problem.
"If the mystery can also be digitized, she is the key to my research breakthrough."
Kuroto Dan patted Hanami on the shoulder. "Next, we will have a conflict with the Kaiser Corporation's troops. Ayane, you're responsible for rear support, right? If Shiroko is the only one on the front line, I may not be able to keep an eye on you if a fight breaks out, so I've brought in an extra helper."
"I can do it alone. Besides, she's a member of the Helmet Gang. Can she be trusted?"
Shiroko snorted, unconvinced. Part of the reason was that the helper Kuroto Dan had brought in was a thug from the Helmet Gang who had attacked them before. If they were expected to forgive them just like that, Shiroko was still uncertain.
"She is now also a 'former Helmet Gang member,'" Kuroto Dan smiled. "She was transformed into a data life form by the Bugster virus, and I implanted a backdoor. She is completely under my control. You don't need to worry about her trustworthiness, because everything is under my control."
"It sounds like something only a villain would say..."
Shiroko didn't know how to feel about Kuroto Dan. Was this person good or bad?
"The adult world is not just black and white," Kuroto Dan stretched his shoulders. "You're still children, so you see the world in terms of right and wrong. But for me, justice or evil doesn't matter."
"As long as I can achieve my goal, that's the most correct choice for me."
"Mr. Kuroto Dan..." Ayane was confused. "Isn't the right thing also a just thing?"
"Ah, you think so," Kuroto Dan said, extending his hand to ruffle Ayane's head, with a satisfied look. "Just things may not always be right, and right things may not always be just." He was serious at first, but then his voice rose, "Of course, I am an outsider! If I say this rule is just, then it must be just!"
"What kind of specious argument is that?"
Looking at this unsophisticated adult, who had turned everything back to normal in a chaotic way, though embarrassed, Ayane couldn't help but feel relieved that this adult had appeared to clear all obstacles.
"Well, let's get ready to head to the desert now!"