Of course, it was impossible for Kurosaki Issei to actually jump out and spar with Aaron just because Aaron complained a couple of times.
According to Bronya's thoughts after hacking ZECT's network, she actually felt that ZECT hadn't really hidden the lower-level data at all.
This lower-level data even included the manufacturing methods for this world's [Masked Rider System].
Judging by the intelligence in the database, because the number of Worms in this worldline was simply too great, ZECT actively released this intelligence, even trading some of it to nations that hadn't been destroyed yet in exchange for certain supplies.
The two new-generation Riders, Hercus (Silver) and Ketaros (Bronze), were new Riders created after ZECT obtained these supplies.
Of course, considering a certain Golden Rider was from the same batch as these two, the Caucasian Beetle (Caucasus) was also created during that period.
Aside from ZECT, although other countries possessed ZECT's technology to create Riders, having the technology was one thing; being able to use it well was another.
ZECT's data was in a 'semi-public' state for one simple reason.
The people of this world were mostly dead. Among the survivors, the only ones who could find use for this data were those large nations.
And those large nations had long since paid ZECT to get that data earlier. Even if a hacker hacked in and got this data, who could they sell it to?
Without sufficient production technology and researchers, people who obtained this data could only stare blankly at the strings of code.
Not to mention that the special material required for the ZECT Rider System, [Hihiirokane], was a controlled substance. Even if someone could understand the data, they wouldn't be able to build a Rider System due to a lack of materials.
"Simply put, ZECT's almost open attitude makes others no longer suspect their intentions."
"To the humans at the bottom, they are the saviors protecting the world."
"To the world's upper echelons, ZECT is an obedient tool."
"And thinking about it carefully, there's nothing wrong with everyone thinking this way. Everyone thinks based on common sense combined with their own intelligence. Who would know that there are three idiots squatting at the top preparing to let the Worms invade and seize the Earth?"
Listening to Aaron's complaints, Bronya immediately added:
"The Sky Ladder Project will be executed in approximately one day. Bronya continued hacking through the intelligence network's internal web and found that Neo-ZECT, which rebelled against ZECT, is actually already being targeted."
"In the footage Bronya reviewed, the Golden Rider's first appearance was during the battle where ZECT's combat unit led a siege against Neo-ZECT."
"After Oda Hidenari, transformed into Hercus, defeated Yaguruma Sou, transformed into TheBee, the Golden Rider seized Oda Hidenari's opening and directly completed an assassination using Hyper Clock Up in an instant."
"Hm, and if we show that we are a danger to ZECT at that time... heh, that guy will obediently take the bait."
"It's also possible that he won't dare to come out because you act too dominant, Master. So, the key point now is that we need to make ZECT feel a certain threat, but not enough to scare the Golden Rider out of acting."
After sighing deeply, Bronya looked at Aaron.
"I hope you can hold back a little when the time comes, Master. Don't punch him to death in one hit. If you show that kind of destructive power, the Golden Rider will definitely become more cautious."
"In other words, I have to engage in a prolonged dogfight... not a big problem."
Glancing at the little girl in front of him, Aaron felt he could completely relax this time.
Because of special reasons this time, Bronya was able to finish reading the relevant intelligence in advance.
Having seen this intelligence, Bronya had already organized the line of thought and formulated the combat plan and route for Aaron beforehand.
Although Aaron could have handled these things alone, doing everything by himself would cost much more energy than now.
"Good work. Take a good rest."
"Bronya isn't tired, just..."
After hesitating for a moment, the girl immediately shook her head and closed her eyes slightly.
"No, it's nothing. Master is right; resting well will allow me to complete the mission better."
"...I didn't mean it like that. You are a human, not a tool. Think about your own matters a little."
*Ah, Mother Cocolia once told me similar things back then.*
*But now she...*
After seeing the future of this world, Bronya's heart was actually already filled with regret, helplessness, and a trace of relief.
In her eyes, Cocolia was simply like Kagami Riku of this world—holding a high position but seemingly completely insane.
Kagami Riku went completely mad from excessive pressure because the Worms were too dominant, and he realized that human military strength was insufficient and would sooner or later fall into the hands of the Worms.
The premise of the view 'letting humans live inside Worms' was to let Worms kill humans—this was simply not a viewpoint a normal person could come up with.
As for Cocolia, using the power of Herrschers to fight the Honkai... this might not be as radical as Kagami Riku.
But the power of a Herrscher was too dangerous. In Bronya's eyes, Cocolia's behavior had long shifted from taking a risk out of desperation to digging her own grave.
And this wasn't just ordinary grave-digging; she was sending millions of people directly to the underworld to create a Herrscher first, and then looking to luck to see if she could capture the Herrscher...
*Okay, essentially no different from Kagami Riku's behavior. Both are high-ranking officials who are sick in the head and preparing to kill innocent people.*
Bronya was now incredibly glad she had met the man before her.
Although unpleasant things happened the day everyone met, looking back, as long as Aaron recognized someone as his companion, he would give his all to assist them.
And in subsequent actions, Aaron showed the attitude a normal person should have toward the Honkai.
*How could a normal person, knowing that a Honkai Eruption would kill millions, not stop the Eruption but instead hasten its outbreak?*
However, Master seemed to have many things to be busy with.
She couldn't expect Master to stop Cocolia every time she caused trouble.
As for the reward this time... ultimately, Bronya might not meet the qualifications to transform into Kabuto.
Possessing a firm will and walking the path of heaven, ruling over all—these were the personality requirements for the Kabuto Zecter when choosing a user.
Regrettably, Bronya felt she didn't fit either criteria.
So in the end, for this mission, she could only play support, and the final task still required the man beside her to take the risk.
Although Bronya, having seen the footage, knew that as long as they obtained the Hyper Zecter, Kabuto Zecter, and Rider Belt, they could transform into Hyper Kabuto and take the meteor to solve the problem, but...
—To Bronya, Aaron was already an incredibly important person.
Even knowing he could do it, thinking of the risks involved, how could she not worry about him?
And at a time like this, she couldn't show a single shred of wavering.
As a child soldier, Bronya knew that a soldier's mindset was crucial during a mission.
If she showed too much unnecessary emotion, it might actually cause Aaron, who originally had the situation under control, to slip up.
At this time, she needed to be as calm as possible.
Only by calmly handling those logistical matters could Aaron fly into space with peace of mind to solve this problem.
*Damn it!*
*If only Bronya didn't lack sufficient power...!*
*Last time, because she lacked power, Bronya couldn't take Seele out of the Sea of Quanta.*
*And this time, Bronya has no power and can only watch the person beside her continue to take risks for Bronya.*
*Bronya is simply too weak.*
*Bronya... wants to become stronger.*
....................
The next day. Near a certain factory.
Kazama Daisuke, who was near the factory, found the surrounding atmosphere incredibly eerie at this moment.
According to the intelligence from his teammate Shura in Neo-ZECT, this place should be...
Before he could finish thinking, he heard gunshots.
Countless gunshots rang out at this moment.
And endless bullets surrounded that unlucky man from all directions.
At this moment, Shura, who was leading the team, revealed a sinister grin looking at the impending death of Kazama Daisuke.
Leading the team to tell Kazama Daisuke how she betrayed Neo-ZECT—such a thing obviously wouldn't happen.
This was a battlefield, not a movie set. If she popped her head out to exchange pleasantries with the enemy at a time like this, she would be finished the moment he activated Clock Up.
Facing an opponent like a Kamen Rider, one had to strike with lethal force by surprise to kill them.
This time, to deal with these Riders who rebelled against ZECT, Shura specially applied for some special bullets.
Hihiirokane. This was the primary metal used in the ZECT Masked Rider System.
And Hihiirokane bullets, manufactured with special techniques using Hihiirokane, possessed the ability to kill Kamen Riders due to their special material and excellent forging process.
At first, when Shura learned of these bullets, she was also curious why the higher-ups wanted to manufacture bullets that seemingly targeted Riders.
But after she received the mission to infiltrate Neo-ZECT, she suddenly understood.
When humanity's survival is at stake, people with sick brains will inevitably appear. Now, to execute the Sky Ladder Project, ZECT had already put in a lot of effort.
Yet at this juncture, Neo-ZECT actually wanted to interfere with this plan.
*Did this group of people not know how important the water resources brought by the Sky Ladder Project were to the people on Earth?!*
*Fortunately, our organization's higher-ups long guessed that someone would turn traitor and chose to manufacture bullets targeting traitors.*
*Kazama Daisuke, just die here for me now!*
*After you die, Vice-Captain Yaguruma and Vice-Captain Yamato will take care of those two idiots, Tendou Souji and Oda Hidenari!*
Normally, Kazama Daisuke would definitely not have relaxed his vigilance so much.
But this time, it was intelligence given by his teammate Shura; no matter what, it shouldn't be...
Just because of this reason, he was a little more relaxed than usual.
And because of this reason, when he prepared to activate Clock Up, it was already too late.
The Hihiirokane bullets easily tore through the armor on Kamen Rider Drake's Rider Form, ripping into the man's flesh.
After several seconds of gunfire, the shot Kazama Daisuke fell to the ground, his transformation canceling amidst a pool of blood.
"Hmph, this is the fitting end for a traitor."
Seeing the man before her cancel his transformation, Shura walked out from the shadows with peace of mind, preparing to take the Zecter from Kazama Daisuke's hand.
Only, the moment she walked out, she suddenly saw a figure inexplicably appear beside Kazama Daisuke and pick up the [Drake Grip] that had fallen to the ground.
"Ah, loot dropped... I was originally planning to use that thing."
Glancing at the Drake Zecter that was preparing to fly away on its own, Aaron, who had arrived at the scene, immediately used the power of Magnetic Field Rotation to yank the Drake Zecter into his hand.
Then, he spoke to the struggling Drake Zecter in a very gentle voice:
"Be good, or I'll crush you right now."
In Shura's eyes, the current scene was a man suddenly popping out and becoming a qualified user for Drake on the spot.
*What kind of joke is this!*
*Qualified users must be loyal to the organization... no, at the very least, loyal to humanity.*
*How is a guy of unknown origin worthy of a Rider's power!*
"Ah, well, since I came to this place, I might as well use the power of this place a little."
After confirming the Drake Zecter had given up struggling, Aaron attached it to the Drake Grip and spoke indifferently.
"Henshin. Cast Off."
[Henshin! Cast Off!]
[Change Dragonfly!]
"I don't have time to tangle with you people here right now, so rest easy—"
After completing a strafing run with the gun in his hand, forcing back this group of ZECT members, Aaron decisively activated that ZECT Rider trump card.
"Clock Up."
[Clock Up!]
In an instant, the ZECT members forced back by the light bullets could no longer see the enemy's trace.
"This is bad!"
Shura, realizing this, immediately spoke to her companions in other areas via communicator with a grim expression.
"Captain Yamato, this is Shura."
"Someone just seized Drake's transformation device and Zecter, then disappeared from my eyes. I suspect he might appear on your battlefield; please be careful!"
"This man is too strange. If we leave him be, it might cause problems for the Sky Ladder Project!"
.........................