"Connect to Ark's comm-line."
Dan stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the dazzling night skyline of New York City. His voice was calm and emotionless.
Since he had decided to begin his plan, every preparation arranged beforehand could now be activated one by one.
"Understood," Izu blinked and replied.
"I'll do it!"
Before Izu could act, Azu stepped forward, eyes lighting up as she instantly connected to the network. The computer's large screen on the desk lit up at once.
Izu looked at Azu, her delicate nose wrinkling slightly, biting down lightly in irritation—clearly displeased.
Before long, the avatar of Kamen Rider Ark-Zero appeared on the screen.
"How is the preparation of the Museum Project progressing?"
Dan turned around, directly asking.
"My lord," the AI Ark first offered a respectful greeting before responding:
"Per your command, the Tree of Life Foundation has continued constructing the secret Gaia Memory production facility. All preliminary preparations for the Museum Project are complete. We can begin mass-producing Gaia Memories at any time."
Dan nodded with satisfaction.
"Well done. Next, I will transmit the Gaia consciousness data stored within the Gaia Library to you. From this moment onward, the Museum Project officially begins. You may start producing Gaia Memories."
"Yes."
Ark's voice was deep and mechanical.
"In addition, the Extinction Keys and Zetsumerise Driver are fully equipped. Jin, Naki, Ikazuchi, and Raiden are ready to mobilize at any moment to execute your commands.Do you have any further instructions?"
"The remaining parts of the plan I will handle myself. The game has only just begun—no need to rush. When the tide of the era truly rises, my Kamen Rider Game will envelop the entire world… and become its rule."
A dangerous, fanatical smile twisted across Dan's face.
"Understood."
Ark's eyes flashed red.
"Oh, right," Dan added suddenly, "What is the status of the Shocker Organization?"
Ark's eyes brightened, a stream of data flickering across the screen.
"Dr. Zola, using funding and resources from HYDRA, has completed construction of multiple Shocker bases. Since activation, they have continuously conducted human modification and enhancement experiments. Some test subjects have already undergone preliminary but incomplete transformations."
Dan smiled lightly."Zola's efficiency is impressive. Very good. Continue contacting him under the name of Foundation X, and provide him with additional Shocker cybernetic enhancement technology."
"Understood."
After confirming that Dan had no further issues, Ark disconnected the transmission and began executing tasks.
"The game has begun. And what great game would be complete without powerful villain organizations? Shocker is a crucial component of this world-building plan. The shadow that lurks beneath civilization must now begin to expand."
Dan's lips curled upward.
The Marvel Universe originally had no Shocker, only HYDRA.So Dan found the version of Dr. Arnim Zola from Captain America: The Winter Soldier—whose consciousness was digitized and stored in computers. He created a Shumagia (mechanical bionic) body for him, granting physical autonomy.
Then he gifted Zola basic Shocker cyber-modification technology, allowing him to found the Shocker Organization. Zola did not disappoint: with HYDRA's backing, the Shocker was rapidly born in the Marvel world.
Their shared goal of world domination made Shocker strangely compatible with HYDRA.
Heroes need villains to grow. It is the pressure and threat of villains that forces heroes to evolve into true heroes. Just like in a game, you must establish a final boss for the protagonist to defeat.
Thus, Kamen Riders also require monsters and villain organizations—Shocker exists exactly for this purpose.
HYDRA's efficiency was truly impressive. In a short timeframe, numerous secret Shocker bases had already been constructed. It seemed that HYDRA's upper ranks were extremely eager to obtain Shocker modification technology.
Dan was quite satisfied with their usefulness. Their only flaw was excessive curiosity—they desperately wanted to uncover the identity of the mysterious Foundation X.
All communication between Dan and Zola was handled through Ark under the nonexistent identity of Foundation X. After each communication, every trace was erased.Though HYDRA searched relentlessly, they never found a single clue.
Dan had never intended to control HYDRA—they were not easily controlled and not worth the effort. By gradually feeding Zola modification technology, he could manipulate Shocker indirectly. He only needed the organization to exist as a villain—nothing more.
And watching HYDRA burn resources to chase shadows, failing miserably every time… was extremely amusing to Dan.
Like fish endlessly circling after a bait they will never find.
"One must admit… I truly enjoy such wicked entertainment."
He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, eyes narrowing slightly.
"First: the Space Stone. The Gaia Library can already pinpoint its location."
Although the Space Stone, also known as the Tesseract, was of a primal cosmic level—beyond the Earth Library's ability to analyze—it stood out precisely because it could not be analyzed. Within endless accessible data, such an empty blind spot was like a black dot on white paper—impossible to miss.
Moreover, all Earth-related events and people surrounding it— HYDRA using the Tesseract during WWII, Captain America crashing into the Arctic with it, S.H.I.E.L.D. retrieving it—were all searchable.
Dan closed his eyes, connecting his mind to the Earth Library.Moments later he opened them, now knowing the exact S.H.I.E.L.D. base storing the Tesseract.
"Master, are we going to seize the Tesseract right away?"
Seeing his expression, Azu asked eagerly like a child discovering a new toy.
Dan thought, then shook his head."Not yet. For now, gathering some of the Space Stone's energy for preliminary spatial rule analysis is enough."
He produced a blank crystal cartridge, passing it to Azu.
"Send Parado. I'll transmit the coordinates. Have him use this cartridge to absorb the Space Stone's energy."
Parado was the first complete Bugster born in this world; unlike Izu and Azu, he was a pure type.
Azu accepted the cartridge with a wicked smile, her body fading into digital particles as she left.
"Izu," Dan called.
"Yes, master?" Izu asked formally, though her eyes still held quiet resentment.
Taking her hand gently, Dan said,"Azu is simply energetic and mischievous. Don't be upset. You are both my secretaries—my right and left hands."
Izu lowered her head, hiding her shifting gaze as she stared at their joined hands."I understand. I won't argue with her."
Dan nodded. He cared for both of them and did not want true conflict.
His reason for not seizing the Tesseract immediately was to ensure that the plot of Avengers 1 proceeded as normal.
Alien invasion and heroic salvation were irrelevant to him.
He only cared about one thing: Thanos delivering Loki the Scepter containing the Mind Stone.
If the story changed and the Mind Stone never reached Earth, acquiring it later from Thanos would require overpowering him and locating him somewhere in infinite space.
Dan hated unnecessary trouble.
As long as the Tesseract remained on Earth before Thor returned it to Asgard at the end of Avengers 1, he could retrieve it anytime using the Library.
When the moment was right, he would simply take both stones at once.
In short, the reason he didn't seize the Tesseract now was simple:
Mind Stone. Space Stone.
I want them both.
—End of Chapter—