Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Method

“Captain, the Magus Power System was developed solely by Dr. Yatsuo! When it comes to understanding the Magus System, no one is more qualified to speak than Dr. Yatsuo!” Yorui reported.

“Dr. Yatsuo…” Upon hearing this, Hui Kumai furrowed her brows, pondered for a moment, and then declared with resolve, “I’ll go find Dr. Yatsuo!”

“Alright!” Yorui nodded, then returned to her primary duty, analyzing data on her computer.

Without another word, Hui Kumai moved swiftly toward the conference room.

She stood discreetly at the door, repeatedly casting meaningful glances at Dr. Yatsuo. Fortunately, Danko was wholly focused on Chief Yoshigang, who was kneeling before him and didn’t notice anything unusual.

Catching Hui Kumai’s signal, Dr. Yatsuo slipped out under the cover of the crowd while Danko’s attention was elsewhere. The room was crowded enough that Danko didn’t notice his absence.

Once outside, Hui Kumai quickly summarized the situation for Dr. Yatsuo.

Only then did Dr. Yatsuo realize what had been happening. No wonder Director Miyazawa had always been so invested in the Magus Power research; now it made sense—they had plotted this together long ago! His invention had become their stepping stone to becoming giants.

“Still, Danko is truly a rare genius,” Dr. Yatsuo said with a bitter smile. He felt regret for such a brilliant mind choosing the wrong path—a talent that could have benefited humanity, now standing in opposition to it.

As they spoke, the two arrived in the empty TPC command center, gazing around with some confusion.

“The other team members are out on another important mission, so it’s just me and Yorui here,” Hui Kumai explained.

“Then this crisis is in your hands, Dr. Yatsuo!” Hui Kumai bowed slightly to him.

“This is my duty!” Dr. Yatsuo replied solemnly, then quickly began discussing strategies with the only technical genius present, Yorui.

Meanwhile…

In Masaki Keigo’s lavish villa, the heater was on, keeping the chill entirely at bay.

Longze Yue curled up in his comfortable bed, snoring softly in peaceful slumber. In another room, Da Gu and Masaki were also fast asleep, regaining their strength.

Longze Yue was in the midst of a sweet dream.

In his dream, Da Gu had slipped out with him and Masaki Keigo, and when Shinjou, Kuejing, and the others found out, they all gave him a hard time.

Even in his sleep, Longze Yue chuckled aloud.

On the vintage-style wall, the old-fashioned clock ticked away, its hands crawling forward at a tortoise’s pace.

Unnoticed, evening was drawing near.

Still deep in sleep, Longze Yue felt a tickling sensation on the soles of his feet…

Groggily, he sat up to see Da Gu and Masaki already dressed and standing before him.

Da Gu, a mischievous smile on his face, had somehow acquired a feather and was brushing it against Longze Yue’s foot.

“Azawa, time to get up!” Da Gu called out cheerfully.

“You really can sleep, Longze Yue!” Masaki, arms crossed, gave him a look of exasperation. “It’s nearly evening!”

“Huh…” Still in nothing but floral boxers, Longze Yue quickly threw off his thin blanket and hurriedly dressed.

…

On Tokyo’s bustling streets, even after the destruction wrought by the giant earlier, only a few hours of restoration had brought life back to the unaffected half of the city. Citizens were out and about once more—a testament to the resilience of Japan’s capital.

The three strolled together like close friends, their handsome appearances drawing admiring glances from countless women. Da Gu, in his GUTS uniform, looked especially heroic.

Longze Yue suggested that Da Gu get him a GUTS uniform too, just to boost his chances with the ladies, earning him a look of disdain from both Da Gu and Masaki.

Of course, he was only joking—he didn’t have much interest in chasing after girls.

Yet many young women sighed in secret: What a pity—three such dashing men, and they’re all only interested in each other…

…

“Since our transformation abilities have returned, we should seriously think about how to deal with that giant,” Longze Yue said, his playful demeanor gone. The three of them had all recently felt their transformation powers return.

“That guy fires his energy beams like there’s no limit—you can’t even get close!” Masaki, who’d fought Danko’s giant the longest, complained. He spoke with authority, having faced the giant more than anyone else.

“There’s always a way! I don’t believe his energy is truly infinite. A truly infinite energy source—no one in the universe could invent such a thing!” Longze Yue said, expertly pulling out a pack of cigarettes and lighting one for himself.

Masaki reached out for a cigarette as well.

“Want one, Da Gu?” Longze Yue offered with a grin.

“Azawa, smoking is bad for you!” Da Gu shook his head, declining.

Just then, Da Gu’s PDI beeped loudly at his waist.

Startled, Da Gu’s face fell. “Oh no, the captain must have found out I’ve been gone this long!”

Longze Yue couldn’t help but laugh, watching his childhood idol look so glum. “Fate’s a strange thing…”

Who would have thought that something as improbable as crossing worlds from a novel would actually happen?

Da Gu quickly composed himself, then answered the PDI.

It was Rina.

“Da Gu! Where have you been?” Rina sounded annoyed on the other end.

“Uh…I noticed something suspicious so I…” Da Gu began, but Rina cut him off.

“Da Gu, why do you always act on your own?” she scolded.

…

Da Gu managed to placate Rina with some excuses.

Just as he was about to close the PDI, a new message from Yorui in the command center arrived.

The message revealed that the giant did not have infinite energy and provided further crucial details.

“So that’s it!” Da Gu exclaimed, slapping his thigh, drawing strange looks from the passersby.

Longze Yue and Masaki leaned in to read the PDI as well.

Longze Yue’s expression turned grave.

“Danko really is a genius! To use the Magus System like this…” Longze Yue sighed.

“Looks like I need to get back to base,” Da Gu said earnestly.

“Alright.” Longze Yue and Masaki nodded.

—

Several dozen minutes later, in the TPC base command center.

“Yorui and I have found a way to neutralize the giant!” Dr. Yatsuo announced to the entire Victory Team.

“Remember when you were trapped on the mechanical island? By reversing the Magus Power System, we can generate a counter-force!” Dr. Yatsuo’s words made Kuejing raise his thick eyebrows.

Kuejing, an expert in precision instruments, was still a scientist at heart.

“So, if we use another Magus device to generate an opposing energy, we can neutralize the giant?” he asked tentatively.

“Exactly!” Yorui nodded vigorously, her shoulder-length hair trembling with the motion.