Manjo was visibly worried. How could the Smasher possibly be Nabeshima?
Battle Rabbit intervened, saying, "Nabeshima gave you his family's location. This might be a trap set by Faust to lure you out. Be cautious."
Manjo nodded. "Got it." He realized this was likely a trap but remained undeterred. He was determined to rescue Nabeshima's family.
Meanwhile, Soichi questioned Battle Rabbit, "What's your next move?"
Battle Rabbit replied, "I've recalled some fragments. In Faust's base, there's a metal plate with a pattern identical to Pandora's Box. Modern science alone can't create superhumans like the Smasher. But if Pandora's Box, or a comparable power from Mars, is involved, it might be achievable."
Soichi mused, "So, analyzing Pandora's Box might lead us to Faust?"
"Exactly," Battle Rabbit confirmed.
A Sinister Experiment
In a dimly lit room filled with beds, individuals in white clothes lay silently. Suddenly, one man's eyes glowed yellow, and he transformed into a Smasher. Yeba observed with a chilling smile, "The destructive power from the second injection is remarkable!"
The transformed man lunged at Yeba, only to be swiftly subdued. Yeba remarked, "Creating the ultimate life form is one of our goals. What will happen if we experiment further on humans injected with Smasher components? Let's find out."
The viewers from the three realms were horrified:
"This guy is utterly twisted!"
"Conducting a second experiment on human subjects? It's beyond cruel."
"He's despicable and deserves punishment!"
In the Extraordinary Chat Group, members echoed similar sentiments:
Funina: "This person is pure evil!"
Kiana: "Yes, it's terrifying to think of the pain inflicted on those experimented upon."
March Seven: "The suffering must be unimaginable!"
Keqing: "Worse than death itself!"
The Sky Wall Tragedy
At the Toudu Research Institute, Zhantu presented a video to Himuro Gentoku, exposing the tragedy of the Sky Wall. A man next to Himuro expressed shock. "The government confiscated all videos of that day. Where did you get this?"
Gentoku dismissed his concerns. "Everyone, leave us. Continue, Zhantu."
Zhantu pointed to a segment of the video. "After processing the footage and removing the light of Pandora's Box, I discovered this." The screen revealed a green and red box with a crystalline glow. "When the astronaut opened the box, two metal plates fell off, but the box's shape remained unchanged. This suggests a double structure. However, the two green plates are missing from the research institute's box."
Gentoku interrupted. "That's enough."
Zhantu persisted, "The plates existed. Where are they now?"
Gentoku brushed off the question, denying their existence. The audience sensed something amiss:
"The director's evasive behavior is suspicious."
"He's clearly hiding something!"
"This mystery runs deep."
In the chat group, Fu Xuan speculated, "Gentoku's denial suggests he's concealing the truth."
Hu Tao added, "He's avoiding facts outright."
Gentoku eventually admitted, "Three years ago, the outer metal plates were stolen by Faust. We suspect a traitor facilitated the theft." He revealed a photo of a man in a black astronaut uniform.
Battle Rabbit's expression darkened. He recognized the man. "It's Ishido Soichi," he murmured.
Rescuing Nabeshima's Family
Manjo and Takigawa Sayo disguised themselves as couriers to approach Nabeshima's family. When they rang the doorbell, Nabeshima's wife answered. She appeared confused and distressed.
"Your husband is protecting you," Sayo explained. "He may be in danger."
The mother and daughter were hidden in a courier box as Manjo and Sayo attempted to smuggle them out. However, guards intercepted them. These weren't government soldiers but Faust operatives. Manjo fought valiantly but was overpowered.
Sayo managed to rescue him with a car, but their escape was interrupted by a guard who clung to the vehicle, revealing a bomb timer on his head. Manjo shouted, "It's a bomb!"
The duo devised a plan. They drove the car into the sea and leaped out just in time, narrowly avoiding the explosion. The audience collectively sighed in relief.
The Coffee Shop's Secret
Back at the coffee shop, Battle Rabbit confronted Soichi. "A year ago, I became a Founding Knight on your advice. But I know nothing about you."
Soichi deflected with a smile. "Why the sudden curiosity? Focus on the present." He quickly left the shop. Moments later, Battle Rabbit discovered a photo of Soichi in an astronaut suit, confirming his identity.
The audience was stunned:
"The coffee shop owner is an astronaut?"
"Could he be the traitor?"
"His identity is far from simple."
The Battle Begins
Battle Rabbit received word of a Smasher sighting and rushed to the location. Transforming into Gorilla Diamond Form, he engaged in a fierce battle. Despite his strength, the Smasher grew larger after being injected with a new gas.
"Who's behind this?" Battle Rabbit demanded.
The Smasher's power overwhelmed him until Manjo intervened with the Drill Crusher. Together, they fought back, with Battle Rabbit transforming into Flying Eagle Gatling Form. Golden flying eagles and bullets rained down, trapping the Smasher in a mathematical cage before destroying it in a spectacular explosion.
The audience cheered:
"This attack is phenomenal!"
"The battle choreography is stunning!"
"Even the cage has mathematical symbols. Genius!"
A New Mystery
The defeated Smasher reverted to human form—Nabeshima. At the coffee shop, Nabeshima awoke but had no memory of Manjo or recent events. Frustrated, Manjo exclaimed, "How can I prove my innocence without your testimony?"
The audience shared his dismay, realizing this development added another layer to the mystery. How would Manjo clear his name now?
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