Chapter 83: Mountain Base
After seeing off Masked Hero.
Aokiji hollowed out the mountain space a bit more.
Looking at the bare rock walls, he thought for a moment.
He pulled out his phone and contacted Child Emperor.
Then he obtained Dr. Bofoi's contact information.
"Yo, Dr. Bofoi. You've been quite active in joining the Association lately, even taking over the shelter upgrades."
Inside the Research Institute, the video call screen switched over.
Bofoi replied expressionlessly:
"The Association pays and issues orders; I simply accept the missions. So, what do you want?"
Aokiji: "I'm very satisfied with the robot upgrades you and Child Emperor performed."
"I thought you'd secretly plant something in the robots, but everything turned out normal."
"I even specifically instructed Isamu to check thoroughly; the programming and AI are all fine."
"Of course," Bofoi said, his tone still flat.
"Isamu is just too naive due to his age. I don't doubt his ability, so naturally, there's no need to waste time doing something that would definitely be discovered."
"Ha! Caught you, old man!" Aokiji pointed a finger at him.
"You won't waste time because it would be discovered. Doesn't that prove you actually had the intention to tamper with them?"
"...If there's nothing else, I'll go back to work."
Aokiji naturally had business calling him.
"I've placed another order with Isamu. Following the principle of respecting the elderly and loving the young, I naturally have to place an order with you as well."
Aokiji spun around, filming the interior of the mountain for him.
"I want to renovate this place into a multi-functional base for Training, detention, storing collections, and more."
"I'll leave the specific design to you. I only have one requirement: the space must be large enough, and you can even expand further underground."
Bofoi fell silent for a brief moment.
Then he asked:
"Since you know I'm still wary of you, why let me renovate the base?"
"Trust is mutual; someone has to be the first to give it."
After saying that, Aokiji couldn't help but laugh.
"That's a line from the remastered version's 'warm man' face."
"In reality, first of all, I value your efficiency."
"Secondly, don't think you and Isamu are the only two Genius scientists in this world."
The implication was that he wasn't worried that any hidden tricks Bofoi might leave could escape his notice.
Bofoi caught his meaning, and the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
"It can be completely renovated in three days."
He accepted the renovation task.
The efficiency met Aokiji's expectations.
In the original plot, City A was completely destroyed, and the Association estimated that clearing the debris and rebuilding would take at least ten years.
But Bofoi's Robotic Army only took seven days.
"I've sent you the location. My figure collection is inside; don't break them."
He hung up the video call.
Aokiji returned to his villa.
The aroma of food wafted out.
In the kitchen, Kiiro was skillfully displaying her culinary talents.
She was still wearing only one of Aokiji's oversized T-shirts, the hem reaching the base of her thighs.
Faint red marks were vaguely visible.
Her well-proportioned, slender legs had extremely beautiful lines, and with her movements, the slight tremor of her plumpness made it impossible to look away.
"Lord Aokiji, you're back. Wait just a moment, it'll be ready soon."
Kiiro picked up a piece of freshly stir-fried beef.
She lifted it to Aokiji's lips and said softly:
"Lord Aokiji, help me taste if it's salty enough. Ah—"
Her hair was loosely scattered, her expression gentle and doting, her eyes smiling... she had a strangely maternal glow.
Aokiji opened his mouth to be fed, tasted it carefully, and nodded in approval.
"It tastes great. Don't you need to rest more?"
"It's fine... it was very, very gentle."
Seemingly remembering yesterday's crushing defeat, an angry crimson flushed her smooth cheeks again.
A flicker of Battle Intent rose in Kiiro's eyes.
The hero who had already surrendered felt her heart of justice reigniting, and the thought of continuing to challenge the Monster surfaced.
"Lord Aokiji, how about... we eat first?"
"Alright."
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The Robotic Army worked day and night.
Aokiji returned to his daily routine, constantly performing Training.
Occasionally, he fought Monsters to test the Moves he had developed.
And from time to time, he gave a few pointers on the problems Masked Hero encountered.
Three days passed quickly.
Aokiji returned to the transformed mountain.
The originally rough cave had been re-buried and camouflaged.
Only upon receiving Aokiji's command would the seemingly ordinary hillside open to reveal a passage.
Inside, the primitive rock walls were nowhere to be seen.
They were replaced by alloy Materials full of high-tech feel.
"This is the collection room you requested."
Bofoi's voice came from a floating spherical robot.
Inside the excessively spacious room, hidden devices maintained an extremely low temperature, and various ice sculptures emitting a heavy pressure were placed within.
Even the impressively sized Ancient King only occupied a corner of the ice sculpture collection room.
"The training ground is below."
An internal elevator carried the man and the sphere rapidly downward.
When the elevator doors opened.
The space that met their eyes was less a training ground and more an underground plain.
Centered on the circular pillar elevator shaft they were in, the boundaries in all directions were so far away they were blurry.
This range almost extended into the underground space of the Ghost Town.
The height was also staggering, enough for gipsy danger to jump up, perform a three-and-a-half-turn spin, and land steadily.
"Nano-repair Robots have been installed. As long as the site isn't vaporized, damaged Materials can be repaired, or new Materials can be provided directly."
Bofoi gave a general introduction.
"Including changes to the site, adding obstacles or basic structures—all can be generated."
Aokiji stomped his foot.
Instantly, spiderweb-like cracks spread out for dozens of meters!
Then, the floor could be seen slowly repairing itself at a visible rate.
"Not bad. I won't have to fill in the dirt myself anymore." Aokiji nodded with satisfaction.
In addition to the ice sculpture collection room and the training ground, the base contained various functional spaces extending underground like an ant nest.
Calling it a mountain base was no longer enough to describe it.
The space inside the mountain was just like a foyer, merely the entrance area.
"My work ends here," Bofoi said.
"The detailed regional functional planning and instructions for various facilities have been sent to you."
Having said this, the spherical robot he controlled left without a word, returning the way it came.
Aokiji continued to familiarize himself with the base.
After roughly touring all the areas.
He received a message.
It was from Fubuki.
[I talked to my sister again. This time she didn't lose her temper, but she's very conflicted... Now, it seems she's gone to find you.]