Standing behind Genm was a Rider clad in crimson and azure, and most importantly... two Gashats were plugged into his Gamer Driver—he was at least Lv. 3!
"Who are you people?" Brave demanded coldly again, preparing to upgrade to Lv. 2. But before he could successfully upgrade, Genm switched the device on his wrist—the Buggle Driver—to chainsaw mode and slashed at Brave. Brave had no choice but to block with his sword, and then...
"My sword!" Looking at his broken sword, Brave was stunned, then kicked down by Genm.
After witnessing the famous scene of the sword breaking, Rainbow called out to the system.
"System, sign in here."
"Sign-in location: Within the Five Games Domain. Congratulations, Host, you have received: Gamer Driver improvement data 10%, automatic data collection target x1 (Usage: simply touch the target), exclusive weapon data 20%, special Gashat x1."
Before he could examine his gains, Genm had already switched the Buggle Driver to gun mode and fired a burst at him and Ex-Aid.
No time to dodge! Rainbow, who had been spacing out for a while, had no space to dodge now.
Rainbow instinctively pulled Ex-Aid, who was preparing to dodge, in front of him, using him as a shield.
"Huh?" Ex-Aid was startled, then hit by the light bullets, letting out a scream.
"Where did they go!" After Brave got up from the ground, the enemies were gone.
"Mr. Li Yu..."
"Ahaha, my apologies, I was distracted just now. When I came to, I saw an attack, so I just grabbed something nearby to block it. An accident, an accident."
"..."
Even through his faceplate, Li Yu seemed to feel Hojo Emu's resentful gaze. But, isn't there still a faceplate? Then he can't see it~
---Divider---
Inside CR.
"The surgery doesn't just involve separating the patient and the Bugster at Lv.1; it also requires defeating the Lv.2 Bugster. Otherwise, the Bugster will gradually take over the patient's body, which means... Rensuke-san will disappear." Poppy was currently giving Emu some additional knowledge about game disease.
"Poppy Pipopapo." Kagami Hiiro suddenly spoke.
"Huh? Right now, you should call me Asuna...."
"What you call me doesn't matter. What was the identity of those two Riders who appeared? If it weren't for them, I would have already completed the surgery."
"I don't know, it's my first time seeing that Rider too. But Li-san might know, Li-san, Li-san." When it came to serious matters, Poppy also became a bit more serious, and nudged Li Yu, who was clearly distracted.
"Eh? Eh? Eh? Did you call me?" He was originally just checking the system rewards, but after seeing them, his thoughts had wandered far away. "What's wrong?"
"Honestly, stop spacing out all the time...." Poppy rolled her eyes cutely. "We wanted to ask if you know the identities of those two Riders."
"Oh, oh. I do know a little bit." Li Yu paused. "The purple-black Rider is called Genm. I've fought him a few times before. If you two face him at the same level, there shouldn't be a big problem. As for the other Rider, it's my first time seeing him too. However, the Gamer Drivers and Gashats were commissioned by the Ministry of Health to Genm Corporation. If they were from the Ministry of Health, they wouldn't not inform us, right? So I think the latter Rider should be from Genm Corporation."
"Genm and Genm Corporation?"
"Then what's with the two Gashats on that Rider's waist?"
"Form upgrades. Two Gashats usually mean Lv.3 or higher. Didn't I tell you?"
"When did you tell me, huh? Did you tell me in a dream?"
"My apologies, I just remembered, I did indeed tell you in a dream."
"Stop messing around, Li-san, let's quickly discuss how to deal with him."
"Relax, if he appears again next time, just leave him to me. I'll handle it." Li Yu waved his hand, seemingly not very concerned.
Kagami Hiiro frowned at his words, seemingly unable to understand Li Yu's inexplicable confidence. Hojo Emu was about to say something, but then remembered the Gashat Li Yu had shown before, and closed his mouth.
"Let me know immediately when you find the Bugster's location." Seemingly feeling there was no more useful information here, Kagami Hiiro got up and left.
"Aren't you going to... check on the patient?" Hojo Emu got up and followed Dr. Kagami, seeing him return to his seat and pull out a slice of cake.
"Eating cake here... when the most important thing right now is..."
"It's to replenish sugar and relieve fatigue."
"Is relieving fatigue more important than checking on the patient?"
"Not getting involved with patients, that's my principle. No matter who the patient is, I will cure them with surgery, nothing more."
"Is it enough just to cure the patient's body? Patients aren't objects!"
"You mere Intern Doctor, don't get carried away!"
"Ah~~" Li Yu yawned, expressionlessly watching the two people bickering in front of him. In his eyes, there seemed to be a unique "bond" progress bar between the main and secondary Riders above their heads.
"And you too! Mr. Li Yu, you were completely out of it during today's battle! Do you not care about the patient's condition?"
"Getting worked up again, aren't you, kid! Don't forget who established CR with its original intention! I just wanted to give you up-and-comers some opportunities to shine, and if you think that way, I'm really too sad..." Li Yu cleverly used his unknown identity as the founder of CR, patted Hojo Emu's shoulder, and feigned sadness.
"Sumimasen, Li-san, I was too impatient." Looking at Hojo Emu sincerely apologizing to him, Li Yu couldn't help but sigh. Is it because he's the main Rider? They're all so kind... Hmm, actually, exclude a certain main Rider. The most caring one, that's you!
"Alright, alright, of course I forgive you. Go do your thing, I'll chat with Dr. Kagami."
"Alright, now it's just the two of us. Let's talk about Emu first." Li Yu began, speaking to himself. "Because he was saved by Councilor Hinata, who was a doctor at the time, when he was a child, he aspired to become a doctor to make patients smile in health. That's what Councilor Hinata said, do you understand what I mean?"
"Ah, honestly..." Looking at the silent Dr. Kagami, Li Yu sighed, "I just wanted to have a simple talk between superior and subordinate. Can't you cooperate with me a little?"
"What exactly do you want to say?" Dr. Kagami frowned and spoke. Hearing Li Yu's words, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
"Unfortunately, Dr. Kagami, I happen to know a little about you. I wonder if the name Shirase Hime... would make you change color?"
"You bastard!" Dr. Kagami suddenly stood up, staring at Li Yu, his eyes filled with undisguised anger and unhidden sadness. "Don't make fun of me!"
"Relax, relax, you're my subordinate, why would I make fun of you for no reason?" Li Yu pressed Dr. Kagami back into his seat and sat down beside him.
"Then what do you mean?" Dr. Kagami's fingers trembled slightly, a faint suspicion forming in his heart, yet he feared this hope was merely an illusion.
"I've done some data collection and research in that area before. Guess what I found?" Li Yu said with a smile.
"What? Tell me!"