bioinnovel Chapter 397 [3 Chapters Combined] A Bold Speculation
Chapter 397 [3 Chapters Combined] A Bold Speculation
The old father's voice was calm and deep, carrying a transcendence that had transcended countless years. It also made Kengo Shinaka, who had once been puzzled by his father's "slacking off," fall into deep thought.
"Although the real world is far more complex and vast than the game, and some dramatic situations are even beyond the imagination of games—for example, an island nation daring to interfere in the domestic affairs of a major Eastern power, or a previously anti-drug superpower suddenly enacting a new law that allows people to hide their records when they are high and be no different from normal people—some principles are the same."
"Crisis, challenges, and even those frustrating misfortunes are often indispensable 'pressures' and 'sharpening stones' for life living in this world, driving its evolution, consolidating its civilization, and shaping its unique culture and spirit."
"By prematurely nipping everything in the bud, I may seem merciful, but in reality, I'm efficiently stifling their right to grow autonomously and unleash their limitless potential. So what we should be doing is preventing tragedy from happening while appropriately letting go and allowing the 'protagonist' to explore and grow on their own, shouldn't we?"
Jian Wu listened intently, his eyes sparkling.
He recalled his experiences with his companions...
Those arduous battles, especially against their father in his dark and out-of-control state, the moments of confusion and panic caused by the loss of his companionship and guidance; and the final moment of breaking through the darkness and laughing together...
Every experience has left a deep imprint on his growth.
"is that so……"
Manaka Kengo murmured.
Then, a slightly mischievous smile appeared on his face, and he scratched his head.
"Uh, I thought that Dad, you've been slacking off because you think it's too troublesome to personally deal with all the 'newbie monsters,' or... well, you're probably looking forward to seeing us juniors scrambling around, even making a few embarrassing mistakes, and then filming those moments and playing them over and over again as a public execution, so you're just deliberately ignoring it?"
"Cough cough cough...! How... how is this possible!"
The old father, who had maintained an air of otherworldly wisdom, was visibly taken aback by Kenjiro's instinctive retort. He even subconsciously shifted his arm, furtively concealing a tiny, barely noticeable camera within his robes. Before Kenjiro could realize anything was amiss, he cleared his throat and began to offer a serious explanation.
"Am I the kind of unreliable elder who, just to satisfy a wicked whim, sits by and watches a crisis fester, watching their juniors make a complete fool of themselves... uh, I mean! The kind who lets their juniors experience the necessary trials... Wait, Kengo! What kind of look was that just now?!"
"No...! There's nothing there! Absolutely nothing!"
Upon hearing his father's question, the usually straightforward Kengo couldn't help but give his father a suspicious look, as if asking, "Aren't you the same?" His father, who always seemed to feel incredibly safe during times of crisis, was ironically the biggest source of danger during peacetime.
It wasn't until he saw his father's "kind" yet furious gaze scrutinizing him that Jianwu straightened his back, his expression becoming extremely serious, and he even exaggeratedly rubbed his eyes.
"I think I just got some dust in my eye! Yes, dust! It's fine now!"
"……snort!"
Fortunately, while the old man might be a bit unreasonable on a normal day, he wasn't so enraged as to unleash a physical version of "Memory Erasure Technique" on Kenjiro Masaka, knowing he was in the wrong. He simply decided to prepare a proper "surprise" for Masaka and Carmilla on their wedding day, and snorted sullenly. He decided to take the opportunity offered by his eldest son and shamelessly skip over the topic.
After a brief, slightly awkward silence, and having composed himself, the elderly father spoke again, his tone regaining its previous calm and profound quality:
"In short, you must understand that, just as every war in human history has led to the loss of a large number of lives, it has also promoted the development of science and technology to a certain extent... Every crisis you experience, every difficulty you need to overcome by uniting as one, and even the necessary setbacks and lessons that cause you pain and reflection are all 'required courses' that life and civilization cannot completely eliminate on the road to growth, and are even indispensable."
"In this situation, my role could be the ultimate guarantor hidden behind the scenes, ensuring that the worst-case scenario doesn't happen and the world doesn't face utter destruction. It could also be a beacon to dispel the fog in your minds and guide you forward when you're lost. But I absolutely cannot, and should not, become your 'all-powerful babysitter' who's always on call to solve all your problems, or an 'invincible cheat code' that ignores all rules and sweeps away all obstacles with a single blow."
His voice became extremely solemn.
"Otherwise, with the mindset that 'no matter what you do, someone will always cover for you,' you'll instinctively choose to rely on me. When faced with danger, you'll just wait for my help, gradually losing the courage to forge your own path in the face of an unknown destiny. You might even lose the meaning and purpose of striving because the path I've paved is 'too smooth.' In the end, you'll completely give up and choose to be content with the status quo, no longer making any changes that could affect the present..."
"Therefore, it was not a blessing, but a most hidden and cruel punishment in the name of 'love'."
……
As memories resurfaced, Kenjiro Shinaka, who had only vaguely understood the words back then but pretended to understand and nodded repeatedly so as not to disappoint his father, now deeply appreciates his father's good intentions as the years have passed.
This time, all the confusion and joking in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a deep sense of realization and understanding.
Therefore, when faced with the conditions proposed by the Goddess of Death, Kengo Shinaka, after regaining his senses, nodded slightly and readily agreed.
Although doing so would mean that Riley would lack this major asset in the years to come...
But, in the final analysis...
Zhen Zhongjian realized that he had also come from ignorance, experiencing confusion, pain, and choices before finally becoming firm in his belief of "making everyone smile".
The strength of this belief stems precisely from the fact that it was something he himself realized, chose, and upheld in battle, rather than something forcibly instilled by others or easily achieved through external forces.
True protection is not about shielding them from all the storms, but about believing that they have the strength to grow through the storms and ultimately bring smiles to themselves and others.
Therefore, Kengo Shinaka believed... no, he was certain.
All it takes is enough time and the necessary space to develop skills.
Riley, who was chosen by his "unique" father and did not choose to rely on the points earned from daily check-ins to lie down and be complacent, but instead has always worked hard to protect those around him, will surely be able to find his own way to light up his own "smile" on a more authentic path that sacrifices certain "conveniences".
"Madam, I understand your concerns and respect your responsibility to maintain the order of this universe."
With this in mind, when Kensuke responded to the Goddess of Death, his voice was steady and powerful, without the slightest hint of offense or displeasure. Instead, he calmly and deliberately explained the Ultra Guard's position to the Goddess of Death.
"Please rest assured, our Ultra Guard is indeed committed to protecting the peace and hope of many worlds. But we also know that each world has its own unique path, challenges, and pace of growth."
"And we believe that true protection is never about forcibly shining our 'light' into every corner or imposing our will on other living beings. Nor is it about replacing those beings' inherent right to struggle and choose. Rather, it is about becoming a reliable force when they face a crisis that they cannot bear alone, a crisis that could lead to the extinction of their species, yet they still do not give up hope and continue to fight.
"Therefore, I accept your second restriction. And I hereby promise that unless this world truly encounters an existential calamity that it cannot overcome on its own, or unless the beings of this world, suffering from humiliation and oppression, issue a clear and urgent cry for help, I will remain uninvolved and will not voluntarily descend upon this place."
"This is a respect for the autonomy of all living things in this world, and also a basic 'etiquette' that should be observed in respect for the 'independent' nature of different universes."
After a lengthy and eloquent speech that inadvertently slapped the face of a certain self-proclaimed "world police" who frequently stirred up world conflicts, Kenjiro Shinaka changed the subject and, without waiting for Riley's response, made the choice on Riley's behalf.
"As for the first point, the limitation on Mr. Riley's abilities... I think this might also be a kind of 'guidance' for him. Having experienced this brush with death and the clash with different laws, he should be able to better understand that the weight of life lies not only in making up for lost regrets, but also in cherishing every genuine emotional connection in the present moment, and in using a responsible attitude to create a future full of possibilities for himself and for the lives he has encountered. True strength and protection often stem from the recognition of the limits of one's own power, and the shining will to go against the current even when one knows one is no match. Right, Mr. Riley?"
This last sentence was clearly meant for Riley.
Even as their relationship had clearly improved, she transformed Riley into a ball of light and separated it from her body. This allowed Riley, who was silently watching the spectacle, to frantically nod under the gaze of the Goddess of Death, conveying strong messages of "deep understanding," "complete acceptance," "definite reflection," and "striving to correct my mistakes!"
Because Riley knew in his heart that Kenjiro Shinichi would never really break ties with the Goddess of Death and cause a conflict between the two universes for his sake alone.
Therefore, while it may seem that Riley had no choice, Jianwu was actually giving Riley a way out and trying to secure a relatively "reasonable" outcome for him.
After all, compared to being directly annihilated by the Goddess of Death, or being permanently imprisoned...
Adhering to these restrictions is the best possible outcome.
Moreover, the Goddess of Death only restricted Riley, prohibiting him from using the method of creating clones to deceive her, but did not completely block Riley's ability to travel through time and space, which can be considered as showing mercy.
Furthermore, Riley's condition for abiding by this treaty is that he is currently outmatched and unable to fight the Goddess of Death on his own.
To put it bluntly, it's not about affecting the order of the universe; it's simply that Riley's fists weren't strong enough.
In the future, through certain means, I will improve my strength to the point that I can make the Goddess of Death wary, or even stand on equal footing with her...
The restrictions of that treaty are therefore automatically null and void.
When that time comes, if the future Riley travels back in time to help the present Riley make up for his regrets, won't the result be the same?
Of course, the Goddess of Death must have considered this as well. However, out of fear of the Land of Light, and because Riley's initial intentions were ultimately good, rather than him being a villain who intended to destroy the universe, she turned a blind eye to Riley.
Oops, wait a minute...
Your future self travels to the past to help you fill in the gaps in your past...
Furthermore, he failed to travel through time to fight the evil Sandman. Instead, Ben Tennyson, the protagonist of *Teen Matrix*, appeared out of nowhere and joined forces with Section 13 to fight the Sandman…
And in the system store, there's that watch that's even more expensive than the silly girl's, and it looks kind of familiar...
Could it be...?!
"Very well, in that case, the contract is settled. This dual contract serves both as a balance against past transgressions and as a guide for future possibilities. May we both abide by it, thereby maintaining the enduring tranquility and vitality of this universe, based on its own inherent laws."
Just as Riley breathed a sigh of relief and vaguely guessed the truth based on his thoughts,
Seeing Riley obediently choose to back down and admit defeat, and seeing Trigana's frank and understanding attitude, the last trace of concern in the Goddess of Death's heart was dispelled.
The negotiation's trajectory perfectly aligned with her core objective of maintaining stability at the cosmic boundary and limiting the arbitrary intervention of powerful external forces. Furthermore, the other party's attitude was far more reasonable than she had anticipated. This made the Goddess of Death feel a slight increase in favor of the two individuals before her.
Then, in a solemn tone, he raised his hand and pointed, injecting a beam of grayish-white energy into Riley's brow.
The figure of the Goddess of Death, shrouded in a tattered black robe, began to fade rapidly, like ink spreading and dissipating quickly in clear water.
There was no earth-shattering fanfare, just a rapid disappearance of presence.
The sense of time and space that had been frozen by the extreme chill of death also receded like ice melting and snow melting, returning to a normal, flowing state.
"Phew...it's finally done. If a fight had broken out, it would have been a huge problem."
Seeing the Goddess of Death disappear and unable to detect any trace of her presence within his senses, Kensuke Manaka, who appeared calm but was actually on edge and ready to fight at any moment, was finally able to completely relax while making his own sarcastic remarks.
Then, his enormous body began to change.
The brilliant eternal light, like the receding tide, flowed back and converged from the limbs and bones towards the core of the color timer in the chest.
The magnificent golden-white patterns gradually faded, and the radiant, eternal form slowly disappeared. The enormous body of light also began to shrink at a visible rate.
Finally, Triga, whose body size had become almost indistinguishable from that of a normal person and who had returned to his composite form, appeared before Riley.
"Phew... thank you so much this time!"
With the departure of the Goddess of Death, Riley, now completely free from the life-threatening crisis, felt as if he had been through a lifetime and subconsciously let out a long sigh of relief. He even nodded repeatedly in agreement when he heard Kensuke's sarcastic remark.
After all, in Riley's view, he was someone who had already died once, so even if he died here, it wouldn't be a big loss.
But if he were to cause a war between the two universes, thus plunging Peter and the others into crisis, Riley would truly die with regrets.
Then, bowing deeply to Kenshin no Kenshin, who had shrunk his size for easier communication, he made a sincere promise.
"Should I call you Ultraman Triga or Mr. Satoru Manaka? In any case, I will never forget your life-saving grace! Please feel free to ask me for help in the future!"
"Haha, I appreciate your kind offer... However, I don't want to ever need your help with any plans. After all, as my father says, raising you doesn't cost much, but if I use your schemes, or even get you to turn to the dark side and betray us, then I'll be in deep trouble!"
Shinichi Kengo nodded slightly, and a gentle thought swept over Riley, pretending to be serious while teasing him, thus accepting his thanks.
"Ahem, it's not that exaggerated..."
Riley never expected that his actions as a "modern-day Jia Xu" would even be known to Ultraman. After straightening up, he couldn't help but scratch his head in slight embarrassment.
After a brief hesitation, Riley, though aware that the other party had no obligation to answer his questions, was still driven by instinctive curiosity to ask his own question before Kengo Shinichi left.
"Also...may I ask you some questions, which might be a bit presumptuous?"
"Oh? Tell me about it?"
"So... who is this 'Dad' you're referring to? In my memory... or rather, in the universe where I lived in my previous life, in the 'Ultraman Triga' series, you were probably raised by your mother, Rena Manaka, all by yourself, right...?"
As he spoke, Riley pointed to himself, then to Kenshin in front of him, and added thoughtfully.
"Furthermore, the 'Dream Redemption System' that brought me to this universe and provided me with various assistance and conveniences... could it also have been created by your father? Does it have a deep connection with your Land of Light? Could it be that your father... is that infamous war criminal... oops, I mean, the director of the Science and Technology Bureau of the Land of Light, Ultraman Hikari?"
After asking the question, Riley kept a close eye on Triga's reaction.
Clearly, from the moment I was reborn into this universe and became aware of the system's existence...
Because of his experience as a narcotics officer, Riley was forced to develop the habit of thinking twice before acting, especially when facing the unknown. He always considered the worst-case scenario and believed that there was no such thing as a free lunch. In fact, he had been trying to figure out the details of this system all along.
Even after Riley gradually grew stronger and acquired a large number of points—especially during the period when he was forced to turn evil due to Mr. Negative's influence and became a villain harvester, frantically "harvesting" the leeks, and the points he harvested had already become an extremely large number—he deliberately stopped improving his attributes and never even exchanged for any items, in order to reduce his dependence on the system.
To prevent oneself from striving to the end only to become a puppet who merely obeys the system's orders, ultimately losing one's body to the system. Or perhaps this so-called system is a disguise of some higher-dimensional being—for example, Tzeentch from Warhammer 40—using Riley's actions to play a much larger game.
Of course, after Riley restored the lottery function in the system store to normal and applied a hot patch to specifically prohibit "Cheng Xiaoyu" from drawing on behalf of others, Riley did not try to continue drawing the lottery, which was also due to this consideration.
It wasn't because Riley's incredibly unlucky fate continued to perform consistently. Even when he spent points to try and get the guaranteed reward, he only got the worst, most useless items, which made Riley decisively abandon dangerous thoughts like "take a gamble and you might win big!" or "going all in is a sign of wisdom!"
As a result, the system's presence has gradually declined, and after Riley collected all twelve talismans, the system was even temporarily undetectable.
Until now, thanks to the unexpected intervention of Ultraman Triga, and the fact that the other party clearly knew his background, Riley, who had been clueless about the origin of the system, suddenly had a bold idea!
With this ability, one can travel between parallel universes, collect unique items from those worlds, and modify them according to one's own ideas.
An interest in observing "variables" and "possibilities"...
And seemingly a mere formality, allowing villains to freely enter and rob, yet always managing to immediately implement countermeasures after the villains succeed. It's as if they weren't being robbed, but rather that it was premeditated, a deliberate attempt to lure in new inventions, waiting for "lucky ones" to act as free guinea pigs, thus bypassing the complex approval processes of the upper echelons and easily collecting vast amounts of real-world data…
Upon closer reflection, the things that happened to Riley are remarkably similar to the modus operandi of that legendary genius scientist, "prop master," and "arms dealer who operates in both the legal and illegal worlds"!
Even this approach of "randomly deploying systems to collect data from various worlds" feels very much like a scientific research project!
Riley was the "guinea pig" chosen by Hikari by chance!
"...You're saying my father is Hikari?"
"Pfft... Hahahaha!"
"If he heard you say that, he'd probably be so scared that his legs would go weak under the... well, 'friendly' gazes of the other Ultra Brothers, or even the Captain himself. He'd write a 100,000-word self-criticism report overnight, and even volunteer to go to Planet K76, ready to train with Leo for ten thousand years."