Bang—!!!
Two giant robots collided with a thunderous roar!
The seawater surged violently, sweeping out like a small tsunami!
The wind pressure drove the waves, creating a scene of catastrophe!
"Isamu-kun!" The director bent over to resist the strong wind, shouting to Child Emperor, "Can your drone capture it clearly?!!"
"No problem."
Many mechanical parts extended from Child Emperor's backpack, shielding him from the strong wind.
He turned the display screen in his arms toward the director.
"These are the camera angles you chose; see if they need adjustment."
"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh!!" the director cried out in excitement.
"That's it! That's it! The sense of massive scale from a normal person's perspective looking up!!"
"And these slow but heavy movements! Subarashii!!"
"Mr. Aokiji and that white-haired lad are controlling the robots so well! The battle is too realistic!!"
"No, no, no!"
"They are actually fighting for real!!"
Boom—!!!
The giant mechas' fists passed each other in mid-air, striking each other's faces simultaneously!
The immense force vibrated the air, squeezing out white vapor rings.
A cross-counter punch!!
Inside the pitch-black, ferocious robot, Garou's lips curled up in excitement.
By controlling a body with equal power, I have the possibility of defeating you!
This is the beginning of my truly surpassing you!
A mechanical leg rose from beneath the water.
It broke the surface of the sea, kicking up countless plumes of mist!
It kicked toward the mecha controlled by Aokiji.
"Garou, you still don't understand the essence of giant robot combat," Aokiji said leisurely.
"The so-called 'giant robot' combat—"
"—is about 'out-of-scale' power and size!"
"What's with that casual kick?! Are you still treating this like an 'everyday' battle?!"
The mecha raised its hand to block the kick.
A deep metallic hum resonated.
Aokiji clenched his fist to build power, his movements synchronized with the giant robot.
"This punch is to teach you to stay calm and grounded!"
Ice shelf collapse—
A martial art technique like colliding glaciers, it perfectly suited the heavy, massive machine!
"What?!"
Inside the control room, Garou subconsciously performed a subtle movement to parry and deflect.
But his movements were too fast;
the machine body simply couldn't react with equal speed.
The giant fist, appearing as if condensed from a glacial continent, passed through the sluggish defense.
It struck the head of Garou's machine with intense force!!
The air froze! The waves calmed!
After an extremely brief silence, the destruction suddenly erupted!
The head was smashed to pieces!
Countless parts went flying!
The headless, massive robot body slowly fell toward the sea surface... "Ohhh!! The mecha won!!"
Numerous cheers erupted on the pier, everyone completely forgetting that this was just filming a movie.
Aokiji walked ashore with a soaking wet, dark-faced Garou.
"Good work, Lord Aokiji, and little brother Garou."
Kiiro trotted over and handed them towels.
Taking a towel, Aokiji casually wiped his face.
Beside him, Garou's face darkened even more.
That guy didn't even fall into the sea, why does he need a towel?!
Aokiji: "You guys really went all out, letting a robot go to waste like that."
Kiiro covered her mouth and chuckled: "Even though it's broken, it can be rented out for exhibition fees. With Lord Aokiji's participation, this movie will definitely be a huge hit."
Aokiji realized: "True, even people who don't know the story would likely want to visit the two giant robots."
"It's not two," Kiiro said, looking at him with a smile.
"Only the broken one will be exhibited."
?
Aokiji met her gaze.
She looked heroic yet gentle, like a big sister from next door during childhood.
"What about the one I was controlling? How will you handle it?"
"That is... Lord Aokiji's acting fee."
She pulled out a contract and pointed it out to Aokiji.
Previously, Aokiji had only thought about piloting the robot and completely forgot about things like fees and contracts.
Following Kiiro's slender finger, he looked at the contract.
Aokiji: "I even get a share of the box office?"
Kiiro: "After all, with you joining, it will surely generate a huge box office appeal. It's only right."
"I don't mind," Aokiji confirmed the contract contents again.
"But I'm curious, how did you get the investors to agree to give away a robot as an acting fee?"
The commercial value of this thing was immeasurable.
Before his Transmigration, people were willing to travel to other countries and spend five hundred thousand just to drive a tank for a short while.
If it were replaced by driving a giant robot with an IP behind it,
the price would be unimaginable.
"Because..." Kiiro's gaze drifted.
"I am the investor."
Hearing this, Aokiji looked at her again.
But Kiiro's eyes looked everywhere but at him, her earlobes turning a translucent red.
"Last time... Lord Aokiji saved me... consider this my thank-you gift..."
"Didn't I tell you? That time you were just caught up in my trouble; they were coming for me."
"But contacting you was my own choice. And that doesn't change the fact that you saved me."
Kiiro couldn't stand his staring anymore, her face flushing.
She simply put on her helmet and said:
"Anyway, the contract is already drawn up and cannot be changed! Please just accept it!"
"I—I have other scenes to film, so I'll be going now!"
Kiiro's figure hurried away.
Watching her leave, Aokiji turned back around.
The giant robot stood towering over the sea, the battle damage on its body adding a bit more of a grim, lethal aura.
Giving a giant robot as a gift... which man could withstand such a test?!
Meanwhile, Garou,
emitted such a depressing aura that the staff gave him a ten-meter wide berth.
Didn't he help too?!
Why was he being treated like he didn't exist?!!
Child Emperor walked over, biting a lollipop.
He had just sent all the video footage captured by the drone to the director.
"Mr. Aokiji, I had a narrow-minded misunderstanding of you before. I'm truly sorry!"
Child Emperor's tone was crisp and direct.
He apologized for his previous thoughts of belittling Aokiji.
"Misunderstanding?"
Aokiji didn't know his mental journey.
But he frankly accepted this inexplicable apology.
"Fix the shell of Gipsy Danger for me, and I'll forgive you."
"It's called the mecha."
"It's mine now; I can call it whatever I want."
"...Fine," Child Emperor said helplessly.
"One more thing." Aokiji held out his hand.
"Give me another lollipop."
Child Emperor gloomily pulled out a lollipop.
This was his last one!
Taking back what he said earlier, Blast is still better!
Child Emperor took his four companions to fix the robot.
"Bullying a kid, and you call yourself a hero."
As a renowned respecter of the elderly (doubtful) and lover of children (certain), Garou mocked him.
"Teasing kids is fun."
Aokiji looked at him sideways while biting the candy.
Without any warning, he suddenly raised his fist!
Garou shuddered and instinctively took a defensive stance.
"Hahahaha, just like that!"
"You piece of shit bastard!!"
Garou, face red with anger, chased after him to strike.
Naturally, he missed every time, while Aokiji continued to mock him.
"Boys are so childish."
On the robot shell, the only girl from the Cram School sighed.
Child Emperor was using tools from his backpack to repair the robot shell.
He subconsciously retorted:
"It's the adults who are childish; we're not like that."
The other three Genius boys nodded in agreement.
"I don't think you're any better. When we got the order for this robot, every one of you was as excited as a monkey."
The little girl wiped the mist off her glasses and said, puzzled:
"What's so charming about robots that you talk about them every day?"
"Hmph, you girls just wouldn't understand."
Child Emperor continued to focus on the repair work.
But then his phone rang.
"Dr. Bofoi...?"
Child Emperor felt it was strange.
Not long ago, he and Dr. Bofoi had a disagreement in philosophy, and they hadn't contacted each other since he resigned from the doctor's research institute.
Why was he calling now?
However, there was no reason not to answer.
The moment he pressed the answer button,
Dr. Bofoi skipped any pleasantries and said directly:
"Isamu, you've already come into contact with the Hero Association's Aokiji, haven't you?"
...
(Throw some stones)