"Relax." Cloud smiled. "I'm just a technical enthusiast with a curious interest in the underlying logic of various powers."
Just moments ago, while watching K fight, the system in his mind had gone into overdrive.
[Ding! Deep Analysis function activated!]
[Analysis target: K's crimson flames]
[Analyzing genetic sequence... energy wave frequency... similarity to Kusanagi fire...]
[Analyzing...]
[Analysis report generated!]
[Target flames originate from Kusanagi blood, but are not a pure bloodline inheritance. Instead, they were forcibly transplanted through gene grafting and energy injection.]
[Assessment: A crude, bug-riddled prototype. Energy output is extremely unstable and causes severe backlash to the user. Analogous to... forcibly installing a bootleg Android system on an iPhone. It technically works, but there's constant risk of catastrophic failure.]
[Optimization suggestions: Rewrite the base code and fix the bugs, or... just format the whole thing and install a legitimate system.]
Looking at this remarkably "professionally relevant" analysis report, Cloud had a pretty good understanding of the situation.
"Your fire isn't really yours, is it?" Cloud said, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "Someone installed it inside your body. And the installation process was sloppy—left behind a lot of backdoors and vulnerabilities."
"You—!"
K's expression changed dramatically!
This was his deepest secret! His greatest source of pain!
How could this man possibly know?!
"How did you—"
"How did I know?" Cloud laughed. "Because I've seen the genuine article. And I've beaten him too."
K fell completely silent.
He looked into Cloud's eyes—deep as the starry sky—and felt like a child stripped naked, all his secrets laid bare for the other man to see.
"That organization is called NESTS, right?" Cloud continued.
K's body gave a violent shudder.
"Why are they hunting you down?"
This time, it was Maxima who answered.
The silent cyborg spoke in a low voice: "Because K was their most important test subject. But he awakened self-awareness and chose to defect. And I'm his only partner."
"Test subject?"
"Yes." Maxima's voice carried a trace of sorrow. "NESTS is a fanatical organization composed of countless top scientists. Their goal is to use genetic technology to create new gods."
"They clone powerful fighters, alter memories, and forcibly transplant various powers into test subjects. K was the most successful—and most unstable—product of their K-series enhanced human project."
"And now..." K finally spoke again. "It seems... they have a new target."
"New target?" Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"The Hakkesshu." K uttered a name that made Cloud's eyes narrow.
"I accidentally overheard their plans. They believe Orochi's power is the most perfect and strongest force in the world. They want to... capture the remaining Hakkesshu members, extract their genes, and manufacture an ultimate weapon with the power of Orochi."
"Or even... an artificial Orochi!"
Hearing this, Cloud laughed.
But K and Maxima felt a bone-chilling coldness emanating from his smile.
It was the displeasure of someone whose "toys" had been targeted by others.
"The Hakkesshu?" Cloud said slowly, counting on his fingers as he spoke.
"Yashiro Nanakase, Heavenly King of the Parched Earth, and Chris, Heavenly King of Flames... hmm, those two sacrificed themselves. Their genes are probably hard to find now."
"Goenitz, Tempest of Breath... oh, he's doing time in my mirror at home. Regular people can't get in. Though his daughter inherited his powers—she should be sleeping at my place right now."
"Shermie, Heavenly King of the Raging Lightning... sorry, she's currently my personal fashion designer, moonlighting as a double agent."
"Mature and Vice... hmm, those two are my personal bodyguards, moonlighting as maids."
"Ryuji Yamazaki, the Demon Mountain of Destiny... oh, he's now the CEO of Hell Corporation under my name, busy preparing for their IPO."
"And then there's... Leona, who carries Orochi blood... she should also be at my villa right now, helping me tidy up."
With each name he listed, K and Maxima's eyes grew wider.
By the time Cloud finished the last name, the two of them had completely petrified.
What... what did they just hear?
The Hakkesshu... this legendary terror group that could make anyone in the underworld tremble in fear...
How did it...
...become fashion designers, bodyguards, maids, CEOs, and housekeepers when this man talked about them?!
What... what kind of absurd plot development was this?!
Had they... had they wandered onto the wrong set?!
"So..."
Cloud spread his hands, an extremely "friendly" smile appearing on his face.
"Everyone that NESTS wants to target..."
"...seems to be my people."
His gaze instantly turned ice-cold.
"Does that mean... I've been offended?"
In that moment, K and Maxima looked at this man before them—smiling so harmlessly, yet radiating an aura more terrifying than any final boss—and the same thought surfaced in both their minds—
This man is ten thousand times more frightening than NESTS!!!
...
The clear summer night was always so enchanting, and always so dangerous.
After having a friendly and in-depth exchange with K's squad, Cloud had successfully planted seeds of existential doubt in these two "rebellious youths'" hearts.
As for himself, he whistled casually and returned to the presidential suite Mr. Big had arranged for him—located on the top floor of South Town, with a commanding view of the entire city's nightscape.
...
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