Utterly Shameless

It seems this ability... can only be used to beat up one's son?

The moment this thought arose, Horus, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly made a series of cracking sounds and then stood up.

The golden light in its eyes faded, and it looked up at Kang De, its gaze deep and calm.

"Father, you have made me who I am once again."

"... That's really classy." Kang De appeared in front of him in a flash. "Are you about to transform into Unicron?"

The Transformers scratched its head, looking embarrassed, and said, "Well... it seems I can't."

Kang De then said, "Then demonstrate how to make a nuclear bomb by hand."

"... It seems like that's not possible either."

"Then let's develop it into a GDI frontline combat base."

"It seems this feature is not available..."

Kang De was furious, feeling cheated like he'd worked hard to earn money to pay for his child's tutoring classes only to find the child hadn't learned anything. "What the hell are you teaching, quantum speed reading?"

No wonder I just learned two skills for disciplining my son! It was perfect time to use them!

His eyes flashed like lightning, and his smile was forced, "Tell me first what changes you've experienced? My brain was practically shutting down just now. The information in that ball, converted into countless units, is enough for the entire world to read for ten thousand years—tell me, after swallowing that thing, how do you feel now?"

The Transformers are deep in thought, reminiscing, reflecting.

Then he became an honest and good boy.

"It just feels like..." he said honestly, "Hungry."

Kang De raised his hand expressionlessly.

"Wait a moment!"

Horus sensed danger and quickly said, "That information! I've stored it all! It's pure knowledge! Storing and learning are two different things! But I will try my best!"

Kang De looked at his son, who was shouting, "I will definitely study hard and do well on the test next time!" He had scored zero.

He chuckled sinisterly.

The Transformers cried out, "Father! Father! The knowledge within that sphere and the soul of that artifact spirit have merged together, and I now understand how to use my mental powers! This allows me to control those alchemical golems!"

Space reversed, and a thick street lamp lay across Kang De's face. The old father reached out and weighed it in his hand.

Horus exclaimed, "Father! I feel my mind, soul, and spiritual power have become much more agile. My efficiency in crafting ammunition and enchanting weapons should increase significantly in the future!"

The old father's meaningful gaze finally disappeared.

The streetlights returned to their original positions, Kang De smiled as he looked at Horus, who was so close at hand.

"Thank you for your hard work, I'm so grateful to you for your help earlier."

In retrospect, it seems that the spirit's initial target was Kang De.

Therefore, it lingers in Comora, manipulating Little Bob to constantly cause trouble for Kang De.

The previous standoff at the airport, where it feigned negotiations with Kang De, was actually a trap. The content of the negotiations was meaningless; the real purpose was to exploit the flaws in the final act.

It impersonated Horus, luring Kang De to destroy the golden sphere.

The spirit's spiritual tentacles are poised to be activated, ready to be manipulated immediately upon physical contact.

As the spirit said, the world is full of lies and deception. It never believed that Kang De would make peace with it, nor that Kang De would keep his promises.

Interestingly, Kang De did the same.

This also explains why the spirit appeared at the China embassy.

What it wanted to kidnap was Kang De's father.

However, it never expected that the person responsible for guarding the embassy was a mechanical life form capable of sensing Tacitus. After the host it was controlling was shot to death, the spirit experienced a moment of despair, but when it discovered that the vehicle itself was an intelligent life form, another door opened.

It simply kidnapped Horus, because through the last communication between the Iron Son and Kang De, it realized that Horus was also a perfect hostage, enough to lure Kang De into its trap.

All the scheming and plotting ultimately amounted to nothing.

But Horus did take a bullet for Kang De's father, that's a fact.

Kang De smiled and said, "Thank you."

"It is my honor, Father," Horus said. "And thank you for not abandoning me, especially for what you said to it; I will remember it forever."

Kang De said, "Forgetting is also possible."

Iron Son nodded and said, "Well, it's not something to be ashamed of, relatively speaking."

Kang De sensed a certain subtext. "... relative?"

Horus hardened his face. "Father, is this the time to talk about this?"

Kang De glanced at his watch and nodded, saying, "That's right, it's time to go back. We've wasted a lot of time, and Goth doesn't have much left... Let's get moving, the war isn't over yet."

"Understood, Father. I've been preparing all along."

With a clang, Iron Son transformed back into Humvee. Kang De stroked the hood, a strange expression on his face. "... I do have a feeling, a feeling that you've changed. Don't you feel it too?"

Horus answered honestly, "I just feel hungry and want to eat."

What do you want to eat?

"I don't know... I just want to eat it."

Kang De looked around; weapons, ammunition, rifles, cannons—all sorts of things were laid out. "These?"

"No, not these..." My son has become a picky eater. "These are a bit unpalatable."

"Alright, let's go to the airport to receive our belongings and see what we can eat there."

Kang De activated his ability and returned to Earth. By then, the sun had already risen and the sky had brightened, which startled Kang De. However, upon reflection, he realized that receiving the legacy from Tacitus had also taken some time.

The massive Centurion War Armor remained in place.

Summoned by Kang De to suppress the controlled Iron Son, it left this behemoth behind when it took Horus to the White Mist World. Now, the colossal giant stands silently, surrounded by a group of mercenaries, all of whom appear to be Little Bob's men in their uniforms.

Heavy machine guns and portable anti-tank missile launchers were moved nearby, several mercenaries were using welding equipment to try to cut into the Centurion's armor, and a few people were taking pictures.

Damn it, aren't these bastards going to run away?

Kang De suddenly appeared out of nowhere, startling the people who were nearby, who shouted loudly.

The mercenaries snapped their bolts shut and raised their guns at Kang De.

Kang De snapped his fingers, but time did not slow down. Sure enough, the previously awakened skill was limited to use in the White Mist World; it was more of a license than a skill.

Pity.

The Centurion War Armor roared, and the frost sprayer on its left arm spewed out a violent stream of cold air, instantly freezing the nearest group of mercenaries. Visibly, the mercenaries' bodies froze instantly, emitting a teeth-grinding crackling sound from within.

Kang De punched one of the ice sculptures into pieces, then pointed, and the war armor transformed back into a massive bronze sphere, hurtling towards the heavy weapons that were about to fire with earth-shattering force.

The phone vibrated, Kang De answered, and the King visibly relaxed. "You finally answered the phone..."

Kang De said, "There was a slight mishap, but it's being dealt with; the matter has been resolved."

The king asked nervously, "Where is that thing?"

Kang De thought for a moment and said, "It's here."

Tacitus Extraction and disintegrated by the Power of the Fire Thief, its spirit was reduced to ashes, and the vast knowledge contained within the sphere was divided among Kang De, Horus, and the White Mist World. But how can this be explained? If it is claimed that it was shattered, what about the fragments?

Foreigners certainly wouldn't believe it; they'd definitely think Kang De embezzled it. After all, that was a powerful tool for manipulating people's hearts, and governments around the world would be extremely wary of it and harbor the utmost malice towards him.

Things are going to get complicated.

Left with no other option, Kang De had to come up with a solution.

Since Tastus was swallowed whole by the Iron Son... let's just make another one.

He didn't have the skill, but the other world did. Alchemists, master craftsmen, and the power of magic—all he needed to do was create a golden sphere exactly as it was, then carve some bewitching mental arrays inside, and add a self-destruct device. As long as any external force slightly touched the core, it would automatically self-destruct. Perfect.

Whether they publicly destroy it or hand it over to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council for joint research and oversight, it doesn't matter to Kang De if it gets damaged after leaving his hands.

After much thought, only this solution can solve the problem to the greatest extent possible and avoid further trouble.

But this can only be done after we win the Battle of Danfeng Lucerne, and then we can find Goth's craftsmen and alchemists to do it.

It doesn't matter if we lose.

In that case, there would be no need to tell this lie.

The king on the phone asked, "What do you plan to do with it?"

Kang De said, "This kind of thing is extremely harmful. Even if it is held by a state, it is difficult to avoid being exploited and causing endless troubles. What I mean is that it should be destroyed, of course, in the presence of all countries. As for who is qualified to participate, or if there are any other solutions, we can discuss them slowly."

The king said, "It's your decision. We'll discuss it properly when you return."

The Centurion charged wildly, amidst the sounds of gunfire, screams, and pleas.

Chakat II asked in surprise, "What was that sound?"

Kang De replied calmly, "I don't know, I don't French."

These people came to invade Comora. It could be explained as following orders and being controlled to fire on Kang De, or it could be said that they had no choice. But after breaking free of control, instead of fleeing, they even tried to study and cut the Centurion armor. How could a group of mercenaries who had failed in their mission and whose leader had been killed have such a calm mindset and such audacity? Obviously, they were following new orders or had their own ideas.

What else is there to say?

He donned glasses with life detection capabilities and joined the hunt, relentlessly pursuing the remaining mercenaries hiding in the airport. Before the magic, they had nowhere to hide.

The King called again, "Kang De, the France ambassador has protested to me, saying that these mercenaries have surrendered to the France government and also to the Comora government, and are prisoners of war and non-threatening targets. They request that you immediately cease your attacks and not harm France citizens..."

Kang De scoffed, "Does the practice of mercenaries slaughtering civilians apply to Geneva?"

"They'll say the massacre was caused by mind control... you know, they always have something to say," the King said. "I'm on your side, but the France won't. By the way, the Foreign Legion Comora Task Force is moving towards the western airport; they're ordered to retrieve those France citizens."

Kang De sneered, "Bullshit, what happened to surrendering?"

"The task force commander, Lieutenant Colonel Virey, who pleaded with you last night, claimed that the task force had laid down their arms and surrendered to you, so he refused to accept orders and was immediately dismissed. All the soldiers who followed him were also dealt with and deemed disgraceful deserters... The others, on the other hand, shamelessly acted as if nothing had happened, a bunch of shameless idiots."

The king made a few sarcastic remarks, then said, "But the problem is, you'd better not engage this army. After all, they are still the regular army of the United States of Fr*nce... I'm already organizing the manpower, and they'll be here soon. I think the task force went to the western airport less to pick up those mercenaries and more to quickly dispose of the things there, those military supplies."

The supplies that were transported to the western airport in advance were intended for Little Bob's mercenaries and the France intervention forces that were about to arrive. This plan was completely ruined. The France gained nothing and instead got themselves into a mess. They needed to cut their losses decisively. In addition to severing ties with the Buruo Family, they also needed to erase some evidence and traces of their involvement in this matter.

This includes supplies at the airport.

Kang De clicked his tongue and said, "They've really lost all sense of shame."

"I stopped wanting it a long time ago."

The king was already used to it. As the head of state, even for a small country like Comora, his vision and knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people. In particular, he was disgusted by the evil of humanity, the cruelty of the world, and the true nature of the so-called international order.

He said, "The key question is you. What should we do about this?"

What to do?

Are these guys here to handle airport supplies?

Are you kidding me? This place is now under the Kang family name!

The king suggested, "Why don't you come back now? Even if the France destroy these supplies, it doesn't matter; I still have ways to annoy them."

Kang De smiled and said, "No need. I'll wait for them here. I've already taken over the western airport."

While they were talking, the last three mercenaries who tried to escape in their car were crushed by the Centurion with a single blow from his hammer, along with the car. The airport, which had been occupied by Little Bob's men, was recaptured by Kang De and is now under his control.

The instant he uttered "I've got him," Kang De felt a strange sensation, but it was fleeting, like an illusion, impossible to grasp, and there was no time to fathom it.

He hung up the phone, recalled the Centurion, went to an airport warehouse, and released Iron Son.

The airport had already been shut down, and the surveillance system had been hit by a Chain Lightning. Horus calmly transformed, and in the vast space, rows of boxes were neatly arranged.

Kang De asked, "Would you like some?"

These guns, ammunition, and rockets aren't appealing.

Iron Son rubbed his belly dramatically and shook his head, saying, "Not these, they don't taste good..."

"... Then quickly move them into the White Mist World, leave twenty percent behind, plant mines there, and wait for the France to come and deal with them, sending them all away together."

Kang De picked up a box of machine gun shells. "Hey... what are you looking at?"

Iron Son looked up at a 45-degree angle, his gaze piercing through the thick concrete walls of the warehouse, looking towards the sky.

"Food, food..." Horus murmured, "There's good food there..."

"Where?"

Meanwhile, combat-ready soldiers of the Comora task force sped towards the western airport in armored vehicles. The newly appointed commander, seated on the roof of one of the vehicles, gave a morale-boosting speech via communicator. "This isn't our fault, it's no one's fault. There's no right or wrong, only orders, only the interests of Fr*nce. When we joined the Foreign Legion, we swore an oath to..."

Suddenly, he heard a loud bang from ahead.

Fireballs and plumes of smoke, visible to the naked eye, rose into the air, right in the direction of the airport.

"It's a laser-guided bomb! How...?"

Before the words were finished, a familiar sound rang out from behind. The sound was so familiar that the soldiers all heard it, and they leaned out of the vehicle, looking up at the sky.

The commander had the best view; he turned his head.

Then an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

He saw one after another steel wings plunging down from the clouds, steadily decreasing in altitude, hurtling towards the western airport not far away, the air filled with the deafening roar of breaking the sound barrier.

Through the telescope, the cluster bombs on the mounting rack were clearly visible.

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PS1: 4,500 words. Today's update is 7,500 words, not bad. I'll try to add more tomorrow.