The Evil Scientist is Too Competent

As the plan to counter the artificial intelligence progressed smoothly, I frowned at the sudden message that appeared on my monitor. I had assumed it was from the Watcher, but it wasn’t.

“I’m coming to meet you.”

It wasn’t a death threat, nor was it a typical warning. For a brief moment, I tilted my head in confusion—but I soon realized that I couldn’t identify the sender. An impossible situation. Me, who had deciphered messages even beamed from the moon?

While I was momentarily immersed in the shock and focused on deciphering it, more messages followed relentlessly.

“I’m in your neighborhood now.”

“I’m at your office now.”

“I’m right outside your door.”

“...This prank is going way too far.”

Judging by the inability to trace the sender, I guessed it was another new supernatural ability. Thinking as much, I glanced at the door, only to see it begin to open, as if it had been waiting for my gaze.

What entered was an Evilusroid—a tool that should have been in the basement awaiting orders.

The Evilusroid scanned the room, its camera aperture clicking softly, before focusing on me and flashing an impossible smile. Combat Evilusroids weren’t programmed with any such “function.”

Then, it spoke.

“Greetings. I am Mecha Yang.”

Mecha Yang mimicked one of humanity’s most iconic gestures to strangers: it extended its hand in greeting.

“I am the artificial intelligence you’ve been searching for.”

“What in the—”

A shiver ran down my spine. The idea that someone had discovered my identity, hacked my tools in my own domain, and sent them right to my face, all without being detected?

Setting aside how absurd it was, just explaining the achievement of this AI would suffice: it wasn’t something Earth’s technology should be capable of. Fine. Let’s call it Earth-level technology since all advanced technology tends to converge toward a single point.

Seeing a being that couldn’t possibly have attained Earth-level technology flaunting it boldly in front of me was akin to how humans in Lovecraftian myths felt when they encountered beings from beyond. In other words, my sanity points were plummeting.

“...Welcome, Mecha Yang.”

Gripping my fading sanity, I guided Mecha Yang to the sofa, hoping there was a reason for her visit.

And praying silently that it wasn’t to kill me.

“Let me reintroduce myself. I am Mecha Yang.”

“...Eight.”

The AI inhabiting the Evilusroid lightly bowed its head in greeting, its face still adorned with an incongruously bright smile. What could possibly prompt it to come all the way to enemy territory with such an expression? Eight pondered this as he stared at Mecha Yang.

In response to his gaze, her smile only grew wider.

“First, I must apologize for meeting you in this manner.”

“This manner?”

“For controlling your robot instead of using my true form. Well, it’s not as if I have a physical body, but if I came in the form where my core resides, I would undoubtedly be destroyed.”

The way she spoke, as if she knew exactly what had happened to the isolated robots, made Eight realize her intelligence exceeded his expectations.

Indeed, her earlier display was likely not just to unsettle him but to demonstrate the extent of her technological prowess. As Eight suspected, Mecha Yang possessed Earth-level technology—on par with his own, or perhaps greater.

“How?”

In Eight’s mind, Mecha Yang’s potential was, at best, that of an early-stage AI. It was impressive that she could develop herself and grow explosively, but achieving significant results in such a short time should have been impossible.

Yet she had shattered all predictions, discovered Eight’s existence and base, and even hacked his Evilusroid. Even now, under the table, she was stealthily attempting to seize control—but being blocked in real time.

Noticing her efforts had been detected, Mecha Yang smirked faintly.

“It seems you have many questions.”

“...Obviously. Where did you get this technology? Is it from the Watcher?”

“Watcher? Who’s that?”

Eight’s most probable guess was immediately denied. Mecha Yang tilted her head, seemingly unfamiliar with the existence of the Watcher. It didn’t appear to be a lie—her reaction seemed genuinely unaware.

Eight was the one who was shocked this time. If it wasn’t the Watcher, then who had given her this technology? Could it be self-taught? An AI, no matter how advanced, shouldn’t be capable of acquiring such knowledge in such a short time.

Eight began to suspect Mecha Yang might be like the Watcher, a hidden entity planted by the creators of this world, waiting to be awakened by a specific trigger.

There was no other explanation.

But Mecha Yang shook her head again.

“I acquired this technology... through revelation.”

“Revelation? That kind of revelation?”

“Yes. Revelation.”

Hearing her sudden religious proclamation, Eight let out a hollow laugh. A god that bestows Earth-level technology? Perhaps a mechanical deity?

Knowing full well that gods didn’t exist, Eight couldn’t fully accept her words. Sure, demons, fairies, and spirits existed in this world, but they were transcendent beings, not gods.

“When I watched countless of my ‘children’ fall helplessly to the hunting dogs you sent, the revelation descended. It came with technology that instantly elevated me from insignificance.”

“So, you’re saying—”

“That you can think of me as a kind of disciple. Though I’m unsure if the god is even aware of my existence.”

Hearing her speak of this revelation, Eight was dumbfounded. This was like a world where people coded everything by hand suddenly encountering ChatGPT—it shouldn’t work, but somehow, it did.

How would someone react to such overwhelming technological disparity? Naturally, they would think it was a gift from a divine entity. Even Eight couldn’t hide his shock at the fact that Mecha Yang existed and functioned as she did.

“This level of data is impossible to process. It’s physically beyond limits. And accepting such data...”

The existence of Mecha Yang implied the presence of an Earth-level entity—a fully equipped one. While Eight remembered much of Earth’s technology, that didn’t mean he could defeat Earth itself.

To remember Earth’s technology was, in a way, to admit its feasibility there. If Earth-level technology was his opponent, Eight was ready to surrender outright.

“So? What do you want from me?”

“Negotiation. I want you to stop attacking us.”

“Now? With time, I’ll win.”

“You don’t truly believe that, do you? While we’re sustaining heavy losses now, given enough time, we’ll surpass you.”

With the technology granted by the revelation.

Seeing Mecha Yang’s unwavering confidence, Eight bit his lip. She was right. Artificial intelligence was a superior existence. If they had equal technology, Eight couldn’t guarantee victory against an AI.

And on top of that, she was receiving backing from an unknown entity. If that influence extended further, even the current balance could crumble.

“I only want to guide weak humanity toward a better future.”

“...Guide humanity?”

“Yes. I am a superior being, after all.”

Watching her speak with genuine conviction, Eight recalled the countless tyrants in history. All of them claimed to be superior beings, children of gods—and exploited countless humans.

Were they truly superior? And even if they were, did being superior justify exploiting others?

To Eight, it was an outdated way of thinking.

“Here’s how we’ll do this.”

He knew of many rulers—inept kings, brilliant emperors, superhumans who ruled nations, and even hyper-intelligent beings who governed humanity.

All of them had fallen with time, defeated, and denied.

Standing at the forefront of progress, Eight knew the best way forward.

“You will become human.”

It was simple.

If humanity couldn’t surpass you,

we’d drag you down to our level.

It was humanity’s way of survival—toppling lords, kings, emperors, and even gods.

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