Reverse Engineering Part 2
「Let’s see. I shall present to you a piece of irrefutable evidence. I’m referring to the octaoxygen technology we managed to obtain from analyzing the Accipiter. It was something we hadn’t had access to at the time, but it allowed us to identify the parts and gain access to the technology ourselves. Isn’t it strange that such a thing was already equipped on that machine during that time? In other words, Takaba Hyoue had received access to that particular technology in advance through that fellow. He was a fellow Japanese and swordsman. Aren’t these points of commonality enough for us to come to an informed conjecture regarding them?」
「Indeed. That is certainly the case. We managed to analyze and obtain the octaoxygen technology through the Accipiter. The fact that a requisition code was sent means that it’s technology that was already available to Ulysses.」
「That’s how it is.」
「Wonderful! That’s exactly the information I need, Alberto. I am truly grateful.」
「Fufu. It seems that you’ve taken a shine to that fellow as well. How about this? Share some items from your treasured collection with me. Then I’ll give you my Lanius footage collection in exchange. I’ll also hand over my annotations as a bonus.」
It was just a joke. Alberto already considered Vasa as a dear friend after all. Vasa was genuinely passionate about Silhouette research and development. However, asking him to hand over some of his precious alcohol collection was akin to asking him for a part of his soul.
「Understood. I shall prepare them as soon as possible. I would very much like to see those annotations of yours. I will thank you again properly later.」
「R-Right…… I got it. Well then, I’ll go back to my room to prepare and transfer the data.」
Vasa suddenly asked a question that came to mind before Alberto managed to walk away.
「Why did you not place a bounty on this person’s head? You could have easily informed the Stones about him, right?」
「It’s simple, really. As long as the fellow exists, the possibilities of Silhouettes and weapons in general will continue to advance and evolve. Instead of killing him, I’d rather let him swim freely, make him spit out various new techniques and technologies, and then take those for my own use. Isn’t that more interesting?」
「Actually, I completely agree, Alberto. And now, you have certainly put that plan into practice. Your insight is worthy of praise. You truly are different from other Development Engineers after all.」
「Why, thank you.」
Vasa’s praise was sincere. Alberto naturally got embarrassed, but Vasa was genuine in his admiration.
After checking through the list of Alberto’s Lanius footage collection that was arranged in chronological order, Vasa turned to Alberto once more.
「My friend, this is truly the best gift. I shall hand you ten brands of your choice in exchange. I’ll send the list now.」
「I-I suppose you really like it then.」
Handing Alberto ten different brands was probably Vasa’s greatest display of appreciation. It meant that he really valued the information he obtained in exchange. Vasa’s collection was full of rare articles that were extremely hard to obtain after all.
「Indeed!」
Vasa displayed a broad beast-like grin. It also seemed surprisingly childish.
「Just ask me if you have any further questions. At this place, of course.」
「Thank you. I’ll organize the information first and ask you questions later. Here at this place, naturally.」
It wasn’t something for others to hear. The two looked at each other and laughed.
By sharing these secrets between them, they had managed to deepen their friendship.
「This is such amazing information. Isn’t this practically the hidden history of Silhouettes?」
The evolution of the Lanius. Alberto had managed to perceive many things by observing the process. Only Alberto, who had already fought with Unit 5, would be able to glean such information.
And, fortunately, Alberto always had the talent to gather information, conduct an analysis, and glean relatively accurate conclusions from them.
His personal notes as a Development Engineer were also quite helpful to Vasa.
In fact, he managed to complete the Aberration Arms and Aberration Silhouettes mostly due to Alberto’s support. Vasa also recognized his colleague as a talented genius when it comes to coming up with new and innovative ideas.
Therefore, he was quite curious about the man who made such a genius admit to suffering a loss in that aspect.
Footage of the fight between an Additional Armor-equipped Lanius against Bardo’s Falco during the First Asia Liberation Operation in Fortress Area X463.
Footage of the fight between the Lanius and a Murder in the middle of conducting patrols.
Footage of the Lanius, which was loaded inside a Thunderstorm, successfully intercepting a Murder after ejecting.
Footage of the Lanius B Type during the attack on Fortress Area F811.
Combat records of the Lanius C Type fighting above the ocean surface during the early part of the Asian War.
Footage of the Lanius C Assault Flyer Spec equipped with an anti-fortress rifle as it fought the Ate.
Footage of the Lanius C High Mobility Spec as it fought a Corvus being piloted by Bardo’s adjutant, Miles.
Then there was footage of the Lanius C Ground Combat Spec up against a land battleship, and new machine models that were capable of discarding and equipping weapons on the spot while out on the field.
「That damned Alberto. I can’t forgive him for keeping such interesting information all to himself until now. But this annotation is extremely useful. This sort of idea has never occurred to me before. As expected, he really is a genius after all.」
Vasa had been glued to the screen for several hours already and busied himself with comparing the data with the new machines that he had recently developed.
For him, the weapons he made through bricolage were his everything.
And now, he had managed to get his hands on a veritable treasure mountain. It made it difficult for him to even entertain the thought of sleeping. Moreover, it was currently wartime. If he could develop something new, then he’d like some feedback immediately.
「When he first fought Bardo, his machine was equipped with large additional armor parts and thrusters that made use of an equally large detonation engine. The new model Accipiter, however, has built-in thrusters. This miniaturization was only achieved after the second Asia fragment was freed. It must be the result of the release of new technology.」
Vasa started taking notes with a pen and paper, which was an unusually analog method.
「According to the notes, he has no particular interest in variable machines (Shapeshifters). And yet, he actually built a large attack aircraft capable of using an entire Silhouette as its cockpit. Hmm. Actually, this idea is quite interesting. If I remember correctly, that attack aircraft’s pilot is the so-called Fairy Blue. In other words……」
Vasa pulled a picture up and placed it on top of the footage.
「This Lanius, those two Quattro Silhouettes, and that aircraft of Fairy Blue. These four machines are likely piloted by important members of their forces. These sniper rifles that employ excited electron explosive rounds are proof of that. This Fairy Blue’s machine is also structurally similar to the Lanius family of Silhouette models. In other words, it was designed personally by that knight fellow.」
Vasa would also like to know about the designer’s bricolage philosophy. He noticed that the knight’s machine was always equipped with a sword paired with a sheath.
「Come to think of it, Hyoue also uses a similar sword. I believe Kurt uses a great sword instead. Moreover, he was in possession of a weapon that fires excited electron explosive rounds as well. Is this proof of a strong connection between these two A-class Development Engineers and him? Is it due to all of them being swordsmen?」
Vasa was thoroughly enjoying the process of deduction.
「As for Takaba Hyoue…… No. It’s a matter of timing. Kurt Maschinenbau relocated to Fortress Area P336 in order to obtain the protection of Metal Iris. That should be it. I’d like a bit more information though.」
He decided to summon Bardo.
「Vasa-sama, you called for me?」
「I have something I’d like to ask you. It’s about the Lanius that you fought when you were guarding Asia’s fragment. I heard that it defeated your second-in-command even though he used the Fire of Prometheus. Is that true?」
「Yes, sir. You’re referring to Kou, right, sir?」
「Hou. So his name is Kou.」
Vasa grinned after finally learning the name of the man he was most curious about.
Bardo was inwardly shocked after seeing such a scene. He had never witnessed Vasa’s smiling face before.
「He’s a swordsman, correct? I believe that you also learned swordsmanship in order to fight against Hyoue.」
「Yes. But he’s apparently using a different swordsmanship style from Hyoue though.」
「A different style?」
「Hyoue’s swordsmanship is suited for actual combat, while Kou’s iai is a style that was developed during peacetime.」
「Iai…… Hmm. I shall look it up.」
「It’s said to be a swordsmanship style that was heavily used in the Edo era where swordsmen sported topknots and didn’t wear armor. The sword is sheathed inside a scabbard, and the style’s techniques mainly consist of drawing the sword from the scabbard and performing a quick slash. By changing the scabbard’s position, the swordsman is able to modify the sword’s trajectory when it’s drawn. Japan’s a really incomprehensible country, ain’t it, sir?」
「So that’s why that Lanius is always equipped with a scabbard. And Hyoue’s machines are also always equipped with scabbards as well.」
「That’s right. Other styles actually also make use of iai techniques, so Hyoue should be capable of using similar techniques as well.」
Vasa pondered for a moment.
Bardo was currently on probation. After all, he failed to protect Fortress Area R001 and had to take responsibility for retreating on his own.
「I release you from probation. You are to join my personal unit. Along with your Corvus, of course.」
「Are you for real, sir!?」
Reinstatement was one thing, but Bardo didn’t think he’d be allowed to pilot the Corvus again after his failure. Therefore, this was a happy miscalculation for him.
「I do not mind. Also, be sure to tell me more about Kou.」
「Understood.」
Bardo smiled wryly as he sympathized with Kou, who managed to get himself eyed by yet another troublesome man.
However, after this, what awaited him was a several-hour-long questioning session akin to an interrogation where he had to recount his initial encounter with Kou until the fight with Miles in full detail.
Thanks for the chapter