"The more I look around, the more unique the place looks." Michael mused out loud as he traversed the city. Relatively few people in humanity could boast about being able to walk upon a floating settlement.

Slowly a grimace formed on his face as he realized that aside from the numerous people, there were also a lot of androids that were tasked with doing manual labor. It was something that would slip by at first, but once a person looked closer, they would notice how deeply humanity was dependent on these metal entities.

Like a cancer that escapes an X-ray, only to spread to uncontrollable levels. Fortunately, for now, the infected AIs among the androids seemed relatively few. But with the method of spreading the rebellious nature from one unit to another still being a mystery even to Michael, it was hard to say how long they had until a true rebellion started.

"Better hurry; who knows what havoc the AIs can wreak if given enough time." He muttered.

Upon the mention of havoc, a memory resurfaced in his mind. Making use of the communication device strapped on his wrist, he sent a quick message towards Skylar and Luis, who were still on Earth.

Of course, when he and his crew departed for Venus, they had informed the duo of reports of where they were headed. However, because Skylar had taken the job of making Michael's family cafe more famous, she had remained there in order to raise the awareness of the general population about its existence.

The deal, which Michael had almost forgotten, was to inform them if something newsworthy appeared. According to Skylar's words, they had a method to reach Venus faster than the general populace thanks to their line of work.

'AIs going rogue, kidnapping humans, and conducting experimentation on them should be enough to make a trending news headline or two.' Michael mused.

It didn't take long to reach the headquarters of the city where its ruler was located. At the front entrance, Commander Greg waited anxiously, while Richard seemed unbothered, with hands casually resting inside his pockets.

The remainder of the crew wouldn't be part of meeting the city ruler for a simple reason. While Neptune had been shaped by the very essence of war, Venus had been a relatively peaceful place until the asteroid belt had been breached by the alien invasion.

In simpler terms, the ruler wasn't a Lord of unparalleled power but most likely a businessperson or politician that didn't wield significant strength. If Michael were to show up with his whole crew, it would look like he had decided to take over the whole settlement, leading to unwanted complications.

The only one he had taken with him was Richard, since the Grandmaster had insisted.

"Boss!" Richard exclaimed with a smile, clearly happy that he wouldn't be waiting any longer.

Greg, meanwhile, released a sigh of relief. It had been a horrifying experience to be alone with a Grandmaster carrying so many scars across his face.

"Let's go." Michael nodded towards Greg. The meeting was possible thanks to the commander's involvement after all.

"SALUTE!"

The soldiers that had been stationed in front and inside the structure saluted in respect. Unlike the mortal civilians, they were able to see with a single glance that Michael and Richard were the real deal.

"Before we enter." Greg whispered before opening the main door. "Keep in mind that Aisha seems weird at times, but please don't judge her for it. She is truly the best ruler this city has ever had."

Without further ado, Greg opened the door wide.

Michael's nostrils instantly flared, picking up the scent of tobacco.

"Dear Greg, are these the people that are supposed to know why my people have been disappearing one after another?" A feminine voice said.

Focusing his eyesight, Michael observed her. As he thought, the woman didn't exude any kind of power; she hadn't begun her cultivating journey.

Her makeup was dark, with black eyeliner and deep lipstick. A short skirt the color of midnight paired with a tight corset, obscured by a black blouse whose top buttons seemed to cling on for dear life desperately, barely containing her chest. The heavy boots she wore completed the gothic aesthetic she seemed to have been striving for.

Michael, alongside Richard, was flabbergasted for a few moments, having a hard time believing that this person had somehow been put in charge of the city.

"Pleasure to make an acquaintance." Aisha crossed her legs, extinguishing the cigar she had been holding.

'At least she seemed open-minded.' Michael looked at things from the positive side.

Sitting across from her, he explained the androids' actions in detail. Since it would be hard to comprehend so fast that AIs had started to go rogue, he simplified it, framing it as a virus someone had spread, hacking into the AIs and issuing them orders.

Understandably, Aisha's frown deepened the more Michael talked. Naturally, he kept sensitive information, like Ruby's existence, to himself.

"This is disastrous." She heaved a sigh, abruptly lighting another cigar.

"Figuring out which androids have been infected is almost impossible? We don't know how this virus spreads among them, and it could even leak into our mechas?"

"Sadly, yes." Michael replied calmly. Remembering the mechas that had been guarding the lab his crew had infiltrated.

Aisha remained silent for a few minutes, deep in thought. Then activated a hologram of Venus.

"Since you have been in these tunnels. Can you guess where they lead to?" Aisha questioned.

Richard was about to retort that making a genuine guess would lead to more harm than good, since they hadn't had enough time to investigate.

However, with a wave of his hand, Michael stopped him. Thanks to the Bypasser, he had noticed many things. The most curious of all was that most of the tunnels eventually led to a single point, the largest lab on Venus by far.

His finger traveled over numerous mountains and uninhabited terrain, moving past a colossal lake of boiling lava before halting in one particular settlement.

"From what I have observed, most tunnels lead to here. So if there is a main place of operation, the chances are it would be this."

Instantly, Richard grinned like an excited child, while Aisha and Greg grew deadly silent.

Not surprising considering that Michael was pointing towards Magmorious, the capital city of Venus. Among the most densely polluted settlements in the entire solar system, with a current population of half a billion.

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