Chapter 48: Research Assistant

The warmth vanished.

The world around me suddenly fell silent.

Not the kind of silence that came from being alone, but an absolute silence.

The rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, even the breeze that had been drifting through the abandoned camp moments earlier had completely disappeared.

It was as if everything around me had been frozen in place.

For a brief moment, I wondered if time itself had stopped.

Then the familiar blue System windows floating before me began to change.

One by one, every panel dissolved into countless streams of blue light.

The Exchange menu, the Helper menu, my Status, Storage, and every other interface I had grown accustomed to using broke apart before my eyes before converging toward a single point.

The streams intertwined, compressed, and slowly reformed into something entirely new.

When the light finally faded, all of the separate menus had disappeared.

In their place hovered a single translucent panel, cleaner and more refined than anything the System had shown me before.

Before I could examine the changes any further, a calm feminine voice echoed directly inside my mind.

“Research Assistant successfully integrated.”

I froze.

A voice.

Until now, every interaction with the System had been through text alone.

Notifications, purchases, explanations—everything had appeared on the familiar blue screens.

This was the first time I had actually heard it speak.

“Voice interaction module activated.”

The voice sounded again.

It wasn’t robotic like the assistants from my previous life, nor did it carry any obvious emotion.

It was calm, clear, and strangely natural, making it surprisingly easy to listen to.

For a few seconds, I simply sat there before finally breaking the silence.

“So… you can talk now?”

“Affirmative.”

The reply came without the slightest delay.

“Research Assistant has enabled direct verbal interaction with compatible Helper modules.”

I frowned slightly.

“Compatible Helper modules?”

“Affirmative.”

“So Calculator and Analyst can speak too?”

“Negative.”

“Calculator and Analyst have been integrated into Research Assistant. Their functions remain fully operational and are now accessed through Research Assistant.”

I slowly nodded as the explanation sank in.

“So instead of three separate Helpers… I’m talking to one that uses all three.”

“Correct.”

That certainly sounded more convenient.

Instead of switching between different Helpers every time I wanted to calculate something or analyze information, everything would now be handled by a single intelligence.

“What exactly can you do?”

“This unit is capable of performing all mathematical calculations, statistical analysis, information organization, pattern recognition, and data retrieval from acquired System records.”

“Additionally, this unit can answer inquiries, generate recommendations, and optimize future decision-making.”

Not bad.

Actually…

Far better than I had expected.

A thought crossed my mind.

“If that’s the case, tell me exactly how much Vibranium I exchanged.”

The response came instantly, without the slightest pause.

“Confirmed. Material exchanged: Vibranium. Quantity: Two hundred and fifty kilograms, equivalent to two hundred and fifty thousand grams. Total exchange value: Twenty-five trillion United States dollars. Current Active Balance: Twenty-four trillion, eight hundred ninety billion, one hundred twenty-three million, nine hundred fifty thousand United States dollars.”

I couldn’t help but nod.

Fast.

Precise.

And far more convenient than reading through multiple System windows.

A faint smile appeared on my face.

“That’s… impressive.”

This was far more than an advanced calculator.

It could retrieve, organize, and process information almost instantly, all through simple conversation.

If its other functions were just as impressive, then purchasing it might turn out to be one of the best investments I had ever made.

Leaning back in my chair, I asked the next question that came to mind.

“So… what else can you do?”

There was a brief pause before the familiar calm voice answered.

“In addition to my previously stated functions, this unit possesses one auxiliary capability.”

“Oh?”

“With the host’s authorization, this unit can temporarily assume control of the host’s body for a maximum duration of five minutes.”

I blinked.

“…Control my body?”

“Affirmative. This unit will execute any assigned task within the host’s current physical capabilities with maximum precision, efficiency, and timing.”

My interest immediately grew.

“Such as?”

“Examples include close-quarters combat, firearms operation, driving, typing, writing, surgery, crafting, operating machinery, and any other physical task the host’s body is physically capable of performing. This unit will optimize every movement to achieve the highest possible level of performance.”

I leaned forward, my curiosity piqued.

“So you’re saying you can fight using my body?”

“Affirmative.”

“And every movement will be optimized?”

“Affirmative.”

“What about firearms? Driving? Surgery?”

“Affirmative.”

A quiet laugh escaped my lips.

“So, as long as my body is physically capable of doing something, you can perform it at the highest level possible.”

“Affirmative. This unit’s performance is limited only by the host’s physical condition and the maximum operational duration of five minutes.”

The ability didn’t sound particularly overwhelming at first.

It wouldn’t make me stronger or teach me abilities I didn’t already possess.

Instead, it removed the weakest link from every action I performed—human error.

There would be no hesitation, no wasted movement, and no unnecessary exertion.

Every motion would be calculated and executed with perfect precision.

The more I thought about it, the more terrifying the ability became.

As my body grew stronger, as I learned new martial arts, mastered different weapons, or acquired new skills, Research Assistant would immediately be capable of using all of them at their absolute limit.

It wouldn’t need years of practice, nor would it develop bad habits or lose its composure under pressure.

It would simply execute the optimal action every single time.

For now, there was no point in testing it.

I already had something in mind to properly test this capability.

When that time came, I’d let Research Assistant take control.

Until then, simply knowing the capability existed was enough.

Still, there was something far more important to think about than testing a new ability.

The Klaue raid.

I had accomplished my objective, but no operation was ever truly flawless.

Every plan left traces behind, no matter how carefully they were hidden.

Looking around the now-empty camp, I called out quietly.

“Research Assistant.”

“Awaiting instructions.”

“What are the chances of this operation being traced back to me?”

Unlike before, the reply didn’t come immediately.

Several seconds passed in silence before the familiar voice finally spoke.

“Analyzing available information.”

A few seconds passed before the answer finally came.

“Estimated probability of the Kingdom of Wakanda identifying the host as the perpetrator: two percent.”

I slowly nodded.

Lower than I had expected.

“And S.H.I.E.L.D.?”

“Estimated probability of S.H.I.E.L.D. identifying the host as the perpetrator: fifteen percent.”

I frowned.

“That’s… considerably higher.”

“Affirmative.”

“Explain.”

“The Kingdom of Wakanda’s primary objective will be recovering the stolen Vibranium and determining its current location. The attack itself will most likely be classified as either an external raid or an internal betrayal until contradictory evidence is discovered.”

That made sense.

Recovering the Vibranium would naturally take priority.

Finding the person responsible could always come later.

“What about S.H.I.E.L.D.?”

“S.H.I.E.L.D. specializes in intelligence gathering. Unlike Wakanda, S.H.I.E.L.D. is expected to investigate every available lead regardless of its apparent significance. Recovered shell casings, witness statements, financial transactions, travel history, communication records, and surviving associates all represent potential investigative leads.”

I leaned back slightly as I considered the explanation.

“So even though Wakanda has better technology, that doesn’t necessarily make them better investigators.”

“Affirmative. Superior technology does not guarantee superior investigative prioritization. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s operational doctrine favors exhaustive intelligence gathering.”

I remained silent for several moments.

It wasn’t exactly good news, but a fifteen percent probability wasn’t certainty.

It simply meant there were still weaknesses in my plan that needed to be addressed.

“What do you recommend?”

“The statistically optimal solution is eliminating every unnecessary witness capable of connecting the host to this operation. Alternative solutions include witness manipulation, memory alteration, coercion, relocation, and long-term surveillance.”

I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

“So your first answer is murder.”

“Correction. This unit is presenting the most efficient method of reducing identification probability.”

A quiet sigh escaped my lips.

“As expected… you really do think like a machine.”

“Affirmative. This unit does not possess emotional bias.”

A faint smile appeared on my face.

At least it was honest.

I hadn’t purchased Research Assistant to tell me what I wanted to hear—I had purchased it to calculate the most efficient solution.

Whether I chose to follow that advice was another matter entirely.

Another thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Research Assistant.”

“Awaiting instructions.”

“If you were responsible for planning my future growth… what would you recommend I purchase next?”