100% of gamblers lose before they win. (Arcana Virus)
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“Ah,” said Turboman, who had in fact assumed they were talking about whatever the equivalent was in Rock’s Internet.
“You really don’t have anything like it…?” wondered Kaita. He was genuinely amazed. Internet City was so old, and even discounting it there were independently-run webpages to visit, some of which were even older…
Before Kaita could reassure Lan that she was fine, her PET rang. It seemed obvious that she didn’t want to take the call, but just as obvious that she had to. Was this her version of Meijin-san…? He sounded a lot older… But he was speaking with authority about the Arcana Virus phenomenon, just like Meijin-san and Hikari-hakase would’ve to Kaita.
“Guess we’re drivin’ right into trouble,” Turboman whispered to his Operator.
“Looks like it.” Kaita didn’t really mind this turn of events; exploring the Internet and solving problems like this were what he did. But he couldn’t help but murmur, “Sorry, Hikari-san…” to the front door behind them. He hadn’t even realized what a relief it was to no longer need to lie to his parents until he found himself having lied to someone else’s. It was much more uncomfortable the second time around.
With that, Kaita stuck his head over the side so Lan and her caller could see, only to discover that said caller was voice-only. “Um, excuse me!” He turned on his Net Savior hologram on reflex, then remembered the other person couldn’t see it. “I’m Todoroki Kaita, with the Net Saviors of, uh, Beyondard!” he explained as quickly as his mind could recall the proper terms. “We’re doing research on the Arcana Viruses. Are you saying… that Dead Hand is trying to say the Arcana Viruses are theirs?”
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Lan couldn't help but jump as soon as Kaita barged in. Rock cringed, too, waving her hands defensively, though it did nothing to stop her operator's resulting outburst. "K-Kaita- why'd you follow me?!" Lan hissed, immediately trying to hide her PET. "It's nothing- it's nothing, it's nothing, it's nothing-!!"
Unfortunately for her, the damage had already been done. Wily chuckled, his gravelly voice still audible even as Lan tried to muffle the speakers. "Todoroki Kaita, hmm? From Beyondard?" he said, sounding rather bemused. "I see that you haven't stopped making the rounds, Lan. A new friend?"
"Sh-shut up," Lan blubbered, completely embarrassed. The expression she was shooting at Kaita was wildly unreadable, besides her face being beet red.
Rock groused to herself, but there wasn't much she could to do perform damage control when Kaita was already engaging with the conversation. Well, it wasn't like they hadn't already been on a mission together - it was just that Lan (and herself...) had been particularly cagey about Wily lately. "A friend... yeah," she replied, sighing. "Just... spit out what you want, already, old man."
Ignoring Rock's less-than-satisfied tone, Wily finally responded to Kaita. "It would seem so. Or, rather... the vaults that those viruses sprung out from," he explained. "It doesn't surprise me. Anyone could've figured out they had some connection to those devices. After all, the first attacked not long after you met their agents, didn't it? But why they would want them back is another matter entirely."
Lan's lips twitched. "Hi...Hika... he, uh," she began, stuttering before she could bring herself to even acknowledge the other world's Dr. Hikari. "It was something like, they were absorbing data, right? Maybe they want that data, or something like that." She slapped the side of her head with her hand in frustration. "Or... that ancient... crap... ugh."
"That's what I want you to investigate," Wily said, before quickly correcting himself to clarify, "Help investigate. No one else has quite the combination of strong Navi and stealthing ability like you do. Ha, ha."
"Oh, how you flatter me," Rock barked back sarcastically.
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“Because it’s about the Arcana Viruses! I oughta help!” Kaita tried to explain over the panic.
(On his shoulder, Turboman wondered if his Operator had made the right move, but only for a moment. Everyone was following the same course now, after all, and the ride tended to be smoother that way. Besides, getting there faster was always better, in his opinion.)
At last, the ‘old man’ on the other end of the line regained temporary control of the conversation. Kaita listened intently, looking over at Lan when Wily addressed her in his explanation.
“‘Ancient crap’?” he wondered when Lan mentioned it, entirely earnest. “But, yeah. The way it got explained to me… it sounded like the program at the center of them was sucking up information from its surroundings, somehow. And that’s why they all turn out so different from each other.” He tilted his head. “But Meiru-san would’ve mentioned Dead Hand if she’d thought they knew about, y’know, the kinda stuff the Arcana Viruses have gotten up to since then…”
“Maybe they didn’t then, but they do now,” mused Turboman.
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"She didn't mention them...?" Rock questioned, genuinely surprised. "I mean, I dunno what they've been up to since we went on our whole overseas trip, but it was still pretty suspicious that they were on the island at the same time as us." She crossed her arms, looking away from the PET; it felt bad to be having a normal conversation with Dr. Wily again, but there was really no avoiding it. "They were makin'... robots or something, right? So what the hell would these data-absorbers have to do with that?"
Lan narrowed her eyes, dots connecting chaotically in her mind. "Maybe they're trying to hide something," she speculated. "It'd make sense why they'd want the vaults back if they messed up, right? Maybe they got... like, loose, or something."
"If what your contacts say about the vaults is the truth, then that very well could be the case," Dr. Wily surmised. "Technology firms often have some very interesting things to hide. If anything, it would be wise to track this vault down... if only so we can pry for info on how to end this little problem of yours."
Lan grumbled, narrowing her eyes. "Okay? Whatever. Where is it, then?" she barked. "If we deal with it, then will you stop calling me?"
Choosing to ignore Lan's threat, Wily instead explained the mission. "The company they're suing is a gambling corporation. Their largest casino just so happens to be in downtown Den City," he said. "So it doesn't surprise me that one of those vaults could've crawled all the way there. I'd start by investigating that business. I'm certain they won't even care if you loiter around the premises, given our gambling laws. Ha, ha."
Lan immediately blanched. "C-casino... company?" she muttered, bad memories already bubbling up in her mind. Rock, similarly, was looking quite displeased. "Ew... ew... ugh."
