"I cross-referenced seventeen military logistics databases I managed to hack into, six air traffic control logs, and reports from seven astronomy enthusiast forums…"
"Most of the relevant records were wiped clean, but there are still traces left behind!"
Lide spoke rapidly, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he opened several encrypted folders.
Inside—
Blurry video clips.
Corrupted surveillance screenshots.
Archived news drafts that had long been deleted.
"Boss, look at this—these are combat records from about two years ago!"
He clicked on a heavily shaking phone video.
In the footage—
A massive yellow robot was locked in fierce combat with a scorpion-like mechanical monster in the middle of a city street.
Explosions roared.
Buildings collapsed.
Even through the distortion—
The sheer scale of that mechanical battle was overwhelming.
"This is one of the earliest publicly witnessed incidents," Lide explained excitedly.
"It happened right here—New York."
"The authorities tried to cover it up, but there were too many witnesses. Some footage leaked online."
"Looking at it now… this was the first large-scale exposure of those alien mechanical lifeforms."
He opened another folder.
"These are fragmented records I collected over the past two years."
"Those robots calling themselves 'Autobots' sometimes cooperate with human military forces to eliminate their enemies—the 'Decepticons.'"
The screen flickered with more clips:
A blurry drone recording from the Middle East—
A red-and-blue robot battling a jet-form machine.
A night surveillance clip from a port city—
A silver sports car robot clashing with a massive excavator-type Decepticon.
Satellite images—
Remote deserts and mountains marked by unnatural craters and metallic debris.
Lide even zoomed in on the faction symbols for clarity before continuing.
"Over the past two years, official statements have always been vague—experimental weapons, localized conflicts…"
"But piecing all this together—"
"There's been a hidden war happening worldwide."
"Autobots are helping humanity, while Decepticons are clearly trying to destroy or conquer Earth."
By now, Lide's excitement had reached its peak.
He turned abruptly, his eyes burning with admiration as he stared at Inabi.
"Boss! You already knew this, didn't you?"
"You're part of some hidden organization, right? Like in the movies—secret heroes living among ordinary people!"
He waved his arms wildly, pointing at the terrifying Decepticons and the seemingly heroic Autobots on the screen.
"These metal freaks—yellow, red, silver, whatever—I don't trust any of them!"
"They fight each other, but in the end, it's humans who suffer!"
"Saving the world… it should be humans doing it!"
"Right, boss?!"
Inabi's eyelid twitched slightly.
Save the world?
He looked at the overweight man, completely immersed in his own heroic fantasy.
His expression remained indifferent.
To him—
This world meant nothing.
Humans.
Aliens.
They were all the same.
Just background elements.
Resources.
Obstacles.
He gathered information for one reason only—
To complete the mission.
Obtain the AllSpark fragments.
Secure the Energy Matrix.
Strengthen the Uchiha.
That was all.
Whether this world fell to the Decepticons—
Or humanity went extinct—
He didn't care.
Unless it interfered with his mission.
Still…
Lide's wild assumptions were convenient.
They saved him the trouble of explaining anything.
"Focus on your task," Inabi said flatly.
"Continue tracking Autobot and Decepticon activity—especially their recent movements and targets."
"Got it, boss!"
Lide straightened instantly, as if entrusted with a sacred mission.
His hands resumed their frantic dance across the keyboard, even more energized than before.
"I'll dig everything out! Let those metal tin cans know who really rules Earth!"
Inabi silently turned his gaze away.
Annoying—
But useful.
Moments later—
Another shout, even louder than before.
"Boss! Major discovery!!"
Inabi turned back.
On the screen—
A social media profile.
A seemingly ordinary young white man.
Sam Witwicky.
"That's him!" Lide exclaimed breathlessly.
"I cross-checked all available witness lists from the New York battle, temporary detention records, and online discussions…"
"This guy—Sam Witwicky—was there!"
"Not just that—there are blurry footage clips showing that yellow robot repeatedly appearing near him—protecting him!"
He switched pages rapidly, pulling up more data.
"After the battle, he was active online for a while—kept claiming he helped save the world."
"Of course, nobody believed him. People thought he was lying or delusional."
"Eventually, his account went quiet."
"But I know he was telling the truth!"
"He was a key figure back then!"
"If the Autobots protected him, he must know something important!"
Lide slammed his thigh, his excitement spilling over.
"Find him!"
"As long as we find Sam Witwicky, we can locate the Autobots—maybe even directly find what you're looking for!"
Inabi listened quietly.
His Sharingan recorded every detail on the screen.
Meanwhile—
Lide stared at those crimson eyes, mesmerized.
So beautiful…
"Well done, Lide."
It was the third time Inabi said it—
But this time—
There was a trace of genuine approval.
"Lock onto his current location. As precise as possible."
"Leave it to me!"
Lide felt an unprecedented sense of purpose.
He threw himself into tracking Sam Witwicky's whereabouts with full intensity, muttering excitedly under his breath.
"Hah… Autobots, Decepticons… against boss and me, they're nothing…"
Inabi ignored him.
He took out his phone and began typing quickly.
If this lead was accurate—
Sam Witwicky might be far more important than all previous fragmented intel combined.
This—
Needed to be shared with Shūjin…
And Mo.