ALL NOVEL Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Commander, Can You Tell Me Who Kissed You?
Anis inspected the soda can in her hands, particularly focusing on the brand name. She frowned in confusion.
"Hey, Commander, I've never seen this brand before. Where'd you get it?"
"I picked it up."
"What?! Picked it up?" Anis froze for a second.
"Just drink it already."
Anis leaned closer, her chest nearly pressing against Mo Chen's body, grinning playfully as she winked at him.
"Hehe, Commander, you're so good to me. How should I repay you?"
Mo Chen pinched Anis's soft, pouty cheeks and shook her head lightly.
"By drinking your soda quietly. That's the best repayment."
Anis squealed in protest, swatting Mo Chen's hand away and glaring at him, pouting indignantly.
"Tch! Commander, you have no sense of romance."
Mo Chen stretched out his hand.
"In that case, give me back the soda."
Anis hugged the can tightly to her chest like it was her most precious treasure, firmly refusing.
"No way!"
Then she added, defiantly: "It's mine now."
"Well, you're mine too."
"Ehe, Commander, did you finally see the light?"
Unable to handle Anis's antics, Mo Chen stepped out of the room to get some fresh air. That girl, when she started acting crazy, was like a hyperactive cat in its rebellious phase.
Mo Chen realized he hadn't properly explored the outpost base yet.
After the cleaning and repairs, the base looked much tidier than before. Perhaps because the fighting had ended, the streets were bustling—not with people, but with plenty of Nikkes.
For the first time, the base felt alive.
As he walked, he encountered many Nikkes who warmly greeted him.
"Hello, Commander!"
"Wow, it's the Commander!"
"Um, Commander, could you… could you give me an autograph?"
"This is amazing!"
Mo Chen was startled to find that the Nikkes' enthusiasm toward him was overwhelming. In just a short amount of time, he found himself surrounded by a crowd.
Some were expressing their gratitude, others eagerly asked for autographs, and the boldest ones even asked when he'd have some free time to spend with them
Just a short walk down the street, and Mo Chen found himself unable to move forward!
By the time he realized he needed to leave, it was already too late.
If it were just one or two Nikkes, they might have been shy, but once they formed a group, they let loose completely. Swarming him without hesitation, some even took the chance to boldly plant a kiss on his cheek.
The commotion erupted into a chorus of laughter and teasing.
Mo Chen fled the scene in a panic, feeling overwhelmed.
What's gotten into these Nikkes? He thought with exasperation.
This wasn't how they acted before!
At that moment, Rapi approached him.
"Commander, we might have a small problem," she said.
"A small problem?" Mo Chen asked, confused as he wiped his face. "Are the Raptures attacking again?"
"No," Rapi shook her head and pulled out a prepared report. "It's about you, Commander. The battle on the frontlines against Chatterbox was witnessed by many Nikkes."
Mo Chen paused, recalling the scene.
During his fight with Chatterbox, a lot of Nikkes had indeed been present below. At the time, the situation was urgent, and there had been no chance to hide his abilities. Being seen was unavoidable.
It's not like I could silence everyone, he thought.
"Did Ark find out?"
Even if Ark knew, it didn't matter much to him. They were already wary of the outpost anyway.
When propaganda wasn't enough, fear tactics would surely follow.
"Not yet," Rapi replied, putting away the documents. "I've already spoken to those Nikkes and asked them to keep it a secret."
Mo Chen shrugged, indifferent.
"Let them find out. It's bound to happen sooner or later."
Secrets like these were like a fire under a blanket—impossible to fully contain. The more you try to hide it, the more likely it is to spread.
Scandals are never in short supply, he mused.
"That won't do. If Ark finds out, they'll definitely send people to investigate, and that won't be good for you," Rapi said thoughtfully. Her scarlet eyes glinted faintly as she raised her hand. "If that's the case, maybe we should just—"
Mo Chen jumped in alarm and quickly stopped her.
"Wait, no! There's no need for that!"
Rapi tilted her head, confused by his reaction.
"What's wrong? I was just thinking about reassigning the Nikkes who know about it. Is there a problem?"
"You scared me half to death," Mo Chen said, letting out a sigh of relief. "I thought you meant silencing them for good."
Rapi considered his words seriously.
"That's not entirely off the table," she replied.
Mo Chen: "…"
In the past, Rapi would have followed Ark's orders to the letter. Now, she was even suggesting ways to deflect Ark's scrutiny.
"It's for the liberation of all humanity," Rapi added with conviction. "Just like you said, Commander."
She had clearly heard about Mo Chen's speech on the battlefield.
Though she hadn't been present, the retelling by the other Nikkes conveyed the impact. She could sense their excitement and passion, and even she found herself deeply moved.
"Indeed," Mo Chen sighed. "Liberating all of humanity."
What an enormous task.
Even convincing the citizens of Ark to change their deeply ingrained prejudices against Nikkes was a Herculean challenge, let alone gaining full acceptance.
"It's because you're so gentle, Commander. That's why the Nikkes welcome you so warmly," Rapi said with a faint smile. Her gaze toward Mo Chen carried a hint of tenderness, but she quickly shifted to a more serious tone.
"However, you shouldn't spoil the Nikkes too much. When they need to be disciplined, you must do so. Otherwise, they might become overly reliant on your kindness and make things difficult for you."
Mo Chen was stunned.
"But you're a Nikke too," he said.
"I'm no exception," Rapi replied firmly.
Mo Chen: "..."
Rapi stepped closer, taking out a handkerchief. Only then did Mo Chen realize she was wiping away the lipstick marks on his face.
"Ah, thanks," he said.
Her movements were gentle, carefully wiping him clean.
Mo Chen paused for a moment, unsure.
"What are you thanking me for?" Rapi asked as she folded the handkerchief. Her tone was earnest.
"If not for you, Commander, Nikkes might have continued living like this forever—without autonomy, without self-awareness."
From the moment they were created, Nikkes had one purpose: to fight for humanity. Yet no one ever asked if they wanted that.
Mo Chen chuckled softly.
"Even if it weren't me, I believe someone else would've done it eventually. There's always someone willing to stand up."
Rapi shook her head.
"In a hundred years, Commander, you're the only one who's done it."
He sighed deeply.
No wonder humanity had been driven into such a corner.
If Ark's parasites couldn't even grasp the simple concept of uniting all possible forces, how could they ever hope to reclaim the surface?
"By the way, Commander..."
"Yes?" Mo Chen asked.
"Can you tell me now—who kissed you?"
As Rapi smiled warmly, Mo Chen suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.