NIKKE: Max Bonded but System Gone

"Everyone seems so energetic."

Reclining on his chair, Green scrolled through his phone, the corners of his lips slightly upturned.

He was about to continue reading when Marian and Rapi knocked on the door. Before Green could respond, the naive Marian pushed the door open and walked into the commander's office.

"Commander!"

The silver-haired Nikke girl ran up to him and threw herself into his arms.

Her weight pressed against Green's chest, causing him some discomfort, but as he gazed at her innocent and flawless face, the discomfort dissipated like storm clouds after the rain.

"Marian, how have the past few days been?" Gently patting Marian's head, Green asked with a smile.

"Great! I learned how to speak! Rapi taught me lots of things, and I learned really fast. Amazing, right, Commander?!"

Marian rubbed her head against Green's chest, showing off as if seeking praise.

Looking at her eager expression, Green chuckled. "Marian is indeed amazing."

Marian giggled. "Of course! I'm better than Anis and Neon! And one day, I'll be better than Rapi too!"

"..." Rapi crossed her arms and remained silent for a moment before saying, "Commander, President Ingrid has requested a comprehensive body examination for Marian. Do you approve?"

After a brief pause, Green replied, "Selfishly, I'd prefer to delay the examination. Though the truth will eventually come out, the longer we keep Marian out of the public eye, the more time we have to deal with potential threats."

Rapi nodded. "Understood. I'll inform President Ingrid that Marian is still in training. Additionally—"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Before Rapi could finish her sentence, another knock came at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Central Government. Open the door immediately."

"I didn't receive any notice. State your business." Green's expression darkened slightly.

"We're here under Deputy Chief Doban's orders. The details will be explained in person," came a slightly frivolous voice from outside.

"Deputy Chief Doban?" Green rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

The Central Government was rife with factions, numbering five or six in total. Green was aligned with the military faction led by Anderson and Elysion, but due to his close ties with Nikkes and his remote outpost far from the Ark, his relationships with other factions' elites were strained.

Rumors often circulated within the government that he would one day rebel against the Ark and declare independence. Doban's faction was among those most critical of Green's actions. For Doban's men to come knocking today likely boded ill.

Green signaled Rapi with a glance and a quick hand gesture, instructing her to "arm up" and "call for reinforcements immediately."

Rapi, momentarily surprised, responded with a hand signal of her own.

"Commander, when did you learn sign language?"

"They taught it at military academy."

"You're getting cooler by the day."

"Is this really the time to compliment me?"

Rapi smiled before she pulled out her phone and swiftly summoned reinforcements.

Green turned to Marian. "Marian, let's play hide-and-seek. Go under the desk and count to 100 in her mind."

"Got it, Commander!"

Once Marian had obediently hidden, Green cleared his throat. "Come in."

A man in a suit entered, accompanied by six armed thugs.

Their demeanor made it clear they were trouble. As soon as they entered, the door was locked behind them. The burly men spread out, wielding iron rods and short firearms, taking positions to surround Green.

Despite the perilous situation, Green remained calm.

He poured a cup of instant coffee and placed it before the man in the suit. "May I have your name?"

The man smirked. "Does it matter? Just know I serve Deputy Chief Doban. You may call me Jeff."

Green narrowed his eyes. "Jeff, what brings you here?"

Jeff smiled slyly and pulled out a document. "This is evidence provided by Deputy Chief Doban. Commander Green, you are accused of conducting illegal transactions with Outer Rim residents. We are here under orders to detain you and your Nikkes for investigation. If you know what's good for you, you'll cooperate and come with us along with those tin cans."

Unfazed by the accusation, Green sipped his coffee, his calm demeanor irritating Jeff. To Jeff, Green was nothing more than a lucky mercenary, unworthy of the respect due to aristocrats like himself. Jeff watched smugly, waiting for Green to surrender. However, as time passed and the coffee cooled, Green remained motionless.

Jeff's patience wore thin. Rising abruptly, he raised his voice. "Green, perhaps you don't realize what you've done. This Ark is home to many powerful elites—people you, a criminal lowlife, cannot afford to offend!"

Jeff then laughed. "But none of that matters. Criminal Green, surrender now! Kneel, or I'll execute you on the spot in accordance with Ark law!"

"...The fuck did you just call me? A criminal?"

Green chuckled coldly. Before Jeff could react, Green's large hand shot out, gripping Jeff's throat.

Click!

At the same moment, Green drew a concealed handgun and aimed it at Jeff's subordinates.

Simultaneously, Anis and Neon crashed through the window, guns drawn, while Rapi leveled her rifle at the intruders.

Though Nikkes couldn't attack humans directly, the sight of multiple gun barrels trained on them made the thugs hesitate.

Green's voice soon broke the tension.

"Did you think I'd be scared into submission by a flimsy piece of paper? Mongrels, you are the one who is going to kneel!"

Green then turned to Jeff in his clutch.

"And you, waving around your fake authority—calling me a criminal? Open your eyes! Anyone who dares threaten me or my Nikkes will meet the same fate!"

With his enhanced strength, Green lifted Jeff effortlessly before slamming Jeff's head into the corner of the desk.

Bang!

"AAAHHHHH!" Jeff let out a bloodcurdling scream, clutching his bloodied forehead.

The sound paralyzed the thugs and even left Anis and Neon in awe of Green's decisive actions.

Despite the pain, Jeff continued to sneer. "You lowlife... Doban won't let you... You think you're a big shot? Just a lowly mercenary... daring to—"

"I asked, who allowed you to speak? Kneel!"

Thud, thud, thud!

Green slammed Jeff's head repeatedly until his face was unrecognizable. Finally, Jeff broke down and begged for mercy.

"P-please… no more…"

Green, gripping Jeff's hair, sneered, "Where's your noble pride now? Weren't you boasting about your elite status?"

"Who sent you?"

Jeff hesitated, earning another slam against the desk.

"Speak!"

"It—it wasn't anyone! I-I just heard about your Nikke Marian and wanted to detain her as a gift for Doban!" Jeff coughed blood.

"Handing over your master so easily—what a loyal dog. If that's the case, killing you here should satisfy him."

Green raised his gun, pointing it at Jeff's head.

"Wait! Don't kill me! I can make Doban owe you a favor! You need supplies for your battles, don't you? Let's cooperate!"

"Hmph. Do you think I'm stupid?" Green's gaze darkened. "I know my place, unlike you but you're right in one thing—killing you here is pointless. I'll hand you over to Enikk for the Ark AI to judge."

Enikk, the Ai, can judge anyone based on her judgment. One might say that Green should just end the criminal but Enikk's judgment can even be crueler than death. Besides, Green didn't want to handle the bodies and paperwork that would come after it.

"Falsifying evidence and abusing your power? Your future involves sharing a cell with brutes in the Rehabilitation Center."

"Rapi, take him away."

"Understood, Commander!"

"And the rest of you..."

Green turned his gun toward the thugs, whose appearance screamed Outskirts delinquents.

"The Rehabilitation Center doesn't accept your kind."

Green naturally had the authority to deal with these outlaws as he saw fit.

"Neon, Anis, tie these thugs near the elevator entrance. Provide them with only the bare minimum of food and water. Let them serve as a warning for a month," Green commanded.

"Lastly, post a warning sign nearby. Write: 'Due to a terrorist attack, the forward base is on high alert. Any unidentified groups or suspicious activities will be met with immediate and lethal force, regardless of rank or status.'"

"Understood, Commander!"

"Got it, Master~"

The Nikkes quickly restrained the thugs and dragged them off. Even up to their capture, none of the outlaws dared to fire at Green.

After all, shooting would have been pointless. Even without firearms, Anis could have easily overpowered them with her fists alone.

As they hauled the outlaws toward the elevator, Anis couldn't stop reliving the scene of Green beating Jeff earlier. The more she thought about it, the more exhilarated she felt. Eventually, she started humming a tune as they walked.

Curious, Neon glanced over. "Anis, what's got you in such a good mood?"

Anis scratched the stray tuft of hair on her head and grinned. "Oh, it's nothing. I just feel great."

"Watching our Commander slam that Central Government dog onto the desk... didn't that fire you up? For me, it felt like my soul got cleanse with his dashing demeanor. It was even better than downing three iced sodas in one go after a long vacation."

Neon adjusted her glasses thoughtfully. "But I've never seen Master this angry before."

Anis pouted. "That's because the Commander really hates it when people call us 'scrap metal.'"

"But now we've made enemies of those elites, Anis."

"Eh, you have to cross someone sooner or later. It's not like we're new to this. Haven't we already ruffled enough feathers?"

"Besides, I trust the Commander. As long as he's alive, I'll follow him wherever he goes."

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