Chapter 3: Chapter 2: The Ark

White room...

Buzzing fluorescent lights...

White Tiles...

Soft bed...

Ghillie's eyes open in an unfamiliar room, confused by a sudden change in the environment.

He looks around...

The blinding white fluorescent lights are getting to him as he squints his eyes.

He removes the white blanket that covered him only to be wearing a hospital gown.

He looked beside the bed where his military clothes are properly folded, and his boots cleaned thoroughly.

This is the strangest thing he has yet woken up. A room is similar to a hospital. The white floor tiles are so squeaky clean as if it is properly maintained regularly by someone.

"W-was that a nightmare this whole time?" He thought.

He lies on the white clean bed recalling the events before. Years of surviving in a world of apocalyptic human-killing machines are too vivid and too long to be in a dream. Perhaps it's just the longest dream.

However, what doesn't fit the entire story is why are his clothes that he wore at that time are still here?

He stares at his clothes again and his shirt still has a few scratches and holes that came from gunshots.

His eyes widened.

Wait...

Who the hell is treating me?

He recalled the last thing before he closed his eyes.

Beautiful women... in strange military get-ups.

It's like a cheap military p*rno...

Heh... He smiled.

Maybe I'm really dead...

His brainwaves rush back to him recalling a mangled robot with a blue line of light.

Loud amplified noise of beep.

"Taranty!" His eyes open again.

He opened his eyes again revealing the same white ceiling with a buzzing fluorescent light, panting heavily as his heart rate increases and sweats heavily.

"T-this... This is all wrong!" He thought.

The iron door opens...

A stunningly beautiful girl dressed in a white sleeveless turtleneck, slightly loose blue tie, very very... short shorts, and a small white vest. Her pink hair falls down just on her shoulders, and she wears white headphones with cat ears.

She arrives just like an actual idol excited to meet her fans... Except that Ghillie looks at her with visible confusion.

"Hey! Mr. Kimber, right?" She greets her as she looks at her notes as closed the door.

"Y-yeah?" Ghillie responded.

"How are you? You still fine?"

"I... Don't know where the hell I am..."

"Ah, that's it. Right... You're the talk of the town, right now. The only survivor from the surface,"

"The surface? I-is this an underground?" He looks at the windows where the sun shines on the blinds.

"Oh... silly me... You're still recovering, I'll have to explain it to you for a while then. Let me check up on your wounds first," She approaches Ghillie and looks closely at his wounds.

"I haven't seen a patient such as you with a chiseled body. What have you been eating on the surface to be getting that?"

"I just eat whatever I find... Canned food is the only edible ones so I mixed them up and increase my protein intake," Ghillie responded.

Wait... Why am I casually talking to a cute girl out of nowhere as if this is a normal thing?

"Woah... Even surface dwellers work out in the midst of a battle!"

"No... I just do supply runs on a weekly or monthly basis, then run with a heavy weapon. I did do some exercises if you can call them,"

"Eh...? Well, for now, your body is surprisingly recovering well. For someone who lives in constant war with those Raptures daily,"

"Ahaha... Well, you haven't told me about where I am,"

"Hehehe, do you want some food first?"

"Food? Like actual food?" Ghillie asked.

"Yeah, just wait. I'll be right back. Another patient of mine needs my attention. I can bring someone to serve you food,"

"Y-yeah..."

The pink-haired girl rushes to the door and hurriedly runs to the hallway.

This is so fucking strange... Ghillie murmured.

He waits for five minutes not realizing what he could've asked her.

What was her name?

The door opens revealing another beautiful woman dressed in a blue dress with a doctor's coat, and a white garment on her head. She arrives with the most delicious-looking food in Ghillie's eyes.

Steak, a side of mashed potatoes, and a glass of water.

"Gilbert, or was it Ghillie? I've got you some food while you recover for a while,"

"O-ohh... Thanks,"

"My name's Mary, and that idol of the Ark's hospital is Pepper," she introduced as she brought a bed table placed on top of Ghillie and placed the utensils beside the plate.

"R-really nice to see you ladies and thanks for the food," his eyes sparkle and his mouth salivates as he looks at the freshest food he has seen in his life.

He didn't bother looking at the knives and fork, and straight up grabs the steak with his bare hand and gobbles a piece of it like a burger with no buns.

"Gilbert! Use the fork and knife," she said as she frustratingly places her hands on Ghillie's wrist.

He puts down the steak and with his greasy hands, wipes it off on his hospital gown.

"So uncivilized, get some tissues," she took some tissues and placed them beside him as the man wipes his hands off.

He takes a knife and fork and cuts a portion of the steak and places it in his mouth, and chews properly.

Ghillie not only relearned how to have etiquette but tasted such an amazing juicy steak that he swallowed just now.

"The outer texture is a bit crisp, but the inside is so juicy and soft it's..."

"You like the food?" She asked as she grabs another tissue and Mary lowers her body to wipe the grease on his mouth.

"I haven't eaten anything delicious for years..." Ghillie said as he was caught off-guard by Mary wiping off his face.

"Hey don't wipe my face," his face reddened as he grabs the same tissue from Mary's hand and wipes his face himself.

Mary giggled as she holds her hair to the back of her ear.

"I... I'm sorry, that was sudden. I just had this strangest and longest nightmare. How long was I out? Was I in a coma?"

"You've been out for almost a week. Pepper had to perform quite a long operation on you. She could've been happier to talk to you but she's a bit busy, you see?"

"A week? I thought I'd been gone for years... It's just that I've had this nightmare where I've been lost in some machine-killing world for years where I have to fight countless days and find scarce food around. I was even with another robot companion that..."

"Raptures? To even survive that long and be able to come out alive is..."

"W-was I talking in my sleep?"

"No... They still are taking over the surface,"

"The surface? Where are we right now? In some underground? That window over there tells otherwise. It's bright as every other day,"

Mary looked at him with concern.

"Gilbert, I'm sorry to say this but, we are living underground. That's just a simulated sky with a systematic day and night cycle to simulate what it was like on the surface,"

"D...D-don't bullshit me. I've been living such a tormenting life to think that it was all just a nightmare. Please tell me where I am?" Gilbert looked at her as if he is still reliving his nightmare.

Mary stayed quiet.

"Y-you're probably a Rapture too? Maybe those things have the capacity to toy with me this whole time..." Ghillie holds Mary's wrists and pulled her a bit as he looked at her with suspicion.

"I-I'm sorry..." Mary quickly grabs a syringe and injected a strange substance into Ghillie on the neck as he immediately loosens his grip his body relaxes as Mary quickly grabbed his limping head and placed him on the pillow, then hurriedly run back to the door.

---

"Commander, Mary reported that the Surface Dweller just woke up. Apparently, he is in a state of confusion right as he wakes up," Rapi saluted to the commander.

A man of average height dressed in a military general's uniform saluted back as he stood up front on Rapi.

"Tsk... I should've known better, Rapi. Bringing someone who lives in a secluded land all his life to the Ark will simply be overwhelming to him,"

"I suppose so,"

"Well, would it be better if we can ask permission to discharge him early so we can help him live in this place peacefully? How long do you think will it take for him to start learning to live with the society of Ark?"

"Hmm... With his long-standing trauma together with a loss of life, he will most likely be living with Post-Traumatic Disorder and other psychological damages that happened to him from the surface. It'll take quite a long time,"

"I see..." Commander nodded.

"Hey, commander. You've been called for a meeting with the CEO of Missilis and Andersen," Anis arrived as she looked at Rapi and Commander.

"Sigh... I've been dealing with so much trouble, and now I'm having a meeting with them?" Commander sighed.

"Sucks to be you, I guess," Anis responded.

Anis then made a smug look at Rapi just like that mind-reading girl from that spy anime.

Rapi looked at her with her head tilted as if thinking what was she ever thinking while she looks at both Commander and her.

"Who made these subpar batches of ammunition? These things need to be redone immediately before more Nikkes break their weapons. Did one of the facilities malfunction? Or did one of them didn't check these things properly," A woman in a tall figure, dressed in white general outfits with garments sticking out revealing her chest with a red tie in the middle and her grand coat hanging behind her.

She picks one of the crude bullets with her fingers inspecting the bullet.

"Ingrid, it's best to wait for Commander to have an explanation," A man dressed in fine commander uniform, his beard reaching to his hairline, and his coat hanging on his forearm as he stood still waiting for the next client.

"We've heard reports of someone making the same model of bullets from your company that came from outside the Ark,"

"O-outside the Ark!? Other people snitched our secret place?"

"No, Ingrid, a survivor,"

"Tsk... This person, living on the surface, a survivor? Hmph... Impossible," Ingrid pouted as she looked away as she holds her arms,

Knock knock knock...

"Come in," Andersen answered.

The door opens revealing to be Commander as he walks to the meeting table.

"Etoo, sorry, I'm late,"

"That will be fine since this is a sudden meeting," Andersen replied.

"Now let's get straight to the point. Commander, I would like an explanation regarding this," Ingrid points to some crude bullets on the table leveling to at least around twelve of them.

"That is... the ongoing mission we have. We found someone that has been surviving on the surface. From the looks of it, he is currently recovering in the Ark's hospital,"

"Impossible... The chance of a human surviving on the surface is below one percent. Even with Nikkes commanded by other commanders would not even survive after stepping foot from the surface,"

---

Andersen stared at Ingrid with malicious intent.

"U-uh... Except for you since you're one of the excellent commanders of the Ark,"

"Very well. I'd say I'm very impressed that even someone has been able to live on the surface for so long. Since one of your Nikkes has been able to capture one have you gotten any information recently regarding this?"

"Not that much, Lord Andersen. I have a brief document right here that sums up who this person is," Commander casually placed documents on the table for everyone to look at.

"His name is Gilbert Kimber. Based on the Ark Database, there is no information regarding him except an identification card that comes from a company called, Hephaestus Industry. He wasn't someone that is from Ark,"

"H-Hephaestus Industry?" Ingrid thought as she scanned the papers.

"Maybe we can access the old database before the Rapture invasion and perhaps we can find some?"

"The old database has limited resources but if we can obtain this maybe we might be able to learn more," Ingrid replied.

"Tsk... We'll just do with what we have now," Andersen clicked his tongue.

"Hephaestus Industry..."

"I was able to search this certain business and found that it's just some old manufacturing company before the Raptures War. It seems that they used to deal with the earliest Artificial Intelligence and excel with machinery and weapons. Though, the company has failed in its marketing during its time. They were just one of the small failing business companies before the Raptures started taking over,"

"I see..."

"Hmph... A person that comes from such an old company truly uses old machines to make such a crude bullet as this. We are still a better company than the rest," Ingrid smirked as she holds the ripped-off crude bullet.

"We also found different types of tools for a lot of things. This person is not only a survivor but a handyman,"

"This old-timer better be an old man soon dying in his living breath. It's been decades since the Raptures had first invaded the surface,"

"Ma'am. This survivor surprisingly is a young man. He does look a bit older than the ID, but is of similar age to us commanders dispatched recently," Commander answered.

Ingrid's eyes widened.

"What technology has he been using to become immortal? Have raptures been evolving while we stay here?"

"We had a thorough check and he's one hundred percent human,"

"No. He is not. How long has he been wandering on the surface?"

"We do not know, but from what we can tell, he's been wandering long enough to be capable of dealing these Raptures, in and out. When Rapi and the rest arrived, he was in critical condition. His right shoulder is dislocated, his left shoulder has a gunshot wound, and his entire body is close to failure due to high dosages of painkillers and other conflicting expired medicines,"

"Had he been treated?"

"He's been recovering for the past week,"

"Without Pepper and Mary's help, he would have died sooner,"

"That's good to hear,"

"He was seen wielding Nikke weapons before he passed out when Rapi found them,"

"This man is a monster. Another man wielding Nikke weapons,"

"I see that this surface wanderer is a man of many feats. To be a resourceful and handy person, and able to deal with Raptures all by himself. He is fit to be a worthy commander such as you," Andersen said.

"I... Is that a compliment?"

"Quit yapping, Commander. Of course, it is," Ingrid kicked Commander on his right metallic leg leaving a metallic sound.

"Ouch..." Commander casually yelped, though there's no pain coming from his exoskeletal leg, it does give him a hunch.

"One thing that doesn't fit right,"

"What?"

"Are there more of them?"

"That... I don't know,"

"Well, I guess that ends our meeting, you may go back to your post," Andersen dismissed.

---

Dark room...

Buzzing light...

It's dark...

There are different flashing lights coming from the window revealing a colorful vivid light from buildings.

Ghillie looks over the window as different colors of light and different screens reveal different advertisements of certain products.

He gets up from his bed and watches as something evoked such a strange melancholic feeling.

It feels like a nightmare, at the same time, where he's at is also another vivid dream.

The first thing he had been surviving on a wasteland filled with nothing but death, and now he's in a strange hospital booming with life. Beautiful doctors and nurses come to him for recovery.

The food is amazing. His taste buds are usually overwhelmed with different flavors. Tteok-bokki was the last thing he wanted to eat before he died, but he's currently eating it right now on this unusually lively night.

Ghillie looks at the door, wanting to go out to check what this strange place is. It's like he had been reincarnated in another world that is utopic.

He walks across the hallways and ended up in the park, where he took a whiff of fresh air.

He sits on a bench positioned on a nearby pond. He looks at the pond reflecting his face with a few bandages on his nose and his right cheek.

Ghillie looked at his hand and slaps himself on the cheek. Maybe it's still another dream and this is just one of them.

But it still hurts...

Even the wounds on his shoulder and around his body hurts a bit.

"Hey! You over there! Get bac- oh hey Ghillie, was it?" A high-pitched feminine voice echoed to the open hospital park.

Gilbert looked over the direction to see a pink-haired doctor with a headset approaching him. It's no other than Pepper.

"You look like you're trying to hurt yourself. Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Oh... It's just that I'm trying to wake myself up. But it hurts,"

"Ah, I see. I've had patients who had lost a part of their body and wanted to wake up from losing their parts,"

"No... It's not that. I just think that it just feels unreal,"

"Unreal?"

"I've been thinking I'm still in a constant state of a nightmare. I felt like I've lost someone, but also I don't know if I'm in the right place or maybe this place isn't even real to me. Which one is it?"

You are reading story Goddess of Victory: NIKKE – The Surface Wanderer at novel35.com

"Uh... Maybe it's best to sleep it off and get back to your ward?"

"No, I need to rethink first,"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Tsk... I guess.."

"Maybe it's all real and not a dream?"

"I... I've lost someone dearly probably in a dream or a nightmare. I don't know what it's called. A best friend of mine. Someone who stuck with me for long periods in a very very dangerous place,"

"Were they a person?"

"A robot companion,"

"A Nikke?"

"W-what's a Nikke?"

Pepper looked at him with her mouth open and eyes squinted.

"Y-you don't know what's a Nikke?" She asked.

"I don't know what you're saying, so no,"

"Listen... Nikkes are humanity's last defense against the fighting Raptures. They are angels that fight alongside humans while aiding them in their time of need,"

"So... Nikkes are some sort of guardians that are capable of fighting against... Raptures?"

"Y-yeah,"

"I see... Anyways, this robot companion. Its name was Taranty. It acts like a playful dog sometimes but also acts like a caring person. I don't know why I'm saying this, I mean, that's just a robot, not a person, for me that is,"

"This Taranty... Was she a Nikke?"

"Nikke? N-no. I was saved by Taranty, I guess, but it sticks with me until..."

"Until...?"

"Some rapture shot it after it hugged me. Like it was trying to save me by itself but I didn't notice. I could've stood up and shot that bastard Rapture where he should,"

"I-I see. What was it like,"

"Oh... Just like a helpful companion. It looks kinda crude but it is very helpful though,"

"That... Doesn't narrow it down,"

"I... I guess?"

"Hmmm... Anyways, I understand that losing someone dear to you hurts. Maybe you could've saved them, maybe in another scenario you would've just done another way. But it is best for you to keep moving. There are things that are done that could've been done differently,"

"He was my only friend... I wished I could've saved him," His aura darkens as his head lowers nearing Pepper.

Pepper can feel the pain from him as he tries to hold back his tears, his fist tightening as he looks at the pond.

"It's alright, it's alright..."

Ghillie placed his head on Pepper's shoulder as his tears and snot stuck to her shirt.

For someone who's living on the toughest battle against the Raptures and living in constant torment, he's soft. Pepper thought as she comforts Ghillie.

After a minute of Ghillie's quite loud cries, he slightly toned down as Pepper gently pushes him away from his shoulder.

"You feel any better?" She asked.

"Y-yeah, I guess..." Ghillie sniffled.

"Do you want me to escort you back to your ward? You'll be discharged by tomorrow,"

"Discharge? I... I don't know where or what this place is,"

"Don't worry. We have people to bring you around,"

The next day

Mary checks on the wounds thoroughly as she writes on her checklist of Ghillie's wounds.

"I'm surprised that you are able to recover this quickly in a span of weeks,"

Ghillie wears his old but clean clothes on the table.

Knock knock knock...

"Ah, I guess they're here to see you," Mary smiled.

The door opens and another beautiful woman arrives.

The same woman he last saw before he passed out.

Rapi arrives as Ghillie looked at her with his eyes wide.

"I-it's you...!"

"Mr. Kimber, Apologies for the intrusion, but I will have to escort you together with Commander and the others for a meeting. It might be sudden, but the commanders require you to attend as soon as possible,"

"Are all officers supposed to be like this, Mary?" Ghillie asked.

"Oh, that's just Rapi on her usual attitude. She's a softie by heart. However Commander is already in her heart," Mary giggled.

Rapi just looked at Mary with an unfazed expression.

"Well, I'll be glad to be escorted then,"

Ghillie and Rapi left the hospital as he gets escorted on a civilian car.

His eyes widened and looked around the city on bright daylight. It's as futuristic as the future can be. Though some buildings still have their modern architecture, there are bits of semi-futuristic technology along with it.

A hologram opens on Rapi as she reports on both Ghillie and Rapi's ongoing whereabouts.

They arrive on a somehow militaristic building. There are a bunch of more women in military outfits and wielding firearms on towers. Though, they look more machine-like than the rest...

Wait...

Why is it always women in skimpy military outfits fighting these raptures? What kind of sick society is this?

"U-umm... I haven't gotten your name yet,"

"It's Rapi,"

"Rapi... I see... Is it just me or is it that you beautiful women are in charge of defending these cities?"

"We are just doing our duties as Nikkes, Mr. Kimber,"

"Nikkes? Aren't you just being brainwashed to be just beautiful women to fight for humanities?"

"W-what? No... We are modeled and programmed to fight and provide aid to humanities in these desperate times,"

"What?"

" Modeled and programmed? What are you, some type of android or...?"

"It is exactly as you said,"

Ghillie looked at her with his eyes widened and his eyebrows raised.

"Y-you're not human?"

"We are androids that aid humanities,"

"A robot then,"

"We have arrived at our destination. Proceed carefully and look at your steps," Rapi opened the door and casually opened the backdoor for Ghillie as she escorted the Wanderer.

This is such a weird feeling of both heaven and hell at the same time. I'm being served by a beautiful woman... I guess an android. Ghillie thought as he steps out of the door.

They arrived at the building and she escorted him through the hallways. It's strange to see people both humans and Nikkes in one room. Most of the people are wearing clean general military outfits with cadet hats. Their faces look fresh as well, mostly new recruits of some sort. The other half are women with amazing body proportions covered in metallic parts on their eyes and hold different types of firearms. Why would these commanders would ever think straight or fight Raptures with these androids and their

These commanders are usually accompanied by Nikkes as they wait to walk around the hallways.

The commanders look at him with faces of disgust, confusion, and curiosity. It's like looking at a hobo together with a dazzling supermodel. They don't match.

That is well coming from someone whose outfit looked like a worn-out veteran with a fresh face. It does not fit well with him at all.

They arrive in one of the rooms in the hallways.

"The meeting is just behind this door," she said as she performed a military salute and then left the vicinity.

Ghillie looked at the door as he looks at his finger gloves that are slowly wearing out.

He knocked on the door three times.

"Come in," a muffled sound was evoked on the other side.

He twists the doorknob as he is greeted by three people.

Two wearing military outfits. One that looked like a seasoned veteran with his beard standing out as he holds his coat elegantly. The other is a man that looked average at best. What's strange about this is that through his long pants, there's a hint of unnatural implants on his right leg, maybe because he lost his leg at some point and is replaced by something.

The other is a woman dressed in white garments and a military general's outfit that are so tight that you can see the tightness from her long thighs.

What type of fashion do these people have, and what type of fabric could these people afford to have? Where did they get these materials that are so scarce in the... Surface, was it? Ghillie thought.

"Good morning, Mr. Kimber, the rumored one called, The Surface Wanderer,"

"S-surface Wanderer?" Ghillie repeated.

"Yes, that's what we from the Ark call you before you were rescued," Andersen said.

"I... I can't say I've ever heard of such a thing,"

"Of course, you don't. You haven't heard about anything of these at all,"

"Y-yes... I am simply too overwhelmed on where I am since I've been living on, the surface if you call it, haha," Ghillie awkwardly laughed.

"Huh... This man can speak with respect at least. You were a little bit different when you were being taken care of in the hospital," Ingrid pointed out.

"A man brought in an unfamiliar place would be acting cautious too if he were in that situation," Ghillie responded.

"Alright, I do understand your point of view. Right now, you are still recovering but we have some urgent matters to cover first," Commander interrupted.

"I am still in the middle of processing everything. Please make it slow,"

"Coming from someone who lives on the surface for quite a long time, I'm certain you can process what we say with no problems,"

"The last time the Ark has ever rescued anybody from the surface that is human was decades ago. Now, you came along as the only human that survived on the surface.

"Apologies for the ignorance, but what is this Ark?"

"It's where you are right now. The underground city. A safe place under the sight of Raptures,"

Ghillie nodded.

"We have also retrieved your belongings before you passed out and will only hand them to you if you comply with our conditions,"

"Conditions? I just arrived in a place I don't know,"

"You will be under the surveillance of Commander here. We made an agreement that as long as he's there to guide you, you will be fine,"

"Uh-huh,"

"If you are to escape or leave this place without supervision, you will be deemed as a threat and be executed,"

---

Ghillie looked at them as Ingrid and Commander made a slight hesitation of fear.

"That... I think that's a lose-lose for both of us, don't you think?" Ghillie looked at Andersen

"And why is that?"

"If I leave this place, where else do you think am I going to leave? Somewhere far? I got nowhere else to go except survive. If I get shot as a threat, you lose the only person who the Ark rescued, and also the only person who has the information on the Surface,"

"Hmph. You're saying that no one else is on the surface?"

"You think there are other people out there? I see rotten human corpses in every house I go to. There is death and despair there. Everywhere I go, there's bound to be a scent of something dead, and a bunch of flying iron bastards ready to kill me any second. If I escape, I'm better off dead than living in such a hopeless wasteland with nothing but manslaughtering machines,"

"Huh..." Commander exhaled.

"Very well, that makes it a better reason for you to be under our surveillance. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay here?"

"This place looks like something I would love to stay than the surface. Why take over the overpowering machine when they can come back?"

"You're thinking too lightly,"

"What's your point?"

"I want to recruit you as one of the commanders for having great skills even without a Nikke accompanying you,"

"Hell no. Becoming a soldier that fights for humanity is fine, but me going back up there is a different thing for me," Ghillie looked at him.

"Hmm... Ghillie, right? You truly live up to your name in one of these footage,"

He grabbed a remote and showed one of the footage in a strangely familiar facility as the man navigates the place with ease.

He moves around like water as he hides under different angles from Raptures as they patrol each corner and hallway.

"Taranty..." Ghillie muttered.

The footage showed as well revealing a small spider-like robot on his shoulder holding unto him.

"H-hey... You've been watching me this whole time?"

"No. We have a database of you from a certain place,"

"Y-you..."

"Oh and sorry for your loss. We heard you keep mumbling on your sleep of a certain someone. Maybe it's this who you call a companion. It does look like a Rapture,"

"He's no Rapture,"

"Andersen, wouldn't it be best if we pursue this?" Commander asked.

"Hmm..."

"Well, this meeting is going nowhere. Commander here will be-"

"Hold on for a second," Ingrid interrupted Andersen.

"You produced my bullets without my permission. My carefully designed bullets are meant to devastate and overpower Raptures. They are subpar and they don't live up to the same quality as my factory standards..." She slowly approaches Ghillie.

"W-what do you mean bullets?"

"T-this," she threw one of the ammunition to Ghillie and he catches it.

"O-oh..."

"I'm sorry for ripping your product, I guess? I'm surviving on my own I didn't know I copied your product when I assumed that no one else is on the surface but me for fuck sake!" Ghillie pinched his ammo.

"Are you assuming that I'm going to sue you for your action?"

"What? I don't know what type of justice system you have, but of course not,"

"I don't mind if you think of it that way. I'm more interested in how, crude as it may be, are you able to create these with such scarce and inferior tools," she looked at him with interest.

"It's all a matter of simple casting and a bit of that Rapture-powered core to create enough heat to melt their materials into something stronger than steel and be used to pierce through Rapture armors themselves. Their otherworldly materials had an amazing quality. There are no other materials that can break through it with enough force. Unless you want to pull the trigger on them at point-blank range,"

"Hmm... Coming from someone who's able to speak my language, what else are your thoughts?"

"Just like an old saying, Diamonds cut diamonds. Rapture materials are very good even though mixed with different alloys. If we pair it up outside firearms and weaponry, they'll be good as an alternative for materials that holds the foundation base for building,"

"You're in luck, that's what we have found out as well with buildings. You do have the knowledge and skills worthy to work as a manufacturer in my industry. Perhaps you don't want to work as a commander but as one to help as a production manager of Missilis Industry," she smiled as she gently placed her hand on Ghillie's shoulder.

"Oi, Ingrid," Andersen nagged Ingrid.

"I-Ingrid never did that to me..." Commander muttered as he watched the two look at Ghillie like a special type of specimen

"So you do really work on a company that may be subpar to even Syuen's industry, though it would be better if-"

"My father founded the company before it went bankrupt by those Raptures. Do not disrespect him in front of me,"

"Ooh... Papa's boy, how nice, but haven't you heard of Syuen at all though?"

"Never, but it does sound as if it's an insulting thing around here," Ghillie thought.

"Hmph... You're able to grasp such things. Very well, I apologize for my words,"

"Tsk... I'll look into it if you give me some time to think," Ghillie clicked his tongue.

"Don't worry, no need to rush. Everyone wants to work on Missilis," She pridefully claimed.

Why does it feel like if I work in her place I'll be working my ass off until I die to my living breath?

"I've been wondering one last thing, Mr. Kimber," Commander interrupted.

"Tsk.. What is it..."

"For someone who had lived this long but looks young. This ID you have is approximately more than five decades ago. I'm surprised that it is still in good condition,"

"I don't know. I woke up from a cryostatic sleep in the underground ruins of god knows where. I barely remember anything that happened except one where I saw a working machine before those godforsaken things started surrounding this world,"

"So you panicked during the invasion?"

"I remember losing everything before I got in that very cold sleep. Before I almost got shot in the head by that same machine. Of course I panicked when the world is in turmoil,"

"Tsk... Is that thing still functioning?" Ingrid asked as her hand placed it on her hip.

"When I woke up I found everything in that room in good condition so I picked up whatever I had before I ran. When I got chased by Raptures, the entire building fell under its own weight by a few tidbits of a load of Rapture firepower,"

"So the entire machine is broken then?"

"No freaking shit," Ghillie sighed.

"Well, our meeting has been going on for far too long. Commander, please guide him to your Outpost,"

"Yes, Mr. Andersen," Commander saluted as they left the room.

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