Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 117 117: Liar

The Wings of Victory was currently on its return journey.

What had happened yesterday was still vivid in everyone's mory–especially for Dorothy. It was hard for her to forget that man, the first one who had ever managed to make her suffer a defeat.

That streak of blue paint on the hem of her dress had undoubtedly beco a stain upon her pride. Yet she had no intention of cutting it away or desperately trying to wash it clean. She would keep it there, as a reminder that there existed a human who, even through the use of tricks, had still managed to take a victory from her in a direct confrontation.

Until she reclaid that victory, she would rember it forever.

anwhile, Liliweiss's signal had already been received. That ant she would soon rendezvous with the Wings of Victory–even earlier than originally estimated.

"How long until Lady Liliweiss reaches this area?" Dorothy casually asked.

"Uh… she already ran past us," Snow White replied, her face full of confusion.

"What do you an?" Red Hood leaned over. "Liliweiss isn't boarding the ship?"

"Mhm… I already dispatched a transport aircraft, but Lady Liliweiss ignored it completely and just ran ahead on her own. We've already lost track of her signal."

Losing the signal ant she was already more than ten kiloters away. That was practically Liliweiss moving at full speed.

"What in the world is going on??" Everyone in the Goddess Squad looked utterly bewildered.

"S-Should we follow her?" Snow White asked quietly.

"Of course we should. If sothing has Lilith that worked up, then we absolutely have to go see the excitent too," Dorothy said with a smile. "But let the Wings of Victory stay airborne for now. We'll head over in a transport aircraft."

...

Laboratory

"Lieutenant, the cleanup is complete."

Rose stepped out from the laboratory entrance and casually tossed the Rapture corpse in her hand aside. In the end, those things had served no real purpose other than atmosphere.

"Then that should be about it… Is the indoor agriculture area finished?"

"Mostly complete. It wasn't particularly difficult–the equipnt was already available."

"Water supply complete, generator functioning normally, ventilation system operational, surveillance caras replaced… then we're basically done."

Charon let out a breath before taking out a strange-looking rod and handing it to Rose.

It was oddly shaped, yet gave off a strangely futuristic feeling when touched.

[Universal Agricultural Staff]

"I originally planned to keep this for myself. But clearly, you all need it more."

The fact that it could transform into all sorts of tools was attractive, but this thing was fundantally designed for agricultural work. Turning the lee squad into a self-sufficient faction was the far more logical use for it.

It could analyze water and soil quality, and it could even locate seeds in the wild and identify their species.

"Lieutenant… you…" Rose gripped the staff tightly, her gaze complicated. "Are you leaving?"

"Yeah."

Charon did not avoid the question.

In fact, she had been the first person in the squad to know he intended to leave.

That earlier private conversation with Rose had mostly been about preparing for the future and coordinating plans with her. The battle-oriented Scarlet would be sent to the Goddess Squad, while the more adaptable and socially skilled Rose would remain behind to lead the eight mass-produced Nikke and properly build their "ho."

Yes.

A ho.

Almost no Raptures ever ca to this location, and the surrounding mountain range that completely blocked Rapture detection served as a natural shield.

Even if Raptures eventually arrived in the area, the chances of them being discovered were almost nonexistent.

A faint trace of grievance flickered in Rose's eyes.

"Can't you stay a little longer?"

"I've already done everything I needed to do," Charon said with a smile. "You all, Scarlet, even the Goddess Squad–you don't need anymore. Oh, and make sure to protect Abe's drone. If anything ever happens, that'll be your only way to contact the human world."

Even if Abe probably didn't know what Charon planned to do next, she certainly knew about Rose's existence. The geothermal generator repairs could be coordinated between them afterward.

Charon was already prepared to leave this place.

"Will you co back?"

"I will."

He stepped forward and gently embraced Rose's slender body.

"As long as you all keep trying to survive, I'll eventually return here again."

"…Mm."

"Oh right. If you ever encounter a Nikke dressed like a monk nad 'Nayuta,' help her if you can."

"Who?"

...

Although the lee squad was reluctant to part with him, Charon still had to leave.

This trip had been incredibly profitable overall. He hadn't brought out many items–most of them were food–but the most important thing, the dog tag, was firmly in his possession.

I'm shutting this damn place down directly!

After cutting the power deep underground, the extraction point on the minimap finally activated.

Charon let out a sigh of relief.

Even if he walked there leisurely, it would take at most twenty minutes. Given the one-hour limit–or more accurately, fifty minutes after subtracting the required ten-minute stay inside the extraction zone–he had more than enough ti to stroll over casually.

A conditional extraction point without AI enemies camping it was actually pretty rare.

Did that an he literally had nothing to do for those ten minutes except stand around waiting?

Well, not really a problem.

As he stepped out of the forest, the grassy plain appeared before him, just as peaceful as he had expected.

The extraction point itself had no visible manifestation in reality, but on the minimap it was perfectly clear.

Charon quickly ran over. Only after entering the extraction area and seeing the countdown begin did he finally relax.

Stable!

BOOOOM—!

A sonic boom tore through the clouds.

Just as Charon thought everything was proceeding exactly according to plan, a white figure shot across the horizon without slowing down at all and crashed heavily into the center of the grasslands near him.

The resulting shockwave nearly blew him off his feet.

The mont Charon realized who had arrived, only two words appeared in his mind:

Oh shit.

I'm completely screwed!

Almost instinctively, he turned around and pulled his military cap lower, terrified that the person behind him would see his face.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit–why is Liliweiss here?! Dorothy, you set up, damn it!!!

"..."

"..."

All he could hear was breathing growing heavier and heavier behind him.

No footsteps.

"Lieutenant."

Liliweiss's voice rang out not far behind him.

"Turn around. Remove your hat. Right now, I don't have much patience left."

"Goddess of Victory? There are no enemies here anymore. I'm just a passerby visiting a grave," he replied slowly, deliberately lowering his voice.

"Liar."

Her voice trembled.

"I don't understand what you an…"

"In this world, I've only ever seen one person capable of 'creating' boxes like that."

Her voice gradually cald.

"And even now… you still refuse to admit it?"

One mistake ruined everything…

Charon covered his face.

How had he forgotten about that?

The Sleeping Beauty box would remain on the map until the mont he extracted.

The countdown now read:

9:00.