Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 134 134: Command Center

After staying in Charon's arms for who knows how long, Rose finally gave a light cough and stepped away as if nothing had happened.

"Don't misunderstand. I was only testing whether this body's sensory functions were complete. Besides, I still need ti to get used to having a child-sized body. You just happened to make the best cushion. Got it?"

Yeah, sure.

Judging from the look on her face, this was definitely not the ti to tease her again. Otherwise, even if she wasn't very strong, she'd still bite him with all her might. Not that he was worried about getting hurt–he just didn't want the kid to tire out her little mouth.

"Alright, next we're heading to the newly unlocked 'Command Center.'" For so reason, Rose looked even more excited than Charon. "And haven't you always been curious about what the Shittim Chest can actually do? You'll finally get to see it there."

"You know, this is my hideout, right? Why are you acting like you understand it better than I do?" Charon narrowed his eyes.

"U-uh, that's not what I ant! I just…" Rose imdiately panicked.

"I'm joking. Why are you so nervous?" Charon laughed. "Besides, before this I could only be considered the sole player here. Now you're a player too–sa dog tag, sa binding."

"That's different." Unexpectedly, Rose beca extrely serious about that point. She clearly didn't want to be treated like so latecor who stole Charon's authority. She hurried in front of him and looked him straight in the eye.

"My life was saved by you. I know exactly what it cost."

"This is already the second ti soone's saved . What I owe you… what I owe all of you… I probably can't repay for the rest of my life." Rose lowered her head slightly, looking dejected, but quickly pulled herself together again. "But it's fine. Since things turned out this way, and since I owe you my life, then during the rest of my life I'll just have to repay you by– by being your loyal serv– no, by working like a horse for you."

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing!" Rose waved her little hands frantically. "A-and another thing! Just because soone saves my life doesn't an I'd repay everyone like this, okay?"

For so reason, she made sure to emphasize that part.

"I know." Charon smiled and nodded, looking exactly like an older brother indulging a younger sister's spoiled behavior.

"Good." Rose turned around and quickly headed toward a corner of the hideout hall. Following her gaze, Charon noticed that a door had appeared on a wall that had previously been completely empty.

Just like the Recreation Room and Library before it, the hideout had expanded again. But since this one was related to combat, it wasn't attached to Charon's personal room–it was connected directly to the main hall.

"Charon, why are you spacing out?" Rose was already standing at the doorway.

"Coming, coming."

The mont he entered the Command Center, Charon had only one thought:

This thing was absolutely built specifically for Rose… no, for "Sleeping Beauty."

At the center of the room stood a pod that looked similar to the stealth capsule in the Recreation Room. And judging by its size, it matched Rose perfectly.

Behind the pod, cables as thick as Rose's arms spread throughout the room. Yet despite the sheer number of them, everything looked ticulously organized rather than ssy. The cables disappeared into the walls, leading sowhere unknown.

In front of the pod was a central console. Embedded into it was a square slot that perfectly matched the shape and size of the Shittim Chest.

"Place the Shittim Chest there."

As she spoke, Rose ran to the pod and jumped inside without hesitation.

At the sa ti, the Shittim Chest slid into the slot. The instant it connected, the once-silent room seed to awaken. Blue streams of light surged through the cables, illuminating the entire chamber.

Above the console, two holographic maps appeared. One was complete; the other heavily fragnted.

Charon recognized one instantly–it was Zone Zero. He knew that place far too well. As for the incomplete map, though only a tiny section was visible, it was almost certainly Zone One.

"Ah, ah, testing, one-two-three, one-two-three. Commander, can you hear ?"

"This is the proxy operating system of the Shittim Chest: Sleeping Beauty."

"Charon, Commander, you have now obtained full authorization. All systems within the Command Center are now available to you. Allow to explain their functions."

The familiar voice echoed through the room. Though her tone remained lively, it had reverted to the more professional and composed cadence she used back in Zone One. The slightly bratty tsundere vibe from earlier had vanished.

"Rose?"

"I am currently operating in Calculation Mode. My personal emotions are partially suppressed to prioritize computational performance. However, rest assured–this does not affect my core emotional module. In this state, I am the true Nikke hacker, 'Sleeping Beauty.'"

"If there are no further questions, I will continue the explanation."

...

Function One: Tactical Sandbox

Before entering a map, Zero Coins may be spent to purchase temporary intelligence for the next raid.

Examples include:

Boss spawn locations

High-value loot zones

Specific information regarding Backworld Invasions

However, all intelligence applies only to the next deploynt. If the raid is exited prematurely, all purchased information becos invalid.

...

Function Two: Simulation Exercises

Construct virtual shooting ranges or battlefields for live-fire training with zero resource consumption.

...

Function Three: Base Steward

After the Shittim Chest connected to the system, Rose gained the ability to monitor every facility within the hideout simultaneously. She could also organize all intelligence and loot Karon extracted from raids.

In addition, she could project her holographic avatar anywhere inside the hideout–in other words, she had beco the hideout's little caretaker.

Although, since she already possessed a Nikke body, the projection function wasn't particularly useful for now… unless the hideout eventually expanded into multiple branches.

Incidentally, while giving the explanation, she projected herself freely throughout the room, floating around as if gravity ant nothing.

At one point, she drifted beside Charon and lightly brushed a finger beneath his chin.

"I can also monitor your heart rate, body temperature, your breathing patterns while sleeping… even the exact temperature of the coffee you brew…"

This was starting to sound a little terrifying.

"So here's the real question." Charon looked at the Shittim Chest. "What exactly was that gacha interface about?"

That had been bothering him ever since Rose first appeared.

But after he took the Shittim Chest from her earlier, the interface had disappeared. And now, even after this entire explanation, she still hadn't ntioned it.

"So I couldn't dodge the topic…" Rose muttered quietly. Then she puffed up her cheeks, turned around, and walked out of the room.

"You can see for yourself then! I'm going to play gas!"