Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 152 152: News from the Goddess Squad

If, before this, the Other Shore Base had rely been a barely cleaned-up temporary shelter with less-than-ideal living conditions, then now it resembled a complete industrial refuge.

[Na: Anchor (Stage 1)]

[Type: Base Core]

[Quality: Purple]

[Construction Points: 0/10000]

[Effect 1: Within the base area, Rapture parts, rare tals, or specific materials can be placed and decomposed into corresponding Construction Points.]

[Effect 2: Once the Construction Points are full, the base can be manually upgraded to the next stage.]

[Effect 3: Generates an 800-ter-radius concealnt field that blocks all technological detection thods.]

[Effect 4: Locked (Unlocks at Stage 3).]

[Base Radius: 800m]

Although compared to Stage 0 there weren't many dramatic changes – after all, both 500 ters and 800 ters already encompassed a huge surrounding area for the base's use – the most practical improvent was the enhanced concealnt capability.

This ant the Raptures could no longer locate the base through their sensors. Of course, if they wandered in by sheer accident, they could still stumble upon it, but for a Stage 1 facility, this was already more than enough. After all, even before these upgrades, no Raptures had attacked this place.

Besides that, the living conditions had undergone a massive improvent.

At the entrance, in addition to the blast-proof alloy door, there was now an airtight quarantine chamber capable of removing all harmful substances from anyone entering.

Ventilation systems, water supply systems, heating systems, energy systems…

Dormitory zones, training zones, bathing zones, agriculture zones, cafeteria zones…

Everything had been transford into a unified style. While their functions had barely changed, none of it looked old or on the verge of breaking down anymore. Everything was brand new.

And especially after learning there were no more bugs, the girls' delighted expressions ward the heart.

Only now could this place truly be considered a proper main base capable of serving as a reliable stronghold. Before, it had been little more than a temporary residence.

Stage 3 would unlock the evacuation point, but upgrading from Stage 1 to Stage 2 already required ten tis the points of Stage 0 to Stage 1. The requirents afterward might increase exponentially. Hunting master-class Raptures definitely wouldn't be enough anymore; perhaps they'd have to start using Lord-class Raptures as the standard unit.

But Lord-class Raptures weren't exactly common either.

As for Tyrant-class Raptures beyond that…

Maybe after Liliweiss recovered, he could take her to hunt Gluttony?

…Ah right, Gluttony's true body still hadn't appeared. Never mind then.

With the current tasks temporarily settled, Charon stayed at the Other Shore Base and spent several peaceful days familiarizing himself – together with the lee squad – with every function of the upgraded facility.

Besides that, there was one more important matter.

On the very first day he arrived at the base, Charon had already asked Rose(lee) to help him contact Scarlet. However, due to the special nature of the Goddess Squad, communication could only be initiated from Scarlet's side. Any signal sent toward the Wings of Victory that wasn't on the whitelist would automatically be blocked.

Because of that, information exchange could only happen when Scarlet temporarily rested and left the Wings of Victory.

Fortunately, this had beco a routine procedure, so Rose had never really worried much about Scarlet's safety.

After all, that was the Goddess Squad.

While waiting for Scarlet's contact, Charon and Rose(Sleeping Beauty) helped improve the agriculture environnt for many of the crops. Production increased once again. After supplying the lee squad, there was even enough surplus left to support a completely new squad.

In the past they had to constantly worry about food preservation, but after the renovation, the cafeteria warehouse now included refrigerated storage, allowing many foods to be stored stably. This greatly increased their food reserves.

Ti slowly passed.

Finally, Rose(lee) received a contact request from Scarlet.

Looking at the na displayed on the communication device, Rose handed the communicator to Charon. Without hesitation, he connected it to the Shittim Chest.

The call connected.

[Sister, it's , Scarlet.]

The voice from the other side was still familiar, but now it was filled with exhaustion. Compared to the sharp, blade-like woman Charon rembered, she sounded like a completely different person.

"Scar?! What happened to you?!" Rose's voice imdiately beca anxious. Seeing the questioning look in Charon's eyes, she quickly explained, "Sh-she didn't sound like this before."

[Sister… sothing happened. But it's alright. We're the Goddess Squad. Goddesses will overco all of this.]

There was a faint smile hidden within Scarlet's weary voice, as though she were trying to comfort her sister.

[I don't have much ti this ti. Just hearing your voice already makes happy… Is everyone doing alright?]

"W-wait!" Rose still wanted to say sothing, but Scarlet abruptly interrupted her in an unusually stiff tone.

[Sorry, Sister. I can't say anything. But please don't worry. Next ti we et, I'll explain everyth–]

Just as she had interrupted Rose monts earlier, Scarlet herself was suddenly interrupted by a calm male voice.

"Scarlet. Quiet."

At that mont, everyone could clearly hear soone on the other side sharply inhale.

[L-Lieutenant?!]

Scarlet's exhausted voice suddenly rose several degrees.

[When did you co back?!]

There was shock in her voice – but even more than that, joy, along with a barely noticeable sense of relief.

"Calm down, Scarlet. Tell what happened to the Goddess Squad."

Charon's voice remained calm and as gentle as possible. It seed to soothe Scarlet as well, because her panicked breathing gradually settled.

[Sothing happened to the Goddess Squad.]

Scarlet's voice carried unwillingness and fury.

[Red Hood was ambushed by the Raptures. She was corrupted! Lieutenant, this corruption is different from the kind you knew before. The Raptures' corruption now… it's terrifying.]

Charon frowned.

"What happened?"

Even the Raptures' corruption ability had changed?

In his mory, corruption rely caused NIMPH systems to freeze up, like a virus forcing Nikkes into shutdown.

[The current corruption directly rewrites a Nikke's cognition, making them believe the Raptures are their allies… That's what Red Hood said.]

"..."

On the Shittim Chest's screen, Rose(Sleeping Beauty) silently fell into deep thought.

"Then what about Red Hood? What's her current condition?"

Charon was genuinely confused by Scarlet's explanation. If she had been corrupted, how was she still able to describe it herself?

[Sorry, Lieutenant. I don't know.]

Scarlet answered quietly.

[Red Hood really was corrupted, but she can barely suppress it and avoid being controlled by it. It's just that… she probably can't fight for the ti being.]

"..."

Charon took a deep breath.

"Scarlet… what else?"

[...]

"Since Red Hood can still resist it, then things haven't reached the worst possible stage yet. Tell – what exactly happened to the Goddess Squad?"

[Lilith… collapsed.]

Charon's pupils instantly contracted.