Nikke, something’s seriously wrong with this evacuation point! Chapter 68 68: Long Time No See, Professor Abe

Although his face was still his own, because of that livestream incident and Liliweiss's developnt, he had to make "Charon" disappear. In the current governnt system, the only ones who should still recognize him were a few old acquaintances.

This photo was extrely tricky. With a changed hairstyle and altered lighting, he couldn't even recognize at first glance that it was himself.

It seed the system had gone to great lengths to ensure no one could identify him from the photo, preventing the disguise mode from being compromised.

Though, eting face to face would probably break the disguise anyway–but that was already enough.

At this mont, an old television in the small restaurant was broadcasting the news.

Still the usual governnt propaganda, but it conveniently provided useful date and ti information. Charon and Ana ate food far more modest than what they had in the hideout while analyzing the current tiline.

It was five years after the formation of the Goddess Squad, and one month after Ana's city had been destroyed.

Even with the Goddess Squad's activity, humanity's overall strength was still no match for the endless waves of Raptures. Territory continued to be eroded, forcing humanity into constant retreat.

Human living space was shrinking further.

But at that mont, Charon noticed a term ntioned in the news:

Ark Project.

The Ark–sothing Nayuta had also ntioned before–a subterranean refuge built for humanity.

Because by that ti, humanity had already lost the surface entirely.

This was the inevitable future of this world. With Charon's current abilities, he still didn't know how to reverse it.

Just like the situation faced by the Goddess Squad: although they could destroy any Rapture in sight with overwhelming force, what could a single squad do against an endless army?

Humanity needed to survive. The Ark Project was almost unavoidable.

Of course, that didn't an Charon would do nothing. The Rapture Queen still had to be eliminated if this world was to improve.

For now, however, his short-term goal remained treating Liliweiss. After arranging Ana's departure, he would return and continue grinding Zero Zone runs.

There were still five years left. This tiline made him sigh in relief–he could leave with relative peace of mind.

He didn't gather information from the shop owner, nor exchange pleasantries, because he already knew enough.

Next was arranging Ana's future.

Sending her to an orphanage was impossible. He needed soone he could trust.

Andrew was an option–but eting him now might lead to Liliweiss. And seeing Liliweiss at this point was not ideal. Should he tell her, "If you kill yourself now, your body will be cured–but the price is you'll only be able to stay with afterward"?

Before obtaining the Panacea, he couldn't et her at all.

Rose? Sa problem.

That left only one option:

Professor Abe.

Although Karen had caused him trouble, Abe herself was innocent. She wasn't closely tied to Andrew or Liliweiss, and she was one of the closest figures to the NIKKE project.

Among all his acquaintances, Charon could only contact her.

...

VTC – Fourth Comprehensive Technology Developnt Bureau

Located on the outskirts of the city, this was a relatively unimportant departnt, often considered a "retirent bureau" based on Charon's current clearance access.

Being transferred here was essentially exile.

It seed Karen's betrayal hadn't been without consequences for Abe either. She had been involved in the Liliweiss incident but failed to notice Karen's abnormal behavior. This was deed a serious failure by higher-ups. However, because she was not at fault, she was only demoted and placed here for observation.

This was why "Ron" could et her now–she was no longer a "professor," so no appointnt was required.

VTC was deeply involved in NIKKE developnt. Normally, candidate commanders would contact top-tier researchers in the First Developnt Bureau. But Abe, no longer involved in the project, was soone no commander would usually approach.

At least for Abe, this was the first eting request she had received since being reassigned here.

Recently, her sleep had been neither good nor bad.

Without the intensity of research life, her dark circles had disappeared–but so had her vitality.

"Walking corpse" would not be an exaggeration.

She didn't care whether Karen had betrayed anyone. She wasn't even close to her. But being dragged into trouble because of soone she barely knew had made her distrust all strangers.

Even those trying to recruit her again were rejected without hesitation. To her, they were all potential traitors.

"Ms. Abe, soone is here to see you."

The voice ca through the intercom–casual and indifferent. The gatekeeper clearly treated it as a low-effort job.

"Who?"

"Soone important… candidate commander 'Ron,' and a little girl."

"?"

A huge question mark appeared in Abe's mind.

A commander? Looking for ? Are you kidding?

"Tell him I'm busy."

"Sorry, they already went in. Just deal with them briefly and send them away," the gatekeeper yawned. "Everything's in order anyway, so it's hard to refuse."

Abe frowned. This guy…

Whatever. I'll just send them away quickly.

She sat behind her desk, dead-eyed, sipping coffee.

Knock knock.

"Co in."

"Looking for ?"

Charon entered holding Ana's hand. His uniform was new, his cap slightly lowered, a faint smile on his face.

He closed the door behind them.

Then he removed his hat.

Revealing his true face.

"Long ti no see, Professor Abe."

In that instant, Abe froze mid-sip.

Her dead fish eyes widened violently. Her pupils contracted sharply to the smallest point.

She instinctively glanced at the surveillance cara.

Good–it couldn't capture his face.

Charon noticed her movent and imdiately understood.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Abe threw a newspaper at them and "kicked" them out.

But at the corner of the paper was an address and a ti.

That would be their next eting location.