NIKKE: Max Bonded but System Gone

JohnD...

Muttering this ID, Green's mind began to recall memories from half a year ago.

And he remembered the existence behind the name JohnD.

"Crow. This person called JohnD is you, right? Judging people casually online, that's so your style."

Green took a sip of his coffee, brewing some words. Just as he was about to respond, the Counters Squad's trio took the lead in confronting Crow.

Anis: "That JohnD guy, could you shut your shit-ass mouth?"

Anis: "If you're calling others hypocrites, fine, but if you put that label on my commander, a person who's out there risking his life every day on the surface, you're a fool!"

Neon: "(adjusting reflective glasses) My master once said, the prerequisite for ultimate firepower is a heart full of tolerance."

Neon: "But your words show that you're a narrow-minded guy, aren't you?"

Rapi: "Even if it's an anonymous livestream, you should be careful with your words."

JohnD: "Ha~"

JohnD: "The real person hasn't said anything yet, but now it's my kind starting to defend humanity? Heh, you should know, Ark is full of scum, bad seeds everywhere. How could someone like the commander, a great saint, appear in such an environment? You're just all a bunch of naive fools, circling around him because of some small favors, just like dogs gathered in a yard."

JohnD: "Just like wild dogs drawn by the scent, you don't realize that once you've been drained of value, you'll be kicked to the curb."

Anis: "Ha, are you done now, bitch?"

Anis: "You're just online acting all rebellious, thinking you're above everyone, right? Anyone can grab a keyboard and spout nonsense, who can't do that? But do you really think this helps the world?"

JohnD: "Of course not."

...

In the corner of the Outer Rim.

At a nearly bankrupt cinema, Crow sat alone in the back row, as usual, chewing on a Petter Stick while watching a movie that had been shown countless times before.

The movie's plot was always the same: explosions, crime, a beautiful woman in danger, then a heroic figure who saves the day, defeats evil, and wins the girl to save everyone in the world.

Just like countless other films Crow had watched, it was clichéd, yet had a kind of crude charm.

As Crow zoned out, a seductive voice mixed with a touch of allure came from beside him: "Crow, you're watching movies again."

Crow turned his head and nodded at the alluring Nikke, "Viper, you're here."

Viper found a seat and after watching for a while, found it somewhat boring, "Is this movie really that good?"

"Who knows if it's good or bad? Everyone has the right to judge a public movie, right?" Crow smirked, "But personally, I enjoy it."

"I didn't expect that your favorite genre would be superhero movies," Viper said.

Crow didn't deny it and instead closed his eyes, "Everyone has a hero inside them, even those living in the Outer Rim. Whether Nikkes or humans, in this place where the sun never shines, everyone is waiting for the day they can be truly redeemed, to have a hero who promises them a bright future."

She then smiled, "Let us live in big houses, let us walk in the vast skies, let us have the same status as Ark citizens, let our children have the right to an education! Those at the bottom shout.

For survival, they beg day and night. For existence, they crawl on the ground, willing to become dogs to those above them. But no matter how they scream and scratch, all they get are bullets and discrimination. When that time comes, they'll realize one truth: heroes never existed from the beginning, they were just creatures in movies."

"That's why I'm so obsessed with superhero movies," Crow took out the Petter Stick from his mouth and continued, "After all, humans always become obsessed with things they can't have, don't they?"

"That's true. But if we're talking about heroes, the commander of the Counters Squad might actually have a bit of a heroic vibe, don't you think?"

Talking about Green, Viper's face broke into a sweet smile, but within that smile was a subtle and unknown emotion. For some reason, her body twitches whenever she sees the Commander.

"The commander of the Counters Squad, Green, the rising star of the Central Government, has only been on the scene for half a year and has already defeated Lord-level, Tyrant-level, and Heretic-level Rapture. For Ark, he truly deserves the title of hero," Crow glanced at Viper, suddenly asking, "But what about us? Would he be your hero, Viper?"

Viper fell silent. Green wasn't the first to come to the Outer Rim. A few months ago, he had been sent by Anderson to handle a terrorist attack, and that's when he met Crow, Jackal, and Viper from the Exotic Squad. As for Viper, she actually had a good impression of Green.

The commander, named Green, was like a hero from the movies—passionate, handsome, and approachable, with none of the arrogance of Ark citizens, nor the cowardice and foolishness of bureaucrats.

But with Crow present, Viper didn't voice her thoughts, "It's hard to say clearly, right, Crow?"

Crow turned to Viper, a hint of mockery in his cold eyes, "Viper, you should understand, Nikkes are Nikkes, humans are humans. In the eyes of humans, we're just consumables, tools to serve them, nothing more. So stop fantasizing about anyone coming to save you.

Even if someone does come, they're most likely just a hypocrite. By the way, let me tell you something. The commander did a livestream today, talking about how he wants to get along well with Nikkes, blah blah blah. Meanwhile, I threw a stone at his head. He's probably now ranting angrily at me. Wanna see his face?"

Crow projected his phone onto the cinema screen and enlarged Green's reply.

"John D, If you are in a bad mood, you are welcome to come to the outpost to consult me. - Green"