Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Pumpkin on the Vine, No, the Crow Cartel
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Grreeeeek—!
As the massive steel gate creaked open, the battered armored vehicle of the "Black Crow" merchant group slid into the base.
The moment their armored vehicle fully entered, the iron gate behind them slammed shut with a heavy thud.
"...This feels seriously off."
"It'll be fine. Besides, we don't have anywhere else to trade right now."
Gizmo grumbled from behind the wheel, but Jester forced down her unease and replied.
The only ark they could feasibly trade with now was one in the 50s near the coast, which meant traveling at least a few hundred kilometers.
Shaking off Astral's pursuit and covering that distance in their current state would be suicide.
"But isn't it way too quiet here? No one's even come out to greet us..."
Gizmo glanced around outside the window.
Inside the towering concrete walls stood dilapidated buildings that hadn't been demolished yet, along with a half-dismantled Troll-class mobile carrier and a Leviathan—a near-named-grade Astral monster.
Nearby, blonde ponytail ECHO units wielding drills were busily continuing the disassembly work.
"I see the work ECHO units. Those are C-008 models, right?"
"Yeah. Hmm... Who's supervising them?"
"Good question. ECHO units wouldn't operate autonomously... Doesn't the vibe feel a bit chilly?"
As Gizmo muttered with a uneasy expression and slowed the vehicle—
Clang! Rat-tat-clang! Clang!
Sudden mechanical whirs echoed, and lights installed everywhere burst on like explosions.
Dazzling white beams poured down, revealing shadows that had been lurking in secrecy, all emerging at once.
Click. Click. Click.
"..."
"J-Jester!"
Precise mechanical clicks.
Led by V-60 Vanguard units, a squad of mass-produced A-202 ECHO units, fully armed, had already surrounded the armored vehicle in layers.
These weren't mere guards.
Dozens of gun barrels were precisely aimed at the driver's seat and tires. This was an overt encirclement laced with hostility.
"Wh-what the?! Wh-what is this?!"
"It's a trap!!! Turn the car around no—!"
Jester screamed in terror, but the escape routes were already perfectly sealed. And these foes showed no mercy to give their "guests" time to think.
Vreeee—Boom!
An anti-tank missile launched from a Bastion platform streaked in with pinpoint accuracy, smashing into the vehicle's drive section.
"Kyaaah—!"
"Gwehk!!!"
The explosion blew off the rear axle entirely.
Crash! Screeeech—!!!
The hulking vehicle lost balance and rolled across the ground with a deafening roar.
"Nngh..."
"Fuck..., what the hell?"
Jester crawled out from the overturned armored vehicle, spitting and grimacing.
Even so, she swiftly drew her weapon from her coat. At that moment, the mass-produced ECHO units lined up in front split to the sides, clearing a path.
"...Huh?"
Through the gap stepped familiar silhouettes: Arva and Moin.
The instant Jester recognized their faces, her expression hardened.
"Those bitches..."
They were the mysterious original ECHO units they'd clashed with at Ark 74 not long ago.
One even had an artifact. Though the close-range ECHO with the shotgun artifact wasn't present now.
'They're not in great shape..., but without the toughest artifact, we might have a shot.'
It wouldn't be easy.
But they couldn't just let themselves be scrapped for parts.
"Fancy meeting like this again?"
Arva opened with a sly grin.
"Damn it... It was a trap."
Jester shot back curtly, subtly slipping her hand behind her back to signal Raven, who had crawled out of the vehicle.
The plan: She'd pop a smoke grenade to blind them, then rush in to take hostages and break out.
But...
"Gonna try it? If you wanna fight, I'm game."
Vrrrrm, vrrrm.
The moment she spotted the menacing weapons in the two ECHO units' hands, Jester scrapped the plan.
"...Ha."
Her jaw dropped.
Rare artifacts like those—impossible to obtain—were clutched in each of their hands.
'No way! What the hell kind of ark is this?'
With those two artifacts plus the shotgun she'd seen before, that made three.
What kind of force had this kind of monstrous lineup and never crossed paths with them until now? Jester ran the numbers in her head and decided in 0.1 seconds.
'No chance in hell.'
She naturally halted the attack signal, raising both hands high above her head.
"We surrender."
Then, flashing the most obsequious, beaming smile imaginable, she added,
"We're all intelligent beings who can talk this out, right? So spare our lives, at least."
* * *
"Hmm... Good, Turret 3. Make sure that camouflage panel is secure. From outside, it should look like just an old vent."
I stood with arms crossed, surveying the area.
The ark's entrance was undergoing major remodeling.
From outside, it looked like a rundown, abandoned massive "logistics warehouse," but inside, it was transforming into a fortress bristling with laser turrets and detection traps.
Honestly, I had no real reason to be out here in this dusty site.
I could've left it to the other original ECHO units.
But with stamina to burn and a chance to snipe some wandering zombies for pocket change, I'd come out.
And damn, it was turning into prime eye candy.
"Commander, starting wiring on the merchant platform."
A black-haired A-202 Raptor called out energetically from high on a ladder above me.
"Got it."
I replied and casually shifted to the prime spot under the ladder.
Looking up, her short skirt revealed white thighs and pristine white panties in stark clarity.
'Oh yeah—this is commander perks?!'
Chin raised, I savored the view of her secret triangle with a satisfied smile.
The taut white thighs framing tightly clinging pure white panties—never got old.
Fun fact: Mass-produced units all wore the same uniform and gear, but their panty preferences were distinctly personal.
'They should've implemented this in the game too!'
Some went pure with white lace, others provocative black silk.
One bold one even had sexy romantic see-through panties with a cleanly shaved pussy shining through. But the boldest...
"Commander?"
"N-no. Nothing."
Was the one in crotchless "slit panties" with her pussy fully exposed.
'What? Is she tempting me to just slide in?'
Every work movement made her red folds wink invitingly—I was seriously debating pounding her right then.
Anyway, here to supervise, but my dick was rock-hard.
Soothing my throbbing erection, I turned to the next target.
'White panties again..., huh?'
Disappointment flickered as I recognized the color. But something was off.
The A-202's crotch was soaked, translucent, clinging wetly. Too wide for sweat, too sticky.
And through the thin fabric, I spotted faint mechanical vibrations buzzing away.
"Hold up. Come here."
"Yes, Commander."
I pulled the approaching ECHO behind a stack of materials blocking the view.
Quick check outside, then hiked up her skirt.
"...What the hell is this?"
Up close, it was even wilder.
Her white panties were drenched, plastered to her skin. But that wasn't the half of it.
A pink egg vibrator clung to her swollen clit, vibrating furiously.
And between her cheeks, something blunt protruded.
I spread her ass with fingers: a thick dildo buried in her gel-slicked anus, wriggling.
So this girl had been working calmly through all that vibration and pleasure.
'...Did I order this? It's my kink, but I don't remember telling her.'
Speechless, I stared blankly until the A-202 Raptor squirmed and spoke.
"Ah, Alpha and Rai said..."
"Alpha and Rai?"
"Yes... They said to keep developing ourselves daily so we're always ready for the Commander's love later..."
"...Huh."
I couldn't help a dry chuckle.
So the two Pomen-trained ones were now giving sex ed to the newbie A-202 Raptors.
'What is this, the army?'
Still, picturing these cute, pretty girls stuffing their clit and ass for a shot at me made my groin heavy.
'Wanna go hard at her...'
I glanced around. Too many eyes. Couldn't just fuck in the middle of the worksite, dignity and all.
Quick relief now, proper fun later.
"On your knees."
"P-pardon? Yes!"
She dropped to her knees without hesitation.
"Mouth open."
"Ah..."
I undid my belt, pulled out my cock, and shoved it before her eyes. Grabbing her dazed head, I thrust deep.
"Mmph—!"
"Swallow to the hilt."
The massive glans pierced her tight throat.
Gagging from pleasure and suffocation, the A-202 still worked her tongue diligently. Hugging my waist tight, she took it desperately despite the pain.
"Slurp, slurrrp... Nngh!"
Her technique was clumsy—still new to this. But...
'Cute.'
Her devotion shone through, tongue rolling frantically to please me, eyes on my reactions.
"Ngh—!"
"Deeper. Open that throat."
"Grrk—!"
I ravaged her mouth freely, finally pouring hot desire down her depths.
Gulp, gulp.
Not a drop spilled, she swallowed my cum with an ecstatic gaze, murmuring up at me.
"Th-this... is the taste of life... So... so ecstatic and rich."
"...Huh?"
Taste of life?
First I'd heard that.
Well, semen held countless lives, so not wrong—but ECHO logic could be oddly unique.
"Like it?"
"Y-yes. Commander. If... if it's what you want, anytime..."
"Want this used too?"
I spread her pussy wide with fingers; she writhed, moaning lewdly.
"Yes! P-please, it'd be the greatest honor. We mass-produced ones dream only of your trust and love."
Her prepped holes winked desperately, begging. But no time now.
"Sure. When I get a chance. What's your name?"
"ID number 7482."
"Got it, I'll remember."
"Th-thank you! Commander."
I stroked her grateful head, memorizing the number.
Definitely calling her for a real round later. Then my pocket comm buzzed wildly.
A message from Lena at command.
[Sorry to interrupt, Commander. Emergency report.] "What's up, Lena?"
[Trouble in Hongwei 7 Sector.] "Trouble?"
Astral attacking again?
[Yes. They've captured three Wanderer ECHO units.] "Wanderer ECHO units? How?"
I tilted my head.
Intruding Wanderers was the last thing I'd expected.
[The Wanderer ECHO units we clashed with in Sector 74 before. We reported them to you as the 'Black Crow Merchant Group' back then.] "...Ah."
I remembered.
But why show up in Hongwei 7 out of nowhere?
And how'd Arva capture those original ECHO units?
Beat 'em with artifacts?
More questions piled up as I listened.
[So, what should we do with them? Awaiting your direct orders, Commander.] "Hmm... What exactly were they up to?"
[Sending profiles of the captured Wanderer ECHO units now.] Moments later, a hologram popped up before me, listing three ECHO profiles.
Checking them, I tilted my head. Gizmo and Raven rang faint bells, but new faces otherwise.
But seeing the Black Crow leader's face, I had to double-take.
'Why's she here?'
Dalla—from my memory of the future, the game 30 years ahead.
She aided the newbie commander protagonist materially and morally, sometimes screwing him over but ultimately the irreplaceable owner of the in-game "ECHO Shop."