Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Reformation Project (1)
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"Good work, Commander."
"Good work, my ass. This is just the beginning."
After leaving Jester to marinate nicely in an underground isolation cell, I returned to the command center on the Bastion Platform.
Taking a sip of the water Arva handed me, I sank into the leather sofa and connected my terminal. A holographic screen flickered to life, displaying Lena's calm, intelligent face as she guarded our home base, Ark 69.
[Greetings, Commander. It looks like you arrived safely in the Hongwei 7 sector.]
"Yeah, Lena. Everything okay there?"
[Ah, there was a zombie horde spotted near the Ark about 40 minutes ago. But the A-202 Raptors took care of it right away.]
Lena reported it matter-of-factly, as if it were no big deal.
"...A zombie horde? Where the hell did they come from? Didn't we clear everything around the Ark?"
[From the east. Seems like stragglers from around 'Jinryong City' are gradually expanding their range.]
"Hmm... Jinryong City."
I stroked my chin, furrowing my brow.
We'd have to deal with that area eventually, but it was a massive city—nothing like Hongwei. It was way too big to tackle right now.
Plus, the Astral issue tied to Pomen's pod wasn't fully resolved yet.
"For now, just maintain alert status. No need to provoke them unless they come at us in force."
[Understood, Commander.]
Lena then proceeded with her usual crisp briefing: progress on camouflaging the entrance, resource stockpiles, available combat forces, and external recon reports.
The Ark was still in the basic infrastructure phase.
But with high-grade materials salvaged from the half-dismantled Troller-class mobile carrier and Leviathan corpse, plus the northern mining sector firing up, the Ark's fortunes were visibly improving.
It was night and day compared to those lean early days of scraping by.
"Great job, Lena. Perfect as always. Oh, and how's that thing I mentioned last time going?"
[You mean the Sacred Front restoration project?]
At my question, Lena promptly pulled up the data screen, as if she'd been waiting.
- Defend with light, survive with faith.
Sacred Front.
A four-woman squad led by their leader Cordelia, with Jin, Seible, and Lapis Theron.
In this world, they were an ECHO squad from Ark 74, wiped out by the Carapace Lord.
And during my fight with the Carapace Lord, when I brought Cordelia back to our Ark, I'd promised to revive her shattered comrades.
'Sure, excluding swimsuit Cordelia, the rest are kinda trap-tier characters...'
But they weren't total traps in this world either.
Lapis Theron was a solid example.
She made for a decent Astral Deck tank, protecting Arva and Moin just fine.
'Anyway, it was a long-term project to boost our Ark's forces while fully winning Cordelia's loyalty...'
Back-to-back battles with the Troller-class carrier and Leviathan had let me accelerate the timeline dramatically.
[We've secured the genetic data Cordelia had stored for her comrades. And in my assessment, we have enough Arc Reactors and Data Cubes on hand. However...]
Lena trailed off, pointing to a list highlighted in red.
[We're critically short on materials to reconstruct their bodies.]
"Different from mass-produced units, right?"
[Yes. To restore them to original specs, we'll need at least high-strength titanium and etherium alloys, plus mid-grade or better cores.]
I nodded casually at Lena's concerned tone.
"Titanium, etherium alloys, and cores... Pull the exact quantities needed for Jin and Seible and send them my way."
[...You're planning to use your artifact, aren't you?]
"Yep."
I did some quick math in my head.
With the base genetic data already in hand, it'd just be material costs. And since we had some on stock, maybe 70-80k cash per unit?
'Total around 150k cash?'
That was a steal for two original ECHOs.
In this world, more ECHOs meant more strength. The more, the better. And cash wasn't an issue anyway.
[Understood, Commander. I'll compile the list and send it over shortly. Just... please don't push yourself too hard.]
"Don't worry. You know how tough I am."
I reassured the fretting Lena.
Everyone knew how I got cash from the Money Compass, so even though they appreciated the artifacts' utility, they always worried like this.
[Oh, and when you return to the Ark, could you consult with Karen?]
"Consult? Something wrong with Karen?"
I tilted my head in confusion, and Lena shook hers.
[No. It's about the rifle you're using, 'White Tiger.']
"What's up with White Tiger?"
[If you were like other normal humans, safely commanding from the rear, it wouldn't matter. But since you're always at the front lines in the thick of it... I think White Tiger needs an upgrade.]
"...Oh."
My eyes lit up.
That was great news.
I'd just been thinking White Tiger's firepower was lacking against recent Astral foes.
Commander-exclusive rifle or not, it was basically just a standard gun with a fancy skin.
"Sounds good. I'll talk to Karen the second I get back to the Ark."
[Got it. I'll let her know. Safe travels, Commander.]
I ended the call and stretched.
That's when a heavy yet soft sensation pressed against my back. Pomen's hands naturally began kneading my shoulders.
"All done chatting, Commander?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you all developing the Hongwei base so well, we can even do video calls now."
"All thanks to our awesome Commander. But shouldn't you rest a bit more? You look a little tired."
"Hmmm..."
Pomen's hot breath tickled my ear.
The sultry undertone in her voice made it clear she wanted more than just rest—she craved some body talk. But I had business first.
"Rest can wait 'til tonight. Still got some pests to handle, right? Where's Gizmo and Raven?"
"Tch."
Pomen clicked her tongue in disappointment but kept massaging as she answered.
"Isolated them separately, per your orders. No real resistance yet... But that Raven? Something off mentally? She seems really anxious."
"And?"
"Asked Gizmo, and she said give her a doll. Found one rolling around in their armored car."
"Hmm..."
A doll, huh.
That seemed like the key to cracking Raven.
And Gizmo was probably into mechanical tinkering.
Dahlia—no, Jester's hobbies and favorite gifts made it easy to guess.
"By the way, Commander."
"Yeah?"
Pomen crossed her arms, her expression turning serious.
"Might be overstepping... but why bother saving them?"
"......"
"They're dangerous wanderers. Sold out our Ark's intel to the Astrals, too. Arva said they even fought at Ark 74... Wouldn't it be cleaner to just execute them?"
"No chance of reformation?"
"...Honestly."
Cold logic backed Pomen up—they deserved summary execution.
Keeping backstabbers around was like carrying a live bomb. But...
"Kinda tragic, though."
I knew Jester from 30 years later—Dahlia.
Thinking of how Dahlia grumbled but still looked out for her rookie commander...
"They weren't born twisted ECHOs. Think about Serpha."
"Serpha?"
"Yeah. She's full of life here, but she wasn't always like that, right?"
Pomen let out a small sigh at my words.
"...Heard she got bullied a lot at Ark 86. Some guy named Lin Ao did it—the shameless bastard you decked."
"Exactly. The Raven Merchant Group's kids might be the same. Not rotten from the start—something twisted them."
ECHOs were designed to serve humanity.
If they'd turned distrustful wanderers, there had to be a reason.
It was a bit of wishful thinking and self-justification, but knowing Dahlia's future let me reach this conclusion.
'If they were villain ECHOs in the game's story...'
I'd have ordered their termination without hesitation.
"...You're right, Commander."
Pomen's voice softened at my earnest reply.
As ECHOs themselves, they knew exactly what it meant to be hurt by humans.
"Right? So let's check. Were they rotten from the core, or just led astray by circumstance?"
I stood, straightening my clothes.
If persuasion failed? Regrettable, but I'd cut ties cleanly.
"Alright. Time to chat with our two friends."
I rose to wrap up the talk.
Jester was probably soaked in my scent by now—just let her stew. Gizmo first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Screeech.
As I opened the door and stepped in, the shadowy figure inside flinched and trembled. It was Gizmo.
"Hey? Gizmo, right?"
"Uh, uh... Y-, yeah."
"How's it going? Need anything?"
At my casual greeting, Gizmo glanced nervously at my ECHO escorts, then looked up at me with terrified eyes.
"Um... If you're gonna torture me, could you make it quick and painless?"
"...Torture?"
"Y-Yeah... Like our boss..."
Gizmo bit her quivering lip, unable to continue.
She figured her leader Jester was enduring some horrific torment right now.
'Not wrong, exactly.'
I swallowed a smirk.
Jester was indeed getting a brutal, sticky, fishy 'special education'—barely able to breathe.
"Don't worry. I've never done that gory stuff you imagine. She's eating great, actually."
"...Eating?"
"Yep."
No lies there.
Well... swallowing semen counts as eating, right? High-concentrate protein—super nutritious.
"R-Really?"
"Of course. Anyway, I'm here with a special offer. Considering the trouble with our Ark's ECHOs, it's pretty gentlemanly."
"...If it's join your Ark, I refuse."
Gizmo whipped her head away, firm and resolute.
Thought she was a scaredy-cat, but she's got backbone. Loyal bunch.
I crouched to meet her eyes.
"You like tinkering with machines, huh?"
"...!"
I could see her eyebrows twitch.
"H-How?!"
"How? Obvious."
My gaze swept her form.
Grease-stained work clothes, pockets stuffed with screwdrivers and wrenches.
Her outfit screamed gearhead—harder not to notice.
"Saw the mods on your armored car. Pretty impressive work."
"Hmph. That's basic. With more parts, I'd have added turbo."
Like Karen?
Or just gearhead ECHO trait?
She perked up at the praise, rubbing her nose. Hooked.
I reeled her in.
"Hate to see that talent wasted. We've got an ECHO named Karen at our Ark. Handles all fab and maintenance solo—desperately short-handed. You'd fit right in."
"......"
"Our transport trucks, mass-produced ECHOs—all her work."
"Th-Those Raptors?"
"V-60s. Raptors coming soon too."
She's tempted.
But Gizmo bit her lip and shook her head.
"No. I won't go."
"Why not?"
"Can't leave Boss and Raven... for Ark life alone."
Firm rejection.
I smiled bittersweetly, warmed by it.
This bond was why Jester—or Dahlia 30 years on—couldn't forget them, always seeming a bit empty inside.
Family to her.
"So, convince Jester and Raven, and you're in?"
"Well... yeah, if they're with me. Assuming everything you said about humans—no, the Commander—is true."
Gizmo licked her lips.
But skepticism crept back, and she shook her head.
"Won't be easy, though. Especially Jester... Hates humans big time."
"Don't sweat that."
I stood with a meaningful grin.
"I'll persuade her with a very serious, deep conversation."
No need to mention my scent was already convincing her brain cells via nose and mouth.
"Here, a gift."
I handed over a 'Portable Ultra-Precision Multi-Purpose Laser Welder' bought from the Money Compass shop.
"Wha—?! No way—this is Miller Electric's limited edition welder?! How?!"
Gizmo snatched it from the air. Her eyes gleamed like lasers.
Then C-008 units entered, dropped off some Troller-class carrier hull plates, and left.
"Play with it while you think."
"Y-Yeah! Okay—!"
Loud and clear.
Halfway there.
Leaving Gizmo engrossed in the welder, I headed to Raven's cell next.
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