บท 21: Chapter 21: Commander, Are You Peeking?
Anis got up from the bench and stretched.
"Well, let's go. I don't want to stay here working overtime after coming back; there's still so much to do."
Under the staff's guidance, Mo Chen and his team arrived at Central Command.
It was housed in a towering building over a hundred stories tall, entirely black and fortress-like, with heavy defenses and armed soldiers stationed everywhere.
They even had to go through security checks.
After passing through several security gates, they finally arrived at their destination.
"Welcome."
A tall, well-built middle-aged man with a ring of facial hair strode forward.
"I'm Andersen, Deputy Chief of the Ark. Call me whatever you like. You're Mo Chen, correct?"
Mo Chen nodded.
"Yes, that's me. So, why did you call me here?"
He said it casually, though he already had a pretty good idea of the reason.
Just like Anis said, a small team taking down a Tyrant-class Rapture would naturally spark the higher-ups' curiosity.
He also took the opportunity to size up the man before him.
Andersen exuded an air of authority. He had a muscular build, a face chiseled like stone, and stood tall in his military uniform. His hawk-like gaze was intense, conveying a commanding presence without effort.
"No need for formalities," Andersen said, his eyes sweeping over the group and stopping on Mo Chen. "The purpose of your summons today is to undergo a test."
"A test?"
"Yes," Andersen said, leaning casually against a desk with a smile. "It's nothing difficult. Relax and approach it like any other task—just perform at your usual level."
"Understood."
Mo Chen gave a slight nod.
Clearly, they wanted to assess his abilities.
But he had nothing to hide.
Andersen noted Mo Chen's calm demeanor, his composure steady, without any hint of nerves, and was impressed.
He didn't seem like other people who acted like a mouse before a cat in his presence.
"Now, proceed to the simulation room. Arrangements have been made, and someone will guide you there."
As Mo Chen was about to leave, Andersen called out to him.
"Oh, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I heard a Nikke was affected by corruption?"
"Yes."
"How is she now?"
"She's gone."
"I see. My apologies. That's all. You're free to prepare now."
After the brief exchange, Mo Chen exited the office.
He glanced back at the door.
It seemed Andersen knew more than he let on.
"What? They brought us here just for this?"
Anis muttered, annoyed, but was quieted by Rapi tugging on her sleeve.
The simulation room was located 50 meters underground, designed for weapons testing, simulating Rapture attacks, and tactical training exercises.
With modern technology, it could closely replicate real combat situations.
Training here greatly enhanced combat effectiveness and significantly reduced casualties in real missions.
Mo Chen glanced around, noticing that there were about seven or eight other squads present.
However, they were all Nikkes—he saw no other Commanders.
"I'm Ingrid, and I'll be evaluating your combat capabilities today."
A tall, striking woman with brown curls and a strong physique stood before them, dressed in a white-and-red uniform. She exuded an aura of elegance and strength.
Even with her stern expression, she had an undeniable charm.
"The combat test will take place in the simulation room."
Anis sidled up to Mo Chen, cupping a hand over her mouth to whisper, "Commander, what's going on? Why are we suddenly being tested?"
Rapi looked equally puzzled.
"We only recently completed a mission, and we're supposed to get at least a week of downtime before another combat test."
"And... combat tests usually only happen right before ground operations."
Anis's eyes darted around as she scanned the room.
"Hey, look over there. Isn't that the CEO of Elysion? What's she doing here?"
Mo Chen replied offhandedly.
"Hobby."
"What kind of 'hobby' is that? Is she a pervert…?!"
Ingrid heard the chatter below and snapped, her forehead veins bulging.
"Everyone, quiet down!"
Anis and Rapi immediately fell silent.
Mo Chen chuckled to himself.
So, even those two have their fears.
Ingrid's gaze swept across everyone.
"Next, we'll conduct the combat test in this simulation room. Don't take it lightly just because it's a simulation."
"The simulation room is the pinnacle of Ark technology, capable of replicating ground-level combat scenarios one-to-one. It doesn't just simulate sudden battle situations; it also perfectly recreates the characteristics of Raptures."
"Once the squad name is entered, the simulation will officially begin."
She looked directly at Mo Chen.
"Mo Chen, I look forward to seeing the Counters Squad perform at its best."
With a meaningful glance at him, Ingrid turned and left.
The other Nikkes around them looked at him in surprise, whispering as if they were seeing a rare animal.
Mo Chen ignored their comments and walked straight into the simulation room.
The simulation lasted over two hours.
"Ugh, finally! I'm exhausted."
Anis collapsed onto a nearby bench as soon as she stepped out of the simulation room, looking completely drained.
She was soaked with sweat, making her clothes semi-transparent and accentuating her perfect figure.
Mo Chen couldn't help but glance a few more times.
He had to admit—her figure was indeed stunning.
"Hey, Commander, are you sneaking a look?"
Anis suddenly perked up, as if she'd caught him red-handed.
"Who cares?"
Caught in the act, Mo Chen remained unfazed.
"You were obviously looking," Anis teased, scooting closer to him with a sly grin. "So, what do you think? Isn't my figure amazing?"
"Vain!"
At that moment, Rapi spoke up.
"The combat test is over, and the report's out. They've asked us to wait for a bit."
"They're probably evaluating the results," Mo Chen said.
He glanced briefly at Rapi. Her figure was equally impressive, her sweat-soaked clothes clinging closely to her skin, hinting at her curves.
He was no stranger to the simulation room, which felt nearly identical to real combat except without the risk of casualties.
However, to his surprise, the test difficulty was borderline insane.
The simulation was packed with Raptures, including a Tyrant-class boss.
If not for his extensive gaming experience, knowing the boss's weak spots and strategies, they would've likely been wiped out.
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