That alluring expression made Mo Chen recall the events of the previous night—the whispered words drenched in intimacy, the voice trembling like broken raindrops, and the deep flush of passion at its peak.
The warmth beneath his palm, pressed against Rapi's soft and toned stomach, felt almost too hot to the touch.
And with that, the temperature between them rose even higher.
Even the core he was holding—it felt like it was about to slip through his fingers.
At that moment, Mo Chen suddenly remembered the system's notification from earlier—how the Goddess Squad's member count had increased by one.
A ridiculous thought flashed across his mind.
Could the recruitment condition for the Goddess Squad be… sleeping with them?!
However, before he could dwell on that absurd idea, lazy, dragging footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door.
Mo Chen and Rapi quickly separated.
Mo Chen turned to look—only to see Marian shuffling in, wearing slippers, rubbing her sleepy eyes, still half-asleep.
"Commander, I'm hungry…"
Without hesitation, she dove straight into Mo Chen's arms—clinging to him like a porcelain doll, delicate and soft, utterly endearing.
Mo Chen held her like a child, her fair arms wrapping around his neck as she nestled against him, refusing to let go, much like a spoiled little daughter.
Luckily, Marian arrived just in time—the food on the stove hadn't burned yet.
Rapi had made some porridge, some noodles, and even a simple tomato and egg sauce—all using the instant ramen Mo Chen had brought along.
Although the taste couldn't compare to a properly cooked meal, in a post-apocalyptic world, this was already a luxury.
At that moment, Anis and Neon stumbled out of their rooms, yawning, dark circles under their eyes, their movements sluggish—clearly, they hadn't slept well at all.
They swayed unsteadily, as if they could collapse at any moment.
"Hungry… Need food…"
"Yeah… So hungry…"
When it came to fighting Raptures, these two were always enthusiastic. But once they relaxed, they became absolute lazy slobs—so much so that they didn't even bother making their own meals.
If Rapi weren't around to feed them, they'd probably starve to death despite being Nikkes.
Then, as if noticing something, Anis suddenly tugged at Neon's sleeve.
"Look at that."
Neon blinked drowsily, confused.
Anis nudged her, then gestured toward the kitchen.
With a mischievous smirk, she whispered like a conspiratorial thief—
"Rapi… seems different."
"Huh?"
Neon was still too groggy to understand, her brain not fully functioning yet.
"…Different how?"
Anis elbowed her, snapping her out of her daze.
Then, lowering her voice, she whispered:
"Rapi looks way better than before. She used to have that gloomy shut-in look, but now she's…"
Anis struggled to find the right words, and after thinking hard, she finally muttered:
"Like… a perfect housewife?"
Neon followed Anis' gaze, observing Rapi closely.
And sure enough—Rapi really did seem different.
Before, no matter the situation, her expression had always been cold, distant, and serious. She was so emotionless that even standing near her felt chilling.
But now?
Rapi's complexion was rosier, her lips carried the faintest of smiles, and the usual subtle melancholy between her brows had vanished.
Her pale, delicate skin, bathed in the morning sunlight, seemed almost translucent—like a flawless piece of polished jade, radiating a soft, luminous glow.
""What's wrong with her?""
Both Anis and Neon had question marks floating in their heads.
It was as if Rapi had completely changed overnight.
At that moment, Mo Chen and Rapi stepped out of the kitchen, with Marian following between them, carrying breakfast in her hands.
Neon stared at them for a long while before muttering absentmindedly:
"They… kind of look like a family."
Anis shot her an annoyed glare.
"Don't say depressing stuff like that. If they're a family, then what does that make us? We're not some side chicks."
Neon turned her head, looking troubled.
"Then… what are we?"
"Concubines."
"…Huh?!"
After a simple breakfast, Mo Chen finally got an update on the Cafe Sweety Squad and Matis Squad.
They had already been taken away, transported by Ark's air units, under the supervision of Absolute Squad.
Thanks to Mo Chen's efforts the previous night, the corruption in both squads had significantly weakened.
The virus inside them had been suppressed and had entered a dormant state—even without suppression bullets, they no longer displayed any abnormal symptoms.
In fact, their mental states had returned to normal.
The only issue was that their memories seemed to have stopped at the moment they were fighting the Raptures.
According to the medical team, the virus may have affected their memory, but since their brains weren't physically damaged, given enough time, their memories would slowly recover.
At the same time, on a ruined rooftop, the transport helicopters were preparing for takeoff.
"…Aren't you going to say goodbye to him?"
Emma glanced at Eunhwa, who stood near the helicopter.
Her long hair billowed wildly in the turbulent winds from the rotors, but her expression remained cold, completely devoid of emotion.
"There's no point," Eunhwa replied indifferently. "It's the same word every time—what's the difference?"
Even though Eunhwa always acted distant, Emma had known her for a long time.
She could tell exactly what was going through her mind.
"Sometimes, you have to say it out loud, you know?" Emma's playful eyes gleamed as she stepped closer. "If you keep bottling it up, no one's ever going to notice… And when that happens, don't blame me if someone else snatches him up first."
"Snatch?"
Eunhwa scoffed, turning her head away with her arms crossed, looking as if she completely didn't care.
"Don't lump me in with those emotionally clueless Nikkes."
"…So, you're mad that the Commander didn't come looking for you?"
Emma's playful voice sounded like she had just seen through her soul as she leaned in with a smirk.
"Relax~ I'm sure the Commander hasn't forgotten about you. Maybe he'll show up any second now."
"Who cares?"
Eunhwa huffed, turning away and striding into the transport aircraft without a single glance back.
Meanwhile, Vesti was craning her neck, scanning the distant horizon, looking anxious.
Her fingers clenched tightly, the knuckles turning pale—a clear sign of her nervousness.
She was waiting for the Commander.
Not for anything else—she was just desperate to ask Mo Chen how he managed to make so many friends.
Before, when she had seen him surrounded by so many companions, she had felt both admiration and envy, wishing she could have a social circle like his.
But now?
After witnessing Mo Chen befriending two entire squads overnight—the Cafe Sweety Squad and the Matis Squad—her respect had grown to the point of total worship.
Her admiration and awe for him had completely overflowed.