Chapter 248: Dorothy’s Dissatisfaction and the Lottery Draw

"That's right. This is something we had no choice but to do," Dorothy lowered her gaze slightly, her long eyelashes trembling faintly. "Every resident of Eden must have the ability to survive on their own. Even Cecil and Johan, as humans, are no exception."

Mo Chen recalled what he had observed upon arriving—every Nikke on the streets of Eden seemed quite capable. Even those who were merely handling logistics and communications bore marks of battle damage on their bodies, evidence that they, too, frequently fought.

Dorothy's eyes were deep, as if she could see through the incubation chamber and gaze even further beyond.

"Only this way can we avoid becoming like the Ark, where the majority are weak and only a select few hold all the power."

Mo Chen was momentarily stunned.

The majority are weak while a few are strong? Had he misheard?

It didn't take long for him to realize what Dorothy was referring to.

"Are you talking about humans and Nikkes?"

"…As expected, you understand quickly." Dorothy turned to face him, her lips, pale like cherry blossoms, curving into a subtle and almost imperceptible smile—one that felt oddly out of place with the bright expression she wore. 

"Only when both sides possess equal strength and value—when they are evenly matched—can they truly coexist in peace. Otherwise, one side will always exploit the other."

Though Mo Chen felt Dorothy was oversimplifying the issue, her argument did hold some truth, given the current circumstances.

He knew Dorothy was deeply set in her beliefs. No matter how much he argued, he wouldn't be able to change her mind. So, rather than waste his breath, he decided to drop the matter altogether.

As he strolled through Eden, Mo Chen casually decided to use his pending lottery draws.

He had three unused draws from the system's rewards.

Bringing up the system interface, he tapped on the lottery section, and a screen similar to the gacha system in NIKKE appeared. With a flick of his finger, he spun the wheel.

A bright golden light flashed.

After the glow faded—

"System notification: You have obtained one piece of Vibranium."

Vibranium?

Mo Chen found the name familiar. He examined it closely. Wasn't this the same Vibranium from Marvel?

Checking the description—

Vibranium was one of the hardest materials in the Marvel universe, second only to Adamantium.

Its molecular structure made it nearly indestructible, as the molecules were relatively stationary, allowing it to absorb almost all heat and kinetic energy.

Vibranium could absorb thermal energy, energy attacks, and physical force, making it one of the best defensive materials in existence.

Captain America's shield was made from a Vibranium alloy.

However, Mo Chen wasn't particularly interested.

While Vibranium had outstanding defensive properties, it was a bit redundant for him. With his Blacklight Virus, his own defense was already absurdly high. Besides, Vibranium wasn't as indestructible as people thought—after all, even Captain America's shield had been shattered into pieces by Thanos.

Still, he put the Vibranium away for now.

Mo Chen spun the lottery wheel again, tapping it lightly. This time, a purple glow appeared.

"System notification: You have obtained the item—Chainsword (Basic Model)."

A chainsword?

That was something from Warhammer 40K.

Mo Chen wasn't particularly knowledgeable about Warhammer, but the chainsword was famous enough that even he had heard of it.

The chainsword's serrated teeth were typically powered by promethium fuel and were equipped with replaceable monomolecular blades. When activated, its high-speed rotating teeth could tear through flesh and armor alike.

Its ferocious design embodied the brutal aesthetic of Warhammer 40K.

The chainsword was extremely lethal, making quick work of cutting through metal. However, in actual combat, a standard chainsword was mainly effective against lightly armored enemies. 

It worked well against organic creatures or lightly plated armor, but it struggled against heavily armored targets, such as Space Marines' plating.

That said, this wasn't the Warhammer universe. Against Raptures, the chainsword would be more than enough.

Still, chainswords were close-combat weapons, and except for a select few Nikkes, most relied on ranged firepower. That meant Mo Chen would probably be the only one using it.

With that thought, he sighed.

Now, there was only one lottery draw left.

By this point, he wasn't expecting much.

He tapped the screen once more.

Golden light burst forth.

After the glow faded, the system notification popped up.

"You have obtained: Nanosuit."

Nanosuit?

Mo Chen was momentarily stunned before his excitement surged.

A silver ring materialized in his hand, its center glowing softly. It looked somewhat like the arc reactor from Iron Man, yet vastly different—more refined, more advanced, more futuristic.

Nanosuit, also known as Nano Soldiers, came in two primary types: innate and implanted.

The innate type was implemented at an embryonic stage, modifying the cells from the first division onward, ensuring the entire body developed under precise control. As the modified individual grew, their natural cells would be entirely replaced with engineered nanocells.

However, since the system provided it in a physical form, it seemed to have streamlined the implantation process.

"…How has your experience been today?"

Mo Chen was snapped out of his thoughts by the soft, melodious voice at his side.

He turned to see Dorothy standing elegantly not far from him, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"It was fine," Mo Chen replied instinctively.

Realizing that might come off as dismissive, he quickly added, "Ah, I mean, it was great."

Dorothy didn't seem offended. Her smile remained as warm and gentle as ever.

"Eden isn't as prosperous as the Ark. You don't have to be polite, Commander. This isn't the Ark—rather than hearing false pleasantries, I prefer honesty."

Mo Chen simply said, "That is my honest opinion. Being able to establish a place like this in the middle of a wasteland is truly impressive."

Dorothy's smile deepened. On her delicate face, it was dazzlingly beautiful.

"To have the Commander's approval is Eden's greatest honor."

They walked together, eventually reaching the higher levels of Eden, where the scenery was even more breathtaking. Rolling mountains stretched into the distance, and crystal-clear streams wound through lush greenery.

But then, Dorothy suddenly shifted the conversation.

"I heard that the Commander also established a similar Outpost base, providing refuge for wandering Nikkes, passing laws to aid those in need—offering free housing, healthcare, and education, while granting Nikkes the same rights as humans. This so-called 'Gensokyo' has become widely renowned, even here in Eden."

"It's a shame I've never seen it with my own eyes. So, tell me, Commander… In your eyes, how does Eden compare?"

Dorothy's tone was casual, but her deep, gem-like eyes locked onto Mo Chen, as if she were waiting for his answer.

She clearly wasn't satisfied with just being second place!

Mo Chen sighed.

She really wasn't letting this go, huh?