NOVEL NEXT Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Take a Guess—What Do You Think the Commander Is Doing in That Room?
"Your intuition is quite sharp."
A graceful figure emerged from the dim moonlit shadows.
Her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll—fair and luminous. Flowing down her back was a cascade of soft pink hair, shimmering under the pale glow of the night, reminiscent of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Tied into a high ponytail, her hairstyle balanced an air of youthful vitality with refined elegance.
It was Dorothy.
Rapi fixed her gaze on the woman before her, her expression tinged with caution.
Pilgrims. While they shared the common goal of exterminating Raptures, their stance toward the Ark—and by extension, humanity—was anything but friendly. In many ways, they could be considered adversaries.
Ever since Dorothy had arrived, Rapi had kept her guard up without respite.
"What are you doing here?"
"If I were to say I was out for a leisurely stroll, I doubt you'd believe me."
Dorothy's lips curled into a subtle, refined smile—a smile that was neither ostentatious nor restrained, exuding a charm that was difficult to put into words. Under the moonlight, her eyes shimmered like constellations, carrying an enigmatic allure.
"If I'm not mistaken, you and the Commander… are in a relationship, aren't you?"
Rapi didn't respond directly. Instead, she spoke in a detached tone. "It's late. You should leave."
"My apologies for the intrusion." Dorothy offered another polite smile. "But I must say, your composure is quite admirable."
"What do you mean by that?" Rapi's voice grew more serious.
Dorothy's elegant smile deepened.
"You don't mind? About the Commander?"
Her gaze flickered toward the bedroom.
Though separated by a mere door, the stark contrast between the icy air outside and the smoldering heat within was undeniable.
Rapi remained indifferent. Her voice was calm and emotionless, unaffected by the provocation.
"This is my concern. It doesn't require your input. If you're bored, why don't you go and chew on a lighter?"
That was something she had learned from Mo Chen.
Dorothy was momentarily stunned, clearly caught off guard by such an offhanded remark. Then, she chuckled behind her hand.
"How amusing. In my experience, the bond between a Nikke and her Commander is rarely this… harmonious. Many Commanders cower in fear when battle looms. When faced with danger, they abandon their Nikkes to buy time for their own escape."
"Don't lump the Commander in with those cowards." Rapi's delicate brows furrowed slightly. For the first time, her composed expression showed signs of disturbance. She turned to Dorothy, a glint of irritation flashing in her eyes.
"The Commander is our leader. He is humanity's hope for reclaiming the surface. His achievements speak for themselves."
Dorothy maintained her serene smile, unmoved.
"Really? I don't believe it."
Her smile—at first glance, merely an elegant curve of her lips—held layers of hidden meaning upon closer scrutiny.
She didn't believe a word of it.
Rapi's brows knit together, forming faint creases. It was evident she was suppressing her growing frustration.
"He has reclaimed more territory than humanity has in the past century combined. You have no right to question him. If you don't believe me, then why don't you join the Counters Squad and see for yourself?"
Regarding Rapi's invitation, Dorothy responded with a light, indifferent smile, as if it didn't matter much to her. However, the corner of her lips curled with a hint of playful provocation, subtly laced with a teasing undertone that was hard to detect.
"Aren't you afraid I might steal your Commander away? Humans are always fickle, chasing after the new and discarding the old. They sweet-talk you, spin lies, and make promises without hesitation, luring you into their web of deceit. But when it really matters, they won't think twice about abandoning you, even if it means pushing you into the abyss."
As she spoke, a faint trace of resentment flickered in Dorothy's beautiful peach-blossom eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"No."
Rapi rejected the idea without hesitation, her tone firm and resolute.
At that moment, a faint moan suddenly echoed from the room, instantly shattering the quiet atmosphere. The sound was soft and drawn-out, faint yet persistent, as if someone was enduring some kind of pain—or perhaps writhing like a fish in water, murmuring under the pressure of an intense sensation. It was hard to tell whether it was pleasure or suffering.
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.
Rapi's words hung stiffly in the air, and even her expression froze momentarily.
The unexpected moan caught her off guard.
Soon, the sound grew louder and clearer. Low breaths intertwined with faint, mournful whimpers, gently escaping in delicate threads. The tender tones struggled to flow between lips and tongue, accompanied by ambiguous gasps from the nose and mouth, the lingering echoes stretching long and languid.
A soft, drawn-out hum emerged from the throat, like the low notes of a flute. The voice sounded slightly immature, clearly not the same as before—it belonged to someone else.
"My apologies," Dorothy said with a hint of remorse, as if filled with guilt and self-reproach. "I didn't realize you all had such a close relationship, close enough to share with other Nikkes. I was inconsiderate earlier."
Her words seemed like an apology, but they were laced with sarcasm. The slight upward curve of her lips was almost impossible to suppress.
Rapi's expression remained calm, her eyelids lowered. After the initial shock, she composed herself, her demeanor as unruffled as a still lake, unaffected by the commotion in the room.
Dorothy's words felt like punching cotton.
But she didn't give up. A cold smile played on her lips as she thought to herself, 'Let's see how long you can keep up this act.'
"Don't you care at all?"
Rapi remained unmoved by Dorothy's words, replying coldly, "I am merely the Commander's adjutant. His actions are not within the scope of my concern."
At that moment, intermittent moans drifted from the room again, soft and alluring, drawn-out and tender. In matters like this, young women always seemed to have an innate talent. A melodious, almost heavenly sound flowed from their throats, like a mournful song, delicate and lingering.
Seeing that Rapi still showed no reaction, Dorothy knew deep down that no matter how composed a girl might seem, her heart couldn't remain calm when witnessing her beloved engaged in such acts—unless, of course, she had particular inclinations.
"What do you think the Commander is doing in that room?"
"Sleeping."
Rapi coldly spat out the two words.
Dorothy's peach-blossom eyes held a faint, mocking smile, and the corners of her lips curled with hidden ridicule. But on the surface, she maintained a facade of concern.
"Do you really believe that?"
Rapi gave Dorothy a cold glance and replied indifferently, "Why wouldn't I believe it? Could it be that you've never been trusted like this before?"