NIKKE: The Apocalypse Arrives, But the System is 100 Years Late

C.O.L, Cycle of Life, was headquartered in the most prosperous—and most expensive—district of the Ark, right in the heart of the three major corporations. Every square meter of land here was worth a fortune. Companies without significant power couldn't even afford to set up a consultation office in this area.

By the time Mo Chen arrived at the company's entrance, the sun was setting and most of the employees had already clocked out.

The place resembled a hospital—spotlessly clean and meticulously maintained.

The building itself was luxurious and imposing, and surprisingly, most of the services provided here were free. Even high-cost, low-return treatments for rare and complex diseases were handled here frequently.

As Mo Chen walked inside, a security guard stepped forward to block his way.

"Sorry, we're closed for the day. Please come back another time. You can schedule an appointment here, and we'll arrange it for you tomorrow."

Mo Chen waved him off.

"No need. I'm here for your boss."

"The boss?"

The guard was taken aback, giving Mo Chen a once-over. However, he quickly composed himself. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No."

"Then I'm sorry, but—"

The guard hesitated.

Even though Mo Chen carried himself with an air of importance, the guard still had to follow protocol.

Before the conversation could continue, a sharply dressed man hurried out of the elevator, rushing over with a bright, ingratiating smile plastered across his face.

"Ah, hello, hello! We weren't informed that you'd be visiting, sir. What an honor for our company! Please forgive us for the lack of proper reception."

He extended his hand, brimming with flattery.

The security guard froze in shock.

He looked between the company's CEO and the absurdly young Mo Chen, dumbfounded.

Wait... did the boss just call him... sir?

But what stunned the guard even more was that Mo Chen didn't even bother shaking the CEO's hand.

"Let's talk inside."

Mo Chen, unfazed, walked straight into the company like he owned the place.

This executive really knew how to stay on top of things, Mo Chen thought. The moment he showed up, it didn't take long for the guy to come running, which meant the building's surveillance system must be top-notch.

Still, the CEEO showed no sign of displeasure at being ignored. He quickly caught up and walked ahead to lead the way.

"Please, this way. Right this way."

D followed behind Mo Chen, amazed.

She had expected him to conduct a covert investigation, gathering intel from the shadows. But to her surprise, he didn't bother hiding his intentions—he walked right in, plain as day.

And even more surprising, getting in was this easy? She had planned to go undercover as an employee to gradually gather information from the inside.

Mo Chen's approach was like skipping all the steps in a math problem and directly writing down the answer.

Walking through the long hallway, Mo Chen glanced around, taking in the company's layout.

It was well-maintained, modern, and elegant. There were laboratories and various types of equipment, along with plenty of indoor greenery. Even the furniture had a sleek, high-tech design.

It didn't feel all that different from other high-end tech companies.

But if there was one thing that stood out, it was how luxuriously decorated this place was. From the floors to the walls, to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, everything was pristine. The equipment was state-of-the-art, all appearing brand new.

Mo Chen also noticed many individuals in hospital gowns walking around.

They appeared to be patients.

At that moment, a young girl with a slight limp, no older than her early teens, seemed to recognize Mo Chen. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and despite her parents' calls to stop, she hobbled over to him as fast as she could.

"Excuse me... Are you Commander Mo Chen?"

The girl's cheeks were flushed pink with excitement.

Her worried parents quickly followed, trying to pull her back and apologizing profusely to Mo Chen. "We're so sorry for bothering you. She's just a child and doesn't know better."

Seeing Mo Chen's extraordinary presence, they knew he wasn't an ordinary person. Fearing they had offended someone important, they kept bowing and apologizing.

Especially after seeing the company's CEO following closely behind Mo Chen, the family became even more certain of their guess.

"It's okay," Mo Chen waved his hand dismissively and gave the girl a warm smile. "Yes, I am Mo Chen."

Judging by the girl's and her parents' simple attire, they didn't seem wealthy—more like an average working-class family.

"Wow! You really are the hero of the Ark!" the girl gasped, her bright eyes widening in excitement.

Her parents, startled by their daughter's exclamation, turned to look at Mo Chen, their eyes filled with surprise as they sized him up. Until then, they had been too focused on their daughter to pay attention to what she had said.

"C-could I please have your autograph?" the girl stammered with excitement as she frantically searched her pockets for a pen and paper, growing anxious when she couldn't find them.

The CEO, quick to read the room, immediately pulled out a gold pen from his suit pocket and asked a nearby security guard for a piece of paper, which he handed over to Mo Chen.

Mo Chen cast a deep, lingering glance at the CEO, who felt a chill run down his spine under the commander's gaze. His mind raced, trying to figure out why Mo Chen had suddenly come to his company at this hour.

Since the Ark Defense Battle, Mo Chen had become a rising star, highly sought after by many. After being promoted to major general, his influence skyrocketed. The CEO had tried to send him gifts before, hoping to build a connection, but was flatly rejected without even getting a chance to meet him.

Now that he was here, unannounced and late in the day, it only made the CEO more uneasy. He also couldn't help but wonder about the identity of the woman standing behind him like a secretary.

Without saying much, Mo Chen swiftly signed his name on the paper with a flourish and handed it back to the girl.

"Here you go."

"Thank you so much!" The girl clutched the autograph tightly to her chest, beaming with joy. She bounced up and down despite her condition, as if the pain and stiffness had momentarily disappeared—much to her parents' alarm as they hurried to calm her down.

Curious, Mo Chen asked about the girl's condition.

"It's called Limb Stiffness Syndrome," her father replied with a heavy sigh, the weight of his helplessness and pain evident in his expression.

Mo Chen had never heard of it, so the father explained further.

Limb Stiffness Syndrome, similar to ALS from Mo Chen's past world, was a rare disease. Unlike ALS, however, it was treatable, though the cost of treatment was astronomical—far beyond what ordinary families could afford.

It started with stiffness, weakness, and loss of motor control in the limbs. Without treatment, it would progress to complete rigidity, rendering the patient entirely immobile within a few years. In the final stages, even the respiratory system would fail, leading to death.

Being diagnosed with it was almost a death sentence.

"If it weren't for C.O.L. providing free treatment, my daughter..." The father choked up, unable to finish, while the mother wiped away tears. The girl, mature beyond her years, gently wiped her parents' tears with her small hands.

Mo Chen turned his gaze toward the CEO.

"Explain," he said calmly.

The CEO froze for a moment, unsure what Mo Chen wanted him to say. But since the commander had asked, he had no choice but to muster his courage and answer.

"Our company was founded with the goal of focusing on treating rare diseases that plague humanity, with the hope that one day, we can achieve the dream of extending human life," the CEO said humbly. "Helping those who cannot afford treatment is just a small contribution our company wishes to make to society."

His words sounded sincere, with no hint of deception.

Mo Chen pondered silently.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" the girl's parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the CEO, almost kneeling down. The CEO quickly helped them up, creating a touching scene.

Mo Chen merely observed coldly.

After bidding farewell to the girl and her family, Mo Chen followed the man to his office.

"Please, have a seat," the CEO offered, signaling his secretary to serve tea.

Mo Chen made himself comfortable in the CEO's chair without hesitation, while D stood by his side.

The CEO, on the other hand, could only sit on the couch, upright and stiff like an obedient student.

Sipping on the expensive tea, Mo Chen remained silent.

The atmosphere in the office grew tense.

Feeling uneasy in his seat, the CEO couldn't help but break the silence.

"Commander, you've come all this way... may I ask what instructions you have for me?"