NIKKE: Max Bonded but System Gone

"Oh? Rapi, are you jealous?" Anis smirked, twisting the cap off a soda bottle. "Didn't you always say the Commander has his own life and we shouldn't meddle too much?"

Neon pouted and joined in, "Rapi, you're so selfish! Can't you think about us once in a while? Without snacks and soda, how are we supposed to survive?"

Anis nodded fervently. "Exactly! We risk our necks every day on the surface, and the Central Government is so stingy. Our monthly paychecks barely cover basic expenses, let alone savings! The Commander is our only hope! Commander, you must rake in the cash!"

Facing their hopeful gazes, Green sighed deeply.

He did have plenty of ways to make money—like going on dates with some of the wealthy women in the Talentum Squad, securing contracts and business deals during their outings, and maybe even "selling his charm" at a hotel afterward. It was doable, but it would certainly take a toll on his energy.

"I'll try my best," Green replied.

"Didn't Master go to Yang for further studies before? With your genius mind, earning money hand over fist is definitely not a dream!" Neon asked with a beaming smile.

"Neon, even if the Commander does make money, it would still be his personal asset. It's got nothing to do with us." Rapi reminded them, then turned to Green, nodding. "Commander, are you hungry? If you haven't eaten yet, I'll prepare some Splendamin for you."

"Take the processed meat out of the fridge, fry it, and let's all eat together. Then, make me a cup of coffee, Rapi."

"Got it!"

It was rare that breakfast wasn't Splendamin but rather a specialty of the Ark—processed meat.

Since the Ark was underground, resources were scarce, and animals naturally became a rare commodity. Meat, eggs, milk, and other byproducts were especially rare. Although these were common foods on the surface, in the underground, they were considered high-end foods reserved for the wealthy.

Given the financial situation of the Resistance, eating processed meat for every meal was obviously difficult, but it was manageable for an occasional treat.

"Rapi, I've got a question," Green said during breakfast.

"What exactly is Splendamin made from?"

The Ark's popular food, Splendamin, always reminded him of a food called "delicacies" from a game he once played. Not only did both resemble a kind of paste or meat mush, but their texture was also incredibly bland—almost unpleasantly so. Although Splendamin tasted similar to cultured meat, food factories rarely disclosed the ingredients of Splendamin, and the Ark's government kept tight-lipped about it.

In short, it made him incredibly curious.

Rapi, who was eating her breakfast, paused for a moment, a subtle look in her eyes. "Commander, do you really want to know?"

Green paused, surprised. "What's so bad about knowing?"

"Well, it's not that it can't be said... But if I tell you, it might ruin your appetite."

"Then, maybe don't say it," Green said, shaking his head.

Even without Rapi's explanation, he probably already had a guess about what Splendamin was made of.

There were two possibilities.

The first possibility was that it was a soy-based product. Back in the time when humans lived on the surface, some soy-based foods could replicate the texture of meat with excellent processing techniques. Puppet could very well be one of those.

As for the second possibility... it was a bit more unappetizing. The Ark had few birds but a lot of small creatures like snakes, rats, and cockroaches. If these were raised properly, they could provide a steady meat supply. Most humans would understandably be repulsed by eating the flesh of these creatures directly. So, the Ark might have mixed these meats into Splendamin.

"Anyway, it's all protein, so I guess we shouldn't complain too much," Green thought out loud.

Sighing, he added, "Had I known the Ark was such a culinary wasteland, I should've caught a few wild chickens or raised some cattle on the surface instead."

As someone who came from a food-loving country, he never could get used to the Ark's food.

"So, Commander, are you thinking about venturing into the farming industry?" Anis, who had been listening to Green's musings, couldn't help but interrupt. "The Outpost Base is big enough. It wouldn't be impossible to raise chickens or cattle here!"

Rapi shook her head. "Anis, it's not that simple. According to Ark regulations, animals brought from the surface must undergo strict quarantine by the Central Government before they can survive underground. If you want to start a farming business, you'll need to apply for several permits. Even with the Commander's connections, it could be quite a difficult process."

"Is it really that hard?" Anis's disgust for the Central Government grew, "I suspect that some corporate oligarchs have monopolized the farming business, which is why they won't allow others to start farming. Damn capitalism! Does it kill them to let us make some money?"

Green took a sip of his coffee. "Businessmen are always like that. They hate seeing you make money. They'd rather lose money themselves than see others succeed."

Anis pouted. "Sigh! I really hate rich people, but I also want to be one."

"Commander, do you think something's wrong with my mindset?" Anis looked up, her gaze fixed on Green's eyes. "I can't stand certain people, but I also want to be as rich as they are. Is there something wrong with me?"

"It's nothing unusual, Anis," Green replied, setting his cup down. "If you want to be rich, sometimes you have to abandon your conscience. When you go shopping, those people encouraging you to spend aren't going to care if you run out of money. They might even offer you a 30-year loan. They couldn't care less whether you live or die after you fall into debt."

"Well, that's true. I guess I'm just not cut out to be rich in this life," Anis said, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

Her lazy, negative attitude meant she wasn't likely to make much money. It seemed she would always be far from piles of cash.

"Thinking that I'll never be able to live a rich life... it makes me so sad, Commander. Am I destined to be poor forever?"

"Who knows," Green replied, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, no one knows what the future holds," Anis sighed, her gaze lingering on Green's handsome face.

After a moment, she smiled again. "Actually, as long as I'm with the Commander, it doesn't matter whether we're rich or not."

"Same here, Anis," Green smiled slightly, placing his empty cup back on the table. "Compared to money, you guys are the most precious treasures to me."

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