JohnD...
Muttering that ID to himself, memories from half a year ago slowly resurfaced in Commander Grim's mind.
And he also remembered the existence behind the name JohnD.
"Crow."
"This person named JohnD, that's you, right?"
"Judging others recklessly online, that's just your style."
Commander Grim sipped his coffee, contemplating his words, and just as he was about to say something, the three members of Counterattack Squad had already begun attacking Crow.
Anis: "JohnD, can you shut that bird mouth of yours?"
Anis: "If you want to call the people in the Ark hypocrites, fine. But if you use that same word to judge the Commander—someone who constantly risks his life on the Surface—then you're just trash who doesn't know gratitude!"
Neon: "(Adjusting her reflective glasses) My teacher once said that the prerequisite to obtaining ultimate power is having a broad and inclusive heart."
Neon: "But your words seem to prove you have a very narrow mind, don't they?"
Rapi: "Even if this is an anonymous stream, please be careful with your words."
JohnD: "Hoh~"
JohnD: "The main character hasn't even spoken yet, and people like me are already appearing to defend humanity? Heh, you must know this place—the Ark—is full of scumbags, and evil seeds are as common as dogs. How could a holy saint like the Commander possibly emerge from such an environment? On the contrary, you've all been given a bit of help and act like you've been corrupted, constantly clinging to him."
JohnD: "It's like stray dogs gathering in a yard after sniffing something, not realizing that once they lose their value, they'll be kicked out by their master."
Anis: "Ha, so you think you know everything?"
Anis: "You think you're smart just because you sing a different tune online, pretending like everyone else is drunk and only you are sober, huh? Who can't just grab a keyboard and type a few lines? But tell me, do you really think that's going to change the world?"
JohnD: "Of course not."
...
Outer Rim, somewhere.
In an almost bankrupt movie theater, Crow sat alone in the back row, chewing a toothpick as usual, watching a superhero film that had been shown countless times.
The plot was nothing more than: explosions, evil villains, a beautiful woman in danger, and a righteous hero appearing to wipe out the evil, win the girl, and save the world.
Like every other film Crow had ever watched, it was cliché, but still held that familiar charm.
Just as he started to lose focus, a seductive and slightly playful voice came from beside him: "Crow, watching movies again?"
Crow turned and nodded at the alluring Nikke beside him. "Viper, you're here."
Viper found a seat and watched the movie for a bit, then felt a bit bored: "Is this movie really that good?"
"Good or not, who knows? Everyone has the right to comment on public films, right?" Crow curled his lips and said, "But personally, I really like this one."
"I didn't expect your favorite would be a superhero flick," Viper said.
Crow didn't deny it and instead closed his eyes: "Everyone once had a hero in their heart, even those living in the Outer Rim. Whether Nikke or human, in this sunless place, everyone hopes that one day they can be truly saved, that a hero will promise them a brighter future."
"Let's live in mansions, let's walk under the sky, let's be equal to Ark citizens, let's have the right to education too!" those below cry out loudly.
"For their lives, they hope with all their hearts, begging day and night."
"To survive, they bow down, willing to be dogs for those above."
"Yet no matter how hard they scream and scratch, all they get is bullets and discrimination."
"At that moment, they realize the truth: heroes never existed in the first place; they are only creatures that live in movies."
"It's precisely because heroes don't exist that I'm obsessed with superhero films." Crow removed the Pote stick from his mouth and said, "After all, humans are always obsessed with things they can't have, aren't they?"
"That's true."
"But speaking of heroes, shouldn't the ones from Counterattack Squad be a little heroic?"
When Commander Grim was mentioned, a sweet smile appeared on Viper's delicate face, and within that sweet smile, a subtle, unknown emotion was revealed.
"Commander Grim of the Counterattack Squad, the rising star of the Central Government, who within just half a year defeated Rapture Lords, Tyrants, and even Heretics. By Ark standards, you could call him a hero." Crow glanced at Viper and suddenly asked, "But for us?"
"Would he be your hero, Viper?"
Viper fell silent.
It wasn't Grim's first visit to the Outer Rim. A few months ago, he was sent by Andersen to deal with a terrorist attack, and that's when he met Crow, Jackal, and Viper of the Foreigner Forces.
As for Viper, she had a favorable impression of Commander Grim.
That man named Commander Grim was like a hero stepping out of a film: enthusiastic, handsome, approachable, with none of the arrogance common among Ark elites, and never displaying the weakness and stupidity of a bureaucrat.
However, because of Crow's presence, Viper didn't express her true feelings: "It's hard to say, isn't it, Crow?"
Crow turned toward Viper, a hint of mischief in his cold eyes: "Viper, you need to understand—Nikke are Nikke, and humans are humans. In the eyes of humans, we are just consumables and tools, products meant to serve them, nothing more. So don't fantasize that someone will come to save you."
"And if someone does, they're probably just a hypocrite."
"Also, let me tell you, the Commander went live today and started spouting nonsense about his relationship with Nikkes, and I—well, I threw a rock at him. He's probably fuming and cursing at me now."
"Wanna see his true colors together?"
Crow projected his phone onto the theater screen, zooming in specifically on Commander Grim's reply.
But that response stunned the two of them in their seats.
"John D."
"If you're not feeling well, come to the Outpost and talk to me. – Commander Grim"