In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 137 Agor's Invitation, Chen Qi's Meeting with the Doctor
Although he had previously had the experience of marrying Vina, the feeling of marrying a woman he truly loved was completely different for Chen Qi.

Compared to the wedding he remembered held in the tower of Letania, the wedding Enciodes planned for him was quite simple.

There were no elaborate ceremonies, and the only guests were Shiva's family.

Although it wasn't grand, it was warm and inviting.

Chen Qi forgot how much he drank that day, only vaguely remembering that before he passed out, Ensioudis was already so drunk that he collapsed under the table.

The sisters, Enya and Ensia, would laugh loudly from time to time, and then cry and wail, saying they missed their mother.

In the end, it was Chen Qi and his adoptive father, who was barely conscious, who held the two sisters in their arms and comforted them until they fell asleep.

When Chen Qi woke up the next day, he found himself lying in a bed in a palace guest room.

The two beautiful brides he had officially married yesterday were lying on either side of him.

They had forgotten all their troubles and missions, leaning on his shoulder, immersed in their own blissful dreams.

For a fleeting moment, Chen Qi felt that his life was incredibly fulfilling.

The three of them indulged in this dreamlike and gentle paradise for several months.

Until an unusual piece of news shattered this precious peace.

"The Trimont Arc Event has occurred in Columbia. Arc One has broken through the barrier layer. Rhine Lab's Chief Engineer Christen has flown away from Terra in his spaceship and has lost all contact."

“Rhine Lab member Seria, acting as the full agent of the administration, will discuss with King Ensiodis Shivaesh of Kallan the relevant plans for establishing a barrier layer research facility on the summit of Mount Kelage.”

Inside the palace, Chen Qi solemnly browsed the news in the newspaper. He was already mentally prepared for this event, which was happening much earlier than he remembered.

"It seems that Rhodes Island's actions were a step too slow."

"Columbia has broken through the only barrier between Terra and the universe. Now, the eyes of the universe will finally begin to notice this small planet."

"The starry sky..."

Beside Chen Qi, Yela taught him how to brew tea while skillfully preparing a cup of salty milk tea and serving it to him.

Noticing Chen Qi's unusually serious expression, Yela, realizing the gravity of the matter, couldn't help but ask:

"Qi, do you even know what the world beyond the stars is like?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but people outside the stars must be extremely dangerous and terrifying."

Chen Qi, who wasn't entirely clear about Terra's settings, could only speak in a low voice about the information he knew.

"Once they set their sights on this small planet at the edge of the universe, they will probably conquer us just as they conquer other planets."

"With Terra's current strength... it's probably impossible for it to withstand these dangerous guys."

"—Even you can't do anything about it?"

Even Jian was slightly surprised to hear Chen Qi say such a lack of confidence.

After all, in Jian's eyes, her man was a god-like being who, with his own strength, forever blocked the "demon" that was rumored to be able to destroy Terra from the border of nothingness.

It can be said that in this land, her man is already the strongest being.

Even someone as powerful as him described the enemy beyond the stars as having "no chance of winning"...

Jian simply couldn't imagine how terrifying those enemies beyond the stars were.

However, neither Jian nor Yela knew that Chen Qi's statement was already considered very conservative.

Terra, chosen as an experimental site by the previous civilization, was almost the last hope before the previous civilization was destroyed.

The pre-civilization was like a creator to Terra.

In an effort to save their own civilization, the people of the previous civilization incorporated all their ideas and plans into this planet.

Even so, the previous civilization could not escape its fate of destruction. Just how terrifying were those "lumberjacks" who could destroy even the previous civilization? It goes without saying.

"Alright, don't worry. By the time this crisis hits us, we'll probably be old and dying by then."

Not wanting to share this anxiety, which only he knew, with his loved ones, Chen Qi shook his head and moved on from the topic, offering comfort to Jian and Yela:
"If the sky falls, there will be someone taller to hold it up, so you can rest assured."

"..."

However, Chen Qi's words of comfort did not seem to have the desired effect. Instead, they made both Jian and Yela sense a strong sense of crisis.

After all, they all knew very well that if Terra were to face a crisis, Chen Qi, as the strongest being, would have an inescapable obligation to protect the world.

He may even have been the first pioneer and sacrificed one in order to protect the world.

"Ok?"

Just as the atmosphere fell silent, Chen Qi and Yela suddenly sensed something and subconsciously turned their gazes to the sky.

"What's wrong with you two?" Hammer, who had neither Originium Arts nor divine power, noticed the two who suddenly looked tense and quickly asked.

"...There is something like an aircraft approaching Sherag."

Being able to sense all the changes within Sherag, Yera used her own power to try her best to analyze the structure of those aircraft.

"The quantity is quite large, and there are no traces of Originium Arts; they seem to be purely technological products?"

"But how many countries on this land can build such a large fleet of aircraft entirely through technology?"

Yela was momentarily bewildered, and subconsciously blurted out:

"Could it be the Leitanian Empire?"

"impossible!"

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Jian shook his head solemnly and said:
"Viviana would never start a war without warning."

"—Jian is right." Chen Qi nodded upon hearing this. Sensing the massive air force that had completely surrounded Sheragdu, he already had his answer in mind and calmly said:

"Moreover, even Leitania couldn't possibly build an air force of this scale without relying on Originium Arts!"

"To possess such productivity that far surpasses that of any nation on the continent of Terra, they are definitely not nations on the continent."

"They come from the sea."

"Hai Li?"

Chen Qi's words startled Yela and Jian, but soon the answer came to them.

Agor!
A mysterious race that has little contact with people on land and is rumored to live in an underwater empire.

People on land know very little about the Argonauts, only that the once powerful Iberian nation obtained some technological knowledge from the Argonauts in the sea.

Even though this knowledge was only the tip of the iceberg of what Agor possessed, it was enough to transform Iberia from a third-rate country into a powerful land nation in a short time.

It even led Iberia to develop a technology that was extremely rare on the continent of Terra—navigation.

If it weren't for the "Great Tranquility" that occurred back then, which paralyzed Iberia's maritime industry, into which it had invested the majority of its national strength, resulting in heavy losses, Iberia would still be a powerful land nation today.

Whether it's these rumors or the large-scale aircraft of today, both Jian and Yela have no choice but to believe in Agor's strength.

But why did they, who rarely have contact with the Terra continent, suddenly come to visit?

What exactly is their purpose?
"Brother!"

Just then, Enshiodis and Enya, who had noticed something was wrong, also came out of the room. Their blank expressions clearly showed that they did not know what had happened.

However, before they could even ask any questions, the aircraft that was already hovering over Shelag made an incredibly clear sound.

That was the sound of the sea.

"(In Kjerag's words) People from Kjerag, please don't be nervous."

“Originally, you were not within Agor’s sphere of influence, because you were too weak to be able to handle any crisis.”

"But your rise and your development have led Agor to finally decide to include you in this alliance as well."

"This is a tribute from Agor."

A magnetic and friendly female voice came from the aircraft in the sky.

However, no matter how Chen Qi and his group listened, the woman's innate arrogance was completely undisguised.

“I am Clementsa, one of the technical executives of the National Social Administration Oversight Bureau.”

"Please have a representative from Sherag's side come out and speak."

"Brother..."

Faced with the menacing Argor, Ensiodes couldn't help but feel a hint of nervousness. He turned his questioning gaze to his brother, hoping to get his advice.

But this time, Chen Qi didn't give Enciodes any guidance, he just said calmly:

"Don't ask me, Ensiodis, you are now the king of Sherag."

"Remember, you represent Sherag. Don't let the people of the sea look down on you."

"……I see."

After listening to his brother's words, Enshiodes quickly adjusted his mindset. His kingly aura made him no longer afraid of any challenge in front of him.

Ensiodis stepped out of the palace and, facing the vast array of flying machines that filled the sky, spoke with neither arrogance nor servility:
“I am King Kalan, Ensiodis Shivaesh.”

"Gentlemen from Agor, I suppose this is the first exchange between our two countries?" "Indeed."

Clementa replied calmly, and even though her figure did not appear, Ensiodis could sense that she was "looking" at him.

“…King Kalan, I see.”

"As the new leader of Shelag, you are also outstanding."

"But I am still somewhat surprised that, on such an important occasion, you did not bring another, more powerful being with you to speak with us."

"This may prove your courage and confidence, but please understand that we have more important people we want to talk to."

Clementa paused slightly, then spoke with great seriousness:

"That hero who, single-handedly, even without repairing the Stargate in the North, completely drove the evil spirits out of this world."

"Would you be so kind as to come for a meeting at our sincere invitation?"

Clementine had practically named names, and at this point, even if Chen Qi wanted to deliberately distance himself from the incident, it was no longer up to him.

Agor's solemn posture clearly indicated that Chen Qi was a force that Agor considered indispensable in this crisis.

"pray?"

"elder brother?"

Beside Chen Qi, Enya, Yela, and Jian all watched his tall figure with worried eyes.

At this moment, they were all enveloped by an extremely strong sense of unease.

It was as if, the moment Chen Qi stepped out of the palace and spoke with Agor, he might never be able to return to their side again.

"pray……"

However, just before Enya and Yera could speak, Jian silently reached out and stopped the two women from doing anything.

Watching Chen Qi's retreating figure, Jian opened her mouth, but couldn't utter the words that were truly in her heart.

She desperately wanted to tell Chen Qi, "Don't concern yourself with these things that have nothing to do with you. I don't want you to play the savior anymore."

But in the end, looking at Chen Qi's gaze seeking her opinion, Jian swallowed all her selfish words and chose to support, as always, all the choices made by the man she loved.

"Go do what you want to do, Qi."

"Don't worry, we won't make you worry."

"...Thank you, Jian."

Having received Jianna's final support, Chen Qi couldn't help but show a bittersweet smile mixed with guilt, gratitude, and deep love.

With great power comes great responsibility. It seems that even someone as powerful as Chen Qi cannot do whatever he wants.

There are some things that he has to do, and only he can do.

He slowly closed his eyes, and in that instant, when Chen Qi opened them again, all his emotions were sealed away in his heart.

The next second, with absolute composure and the proud demeanor of an emperor, he fearlessly stepped into the field of vision of Agor's drone.

Facing the drones that covered the sky, Chen Qi's eyes remained calm and indifferent as he spoke in a cold tone:

"Executive Clementsa".

"Since you all know of my existence, you must have conducted quite a bit of investigation into me."

"Agor cannot ignore the great man who accomplished such a feat on land."

A rare hint of admiration and caution flickered in Clementa's otherwise arrogant tone as she softly replied to Chen Qi:

"Your story is widely known in the country of Agor. You have accomplished a great feat that even Agor has not been able to achieve."

"In particular, resolving the crisis of the evil spirits has allowed the Agor clan to focus on combating the threat posed by the Sea Heirs."

"In this respect, you are the benefactor of the Agor people, Your Majesty."

"That's enough with the compliments, Clementa."

Chen Qi shook his head, staring at the drone in the sky, his tone remaining calm as he said:

"Why is Agor, who rarely interacts with the mainland, making such a grand visit today? What brings him here?"

"—Your Majesty, the threat posed by Hai Si can no longer be ignored."

Faced with Chen Qi's question, Clementine no longer beat around the bush and answered calmly in an extremely solemn tone:
"Under Agor's surveillance, Haisi's activities have become increasingly rampant, to the point that even Agor has to do his utmost to handle them with caution."

"And the recent series of changes on land have convinced us that the civilization on land is now a great asset to the Agor people."

"Agor is willing to extend the utmost sincerity and sincerely invite the land-based nations to participate in our plan."

“Especially you, Your Majesty.”

Clementa's voice became more serious.

"You single-handedly resolved the crisis of the evil spirits."

“Agor believes that if the threat of Haisi can be completely eliminated, you will be an ally that we cannot ignore.”

"Because you have accomplished the same great feat and emerged unscathed from danger."

"Hereby we sincerely invite you, and all civilizations on land, to come to Agor and speak with us face to face."

"Stand with us, Argo, to face this world-ending challenge."

"Of course, if you have any concerns, you can also send a few trusted envoys to make initial contact with Agor..."

"—No need for such formalities, Clementa."

However, in response to Clementa's invitation, Chen Qi simply gave a resolute smile and replied calmly:

“On land, there are few people who can understand Agor’s arrogance.”

"Now, half of the continent of Terra is under my control. With just one command from me, they will be united like never before."

"In other words, I represent the will of the land."

"As long as the Agor clan can come up with a convincing solution to eliminate the crisis of the sea lineage, then I am naturally willing to let the land and the sea cooperate in this world-ending crisis."

"of course."

At this point, a sinister, bloodthirsty smile appeared on Chen Qi's lips as he coldly said:
"If Agor really has any ulterior motives, I will make you taste a price that even Agor cannot bear."

"A wise move," Clementine's appreciative voice came again.
"You are indeed a rare and powerful ruler on land."

"Then, we await your visit and that of our friends on land in Agor."

"At that time, you will know the sincerity of Argo's cooperation."

After saying that, the swarm of drones that covered the sky began to rush towards their "nest" like a swarm of bees.

Sunshine and blue skies finally shone again on the land of Shelag.

However, the gloom and coldness brought about by communication with the ocean still linger over this snow-capped mountain, refusing to dissipate.

After completing the negotiation, Chen Qi took a deep breath before speaking calmly to Ensiodes beside him:

“…Little brother, please forgive your older brother.”

"This crisis is one that I, your older brother, must face alone."

“…I understand, brother.”

Knowing full well that his brother was about to face a crisis he could hardly imagine, a hint of melancholy appeared in Ensiodis's eyes as he softly replied:
"I was once incredibly proud of Sherag's achievements today, but now I realize that my understanding is still that of a frog in a well."

"I can't help you much more, brother, but before I leave, I have something to say, and I hope you will remember it."

Ensiodis's expression became much more solemn, his eyes flashing with unprecedented determination, as he spoke, word by word:

"—If you ever need any help, brother, please be sure to let us know."

"Whether it's within our power or we know it's suicide, we will not hesitate to go through fire and water for our brother."

“…Good brother.”

Faced with Ensioudis's support, Chen Qi felt gratified and gently patted his brother on the shoulder.

However, Chen Qi knew very well that in the face of such a huge crisis, let alone the small Sherag, even Letania could only offer limited assistance.

To contend with Agor's group, which can be considered one of the top powers in this world, I need the help of some... more knowledgeable friends.

Even if these friends don't completely trust me.

With this thought in mind, Chen Qi's hand suddenly emitted a surge of magical energy, tearing a rift in space, and he spoke calmly:

"Hello? Is this Rhodes Island? This is Chen Qi."

“I have something important to report to Dr. Kal'tsit and Ms. Theresa.”

At this point, Chen Qi paused slightly, but ultimately, determined, he spoke again with an unwavering and firm tone:

"—Also, I need to meet with 'Doctor,' please arrange it for me immediately."

(End of this chapter)