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

Chapter 7: Once you choose to go to hell, you will never turn back.
"Yes, today's income is also quite considerable. The amount of alcohol that was originally estimated to last a month was almost sold out in less than a week. It's much more profitable than running a clinic."

"Then I'll have to trouble you to go to the supplier in the city again... Jian?"

Late at night, as the tavern was closing, Chen Qi, who was calculating his tavern's revenue for the day, happily struck up a conversation with Jian, who was probably reading a book beside him.

Don't get me wrong, Jian doesn't like reading. She grew up in the slums and doesn't know many words, so how could she possibly read?
This was merely a task assigned to Jian by Chen Qi.

Jian's only reason for protecting Chen Qi was that she wanted to learn Chen Qi's knowledge of acupoints. Once she learned these skills, Jian would most likely leave on her own.

Therefore, in order to retain Jian as a "capable assistant" and to make Jian more useful in the future, Chen Qi resolutely chose to design an "elite education" for Jian.

Simply put, it's about letting Jian experience a complete medical school process.

After all, while knowledge of acupoints could be directly taught to Jian as a killing technique, studying medicine would be an almost unavoidable option if one wanted a more comprehensive understanding.

Therefore, Chen Qi chose to teach Jian from scratch, sharing all his medical skills.

The first prerequisite for studying medicine is being able to read.

Therefore, during this week, Jian has been diligently learning the Letanian script under Chen Qi's supervision and instruction.

It should be said that although Jian is good at solving problems with force, she is not actually a violent person who acts recklessly because of force.

At least, during the learning process, Jian was very patient and serious.

After all, Jian knew very well that she was working hard to change her life, and that she was learning for herself.

As long as he thinks this way, Jian has endless motivation to overcome all difficulties.

This time, however, Jian's attention was not on the book.

She was staring intently at Chen Qi, her sharp gaze... as if trying to pierce through his skin and bones and see directly into the thoughts in his mind.

"What's wrong, Jian? You seem to have something you want to ask me."

"...What exactly do you want them to do for you, Qi?"

Without beating around the bush, Jian directly expressed her biggest doubts and anxieties to Chen Qi.

"Now, there are probably a hundred people who are willing to come to listen to your speeches every day, and even swear to serve you."

Qi: "To be precise, the actual number of members who can move around is 107."

Chen Qi smiled and took out a rather crudely made booklet from his pocket, with only the outermost layer of leather printed with "Member ID".

The membership card also clearly displays Chen Qi's own number: 000501.

Incidentally, the number printed on the member's badge is 000502.

In order to attract more people to join, Chen Qi used a little trick.

He fabricated the existence of 500 members before his own and the mace's numbers.

After all, people have a herd mentality.

As Chen Qi expected, with the help of these 500 fictitious members, most of the members immediately lowered their guard and chose to join.

In this way, Chen Qi gained 107 members who were willing to lend him a hand, almost for free.

“107 people… As far as I know, there has never been such a large gang in the slums.”

Faced with a number of people he had never challenged before, Jian took a deep breath and couldn't help but ask:
"So, what's the rest? This number is enough for you to run rampant in the slums, and even the guards will definitely not want to bother you."

"—It's still a long way off."

However, Chen Qi shook his head, not entirely satisfied with the result.

"What we want is to integrate all the forces in the slums that we can win over into our camp—and even that is just the beginning."

“If we can’t even unite the people in the slums, we have no power to resist a well-equipped and well-trained regular army, let alone Letania’s infamous Golden Law Guard.”

"More than a hundred people... are only enough for one or two Golden Law Guards to deal with. If they send an elite one, we're finished."

"What we need is the strength of thousands of people who share the same goal and are united as one."

"If we cannot gain an advantage in individual strength and equipment, we must gain an advantage in ideology, discipline, and numbers... This is the only way we can possibly succeed."

Jian: "You're really not joking."

Seeing that Chen Qi had revealed his next plan, Jian finally began to take this seemingly easygoing but actually daring and dangerous man seriously.

And his even more dangerous ideals.

He was serious; he was truly attempting step by step to overthrow the Gemini Queen's rule and exact his revenge on her.

"But you're inciting them like this, just for your revenge, and making them die for you..."

"Will you truly repay those who have sacrificed themselves for you in the future?"

Jian stared intently at Chen Qi with a pair of cold, sharp eyes, her gaze devoid of any hint of jest.

Jian realized that Qi, who was standing in front of him, might really bring a devastating hurricane to Letania.

But will this hurricane dispel the gloom over Letania, or will it sweep the country into ruins?

Although, Mako doesn't love Letania at all.

But the thought that I might have helped such a dangerous man and led the people of an entire country into an even deeper abyss of evil struck me.

Therefore, it is necessary to carefully distinguish the mace.

Was he a good person driven to desperation, or a schemer seeking the thrill of overthrowing the state?
[Please note that you are now entering an important branching point. Your choices will affect the simulation's storyline, difficulty, and even the ending.]

[A. Once we embark on the path of revenge, there is no turning back. Our future is destined to be stained with blood, but even if we face nine deaths, we will never sit idly by and wait to perish. (Revenge storyline)]

[B. Perhaps she's right. We can make this country better in other ways, instead of creating more pain. Serving the Twin Queens wouldn't be a loss, and we could still be granted a noble title. (Peace Line)]

[Note: Once you choose a route, it's almost impossible to change it, so please choose carefully!]

"...Although it's too early to say these things now, I understand what you mean."

Hearing the system's unprecedentedly serious voice, Chen Qi remained silent for a while before making his own answer in his heart.

He also gave his own answer to Jian's words. "Jian, we have embarked on a path of no return... This is not a dinner party. As long as we walk this path, there will inevitably be sacrifices and darkness."

"I am not that noble, nor can I guarantee that I will always be upright and honorable... For my revenge, I will stop at nothing."

"Even I might die on the way, but I'm already prepared for that."

Chen Qi's expression also turned somewhat serious. He looked directly into Jian's eyes without fear and said with a clear conscience:

“Jian, you just said I incited them, and you’re right, but there’s one thing I must remind you of.”

"I didn't lie to them."

"Everyone has their own answer to what Letania is like, but why are they so fervent in their support of my views?"

"...Why?" Jian couldn't think of an answer.

Fortunately, Chen Qi could give her an answer.

"It's because each of them has me in their heart."

puff.

The moment Chen Qi gave this answer, for some reason, Jian's heart skipped a beat.

“You may be different, Jian. You can have a brighter future. You can leave Letania. You have no ties here.”

Chen Qi remained calm and smiled.

"But we can't. We were born in Letania. This is our home."

"We can only fight for that sliver of hope for the sake of our families and the people we love."

"But... your concerns are not unfounded. People can become corrupted if they walk the path of power for too long, and I am no exception."

"So, I'd like to ask Miss Jian for a favor."

As he spoke, Jian saw Chen Qi take a scalpel out of his pocket and place it on the bar.

As Chen Qi exerted his strength, the scalpel slid down the bar counter and landed in front of the mace.

"What if one day in the future I become the kind of person I hate the most without even realizing it?"

"...I hope that Miss Jian can remember our past friendship and use this knife to send me on my way."

Should we see him off?
Chen Qi's almost explicit words left Jian stunned.

She never imagined that someone would entrust their life to another person.

The criterion for judging whether his life was taken was actually his principles and beliefs.

Subconsciously, Jian picked up the scalpel Chen Qi had given her. Looking at her reflection in the polished, gleaming scalpel, she couldn't help but smile.

At that moment, Jian understood something.

She might have to get on this pirate ship whether she wanted to or not.

After all, this guy could entrust her with a mission that was "more important" than leaving the slums.

"...I'll be watching you." Jian put away the scalpel, a dangerous smile on his face, as if he were watching his prey.

Chen Qi responded with a smile.

"I can't ask for it."

At the same time, the system voice, which only Chen Qi could hear, rang out again.

[The host has chosen the "revenge route".]

[Congratulations, host! The important figure "Jian" has been subdued and will be provided with a personal template and information about this important figure.]

Chen Qi realized that he had embarked on a path of no return, one that was extremely difficult.

But he has no regrets.

This revenge... is not just revenge against his simulated parents, but also the collective wish of countless Leitanian people like him.

The flames of revenge are bound to burn.

Then let him light it.

If this country can only awaken through the pain inflicted by evil.

Then why can't he bear the greatest sin?

"By the way, a few strangers came to the tavern today."

Just as Chen Qi had made up his mind, Jian, who was refocusing his attention on literacy, shared some important information.

“I had never seen them in the slums before, and judging from their demeanor and attire… they didn’t seem like people from the slums.”

"Be careful, Qi. The guards in this city may already be watching you and are planning to arrest you."

"...So, did any of them applaud me?" Chen Qi felt no fear at all upon hearing this news, and instead asked a completely unrelated question.

In response, the observant Jian, after recalling the events, replied:
"Yes, I noticed that one of them really liked your speech. I should be able to recognize him next time."

"...Then let them come."

Everything is developing as Chen Qi predicted; in fact, it's going even more smoothly than he expected.

They have already established influence in the slums.

But simply uniting the forces of the slums is far from enough to shake the rule of the Twin Queens.

He wanted to extend his influence into the urban area, to the masses he could try to win over.

There must be others there, just like them, who are dissatisfied with the Twin Queens... even the nobles.

(End of this chapter)