Poseidon in Arknights

"Of course not. To be precise, the four of us are more famous, but nowadays hardly anyone commissions Penguin Logistics to deliver these things."

“After all, Fengchi Logistics next door is more suitable.” Exusiai shrugged.

Since Fengchi Logistics opened and gained trust, the likelihood of Penguin Logistics receiving such small orders has greatly decreased.

"For some more important ones, the front desk staff will notify us so we can come over for a meeting. If neither of us is available, the items will be placed in the logistics warehouse."

"Penguin Logistics' work is not just regular cargo transportation. Penguin Logistics also engages in underground work such as intelligence trafficking, armed escort, and covert transportation. If the pay is enough, we can also hire people."

“Is told me about these things yesterday, but to be honest, it doesn’t seem like the kind of work a proper logistics company would do.”

Upon hearing this, Texas and Exusiai calmly replied in unison, "We have never claimed to be a legitimate logistics company."

The logistics warehouse is located behind the building. Usually, only intelligence and urgent goods are stored inside the company. Other goods are usually stored in the logistics company behind the building, categorized according to their status.

Warehouse No. 1 contains ordinary valuables, such as pure gold, antiques, famous paintings, and other items.

Warehouse number two contains rare chemical materials, such as white horse alcohol, which the doctor would likely be more interested in (I'm sure of it).

Warehouse No. 3 contains Originium products, which are usually pure Originium or refined Originium ingots.

"That's about it. There's nothing else to be careful about. In most cases, just follow the laws of Lungmen."

"What about the less common cases?"

Texas brandished the hilt of the knife in her waist pouch, while Exusiai brandished the submachine gun hanging from her waist.

"As for other people who don't follow the rules, we don't have to follow them either. Afterwards, we can ask the boss to reimburse us for the facilities at Longmen."

Chapter 24: The First Day of Work

"It's just the right to self-defense with no limits, what a simple and crude way of putting it."

"Don't worry about it. Anyway, the boss is exceptionally lenient in this regard and reimburses almost without limit, provided that the goods are not damaged. If the goods are damaged, in addition to the compensation and reimbursement to Longmen, we will have to pay for the goods ourselves."

Yuuki smiled at Exusiai, who looked terrified, and said, "Like that case of wine from yesterday?"

"That's right, it was a whole case of high-end brandy. Luckily, Xiyue found it for us, otherwise we might have had to pay half a year's salary in compensation."

Texas closed the warehouse door and turned around to complain, "Don't drag me into this. It was clearly your fault. If you hadn't been bothering me, you would have just forgotten about moving the wine downstairs, and none of yesterday's incident would have happened."

"Don't do that, we're comrades."

Texas leaned against the door, a Pocky cookie dangling from her mouth, and looked at Exusiai, saying slowly, "Not the day before yesterday."

"What a heartless woman."

Looking at the two people in front of her, Xi Yue just smiled and calmly ate the melon. As for interjecting, forget it. The two of them had a pretty good atmosphere, and she was quite happy eating melons.

Just then, the three of them heard their phones ring. When they opened them, they found that it was a message from their staff.

[Receptionist: We've received a request, is anyone available?]

[If you want anything, please add this friend: I've already gone out.]

[Empty: I haven't had any free time lately. The concert is starting soon, and it's not a good time to go to jail; it would have a negative impact.]

[Yuzuki: So you've gotten into the habit of equating going out to work with going to jail?]

[Apple Pie: Yeah, Yuuki, you'll have to get used to it. Otherwise, how do you think we got our bad reputation?]

"Ouch!!!" Exusiai crouched down, rubbing her head, while Texas calmly withdrew her fist.

"Don't listen to this idiot's nonsense. We don't always run into trouble on every mission."

"Your explanation is not much different from what they said in Texas..." Yuuki sighed, slightly speechless.

"..." Texas realized the problem with her words and turned her head away.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with admitting it, that's just the truth."

"Don't easily assign yourself this kind of setting, it's a flag, Exusiai." Yuuki patted Exusiai's head, her hand shimmering with a faint light.

"Hmm, it's cool to the touch?" Exusiai looked up at Yuuki.

Yuuki raised her palm to show Exusiai the layer of ice crystals covering it.

"It's just a layer of small ice crystals to help relieve your pain. Texas used quite a bit of force when she hit you just now."

"Um, thank you~"

Texas walked over, waving her phone: "Let's take this mission first, then go have lunch, and deliver this shipment this afternoon. It'll be the first commission that helps Yuuki get familiar with the job."

“That’s true.” Exusiai nodded and then turned to Yuuki and said, “Don’t worry, just follow us. We’re just letting you get familiar with the process. Texas is so successful because I’m protecting her.”

"Then I'll have to trouble you two." Yuuki looked at Exusiai, who was boasting, but didn't expose her.

"Stop bragging. In terms of combat strength, Yuzuki is probably stronger than all of us."

Texas recalled the battle in yesterday's test, where it was almost impossible to find a way to fight in the thick fog.

Although in a real battle, Texas, who was once an assassin, would have an absolute advantage if she were not discovered, but...

'Can the Originium Arts, which manipulate water, allow one to transform into water itself in a short period of time...?'

Texas recalled the first strike she made on the ring during yesterday's test. It wasn't a pre-arranged water clone; it was Yuuki's body truly transforming into water itself in that instant.

'Think back to the Emperor, his scream when he first saw Yuuki... Could it be...?'

Texas was thinking and fell slightly behind Yuuki, looking at Yuuki walking ahead with deep eyes.

Just then, Yuuki, who had been chatting happily with Exusiai, turned around and smiled at her.

"What's wrong? Are you thinking about something?"

“…No, it’s nothing.” Texas shook her head, putting the matter aside. Yuuki was invited by the Emperor, so she was also her companion. If she was willing to talk about it, then she would naturally talk about it.

Penguin Logistics doesn't need to know everything about their colleagues' backgrounds, and when they thought about Xiyue's possible identity, a sense of inexplicable peace of mind welled up inside them.

'Did you think of something?' Well, Texas seems to have had contact with the Wolf Lord, so she should have some knowledge of gods and such.

Yuuki, of course, noticed Texas's change in expression. Having a certain understanding of psychology, Yuuki quickly guessed what Texas was thinking after thinking about it.

After all, Texas had been deep in thought after speaking, and then seemed to have figured something out. When she turned around, Yuuki noticed that Texas was looking at her with a strange expression.

However, she didn't turn around to speak just to scare Texas.

She was just talking to Exusiai. It has to be said, Exusiai is very talkative.

Once she starts talking, Exusiai's mouth just won't stop, just like her submachine gun, she keeps talking nonstop.

They chatted enthusiastically about everything from colleagues to current events in Lungmen, and even about dessert shops in the streets and alleys. It was as if there would never be a dull moment wherever Exia was around.

Just then, Yuuki noticed Texas, who had fallen behind, and turned to ask what was wrong.

However, it seemed that the other party had overthought things. Yu Yue touched her hair, though that wasn't her intention.

And so, the three of them arrived at the hall.

"This is a newcomer, right?" The staff member looked at the three people, including Xiyue, who came in. "Two people bringing one, but this time the items seem to be quite valuable."

"It's alright~ With me and Texas taking care of things, how could anything happen?"

The staff member shrugged: "That's true, the guests are in the meeting room."

"OK, let's go, Yuzuki."

The three arrived at the reception room, where one person was already waiting.

Texas stepped forward, while Exusiai leaned close to Yuuki: "Generally speaking, there's no need to discuss the payment. The staff will discuss it with the guests first, and we'll take a cut. Right now, we're just explaining some other things and confirming the items being transported again."

Hello, where is our shipment?

The man patted a box next to him: "Here it is."

Texas glanced at the box and nodded, then looked down at the tablet the staff had just handed her, which showed the destination and delivery method.

"Let me confirm with you again, this box of items was placed in the Jelan neighborhood on the outer ring of the slums in the east of the city, and then put in an abandoned warehouse in the same neighborhood. It was placed in the fourth room on the left from the second floor, right?"

Xi Yue's eye twitched. What the heck is this shipping address and delivery method? What's in here?

Since becoming a messenger, Yuuki, who has only been responsible for delivering mail and at most small packages, said she was not familiar with this method.

"Yes."

Texas nodded, unsurprised by this delivery method, and after setting down the tablet, her gaze fell upon the box.

"Although I have a rough idea, I'll still ask as usual, would you mind letting us see what's inside that box?"

"No."

Texas nodded and reached out to push the tablet that had been on the table back.

"Okay, the staff should have mentioned to you that if you don't want us to inspect the contents of the box, Penguin Logistics will not be responsible for any damage to the items inside or if the items are not what you requested to send."

"Sign here. Once you've signed, we'll officially begin the work we've entrusted to you."

After the man signed the document, he got up and left. Texas went over, picked up the box, and put it on the table.

Yuuki watched the person leave. Exusiai went over and sat down, putting her legs on the table and taking out her phone.

Exusiai casually asked through the food delivery app, "What would you like to eat, Yuuki?"

"It doesn't matter, I don't care as long as it tastes good. But I think I know why you guys always say it's easy for something to go wrong."

Xi Yue walked over, sat on the sofa, and pointed to the box on the table.

"The strange delivery method and the fact that they wouldn't let me see the contents of the boxes—I finally understand why Sora just said he might leave a bad record."

"Well, Yuuki, you'll have to get used to it. We encounter these shady characters all the time. Not asking or looking is a form of protection." Exusiai pointed to the camera in the corner of the living room.

"Even if we are caught by the Royal Guard, as long as we insist that we have never seen it, never asked about it, and that we don't know what it is, we will be released quickly."

Exusiai extended her hand and gave Yuuki a thumbs-up, her smile revealing white teeth that seemed to gleam with a hint of light.

"..." Looking at Exusiai's smile, Yuuki had an ominous premonition.

'I feel like I've boarded a huge pirate ship.'

————Lunchtime Divider————

After lunch, the three of them loaded the boxes onto the truck.

If Texas, the only one among the four members of Penguin Logistics who still holds a driver's license, were to sit directly in the driver's seat...

"Texas, you drank quite a bit last night, are you alright?"

"After using your medicine and so much time has passed, the hangover is basically gone. Besides, Exusiai's driver's license was recently suspended and she's currently retaking the test. Or do you have any, Yuuki?"