Arknights' Lock of Heaven

164 Is Margaret coming back?

"Well," Xia Yu replied, stroking her chin after hearing her words, "It's alright."

"At least in my opinion, she's doing quite well."

"She has like-minded partners by her side, and Rhodes Island offers a stable salary. No one will ridicule her ideals and actions, and she doesn't have to worry about sinking into despair."

"It couldn't be better."

“I see,” Zofia murmured absentmindedly upon hearing this, “That’s fine too.”

"No wonder we haven't heard much from them all these years. As long as they're doing well, that's all that matters."

There was a hint of resentment in his words.

However, it's understandable, since her family is genuinely worried about Margaret.

They were afraid she'd be sold off and then end up counting the money for someone else.

Despite her fighting prowess, the fact that she could do something like that back then proves that she and Maria are truly sisters.

They are definitely biological children.

Thinking of this, Zofia turned to look at Maria and then sighed.

These two sisters are just as stubborn as each other.

However, Margaret is at least a fighter and managed to win a championship, but what does this girl behind him have?

I'm afraid they'll get completely thrashed in their very first match!

Putting everything else aside, how long has it been since she last touched a sword?

There's only one month left until the qualifiers begin!!!

What can you do in such a short time?

Just thinking about this made Zofia want to turn around and punch her silly, cute niece on the head twice.

Besides, she wanted to read Margaret's letter too! Why did she just take it to the back?

But at least Margaret's colleagues were there; the occasion wasn't appropriate.

"Thank you all for your hard work in delivering the letters," Zofia said, forcing a smile while suppressing her anger. "If you don't mind, please come and stay at my house for a while."

“We will do our best to be good hosts, and we haven’t heard from Margaret in a long time, so we have many questions about her that we would like to ask you.”

“However,” she said, glancing at Skadi and Manticore, “if you have other missions, please let me know if you need any help.”

Such powerful operators couldn't have come to the Great Knight Territory just to join in the fun; they probably have their own missions to accomplish.

"Although the Linguang family has declined somewhat, they still retain some of the prestige left by their elders."

"Uh, a mission?" Xia Yu was taken aback when she heard this, then replied, "We didn't take on any missions this time."

"I just wanted to come and see the knightly competition."

“Uh,” Zofia was stunned when she heard this.

No, no mission?

But, did you just come here to take a look?

But such a powerful person was sent here just to watch the knightly competition?

What merit or ability do those competitive knights possess?

Or is this company so well-staffed that it can afford to leave someone like this idle?

Thinking about it this way, it's not surprising that Margaret joined this company.

Dragons don't live with snakes.

"Since you don't have any missions, why don't you stay at our house for a while?"

Surprised as she was, Zofia quickly recovered and said, "Let us also repay your company for taking in Margaret."

"Uh, taking in someone is a bit too much," Xia Yu said, feeling embarrassed. "Operator Nearl is a partner of ours, it shouldn't come to this."

“No, it’s not serious at all,” Zofia shook her head. “I know Margaret. Her personality in a company… must have given you a lot of headaches.”

Zofia's concerns were not unfounded. After all, the reason why Nearl was expelled after winning the Knights Tournament was because her existence threatened the interests of the Kazimierz capitalists.

In Zofia's eyes, Margaret, who hates capitalists, actually working for a company... must have suffered a lot outside and matured.

Just like her uncle.

This maturity may have also brought a lot of trouble to the company called Rhode Island.

After all, in her memory, Margaret was more stubborn than Maria.

To make her turn back...tsk tsk tsk, I can't even imagine.

Zofia didn't know if this maturity was good or bad, but at least Margaret was still alive and well.

That's good.

Even though she, who was once so radiant, no longer exists.

It's clear that Zofia sees Rhodes Island and the companies in Kazimierz as being in cahoots.

No, that's not accurate. To be precise, Casimir's company is what a legitimate company should be like.

Rhodes Island is the one that's not legitimate.

After years of refinement and development, the brilliance of the Radiant Knight has not dimmed; on the contrary, it has become even more dazzling and radiant.

“Actually, it’s not accurate to say there was no mission,” Xia Yu said, looking at Zofia who was lost in memories. “This time, I came to the Great Knight Territory on a private request from Operator Nearl.”

"Oh?" Zofia snapped out of her daze upon hearing this and asked curiously, "What kind of request...?"

"Auntie, Auntie, Auntie!!!"

Just then, Maria excitedly grabbed the letter and ran up behind her, hugging her shoulders and shaking her.

She even forgot that calling her "aunt" was taboo for Zofia.

Damn kid!

Zofia struggled to pry her wrists open, thinking viciously, "Wait till I get back, and I'll see how I deal with this..."

"My sister is coming back!"

Zofia's inner complaints came to an abrupt halt.

"What did you say?"

With a whoosh, Maria, who had been behind her just moments before, was pulled in front of her and stared intently into her eyes.

"Can you say that again?!"

"Sister, my sister is coming back!"

Maria was completely bewildered, not understanding why Zofia was reacting so strongly.

"Coming back? She's coming back? At this time?"

Zofia snatched the letter from Maria's hand.

"I will be returning home soon..."

Why come back?

Why come back now?

Don't you understand? Why did your father send you away back then?

Zofia was stunned into standing there, completely taken aback by this sudden and unexpected blow.

Margaret, oh Margaret, what are you thinking?

Zofia misses her niece very much.

Although they are related as aunt and niece, they are actually not that far apart in age.

I'm not much older than the two sisters.

She was only five years older than Maria, not to mention Margaret.

Having watched them grow up since they were little, how could I not have some feelings for them?

Just like when she found out Maria had signed up for the knightly competition, she rushed over to confront her.

She also cares about Margaret.

Is she doing well all alone out there? Is she well-fed and clothed? Has she been deceived by anyone? Is she wandering in the wilderness or has she found a place to stay?

Zofia also misses Margaret.

But she absolutely does not want Margaret to come back now.

Perhaps in a few years, when the Lin Guang family has completely faded into obscurity and no one remembers her name anymore, she will quietly return, no longer thinking about those things, and perhaps those people will simply ignore her.

But not now! And certainly not when the Knights' Tournament is being held!

Coming back at a time like this is just putting her in a very difficult position.

Your father has passed away, Marna is just a corporate slave, and as for yourself, haha, you're half-crippled and powerless. If you come back this time, who can protect you?