Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Of course she knew this person; in the eyes of those in the know, he was already a legend for smashing through three decks.

“Hello, Miss Leader of Rhodes Island,” Xia Yu smiled, “I hope to take good care of you in the future.”

"Ah, a leader or something," Amiya blushed slightly, "I still lack a lot, and there's so much I need to learn..."

Seeing her shy expression, Xia Yu really wanted to pat her head, but she only thought about it in her mind. It wasn't appropriate to do such an intimate thing on their first meeting.

But bunnies are so cute!

“Close the door,” Kal’tsit said to Xia Yu. “You should know why I called you here.”

Xia Yu nodded, then closed the door behind him. He knew what was going on the moment he saw Amiya.

Treats mineral sickness.

"Amiya, remember this: you must not tell anyone what happens next!"

Kal'tsit spoke to Amiya with unprecedented seriousness.

"Yes, yes, I understand, Dr. Kal'tsit."

Amiya seemed startled by Kal'tsit's words and stammered.

“Let’s begin,” Kal’tsit said to Xia Yu. “You don’t need to heal him completely, just do your best.”

Why not completely cure it?

Amiya is an infected person; this is common knowledge on Rhodes Island.

If it is completely cured, it will eventually be impossible to hide it.

Xia Yu's existence can cure Oripathy, but he cannot cure everyone.

The Originium needed for treatment alone is an expense that most people cannot afford.

His abilities must not be revealed until a truly effective cure for Oripathy is available.

We cannot give more hope to those struggling with illness.

Hope is like a wildfire; it can start a prairie fire and burn away all injustice and oppression.

It can also burn the person who started the fire to ashes.

Everything depends on whether the person who starts the fire can handle it.

Unfortunately, Rhodes Island is not qualified at the moment.

For every one person cured, another will follow; this land has never lacked infected individuals.

They were destitute, they were in great pain, and they longed for salvation.

In Kal'tsit's eyes, Xia Yu's little spark could never become a prairie fire.

He is an exception, and his method cannot be generalized.

If even the slightest rumor were to spread that Rhodes Island could cure Oripathy, and if a single example were provided, Kal'tsit would have no doubt that Rhodes Island would become a holy land for all infected.

But people are realistic. When they discover that this sacred place cannot meet their needs, and the shadow of death brought by Oripathy continues to loom...

The infected have been oppressed for too long, and Rhodes Island, which has given them a glimmer of hope, can definitely make them follow its lead.

But what if they discover that hope is forever just a distant dream...

The backlash will come, and they will tear Rhodes Island to shreds.

Once that rumor or a case of successful treatment appears, no matter how Rhodes Island explains it, it won't matter.

The prevailing trend will push Rhodes Island into the spotlight.

Rhodes Island is not yet qualified or magnanimous enough.

The Demon King of Rhodes Island is still young.

Now is not the time.

Kal'tsit is a very rational person, and she would never allow Xia Yu's abilities to leak out.

It's cruel, but that's reality.

22. An unexpected description

Amiya's eyes widened.

Golden light flowed from Xia Yu's hands, slowly seeping into her body.

She had never felt this way before.

This feeling of lightness, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

Since I can remember, Oripathy has been a recurring nightmare that haunted my childhood.

She has gotten used to the occasional stabbing pain in her body. In the past, she would look for someone to comfort her with a pained expression, but now she doesn't even flinch.

Habits are a terrible thing.

But now, bathed in golden light, she was enveloped by an unprecedented sense of ease.

This feeling came so suddenly, so unexpectedly.

Amiya looked to Kal'tsit for help.

Having long been accustomed to the ever-present pain of Oripathy, she didn't even know if what she was feeling now was normal.

“Remember this feeling, Amiya,” Kal'tsit walked up to the bewildered Amiya, gently knelt down, and cupped her face in her hands.

"This is how normal people feel. One day we will make all infected people return to normal."

"This is the shared ideal of everyone on Rhodes Island."

Seeing Amiya's curious expression, her usually calm eyes softened with a gentle tenderness.

This child has never lived a normal life since he can remember.

“I understand,” a determined look flashed across Amiya’s youthful face. “Doctor Kal’tsit.”

Xia Yu silently lowered her hand from Amiya's head.

I have to say, it feels really good.

But for now, let's not disturb the tenderness between the two of them.

He silently stepped aside, pondering what excuse he could use to infiltrate the squad heading to Chernobog.

"..."

After a long while, Kal'tsit finally released Amiya.

“I’m usually very busy with work,” she said to Amiya, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. “From now on, Operator Xia Yu will be responsible for your health and security.”

Seeing Amiya's surprised look, Kal'tsit smiled, a smile she hadn't shown in a long time.

"As the leader of Rhodes Island, it's normal to have a guard, right?"

"Alright, you can go now. I have something to discuss with him."

Although she still had many questions about the matter, Amiya obediently went out.

Xia Yu was very puzzled.

He knew Amiya's place in Kal'tsit's heart.

Why would she entrust the child to someone of unknown origin like herself?

We've only known each other for a few days, and you trust me that much?

Before he could ask a question, Kal'tsit pulled a document from her desk and handed it to him.

Xia Yu took it and saw that the title was 'Distribution of Strategic Resource Reserves in Chernobog'.

What else could be the world's strategic resources?

Chernobog's Originium Reserve.

There were thirteen heavily guarded warehouses scattered throughout the various districts of Chernobog.

He had racked his brains trying to figure out how to infiltrate the rescue team and how to obtain the Originium storage data.

They've already prepared everything here.

Am I that easy to guess? Xia Yu glanced at Kal'tsit and then returned to her calm and composed demeanor, having previously shown tenderness towards Amiya.

Okay, he admits that he's completely inadequate when it comes to shrewdness and so on.

After all, before he transmigrated, he was a college student who hadn't yet entered society. In Absolute Demonic Front: Battlefront, most people would start fighting at the drop of a hat, without much arguing or complaining.

There aren't that many people to talk to.

"You trust me that much?"

Xia Yu said seriously to Kal'tsit, "Trust such a suspicious person whom we've only known for less than a week?"

He knew that Kal'tsit probably thought he could be trusted.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have entrusted Amiya's safety to them, although they certainly weren't the only ones responsible.

Xia Yu was a little confused as to why.