Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Hey, by the way," bald Martin asked with a curious look, "Although Big Mouth Mob is known for his big mouth, I'm also curious about what he said at the end. What exactly did you say to Plastic Rider?"

Why did he suddenly lose his temper?

"Oh, this?" Maria scratched her head sheepishly upon hearing this, then looked at Xia Yu.

"It was Mr. Xia Yu who taught me this. When Sister Zofia was devising a strategy for me, she said at the end that if he couldn't do anything to me, he would definitely provoke me with words."

"Sister Zofia told me I must hold back, and Mr. Xia Yu..."

"How did he teach you?" Old Frank asked, his face full of curiosity.

“He… he said,” Maria said softly, looking down, “if he starts talking trash… just give him three words in response.”

"Which three words?"

Everyone asked in unison.

"You're getting impatient..."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

"And you should also add a slightly mocking expression," Xia Yu added vividly from the side, "It's best to have the corners of your mouth slightly upturned, a half-smile, and then look him straight in the eyes, calmly and unhurriedly."

“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” Maria nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

"That's it!"

After hearing this, put yourself in the shoes of the plastic rider and think about it.

hiss!

It’s heartbreaking to kill someone!

Everyone gasped.

They're already under a lot of pressure, and you're just making things worse...

“Actually, the effect shouldn’t have been this good,” Xia Yu explained, “Who would have thought he would increase the intensity himself?”

"If he hadn't been under so much pressure, he wouldn't have revealed such a big flaw because of just one sentence."

This is a lie!

He already knew about the Howling Guard's plan to use this opportunity to promote their new armor.

This sentence was prepared specifically for plastic riders after various ideas were considered.

Xia Yu pondered that although the butterfly effect existed, she didn't seem to have done anything major in the Great Knight Territory, so it shouldn't affect these things.

So I prepared without hesitation.

Even if the other party isn't wearing experimental gear, it's fine. It's just a matter of saying that they're not useful and it's not a big deal.

Whether there are dates or not, it's like shooting twice.

Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, only the old craftsman Koval looked troubled.

What everyone is most curious about is Maria's armor.

That armor, which can completely ignore crossbowmen's shots, and it's light armor at that, is truly amazing.

However, these kinds of things... it's best if the other person brings it up themselves.

It's not appropriate to ask.

If it involves something that can't be said, it will be awkward for everyone if you ask.

After all, this armor is obviously not ordinary.

Only Koval was truly conflicted.

After all, he personally led Maria to forge this armor.

But he knew this principle, so he never asked.

However, Maria saw through his thoughts almost without hesitation.

After all, they both loved craftsmen and shared a common language, so it was quite simple for them to find out what the other cared about.

But she still had to ask Xia Yu.

Although he said he could say it freely, but...

Maria turned her gaze to Xia Yu.

Faced with her probing gaze, Xia Yu nodded indifferently.

He didn't intend to keep it a secret.

After receiving permission, Maria mysteriously pulled Koval aside and excitedly introduced her armor to him with great enthusiasm.

As the saying goes, a fine horse deserves a fine saddle, and the craftsmen were naturally very curious when they saw such amazing armor.

Maria was already overflowing with amazement at the armor's effect, but unfortunately, Zofia, who had been with her recently, was completely ignorant of the craftsman's skills and couldn't communicate with her.

Now, facing Koval, the master who taught him forging techniques step by step, he finally had someone to confide in about the words that had been bottled up in his heart for so long.

186. Drunken Zofia

Maria and Koval walked aside and whispered to each other, gesturing at her armor.

Bald Martin and Old Frye began to discuss his glorious days in the Cavaliers.

Zofia was feeling down and was drinking alone.

"unhappy?"

Xia Yu took a wine glass and sat down in front of her.

“It’s not that I’m unhappy,” Zofia stared blankly at the elated Maria, her left hand unconsciously rubbing her wine glass.

"But...sigh."

"It's because the scenery evoked my emotions."

It wasn't that she was unhappy about Maria's victory, but for some reason, she thought of herself.

At this moment, just as at that moment.

The difference in equipment alone led two people with clearly different abilities to different ends.

I used to be far stronger than the opponent who had inflicted me with incurable injuries.

However, due to the difference in equipment, he fought to a draw with that person, and eventually even had to withdraw from the knightly competition due to injury.

Watching Maria fight the Plastic Knight today, I see such similarities to my past self...

Of course, she didn't say she felt anything was wrong, she was just a little sad.

The path of an independent knight is truly difficult.

Zofia hesitated.

She knew that if Maria insisted on following the same path as she and Margaret had once walked, she would definitely face a lot of opposition.

Too many people don't want to see another Radiant Knight rise to power, even though the gap between Maria and Margaret is so obvious.

So Zofia was hesitant about whether to persuade Maria to find a company to affiliate with or something...

At least after expressing this attitude, the targeting Maria faced will disappear.

Besides, Maria's motivation for participating in the knightly tournament was simply to preserve her family's knightly title, wasn't it? She wasn't as ambitious as her sister.

But Zofia could tell from Maria's expression that she wouldn't agree.

For various reasons, Zofia couldn't be happy even if she wanted to.

"Hey Rhodes Island, are you interested in... investing in a competitive knight?"

Looking at Xia Yu across from her, Zofia subconsciously asked the question.

After all, they are backed by a large corporation.

in case……

“I know what you’re worried about,” Xia Yu said helplessly, “Actually… if you’re not a member of the Business Federation, any company is pretty much the same as an independent knight to those people.”

"Even more obstacles will arise if Maria is associated with Rhodes Island, which is located outside of Kazimierz, simply because of the desire to exclude outsiders!"

"How much profit is there in the Knights' Tournament? Nobody wants to share a piece of the pie with outsiders."

"Not to mention that Rhodes Island also seized some of the profits from local pharmaceutical companies in Casimir..."

The meaning of the Xia language is already quite clear.

Using Rhodes Island's name now is like inviting trouble.

They're not even as good as the Independent Knights.

Even though the business alliance is not monolithic, before the Doctor arrives with Rhodes Island and uses his ability to form alliances, other companies will only curry favor with the pharmaceutical companies that have received a share of the pie.

Far water cannot quench near thirst.

"Sigh," Zofia realized she had been overthinking things.

She silently raised her glass and took a big gulp of beer.