Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"After all, as long as they can make money, they don't care who wears the knighthood."

"However, if they could exchange infected knights for the knightly nobles to keep quiet about Rhodes Island's affairs, they would probably be quite happy to do so."

"Moreover, this involves too many exchanges of interests. As for why the other directors tacitly allowed those people from pharmaceutical companies to do this, I won't go into details."

"I believe you have understood."

Xia Yu did not reveal the ulterior motives behind the Wuzhou Alliance's actions.

Some things are not suitable to be said all at once.

“Yes, it’s been explained so simply, how could you still not understand?” Sona chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Oh, so that’s how it is…”

So that's how it is!

"And what's your attitude?" Xia Yu looked at her and asked, "After learning that Rhodes Island was, in a sense, the culprit behind the attack on you, what's your attitude?"

"The culprit? Ha," Sona glanced at him, "no need to provoke me with words."

"What kind of culprits are you? At most, you're just the fuse."

"Without Rhodes Island, it might be Rhine Lab tomorrow, and that unknown company the day after..."

"The truth is, the root of all this is our irreconcilable conflict with the Business Federation."

"I didn't expect you to see things so clearly," Xia Yu said, a slight smile playing on her lips. "So, what's your choice?"

“Thank you for your help,” Sona nodded to Xia Yu. “Regarding your suggestion that I go to Rhodes Island, if we can get through this crisis, I will seriously consider it.”

“That’s fine then,” Xia Yu waved to her. “That’s all for today. Ah, as for the medicine, you don’t need to rush. Rhodes Island’s main ship will arrive at the Great Knight Territory after the qualifiers.”

"Although we won't be able to supply too many people, we can at least supply the few hundred infected people under your protection."

"Thank you very much..."

-

Sona left with Skadi and Manticore.

"Aren't you going to come out and say hello?" Xia Yu looked at the ruins on her left.

"After all, you've followed us all the way from Zofia's manor to here, and it must have been quite a journey for you to hide yourself."

Although it is of no use.

If Xia Yu hadn't told him not to worry about it, he would have been caught by the Lion Scorpion long ago.

"..."

“Oh dear, I knew you guys had spotted me a while ago,” a man dressed as a mercenary said as he emerged from behind the ruins.

"If I had known, I would have just come out directly. Why bother hiding like that?"

"But I'm curious, how did you find me?"

"How did you discover... this?... Have you ever thought about your hidden potential? Hmm, it might have a bright future?"

"Is it really that bad?" The man's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this. "If you found me, why didn't you say so earlier, and why did you bring me here?"

Aren't you afraid I'll overhear something?

"Or……"

“No, it’s mainly because I’m also very curious,” Xia Yu replied seriously.

"Um, what are you curious about?"

"I'm curious why you, who always only followed Maria, came out with me this time."

Upon hearing this, the man dressed as a mercenary fell silent.

"I have a question: when did you first become aware of my existence?"

“Um, the first time Maria went out to compete,” Xia Yu replied with a subtle look in her eyes, “was the one against the Plastic Knight.”

"They discovered it so early?" The mercenary-looking man stared in disbelief. "This..."

“Well, it’s not surprising,” the man started to say something, but quickly looked dejected. “With that, well, legendary bounty hunter around, it’s not surprising.”

Xia Yu knew he was referring to Skadi, but the title of "jinx" was really unpleasant, so he didn't say it directly.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Toran, and I am the leader of the Kazimierz Bounty Hunters Guild."

He spoke with a smile, extending his right hand toward Xia Yu.

“Just call me Xia Yu,” Xia Yu said, shaking his hand. “I was an unknown employee at Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals.”

“How could someone like you be unknown?” Toran shook his head, then sighed, “Rhodes Island…”

"I heard that Skadi also went to Rhodes Island, right?"

"To be honest, I was able to become the leader of the Bounty Hunter Guild thanks to her. If she hadn't killed all my competitors, I might not have been able to become the leader."

"In a sense, should I thank her for sparing my life?"

"And the Radiant Knights who were expelled from Kazimierz a few years ago are also there. Sometimes I'm really curious, what kind of place is Rhodes Island?"

“Rhodes Island is just a ship,” Xia Yu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, “but the people on board are a bit of a mixed bag.”

Sarkaz and Sarkaz coexist, from royalty and nobles of various countries to future heirs of major corporations, immortals who have lived for countless years, super bio-warriors of the deep-sea nation of Agor, fragments of the gods of the Yan Kingdom...

Faced with his doubts, Xia Yu could only say, "It's far beyond your imagination."

“You know what? When I recognized Skadi, I told Marna right away, and then he told me that his niece was also on Rhodes Island.”

"Finally, your incredible Originium Arts skills have made me even more curious about this so-called pharmaceutical company."

"Curious? Then why not go and see for yourself?" Xia Yu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Trust me, you'll see even more things that will surprise you."

"Let's skip it," Toran said, waving his hand repeatedly. "Sigh, I have so much to do, I really can't get away."

“Let’s get back to the main topic,” Xia Yu smiled and said, “Why aren’t you with Maria today? You’re with me instead.”

"There's nothing I can do. I'm only doing what I'm asked to do," Toran shrugged helplessly. "Some office worker wants to talk to you, but unfortunately, he doesn't have the time."

"So I guess I'll have to run errands."

As he spoke, Toran took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Yes, it won't be long, please wait a moment. I'm so sorry, I promise..."

A series of apologies came from the other end of the phone, but it was clear they weren't directed at the two people present.

It wasn't until the person on the other end seemed to have finally managed to schedule a time and found a secluded spot that they actually started talking.

"Toran?"

“Oh, young master, I’m so sorry to interrupt your work,” Toran said with a teasing expression. “However, there’s been a problem with my work here; someone has found out.”

"So we can't wait until tonight, so talk to them now."

After saying that, he handed the phone to Xia Yu.

“Mr. Xia Yu, right?” There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone, and then Marner asked bluntly, “I want to know, what exactly is Margaret trying to do?”

202 Let's try something different!

What is Margaret trying to do?

Xia Yu repeated his words, then replied calmly, "You should know that."

"After all, she's such a pure person, and her goals have never changed."

"Ah."

Marna's voice on the other end of the phone carried a hint of sarcasm and a complex emotion that was difficult to detect.

"I knew she wouldn't give up easily."

"But is she really ready?"

"Such a reckless move...what is she relying on? That so-called Rhodes Island? Or the Securities and Exchange Commission?"

"A champion... Ha, what can a knightly tournament championship change?"

“Well, I think you should talk to her about these things,” Xia Yu shrugged. “After all, I’m just an ordinary Rhodes Island employee, and my relationship with Margaret is just that of colleagues.”

"If even you, her blood relatives, can't persuade her, then what can I do?"

“I will,” Marna said after a pause on the other end of the phone, taking a deep breath. “And thank you for everything you’ve done for Maria.”

"I've protected her too well all these years, and the result is that she recklessly rushed into the Knights' Arena..."

"Family honor? Ha," Marna sneered. "What does a so-called knighthood represent?"

"If Kazimierz wants to forget Nearl, then let them forget."

“Maria doesn’t understand anything at all. The current Kazimierz is no longer worthy of Nearl.”

"Thank you again for your help to Maria. As for Margaret, I will speak with her personally."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Seeing this, Xia Yu returned the phone to Tolan.

“That’s just his stubborn nature,” Toran shrugged and explained, “He wasn’t like this when we first met, but, well…”