Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Don't take it too hard. I know what he's been through all these years, and it's really not easy for him."

“It’s not easy,” Xia Yu said with a smile, shaking her head. “How many people in this world have it easy?”

"Everyone has their own troubles."

“Oh, right, the one you were talking to earlier, wasn’t he an infected knight from the Great Knight Commandery?” Toran changed the subject. “I remember… his name was Red Pine?”

“Yes,” Xia Yu looked at Tolan and replied with interest, “The Infected Knights, to be honest, they have a pretty tough job.”

"How did you get in touch with them?" Toran asked with great interest. "To be honest, I was actually quite interested in them myself."

“That’s easy. Rhodes Island is an expert in the field of Oripathy research. All we need is a batch of inhibitors, and they will naturally be willing to cooperate with us.”

“Ah…” Toran’s face fell when he heard this. “This is difficult… So this is the method. Tsk.”

If it's an inhibitor, then I guess I have little hope of getting in touch with Hongsong through this line.

After all, this thing is really precious, and there aren't enough of them for my own people.

Ugh.

It seems I'll have to find another opportunity.

but……

He looked at Xia Yu.

"I remember you've only been in the Great Knight's Territory for a few days, haven't you?"

Tolan tentatively asked, "To be able to establish a good relationship with red pine using inhibitors in such a short time... your company's drugs must be exceptionally effective, right?"

"Our achievements in Rhodes Island's research on Oripathy are highly recognized even by the Kazimierz authorities."

Xia Yu replied with a smile, "Otherwise, why would they choose to approach us instead of local companies to launch a joint medical project for the infected population in the Great Knight Territory?"

Actually, the Grand Knight Commander didn't come to Rhodes Island for that reason.

It was simply because Margaret was on Rhodes Island, and her return needed a plausible reason, so Rhodes Island was invited as a side effect.

But the problem is, outsiders don't know!

Among the medical companies in the Great Knight Command, who would have known that the former Radiant Knight worked at Rhodes Island?

Without knowing this, they must be targeting Rhodes Island itself.

Although Toran knew this, he was unaware of the Securities and Futures Commission's plan to rely on Margaret to confront the Business Federation directly, so this could be used to deceive him.

"Oh, I see..." Toran suddenly realized.

After all, there's really nothing wrong with that statement.

"Then may I ask what the price is for your inhibitor?"

He feigned great interest and asked, "Actually, as the president of the Kazimierz Bounty Hunters Guild, I also have quite a few infected under my command."

"I don't know your esteemed place..."

“The specific price can only be determined when our ship arrives in Kazimierz,” Xia Yu shrugged. “However, I can guarantee that a box of inhibitors will cost no more than one Kazimierz gold coin.”

"That's the price we offer for red pine."

"Uh, this..." Upon hearing this, Toran's first reaction was disbelief.

"May I ask about your packaging... how many tubes are in one box?"

He'd seen plenty of these word games.

One gold coin per box.

It didn't say how many sticks were in a box. What if it's just one stick per box?

However, even just one dose... if the effect is really that good... it would be worth every gold coin...

Judging from the red pine's reaction, it seems to be quite effective.

Toran was already interested, but just to be on the safe side, he still wanted to ask for clarification.

"A box?" Xia Yu's lips curled up slightly upon hearing this. "A box is of course twelve sticks."

"twelve……"

Upon hearing this, Toran's eyes widened...

The twelve earthly branches?

You're not... messing with me, are you?

One gold coin per box, and one box can last a year?

Are you here to do charity work?

“Of course, this is the price we quoted to the Red Pine Knights,” Xia Yu said calmly, seeing his incredulous expression. “After all, their situation is special, so naturally we get a little discount.”

"But for others... a tenfold increase in price isn't a big problem, right?"

Oh, I see...

Upon hearing this, Toran understood.

Oh, no wonder the price is so low, it's used to attract other customers...

Otherwise, how could it be a charity?

No wonder Hongsong was so tempted. Inhibitors that used to be priced exorbitantly were now being sold at a 90% discount. He would be tempted too if he were in their shoes.

"If the inhibitor is really as effective as your company claims, then even ten gold coins wouldn't be expensive..."

This is really not expensive, at least not for people who move between cities.

But my core base is in the countryside...

Those villages abandoned by Kazimir are already struggling to survive.

One or two gold coins can be scraped together with a bit of grit, but ten...

I guess I'll have worked for nothing all year.

This is assuming a year of favorable weather and no major disasters.

However, Kazimierz is not in a position to meet these conditions now.

Ugh.

I used to tell people that the difference between the mobile city and the countryside in Kazimierz is greater than the difference between a person and a dog.

Now I understand this deeply once again.

No wonder countless people flock to the mobile city.

“Of course, this is the price for everyone else,” Xia Yu said calmly, “but for friends, there are naturally discounts.”

The unspoken meaning is quite obvious.

but……

Toran felt as if he had fallen into a giant web that had somehow been woven.

He's trying to win me over.

But... why would he try to win me over?

Based on his status as the president of the Kazimierz Bounty Hunters Guild?

Are you kidding me? Well, Skadi single-handedly crippled the bounty hunter organization... Is there any need to recruit them?

He... knew me, knew my companions...

but……

"So, what price do we need to pay to become friends with your company?"

Upon hearing this, Toran raised an eyebrow.

In any case, since the other party was prepared, it's not like we can't talk.

It all depends on what price they come up with.

“Price? No, there’s no price to pay,” Xia Yu said meaningfully. “As long as we’re on the same path, we’re naturally friends.”

"But I've never even stepped foot inside your company, so how can I be sure we're on the same page?"

"Why do you think they're all dead while you're still alive?"

Xia Yu smiled mysteriously, "Is Skadi unable to lift her sword?"

Upon hearing this, Toran was startled.

Regardless, his rise to power was inextricably linked to Skadi's massacre of bounty hunters in Kazimierz.

The bounty hunter leaders of Kazimir, "Cranium," "Fire Lung," and "Yellow Smoke," were all hostile to him because of their differing stances.

Then, after that, well, the infamous Skadi arrived, they all died.

He was the only remaining bounty hunter commander in Kazimierz, which is why he was able to take this position.

Although it may sound far-fetched, the facts speak for themselves.

"Your company has been aware of us for some time?"