Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Sigh," the doctor shook his head upon hearing this.

“What about my proposal?” She looked down at Rhodes Island.

"Do you know?" Xia Yu said slowly, "There's a saying in my hometown: 'If you don't have the skills, don't take on the job.'"

"There's another saying: 'A person's greatest virtue is self-awareness.'"

"You don't need to try to test me; the future you're worried about won't come to pass."

“I know my abilities, I know my position. Violence may make me above thousands of people and give me absolute power, but to realize my ideas, violence alone is far from enough.”

“I’m not one of those crazy people who think the Cauldron of Miracles can do everything.”

“So, this is probably the last time I will act recklessly with force,” he said to the doctor with a sincere expression. “From now on… I don’t think I’ll have such a good opportunity again.”

"I know your concerns. Aren't you afraid that I will use my force to influence the future of Rhodes Island?"

"Don't worry, it won't happen."

"If in the end we find that we have different paths, at most we will just go our separate ways."

Upon hearing this, the doctor fell silent.

Why would she say such a long thing?

Is it really because Kal'tsit is too strict?

Ghosts believe.

It's all because Xia Yu's influence is too great; if this continues...

Rhodes Island is becoming increasingly reliant on him.

The continuation of civilization... cannot be based on one person alone.

"Although I also think that Kal'tsit is sometimes too conservative, there is one thing that cannot be ignored."

“She knows this land better than anyone else, and if she insists, I won’t argue with her.”

"..."

“...Amiya...she…” The Doctor paused, then said, “Thanks to you, Kal'tsit is extremely busy, and I don’t have much time to spare either.”

"Amiya hasn't had anyone to tutor her lately. Once things are settled in Kazimierz, could you please tutor her for a while?"

"my pleasure."

-

As the foundation of the four-city alliance, the power center is indispensable.

Only such a massive power center could supply the energy needed by four cities.

However, this doesn't mean that these four cities will lose their energy sources without the power center.

Needless to say, the three selected cities have their own energy centers; it's just that when the four cities united, they switched their energy to the power center.

As for the Great Knight Territory, the power center's functions are actually more than enough for a city, so this place is not usually used.

It will only be held during the Major.

Even without the power center, the Great Knights Territory wouldn't be completely paralyzed; at most, the unity of the four cities would disintegrate, with each going its own way.

The four-city alliance was just a joke.

It's not to the point where even daily energy needs can't be met.

The common people of the Great Knight Territory were completely unaware of this.

In their memory, the power center completely shut down due to an accident, which is why the four cities separated.

However, it would be good if the Special Championship continued.

Although I don't know why the atmosphere in the Great Knight Territory has been so tense lately, what does that have to do with us ordinary people?

Anyone with a bit of inside information knows that recently, a large number of high-ranking officials have suddenly changed their attitudes, no longer acting high-profile as usual, but rather pretending to be dead and hiding their necks in their chests.

"Gas explosions these days?" Zofia looked at the newspaper and said with a strange expression, "And from the gas pipelines in the noble district?"

This news... is truly outrageous.

In that upscale neighborhood, how many households use gas extensively?

"What? What?" Hearing this, Maria leaned closer and saw the big headline on the newspaper.

A gas pipeline explosion at the Ingra family estate has killed six and injured eight, including the patriarch. The explosion is believed to have been caused by mismanagement of the pipeline.

"That doesn't make sense, does it?" Maria said in surprise. "Gas pipelines... such a big manor, and it doesn't rely on gas for energy anymore. At most, the kitchen is still using it."

"How could it kill so many people? Were they all in the kitchen at the time?"

Maria said it was an eye-opening experience.

"What's the big deal?" Xia Yu waved her hand dismissively. "You know, in the faraway Eastern Kingdom, there's a city called Dongmu where gas pipelines explode every few years. Most of the docks are reduced to ruins, and rivers are cut in half—that's nothing compared to that."

"Huh? This..." Maria was stunned when she heard this.

"Are there still cities that use gas on such a large scale now? Enough to blow up an entire dock... and dam a river?"

"How much gas would that take?"

"Or rather, given such significant hidden dangers, why not switch to a different energy source?"

“Because gas explosions are never the main cause,” Xia Yu said meaningfully, “They’re just a fig leaf.”

"I see..." Upon hearing this, Zofia understood the gist of it.

It seems the Ingra family has offended someone.

Only the naive Maria remained oblivious.

"Alright, let's leave it at that," Xia Yu changed the subject.

The Ingra family... was merely a sacrifice.

Offerings to oneself.

But this is just too shabby.

"Your sister's recommendation, what do you think, Maria?"

“I highly recommend it,” Maria said, her face full of longing. “What kind of place is Rhodes Island, really?”

"Can I really join?"

“Why not?” Xia Yu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

"Ah, because Rhodes Island is full of people like you, Mr. Xia Yu, my sister, and that senior named Skadi, isn't it?"

"Someone like me can join..."

"No, what exactly is wrong with Rhodes Island?" Xia Yu said, both amused and exasperated. "Do you really think someone like your sister is everywhere on Rhodes Island?"

"How can a company be full of elites? Don't they want ordinary people who can get things done?"

"Have some confidence," Xia Yu patted her on the shoulder, "You're the sister of the Radiant Knight!"

"So I have no idea what you're worried about," Zofia rolled her eyes at her. "Isn't it because I'm here with you?"

“Zofia is amazing too,” Maria immediately began to whine, “I’m different, I really can…”

"Don't worry, you can definitely do it!" Hearing this, Xia Yu thought of something and then smiled broadly. "Hey, I happen to have a task here, and you look pretty suitable."

"How about it? Why don't you go and experience it first, just to put your mind at ease?"

"Really?" Maria's eyes lit up. "When..."

"Let's go now!" Xia Yu recalled Kroos's resentful gaze, then said decisively, "Zofia, you..."

“I won’t go,” Zofia sighed upon hearing this. “Leaving Kazimierz is a big deal, and I’m very busy lately.”

"Anyway, there will be plenty of time to learn about Rhodes Island later."

……

The area where Rhodes Island is docked.

That place was packed with people, incredibly lively...

"W-w-w..." Maria stammered, "Why are there so many people here...?"

“These people,” Xia Yu glanced at them and said, “are they all from the Business Federation?”

"Rhodes Island has been purchasing a large amount of supplies recently, all of which are for negotiating orders."

You can see all the businesses, big and small, in Casimir here, regardless of whether Rhodes Island's supplies to the Red Pine camp actually use their products.

Almost everyone acted as if it were free. Don't talk to me about money; talking about money hurts feelings and even your life. If you like it, just give me a little something as a token.

These are the people who participated in the assassination plot.

As for the others, they were much more normal, and they were all reasonably negotiating.

Then you get confused by the first type of people. What are you guys after?

What else could they want? To buy their lives!