Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"...Are you kidding me?"

After a moment of silence, Ceylon knew he had to continue questioning.

If you show that you are convinced by him, it will only arouse suspicion.

He was only showing signs of noticing the volcano's anomalies, so Kronin could still fool himself.

If he finds out that I've started to suspect him, he won't be able to do anything about it, even if he doesn't want to.

After all, given his position, saying even a few extra words would be a big problem for him.

Therefore, for their own safety, they must continue this charade.

Seeing the disdain in Kronin's eyes, Ceylon gritted his teeth.

This simple argument is enough to convince myself.

Since you really think of me as a sheltered young lady who hasn't experienced the ways of the world, then let's continue.

Let's see if you can maintain this arrogance until I reveal your secret!

"There are already many signs that the volcano has begun to become active again and is likely to erupt in the near future."

Ceylon pretended that I hadn't noticed anything and was still trying to convince you.

"For example?" Kronin looked at Ceylon's eager expression and chuckled inwardly.

Students from prestigious universities, huh.

It wasn't even a few words that led them astray.

A truly mature person doesn't try to convince themselves; instead, upon discovering that the volcano's activity contradicts their own claims, they simply muster their forces, storm the volcano, and take it down.

You're not some scientist with no connections who has to run around everywhere. You're the mayor's daughter, so be a little arrogant, really, it's okay.

Your father worked hard for most of his life, not so that you would suffer in silence on your own turf.

Xia Yu and the Doctor were both well aware of this.

As long as Ceylon understands his own advantages, there's absolutely no need to argue with him.

However, neither of them mentioned it, directly leading this young lady into a trap, making it seem like they were going to a meeting alone...

After all, Xia Yu is going to conduct a small experiment at the Siesta Volcano, and it's not advisable for too many people to know about it.

"The berserk state of the Originium Bugs, the abnormal temperature, the strange smell, etc., are all evidence."

Ceylon was still pretending to patiently explain his evidence, and the two people in the office were also pretending to listen carefully.

Everyone has their own agenda.

"If you still don't believe me after all this, then take a look at the materials I brought. They contain a detailed analysis process and conclusions."

Finally, she took a picture of a large stack of documents.

"Obvious? Did the Originium Bug tell you this, or did the temperature or some smell indicate it?"

Kronin didn't even glance at the data before spouting off, "I just don't understand what these baseless figures have to do with a volcano erupting."

This is pure sophistry. How could someone who has been a messenger of natural disasters for over ten years not see the significance of these data?

He was just taking advantage of Ceylon's lack of experience.

"All I know is that the volcano observation system, which was personally arranged by the mayor and designed with technical expertise provided by me, has absolutely no problems."

Kronen shrugged, "The parameters of Siesta volcano are no different from those of the past few years. If I had to say, are they more stable?"

"What are you talking about? The facts are right in front of you..."

Even though she already knew that Kronin was just giving her the runaround, Ceylon was still very annoyed by his attitude.

They really don't take me seriously at all.

"You're a messenger of natural disasters, yet you don't understand these things?" Even the Doctor couldn't stand it anymore. How could you bully such an innocent girl like this?

"And who are you?" Kronin asked the doctor.

"The doctor is a researcher at a specialized institution, and she and her other colleagues have specialized knowledge of volcanoes."

Ceylon explained.

“I see, I see,” Kronin said, feigning sudden realization. “Heh, I get it.”

"So it was you strange foreign tourists who deceived the young lady?"

Upon hearing this, the doctor's lips twitched.

Although I knew this would be the outcome, this attempt to shift the blame is just too abrupt...

What a despicable villain... It's a waste of my life to act alongside him.

But he couldn't act it out yet. Xia Yu needed more time, and he couldn't let Siesta discover the volcano's problem so quickly, only to go inside the volcano and watch Xia Yu devour the natural disaster...

There are three people in the office now. Kronin is on the first floor, and he thinks he is playing Ceylon. Ceylon is on the second floor. She knows that Kronin is playing her, and in order not to make him desperate, she plays along with him.

Meanwhile, the doctor is on the third floor, and she is playing both of these characters at the same time!

289 PhD: Watch me demolish the wall with my bare hands!

Seeing Kronin turn his attention to the Doctor, Ceylon was clearly taken aback.

She turned to look at the doctor and found that he shrugged helplessly at her.

Isn't this normal?

You said yourself that Kronin wouldn't dare do anything to you, so it's perfectly normal for me to operate on you in order to restrict your movements and prevent you from continuing your investigation.

The doctor looked at Ceylon helplessly; it seemed she really hadn't considered this possibility.

She probably expected that she would at most be given a few perfunctory words and kicked out.

I never expected the fire would spread to the doctor.

But the doctor herself knew perfectly well, and she knew that Xia Yu must know as well.

That's why I use this to disgust myself.

Yes, disgusting.

Just as Xia Yu described the matter as a bit of entertainment, the Doctor only showed slight disdain but didn't take it to heart.

Because... this really isn't a big deal.

He's just a third-rate villain, what's so special about him?

However... Ceylon was truly naive, being manipulated by a group of people...

Thinking about this, the doctor felt a pang of guilt.

Such innocent children are a rare sight these days.

Kronin also lamented Ceylon's naiveté.

He was unaware that he had already achieved the status of a third-rate villain in the Doctor's eyes, and still looked at Ceylon with a hint of contempt.

"Isn't it obvious, Miss? You've been deceived by this person of unknown origin."

He slammed his hand on the table, then drowned out Ceylon's protest with an even louder voice.

"Kronin, what are you talking about? Don't you even believe me?!"

Ceylon felt things were getting out of control; she really hadn't expected Kronin to target the Doctor.

“I’m saying that you’ve been studying abroad so you don’t know that there are actually a lot of people who are envious of the development of our Siesta City.”

Kronin looked at Dr. Kai Kai and spoke.

Look, he's starting to put his hat on.

The doctor said he was calm, then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the height of the three-story building, and seemed to be deep in thought.

“Every year, there are people who try to hinder the mayor’s progress in developing the city. Threats, bombings, assassinations—even an unknown person like me has been affected several times!”

Kronin feigned anger, waving his hand in the air, his face full of grief and indignation.

The naive Ceylon was immediately stunned by him.

"Of course, this isn't the first time I've spread rumors about a volcanic eruption, but this is the first time I've managed to fool you."

He snorted and looked at the doctor, "I have to say, this opponent knows the mayor very well. They even know how to figure out that you, Miss, have only recently returned from studying abroad."

At this point, a sinister smile crept across Kronin's lips.

Does he hate the doctor?

That's natural.

Kronin looked down on Ceylon, thinking she was just a naive college student who definitely didn't have the ability.

Therefore, his plan must have been exposed by these outsiders.

How could I not hate it?

You should know that if the plan is exposed, what awaits him is not just disgrace, but a fate worse than death.

Having served Mayor Hermann for so many years, he knew that man's methods all too well.