Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Domestic pharmaceutical companies, government-level obstruction and intervention, and various forms of discrimination against those infected at the societal level...

Rhodes Island's departure from its long-standing business strategy and its shift to a high-profile approach is bound to raise suspicion among many.

For ordinary people, Rhodes Island's background is unknown, but for those who truly stand at the top of the world, the fact that the former Tower of Babel has been rebranded as Rhodes Island is enough to make them wary.

After all, the Sarkaz are so infamous throughout Terra, and Theresia, the leader of Babel, is perhaps a breath of fresh air, giving many Sarkaz hope.

The Tower of Babel then became even more of a target of suspicion.

Even now, Kazdel has long since fallen apart in the civil war.

Therefore, if Rhodes Island wants to succeed, it must demonstrate a power that can deter others.

That's just how the world is; weakness is the original sin.

In Ursus, Rhodes Island has this opportunity.

If Rhodes Island helps the Patriots thwart Ursus's plot head-on and establish a foothold in the snowfields, it can not only continuously supply Rhodes Island through various trades, including medicine and food, but also deter many ill-intentioned individuals.

Even Ursus, a country synonymous with war, failed. If you want to take action against Rhodes Island, don't you consider whether you can afford the price?

Kal'tsit needs to send this message to the outside world.

As for why she didn't do this in the past, was it because she didn't want to?

Because she can't do it. If you don't have overwhelming force, why should others listen to you?

Therefore, after Babel left Kazdel, it could only become Rhodes Island, a medical institution.

That night, Kal'tsit confided in Frostnova, hoping she could convey her thoughts to Patriot.

Is the snowfield really barren?

No, although it's impossible to grow enough food here, the mineral resources are absolutely abundant.

Otherwise, why would those nobles go to so much trouble to bring in infected people to open mines?

The best thing about the Infected compared to others is that they don't have to worry about contracting Oripathy while mining Originium (laughs).

Moreover, without sufficient social status, they can be exploited without restraint.

If the Patriots' defense is successful, it means they need to find a future for these hundreds of thousands of people.

There are only minerals on the snowfield.

Infected individuals don't mine without paying a price; their Oripathy worsens rapidly upon contact with Originium ore. For nobles, this is nothing; at most, it just means arresting a few more people.

But patriots and guerrillas cannot do that.

Frostnova also spoke to Kal'tsit about this.

But Kal'tsit easily dispelled her doubts.

The inhibitor is specially formulated for miners and can prevent the condition of infected individuals who have been exposed to extremely high concentrations of Originium for extended periods from worsening.

It doesn't actually involve much technology; it's just that it's more effective than the regular version.

But it offers more for the same price. Kal'tsit promised that this inhibitor would be sold to the guerrillas at the same price as the regular inhibitor.

This is enough to solve all of Frostnova's problems.

The consultant will indeed be using his technology on the snowfield, but that will inevitably be a long time; it's impossible to turn the snowfield into a paradise overnight.

Look at them, Eyjafjalla and the Earth Spirits are still racking their brains over those technical documents.

Therefore, before this, the infected people on the snowfield must have their own means to exchange for resources to survive.

Mineral resources on the snowfields are undoubtedly the best choice.

Frostnova knew very well that Rhodes Island couldn't keep providing aid to the hundreds of thousands of infected people under the guerrillas' protection indefinitely; they had more to look at than just the snowfield.

By driving the price of inhibitors down to this level, Rhodes Island is barely making any money. And by providing free blood transfusions to hundreds of thousands of people on the snowfield, Rhodes Island will likely collapse very soon.

Therefore, the solution proposed by Kal'tsit is the most perfect choice for both sides under the current circumstances.

After all, how to survive on the snowfield was their biggest problem. If this trade route would not worsen the carnivorous disease of their compatriots, then the guerrillas would undoubtedly be making a pure profit.

She could also sense Kal'tsit's sincerity.

It's said to be about establishing authority, but is it really only possible for Ursus, thousands of miles away, to do that?

Wouldn't it be better to take over the entire Kazimierz? This country, which is almost within our grasp, is much better than risking war with the whole of Ursus, isn't it?

But they still chose the snowfield, simply because there were hundreds of thousands of infected people there whose lives were hanging by a thread.

He also provided his fellow citizens with inhibitors at almost free prices, and shared his observations of Rhodes Island during this period...

Kal'tsit's words were genuine, Amiya's worries were genuine, and the Orville, fully loaded with various supplies, was genuine.

Sometimes Froststar feels like she's living in a dream.

Is there really such a good thing in the world?

There are indeed people in this world who would act for their ideals without regard for personal gain, and looking at the facts before her, she was absolutely convinced of this.

Therefore, everything that is supposed to be there will be there.

Whether it's bread, milk, or vehicles.

There will always be.

"Uncle Anton, the bigger picture is more important," she said helplessly. "Let's go to the Orville first."

"Okay, okay, I got it," Anton said awkwardly, scratching his head. "Let's go then."

"But are you sure these people won't cause any trouble? I think there are at least a hundred people in these cars."

"Why weren't you worried about this before?" Froststar said irritably.

“It’s because our consultant is so resourceful,” Anton said with a simple smile. “I thought we didn’t need to worry before.”

"Don't worry, there are at least eight hundred Sarkaz on board," Xia Yu laughed upon hearing this, "more than enough to deal with these people."

“Even if they were disobedient before, after witnessing this scene, they should understand what respect is.”

“My biggest worry right now is that they’ll kill them all,” Xia Yu sighed. “I still have a use for these people.”

"It shouldn't be that bad," Anton said, looking at the chaotic scene before him. "If they really fought, how could there not be a drop of blood?"

"But can those hundred-plus people just surrender like that?" Xia Yu shrugged when she heard this.

He still hadn't forgotten that the general of the Sixth Army, facing his problem, shouted "Long live Ursus!" and charged forward with his sword drawn.

Even though he only managed three steps forward, he still couldn't fully pull the knife out.

Surely a person like that can lead such incompetent troops?

394 Concerns about infected people in the snowfield

"So, they really surrendered?" Xia Yu looked at W with a strange expression. "Without any resistance?"

"No, isn't this normal?" W said, puzzled. "Anyone who sees tens of thousands of soldiers like themselves wiped out wouldn't have any fighting spirit."

"That's what my Sarkaz men told me anyway, and they didn't really put up any resistance."

"I see," Xia Yu said thoughtfully, "It seems I was narrow-minded. People can't really be compared."

"Are you comparing them to the Shieldbearers under the Patriots?" W paused for a moment, then said, "How can you compare them? How can a ragtag army be compared to the Shieldbearers who have held out on the snowfields for so many years?"

Besides that, W couldn't think of anyone else he was comparing these prisoners to.

“Uh, of course not. Anyone would know that these two are incomparable,” Xia Yu shook her head. “I’m referring to their generals.”

"I'm just lamenting that General Mingming is a heroic man who drew his sword and charged into battle without hesitation after seeing me, completely disregarding his own life, yet his subordinates didn't even put up a fight."

“Wait, when have you ever seen a general from the Sixth Army?” Frostnova noticed something amiss. “Weren’t we always together?”

"Uh," Xia Yu blinked upon hearing this, then said matter-of-factly, "Magic, isn't it amazing!"

“I… never mind,” Frostnova sighed, looking at his completely unashamed expression, and then said nothing more.

After all, I had already experienced his willfulness firsthand while I was with Kal'tsit.

He should have anticipated this when he became curious about the Sixth Army's perplexing behavior.

She felt she understood Xia Yu a little better now.

Yes, I'll write it down in my notes when I get back.

"Alright, let's not talk about these prisoners anymore. W, just have your men keep an eye on them. I still need them later," Xia Yu nodded to W, then looked at Niyan beside her. "Remember that infected village I mentioned to you?"

“I promised them they could board the ship and then come with us to the Patriots’ base.”

“Yes, I understand,” Mud nodded upon hearing this. “I prepared the cabins back in Ceprini, just for about a hundred people. There are still many empty cabins in the Orville.”

"Yes, don't forget their medical check-ups after they board the ship, and make sure the distribution of inhibitors is arranged properly," Xia Yu instructed as they walked. "I promised them that every infected person who helps me set up the base will receive a five-month supply of inhibitors for their entire family. Please keep that in mind."

“We need to make these infected people a model. You know, these days all sorts of pharmaceutical companies are swindling and deceiving people about Oripathy. Some even use saline solution to trick infected people into thinking it's a miracle cure. So even if we bring them food and supplies, the infected people's wariness of inhibitors won't disappear instantly.”

“In some places, people use saline solution to deceive others because they care about their reputation. More often, they package unknown substances as inhibitors and sell them. Even if people die from these substances, they are just infected people who are discriminated against by society and do not have to bear any responsibility.”

"As far as I know, this phenomenon is particularly serious in Ursus, after all, infected people are really not treated as human beings here. Other countries at least have some face and pretend to be human on the surface."

Upon hearing this, Froststar and Anton both sighed.

Those infected in Ursus know best what kind of life they lead.