Arknights' Lock of Heaven

"Is it that serious?" Hearing this, the lively girl realized the seriousness of the matter. Her eyes darted around, and under the stern gaze of the group leader, she had no choice but to reach out and touch her index finger and thumb together, then pull it across her lips.

Only after he assured the team leader that he wouldn't say anything inappropriate did the team leader turn around.

This child is good in every way, except for his mouth. He's just like a sparrow, chirping away all day long. It's only because he's a lonely old man with no offspring and this child is his friend's darling that he's always spoiled him.

Sigh, I should have a good talk with Andrew when I get back. This kid needs to change his bad habits, otherwise... he might say something he shouldn't.

Thinking of this, he turned around and glanced at the enormous ship behind him.

Having served in the Ukrainian-Kazakh War, he recognized that this was no ordinary cargo ship.

Judging from its specifications and structure, the protruding terrace at the front was probably originally for mounting naval guns, and there are quite a few terraces of varying heights around it... He had seen ships like this before, in Kazimierz.

Those transport and supply ships, which are different from warships, are jokingly called "thin-skinned but big-filled." When the Kazimierz army collapsed and the Ursus army chased them into the Golden Plains, these supply ships were everyone's favorite.

Although it had firepower, it was very weak, and its combat effectiveness was also poor, but it was filled with all kinds of supplies... He and his unit once captured a supply ship, where he tasted tropical fruit for the first time.

That heavenly enjoyment, that sweet taste traveled from the taste buds all the way to every cell in the body.

"If we conquer the Golden Plains, we'll have all these things," the officer encouraged them.

They were indeed inspired, roaring as they charged into the golden plains.

Then, the sun rose from the ground, and he and his troops suffered a crushing defeat.

Even today, pineapple is still a fruit reserved for the nobility. Even a can of pineapple canned goods will be snapped up in the market.

There's no way around it; people living in cold climates crave sweetness just the most.

The ship that had been captured was far less formidable than the one behind him.

In addition to a series of unpredictable events, the higher authorities explicitly forbade spot checks, only requiring registration, and even the registration could not be too strict; whatever they filled in was what they were told, and no one was to pry.

There's also the increasingly unfavorable political climate in Ursus recently, and the geographical location of Prostov...

Reason told him not to worry about so much and just do what he was told.

Knowing too much is not a good thing.

Thinking of this, he sighed and looked at the lively girl beside him who was keeping her mouth tightly shut.

Well, the fact that she didn't ask on that ship is progress; at least she knew to whisper it to herself after they left...

Let's go back and deal with her together with her father.

The team leader was conflicted again. She really didn't want her mother to find out; she was even more ruthless when she beat the child…

"Hmm?" Just then, in the darkness, he saw a group of people surrounding several others, hurrying towards the ship.

The one leading the group... he looks so familiar... isn't that the mayor?

Upon seeing this, he quickly turned his gaze away, grabbed the arm of the lively girl beside him tightly, and walked so fast he seemed to fly.

Knowing too much is not a good thing.

-

“Ms. Kayne, and Mr. Mayor,” several men in suits said to the anxious Kayne aboard the Orville, “we can only take you this far.”

"I hope you will return safely."

After saying that, they hurriedly left, as if the ship in front of them might turn into a flood and a ferocious beast and swallow them up at any moment.

The two people who were left behind stared at their retreating figures in silence.

Suddenly, Ms. Kaine spoke up: "Hey, don't you think we're like those ignorant villagers in the story who were sacrificed to the monster?"

"..." The other person was silent for two seconds before forcing a smile and saying, "Your optimism is truly enviable."

“Optimistic?” Kathy shook her head upon hearing this. “Perhaps it’s because things can’t get any worse, so this is the only option. What’s that saying again? Find joy in hardship. Ha, I learned that from a Yan merchant.”

"And I advise you not to look so gloomy. Heaven knows what kind of people the liches are. If they see you like this and think you are disrespecting them, then they might take your soul out as punishment, which wouldn't be very nice, Mr. Mayor."

Upon hearing this, the mayor of Prostov felt even worse.

He was just unlucky to have taken this job.

Lady Kaine was on the Emperor's and the Council's side, while he had been forced to come by the Dukes.

He had no choice but to come.

Unlike Cheprini, Prostov's political landscape is not dominated by a single entity, but rather involves multiple competing forces. In other words, Cheprini is an exception, and most neutral mobile cities are like Prostov.

The mayor himself had risen to power by relying on the old aristocracy, so he had no choice but to go after they gave the order.

"Madam, you are very knowledgeable. Are liches really like the legends say...?"

“All I know is that Blood Demons are truly cruel and murderous,” Kaine said irritably. “As for Liches, we’d better pray they love peace.”

As for whether the liches who killed 20,000 people in one fell swoop truly love peace... hasn't it already been said? Prayers!

Just pray.

What else can you do?

However, compared to the mayor's panic, Katie herself was still somewhat confident.

Speaker Witt and the Emperor both assured her that the person above was indeed not a lich. Well, mainly the latter, but she also needed to confirm the former.

The speaker himself was also in a state of doubt, but he had patted his chest and assured her that he would not be harmed, so what could Kaine do?

We'll have to go up and take a look.

The two of them just stood there, looking at each other, neither willing to step forward.

Their assurances are one thing, but the Sarkaz's infamous reputation is another.

"What's going on with you guys?" Just then, a voice came from the hatch. "Are you coming in or not?"

Upon hearing this, the two looked closely.

Oh wow.

It's a Sarkaz.

Seeing the two people hesitate, W impatiently asked again, "Should I invite you two in?"

As she spoke, she turned to the side, letting the two men see a group of Sarkaz hunks behind her.

Upon seeing this, the mayor shuddered and looked to Kay for help.

The latter could only curse inwardly, "You're a grown man, how dare you rely on me at a time like this?" and then could only helplessly step forward.

He forced himself to remain calm and said, "As instructed by His Majesty the Emperor and the Speaker of the Imperial Council, I need to meet with your captain."

“We’ve been waiting for you guys for ages,” W said with a sidelong glance. “If you hadn’t been dawdling, you would have been eating by now.”

"Just the two of you?" She looked behind them. "No guards or staff? How long would it take you two to inspect such a large ship?"

W said suspiciously, "You're not just here to stall us under the pretext of an inspection, are you? You know we're in a real hurry. We wouldn't even be stopping here tonight if it weren't for the Emperor and the Speaker's sake!"

"No, no, no, how could we dare?" the mayor immediately protested, "Your side can leave port at any time!"

“We’re not bringing any attendants because… this isn’t something that should be known by too many people,” Kaine glared at the mayor. This mayor was way too spineless.

There's another reason for not bringing anyone: if I did, who could guarantee I'd survive against a royal court? Could I afford to hire someone like that?

It's better not to bring it at all; maybe the other party will see that you're being sensible and let you off the hook.

"Fine, if you don't want to bring them, then don't," W said, not caring what their reasons were. "Let's go then, the captain has been waiting for you for a long time."

Hearing this, the two felt a chill in their hearts.

I've been waiting for so long... Damn it, I should never have been with this useless guy... We've wasted so much time...

What if they get upset? Then what would happen to me...?

"Huh? Why aren't you moving?" W turned around, took a couple of steps, then turned back and asked, puzzled, "What are you doing standing still?"

Little did they know how terrifying her impatient expression, coupled with the group of fierce-looking Sarkaz mercenaries around her, was to the two of them.

Oh, maybe she'll be happier if she finds out.

418 Summer Whispers and Beacon Fire Play...

"You two, please take a seat."

Girl Kaine and the mayor of Prostov arrived at the canteen tremblingly, led by the Sarkaz mercenaries.

Froststar stood up, nodded to them, and said, "The conditions are simple, so please forgive us if there is any lack of hospitality."

"Um, may I ask how to address this young lady?" Kaine asked, forcing herself to remain calm.

“You can call me Frostnova,” Frostnova nodded coldly, then said with an unnatural expression, “Please take your seats, both of you.”

Upon hearing this, the two sat down at the dining table at her invitation.

There were only four of them in the huge cafeteria. Although the surroundings were brightly lit, it was completely silent, which made people feel uneasy.

The table in front of him was a typical cafeteria table, no different from the others around it. Several covered trays held unidentified contents. Across from him stood a person... well, it was impossible to tell if they were male or female, but they were definitely...

"Let me introduce you. This is our captain, Mr. Xia Yu," Yelena said casually as she approached Xia Yu.

He even emphasized the word "sir" in a deliberate way.

“Ah, I’ve heard so much about you,” Kathy said, standing up abruptly. “It is my honor to meet you today.”