Ark Chess Player

"This is the research and development platform of the Lungmen branch, mainly responsible for storing large combat vehicles, equipment, props, and weapon research and development."

The conman showed Lin Lu and the Kingslayer the core departments of the Army Without Borders. The Fulton Recovery System and the Ark Drive, these cutting-edge technologies, were the brainchild of the Army Without Borders' research and development team. Furthermore, the initial repairs, rebuilds, and weapon installations of the Noah Armed Forces were all contracted out to the Army Without Borders, only later being handed over to Kroos.

"Boss, I'd love to show you around the equipment area, but I don't have the authority right now. Everyone who does is busy with other things," the conman said with a hint of heartache. It was like bringing classmates home to play, only to find a room filled with Knight belts, transformation items, and Gundam models, but no key to open it.

“Speaking of which…” the Kingslayer asked, “we haven’t seen anyone else since we arrived here.”

The conman sighed deeply: "We ran into some trouble, and the defense team and combat team rushed to handle it. Because it could trigger a breach of containment by Originium creatures, most of the other team members, except for a few people stationed at the platform, went to the safe house for refuge." The conman sighed with emotion, "Everyone, whether they were veterans or newcomers, really wanted to see the BOSS."

Lin Lu narrowed his eyes and asked, "The 'accident' you mentioned... refers to the two major earthquakes that occurred in the Lungmen Administrative Office?"

The swindler's eyes widened in surprise, and he opened his mouth in astonishment.

But then he thought about it again. The boss is still the boss, and this little thing naturally won't escape his watchful eye.

"Around 11:20 PM tonight, twelve trucks belonging to the Lungmen Guard Bureau, transporting the corpses of Integrative Movement Oripathy infected individuals, were involved in an accident. According to our intelligence team's investigation, these transport vehicles all disappeared at designated locations, and none of the drivers survived. When the missing vehicles were found at the accident site, all the infected corpses placed inside the truck beds had vanished."

The swindlers meticulously filter and select the most valuable information to report, a common practice among intelligence agents.

"At the same time, our radar network also detected an attack on the interior of Lungmen's mobile city. According to information observed from hidden cameras, Lungmen's sewer system was the first to be compromised. Some black sludge took the opportunity to sneak in and deliberately infiltrate the mobile city's core, wreaking havoc in Lungmen's intestines. Like parasites, Lungmen has ingested some unclean things, and it will always have to pay the price."

The scammer pulled out a mobile device from his pocket, turned on the screen, and shared the intelligence he had obtained.

"Based on your brilliant combat record in the outer rings of Lungmen, we have preliminarily determined that the Reunion Movement has mastered a brainwashing ability that can corrupt and degrade people and make them work for them. This ability can cause the mental pollution level of Oripathy infected individuals to exceed the limits of rationality, thereby losing their ability to think, and instead greatly enhancing their Originium Arts and physiological tolerance."

The ultra-high-definition photos were projected one by one, so detailed that you could see the black mud on the lumberjack's body, the insects on the butcher's mask, and the contamination marks on some infected soldiers.

"If Lungmen hadn't been protected tonight, the situation would have spiraled out of control, plunging the city into chaos, and one disaster would have led to another. It's a pity that your efforts, Boss, haven't been appreciated by others. These people of Lungmen probably never dreamed that tonight might be their last."

The conman sighed deeply again, carefully putting the mobile device back into his pocket, giving it a final pat. Tonight, the intelligence team members were all on fire, using every trick in the book to gather intelligence. Using the borderless army's high-tech equipment for remote detection, and having the privilege of witnessing the BOSS's heroic figure on the battlefield again, was incredibly exciting.

Upon hearing this, Lin Lu nodded thoughtfully, adding a new label to his impression of the Army Without Borders.

The boss is still fighting tooth and nail outside, while the underlings just watch the show, waiting for him to get exhausted so they can send people to kidnap him... What kind of borderless army is this?! You guys are really causing a lot of harm, you group, please, you've really gone too far, why did you even create such an organization?

Is the boss just a tool?

What happened to your promise to single out someone? You've been giving special attention to other people instead!

"How strong are the members of the combat team and the defense squad?" Lin Lu asked the most crucial question.

"Boss, don't you have any idea how strong the people you kidnapped are?" The conman almost blurted out his true thoughts, but he knew the boss was currently suffering from amnesia. Otherwise, given the boss's strength, how could these lowly members of the Reunion Movement possibly pose a challenge to him?

"Boss, I believe you will have the opportunity to test their strength in the future."

The swindler smiled confidently and stopped in front of a door.

“I’m sorry, the next meeting is not something someone of my caliber can participate in. I’ll just be responsible for guarding this place and providing some services.” The conman turned to the Kingkiller and asked politely, “Madam, what are your dietary needs?”

"I'm not hungry."

The regicide clutched her stomach and tried to appear strong, but the emoticon mask on her face betrayed her true thoughts.

Seeing this, Lin Lu couldn't help but raise his hand and gently rub her head, then instructed the swindler, "Prepare a cup of hot cocoa and some local Lungmen late-night snacks for her. Thank you."

"I already told you I'm not hungry!"

"I'm hungry, let's eat together later."

"Oh, is that so? Then it's alright, go ahead and order."

The kingslayer gave a soft hum, easily put to the task.

If Jeanne Alter is the easiest woman to win over in all of Chaldea, then the Kingslayer is the undisputed candidate for the title of Rhodes Island.

The conman silently observed all of this, and his respect for the BOSS grew even stronger. He knew that there were still people in the Army Without Borders who had feelings for the BOSS... The conman suddenly shuddered, as if he were thinking of some war behemoth, a torrent of steel, and nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, boss."

While preparing the meal, the conman also directed the Kingslayer to the rest area outside the research lab. Here, besides comfortable, common furniture, numerous documents and drawings were laid out on the table. Clearly, his intention was for the Kingslayer to rest there and not disturb the BOSS's upcoming meeting.

Lin Lu could see through his thoughts at a glance, but he also understood the swindler's intentions.

There are some things that, if more people know about them, will only do harm and no good.

"Wait here for me, I'll be right back."

"...Call me if you encounter any danger."

The regicide wasn't stupid; she was just too lazy to think things through and didn't want to think too much.

However, since it concerns Lin Lu, no matter how unwilling she is, she will actively use her little brain to figure things out.

The person Lin Lu is about to meet is likely the person who has been in control of the organization during the years he has been missing. There are two possibilities: if this person is not driven by years of lust for power, they will obediently submit and return the leadership of the Army Without Borders to Lin Lu.

The second scenario, of course, is... the worst-case scenario.

“Ryu, no matter how many underground levels we are, I will take you away.”

The regicide stared directly at Lin Lu, conveying his words before releasing the hem of Lin Lu's hooded coat that he had been unconsciously gripping.

"I really wish I were the one saying such cool things." Lin Lu smiled, gently rubbed the King Killer's head, waved, and went inside.

The regicide clutched her head, her gaze lingering on Lin Lu's retreating figure until the door closed again.

"Idiot...you're the one who said those words to me."

She muttered to herself.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Lin Lu narrowed his eyes.

Bright beams of light surged in from all directions, and the temperature was frighteningly high, as if there were a small sun inside.

In Lin Lu's expectations, this should have been the research team's research lab, or at least an architectural design similar to a research center. But reality often differs from expectations. He felt as if he had been transported to another world. At the end of his field of vision was a long corridor, and the surrounding material was a mineral that resembled a mirror.

As if stepping into a kaleidoscope world, Lin Lu momentarily couldn't tell whether he was standing on the ground or in the sky. A kaleidoscope is an optical toy. Brightly colored objects are placed at one end of a cylinder, a prism is placed in the middle of the cylinder, and the other end is sealed with a perforated glass. By looking through the perforation, one can observe symmetrical and beautiful images.

The constantly refracted light gave the white world a mesmerizing glow, and the further you walked, the more you could feel something appearing in your mind.

"——————"

Lin Lu could vaguely hear murmurs echoing in his ears, the sounds drawn out.

The sounds started as faint, barely audible crawling like ants, but gradually escalated into a cacophony of construction noise, a constant barrage of irritating din. It was like someone had shoved a TikTok video right next to his ear and blasted it at full volume, and then, damn it, wrapped tape all over his head! How utterly inhumane!

"Shut up, it's so noisy."

Lin Lu did not fly into a rage or scream hysterically.

He stood calmly in place, speaking in a stern tone that left no room for argument, as cold and resolute as a king.

The invisible pressure transformed into a tangible wave of air, sweeping through the hundred-meter-long corridor, and the faint echo of colliding glass could be heard.

These noisy voices were instantly suppressed, not even a rustling sound dared to be made, for fear that the solicitous words of advice would be regarded as noise.

"..."

Lin Lu strode forward indifferently.

The deeper he went into the corridor, the more he realized that his remaining strength was being plundered.

When he was halfway there, a strong feeling of dizziness hit him, and he staggered forward, almost falling to the ground.

Even so, Lin Lu did not lean against the wall for support. His intuition told him never to try to touch anything around him, as it would have terrible consequences.

Lin Lu had no choice but to keep moving forward.

He can't go back; if he turns back, he'll lose.

He dislikes losing, no matter the occasion, the game, or the situation—he has to win.

Chapter 211 Meruru

"Haa...ah...haa..."

When Lin Lu had walked about two-thirds of the way down the corridor, he could no longer see his surroundings clearly with his eyesight alone.

The intense white light caused severe pollution; even with his hood up and eyes closed, he could feel the eerie glow pouring down upon him. Every few steps, faint black smoke emanated from his body, like the malevolent aura emanating from a demon.

When Lin Lu finally reached eighty meters and was just a short distance from the door, he began to hallucinate.

These hallucinations were so real, it was as if I could smell the battlefield.

Smoke filled the air, and the stench of blood and corpses filled the nostrils.

Even with his eyes closed, Lin Lu could see the person in front of him gazing at him with expectant eyes, pleading for his command in a hoarse voice. So much expectation, so heavy hope, at the moment he chose to take on this burden. He felt as if he were wearing a mask—a mask called reason.

"I must win."

Lin Lu's chapped lips trembled, and his voice escaped involuntarily.

But why win?

"If I don't win, I'll die, and everyone will die."

Lin Lu bit his lip hard, squeezing out beads of blood from his dry lips. The stinging pain made him take another step.

—What do those people have to do with you? You brought victory to them, yet they buried you in a sarcophagus with their own hands! Look closely, is the respect in their eyes really respect? They are afraid, they are terrified, they are worried about you, the rational monster! Will they see you as the next pawn, to die for victory?

“I am not a god, I do not have the power to change the world with one hand. I can only try my best to win, even if I am misunderstood. I promised her, and her, that no matter how miserable we are, we must persevere.”

—It's okay if you're considered a monster?

"..."

Lin Lu did not answer the question.

He had reached the end of the corridor.

Lin Lu raised his hand and placed it in front of the door. He pondered for a long time, longer than the time it took him to walk from the entrance to this place.

Finally, a faint smile appeared on Lin Lu's lips.

"I am a monster."

The locked door was quietly pushed open.

------

"Brain pollution index is no less than 20%, nervous system damage rate exceeds 25%, and numerical visual field is almost half destroyed. The hippocampus may have physical damage, and there is a layer of black airflow blocking the cerebral cortex, making further observation impossible... BOSS, what exactly made you like this?"

Spotlights shone down from all directions, converging on the steel throne. Lin Lu sat quietly upon it, his head slightly lowered, silver-white hair falling across his face. A layer of black-gold metallic skeleton enveloped him, like a giant opening its arms to embrace him, or like some monster opening its blood-red maw to bite him.

The messy yet orderly wires connect to the frame, while the various instruments connected to the other end display the values ​​in the form of digital graphics and lines.