Ark Chess Player

“Top student, you’re getting stuck on this again.” Franka appeared beside Razer at some point. She seemed to be always by Razer’s side, yet she was never noticed. She smiled and said, “For Rhodes Island, sometimes knowing too much isn’t a good thing.”

"Intelligence is a second life; those who control intelligence control the outcome. This is a legendary quote from the mercenary world, and I have always regarded his famous saying as my guiding principle. Use what is useful to the fullest; details determine success or failure."

Razer sighed, but she was helpless; after all, she was just a mercenary.

"In short, we need to figure out how to get out of here now."

"Yes Yes."

Franka did not deny her words, but simply smiled slightly.

"I've made up my mind."

Amiya hesitated for a moment, unsure of the consequences of her actions. Perhaps it was unbecoming of her as a leader... but for the sake of Rhodes Island's ideals, she had to carry out her plans.

“We should draw the attention away from the Integration Movement and the new life of Lungmen, at least so that the focus of Lungmen doesn’t remain on the slums.”

Amiya picked up a red pen from the table and drew a route on the map. Starting from the safe house, she moved three streets north, then south, until she left the slums and headed towards Lungmen District 5 – Looting State.

"For the safety of the innocent infected in Lungmen in the future, I know this will be dangerous, and we will become the target of everyone's criticism. But I believe we have the ability to overcome this difficulty. Everyone, please trust my command, please leave it to me!"

The crowd nodded silently, their fighting spirit high.

“Miss Misha, this operation will be very dangerous. We will do everything we can to protect you.”

Amiya made a promise to Misha.

Misha's gaze met everyone's. She nodded and replied, "Thank you all."

Amiya smiled in response. She touched her tactical headset, and after confirming there were no problems, she said in a deep voice, "Everyone, prepare to move out! The reconnaissance team will scout ahead. Kingslayer, Franka, you two will be in charge of the raid. Liskarm, the heavy armor team will guard the flanks. Rock, you will take the prisoners and cover the rear. The rest of you, follow. Exusiai, please handle the enemy's ranged attack forces."

"Leave it to me!"

Exusiai confidently loaded her gun, and a bright light emanated from the halo above her head.

"Misha, please stay by my side."

"……it is good."

Misha had intended to pack her things, but when she turned around and looked at the house that had become familiar to her without her realizing it, she realized... she didn't seem to have anything to take with her, and nothing here belonged to her.

No, something still exists, even if it's invisible and can't be taken away... but it truly belongs to her.

The children seemed to sense that Misha was about to leave, and they gathered together, watching her.

"Sister Misha, are you leaving?"

The only girl, clutching the amulet Misha had given her—a teddy bear doll Misha had made herself—asked nervously.

"Hmm... Don't worry, I'll come back to see you." Misha reached out and touched the girl's hair, smoothing her messy long hair. "Until then, don't run around. You have to stay here and wait for me, okay?"

"Okay, Sister Misha."

The girl nodded and handed the teddy bear to Misha with both hands.

"Sister Misha, here you go. You said this amulet can protect the safety of important people."

"Sister Misha, mine too!"

"And mine too."

"Me too!"

The children all took out their teddy bears, even though they had been roughed up while being chased by bad guys, their clothes were tattered, and they had many injuries. But their teddy bears were all intact, showing that they were cherished and loved.

Misha's eyes welled up again, and she opened her arms and hugged the four children together.

"I will come back... I will definitely come back to pick you up."

"wait for me."

Chapter 281 No Distinction Between Right and Wrong (5K)

"Captain Leicester, the place indicated in the intelligence is just ahead."

The members of the infected team pointed to an inconspicuous building in the distance, just like the surrounding houses.

However, the piles of corpses on the ground symbolize the extraordinary nature of this place.

Lester glanced at the corpses on the ground. The dead were dressed in luxurious and expensive clothes, making them unlikely to be residents of the slums. Combined with the uniformed bodyguards, it was clear that the deceased belonged to the citizens of the Lungmen New Generation Organization.

However... why do the white-robed dead bodies in another place look so much like compatriots from the Reunion Movement?

Who are you?

Lester stood at the front of the line, dozens of meters away, and asked the man who was leaning against the wall of the house smoking.

The man had a meticulously groomed beard and was smoking a cigarette with menthol leaves, wisps of smoke drifting from his fingers.

"I'm just a middle-aged man passing by, it's fine if you don't remember me."

The conman smiled and lit a thin cigarette, scattering the embers on the ground.

“If you’re looking for someone, they went in this direction, probably a few minutes ago, right? If you run fast enough, you might be able to catch up.” The conman pointed north; he wasn’t lying, Amiya and the others had indeed left from here.

The conman remained here not only to protect the wounded and children at the base, but also to perform an important task: to shift Lungmen's focus to Rhodes Island, thereby diverting the attention of certain individuals within Lungmen and at least leaving a way out for the innocent infected in Lungmen.

"is it?"

Lester stared at the conman suspiciously. Although the man seemed to be full of flaws, he gave off a strong sense of danger.

After much hesitation, Lester removed his hand from the hilt of the knife.

"A wise choice."

The scammer gave him a thumbs up.

“How can I believe what you’re saying is true? If you’re in cahoots with those people, it’s not impossible for you to point the other way around,” Lester said calmly, his voice coming through the mask, sounding somewhat somber and hoarse.

"Look at what you're saying. The most important thing between people is trust, you know?" The conman flicked his cigarette into the air with a hint of reluctance. "Besides... I don't need to lie to you."

The remaining half-smoked cigarette butt flew into the air, and when it hit the ground, the middle-aged man who had been leaning against the wall of the house disappeared.

Whether it was the unique coolness of the mint or the eerie chill of the underworld, Lester felt a chill wash over him. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but he was a step too slow. A black straight blade was pressed against his neck, its sharp edge even causing a stinging sensation on his skin, and a strong sense of fear welled up inside him.

"Even a half-baked conman like me wouldn't want to deceive trash like you."

The conman said calmly, as the minty aroma of cigarettes slowly spread, sending a chill down the spines of the Integrative Movement's infected members.

How many seconds does it take for a cigarette butt to fall from the air to the ground?

How long does it take to get here from forty meters away?

Why couldn't they... notice anything at all?!

"Now you can believe what I'm saying, right?"

The conman put his knife away, and no one knew where he had kept it.

For a con artist, pretending to be harmless is the most basic skill.

“If my boss has any orders, you wouldn’t even be able to get close here, let alone be slaughtered here.” The conman patted Lester on the shoulder, his aura of intense pressure surging forth. He said in a friendly tone, “Why don’t you get lost?”

"……withdraw."

Lester didn't bother arguing with the conman. He was well aware of the difference in their abilities. Based on the trick the conman had just shown... it wouldn't be difficult for him to keep them all here.

"A wise move."

The conman agreed, and he turned around and walked confidently toward the safe house, exposing his back directly to the enemy.

Tap, tap, tap—the sound of footsteps echoed continuously until the swindler returned to his original position, and no one dared to lay a hand on him.

"Looks like he still has some brains."

The swindler may suddenly find himself holding a straight knife; if the other party attacks directly, then he has a legitimate reason to defend himself.

You should know that he's actually in a very bad mood right now.

Lester hesitated for a moment, but still followed the direction the conman pointed. His intuition told him that the other man wasn't lying, so he must have another target.

As for what that goal is, that remains unknown.

Even if there are unknown dangers, they are prepared to sacrifice themselves for them.

However, at least the task must be completed.

"She's really good at enduring..."

The swindler picked up the cigarette box, and after hesitating for a moment, he put it back.

Footsteps drew closer, and the door to the safe house quietly opened. A purple-haired girl named Carter, her body wrapped in bandages, peeked out. She looked around, finally fixing her gaze on the conman.

Has anyone been here just now?

An Suo's face was still somewhat pale, and she gripped the hook tightly, her posture still a little unsteady.

“No, there’s nothing there.” The swindler lied quite naturally, placing his hands on An Suo’s shoulders and gently pushing her back. “The patient should stay in bed and recover. There’s no need to worry about anything else. Go back now.”

"Hmph, it's all because you weren't there! Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten beaten up so badly." An Su muttered under his breath, "You always let me down at crucial moments! If it weren't for me, these kids would have been in big trouble."

"……yes."

The swindler did not deny that this was his duty, but it was precisely because he was absent that the enemy was able to take advantage of the situation.

After a moment's thought, the swindler said seriously, "I've decided. Once you've rested, I'll double the reward we agreed on."

"Really?! Yay—wait, it's because you owe me wages that I'm here to collect! No way, I demand triple the amount! Triple the amount!!"

"Okay, then three times it."

"Damn, why are you being so agreeable today? Fine, I've changed my mind, I want ten times the amount—"

"Hey, if you're too greedy, you won't get a single penny!"

"Fine then, three times it is."

An Suo tactfully changed the subject. She was a perceptive girl and knew that someone had indeed come by, but had been scared away by the older man. Since the older man didn't want her to worry, she would simply accept his kindness.

But... after this incident, the slums will surely undergo earth-shattering changes, right?

I hope that by then I will still have a place to stay.

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.

"Have these infected people gone mad?!"