Ark Chess Player

Ultimately, Amiya's rescue faction prevailed, while the conservatives chose to remain silent.

Although Kal'tsit abstained from voting, she didn't stand idly by like the other opposition members. Kal'tsit and Amiya devised a detailed rescue plan for Chernobog, and Kal'tsit's knowledge of the sarcophagus greatly increased the chances of success. While most of her memories of the city were from three years ago, a border city wouldn't change its appearance in just three short years.

If the rescue operation fails, the casualty rate exceeds 50%, or the Doctor loses vital signs and fails to return... then Rhodes Island can only choose to become an affiliated company of a country or city, and lose its freedom.

Kal'tsit had to consider the people who remained on Rhodes Island, no matter how unwilling she was.

When the rescue plan was first implemented, Kal'tsit was supposed to go to Lungmen for negotiations, but she stayed behind by some strange twist of fate.

Kal'tsit knew that Chernobog was being invaded by Reunion infected, and she knew how dangerous the place was. Even she couldn't guarantee her own safety... But she still drove the Noah heavy machine all the way to the center of the battlefield to bring back Lin Lu, who had returned to the battlefield without hesitation to save the Kingkiller.

Because Kal'tsit overheard what Lin Lu said to the Rhodes Island members through the communicator.

Regardless of whether Lin Lu has lost his memory, he remains as protective as ever... to the point of being both laughable and exasperating.

This reminded Kal'tsit of the first time they met, when she was trying to protect a reconnaissance operator who was deemed unfit for rescue and had to be abandoned in a dangerous ancient ruin... Lin Lu immediately borrowed the Originium Arts trigger devices from several caster operators, then charged in alone, eventually carrying the person out of the ruin on his back, barely alive.

Whether it's the past him or the present him, he's still the same person. This makes Kal'tsit both love and hate him; she doesn't understand why Lin Lu, in this state, would have done that thing back then...

"It's alright, Amiya."

Lin Lu turned to look at the approaching Lotte State in the fifth district of the outer ring of Lungmen. He sensed the presence of Rhodes Island ships through his data-driven spiritual domain and determined that there were no traces of Reunion soldiers nearby. He breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"I have a backup plan in place to avoid angering Kal'tsit... at least not to the point of making her hang me from the bridge."

"Doctor, if you're going to be hung on the bridge this time, I'll go with you."

Amiya said seriously that she was already thinking about whether she should wear safety shorts to avoid any accidental exposure.

If I can spend more time with my PhD student, then it wouldn't hurt to study at Bridge University together.

Lin Lu couldn't help but chuckle, agreeing verbally with "okay, okay," but in his heart, he was thinking about how to trick his fellow alumna, Warfarin, into coming along as well. The thought of three high-ranking Rhodes Island leaders chatting and laughing on the bridge was simply wonderful.

"Doctor, Amiya, watch out for the bumps."

Scout, the driver who served as a backdrop throughout the journey, reminded everyone that as the off-road vehicle climbed the ramp of the outer ring road, they had their identities verified by the Guard Bureau officers stationed at the checkpoint. After being granted permission to pass, they successfully returned to the country from the desert area.

"I thought Lungmen would revoke Rhodes Island's entry permit."

Gavial, the second figure in the background, spoke softly. She slowly opened her eyes and gazed at the ever-flowing scenery outside the window. Although she didn't speak throughout, she had been silently watching the screen, listening to the conversation between the Doctor and Amiya.

Gavial has her own opinions and views, and all she can say is, well done.

No matter what the issue is, if it involves matters of principle, then there is no need to abandon one's dignity for temporary gains.

If Lungmen views Rhodes Island as a sycophantic lapdog eager to fawn over them, then why should Rhodes Island maintain cooperation with such an ally? With every choice comes the responsibility to bear its consequences.

The off-road vehicle drove smoothly to the Rhodes Island ship's No. 13 passage. The heavy isolation door was raised, and the vehicle was cleaned in a disinfection channel to prevent Originium impurities from entering the ship before docking in a spacious parking lot.

"Get off the bus."

Lin Lu then gently shook the King Killer's shoulder, intending to wake her up, but his hand suddenly stopped, his expression stiffening.

"...Doctor, your pants are wet."

Gavial glanced at the spot where the Kingslayer had previously lain, and his gaze toward Lin changed slightly.

"While I understand that Miss Kingslayer is very charming, with her superior looks and figure, and that exquisite, slender tail that makes one's mind wander... could you at least refrain from leaking your genetic material in front of Amiya? She's still a child; she hasn't even had a single health class on Rhodes Island!"

Lin Lu angrily exclaimed, "This is the saliva of a regicide!!"

Gavial tilted his head: "Isn't that even worse?"

Lin Lu was speechless. After thinking for a moment, he silently covered his face.

"really."

Chapter 349 Dragon and Tiger (4K)

Lungmen City, Imperial Guard Building.

After receiving basic first aid from medical staff, Chen Huijie returned to her post carrying a bag of canned black coffee. Her steps were not as confident as before; in fact, she walked unsteadily, needing to hold onto tables along the way.

She wasn't sure if she should call it luck, but at this hour, most of the Guardians had already gone home and finished work, so no one noticed how exhausted she looked. What frustrated her was that, given all that had happened today, wasn't anyone willing to work overtime?

Although Superintendent Chan is jokingly called the Iron Lady of Lungmen, she is not actually made of iron.

That annoying Rhodes Island doctor may have a foul mouth, but his tactical foresight is genuine.

During the process of escorting the drive key from the Chernobog core city back to the Guard Bureau building, Chen Huijie was first attacked by the Reunion Movement. After finally resolving the situation, she encountered an armed attack suspected to be from a foreign force. The off-road vehicle was overturned by an explosion caused by crude Originium explosives. After finally calming down the situation, she only brought back a few prisoners to hand over to the interrogation room.

These battles compounded Commander Chen's injuries. Besides not having a chance to eat a meal all day, the reason she felt mentally exhausted was that she had never received any support from the Guard Bureau.

Chen Huijie was unable to maintain communication with the various teams, and even her intelligence channels were cut off.

On the front lines where the situation was changing rapidly, Superintendent Chan, as the leader of the Special Inspectorate, felt that she was just a sword holder, with command authority but no soldiers to command.

Who exactly is the mascot of Longmen?

"...Hey, isn't this our Dragon Gate War God? Why do you look like a little girl who was dragged into an alley and dragged around for three days and three nights before finally crawling out? Oh, I was talking about playing Gwent, don't get the wrong idea."

Chen Gang put the bag on his workstation and then heard a soft laugh behind him.

"Miss Shi, if you left your lipstick in the office, I hope you can just pack your things and leave. Don't stay here and get in the way. It's late, my dear, you can't stay out so late, understand? Hurry up and go home, hug your kitten plush toy, tell her what happened at school today, and have a good night's sleep."

"*Lungmen swear words*! I'll say it again, my surname isn't Shi! Listen carefully, my code name is Swire, or call me Officer Beatrice Swire, understand?" Swire stared at Chen Huijie's back with some displeasure. If looks could kill, Chen would have already been betrayed by her in a righteous act.

"Your rules are against my *dragon gate swearing*. Who among ordinary people would know the difference between your code name and surname? Listen up, I have neither the time nor the mood to deal with you right now. Go find something to do, okay?"

Superintendent Chen took a can of black coffee from the bag, produced by Swire Group. She pulled the tab, but she didn't expect that such a small action would tear open the wound on her finger, and blood gradually stained the bandage. Chen couldn't help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. She should have bought bottled coffee, but bottled coffee always felt soulless.

"Hey Chen, this is the job I asked you to do. Now see if you're being obedient!"

Swire mistakenly thought Chen was mocking her, so she angrily grabbed a stack of files and slammed them onto Chen's desk, kicking up a few specks of dust. For the past ten days, Chen had been busy directing operations on the front lines, unlike the others who were sitting in their offices. She had also given prior instructions that no one was allowed to move her seat, and she even cleaned her office herself.

Chen Huijie's gaze shifted from the thick file to Swire.

She paused, even stopping the coffee can she was holding to her lips.

"What happened to all these injuries?" Chen asked, frowning.

Chen only began to notice Swire's appearance from the moment she entered the office until now.

Swire had a bandage on her cheek and her head was wrapped in bandages. Underneath her dark cloak, she wasn't wearing her usual tight-fitting Guardian uniform, but rather slightly loose casual clothes that clung to her body, creating an odd silhouette. Chen Huijie glanced at her and knew that Swire's condition wasn't much better than hers; in fact, judging from their physical constitutions, this tigress might be in worse shape.

"Isn't it perfectly normal to get injured while on duty?"

Swire recalled the mess she'd made today. She'd almost died at the hands of those traitors from the Guard Bureau. If it weren't for the Rhodes Island Doctor's intervention, she wouldn't be standing here wasting her breath on this gossipy old woman.

“No one wants to be injured while on duty. Anyone who thinks this is normal is out of their mind.” Superintendent Chen’s gaze at Swire was somewhat off. She observed Swire’s injuries and muttered to herself, “Weren’t you on duty in Lungmen City today? What happened here to cause such serious injuries to you…”

"At least you have some conscience, knowing how to be considerate of your colleagues." Swire relaxed her raised eyebrows slightly.

“No, I don’t care how badly you’re injured. I’m just curious why something like this could happen in Lungmen City that could hurt you. Did someone take advantage of the chaos to rob a bank account?” Chen Huijie ignored Swire, who was so angry her tail was standing on end. She reached for the pile of files and said thoughtfully, “Although everyone says you’re the mascot of the Guard Bureau, and your background is far more useful than your abilities, I know that you are absolutely capable of being a senior superintendent.”

Superintendent Chen stared intently at Swire and said seriously, "A case that could seriously injure a senior superintendent of the Guard Bureau is definitely no less serious than the pursuit of those drug traffickers two years ago. And yet, this happened today, right here in your jurisdiction… What on earth is wrong with Lungmen?" She couldn't help but sigh.

“No matter what happens, it is our duty to protect this city. What? Are you scared? If you don’t want to do it, then resign now. I will take over the special inspection team, and you can go to Victoria and drive a tractor in the countryside with your college classmates.”

Swire was initially angry at the other party's indifference, but when she heard Chen Da frankly admit that she was fully qualified for the position of senior superintendent, her mood fluctuated.

Swire was somewhat happy, but she felt she couldn't show it too obviously.

However, Chen only glanced at her, then lowered his head to drink his bitter, unsweetened black coffee, letting the cold liquid slide down his throat and savoring the lingering aroma. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't get used to the expensive coffee machines and premium coffee beans that Swire placed in the lounge for everyone to use freely; instead, he felt more at ease with these affordable canned drinks.

"Hey, why don't you... refute me?"

Seeing Chen Ba Po's frustrated expression, Swire suddenly panicked.

Even if her goal was truly to take over the Guard Bureau and stand at the top of Lungmen, this was the first time Swire had seen this workaholic show such a dejected and depressed look, and this was not what she wanted. She wanted to defeat this authoritative and dignified Special Inspector General, who had earned his reputation in the Guard Bureau through his own efforts, fair and square.

"Yes, I'm scared." Chen Huijie really wanted to say that, to see how the other person would react. But she gently shook her head. All her efforts were never for anyone's approval; she was simply trying to... have a clear conscience.

Chen suppressed the urge to sigh, downed the canned coffee in one gulp, and casually tossed it into a trash can some distance away.

She successfully tossed the can into the center of the trash can, which made her feel a little better.

"Tell me what happened in Lungmen city today."

"Okay, but you have to tell me what happened on the outer ring of Longmen."

Chen and Swire exchanged a glance, both keenly noticing a detail.

As senior superintendents of the Royal Guard, it's alarming that their information exchange has been so severely restricted. Even if the excuse is urgency and busyness, they shouldn't be completely unaware of events happening in the same city, especially since their duty is to have access to this information—it's the Royal Guard's most basic job.

This illustrates...

While they were risking their lives to protect Longmen, the higher-ups did things they didn't want them to know.

Swire's gaze shifted slightly as she looked at Chen, suppressing the aggression she had deliberately displayed due to her inability to express her emotions.

"While you were defending the outer ring of Lungmen against the frontal offensive of the Integration Movement, we weren't idle either. An undocumented riot group called 'Lungmen New Life' emerged in the Lungmen slums and committed all sorts of atrocities, including vandalism, looting, and murder."

"New students of Dragon Gate..."

Superintendent Chen frowned deeply. She vaguely remembered this organization; she had heard about it from the Rhodes Island team responsible for searching unregistered infected individuals in the slums. However, at the time, the Reunion Movement's offensive was fierce, and the front lines were stretched thin. The Guard Bureau team she sent to provide support was scattered by the Reunion Movement. She also encountered an incident where the Guard Bureau's communications network was hacked, and her outpost was attacked by assassins.

"and after?"

"Oh, well, Alexander Swell is in charge of the Lungmen freshman organization, and he's also in charge of the slums. I don't know the specifics... What's wrong? Don't stare at me like that. If I don't know, can't I just ask?!"

Swire felt a little uncomfortable under Old Chen's gaze. She pointed to the files on his desk and said seriously, "Don't think you're the only dedicated vanguard in the entire Guard Bureau. Everyone else just got off work not long ago. These are all the files we've compiled. We're not stupid. Anyone who's worked their way up from the bottom has solved at least a few cases independently. Our eyes may be blinded, but our minds can still work. As long as we can still think, nothing can stop us."

“I’ve got it, Superintendent Chan. You’re not the only one who cares about this city; we do too.”

Swire patted the stacks of files heavily. She knew that Chen Huijie, this ruthless work machine, would definitely not go home to sleep tonight. Even if she fought until she was battered and bruised, unable to stand, she would still stubbornly stick to her post.

This is how she sees Superintendent Chen: a low-EQ, clumsy woman who is so dedicated to her work that she evokes mixed feelings of love and hate.

"Is that so..."

Chen Huijie sat on the table in a rather unladylike manner. Looking at the stack of documents, her gaze softened slightly.

Seeing the change in her expression, Swire shifted her stance slightly and continued, "In addition, the Rhode Island Pharmaceuticals Building near the outer ring area was attacked by mercenaries from Silverwing Security Contractors."

"...The Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals Building was attacked? Wait, isn't the Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals Building located in Lungmen City? Why is it here?" Chen was somewhat confused, realizing that her information seemed to differ from others'.

"Have you gone mad from killing people these past few days? Didn't Alexander suggest setting up Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals on the outer ring of Lungmen? Didn't you even know that your proposed location was rejected?" Swire looked at Chen as if he were an idiot.

Chen was stunned for a moment, then murmured, "Does Commander Wei Yanwu... know about this?"

"Of course, who else has the right to make that decision besides him? Are you running a fever? Your mind isn't clear."

Swire glanced at Chen's slightly blank expression, reached out and touched her forehead, but was impatiently swatted away.

Superintendent Chen took out another can of black coffee from the bag. She was indeed a little out of it. This feeling of being out of sync with the information was like running into a slum with a map of the rich neighborhood of Lungmen. It was very incongruous.