Ark Chess Player

Because of this, Lin Lu can sense what kind of person the other person is each time he transforms, thus gaining a deeper understanding of his operators. The operators, in turn, can use memory replay to further refine their control over their Originium Arts.

This reasonably explains why increasing trust level increases an operator's health and attack power.

"Ifrit is such a good girl! Nobody else knows how hard you work."

Lin Lu supported Ifrit's knees with his left hand and affectionately stroked the child's head with his right hand. Ignoring the child's feigned fierceness, he asked softly, "Does it hurt a lot? Sometimes it's a stinging pain in your joints, sometimes a burning sensation in your chest, and sometimes it feels like your head is being filled with lava. In severe cases, you may even hallucinate, feeling like bad guys are holding knives and trying to cut you open."

“Many people don’t understand you, and sometimes you don’t understand others either. It’s just a small thing, like changing the way you cook instant noodles from putting the seasoning packet in before water to putting the water in before the seasoning packet, which slightly affects the taste. But because you feel unwell and can’t explain it, you can only silently endure it, and over time you become irritable. This is clearly… not your fault.”

Lin Lu stroked Ifrit's horns, the warmth of his palm covering the stone-cold horns, conveying kindness to this tormented child.

Ifrit stopped causing trouble.

Hamer stared in surprise at the Doctor's retreating figure. In her memory, this was the first time the Doctor had met Ifrit... Why did he know so much about Ifrit? Could the Doctor be related to the "Flame Demon" incident?

No, that's not right. The Doctor was in Chernobog before, and was only recently brought back by the Rhodes Island rescue team...

So, why?

Himer retracted her outstretched hand and watched silently. She needed to understand the Doctor's attitude towards Ifrit. If the Doctor wanted to harm Ifrit... even if it meant breaking with Rhodes Island, Himer would definitely take Ifrit away.

No matter who the other party is, Himer will not allow anyone to treat Ifrit so cruelly again.

"you……"

Ifrit held Lin Lu's hood tightly with both hands, somewhat lost in thought, staring at the cobalt blue eyes through the hood's eye openings.

"How do you know...about my affairs?"

Ifrit whispered, still not quite understanding.

Not long ago, Ifrit returned from a medical check-up in the infirmary. Despite the discomfort of having her blood drawn, she tried to find a secluded place to suppress the anxiety that seemed about to explode within her. She didn't want to hurt anyone, but she couldn't control this rampaging urge. She kept having visions of charred corpses piled up like small mountains, and the two most important people in her life trapped in flames, pleading with her for help.

Just as Ifrit felt her head was about to burst, and she was going berserk like a wild beast, she saw her light.

Hamer sat on a bench, dozing off briefly; she was exhausted. She had also worked the early shift yesterday, the late shift wasn't hers, but after seeing so many wounded soldiers brought back from Lungmen, Hamer didn't hesitate to put on her white coat and leave the research lab to join the medical work. She hadn't finished treating these injured Rhodes Island operators until this morning, perfectly transitioning to her shift today…

This goes beyond the 996 work schedule.

Her working hours were already running out, and Himeru, who was used to pushing herself alone, refused to ask anyone to share the workload. Fortunately, the Doctor was understanding and gave her a chance to rest for a while on a bench. Himeru fell asleep almost the moment she sat down and closed her eyes.

Ifrit didn't dare to wake the sleeping Himer. She nestled quietly beside the person she knew and trusted most, like a child who had a nightmare and was too scared to sleep, crying and wanting to sleep with her parents.

Ifrit smelled the disinfectant on Himer, which was her most hated smell. But because Himer was there, she wasn't afraid.

It was as if as long as Himer was by her side, she wouldn't be tied to an operating table, nor would her body be cut open and strange stones inserted... Ifrit had barely managed to suppress the splitting headache when she felt a brazen touch on her cheek. This caused her suppressed evil to erupt instantly. Upon seeing that it was a strange hooded figure she didn't recognize harassing her, Ifrit immediately snapped and bit him.

Strangely enough, the excruciating pain, which felt like my head was about to be smashed, slowly disappeared under this person's touch. It wasn't like the torture I usually endured after taking medication, having to wait for it to take effect.

"I am a doctor from Rhodes Island."

Lin Lu hugged Ifrit tightly; it was a hug he owed her.

"Welcome to Rhodes Island. From now on, you no longer need to fear the past. This is your present, and it will be your future. If you wish, I will guide you on how to master your power, so you no longer need to worry about hurting the people you care about. Even that balloon bastard won't be able to bully you anymore, I said."

"you……"

Ifrit's body was trembling.

"Are you shy? Haha, you're still a child."

Lin Lu smiled and patted Ifrit on the back.

"you--"

"How long are you going to hold me like this?!"

Ifrit jerked her head back, her bright orange eyes reflecting the firelight.

The next moment, flames illuminated Rhodes Island's corridors.

Chapter 361 Today's Victory or Defeat (3K)

"Doctor, welcome back..."

Amiya looked at the doctor, who was covered in black, with concern.

As the doctor walked, charcoal ash from his clothes spilled all over the ground.

It was already 180% cooked; rather than emitting the aroma of roasted meat, it gave off a bitter, burnt smell.

"Regarding the damage to the intensive care unit corridor and the activation of the fire protection system, as well as your alleged harassment of a minor, I will deduct from your salary as repair costs and compensation to the victim's family."

Kal'tsit's gaze was incredibly cold, as if she were looking at an insect, revealing boundless disgust.

"You should be glad Ifrit and Himer didn't ask to send you to the prison cell. Rhodes Island is not a lawless place."

"I only hugged Ifrit! At most, I lifted her up and spun her around!" Lin didn't care about the deduction of his salary, but he cared about his reputation. He immediately retorted angrily, "I didn't even stick my tongue out! Why are you saying I harassed a minor? I protest! I protest this! I'm going to find a lawyer, and I won't say a word until my lawyer arrives. Talk to my lawyer! I have the right to remain silent!"

“If you stick out your tongue, then not even a lawyer, not even a god could save you…” Kal’tsit turned to look at Amiya, whose expression was now clouded with gloom, and her smile looked quite terrifying.

“Ah, Amiya…”

Lin Lu's voice trembled.

Amiya smiled and said, "Yes, I hugged you."

"Amiya, listen to me, there's a reason for this!"

Lin Lu tried to argue, but the other party's unchanging smile made him so nervous that his mouth went dry. For a moment, he didn't know what to say and let out a pathetic "Aba aba".

He could easily subdue Amiya with one hand, but a fatherly mentality always got in the way, preventing him from using violence against his daughter. At the same time, he also worried about being disliked by Amiya because of his guilty conscience. That's probably what a real father is like.

"I hugged him."

Amiya's tone remained completely calm as she extended her hand to Lin Lu.

"Ah, Amiya!!!"

"Okay, then hug me."

"Eek! Eek—huh?"

Lin Lu, who was crouching with his head in his hands, looked up and saw Amiya reach out and brush the charcoal dust off his head.

"Who are you, beautiful lady?"

"I am Amiya, Doctor."

Amiya gave a somewhat helpless yet heartbroken smile as she helped the shivering Lin to his feet. She carefully brushed the charcoal off the Doctor's body, the faint cracking sounds of the charcoal breaking off faintly audible. It made one wonder what lay beneath the hooded coat; one could probably pry off a piece of charcoal with the slightest touch.

“The Doctor must have his reasons for doing this, and I believe in him.” Amiya smiled brightly. This time, she was genuinely not jealous. Rather, considering Ifrit’s situation, she believed that the Doctor had not made a mistake this time.

Amiya also knew something about Ifrit.

Amiya was present when Rhodes Island welcomed Himeru, Whitey, White Owl, and Ifrit. She didn't actively activate her mental domain, but she could still feel Ifrit's emotions surging like a tsunami.

It was an extreme distrust, a fear of the unknown, and a sense of despair with nowhere to escape.

Even though Himeru had repeatedly told Ifrit that Rhodes Island was a great place, Ifrit remained in a state of extreme tension, as if she were on the verge of falling off a cliff. For the first period after boarding the ship, Ifrit dared not see anyone except Himeru and White Owl, until... the former head of Rhine Lab's Defense Department, Saria, arrived at Rhodes Island.

During the special meeting arranged by Kal'tsit, Saria and Ifrit had a brief exchange, a fact kept secret from Himeru. This was because Dr. Himeru didn't want Ifrit to see that person, fearing she would be hurt again.

At least after the two met, Ifrit opened up a little to Rhodes Island, becoming less resistant to regular checkups and more willing to eat properly. Although Ifrit was still somewhat reluctant about compulsory education for teenagers at Rhodes Island, with Himer's encouragement, she was willing to set aside time to study every day.

Everyone present knew that Kal'tsit, Amiya, and even Ifrit's guardian and guarantor, Himer… they all understood that this was merely a facade of peace, and Ifrit's inner turmoil couldn't be resolved so easily. She needed an opportunity, someone who could truly understand her, someone willing to break free of her prison.

"Amiya..."

The autistic doctor, who had suffered physical and mental trauma, felt he had been healed, and this time he was genuinely sad.

The data-driven spiritual realm clearly shows that Ifrit's trust level has increased to around fifty, which is the trust value of a soulmate! She should be in a state where even a good morning kiss wouldn't cause any problems, let alone a hug!

Why?!

Why did Ifrit choose to self-destruct?!

Is this Rhodes Island's little sun? And the physical kind at that?

A master of flower gardening.

Passing through a sea of ​​flowers, every petal clings to my body.

From Kal'tsit, whose age is unknown, to Wu Lianlilan, they are all trained.

The target is Dr. Lin Lu, a scoundrel with a trust level of 1210% among all Rhodes Island operators, who is experiencing defeat for the first time.

—Today's outcome is Ifrit's victory.

"Doctor, I have a request."

Amiya waved, signaling Lin Lu to lower his head.

Lin Lu obediently complied, and Amiya whispered in his ear, "It's a deal. From now on, if you hug another girl once, you have to hug me ten times. Otherwise, I'll get angry."

Mr. Lin exclaimed, "Then wouldn't I be making a killing?"

"How many more times do you want to hug other girls?!"

Amiya didn't hold back and slapped the Doctor on the head, shaking out a bunch of carbon dust from under his mask.

In a sense, this is probably what a physics idiot doctor is like.

"My office..."

Kal'tsit sighed and rubbed her forehead. If she hadn't had a short rest last night, she would have been so worried about her blood pressure that she would have rushed to the medical room on the spot, looking at the black charcoal scattered on the carpet and the wall that Lin Lu was leaning on as he staggered along.

"What happened, Teacher Kai?"

Lin Lu sat casually on the sofa, completely ignoring the murderous look in the other person's eyes.

Kal'tsit stared silently at the incredibly difficult-to-wash and clean chair, then at the stains on it, and finally sighed in despair.

Fine, at worst we'll just deduct it from the PhD student's salary.

If you do the math, the large amount of weapons and equipment the Doctor bought from Kroos's purchasing department, the gifts for each member of the Rhodes Island rescue team, the maintenance costs of Noah's Heavy Machine, the repair costs of the musketeers... plus the debt from just now, the Doctor would have to work for Rhodes Island for at least seven years without pay to pay it off.

After all, PhD students are currently in the internship phase of leaving their jobs and seeking new employment, so a pay cut is normal.

Rhodes Island truly lives up to its reputation as a ruthless corporation; even the highest-ranking leader's salary is exorbitant.

What's even more despicable is that Dr. Scum has no intention of paying off his debts.

It's not that diplomacy is powerful, but rather that diplomacy is powerful.

"While you were fighting in Lungmen, I had an urgent mission, so I called in some people to do reconnaissance before we discussed it."