Ark Chess Player

"Inspector Chen, someone's here, I—"

"XR02? XR02!"

Communication was then interrupted.

Chen Huijie put the mobile terminal down from her ear and looked at the classified communication channel, which had changed from a blinding red light to a deep blue, and took a deep breath.

"Now is not the time to hesitate."

Superintendent Chen silently raised her head, grasped one end of the bandage on her head, tore it off, crumpled it in her palm, and threw it into the trash can.

"Hoshiguma".

"Ah, I'm here."

As the hatch rose, Hoshiguma turned to look at Old Chen, whose expression was solemn.

"With the team ready, it's time for us to set off."

"Yes!"

Seeing Old Chen perk up, Hoshiguma's own spirits also rose.

Chen turned to look at the King Killer standing beside her. Her gaze swept over him, and she almost didn't recognize him.

“I know you… Rhodes Island reported your identity to Lungmen in advance, and you were present during the negotiations at the Administration Hall.” Superintendent Chen emphasized, “Tell me, how much armed force does Rhodes Island have left?”

"Do you think I'm the kind of fool who would tell you how many cards I have up my sleeve?" The Kingslayer chuckled contemptuously, crossing his arms over his chest with an air of authority. "To be honest, I don't know either!"

"I didn't know you could say that so confidently."

"No matter what happens, as long as I'm not cowardly, even if it's my fault, I can make the other party feel that they are in the wrong!" the King Killer said smugly. "That's what Lin Lu taught me!"

“…I underestimated you. You’re much smarter than I thought.” Chen shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter. I just wanted to ask about the situation at Rhodes Island, to see if you have any security issues, and if you need the Guard’s help.”

"I don't think the Guard Bureau has the extra resources to help partner companies. Rather... if you had the capacity, you wouldn't be here now. We've long seen how Lungmen treats the Infected. If you weren't forced into this situation, why would you be requesting Rhodes Island, a company with a majority of Infected employees, to provide you with extra resources?"

The Kingslayer straightened her back, and suddenly felt the Rhodes Island uniform coat draped over her shoulders become heavier.

There are many organizations in the world that primarily deal with infected individuals, but Rhode Island is the only one that has truly forced a city to lower its stance... or rather, increase its costs to request cooperation.

Only now did the regicide's gaze shift slightly away from Lin Lu and turn to the place he was desperately protecting.

Rhodes Island, an ideal place that embraces all possibilities.

Chapter 385 I'm So Cute, Please Give Me Money (Bonus Chapter)

"..."

Superintendent Chen's face turned ashen.

Another Rhodes Island operator would carefully consider their words and actions when speaking with high-ranking figures in Lungmen, in order to maintain the image of a Rhodes Island corporate employee. But the Kingslayer is different. Her previous job was in the management of the Reunion Movement. What kind of people does the Reunion Movement manage? To put it simply, they are warriors; to put it bluntly, they are brutes.

Why should a boorish man speak such refined language?

Just praise the sun and that's it!

May the sunshine last forever!

The Kingslayer had very little understanding of Rhodes Island's corporate culture. The reason she was able to join Rhodes Island was purely because of her incredible six-star stats and her ambiguous relationships with Rhodes Island executives... even two executives... no, three executives.

Even if the Kingslayer clashes with the Royal Guard, Lin Lu, Kal'tsit, and Amiya will protect her, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

What is interpersonal relationship?

What exactly constitutes a "real nepotism" or "connections" situation?

What does it mean to be good-looking and good at fighting?

Unfortunately, the regicide failed to realize how important her existence was; she was simply stating the truth. Otherwise, she could have been even more mischievous—after all, even if she were to break a leg, it wouldn't be her leg that breaks.

The promise Lin Lu made to her remains valid: whoever bullies her, he will bully them in return.

Chen Huijie narrowed her eyes, attempting to retaliate.

"So, you don't need the Guard Bureau's help, is that right?"

"No, we need it very much, we really need it."

The regicide stretched out his hands and said in a serious tone, "I'm very cute, please give me money."

Chen Huijie turned and walked away, running as fast as she could, pulling Xingxiong along with her.

There's no way to negotiate this.

What's the point of discussing this?

—Talk about hell!

"Old Chen, are you angry?" Hoshiguma asked curiously.

"No," Chen said coldly.

"Hehe! Are you angry?"

Hoshiguma gently poked Chen's waist and looked at her profile as she asked.

Chen Huijie let out a harsh sigh: "No!"

"Hehe! I'm angry—"

I'm angry!

Chen Huijie stomped her feet in anger, offering a series of Dragon Gate greetings to the regicide.

If the other party had acted intentionally, she wouldn't be so angry. The key point is that she couldn't sense any malice from the Kingslayer. In other words, the Kingslayer considered it a matter of course, something that the Lungmen Guard had an obligation to do.

What does this kid think the Guard Bureau is?

"Hoshiguma, what are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing, it's just that your expression is much more relaxed than before, which makes me feel good."

Hoshiguma unconsciously revealed a maternal smile, looking at Chen as if she were looking at a child. A sweet smile hung on her lips: "You used to carry everything on your shoulders. I can't say that it was wrong, but... you'll be overwhelmed by it."

"You've got it wrong, Hoshiguma. I have no such intention."

“Maybe, but I suggest you don’t take it too seriously. That girl from Rhodes Island, she knew we abandoned Amiya and the others, but she wasn’t angry. Instead, she genuinely trusted that the Rhodes Island team would be safe. This kind of unreasonable trust is perhaps what our Guard Department lacks most…” Hoshiguma looked at Chen and said seriously, “I know time is of the essence, but I really don’t understand—why you so readily left Amiya and the Doctor in the ruins.”

Chen Shengsheng pursed her lips: "Are you doubting me?"

"Don't dare."

"...Because there are too many uncertainties." Chen sighed deeply. "I don't know how many Reunion members are still hiding in the ruined city, and it's pointless for us to stay there. Because of the infected's mass self-destruction, the ruined city is in a high-Originium radiation disaster zone. Even if we have support from the Guard Bureau and can be equipped with full sets of radiation protection gear, the terrain of the ruined city is not suitable for combat. Are you satisfied with this explanation?"

"That doesn't convince me."

Hoshiguma wasn't buying it. She looked him straight in the eye and said seriously, "It's because of that classified file, isn't it?"

Longmen Type 99 Defense Plan.

It's a classified file, but it feels like everyone already knows about it.

Superintendent Chen said calmly, "Until the current situation becomes a reality, the specific details of the order are confidential."

"As expected, this was an order personally given by Mr. Wei."

Hoshiguma sighed; she probably already knew what it was.

Given Wei Yanwu's methods, Hoshiguma, a former gang leader who had been personally recruited by him, could only be thankful that he was not Wei Yanwu's enemy.

"As a detective, as an inspector, you have the freedom and right to question everything."

"Then I'll take that as it is. I don't know what you're planning to do, and I don't want to know. I admire Mr. Wei; his schemes always hit people where it hurts the most, leaving a lifelong shadow. But I don't respect him, and what happened today is just one of the reasons."

"...All of this is for Lungmen."

Superintendent Chen murmured something to herself that she didn't quite believe.

“You sound so insecure. You’re always like this, unable to get past your own conscience.” Hoshiguma could easily sense her friend’s feelings. She frowned slightly. “Whenever you speak without confidence, it’s either because you’re overthinking things or because you’re doing something wrong against your conscience.”

"It's a real shame you're not promoted to superintendent, Hoshiguma."

"Ah, that's a very confident statement."

“You… never mind, this was indeed my intention.”

The two arrived at the deck of Rhodes Island while chatting and laughing, and immediately saw Swire preparing the Guard Bureau team.

Most of the wounded soldiers in the previous battles of the Guard Bureau squad have recovered. Rhodes Island has far more medical operators than the Guard Bureau had imagined. It's not just a matter of one or two more, but an absurd number.

Even the Guard Bureau doesn't have half...a third...a fifth of Rhodes Island's medical personnel.

This is the source of Rhodes Island's confidence, and also the reason why Rhodes Island maintains a neutral stance.

Imagine if Lungmen and Chernobog clashed, and Rhodes Island chose to support one side; the other would inevitably be utterly defeated. Countless people are eyeing Rhodes Island's resources and medical achievements, which is why Rhodes Island has to maintain a low profile.

However, Rhodes Island can't keep a low profile now, because Lin Lu is someone who never suffers a loss. Even if he does suffer a loss, it's only against his own people. For example, if Amiya asks him to do his job, he would never dare to slack off. Besides, even Wei Yanwu won't give him a good look. The fact that he hasn't physically slapped Wei Yanwu is already a testament to his extreme restraint.

"Oh my, isn't this Superintendent Chen?"

Swire noticed Chen Huijie next to Hoshiguma and said sarcastically, "What? You've come up with a new plan? Are you going to completely reject me? Come on, give me a straight answer, so that things don't get complicated."

"...Our relationship is bad, but not to the point of life and death. I haven't thought of a better way. If you believe that you and the Rhodes Island team can hold the main road of the docking area which is blocked by the Reunion Movement, then I support you."

"Hoshiguma, did you feed her some Rhodes Island experimental drugs? Where did that arrogant and rude girl go? Whose little wife is this? Yours? No way, if you marry someone like that, she probably won't be able to do anything. If she married me, at least I can earn money to support the family."

"Swire! You bastard! I wish you *dragon gate profanity* and wealth!"

“I give that swear word a perfect score, out of 100.” Swire felt better now. “You’re finally acting like a Superintendent of the Royal Guard. Look at you before, so cowardly it made me want to vomit. Alright, alright, let’s proceed with the assigned mission. Do you have anything else to do?”

"Let's get back to work, but I need to pick someone up first."

Swire asked instinctively, "The Doctor from Rhodes Island?"

"...Do you know him?" Superintendent Chen asked in return.

Swire immediately recalled the scene of encountering Lin Lu at the Silverwing Security Contractors Building. It was definitely not a scene from a shoujo manga. If you had to make an analogy, it would be like Fujimoto Itsuki, that inhuman guy, starting to write a Chainsaw Man spin-off.

"I don't know him, I don't know him, um, I don't know him."

Swire denied it three times in a row; she wouldn't be foolish enough to offend a big shot capable of single-handedly taking down a mercenary base. Although she was a superintendent in the Guard Bureau, Lungmen also valued law and evidence. All the security contractor's surveillance footage from that day had been formatted, and no trace of blood or fingerprints related to Lin Lu could be found at the scene. This man was clearly very strong, yet overly cautious, and possessed an identity unknown to anyone outside of Rhodes Island.

"Suspicious. But never mind, he's not the one I'm looking for."

"Whatever you like, just remember to keep track of the time."